A Comfy and Cozy Couch Tomato

Nestled into an old apartment building on Rector Street in Manayunk, the Couch Tomato Café is as cute and cozy as its name sounds. And, more importantly, it's also a place to get some delicious eats, from yummy pizzas to salads to panini.

Though the Couch Tomato opened in 2003, the idea for the restaurant originated in co-owners Craig Mosmen and Michael Cassano college days at the University of Delaware. They chose to open their establishment in Manayunk, because they loved the area and the community, Cassano explained. The pair wanted its eatery to be a cozy environment, so one day they decided, "Why not put a couch in the restaurant?"

That red, comfy couch is still there seven years later, and also helped inspire the name of the restaurant, where customers can dine-in, take out or have their favorite foods delivered. Cassano said he and Mosmen decided to play on words with the phrase "couch potato," but because they knew there would be many more tomatoes on their menu than potatoes, they settled on the Couch Tomato Café, Cassano said.

The fun name has garnered them attention and gained them some customers. "People have stopped at the restaurant because they liked the name. It's certainly catchy." 

And tomatoes do abound in the expansive menu, especially in their pizza sauce. The Couch Tomato is know for its great pizza, receiving accolades from Philadelphia Magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Pizza Today Magazine, City Search and AOL City Guide, to name just a few.

Although I didn't have pizza on this specific trip, I have had it in the past, and it absolutely deserves the praise it receives. Try my favorite—the Chicken Parmesan pizza.

Other pizzas include the Rockin Raab-in (with broccoli raab), Tex Mex, Healthy Hawaiian, Chipotle Chicken and Breakfast in Bed (the latter features scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, cheddar and mozzarella). There are also 10 kinds of pizza on the vegetarian menu. Each can be ordered as a jumbo pie or a personal pie/calzone, and additionally, you can mix and match to great your own pizza or calzone, or ask for a wheat crust.

At the Couch Tomato, patrons can also create their own salad or wrap from a wide variety of 45 different ingredients and 20 homemade dressings. All of the produce is fresh and prepared daily. There are also specialty salads and wraps, split once again into vegetarian and carnivore selections.

Additionally, there are award-winning soups to choose from and fun sides with witty names such as Spud Lite (mashed sweet potato with a choice of a topping: brown sugar, marshmallow, butter, goat cheese or cinnamon).

On our most current trip to the Couch Tomato Cafe, my roommate decided to try the quesadilla tomatilla. She was a big fan, calling the Mexican favorite filled with beans and other veggies "just the right amount of crispy and cheesy."

I decided to choose from the new panini menu and selected The Smokehouse. I was definitely not disappointed. The slow-roasted pulled pork was delicious and not at all dry, like pulled pork can be sometimes. Topped with barbecue sauce, onions and smoked Gouda, it was one of the best meals I've had at a restaurant in a while.

I even had the option of having an apple or chips with my meal. I chose the apple. Thanks for looking out for my health, Couch Tomato!

We couldn't squeeze in dessert, but you should save room if you plan on going, because the desserts look delicious. You can choose from a specialty dessert pizza, cookies, brownies, the homemade Maddie Bars, creme brulee, cannolis or coppa mascarpone.

To decide what to put on the menu, Cassano said they experiment with ingredients and make everyone guinea pigs: family members, employees and customers. Many times, a well-received special becomes part of the menu.

It's obvious Mosmen and Cassano care about their customers and what they think. You can tell by the suggestion boxes they leave out for their customers, and in their customer service. Every time I've been there, the employees have been very friendly and polite. Plus, the comfortable atmosphere makes for an even more enjoyable experience.

Mosmen and Cassano have chosen to take care of and give back to the Manayunk community they love so much. The Couch Tomato is also a "green tomato" that uses many green initiatives to help the environment. The business also annually gives money to a scholarship fund and donates over $10,000 a year in auction items, monetary contributions and food trays to charities and non-profits.

The only possible drawback to the Couch Tomato is a small availability of seating. There are currently 22 to 25 seats inside, with some outside seating as well. However, the Couch Tomato is planning an expansion to the second and third floors, and they are hoping to add an additional 60 to 80 seats. Along with the extra seating and a special name for the upstairs floors (The Tomato Bistro) will come an even larger menu, formal service with a wait staff, the option of free valet parking, fireplaces and a liquor license. The grand reopening is slated to occur in early 2011, according to the website.

But in the meantime, stop by the Couch Tomato and you'll be impressed by what it has to offer!

Food: Excellent

Service: Great

Entree price range: $4.50 to $18 (jumbo pie)

Atmosphere: Comfy

Open for: Lunch/Dinner

Most Major Credit Cards Accepted