It’s no joke.

Manteca has its third seven-day-a-week lunch/dinner dining option.

It’s the Deaf Puppy Comedy Club.

Owner Chris Teicheira is starting daily bar and grill service on Monday.

That’s not all that’s coming.

But first, a bit more about the bar and grill.

The Deaf  Puppy menu isn’t your typical Manteca fare.

It includes, among other items, a linguica sandwich ($10), beef brisket pizza ($18-$22), chicken bacon wrap ($14), and the cheese boy ($16) that’s a loaded brisket cheese melt with fajita bread.

And there is what has become a favorite for the young and young at heart — puppy chow with potato tots.

It’s pork belly burnt ends with mango and watermelon.

The combination is unique and tasty enough.

But the piece de resistance is its presentation.

It’s served in puppy food bowls.

Think two stainless steel bowls resting in an elevated frame.

One bowl for the pork belly burnt ends and one for the potato tots.

No, drinks are served in a glass and not a dog bowl.

Food service is Monday thru Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday thru Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Teicheira has installed wrought iron fencing to enclose an outside area to the rear.

Plans are to add an outdoor patio for food service and music along with shading and other touches.

The comedy shows are staged Thursday through Saturday.

Early shows at 7 p.m. are $24 while the late shows at 9:15 p.m. are $20.

The Deaf Puppy is the only dedicated comedy club between Bakersfield and Sacramento.

They have been attracting solid crowds with half of the intimate 100-seat show room being from Manteca-Lathrop-Ripon and the others from Modesto, Stockton, Tracy and other nearby areas.

Teicheira said guests may end up sharing tables with others.

Unlike typical comedy clubs that don’t seat patrons until about a half hour prior to a show, guests are seated as they arrive.

Instead seating starts at 6 p.m.

That allows food and drink orders to be filled while creating a dinner show atmosphere.

It is a formula that has already helped build a steady flow of returning guests.

There is an open mic night on Wednesday that has been featuring 20 amateurs honing their acts. Three is no charge to attend.

On Tuesday, the plan is to add karaoke.

Sunday is being set up for football and other sporting events such as World Cup soccer.

The comedy club has already hosted other events such as dog fashion show staged by a Manteca Youth Focus member.

And as a bonus, a hallway displays the works of local artists for sale.

The display is rotated frequently.

The featured comic tonight and Saturday is Cliff Cash.

 Cash  began his stand-up career in Wilmington NC.

He quickly earned credits like Comedy Central UpNext, Laughs on Fox, StandUp NBC and Sirius XM comedy. In the years since he began touring as a comedian, Cash has gotten rid of nearly all of his possessions and embraced a nomadic lifestyle seeing 45 national parks in a station wagon he outfitted to live out of. He has since upgraded to a van like a real baller.

Information on upcoming acts as well as purchasing tickets can be done at deafpuppyclub.com. The club is located at 127 North Main Street. The phone number is (209) 622-5745.

Deaf Puppy joins El Forastero Mexican Food as well as Rice and Roll’d as downtown Manteca’s 7-day lunch/dinner options.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com