Legendary Bartender: Patrick “Jocko” Tierney of Manny’s Steakhouse

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Patrick “Jocko” Tierney

Continuing with our series of legendary local bartenders, we invite you to meet Patrick “Jocko” Tierney of Manny’s Steakhouse. What makes a bartender legendary? Well, certainly tenure counts. But I think this comment by Manny’s on Facebook guarantees Jocko a nomination: "If you don't know this man, you are definitely missing out. He is by far, the sweetest, most caring, genuine, extremely loving, super talented, hardworking, pretty funny and by far one of the best golfers on the planet!" Let’s learn more about him. 

Q:  Please tell us about how you came to be employed by Manny’s Steakhouse. What year was it? Why did you stay?

A:  I was working at the Green Mill on Hennepin Avenue in the spring of 1997 when a friend, who worked at Manny’s, told me that a bartender there was getting married and moving to Portland. He went on to tell me that all I had to do was show up at the Manny’s golf tournament on Memorial Day and I would get the job. Back then Manny’s was truly a ‘good old boy’ network and if you knew the right people that was all you needed to qualify for a job. I must admit I was skeptical at first but showed up at Hiawatha Golf Course on Memorial Day, 1997, and damned if I didn’t get the job! I’ve been there ever since, and it is far and away the best job I’ve ever had. How could I not stay?

This photo was taken when coach Fleck brought in the Axe after the Gophers beat Wisconsin this past season. Per Jocko, PJ Fleck loves Manny’s!

Q:  Per Manny's website,"MANNY’S BAR. IT ALL HAPPENS HERE." I imagine you have served many celebrities over the years or perhaps observed clandestine activities. Do any stand out in your memories?

A:  In 25 years, I have waited on countless athletes and coaches. Steakhouses in general attract sports figures, particularly football players, because these guys eat big! But the group I have had the most fun waiting on are the Major League umpires. Umps are great because they see everything, and they have the best stories. My favorite umpire was Marty Springstead, who worked in the Major Leagues for almost fifty years. He had stories about everyone from Mickey Mantle to Billy Martin to Bud Selig, and oh what a storyteller he was! He definitely embellished, but I could listen to him for hours.

Jocko with members of the band Foreigner, 1998

I have been star struck a couple of times. Once was in my first year at Manny’s and Pat Miles, the WCCO anchor, came in and sat at the bar. She was strikingly beautiful. The camera did not do her justice. It was early in the evening, and she was the only one at the bar. I remember lighting her cigarette and not knowing what to say. I was just frozen by those beautiful blue eyes! The other time was when Harrison Ford came in. He and a buddy just decided to fly to Minneapolis and have dinner at Manny’s. He planned to come to the bar for a drink after dinner, but a crazed fan ruined our fun. She hunted him down in the restaurant and to get rid of her he told her to save him a seat at the bar, which of course she did. He then proceeded to leave by a side door. Oh, how the bar patrons turned on her after he left! The poor woman ran out in tears and left behind a pile of bar napkins filled with love notes to Harrison. I really felt sorry for her.

Q:  How have cocktails, beer or wine served at Manny’s changed over the years? Have you noticed that some drinks have gone out of favor or perhaps they’ve been rediscovered? 

A:  The beauty of Manny’s is that the drinks and the menu never change. People come for a great steak dinner. That means a big drink to start, a martini, or an old fashioned, or a Manhattan. Then you have wine with your steak (New York strip, porterhouse, or ribeye). After dinner you might have a scotch, a grasshopper, or a brandy alexander. It’s really a very simple formula, and we pack them in night after night. Of course, we have a drink menu with some specialty cocktails to accommodate our younger clientele, but I feel like they are missing out on the essence of the steakhouse experience. Still no matter what you decide to drink or have for dinner, everyone leaves full and happy!

Q:  Manny’s is, or was, part of Parasole Restaurant Holdings, Inc. – was it sold to FS Funds, a Minneapolis-based private-equity partnership a few years ago? Did it impact the bar operations?

A:  The actual sale of Parasole Restaurant Holdings never took place. The deal was supposed to close in the late spring or early summer of 2020, but the pandemic happened. So, we still have the same ownership, and I couldn’t be happier. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Phil Roberts and Pete Mihajlov. They are the best owners a person could ask for!

Q:  When you’re enjoying your downtime, what do you like to drink?   

A:  As for a drink after work, Connie at Whitey’s Saloon can tell you what I have. When I’m at her bar it’s a bottle of Bud and a shot of granny!