Van’s Spa

Ok seriously hold on to your hats, because your mind will be blown!
I bought a fantastic cheezeburger here (yes I used a Z) and it was only $ 4. It came with fries. Please tip though because the gentleman and lady who served me were as kind as can be.
Now let’s back up, by no means is this cheeseburger a world renowned masterpiece in disguise, but it satisfied the greasy and down right tasty you sometimes want out of a cheezeburger (hence cheezeburger not cheeseburger, I will be coining this differentiation). Think Five Guys. I ordered takeout but if the rest of the menu is like their burger, it will be unhealthy, but down right tasty.
Once again, I ordered take out so I can’t really comment on the aesthetics.
I look forward to visiting more and getting to know Van’s Spa.

Great food, inexpensive. Breakfast bolo sandwich, homefries, coffee — $ 6.00! Laid back place, you clear your own table. One of Bristol’s best keep secrets.

Good food, friendly staff, great price. Definitely will go back. Our kids had a great time reading all the clippings on wall. The home fries were super crispy.

First off, I miss you Manny!
Lived up the street from this diner and didn’t know it existed my first 2 years in Bristol. What a shame! Manny is great. Definitely a townie spot. Don’t tell the college kids this exists. I loved coming in here and getting a history lesson from everyone at the counter not to mention the wall décor. The monkey bread french toast is to die for. And really wish I could get him to ship some bolos out to Cali. Everything is reasonably priced and it’s well worth the stop to get breakfast/​lunch.

Van’s Spa has one thing going for it as a restaurant: its price. You simply won’t find a cheaper burger joint in the area. But it’s not only the price that draws in customers, it’s also the experience. Manny Rego’s, as its always called, has been a small diner smack dab in the center of downtown Bristol on Wood Street for over 50 years. Amongst the locals, ‘Manny’s’ is notorious for their massive burgers and breakfast plates. The food is cooked quickly and the portions are massive.
However, if you were a health inspector, you might have a nightmare upon entering. Aside from the obvious size issues Manny’s faces, personal hygiene is a massive issue. The staff doesn’t wear gloves and are often sweaty and dirty. On more than one occasion I’ve found long, dark, curly hairs in my burger — but simply pulled it out and kept eating. If the hygiene doesn’t turn you off, the owner probably will. Mr. Rego routinely swears and throws around racial slurs in front of customers; often times making some feel uncomfortable.
If you don’t mind sacrificing space and cleanliness for a monster burger at an unbeatable price — than Manny Rego’s is for you. Portion wise, their burgers do beat out the local fast food chains, but as far as a classic restaurant — I wouldn’t advise anyone planning a date here. But if you want a quick burger, in-​and-​out, get a little dirty and head on down to Van’s Spa.

Fantastic little gem on Wood Street in Bristol. Doesn’t jump out at you at first, but once you get in there, you find a homey, divey little breakfast/​lunch joint with a friendly, wise-​cracking owner and a menu that you have to see to believe. There is not an item on the menu that costs more than $ 6. I kid you not.
The best part about the menu, though, is that it’s ludicrously good. It’s probably not all that good FOR you, but you’re not going in there for wheat grass and tofu. You’re going in there for huge omelettes, piled breakfast plates, and overstuffed sandwiches. If there’s a better place to go in the Bristol area on a lazy Sunday or to handle a hangover, I haven’t found it. Frankly, I don’t think I ever will.

Simply delicious and incredibly cheap. A burger and fries is 3 dollars, bottomless coffee is 1 dollar, and a chorizo sandwich and fries is 5 dollars– all of which are amazing. I will definitely be coming back here, this place is a gem.
A couple of things to know before you go in: you seat yourself and get your own silverware. there is no menu, all the food is listed on the board above the grill. To order you shout out what you want to the cook when you’re ready. Sometimes you bring your own dishes to the sink and you are 100% allowed to serve yourself coffee when needed.
Loved the atmosphere here, very laid back and comfortable.

If Click and Clack from Car Talk ran a diner (and were Portuguese) it would be this. The ‘ambiance’, if you can call it that, is a history lesson into the Rego family and Bristol society. The walls are covered with laminated family photos and newspaper clippings. No real rhyme or reason to the placement, but always an interesting (however you define interesting) read wherever you choose a seat.
Lou P. — I’m with you on the hygiene — don’t ask and don’t tell. One of those «messy» isn’t always «dirty» conversations. Whatever you think — the food is still both cheap and good. Manny’s service (yeah, we’re on a first name basis — one visit), is super friendly. Come in more than once? You know where the coffee is. If you want a refill, help yourself!
Sit at the counter, one of the 3 – 4 booths, or maybe you can snag one of the chairs outside from a local. And — please do yourself a favor — order a bacon, egg and cheese on a bolo roll. Out of this world. The best sandwich ever (and I like to eat).
PS: If you didn’t already know, bacon is a vegetable when crispy.
Van’s bacon, is a vegetable.
;-)

Divine dinner. Menu with all the basic breakfast/​lunch food groups. Done the way you ask. Had a great time chatting with owner. Thoroughly great guy. Prices are very reasonable too.

This place is a trip. Come with a smile and an open mind and 10 bucks. You’ll laugh, eat well, and spend less than the aforementioned 10 dollars. Manny is a character and I always look forward to eating at Manny’s.

Takes you back in time with all the fun pictures and other memorabilia of Bristol. Food is great, you feel like your on an episode of DDD. The owner Manny is AWESOME!

Great place for cheap breakfast and lunch. Manny the owner is great guy and is a character. Off the beaten path and a Bristol must

This is definitely a crowd pleaser for the college kids.
I went yesterday and got a cheeseburger w/​fries and a drink for $ 4…
thats its $ 4! It was a very good burger!
If you are looking for a greasy spoon diner place where the menu is on the wall and everyone knows everyone else this is your place!
The owner Manny is super nice the food is good and you get get a great meal for under $ 5, what else could you want!
They also have breakfast all day =)

Perfect diner food
Let’s talk about your hygiene
Or let’s not and eat
Here’s the deal with Van’s: Go for the food, but don’t watch it being made. It’s not exactly the most hygienic, but it’s the sort of place where the food is so good you just have to look past the lack of gloves, etc.
It’s the definitive lunch counter, with most of the menu under the $ 5 mark with fries included. If it can be grilled, deep fried or broiled, Manny will make it for you. Make sure you know what you’re ordering though, he doesn’t like to wait. There’s always some sort of soup on special, and they don’t mind if you come around the counter and get your own coffee.
A personal recommendation would be the steak and cheese sandwich with peppers onions and mayo. If you’re a burger fan, Manny’s are top notch, just make sure to order it well done.