Relaxin' Girl
Manka’s
For our anniversary this year, we spent the weekend at Manka’s —which might best be described as a rustic resort in the Marin County town of Inverness.
Manka’s offers several types of accommodation (including rooms above their main lodge, as well as cabins) and a much-touted restaurant. We stayed in Cabin 125, which is on a piece of property about 1/2-mile from the lodge, next to another cabin (The Perch). Our cabin featured a king-size bed, a wood-burning fireplace flanked by two reading nooks, and a private deck with a soaking tub. Sound relaxing? Definitely.
As great as the cabin itself was, the restaurant is reason enough to come here. The prefixed menu changes daily, based on what’s available locally. Breakfast is only available to Manka’s guests, while dinner is open to everyone. There is only one seating for each meal (between 8-9am for breakfast, and 7-8pm for dinner).
Breakfast one morning included fresh Gravenstein apple juice; wheatberry porridge; scrambled eggs with a goat cheese souffle; and a waffle topped with honey syrup and candied walnuts. And our first dinner at Manka’s was divine: biscuits served with spiced butter; warm beet puree over garlic panna cotta; salted cod cake; lamb shank to share; a cheese course with figs poached in port; and upside-down plum cake with freshly whipped cream.
The staff was cordial enough — we didn’t experience any bad service, but it wasn’t outstanding either. With the nightly rates running about $250-700, some people might have a problem with the level of service, but we were happy to be left alone and weren’t looking to be pampered.
Given the beautiful surroundings and exquisite cuisine, it’s no wonder that just a few hours into our visit, we were already plotting our return to Manka’s.
UPDATE: In late December 2006, Manka’s suffered a fire that ruined the entire restaurant, and damaged many of the rooms adjacent to it. Some accommodations are still available, however, and the owners have promised to rebuild.
Manka’s
30 Callendar Way
Inverness, CA 94937
(415) 669-1034
Area: Inverness 