A restaurant in Pekin is combining pizza with a Mexican menu.
Eric Shangraw is having lunch at Manny's in this week's You Gotta Eat.

Manny's Pizza & Mexican Food was actually established 35 years ago in Savannah, Illinois. Kellie Smith relocated a branch of her family's business from Mackinaw to Pekin last year.

Her father, Manny, is from Mexico and authored the authentic south of the boarder recipes. This is no Taco Bell. Everything is cooked to order.

It is like hamburgers and fries. Why do they go together? It is everyone's favorite, said owner Kellie Smith.

"We love Manny's. The fried tacos are awesome," said customer Beckie Aschenbrenner.

"I like it here because I can get a sandwich and fries. My wife likes Mexican and our friend likes Mexican. You can get a little bit of everything here," said customer Bob Larson.

Mannie's pizza dough is hand–rolled. The crust comes out of the oven as skinny as a sheet of paper.

Photographer Larry Foulk and I wanted to sample both ends of the menu... so we started with a large Canadian bacon pizza. It's a tremendous, easy to eat creation.

We also shared a combination Mexican platter. The combo includes a taco, tostada, enchilada and beans. The pan–fried taco adds to the slightly greasy goodness.

Before the food even came, they bring out warm chips and salsa to every customer.

Warning, don't be like me and overdo it on the chips. I ran out of room when it came down to the final slices of pizza. Our bill with drinks, which include free refills, $18.68. The Mexican fare is fine. It's Manny's unique thin–crust pizza making a mark in Pekin.

Manny's is at 1211 Court Street in Pekin. They are open seven days a week. Phone 309-885-7777.

They also sell their pizza frozen, so you can take one home to cook.