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Manka's Inverness Lodge

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30 Callender Way (at Argyle Street)
Inverness, CA 94937

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(415) 669-1034
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Manka's Inverness Lodge - Inverness, CA
Reviews
( 8 )
( 4 )
( 2 )
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( 4 )

Best

My husband and I recently received a gift certificate for Manka's. While we love good food, we don't like overpriced lodging, so we booked a room at the Golden Hind just down the...

Worst

Okay, for a $68 prix fixe meal (which comes to $200 with drinks for two), my expectations were obviously set very high for this meal. While the food was admittedly quite good, the...

If you can truly let go - this is a fabulous place to dine as well as stay - even for vegetarians 8/10/2006

My husband and I have lodged at Manka's once and dined 4 times in the past 2 years. The lodge is a fabulous, rustic, yet sophisticated place to stay. As a vegetarian, I was a bit turned off by the deer head mounted on the wall of the cabin, but got past it and was able to enjoy the place. The in-room fireplace is fabulous - even better is that there was not a television or telephone in the room. Truly a place to relax and enjoy a romantic getaway. The cabin was spacious, the bed gloriously comfortable, and the hot tub on the deck the perfect addition to the fog-enshrouded scenery. The staff at Manka's recommended a local masseuse who was able to bring her massage table into the cabin for a truly personalized experience. Pros: Excellent Food, Peaceful Ambiance - the perfect weekend getaway Cons: Extremely slow service - be prepared for a long, European-style meal. more
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Bad service? What bad service? 6/5/2006

My husband and I recently received a gift certificate for Manka's. While we love good food, we don't like overpriced lodging, so we booked a room at the Golden Hind just down the road. We had read the reviews here, and we were a little worried. If anyone was going to be treated dismissively it was us, two apparent cheapskates with a gift certificate, right? Wrong, From the moment we walked in the door, the entire staff were lovely. We wanted to sit at a different table -- no problem. We said that we had a gift certificate -- no problem. Everyone was extremely attentive (yet unobtrusive), and there was no b.s. We never felt patronized or rushed. And the food was superb. I can still taste everything. It was one of the loveliest meals either we have ever had. Pros: Food, Service, Food Cons: Overpriced lodging more
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One of the bay area's treasures 5/14/2006

I recently took my fiancé to Manka's for his birthday and for our last get away before the birth of our first child. We stayed two nights and had three meals and loved all of it! The new general manager, Franze Meise, was wonderful! He and his staff made us feel right at home and very well taken care of. Staff members Bradley, Chris and Tess were simultaneously professional and friendly people. I left wanting to be friends with all of them. The meals were the best that we have had in a LONG time. When I made the reservation I mentioned my dietary restrictions due to pregnancy. My special needs were accommodated graciously. The interiors were wonderfully homey, elegant and quirky. I think we are lucky to have such a special place in the bay area. This is one of our bay areas treasures. Pros: food, interiors, staff more
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Outstanding Experience 5/12/2006

I took my lovely to Manka's for a romantic dinner on May 4th (our anniversary), and I was not disappointed. The food is simply sublime. I had an amazing pengrove duck and the homemade bacon was fantastic. The service was wonderful. Ex.: the general manager was displayed impressive knowledge concerning the S. Thackery wine. It was truly an exceptional experience in all facets. more
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Fantastic Service and Knowledgable Staff 5/5/2006

We just returned from a weekend at Mankas and had an amazing experience. Our waiter, Owen, was gracious and had an extensive knowledgeable of the wine list - both on and off the menu. The management and lodge staff were extremely accomodating, going out of their way to make us feel like we've been coming there for years. Overall a fantastic weekend and well worth the money! Pros: Service, Food more
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Don't Go !! 3/12/2006

Most of the other reviews already tell the story- Manka's dosen't know how to treat patrons. After being screwd over by them on three occassions, (including our wedding dinner ) we have now learned our lesson. Their unique real estate just dosen't make up for how awful, rude, patronzing (I think you get the idea) etc they are at Manka's...Save yourself the guaranteed aggravation- just don't go more
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Terrific, simply prepared food, HORRIBLE SERVICE! 2/22/2006

You really need to understand Manka's before going.... Manka's serves incredible food that is SIMPLY prepared (people that don't expect this find it overpriced and overrated), but it's amazing because it's prepared well, using nothing but the best products, most of which is grown within a couple miles of the restaurant. The food is simple but sublime. The service, on the other hand, is horrible. Nothing but attitude, even from the managers. If you can take the attitude, then go just for the food! Pros: GREAT food, rustic ambiance Cons: horrible service, snooty managers, far drive more
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Give me a break... 11/20/2005

The other reviewers were absolutely correct! Our room was beautiful for sure, but the high-flying ATTITUDE of the staff is comical! They consider themselves the guests and star performers in their own little show, while you are the audience. The food was SO scarce and overpriced it was hard to believe. One felt like you were paying for the privilege of being looked down on. And pay you do. 300.00 for two, easy, taking it easy on the wine! You do not go to Mankas, on a budget, which we are not, but leaving with the feeling you have been fleeced and demeaned over shadows any fond memories of the charming room. Go for the room and ambiance, if you must, but stay away from the dining room or the staff, unless you like the syrupy fake, condescending proud attitude coupled with ultra rich small portions at stratospheric prices. more
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Absolutely Wonderful 10/9/2005

Manka's is expensive but the entire atmosphere is wonderful. I found the staff extremely friendly and very willing to accomodate us. The meals were amazing. The fixed menu allowed me to try things I may otherwise have missed. The chefs's at Manka's are true experts and by putting your trust in their skills you are rewarded with lavish tastes from seemingly simple foods. We stayed the night enjoyed views of Tomales Bay from the Cedar deck. Breakfast was served to us on the same deck. Local artisan cheeses, grilled pears, wood fired bread and a host of wild honeys and jams. For a seemingly simple menu the taste was amazing. I highly recommend. Pros: Wine, Views, Outstanding Food Cons: Price more
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Bad attitude ruins this place... 7/28/2005

It must be hard to have a stunning place like this and have the experience reported on line by guests who have had a terrible time. The negative / fake / and at times condescending attitude can ruin a wonderful room atmosphere. Let me know when new management takes over. I can't recommend it. Overpriced Pros: stunning lodge, location Cons: attitude, price more
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Uptight Diners Stay Away! Wonderful Meals 7/27/2005

I find the rough hewn elegance of Manka's to be enjoyable and rejuvenating. If you can't go with the flow, don't eat here. Dishes are incredible, well-timed perfection and the taste combinations and emphasis on lenghty dining is a lovely experience. My meals there (especially holiday fare) have always been overwhelmingly delicious. Hedonistic, really! I prefer to let them pick the wine, frankly, and keep it all out of my hands while I simply enjoy the flavors and the company and the warm glow of the Roycroft Lanterns. The ""lack of choice"" shows me that the chef has an idea in mind and he executes it flawlessly. Think Rustic, Rough Hewn Elegance put together by flakey, eandearing artists and you'll have a better experience. Organic, local fare in an odd old hunting lodge that is quirky and isn't really interested in pleasing everyone all the time. I think that's fabulous. Pros: WINE LIST, Romantic, Warm, Stellar Food Cons: Too Quirky for Some more
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Terrible dining experience!! 7/25/2005

My recent dinner at Mankas was the worst dining experience of my life! When I called about their location, I spoke with an incredibly rude, directionally inept hostess. We asked our server about alternatives for the rabbit sausage and she unapologetically said there were no substitutions. After receiving the first course of cold,rubbery salmon, the remaining courses sounded lackluster at best. We asked if we could pay for the wine and first course and not complete the remaining 4 courses. We explained our disappointment in the menu selection with the restaurant manager and politely asked for the check. She immediately became defensive and patronizing as she tried to justify their overpriced prix fixe menu that gives customers absolutely no choices. They graciously offered to charge us only $28 per person for the miniscule starter course and scrap of bread. The best part of the evening was leaving this dreadful restaurant! Cons: Horrible service, No menu choices, Overpriced more
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Good Experience 10/13/2004

Just got back from Manka's where we stayed in the Perch cabin and dined on Saturday night. My overall experience was very good. Possibly because I live in San Francisco I did not find the food selection particulary adventurous as some of the reviews mentioned. I did find the food to be very good. The menu is a chef's tasting menu at a hunting lodge motif establishment. This is *not* the place for a vegetarian to go. The cabin was fantastic and the service was as expected from a spendy high end establishment. I have no complaints. more
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An wonderful venue for the adventurous 7/15/2003

Manka's is a special place and one that I return to yearly. The staff is extremely friendly. The restaurant has an excellent wine list filled with rarities that one does not expect to find here (don't miss the unlabeled Sean Thackerey Roussane). The food is rustic haute cuisine and is modeled off of Chez Pannise. There is no choice nor does there need to be given the kitchen's skill. The complaints posted by most of the reviewers before me originate due to the lack of sophisitication of the reviewer not by any shortcomings of the restaurant. If one does not understand/appreciate unusual food from the wild than one should not eat here. For others, the restaurant is a gorgeous expeirence from beginning to end. more
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Scrooge in the kitchen at Christmas! 1/3/2003

Hungry at Christmas! An awful dinner for $48 (plus $12/glass of wine, $4/tea) with three stingy courses: ONE poached oyster on pureed cauliflower; tiny serving of extremely FATTY, RAW duck breast served over potatoes; miniscule piece of cake for dessert. We were in shock to be charged so much for such small amounts of food, especially at a special occasion such as Christmas. I ate at Manka's a lot in the past. I stopped going about 4 years ago because of too many of these same appalling, inhospitable experiences. Christmas 2002 at Manka's is a bad memory. more
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Chez Panisse & Ralph Lauren in the woods 11/2/2002

If you want a rare and wonderful dining experience, Manka's is one of the most special places in the entire bay area. The 1917 hunting lodge's overlooking Tomales bay is just an hour from San Francisco, yet worlds away. The décor is warm, romantic and elegantly rustic. The food, from chef Daniel DeLong, is nothing short of spectacular. Everything is amazingly fresh and local. The gourmet multi-course prix fix menu can be pricey, but there's always a one-course ""parlor plate"" for well under $20 which is, as my friend says ""like a home-cooked meal if Alice Waters was your mom."" You can sit by the fire or in the cozy yet stunning dining room. Louie, the big dog, is a wonderful, clean, polite animal everyone LOVES. Manka's is like going back in time for a few hours, not just a meal, but a vacation in time. Pros: Amazing fresh food, Romantic ambiance, charming staff Cons: can be pricey more
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Great Rooms, Terrible Food 9/17/2002

Blech! We had a dinner on 9/14/02. The hostess was terribly unhelpful and unaccomodating, and the menu was even worse. The menu offered no choice! It was a fixed meal, including: rabbit sausage in the soup, seared tuna, pidgeon leg (with the claw still attached!), and lamb stew. The icky ingredients weren't even prepared well. Yuck! My tip to Manka's: if you're going to serve such unusual ingredients, then your customers need to have a choice. A choiceless menu for $68 a person is not what I call classy - I call it a ripoff. I will NEVER go back, and I strongly urge you to check the menu if you do choose to plow on. Oh, and make sure you try the ""ice of local cream"" - their way of verbally dressing up their inedible food. Btw, I had breakfast, too - it was better, but not worth recommending. Pros: Great Ambience Cons: Fixed Menu-No Choice!, Overpriced, Pretentious Menu more
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Mostly great except for the dog 9/6/2002

The good: Our meal was delicious and the portions fairly sized, yet expensive. The dining room is cozy and romantic. The bad: There were probably 20 people standing and sitting by the entrance who waited a long time to be seated . Their conversation and proximity detracted from our meal since our table which was near the door. Also, throughout our meal (2.5+ hours) there were no paper towels or cloth towels to dry your hands at the restroom. Tsk, tsk. The ugly: The very slobbery large white dog that roamed loose through the restaurant during our meal. A resident of the lodge we surmise. In addition to being unhygenic to have a dog in a restaurant, with the prices that Manka's is charging they should act more like a fine dining establishment than a roadhouse. Pros: Delicious food, Romantic setting Cons: Big white dog, Crowded, Thoughtless service more
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Expensive Minimalism 9/1/2002

Okay, for a $68 prix fixe meal (which comes to $200 with drinks for two), my expectations were obviously set very high for this meal. While the food was admittedly quite good, the recently outdated practice of microscopically-small portions pushed the envelope of what $68 should beget. The 5 course meal was more like 5 nibbles. Seriously. Okay, maybe that's fashionable. But this pushed the envelope. Be prepared to bristle a little if you have 'foodie-trap radar' like I do. I personally don't like paying an exhorbitant surcharge on fashion. Otherwise, if you don't mind paying $40 to see 10 minimalist abstract expressionist paintings, then by all means, check out Manka's. Pros: Amazing Ingredients, Artfully Prepared, Mellow/elegant Cons: OVER-priced, Microscopic Meat Cuts, Service was spotty more
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A very special place... 5/27/2002

My husband and I first dined at Manka's 11 years ago on our honeymoon. Returning there, it was wonderful to see that nothing had changed. The food was just as fabulous, inventive and savory. This time we also stayed for 2 nights in one of their amazing cabins. It was beautiful and cozy, complete with a fireplace, big down bed, clawfoot bath tub and outside hot tub. If you are looking for a very special getaway or just a place to enjoy a terrific meal, Manka's should be at the top of your list. Pros: unique, romantic, secluded more
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Menu for Manka's Inverness Lodge


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    Part of an old hunting lodge turned high-end inn, this quirky, magical hideaway in the tiny Marin County town of Inverness isn't for everyone. Instead of lavish flower...

  • 4/15/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 7pm-10pm Sun 4pm-10pm
  • Payments: Cash, Visa, American Express, Master Card
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