11 minute read
Manayunk is Getting Lit
the only word that matters to us
The Cozy Couch Tomato
Comfort Food for the Health Conscious
By Samantha Costa Photography by Alexa Nahas Photography (alexanahas.com)
The Couch Tomato, lovingly and simply dubbed “Couch” by locals, is ofcially an adult. The business just celebrated 18 years positioned along the cobblestone of Rector and Main Street. This Manayunk mainstay has cultivated comfort food for the health-conscious foodie over several years.
Deciding to go into business nearly two decades ago had a lot to do with Michael Cassano, CEO of The Couch Tomato Restaurant Group, and his business partner, Craig Mosmen, living in Manayunk.
“We had just graduated college, and we were always hanging out,” Michael said. “And anytime we wanted to grab something quick, the quick-casual concept was not in the area yet.”
Right out of the gate, Manayunk welcomed Craig and Michael’s budding business with a hungry belly, open arms, and a craving for food that made them feel good.
“People were like, ‘This is exactly what this area needed,’” Michael said. “There’s something to be said about what Manayunk has to ofer.”
The Couch Tomato was the first in their “family” in a sense. They have a second location in West Chester, with a third planned for Conshohocken in 2022.
“Manayunk will always be our first. It’s home because of that,” Michael said.
Evolving With Manayunk
Of course, Manayunk has changed since Michael and Craig’s college and early post-college days. People in their 30s and 40s are purchasing new homes, and new businesses are catering to a beyond-college-aged crowd. The watering hole that is Manayunk may have its stereotypes, but it’s matured alongside The Couch Tomato’s growing demand for healthy, organic, and dietary restriction-friendly food.
Nowadays, the business partner friends have their own families and a renewed perspective compared to nearly 20 years ago.
“We’ve evolved our menu quite a bit to not only meet the demands of the street but also to an extension of how we eat at home,” Michael said. “We like our kids to eat healthy. We try to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, and organic when we can do that.”
There are plenty of places to grab a slice of pizza or a burger, it’s true. But, there are few places where you can get tacos made of hearts of palm that resemble a fish taco, Michael said.
“We were trying to be an extension of how we eat, but at the same time, we felt like there was a void in this neighborhood we could capitalize on. I would like to think that we are not doing anything diferently except listening to our customers,” he said.
About seven years ago, a customer suggested a gluten-free pizza. Michael and Craig did a little research and discovered the need for people living with dietary restrictions – not just a fad diet. Since there were few options in the area, they developed a proprietary recipe, which Philadelphia Magazine recognized. Word got out, and the masses caught on.
Listening to customers is an essential part of owning a business in general, he said. That’s especially true in this neighborhood, bubbling with so many diferent interests and desires.
Pivot! Pivot!
That evolution has helped the restaurant grow, despite the pandemic. Michael attributes their success to their newly launched mobile app, released in January 2020. It just so happened that much of the globe shut down two months later.
“We didn’t have to pivot to change everything we were doing to make ends meet,” Michael said. “We had that infrastructure in place to see what was ahead of us.
Of course, no one could have predicted what the future held, but they were positioned to utilize their already-popular pickup and delivery options. They also began using contactless menus.
Home delivery has been an option since 2003, “but the idea of The Couch Tomato wasn’t about bringing food to your couch. It was about having a cozy dining experience – somewhere people can feel like it is a neighborhood spot,” Michael said.
There were some Fridays during the pandemic that were busier than they were pre-pandemic, he said. But that would not be possible without the supportive Manayunk community stepping up to order food with kindness and patience for the resilient staf.
“A lot of places didn’t make it, and I feel very fortunate,” Michael said.
Something for Everyone
Even if you haven’t been to Manayunk in a while, or you just moved up the hill to Roxborough, visiting The Couch Tomato feels like coming home. Walk into limited cozy seating and the pizza and salad counter. Head upstairs to the Bistro, and you’ll find a rustic dining area with brick-exposed walls, ambient lighting, and a bar.
“It’s a place where you can feel good about what you’re eating and where you’re spending your money,” Michael said.
They have developed a concept leaning into “cleaner” food and trying to be ahead of the curve regarding the type of food available in Manayunk, Michael said. It can be tough to balance finding one restaurant to suit the needs of everybody in a group or even a couple. While one person might be vegan, their significant other may not be. Michael said their goal has always been to fill that gap.
“Something for everyone has always been our motto,” he said.
And although it can be a labor of love, Couch lends itself well to people with diverse dietary needs.
Products are either locally sourced or organic and prepped that day. The quality is always fresh, Michael said, adding that they do not have huge walk-ins.
All biases aside, Michael said he feels pretty good about what he just ate when he steps away from eating at Couch.
“I feel like it was a healthy meal. I feel content. It’s not heavy or greasy. It’s not anything you’d get from a typical pizzeria. It’s a nice experience that will make you feel good after you’re done,” he said.
There are some new items on the menu, including a signature Margherita pizza that might just be the best pie yet. The sauce is richly flavored. For the colder months, patrons can look forward to their signature daily soup specials. The tomato basil bisque paired with their grilled cheese is a fan favorite – and one of mine.
There’s No Place Like Manayunk
Where Urban Living Meets Small Town Charm
By Brian Anderson Photos by Melissa Kelly Photography (melissakellyphotography.com)
Manayunk is more than a name on a map. It’s where restaurants, cafes, and drinking holes fill us up. It’s the hills, paths, and trails that make us sweat. It’s the public art that inspires and captivates us. It’s Main Street, Venice Island, the Towpath, Pretzel Park, and more.
And for so many of us, it’s where we call home. While guests will always be attracted to Manayunk, there are still many that truly call this neighborhood home.
The people that help us find homes in Manayunk have a deep appreciation and passion for all the properties of 19127, too.
Christine Ertz, a realtor with Compass and the MyPhilly.House team — and Manayunk homeowner — is passionate about helping clients buy homes in Manayunk. In many ways, the neighborhood sells itself.
“A lot of people say they rent here, they buy here and they get sucked into the community — in a good way” Ertz said. “There are so many good ways to get involved in the community. Manayunk has a really good sense of community and neighborhood.”
And while it’s certainly true that Manayunk is a neighborhood where communities thrive, there’s more to the story. With more than 100 years of history, there are hidden gems and relics of times gone by. As a realtor, Ertz said she’s captivated by houses with transoms, stained glass windows, exposed brick, and other architectural features that are still common in the neighborhood. Even with renovations and upgrades, those details are preserved and maintained.
“There are amazing contractors who take care of houses in this neighborhood,” she said. “If they can’t preserve a house’s character, they add to it.”
What advice does Ertz have for people looking to buy in Manayunk? First, get ofine.
“Don’t go to those home buying websites,” she said.
She also recommends getting a referral. Your realtor should really know the area, which gives you more information about buying in Manayunk or further up the hill. They’ll know the upsides (like the neighborhood hangouts and the pocket parks) and downsides (unfortunately, the parking woes so many of us have experienced) and can help you make better choices in your search. A website search may give you dozens of homes to look at, but a realtor will show you the neighborhood and what makes this area a joy to live in.
And if you want a realtor that loves dogs, Ertz could be for you (just search for her on Instagram and you’ll find her adorable puppet, Phin).
Steve Buzogany, another realtor and resident of the neighborhood, said most of his business is helping clients buy in Manayunk. He calls the neighborhood, “Philadelphia’s last undiscovered treasure.” But how could that be?
For one, the homes are afordable for their sizes (and many have yards). Next, Manayunk ofers plenty to do — shopping, eating, exercising, volunteering — that some people overlook when thinking about the neighborhood. Manayunk is serviced by SEPTA and is only a few train or bus stops away from Center City. And lastly, there are houses with driveways or alleys, which is one cure to parking problems.
Try finding all that anywhere else in Philadelphia for an afordable price tag.
“Manayunk has such a variety,” Steve said. “It’s all here. There’s going to be something here for you.”
Manayunk is very friendly for our four-legged friends, too.
“Anything you want for your dog is here,” Steve said, highlighting the local dog parks, the Wissahickon and other trails, and the overall friendly atmosphere Manayunk has for dogs.
“There’s no better community in the city for dogs.”
Many of his clients are former-renters-turned-homeowners who moved to Manayunk shortly after college and haven’t left.
“It doesn’t take a ton of convincing to stay,” he said.
An under-appreciated aspect of Manayunk real estate is the variety, Steve said. If you’re looking for character, you can find rowhomes with exposed brick or original hardwood floors. But if you want clean lines and modern furnishings, there are homes that have been updated recently, too. There are very few cookie-cutter designs in Manayunk, as years of renovations, updates and repairs have created diversity in the neighborhood’s housing stock.
Tyler Bradley is a realtor with the Cooley Bradley Group, and he said Manayunk’s vibrant Main Street, filled with restaurants, cafes, shops, gyms, and more, plus it’s convenience to Center City and the suburbs, make the neighborhood an incredibly desirable place to live.
“It has an urban vibe yet is quieter, more manageable, and less expensive than living in the actual city itself,” he said.
Tyler said if you’re looking to buy in Manayunk (or anywhere, really), start by getting pre-approved by a reputable lender before your search. And don’t be afraid of open houses.
“Open houses are a great and casual way to check out places on the weekends as well as to possibly meet a buyer-agent if you don’t have one yet,” he said.
Here in Philadelphia, the The City of Neighborhoods, Manayunk does stand out as one neighborhood that has it all. From cheesesteaks and pizza to fitness studios and parks to beer gardens and hiking trails, Manayunk has something for everyone, and more. There’s a real sense of community here and a character that attracts people from so many parts of the city and the region.
“New people moving into our area only enhances the lifestyle and makes it that much more interesting and integrated,” Tyler said. “It’s always truly fascinating to hear what is bringing them to the City of Brotherly Love — and to our beloved Manayunk.”
“I don’t know another neighborhood that meets all of those needs,” Steve said. “There’s something for everyone here.”
