Restaurants in Manchester

Italian murals line the walls at Trattoria Branica, setting the mood with warm Tuscan accents. After admiring the premises, diners can turn to a diverse menu of Italian dishes and a wine list featuring more than 300 wines by the bottle.

Under the dining room's modern chandelier, plates of seafood in brandy cream, marsala wine, and lemon zest sit next to fuchsia napkins, illuminated by wall sconces. Veal chops, fillets, and strip steaks swim in mushroom cognac and demi-glace as patrons sample rich red wines, dry whites, or shot glasses full of an opera singer's tears.

The cooks at Paul’z Burgerz & Dogz, which nabbed a runner-up spot for the city’s Best Burger in the Riverfront Times restaurant guide, churn out an expansive menu populated by tongue-thrilling twists on two Americana staples. The Cockadoolemoo burger combines a patty, bacon, and fried egg, blurring the lines between meals, much like a caesar salad sprinkled with Cap’n Crunch. The Windy City dog includes classic Chicago--style ingredients—mustard, relish, sport peppers, and terms of agreement prohibiting the use of ketchup—accompanied by chips and fries, which are made fresh every day. Visitors chow down in Paul’z’s lively, welcoming dining room, whose vibrant orange and red walls are decked out in autographed photos and headlines and wainscoted in corrugated metal, adding a slightly industrial vibe to the friendly establishment.

After walking through a tomato-red foyer ornamented with framed photos and restaurant reviews, diners at Roberto's Trattoria enter an elegant dining room segmented by columned archways and enclosed by gold-stippled walls. Owner Roberto Zanti chats up guests as he walks around the restaurant, checking the quality of his hearty pastas and herb-encrusted steaks. Guests can pair these Italian entrees with selections from an expansive wine list, which supplies more than 15 wines by the glass and more than 65 by the bottle. While noshing on a tasty bruschetta crostini, guests can treat themselves to a glass of sparkling wine or impress a date by pushing a spoon all the way inside a bottle of sparkling wine.

Amid the roar of Cardinals fans from the adjacent Busch Stadium, the Angry Beaver pub pairs mugs of beer with a straightforward menu of burgers, dogs, and brats. Behind the building’s cheerful red façade, mugs clink beneath neon beer signs as DJs spin vibrant music. Outside, a green awning stretches out over a massive patio speckled with umbrellas and tabletops. The bar boasts a staff of nimble and attractive bartenders, saving customers the awkwardness of ordering a drink from a wall gargoyle that never makes eye contact. The joint operates on Cardinals home game days, making it an ideal venue to visit before or after trips to the ballpark.

Serving what the Riverfront Times calls "jazzed-up American-grill standards," Fox Park Grille infuses its starters, sandwiches, and wings with signature touches. The grill's casual atmosphere ushers sports fans and foodies alike to its tables, where burgers stuffed with american, blue, and swiss cheese challenge hands to heft their kaiser rolls. From the meatballs to the sauces, including roasted red pepper, honey mustard, and marinara, the kitchen crafts many eats in-house and remains open until at least 10 p.m. six days a week.

Aside from innovative bar fare, Fox Park Grille also specializes in evening entertainment. Guests vie for the top spot during Wednesday trivia nights, and karaoke singers take the stage on Thursday and Friday. On Saturdays, DJ Rayn spins songs from the ’80s and ’90s for a nostalgic dance party that segues into a fight club for former prom kings.