Even mistakes make you smile at Manito Taphouse

While my wife might have gone hungry at Pig Out, my friend Jim left the Manito Taphouse with a stomach that was amply full of hamburger. As did I. So if you're looking for an alternative to Riverfront Park and the crowds, this is where to go.

We went out to dinner on Tuesday, pre-Pig Out, and we managed to hit the final minutes of Happy Hour, which allowed us to share a pitcher of a light pilsner (which I can't remember the name of) for $3 off. (If you wonder why I can't remember the name of the beer, you've never seen their drink lineup, which takes an advanced degree in brewology to understand.)

We both ordered sweet potato chips as sides, which we spiced up with a side order of Rogue Creamery Oregonzola cheese sauce.

All in all, I like the Taphouse. It was a busy night, but we scored a table quickly and the service was quick and friendly. We did have a problem with the bill (our server initially forgot the $3 discount on the beer), and no bacon came with my burger. But both problems were ironed out easily (if you look closely at the above photo, you'll see the plate of bacon that I was rewarded with), with a smile and an apology.

Best of all, my friend Jim insisted on paying. Good friend, that.