Manuel's

Frommer's Review

This is one of the few moderate holdouts still to be found in a downtown dining scene that's rapidly heading uptown. The food, which includes dishes from the interior of Mexico, is a cut above many Tex-Mex places. You can get well-prepared versions of the standards, but Manuel's also offers hard-to-find specialties such as the chiles rellenos en nogada, stuffed with pork and topped with walnut-cream brandy sauce. The excellent enchiladas banderas (cooked with green and red salsas) are arrayed in the colors of the Mexican flag: a green tomatillo verde sauce; a white chicken suiza (with sour cream and cheese); and a red adobada (marinated chicken), made with ancho chiles.

In the evenings, Manuel's gets a lot of young professionals. The small bar area is always crowded, and on weekends, the wait for a table is about normal for Austin restaurants. The decor is assertively modern to draw a contrast with the building's original brick walls. There's a lively happy hour (daily 4-7pm), with half-price hors d'oeuvres, discounted drinks, and salsa music.

A northwest branch, in Great Hills, 10201 Jollyville Rd. (tel. 512/345-1042), presents live music Thursday and Saturday nights.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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