What a cute place for when you want some eclectic pizza! I mean, not your average tomato pie. The rizzoto balls appetizer is fantastic and the prusciutto pizza is also quite yummy. This is a great place for a lunch date or dinner with friends.
(4)
Robert D.
Unique, one of a kind! If you're in Manayunk and have the craving for some exceptionally fresh , well prepared, clean food , good drink , with an array of micro brews on tap. Then, you must give this place a try! Wether you're meeting up with a group of friends, going on a date, or spending time with the family, then this is the perfect place for you. The ambiance of traditional yet modern decor will put you at ease and prepare you for a dining experience far beyond your expectations. Folks, take my advice and order as many apps, flatbreads, and entree's off the menu as your heart desires. I salute the Chef and the owners on this concept!! What else can I say, forget about it!! In closing, please for your own benefit stop in and give this place a gander. It will exceed your expectations.
(5)
Carrie D.
Delicious food and good service. The bread for brushetta was less than impressive, but the pizza delicious!
(4)
McK S.
When I heard that the couch tomato had expanded, I couldn't wait for it to open and try it. The space is so fantastic. It's got great ambiance. The decorations are great and it has a very comfortable feel. The menu has several of the options from the downstairs. They are totally different kitchens. The menu has lots of great options. We ordered the artichokes and toasted macncheese. Both were delicious. The salads didn't dissapoint. The portions are reasonable. And lastly, the staff were so sweet. Really accommodating and funny. There is also free parking, which in manayunk is a great perk.
(4)
Ben D.
Stopped in for a tapas dinner here on a Saturday a few weeks ago and had a great time. I think this place is more known for its pizza but the tapas menu was pretty good as well. The standout among the tapas was definitely the chicken and waffles. It was so good and would have fit in, in any of the best tapas places in the city. Even if you're just stopping in for a pizza, you should treat yourself to one of these bad boys. The rest of the tapas menu was average. Great presentation on all of the dishes but they were lacking a bit in flavor and overall a bit uninspired in my opinion. the staff was really friendly and there was a manager walking around making sure everything was ok at every table. gotta love that. So overall we had a great time and may come back at some point in the future but aren't in a rush.
(4)
Michele H.
We had lunch here yesterday and were pleasantly surprised. The Bistro is decorated comfortably with nice touches and the service was truly some of the best in the area. My kids each had a gluten free pizza, which is second only to Risotteria. It was a great combo of a delicious crust, great tasting sauce and just the right amount of cheese. I had the salmon salad which was good (the guacamole tasted a little funky to me) and the salmon was cooked a little more than I like. Our server gave us samples of the tomato bisque, which was very good. One last thing, the iced tea was fresh. We will certainly return.
(5)
David B.
Great menu and fairly priced. We'll be back!
(5)
John M.
The Tomato Bistro used to be a go-to for us in Manayunk. They have reasonable prices and pretty good food. Recently we have been increasingly disappointed with the service and the menu. The last straw for us was when we purchased a Yelp $10 for $20 deal and we were told by our server that we couldn't use the deal for alcohol (which we already knew); but, what she really meant was that using the deal voided their half-off drink specials. Rather than explaining this clearly, she brought us the check with drinks listed at full-price which made the total above what we would have paid without the Yelp deal. When we pointed this out, she didn't even attempt to discuss it; instead, she walked away as we were speaking to get her manager. I should note that we were being very friendly and non-confrontational because this is obviously not her policy, despite her not explaining it clearly. The manager came over and in a passive aggressive way said, "I hear there is some problem with the bill?". His argument was that the Yelp deal states that it cannot be combined with other discounts and in my opinion drink specials that you run for every other customer in the restaurant every single Wednesday do not qualify as a discount. Why would you offer deals through Yelp to bring customers in on weeknights and then negate the whole purpose of the deal when they arrive? Rotten. What we wanted was to use the Yelp towards the 4 significant dishes that we had ordered and to receive the half-off price for our drinks and instead of accommodating a fairly reasonable customer request, he argued with us to the point that we ended up tossing the Yelp deal out and just paying as if we hadn't purchased it at all. It was very disappointing, especially considering how much we had previously enjoyed this restaurant and how friendly many of the other servers/staff have been in the past. We WILL NOT be returning nor would we recommend it again after this experience.
(2)
Christopher W.
omg the appetizer fries with pulled pork. omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg. get them! go now! go!
(5)
KJ S.
The food was good.. I had the pork panini and Waldorf salad. One of the best side salads I've ever eaten! We all shared frites, which have a distinct seasoning that sets them apart from normal fries. The server, Patrick, was great. I'd definitely visit again. Next time I'll save room for dessert.
(3)
Tough C.
In response to my review of Couch Tomato and my complaint that the gluten free [GF] pizza was only available in the bistro upstairs, the owner sent me a coupon for a free GF pizza at the bistro. So I went with my son, also GF. The space is very nice, two story and lit with "Christmas lights" as my son described it. The staff have to bring all food up the stairs--no dumb waiter! We ordered the sausage pizza, GF and caprese salad. The crust is one of the best GF crusts I have tried. The sausage was VERY good, but the broccoli rabe on the pizza fell flat, being hard to taste and mushy. My son wasn't sure how he felt about the ricotta on the pizza, but, then, he is a teenager and not very adventurous about food. I found it tasty. The salad was fresh and I was told they are changing the serving dish, so I won't comment. The wine list is short, and for this price point, they should have wines in the $6-7 per glass price available, instead of most in the $8-9 and up range. The shiraz I had was very good. The menu is well-marked for vegetarian, vegan and GF dishes. Thank you!!! They have valet parking for the bistro. Pull up, call the number on the sign and they send someone out. They also offer specials, both GF and non-GF for $45-49 for two people. I think that this is a bit overpriced for this place.
(4)
Angela E.
This place was pretty great. The pizza was fresh and delicious, the staff was friendly, and the price was right.
(4)
Meredith C.
Everything is great, and so reasonably priced for Main St! Highly recommend the Pretzel Fondue or the Chicken and Waffles! Will absolutely be going back!
(5)
elisa s.
I went back and I was thrilled! My husband got the french press coffee which was an individual adorable little coffee press and delicious and we got our usual (a salad and a pizza) and it was amazing as usual. In addition we also ordered a small plate of bruschetta which blew us away! This is our go to place. It's cheaper and quainter than the brewery and more modern than other bars/restaurants. Ideal for a group or a date. Also if you do make a reservation get the barstools near the windows.
(5)
Brittany R.
Ate once more at this restaurant, and we just had to try to duck pizza with goat cheese. It seems a little weird, but by our surprise, we really liked it. For one, I have never had eaten duck before, and to have it for the first time on pizza? Wow. It was very good though. This pizza is extra fresh, fresh ingredients..and not "Your everyday pizza." Also, nice environment!
(5)
Elle H.
I love the Couch Tomato Cafe and so was very excited to try the Tomato Bistro. Their website however gave no information about their hours, especially during their first week so I kept going but they weren't serving food when I would go. When they finally began serving dinner I went and enjoyed two of their dishes -- both of which were delicious. Unfortunately they had not yet acquired a liquor license so my craving for wine went unsatisfied. The portions were smaller than I would have liked but the service was very good. My big concern is that there is no handicap access to the main restaurant. Customers who cannot use stairs will need to eat in the cafe.
(3)
Karen Y.
i was very excited to try this place since a friend who used to live in the neighborhood loves the pizza at the cafe down stairs. the groupon i bought allowed us an opportunity to try 3 small plates, a salad, pizza and dessert at a great value. in short the salad, pizza and dessert were delicious. the small plates are just okay at best. we started with the fried goat cheese salad which was delicious. four balls of deep fried goat cheese was matched well with arugala, bacon and cranberries in a surprisingly light vinaigrette. then came our three small plates. the sweet potato latkas had a hint of cumin and were a bit on the heavy side. didn't taste at all like it was described on the menu but i would say the best of the three. the lobster ravioli was blah. the corn on the top did not belong at all and the sauce was a bit watery. i've made better at home using frozen ravioli's from tj's. the bruschetta came with four different toppings and i could have done without the one that was a little too much like tomato paste on a crouton ( i think it was suppose to be the fig pesto, but it was definitely NOT). the bread itself was meh too; tasted like a giant crouton. the other three toppings were in a league of their own and were full of flavor and refreshing at the same time. someone at another table ordered the mussels which smelled awesome and we wished we ordered that instead in hind sight. they didn't have the duck and apple pizza so we went with the fig- absolutely delicious! the fig pesto is paired well with thinly sliced pears, crispy bacon, gorgonzola and caramelized onions. the crust is light and slightly crisp on the crust. we were so full, we brought most of this pizza home along with our dessert. the chocolate tort was delicious chocolate decadence and was thoroughly enjoyed the next day with the leftover pizza. overall, definitely a repeat for salad and a pizza. maybe even a small plate of mussels. unfortunately the small plates are pretty disappointing and not at the same caliber as their pizzas.
(3)
Megan G.
I thought it was a great atmosphere with a wide selection of small plates and pizzas. It is different then the cafe but I enjoyed it. I went with a friend and we ordered two small plates and pizza. We couldn't finish everything but it was all very good. We ordered a bottle of wine which was delicious! Our waiter had recommended it- Santa Martina a cab blend. The wines are also very reasonably priced. Normally in restaurants they sell for 4x the glass but at the bistro they only sell for 2x! I recommend checking it out!!
(4)
Jennifer J.
Just came here for the first time after purchasing one of their Meal for 4 Groupons. We had one slider a piece, two small plates, and 2 pizzas to share. I had the Kobe slider which was delicious. We also ordered the crispy artichokes, which came out blazing hot so you had to be a little careful with them. The risotto plate we ordered could have used a little more flavor or salt, however that would be my only complaint. We were seated right by a large bay window which provided really nice nighttime views of Main Street Manayunk. The atmosphere was really delightful and charming. Our waitress was very accommodating and had one of their prosciutto pizzas special ordered so the vegetarian in our group could enjoy one half. The food was a little slow to come out, however we figured it was because they were firing each course after the one was delivered. Overall, great experience. Would definitely come back.
(4)
James J.
one of the best and more reasonably priced places in manayunk. would advise to stay away from the more fanciful pizza items and stick with the basics though the apps especially the sliders are pretty good
(4)
Sarah R.
I had to upgrade to 5 stars because I finally got around to trying this place out again and wanted to give an extra star for them having VEGAN options, which can be hard to come by. AND I was informed that they don't use soy in their vegan cheese. That's a rarity in the vegan restaurant world! Plus the service is great because they were trying out new Sangria recipes so I was fortunate to get some samples on the house.
(5)
Ken R.
We usually eat at Couch Tomato but we decided to check out the Bistro through a $35 groupon. VERY GOOD dinner and service! They have an awesome selection of non-traditional pizzas, sliders and small plates. The groupon included one order of sliders, one small plate and either a pizza or a salad. We got and order of the crabcake sliders as well as the truffle sliders - both were extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also, got the mussels - just OK and the fig pizza. The fig pizza was different but in a very good way, sweet and salty. It was definitely worth every penny and I'm going to keep my eyes open for another groupon.
(4)
Shannon O.
I've been here a couple times since they opened and I feel like this is just the kind of place that Main Street needs - casual but upscale clientele and interesting, delicious food in a beautifully remodeled space. In short, not fine dining but not a fratty sports bar either. Also, since you're sitting on either the second or third floor of the building, the views out the windows are more than just sidewalk. Last night, my brother, his wife and two children and I stopped by for dinner. (Earlyish, probably around 5:30.) The staff happily rearranged tables to make a space for five, and when we told them we were in a bit of a rush they made a point of getting food to us fast and checking up on us often. Our server, Bob, was professional but friendly, and while we were waiting for appetizers he brought over little samplers of tomato soup with bruschetta. He also admitted, upon seeing my nephew showing me Fruit Ninja, that although he'd once played it for three days straight, he was still terrible at it. This is now my go-to for a sit-down meal on Main Street.
(5)
Jessica W.
I've been going to Tomato Bistro and Cafe since I moved into Manayunk. Their food is always amazing. The portions are nice with creative combinations of pizza and salads. The staff is very friendly and attentive. They also have good deals throughout the week and a date night special. I will continue to be dining at the Bistro and Cafe.
(5)
Eric R.
The small plates are all incredible. The meditarranean appetizer was delicious as well as the risotto. We then split the Guac pizza. I had never tried it before but I was pleasantly surprise. Great experience overall. I suggest going when there is live music. It lightened up the atmosphere.
(5)
Elliot K.
My family and I had dinner at the Tomato Bistro last Friday night. First, having free valet parking is a major bonus in such a busy part of town. Second, the service was amazing...very knowledgable people who can provide you great recommendations. Thirdly, the food is awesome...we have to go back since there are so many options to try. And finally the beer list was very cool...especially having the option of getting a flight of beers for $10 (4 different samples). Very nice! I would highly recommend and would go back again and again! It's my new favorite place!
(5)
Erica M.
Wow...I was beyond impressed by this place. When you walk into Couch Tomato, you could have no idea that there is such a wonderful, tranquil restaurant upstairs. And the food was fantastic as well. We started with a sample of the tomato bisque. I don't like tomato soup, but this stuff was amazing. I wanted to lick my little cup clean! We then had the salmon salad - absolutely wonderful. The salmon was cooked perfectly, the guacamole was delicious, and the light vinaigrette on the green was a great complement. I did get a rotten tomato, which was kind of gross...but it happens! We then had 3 small plates: the Mediterranean plate, the risotto fritters, and the mussels. The Mediterranean plate was quite large, especially for the price. We weren't huge fans of the cheese (it had an odd marinade) but the veggies were well-cooked, and the olives were really yummy. The risotto fritters were a bit too fried for us and the inside risotto wasn't particularly flavorful. It was the only disappointing dish of the night. The mussels blew me away - a huge bowl for large, juicy, perfectly cooked mussels. I can't even tell you the last time I had such good quality mussels - usually they are puny, but not these! We then got the fig and pear pizza (subbed goat cheese for gorgonzola). The ingredients on this pizza were fresh...and the whole wheat crust was perfect. We didn't love the pizza but I think that is 100% person preference and we shouldn't have ordered a sweeter pizza. For anyone who likes a sweeter pizza, this is a MUST order. We finished with the vanilla cheesecake...a small slice if light, creamy cheesecake heaven. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Our server was attentive without being a nag. This is going to be my go-to nice dinner spot in Manayunk now. Without naming names, this restaurant far surpasses the others in the area with similar food/price points.
(4)
Kevin W.
Since this place is new I decided to try it out and on the menu I saw toasted mac n cheese so I ordered it and a soda it was good but its not your traditional mac n cheese it is mostly cheese,corn and what tasted to me like risotto my only complaint is that it's a small portion but it is listed under the "small plates" section the bill came to roughly 10 dollars and like I said it was good but 10 dollars is a lil high for the portion size.service was very good
(3)
Carla T.
I love the Couch Tomato Cafe and was excited for the addition of the Bistro. A few weeks after it opened, my boyfriend and I went over to check it out. The layout/decor is nice and there was less than a 5 minute wait which was great. We were greeted at our table with complimentary tomato basil soup shooters (nice start to our night out); when we got the menu I wasn't too impressed by it. Very similar menu to the Cafe with a few exceptions. Still, I placed my order (the mussles and an order of frites to share) and my boyfriend placed his and that is when I started to loose my appetite... He asked for a side of salsa for whatever it is he ordered (I believe it may have been the Mexican salad). For some reason, this request dumbfounded our waitress and she gave off an annoyed look/attitude. After some back and forth, he let it go and said if it was not possible then to just not worry about it. We were talking about her attitude and how uncomfortable it was and looked towards the direction of our waitress and saw her talking to a coworker while literally laughing and pointing in our direction. It made me feel very uncomfortable and we didn't feel like paying for bad service so we got up and let her know to forget about our order. We left and went over to the Manayunk Tavern, much better experience there. Don't think I'll try the Bistro again; maybe I'll return to the Cafe at some point. Still have a bad taste in my mouth though.
(1)
Lisa J.
Don't do the lunch buffet. The small space when there's a crowd is quite annoying. The food is limited, and it's annoying going up and down the stairs to get food (if you're seated upstairs). My experience was OK. I finished my first dish before I got my water, which is awful for me because I need to drink something with my food. The waiters tried though I guess. I'm giving this place 4 stars because the other stuff on the menu looks better. Just avoid the lunch buffet.
(4)
Jill B.
I love The Tomato Bistro. It's always quality, fresh food. The lunch buffet is by far my favorite - many varieties of pizza, salads, soups, pasta, garlic knots and always something a little different like chicken fajitas to try - all for just $10! My friends from upstate NY and FL request to go here every time they visit. Keep up the good work!!
(5)
Krystal A.
Casual and friendly environment. The pizza was amazing, so were the mussels. Got a groupon and got to try the small plates, which are good sized portions (lunch portions). Pizza can be easily shared with 3 people. Great place for a casual date.
(4)
Tori C.
I've been to The Tomato Bistro several times, and each time has been very pleasant. The food is delicious and there is a unique variety of foods. The pizza is not your traditional pizza, but that's a good thing. I've had the pulled pork, duck and apple, and bacon and goat cheese pizzas, and they were all amazing. Good food at a good price, especially if you go for the lunch buffet...then it's a great price! I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a nice spot for lunch or dinner, and the complimentary valet parking makes it easy to park in an area that can otherwise be terrible to park in!
(5)
N M.
We were looking forward to trying the Tomato Bistro since it opened recently. The Couch Tomato Cafe downstairs is wonderful with healthy, fresh salads/sandwiches/pizza so we knew this would be good for dinner. The bistro opened up on the second and third floors. To start, the space is fantastic. A quaint feel to the place with a bar on the second floor. Great beer and wine selection with some great deals-50% off beer flights last night!. Our server was really friendly/knowledgeable as well. We started with the Caprese Salad-Amazing! Really flavorful and perfectly seasoned. Second, we had some small plates-the crab crepe, sweet potato latke and the farro grain. All were delicious, but for me, were a little on the heavy side (maybe too much cream and/or butter?). I tend to like my food on the lighter side though. Our main course was the Mediterranean Pizza. Tasty, but very salty. Love that you can get the pizzas on wheat crust. I would love to see different variations of the pizzas they make at the cafe downstairs. To end the meal, our server brought out a sample of the bread pudding just for us to try (really nice of her by the way!) and an incredible chocolate cake with an equally incredible serving of espresso ice cream. Overall, nice experience but maybe just a few adjustments to the menu can be made. We will be back!
(3)
Jason K.
The food is great. Recommended items: pulled pork sliders, tomato basil mussels, chicken & waffles, pulled pork pizza, and the tortilla salad. Honestly, everything is good so try different combinations each visit.
(4)
Neel P.
Enjoyed it. Good location. Nice staff
(4)
Lesley P.
Update August 2012- we went back and found the food to be delicious and the dollar value to have gone up. We did this independent of any invitation by the owners. Our server was excellent and we were even moved to buy a gift certificate to the place as a gift to a friend. ------------------------------------- I have been seeing good reviews on this place so I decided to check it out. The look of the restaurant is very pretty and open and one would not guess the size from the outside. I met a friend for lunch. I had a salad for under $8.50 and she had a pulled pork small plate for $7.50. We both had something like expresso gelato for dessert (very good). The wait-person kept letting us know portions are small. They were not miniscule but I guess she wanted to make sure we understood these are not TGI Friday's size portions - which are gross anyway. As mentioned in other postings, the bill could get high pretty quickly if you want to eat a lot- but this way you can try different things and share. I guess Agiato - down the block, has a similar scheme of savory food in small portions that can add up quickly. I think Tomato Bistro is a good addition to the neighborhood. Supposedly there is some free parking during weekday lunch which is nice. We did not use it but it is listed on their website.
(5)
Jennifer B.
Hands down overall EXCELLENT experience! Our server, Erin, made for an enjoyable evening. She was very friendly, had great recommendations on wine, was knowledgeable about the draft list, and had excellent reasons behind trying the food dishes she recommended. The food was really great! Next time, I would order a whole bowl of the tomato bisque they give as a complementary starter-Delicious. The Salmon Salad was well thought out with the flavor combinations, the pizza was a nice thinner crust with toppings exactly as described, and the Mother-In-Law Cheesecake with fresh caramel topping was the perfect way to end the evening.
(4)
Shana T.
Amazing food and drink selection! Very friendly and helpful staff! Great layout and decor!
(5)
Becky B.
I've been to 'The Tomato Bistro' twice now and both times the experience has been exceptional. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly. The restaurant is nice and clean and as a bonus, my friend with a gluten allergy can eat here because of all the gluten-free foods. I haven't tried all of the dishes yet, but the Pesto Pizza was delicious. I was a little surprised at how it looked when it came out, green with basil (which kind of looks like clover) and cheese. But it was amazing and I will be ordering it again. I like that when you sit down at your table your server brings you a soup sample in a tiny cup with a piece of bread. Very tastey tomato bisque. There were a few downsides as well. I ordered a few glasses of wine and was unaware of how overpriced it would be. We ended up spending $30 on three glasses of wine. I could have gotten three bottles for that price! Also I ordered the bruchette which is one of my favorite appetizers to get when I'm out. What they served was not at all what I was expecting. Bruchette should be tomatoes and olives on top of thin pieces of bread. This was big chunks of bread with strange toppings, salsa-impersenator, raisins, what I hope was ground figs, and more salsa-impersenators. I took a tiny bite of each, but did not care for it at all. This dish should be renamed because it was misleading. While I am disappointed in the appetizer that I ordered, overall my experience was a postive one and I would go back again.
(4)
Terri K.
Had dinner here last week with my 3 daughters and my granddaughter. The staff was great; very accommodating and helpful. I love the many offerings for small plates they have. We ordered about 8 small plates and a pizza and salad. Everything was delicious. I especially appreciated not feeling rushed since it was my Birthday and I wanted to enjoy the company of my family.
(4)
Tyler R.
Get here. Great micro brews, food, atmosphere and staff. Best happy hour of Manayunk, thanks Zach and Bob
(5)
Carla L.
My husband and I went because we love the Couch Tomato Cafe and found a coupon online for 3 small plates, a pizza, a salad, and a dessert! We couldn't pass it up. The decor was beautiful and I also enjoyed the tomato soup shooter that started the meal. Our server, Tom, was very friendly and checked up on us throughout the meal. We started with garlic shrimp, risotto fritters, and the meatball. The risotto fritters were great and the garlic shrimp were huge and pretty good. I was not impressed by the meatball. We had the pear salad which was good but not great. I think it needed a more robust dressing like the one they use for the hawaiian salad downstairs. We had the Greek pizza which was also really pod but had a few too many olives. We were told our cheesecake was fresh so we had it and it was also quite tasty. I would suggest them offering an optional topping for it. Beer selection was impressive but prices do need to be added. I didn't think the prices were bad but everyone is cost conscious now so it would be good to add it. Granted we are giving it 5 stars because we had a coupon but we do plan on going back for Margherita Mondays. A Margherita pizza and two margaritas for $17.99. Sounds good to us!
(5)
Jena N.
I love the couch tomato ( I think i even wrote a review on it as well) so i was extremely excited when there was going to basically be a couch tomato with a bar. win win. My boyfriend took me here the other night and it was so much nicer than i expected. The atmosphere is perfect for couples. Its decorated very well with romantic lighting. the waitress was nice, she recommended we share a "small plate" and a pizza. perfect suggestion. We had the crab crepe which was amazing and then the sausage pizza. Every was fresh and delicious. The beer was pretty great too, I wish they had more of a champagne selection but i know thats reaching pretty far. All in all i liked it a lot and would probably go again.
(4)
lee k.
i love couch tomato. i especially love the bistro's new buffet option, great options and a great deal. all you can eat of a variety of salads, pizzas, soup and pasta for $10 including drinks.
(5)
Thomas E.
The restaurant is alright, but it has a lot of kinks to work out. [EDIT] Wow, I just returned to this restaurant after many months, and boy has it improved. The beer selection is wonderful, the flavors of the food are bold yet balanced. If you care to read my original review below, just know that they have pretty much fixed everything that I took issue with. [END OF EDIT] Like its downstairs counterpart, the Tomato Bistro strives to take a different and fresh approach to Italian/American cuisine. However, also like its downstairs counterpart, most of the menu items seem to have been invented by a single person overly engulfed in their culinary vision and ignoring (or perhaps lacking in) knowledge in traditional dishes and cooking. The pizza margherita is an example of this. The pizza was an oval of doughy, undercooked pizza crust, topped with tomato sauce, thick blobs of straight mozzarella cheese, herbs, and a single sliced grape tomato on each piece. The grape tomato seems a step down from the usual topping for a margherita - thin slices of a much larger tomato that covers the majority of the surface. The pie tasted like it had come out of my own toaster oven - ingredients thrown together and flavors hardly married. A sad drizzle of olive oil sat atop the cheese, failing to be the glue to hold the dish together. The small dishes varied greatly in quality. The mussels sat in a flavorful sauce, but sadly, they were covered in a few too many pieces of bacon. I did very much enjoy the use of artichoke in some of the dishes. My favorite mouthful came from the simplistic and perfect "crispy artichoke" dish. The hearts had a flavorful crust with just enough firmness to compliment the soft center. The beer selection could be widened a bit from the hops-intensive swill we've come to love in Eastern PA (and indeed across this whole country.) Maybe a dark beer that's not a porter? Meh.. The atmosphere is great though. That's its strongest point.
(5)
Linda K.
Great place for take out or a to go lunch. I keep going back for more. The food is generous portions and the pizza really is wonderful. Could have wifi and more outdoor sitting. Great casual down to earth place. I always get a bunch of substitutions on my rap and they always manage to get it right!
(4)
Natedogg G.
We had an excellent experience here. The gourmet pizzas are as good as it gets...have been twice now and can't decide which pizza is my favorite...may just have to keep trying new kinds! Was kid-friendly but can also see going there for a date. This place is a great reason to get a sitter. Staff so nice and friendly. Can't wait to go back! Manayunk just got even better.
(5)
Antonio J.
Very nice! Good food, cozy place, free valet, and the waiter was laid back, but helpful.
(4)
Marie S.
ate here tonight for the first time and all i have to say is the CHICKEN & WAFFLES... wow. just wow. super moist pulled chicken braised in lager with bacon and apple butter and maple syrup...in a belgian waffle sandwich. mmm so good. we had a few other dishes too that were decent but i still can't get over the chicken & waffles! it's very cute and comfortable in here too.. not too pricy. can't wait to go back and try the pizzas (fig pesto sounds yummy).
(4)
Tracy S.
Our night started by having to wait over 40 minutes for a table that we had an 8:00pm reservation for. Due to the fact that the restaurant was so over crowded the host actually suggested we go wait at the bar across the street, Manayunk Tavern, which is not even owned by the Tomato Bistro, which should've been our first clue to go somewhere else for dinner. Our table was still not ready at 8:45 so the host literally threw together 2 mismatched tables that were wobbly. When we were finally greeted by a server, our waitress brought us samples of soup with a biscotti, which was nice but she started to clear the soup within minutes and take them before we were even finished tasting our sample; because she was rushing she spilled soup all over my friend, who was luckily wearing black. The waitress then came back with a napkin and proceed to physically wipe off my friend despite the fact that my friend asked her repeatedly to stop touching her. We ordered 3 pizzas for our group of 6 and when our food arrived one of the pizzas was missing, by the time we got the forgotten pizza we were done eating. The late/forgotten pizza was undercooked and taken to our table right out of the oven without cooling so when you tried to pick up a burning hot slice it all fall apart. I am typically not a person to write bad reviews but our experience at this restaurant was just SO awful from start to finish. A person who I think may have been a manager came to our table and asked how everything was and we told him about the crummy chain of events that happened...he did not seem to care very much. He offered us no compensation and was not very apologetic. As someone who worked in the restaurant business for many years, I can honestly say that the Tomato Bistro should be embarrassed. I recommend eating at the Manayunk Tavern across the street, they have great service and great food.
(1)
Kristen S.
Went on a groupon. Caesar salad was ok... It was nice that it was vegetarian, but that may be why it was just ok. Crispy artichokes themselves were awesome, but the salad they served them on tasted like it was meant for another dish--it was a bad bad match. The bruschetta had three toppings. The fig paste tasted like a coffee shop. The tomato topping was way too lemony. The eggplant and raisin one was good. The Mediterranean plate was fine, but not special. Fig pizza was pretty good. Fruit cobbler dessert was terrible. I'm a big fan of dessert and this might have been the first dessert i met I didn't like. The apples were tough and dry, swimming around in a watery spiced broth with a few cranberries tossed in before having a mix of flour, nuts, and water dribbled over the top and the whole thing microwaved until tepid. Neither of us leaves food on the table but that dessert got left behind. So glad we didn't pay full price. Server was nice, beer list was great. But there are a lot of places around town with good beer and good food, too. Edit: After posting my initial review (left above in its unadulterated version), the owner reached out to me to apologize for the experience, and to seek very specific feedback so they could address the problems. He offered me the opportunity to come back and try again, some costs on them, in the hopes of upping my review. They seem very intent on doing better and staying an integral part of the neighborhood. Stay tuned for the re-review.
(2)
Jessica O.
The Tomato Bistro was a great experience! The food was great and the atmosphere was also nice. The service was great and I will definitely be back!
(4)
Mike H.
I the moment I arrived at the Tomato Bistro, I was very please with the set up and color schemes. It was a very comfortable setting with modern decor and a great atmosphere. I am a fan of craft beers, so when I saw the beer menu I was pleased to see a good variety with a few beers I haven't heard of. The wine menu was great also. The food menu was not large, which in my opinion means that the items on the menu are done correctly. Our table split a couple of appetizers that we delicious and not too filling. For the entree, our table ordered personal pizzas which were all delicious. The crust is not over powering and the ingredients were fresh and delicious. The staff was very accommodating to slight alterations or changes to the pizza on the menu. For example, my pizza did not come with red sauce but they did not hesitate to follow through with my request. I would have to say the overall experience was wonderful. The wait staff was friendly and the food was delicious. It was also close to all the "hot spots" on main street, so it was easy to go out an enjoy a night out after dinner. They also honored all coupons that we had that evening. I would highly recommend this place for a great dinner affair.
(5)
Parnell G.
I've been to Tomato Bistro severl times.Each time I had an excellent experience. The staff are friendly and helpful. FREE valet parking, cant beat that! And their brunch buffet is delicious and affordable. Overall a really nice and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)
Erin W.
I've been back to Tomato Bistro a couple of times now and every visit I'm more impressed. The weight staff is great and the food never disappoints. On our last visit we had the buffet and everything was delicious. The French toast was better than most breakfast joints, the pizza had a good rotation of flavors and the pulled pork was melt in your mouth. A great variety to start the day!
(5)
Liz W.
The food was DELICIOUS. Really really worth what you pay for it. Menu Tip: The buffalo chicken quesadillas melt in your mouth. The owner is great! He's very concerned with customer service and satisfaction. Very impressed by how my (mild) complaints were handled. I look forward to visiting here again! (Complaint: We waited 45 minutes for our food [on a slow Monday evening] and although our server consistently filled our drinks [which was awesome!!], she left us totally in the dark about our food.) HIGHLY recommended! If you're in Manayunk, you want to go here.
(5)
Mr And Mrs Nurse A.
OMG! I have only ever been here for their lunch buffet (brunch on weekends). It is so awesome. There is always a hot pasta dish, usually a hot vegetable. Two or three types of gourmet salads with dressing, a couple of pizzas (meat and veggie). There's this stromboli thing with egg and bacon and sausage...it's awesome. On the weekends it's all of the above plus usually french toast sticks and yogurt parfait. This isn't your typical 30-item-on-a-steam-table type of place. The food is freshly made and replenished frequently. Sometimes when it's busy there can be a wait before new pizza or salad is brought out, but it's not a terrible length of time and it's worth the wait! This is a great place with super service. The food is awesome and it's a nice place to go if you have the day off during the week, or want a nice lunch on the weekend. We always take family here we we have out of town guests
(5)
Victoria L.
Stumbled in here hungover last month after the 4th of July and found the miraculous buffet. What a deal for $12 including fountain soda/iced tea. It's all restaurant quality food for a very reasonable price. The caesar salad was delicious; the pizzas were brought out regularly; the pasta and chicken dishes were very decent. While we were sitting we also found out about their brunch drink specials, so I'm super excited about that. I'm definitely going to start coming here more often!
(4)
Rita C.
Announcement: The Tomato Bistro had pumpkin beer on tap in August so I was instantly a fan. A friend and I stopped in for dinner one weeknight and were able to be seated right away. The waitress came right over to take our drink order. They had quite a few craft beers on tap (as I mentioned, pumpkin beer was there!) and it happened to be wine night, which I'm all about. My friend ended up with the BLT wedge salad and sweet potato fries; I stuck with the bacon and goat cheese pizza. Both were delicious! The wedge salad was pretty large and looked like it was really filling. The goat cheese pizza was fantastic. The crust was cooked perfectly, the bacon was plentiful, and the whole pizza was simple yet tasty. I'd definitely head back here in the future to try other things on the menu (and drink more beer!).
(4)
Steve S.
I was torn between giving this place 3 or 4 stars. Allow me to explain. I decided I had to try this place after sampling their wares at the Yelp Backstage Party. So I stopped in over a week ago with a friend for dinner and sat at their tiny bar. So, I gave the chicken and waffle dish a shot. Yes, it is small. It is tasty with that bacon infused syrup. The chicken was not quite what I expected. But it did fine. The meatball pizza was quite good as well. The meatballs could have used some more flavor to me, but my grandmother spoiled me when it comes to meatballs so perhaps that's an unfair comparison. I do love their tomato bisque. The simplicity of it makes it better to me. That's what I loved at the Yelp event and it did not fail. Call it 3 1/2 stars for the food which I considered slightly pricey for what you get, but they win the 4th because the staff was great to talk to and I like the location. You won't go wrong here.
(4)
Andrew W.
Great staff and an amazing chef! The quality of food is the best I have ever experienced at a pizza spot, and the prices are spot on. Down to the smallest leaf of lettuce in their salads to an entire pizza pie their quest for perfection and quality food is commendable and worth every penny!!!
(5)
Amber L.
This is my favorite Philly restaurant. I drag everyone here. I have celiacs and their gluten free pizza is AMAZING and their sandwiches are great too. I haven't had anything here I didn't love.
(5)
Monica C.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. Their brunch is a buffet selection with a variety of pizza, pasta, salads, veggies for the lunch section and then French toast, bacon, and granola for the breakfast selection. For someone who prefers the breakfast option over lunch, this was slightly disappointing since I don't eat bacon. However the French toast was amazing and came with cinnamon sugar butter. I also ordered a Bloody Mary. Their Bloody Mary recipe is a little weak and I would not order it again. I asked the waitress for horseradish and hot sauce so I could spice it up a little, and she was great and brought me some. She even admitted that she has been trying to tell the manager to change the recipe but they refuse. The outdoor seating here is first-come, first-served. So get here early if you're trying to dine al fresco.
(3)
Jessica P R.
Came here for lunch. The food was quite good, but the service was slow. I'd definitely come back. We ordered off-menu instead of going to the buffet (which looks very enticing). Salad was very good and the pizza was delicious.
(4)
Joey M.
This visit was better than the last :) We had a voucher for a free pizza in the bistro and we're happy to use it! We really wanted the Maui wowie pizza toppings that you can get in the cafe but was not offered as an option in the bistro. We asked the waitress if this was possible and she made it happen :) Glad we did bc it was awesome! I ordered a flight of beer (see pics) which I somehow missed on my last visit. I am a big fan of flights since I am a big fan of beer and this allows you to sample a plethora of drafts! I was not disappointed!
(5)
Amy H.
Shortly after you are seated, they serve you a tiny cup of their acclaimed tomato soup as an amuse-bouche. The food is delicious with options for all dietary preferences, and they also have a decent beer and wine selection. They frequently offer specials for two - double them up for your group of more because the savings are noticeable. For example: two beers, salad, large pizza (creative and healthy topping combinations) and dessert for under $40.00. It was a nice and inexpensive choice for our gathering. Don't forget to tip your server as though you're paying full price for your meal and drink. We stopped in late on a Saturday afternoon, and were delighted to be in the shadows of a child's birthday party where it appeared as though the service staff was having as much fun as the guests. I noticed comments in reviews about the challenges of parking, and we made the same mistake our first time here. Take advantage of the valet parking, it's free!
(4)
Current G.
Wonderful food, great service--there's a reason this place is so popular! Sliders are a great choice, as arw the pizzas. Why everyone wants a buffet, I will never know, but more tasty food for us!
(5)
Chris T.
Great place to eat. We went for brunch on a Saturday. We were pleasantly surprised with a breakfast buffet option. Great selection of food that all tasted amazing.
(5)
Daniel Y.
Couch Tomato Cafe is on the first floor and the Bistro on the top two. I got here early during dinner service because I wanted to walk along the tow patch before the rains came. I ended up ordering the sliders.You have the option to choose three from eight different kinds which makes each slider about $4 each. Lobster Cake - avocado, corn, lemon aioli A thin lobster "patty" that made me wishing the avocado had more of a presence and a brighter acidic splash from the lemon aioli. If you like your lobster cakes without filler or very little, this isn't your cake. Though I'm certain the filler helps the cake hold together in a burger shape. Beef Short Rib - bacon, grana padano, horseradish cream sauce, micro greens What? There was bacon in there? I think the horseradish, though not terrible strong, had hid the fact that there was bacon, which makes me quite sad about it. The short rib, on the other hand, was tender and very well-sauced. Fried Egg - grass-fed beef, cheddar, bacon apple jam A more "standard" burger style, the fried egg brought back memories of eating at Fatburger in college (minus the fancy bacon apple jam and grass-fed beef). I wish they give you the option of specifying how well the burger should be. Mine was well-done, but I definitely prefer a medium to medium-well depending on the freshness and if it was ground on the premises. The sliders also came with a choice of side. I tried to be slightly healthy and opted for the apple chips - which turned out to be apple chip crumbs and could have benefited from a spoon. Overall, it was a good experience and enjoyable. When I was there they were giving out complimentary samples of one of their tomato bisque and bruschetta. Bonus tip: They have free parking validation which is worth its weight in gold in this area.
(4)
Mobola O.
Great service! Came in for a late brunch and we were greeted by a very friendly hostess. Service was fast and the food was pretty good.
(4)
Justin M.
Best brunch in town hands down! Buffet always has great choice and attentive wait staff! Can't wait to come back again
(5)
Cat P.
The Couch Tomato Bistro is a two-level establishment that offers two different experiences: casual counter service with fast-food style seating on the main level and full-service dining in a bistro setting on the upper level. We opted for upstairs dining because we're fancy like that. :P I was still pretty full from lunch, so I ordered tomato soup and a small plate, tandoori scallops. The tomato soup was creamy and satisfying but not exceptional. The scallops, on the other hand, were phenomenal--plump, juicy, HUGE, well-seasoned, and delicious. These molluscs were served with hummus, roasted red pepper, roasted butternut squash, and sun dried tomato aioli. This dish would have been a 10 had it not been a tad on the saltier side. But they really treated those scallops right. Service was friendly and fast. And the overall environment is nice, comfortable yet upscale. Couch Tomato is a great neighborhood spot and an ideal place for group dining. Noise level was surprisingly not bad considering how packed it was when we came. They're known for their pizzas, so will definitely try one of their pizza creations, if I visit again. Maybe pistachio pesto or the Florentine, which consists of roasted garlic aioli, organic spinach, fontina, mozzarella, ricotta, and grano padano. Both sound really, really good.
(4)
Celyne C.
Went with friends, one who is vegan. It's difficult to find affordable vegan friendly food in Manayunk, but this meal hit the spot. The food was fresh and tasty. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly, making sure all our dietary needs were met. Enjoyable experience overall.
(4)
Taylor B.
Huge fan of the Couch Tomato Cafe so I figured I'd take my dad to the Couch Tomato Bistro for lunch during his last visit. We sat at the bar and our waitress was very nice and accommodating. As a starter she gave us a shooter of tomato soup and a savory biscotti, perfect start to lunch. My dad had the fried egg slide and the beef short rib slider and he was a big fan. I had the fried goat cheese salad and would definitely recommend it! They have the healthiest options around and I will definitely be visiting again!
(5)
Jennifer R.
Had a wonderful dinner here with my friend this weekend. The owners are doing a lot right from the cute naming of "couch tomato" for the take out side, the amuse -bouche, the unique dishes, and options for each like gluten-free or wheat crust. We had a really tasty few dishes which included the risotto balls, fried goat cheese salad and spinach ricotta pizza (forget the name of that one). The pizza tasted really fresh and was cut in a memorable way, but truthfully was my least favorite of what we ordered. was very flat and a bit one note. Some of the other pizzas look much better though, so maybe it just wasn't the right choice. Risotto balls and salad were beyond delicious. Everything else was fantastic for the most part. Our server was a little on the grumpy side, but they have a fantastic beer menu with flights and some really clever tactics. We were super impressed with the menu and will definitely be back to try one of the more out of the box pizza (hehe). Pricing was moderate. There's a lot of charm and characterizing factors to this place, so it's a hit in my book.
(4)
Kevin M.
We visited again for a quick bite. Love the food and atmosphere....Manayunk! Also tried the West Chester location. Equally good. Live all locations.
(5)
Steve S.
Excellent and affordable lunch buffet with a variety of delicious options. Extremely friendly and helpful staff.
(5)
Shannon M.
This is an awesome spot in Manayunk, and a great place to have dinner with friends, on a date, etc. Before going to the Bistro, I had already been several times in person to the downstairs Couch Tomato Cafe, so I was expecting great things from the Bistro my first time there; it did not disappoint! My group shared the Signature Margherita pizza and the Fig & Pear. Both were excellent! This place has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and is an overall great deal.
(5)
Sarah B.
I was very impressed with the types of pizzas, crusts and other menu items available. If you aren't a pizza person, there's salads, sandwiches and sliders. Duck pizza was fantastic with shredded bits of duck and apple butter on it. None of the bottoms were charred, so the oven is at exactly the right temperature. Our server was very nice, the selection of craft beers was good, the sangria was better. Multiple levels with limited outdoor seating. We went fairly early because we were going to a Paint Nite event at Mad River at 7, but at 5:00 the atmosphere was laid back and quiet.
(5)
Jay G.
I went to The Tomato Bistro because I purchased a Groupon for it after seeing the reviews on Yelp were good. Finding parking on the street was pretty difficult, even on a cold, windy winter night. First, I accidentally followed a car into the alley next to the restaurant which did not contain public parking and probably scared the people who first pulled in there, but after that I drove around the block to a usual parking garage that I use on Cresson St.. The parking lot was completely full and the attendee asked me to leave my car with the key for him to park. I wasn't going to allow this to happen as I prefer to park myself so I asked him if I could park on the street. He pulled out a cone and gave me "RSVP" parking outside of his garage. This worked out for me as I would've probably had to park further away from the restaurant, which isn't fun in 20 degrees. At the restaurant, we went upstairs and were seated in front of a window on the lower story of The Tomato Bistro. We had a nice view of the intersection of Main St. and Rector St. out the window, but there wasn't much happening due to the cold weather. My girlfriend and I decided to order the fried egg, pimiento, and truffle sliders which all turned out to be very good. They were all cooked around medium and were full of flavor. For our small plate, we had the mussels which were good but not amazing. Some of them were overcooked or very tiny but we still ate the entire dish. For our entree, we had the prosciutto pizza which my girlfriend really enjoyed but I wasn't a huge fan of the peppers on the pizza. Either way, it was good enough for me to eat half of the pizza. Overall, the restaurant was pretty good and we would recommend it to anybody looking for a good meal in Manayunk.
(4)
Dan C.
We grabbed pizza from this place one night an it was really pretty fantastic. Definitely surprised with the quality and flavor. Recommend.
(4)
Alicia O.
A couple of my friends and I grabbed dinner here on a weeknight. I bought the Yelp $10 for $20 deal beforehand and glasses of wine were half off at the restaurant that night, so we definitely saved a lot. We all went with the small plates and here's what we had: -mussels with white wine and garlic -mac and cheese -crispy artichokes with olive tapenade and lemon aioli -pretzel fondue with kielbasa and apples My only complaint is that I had no idea what kind of cheese was in the pretzel fondue. I could definitely taste some cinnamon in the cheese, so it's more a sweet fondue, but overall, my friends and I were really happy with everything we ordered. Next time, I'm looking for a dinner spot in Manayunk, this place will definitely be on my list. Still gotta try the pizza too!
(4)
Becca D.
Another winner for the Manayunk Tomato folks! I had been to the Bistro once before, but it was after a crazy busy/stressful day so I wanted to wait until I had the chance to go back to write a review. Craig had sent me a coupon for buy-one-get-one and I finally made it back with the boyfriend last night! First off, two changes since I last went in December - they now have a few liquor options instead of just beer and wine, and they give an appetizer tomato soup with biscott. Everything was absolutely superb! I hadn't known about the appetizer so was pleasantly surprised when that came to the table, and it was absolutely delicious as well. We split a bunch of things - risotto fritters, mussels in wine/garlic sauce, sliders (1 lobster and 1 pulled pork), and a margherita pizza. Risotto fritters came first - they were creamy, cheesy, and the pesto sauce was awesome! Next were the mussels. I have tried mussels a handful of times and never really cared for them either way, but these were delicious... the wine/garlic sauce really won me over. Dipping that thick hunk of bread in that sauce was heaven! The sliders came after that - the lobster one was very fresh and crisp, and the pulled pork summery and savory. The boyfriend was still hungry after all that, so we got the pizza as well. I just had a small piece and it was super yummy, loved the big leaves of basil on top. Our server, Phil, was great - very attentive and knowledgeable! The ambiance is both casual yet intimate, a little more upscale-ish than the downstairs Tomato. Very glad I finally had the chance to make it back here! I definitely saw many more things on the menu I eventually want to try. And based on Yelp reviews, it seems I will need to make it back for the lunch/brunch buffet at some point. A+++ for the Tomato folks, you guys really nailed it with both the Bistro and Couch Tomato!
(5)
Victor R.
Recently moved to within walking distance of main street. This is my go to spot for food. Pizza and sliders are very good. They also provide a small complimentary tomato bisque sample which is also very good. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean, much larger and nicer than I expected. Wait staff is very friendly and accommodating. They had no qualms splitting a check with 4 credit cards. If you are in the area, this is a must eat location.
(5)
Annie W.
The food was good as well as the service The buffet is fairly small, but fresh & adequate. The following was deelish: watermelon salad Tomoato bisque The pizza, rice & bruschetta was tasty the pesto ziti & chicken marsala was ok. It was a great value $12 for unlimited buffet & included unlimited soft drinks The place is rather small. The buffet is on the 2nd floor & we had to sit on the 3rd floor. It was lunch & a workout at the same dam time lol
(4)
Erin C.
Whenever someone from out of town visits me in Manayunk, this is where I bring them. They have an awesome selection of delicious personal pizzas, sliders, salads, and more. I get the pizza soup every time - there's nothing like it. They also have a great beer selection, which is a must in Manayunk. I highly recommend Couch Tomato!
(5)
Gia M.
I was very pleased with my visit to Tomato Bistro last week. My friend and I barely missed happy hour, but I was happy to see some of my favorite local craft beer on tap (gotta love Victory!) and we immediately fell to, as it was a very humid day outside. Our server was also great-- very friendly and answered all of our questions (there were a few more than usual for me). We ordered one of the mason jars to start-- the marmalade and goat cheese, which was very tasty. A surprise was the complimentary tomato bisque that appeared on the table, although I think I was still too overheated from the walk to properly enjoy it. My friend ordered two of the sliders-- a southwest and a pulled pork. They looked delicious but she ate them too fast for me to get a bite. She loved the chips that came on the side as well. I ordered the buffalo chicken quesadilla, which came with heavenly gorgonzola sauce, but I didn't detect a lot of buffalo flavoring. Not a huge disppointment, but I would have liked the chicken to be a little more distinguishable. Overall, a VERY solid choice for Main Street Manayunk. I want to come back for brunch, which I hear is quite good.
(4)
Florie F.
Got to stop in for lunch before an anatomy exam with a friend. It was the perfect atmosphere to relax and get some good food! Got to indulge in the lunch buffet and enjoyed the variety of both meat lover and vegetarian options!
(4)
Emily P.
Went for the sunday brunch and would probably give betwen 3 and 3.5 stars. Food was pretty good and the buffet was nice. However, servers were not refilling buffet even when it was slow and not even busy. Service was okay. Overall I thought the food was pretty good but other than that it is nothing special.
(3)
Liana L.
Updating my review as we tried the bistro again. Everyone was very friendly there and love their atmosphere but was again a bit disappointed in certain ways. I ordered their gluten free vegan version if their Margherita pizza with spinach added. It was delish like I remembered the first time but was disappointed bc after finding out their Margherita sauce was def vegan friendly that on my pizza there lacked their of the sauce! And my pizza came out on strange metal plate instead of the nice wooden one with the handle like my husbands pizza.
(4)
Joe K.
Went for brunch with the family and ordered the buffet and also off the menu. Arugula steak salad from the menu was fresh and tasty. Steak was tender and was perfectly dressed. Kids Chicken strips were delicious and well made with panko. Buffet was small, but really had everything you'd want from a buffet - great mix of pizza, breakfast calzone, French toast, thick cut bacon, tortellini, teamed veggies, broccoli salad, cookies and brownies. Bloody Mary was effective not "gourmet" like you'd get at Beau Monde. Service was great and I left full and satisfied.
(4)
Donna M.
Great food and service. Its hard to find GOOD gluten free options or places that are willing to TRY to make something on the menu GF. This place does both! Great home made GF pizza crust and bread made there. Not pre packaged.
(5)
Jade V.
Oh, oh, oh! The Tomato Bistro! (That rhymes, right?) I discovered the existence of this place at Yelp's Backstage Pass Party at Union Transfer. These guys have some great PR going on. So it's called The Tomato Bistro. But that's not all they have. We ordered mostly off their tapas menu, with the exception of their duck & apple pizza (full disclosure: we had a coupon for a free pizza from the Yelp Event). Actually, let's start with the duck & apple pizza. Amazingly different, and a brilliant combination. Take a look at their menu for more tempting toppings. And the chicken & waffles. Not the typical "Roscoe's" style fried chicken and waffles, but an interpretation I'd eat over and over again. Certainly less guilt-inducing. And, by chance, we were there on Thursday, which is Flight Night! $6.99 beer flights, what a deal! A positively casual atmosphere that I would not hesitate to revisit. Pleasant surprises: Free tomato bisque with a biscotti inside upon sitting down, and free valet parking! Do yourself a favor and stop on by!
The best specialty slice of pizza I ever ate was this past Sunday at the Tomato Bistro. They really stepped up your game with the Buffalo chicken slice. The celery while most places dice it and put it on the pizza you guys had it shaved. Albeit I think celery is a preposterous notion to begin with but this was the least invasive I've ever seen it. Cheese, always excellent. Where it really excellent was the extremely crispy freshly fried and battered breaded chicken on top. Amazing seasoning. Juicy. And the crème de la crème was the "chili/buffalo" oil on top. It wasn't really a sauce but more so a glaze. It was the consistency of of a Chinese hot chili oil, lucid red spicy but also sweet. Basically the perfect culmination of all things buffalo!
This is a great place for a quick bite. Good food, decent prices, and even valet parking! Nice little spot in Manayunk.
(4)
Khanh V.
I came here mainly for the pizza with friends. We ordered the Basil Pesto and requested eggs on top. The pizza was very earthy and I like it. I wished I added mushroom as well though. I didn't leave full, but it was ok. We only wanted to snack. Overall, the place is nice and clean. The service was good and friendly. I would definitely return to try other foods on the menu. On my second return, I tried other pizzas on the menu. The pizzas were ok. I enjoy the live music and romantic feel to the place. I heard the cafe has more pizza choice, so I want to try that next time.
(3)
Valerie F.
I don't even know where to begin describing how much I love this place. I'll start with the lunch buffet: it's delicious! Love the selection of foods and for $12 you can't beat it. The brunch buffet is pretty much the same thing except they add the most amazing French toast I've ever tasted into the selection. For dinner all if their pizzas are good, sliders are amazing and any if the other appetizers are good too. I think I've tried everything on the menu and have always been pleased.
(5)
Megan M.
First thing first: the pizza was good, but nothing too special, and certainly overpriced. As another reviewer mentioned, maybe pizza is rave-worthy for PA, but if you're from NJ or NY then skip this -- you can find the same for cheaper at home. Their salads, however, are awesome. I can't speak for the rest of my group, but I got the Tortilla Salad (Chicken, black beans, pepper jack, tortilla strips, avocado, and chipotle dressing). Delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the creamy avocado/dressing combo (with a great little kick from the chipotle!) was like magic in my mouth. I thought it was a perfect portion size and appropriately priced for the quality. I'll probably return if I'm in the area again, but will stay away from the pizza in favor of their more sophisticated menu items. P.S. Use the free valet parking! Saved us time & hassle on a rainy night
(4)
Dana T.
We had a great experience at The Tomato Bistro! The service was great, and I loved the variety of unique pizza toppings. They make their own Gluten Free pizza dough, and it was delicious! The rest of my group had the regular pizzas, and they loved them too! Will definitely be back!
(5)
Jessica G.
Amazing Brunch place ever!!! Pizza and salads are so yummy!!!
(5)
Katie P.
The tomato bistro is delcious. All the goodness of couch tomato cafe but a little fancier. Good beer selection and I really like the look of the place. Lots of light and exposed brick walls make it very welcoming. A great place for lunch or dinner. Try the ricotta salata!
(5)
Megan T.
If there was a 4.5 stars, that's what I would give them. But because yelp only allows whole numbers, I will round up. I went with friends for the lunch buffet today after church, after hearing good reviews from Peter L, who reviewed it in April! I was impressed by the buffet because not only was the food mostly tasty, but it looked like a good deal of thought goes into their preparation. They had sesame seeds in their garlic/herb knots (which were very good, by the way). They provided cinnamon butter for the yummy french toast. They had a mini parfait station with granola that, although I didn't have room for it, looked as though they made it or at least bought it from a quality vendor whose name was not Quaker Oats. The buffet plates also seemed a bit smaller than normal, which was good because I think it encouraged less food waste. They also had 3-4 types of pizza and stromboli as well (with non-vegetarian and vegetarian labels). Pizza types included what I think was a fig jam, pear, bacon, and bleu cheese (?), pesto, and buffalo fried chicken, among others. I thought the pizza was the strongest on the buffet. For the salads, i wish the green bean salad had had a bit more flavor (though I appreciate the non-overcooked string beans), and that the dressing on the broccoli salad had been less watery. My favorite salad was the fiesta salad, which had generous chunks of mango, which I know has to be a bit expensive this time of year. Oh! I also liked that sodas (a nice variety) were included in the price of a buffet. I will definitely be back to see what other foods they create!
(5)
Kristi F.
One of my favorites on Main Street in Manayunk. Don't miss the weekday lunch buffet!
(5)
Geraldine B.
Great little place I have been enjoying for several years. Kudos to them for their gluten free items on the menu. Everything fresh and delicious. Wait staff always friendly and helpful. Top of my list and I bring many guests who also enjoy the place. Cheers to Couch Tomato.
(5)
Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
Solid beer list, unique menu items, and friendly staff. When you come in at the ground level, it's cafe style dining. Going upstairs, you'll see there's a small dining area but they have a third flight with more seating. They had a few TVs on for people who wanted to watch the game which was a nice touch. Classy place and accommodating to the patron. I'll come back
(5)
Shaun P.
TheTomatoBistro.com I ordered a pizza with prosciutto, a waldorf salad, and the short rib small plate. The pizza was very good, flat bread style. The salad came as expected as seemed very fresh. The short ribs were very tender although the sauce was not to my taste, but I think that was just personal preference because it had a tomato base and I'm not a huge fan of tomato. The waitress was very nice, not overbearing but always there when we needed something. The atmosphere was casual but nice and the place seemed very clean. I would definitely recommend this place to friends because the prices are reasonable, the food is good, and it's a comfortable place to eat.
(4)
Tyler C.
We definitely just found our favorite restaurant in Manayunk. Delicious pizzas with unusual toppings. Gourmet slider burgers. Great drink selection. Solid service. Before you decide to go I would make a couple recommendations. First is to call ahead for a reservation. Their actual dining room with service is quite small, as it is only on the second floor as the first floor is their takeout/casual dining section. We made one The second recommendation would be to check Groupon and LivingSocial first. We bought an amazing dinner for four deal through one of those sites (don't remember which) that basically took $60 off our check. The only condition was that the meal had to be two appetizers, two slider plates and two pizzas of our choice. Highly, highly recommend for anyone looking for a the perfect place in Manayunk to meet up with friends, family, or a date for dinner.
(5)
Brielle M.
I've been to the Couch Tomato about 5 times now and each experience has been wonderful. Food is excellent here. I recommend the mac and cheese, it is absolutely delicious! Also the sliders are a great alternative - specifically the pulled pork one! The gluten free cider is a great light beverage as well and isn't too sweet, better than Angry Orchard's Cider, definitely recommend trying that out.
(5)
Harry E.
Totally above and beyond my expectations... and they were quite high. Shout out to Rudy who provided us with a wonderful dining experience! Meal started with there tomato bisque and some baguette chips, very tasty - and this is coming from someone who doesn't even like tomatoes or tomato soup! We ordered the dinner for 2. For 45 bucks we got 2 adult beverages, a pizza to share, 2 small plates or salads (or one of each in our case), and dessert! We ordered drinks, they had Pumpking on tap by southern tier (excellent choice), and for the lady was the Pranqster, both tasty drafts. The Cobb salad came out with grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, guacamole, Gorgonzola, egg tossed with a nice light dressing and mixed greens. Very good salad, the guac was a wonderfully tasty surprise. The small plate we got was the aztec shrimp. The shrimp were plump and cooked to perfection, just wish we got more than 4 of them with some rice. The pizza was a prosciutto pizza with smoked provolone topped with baby field greens was great! The sauce had a wonderful flavor. The smokiness of the prosciutto and the provolone balanced nicely with the greens. Wonderful pizza that lasted on the table for about 2 seconds. ha ha! Finally to dessert, Bananas Foster... WOWZA! Great stuff. the ice cream was good (I love vanilla, so it was a little light to me but I think my desire for vanilla might be off putting to others, so I cut them some slack) The rum sauce on the Bananas Fosters was top notch, could have maybe been a little thicker, but no buyers remorse! Trust me! Cannot wait to return! This time I will park in the lot and not move my car halfway through the meal, ha ha (no harm no foul)
(5)
C P.
Love the second floor bistro. Great salads and small plates to much on. Their pizza (flatbreads) upstairs are great too! Good diverse beer selection for beer drinkers who don't want miller lite.
(4)
Carla D.
Best vegan pizza!
(5)
S K.
Have never dined in but catering & take out are great! Fresh healthy ingredients. Something different in the way of salads & pizza and really tasty! I only wish they still offered the Mediterrean salad as it was unique and delish but all of them have been great.
(4)
J M.
I enjoyed my quaint lunch at the Tomato Bistro. Small surroundings made me feel comfortable but not claustrophobic. I ate the food and liked it, so there. Their buffet was different and delicious. I had no idea what I was in for when my brother brought me here, but I am walking out the door with a full stomach. I don't, but you can tell this place takes food and dining very seriously. I'm most interested in getting my order in, eating my food and paying as quickly as possible so I can be out the door and away from you people. This place worked for me on every one of those levels.
(5)
Tommy C.
I brought a groupon coupon for this restaurant that I have never been to and when I arrived, it was like they knows us as regular customers. The guy that parks the cars was helpful and great. The manager accommodated us and made us feel at home. I would have liked to sit upstairs but my mom was in a wheel chair so it is not handicap friendly, but they made up for that. I have recommended this restaurant to all of my friends and family. I am looking forward to visiting again.
(5)
Kristen M.
Being that it was Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend and dining partner and I were not at the shore, we decided to trek to Manayunk for a change of scenery. We planted ourselves at a table outside The Tomato Bistro in a prime people-watching location. We ordered the coconut shrimp, mac and cheese (sans bacon), and the Margherita Pizza. I don't normally eat seafood, but the coconut shrimp looked so good and crispy, I couldn't resist. The shrimp came with cold sweet coconut dipping cause which was a great compliment to the hot crunch. The mac and cheese was gooey and fresh, the pizza had a crisp flavorful bite. I like the fact that you have a choice of crust: wheat, white, or gluten free. We opted for white, as wheat often just doesn't measure up. For dessert, we enjoyed the chocolate covered Belgian waffle and vanilla ice cream. The free sampling of the tomato bisque and bread was a nice touch as an appetizer. Service was good, prices were extremely reasonable, overall a great distraction to get over the fact we weren't at the beach.
(4)
Kelly C.
We live in the area and have been wanting to try this spot. I found a Groupon for 2 sliders, a small plate and pizza. It was perfect for the 2 of us. We went on a week nite and it was a nice scene .. restaurant was full but a nice place to relax. The server did a great job maintaining our table, telling us about the menu etc. Our 3 courses of food came out in great timing and we loved everything .. Southwest and Truffle sliders, Coconut shrimp and white pizza were sooo good! Decent beer and wine selection too ! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Monica T.
Love going there for lunch. Ive ordered individually (the salads are awesome) and I've had the buffet lunch - which is also super delicious and clean for a buffet area. Delicious and fresh food and always friendly servers!
(4)
Tara M.
As my husband eats gluten free finding a restaurant with so many gluten free options was perfect. And the food was great! I had aracini,he had scallops and we tried the prosciutto and also the short rib pizzas. Even tried the gluten free brownie which was also tasty. It's a tad pricey but the food is good so you do get what you pay for.
(5)
Steve I.
Had brunch on Saturday with the wife and our daughters. Nice selection. Really enjoyed the different offerings of pizza. Especially the BBQ. Several salads were on the buffet brunch and the broccoli with raisins was excellent. Had French toast and some pasta selections but the best of the brunch was the panko crusted chicken cutlets. Lots of steps to climb and lack of parking was a problem although I found out that they will valet park your car if you call ahead.
(4)
Sunia M.
Been here a couple of times, and I've never been disappointed. First time I had the Caprese salad, I highly recommend it. The sliders and pizza are also really good items. The staff is friendly. The restaurant is extremely accommodating for allergies and other dietary restrictions. They have gluten free and vegan options. Also, the bottomless mimosas/bloody marys are a good deal.
(5)
Tara C.
The pizza/salad buffet was fantastic! I can't wait to go again. :) In particular, the peach salad with glazed pecans was very tasty and the various thin crust pizzas had non-meat options if you were so inclined. (I was) Everything was fresh and I can't wait to try other fare. Valet parking too.
(5)
Lauri A.
We've been several times for the lunch buffet and it's great! Plenty of options, including vegetarian, and parking is a breeze. Love this place!
(5)
Rhian T.
Attended mothers day brunch. Options were generous, service was friendly.
(4)
Trevor T.
Tasty food. Friendly people. Great atmosphere. Try their grilled cheese! It's dynamite!
(5)
Gabby M.
Probably one of the best flat breads I have had in Philadelphia. Every single thing I have tried here is amazing. The salads are also great. My favorite is the shortrib flatbread. Surprisingly, they also have a phenomenal beer list. I love it!
(5)
Stephanie G.
Upstairs from the Cafe, the Bistro is a hip and casual little place with a great vibe. Our table enjoyed pulled pork pizza, pulled pork sandwich, frites (huge serving with great house made ketchup) and crispy artichokes. The Dijon dressing is fantastic. Great beer list, too. Fair prices and great food with good service.
(4)
Kaia Z.
Honey, let me tell you guys something, this place is soooooo excellent. First off they offer valet parking, even though we parked conveniently right on the street. Anyway, this place is quaint and really cute inside. I had a groupon and was too happy I bought it for couch tomato. We were promptly greeted and seated upstairs. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The complimentary starter was sort of like an olive tasting bread with a tomato based dipping sauce that came in these tiny cute mugs. It tasted so heavenly and teased our taste buds. We were allowed to order any 2 items from the menu so we started off with the peppercorn crusted steak salad which came complete with 4 juicy tender steak medallions. It was enough for 2 people and it was really tasty. The beef tasted hormone free and fresh. We then ordered the short rib pizza that had a slight sweet hint of fig paste. Yes I said fig paste and the combinations of the greens and fontina cheese explodes in your mouth. Everything at this bistro was on point!!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Here's a tip: make reservations even if you have a groupon and go during the early evening hours.
(5)
Eric P.
Stopped into the Tomato Bistro for lunch last week. Overall a delicious meal. Service was great and attentive. Some stand out dishes were: -Pimento & Truffle Sliders -Burrata Caprese -Duck & Apple Pizza Definitely will be trying this place out for dinner sometime soon.
(4)
Luke H.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and were delighted to hear that it was half off all their bottles and glasses of wine. It went really well with our meal. The food was great too. We ordered the Prosciutto, Cajun Shrimp salad, and Pizza soup (which sounds really weird but it was a real tasty tomato soup done up like french onion). The food isn't out of this world, but it is a great place to go and enjoy a bite with a friend. Oh, and our waiter was great and made us feel welcomed.
(4)
John F.
Great fresh salads. Good service. I'll be back.
(4)
Ive E.
Its a very nice environment very cool calm but yet still very high class looking. Great place to just unwind and relax. I had the pulled pork slider and the southwestern slider. The pulled pork slider is too die for!!! Its really good. And I am usually very picky with my pork because its so delicate and not everyone can make it. The southwestern is also very good. Loved the avocados on it and the beef was cooked well. And the chips with the balsamic was absolute genius I would have never thought of that!! It is a must try place!!
(5)
Rushabh J.
Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The pizzas were awesome. Lots of for vegetarian and vegan choices on the menu and the service was delightful. We have been here a few times and try new items from the menu every time, have not been disappointed. Icing on the cake: Free Valet Parking. Yay! Perfect place to spend the evening, will visit again!
(4)
Anthony L.
Completely blown away by how delicious the Prosciuotto Pizza was. I eat A LOT of pizza and this is one of the all-time best I have tasted. I cannot wait to go back and try some other pies. The sliders are also perfect. We had a pulled pork slider, truffle burger and southwest burger slider. All three were delicious and were served with a side of perfectly cooked kettle cooked potato chips drizzled in balsamic vinegarette. The interior is modern and trendy yet relaxing and the service was good. They have a nice selection of local and other craft beers. You can get a sampler with 4 different beer styles and they invite you to rate them and choose a favorite. I will be going back from Rhawnhurst to Manayunk just for The Tomato Bistro!
(5)
Bill F.
I had some sliders which were solid. I'd go back though.
(4)
Samantha B.
I recently moved to the area and have been searching for places to sit down and eat a healthy meal or grab a good salad and sandwich to go... this place has both! Best salads around! I have tried a few from their large selection and have enjoyed every bite! My boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and salad last weekend and tried a couple of their New Hope natural sodas and were very very impressed (try the wheat crust-so good)! We went upstairs to check out the bistro and it is the perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Very cute atmosphere with a friendly staff! They have a buffet every day, $12 during the week and $13 on the weekend. Great deal for such an excellent meal! I will be a frequent guest here and bring any guest of ours along to enjoy it with us! Highly recommend!
(5)
Lesley G.
Thank you Tomato Bistro for a wonderful experience in both food and service. I was in town for a conference in nearby Conshohocken. The front desk staff at the hotel suggested we take the short drive to eat at the Tomato Bistro. It was a Saturday night and so the restaurant was very busy. The vibe was both family friendly as well as urban chic. We were greeted by the host who told us that we needed to have a reservation but since were were visiting from out of town he would see what he could do. He then came back and told us that if we were willing to wait about 15-30 minutes, he would make room for us. Not more than 20 minutes later we were seated upstairs. The service was excellent, and the food sensational. I had the prosciutto pizza - YUM!! Just the right amount of fresh ingredients. We loved the special treat of the tomato soup shooters. I don't know when I will back in Manayunk, but when I am, I will be going here for another fabulous dining experience.
(5)
Atiya C.
This restaurant HAS to be one of Philly's best kept secrets. The food is phenomenal, and I'm not talking about just some of their items. ALL of there food is top notch. It's so fresh, the presentation is off a five star restaurant quality and most importantly, it's flavorful. To top it all off, the service can't be matched. They are all genuinely nice and knowledgeable of their restaurant. I absolutely recommend everyone try this place out.
(5)
Kara M.
My in laws and I went to Tomato Bistro last weekend and the service we received was beyond fantastic. I am gluten intolerant and my mother in law has a serious garlic allergy. The server and manager were absolutely wonderful helping my mother in law navigate the menu- by far the most attentive and diligent staff we have encountered with our unique allergy needs! I HIGHLY recommend Tomato Bistro to anyone with food allergies- its a place you can eat like a normal person!
(5)
Peter L.
Great place! I've only been to their lunch buffet, twice, but both times were delicious. Its such a good deal: $10 for all you can eat, FRESH food. AND you get unlimited ORGANIC sodas. I don't even like soda, but here I am spending several sentences raving about them. They're good. The food is not at all like your typical buffet food - they only put out around 3 main dishes, 3-4 kinds of gourmet pizza, a couple soups, 4 types of salads, and a selection of breads. But everything they put out is like something you could order as an individual dish and since they make them in small quantities, the food is constantly fresh. It's like being able to try everyone's dish at your table. The breads are freshly baked and delicious as well. All for only $10 - its a steal. Not to mention - you can start eating as soon as you arrive - no waiting for servers or orders to be taken!
(5)
Gita B.
Delicious! And the reason this is getting four stars is for a very very specific reason: the coconut sauce that comes with the coconut shrimp. This is hands down the best sauce. I was about ready to ask for a bottle of it to take home with me! Other than the sauce, the pizza is pretty good. Great beer selection too. It changes frequently. I would recommend getting the flight. Be careful with street parking on the weekends. Read the signs carefully. I got a parking ticket because I didn't :(
(4)
LeeAnne P.
We recently moved to Manayunk and heard good things about the Tomato Bistro. We first went there using a groupon and fell in love with this place after the first bite. We now consider this our go-to place for good food and drinks for a good price. The small plates are filling for being small plates. We've ordered the mussels (and you'll get plenty), lobster pot pie in lobster bisque (which had lots of flavor) and the risotto fritters. The pizza is also very delicious. Our favorites include the hot and honey which has a sweet and spicy taste with breaded chicken and the white which has a great oil and garlic taste with a lot of yummy cheese. Also look for their free sample of biscotti and tomato soup, we certainly look forward to it. The servers are always on top of things and know their menu.
(5)
Justine J.
and + one for exceptional management
(5)
Mark V.
Stopped in looking for a brunch place to kill an hour (and a hangover) before a wedding. One pot of French press coffee and a couple of stops at the buffet later and I was feeling mighty fine. As far as buffets go, this one is top notch. And while I tend to avoid pizza for breakfast, you'd be a fool to do so here. In fact, you'd be a fool to skip anything at the buffet table.
(5)
Stephanie Z.
Who knew the little bistro above a pizza shop wouldn't one be so little and would pack a flavorable and interesting punch?! My husband and I decided to take a stroll on Main one night and check this place out on the reccomendations of several of our friends. I wasn't expecting much to be honest because the pizzas downstairs while delicious have not wowed me at all in all the times my husband has ordered them. Colro me surprised when I took a peaky peak at the Bistro menu and saw all of the interesting and wonderful small plates that they were offering. Interest definitely heightened. So we sat, got cozy in the warm atmosphere of the Bistro and decided what plates we were going tio dive into! Some of the choices that we got were: Tandoori Seared Scallops - they were succulant and perfectly seared on both sides and the tandoori flavoring gives them a beatiful and rich flavor that seriously works even when my brain was like "whaaaaaaat?" Good times with the scallops! Lobster Pot Pie - It is kind of a fancy little take on the traditonal pot pie. Lobster is tucked away in a pastry-like bread that sits a top a buttery tomato bisque. You break the bread and smother it in the bisque and it is a happy place. Duck Flatbread - Wow, again so much flavor and the duck was tender and perfectly cooked. The flabread was crispy, the goat cheese was tangy and the whole thing worked so well on my taste buds! Love this dish! If you are around town in the afternoon their lunch buffet is an EXCELLENT choice. I went on a day off from work with a friend and the spread was delicious! I had a margarita flatbread that was amazing, a pear salad that had some many wonderful textures and the sundried tomato tortellini which was refreshing! Their sliders are super juicy and you can mix and match them any way you like. Definitely a good place to meet friends, catch up, and have a deliciously satisfying meal!
(4)
Lily A.
I went to the Tomato Bistro with a few friends and we shared pizzas for lunch (The pizzas upstairs are personal size). We loved the Prosciutto pizza! The customer service was great and always attentive. I have been there a few times before and always have a great experience. Four stars because it is a little expensive and we were sad to learn that they don't serve the sliders until dinner.
(4)
Something Y.
I loved the food. I just wish they served bacon in their brunch buffet menu. Service was great and there is also free valet parking. There is a phone number you call for the valet service. I've never used it but sounds awesome! The bloodymary and mimosa specials are a great deal and they taste very good with a good amount of liquor.
(4)
Zach Q.
After 3 visits to the bistro I'm convinced that it is absolutely delicious. Tonight we had a variety of dishes and all were great. We had a groupon which made it super affordable. The prices are normally a bit much (salads at higher cost don't compare to a salad you could get downstairs for much less) but the quality of the small plates and pizzas make up for it. The seating was plentiful, they do free valet parking, and craft beer was surprisingly cheap (may have been happy hour). I'm a long time fan of the couch tomato and now the bistro is becoming one of my favorite Manayunk spots.
(5)
Laura D.
After a long period of anticipation waiting for the Tomato Bistro to open, I finally got to try it last week. Glad I did! The atmosphere is so cute and cozy. I was surprised the bistro extends onto the second AND third floors providing lots of table space and a cool balcony-like dining area. My only criticism was the noise level from the crowd talking below... soft background music or more sound-absorbing surroundings would've helped. It didn't make conversation difficult, it just would've been more pleasant with a little music of something. The food was well done and different from the menu downstairs (which I also love). I had the Caprese salad with jumbo shrimp (wasn't sure what made them jumbo, but they were good). The flatbreads and sandwiches on the menu look good too. Service was attentive and quick - my friend and I were in and out of there in under an hour. Next time I want to try the craft beers!
(4)
Nina S.
Great menu, friendly service, full bar- what's not to like? I already loved Couch Tomato's pizza and salads and now you can have even more great food from the same owners but in a cool loft-style space upstairs. The pizzas are pretty small for two people to share for a whole meal so I suggest getting a salad too! Update: I came back for dinner and had an even better experience! They changed up their menu and some of the items that I tried the first time were off the menu. Last time I was there I had a small plate that was chicken breaded with corn flakes but it was not an option this time. I tried the new dish, chicken and waffles and it was so good!! It is full of flavor and not what I was expecting, it was better than I expect! I also had the Guacamole pizza with wheat crust and loved it! This is a great place to go for lunch or dinner! I'll def. be back.
(5)
Jon M.
While we're head over heels about Couch Tomato Cafe', the bistro portion is in low regards in our eyes. I don't know if it's a Manayunk thing, but this really is more of a tapas bar than a bistro, and should be advertised as such. Its small plates, limited personal pizzas and salads. And the prices are really high. Like $16 personal pizza high. I can get a huge plate of pasta or 2 cheesesteaks at other locations for that price. Why can I get great panini's or whatever pizza i want down a flight of stairs, but not upstairs? Makes little to no sense to me. The service that night was horrendous also. It was definitely a one-off, because we've been here before and had a good time. But it was obvious that the kitchen overlooked or lost our ticket, because it took 35 minutes to get a soup and 2 sliders appetizer. But there wasn't really any apology made or mistake admitted to. Could have that there was no manager present, from what I could tell. I'm sure if there was there would be an apology. We love the tomato cafe', but we'll have to pass on the bistro from now on. UPDATE 1: I was contacted by one of the guys that runs Couch Tomato. They apologized and offered to send me a gift card for a free pizza upstairs. Nice personal service by the owners. It doesn't take away from the experience that night, but it shows that the owners actually care about their customers. Thumbs up guys.
(3)
Monica L.
PROS: Solid food, decent portions & prices, friendly staff CONS: Nothing spectacular to draw you back
(3)
Nina R.
I love the decor here. We enjoyed the Saturday buffet and it was so healthy AND yummy! TheTomatoBistro.com
(5)
Caitlin N.
Delicious first meal at Tomato Bistro. We had heard so much about it and recently got a gift card. We went tonight, a Saturday, and they had a date special. $45 for round of drinks, salad, small plate, and pizza, and dessert. What a deal! Great honey chipotle pizza and crab dip. We will definitely be back again. Tight seating upstairs but it was okay.
(5)
Cristina L.
Right off Main St in Manayunk, the Tomato Bistro is a cozy restaurant right upstairs from the Couch Tomato Cafe. We made last minute reservations to go last Saturday night, and I was very glad we did. We were taken up to the third level and greeted by a very friendly and knowledgable waiter who told us about their awesome special: A pizza, salad, small plate, dessert, and round of drinks for two for only $45 total! We obviously went with this option, and really enjoyed most of the food, including the Margherita pizza, burrata salad, seared scallops, and Belgian waffle. All of the food was pretty good, especially for the prices, although the dressing on the burrata salad was just too sweet for me. The scallops were GREAT though! Otherwise, there wasn't anything mind-blowing about the experience. Rather, it was a good, solid meal that didn't break the bank. I'll be back!
(4)
Adam W.
Ate here for the first time using a dinner groupon. Had an appetizer, sliders, and a pizza. Everything was excellent. Went back and shared several different pizzas with some friends again it was all delicious. The honey chipotle chicken pizza is really something special!
(5)
Melissa C.
Had lunch here yesterday, it was my second time there and both times I was impressed. The food is amazing. Everything tastes so fresh and flavorful. The atmosphere is pleasant, and the service is great. I live over 30 miles away from here but I will make the drive again next time I'm looking to get out for a good meal. Only thing I can say that isn't so good is It always seems to be cold in there, but still I'll just bring a jacket next time.
(4)
Mira S.
Such a great discovery! I loved my first dinner at the Tomato Bistro. The menu was impressive and exceeded my expectations, being that I came to eat a sandwich or salad that I'm used to at the downstairs part of the restaurant. I couldn't wait to go back. A great variety of food and drinks, perfect for a range of people's food preferences :)
(5)
Gabrielle L.
The 2-star rating reads "Meh. I've experienced better." - this I will say, but I will also say that the 'better' is downstairs at Couch Tomato. I urge you to forego the steps up and just order your pizza, salad or wrap downstairs. Seriously, I eat at Couch Tomato literally every time I'm riding through Manayunk. We ordered a sampling of items: Two sliders - the kobe truffle and the lamb. There was NO truffle flavor on the first, it was over-well done, and there was supposed to be cheese, but that was also non-existent. The lamb was okay - it was cooked medium and had pretty good lamb flavor. The buns were hard, like day-olds. The chicken & waffles was another okay, although the chicken was shredded, so it lacked the expected crunch of some country fried thighs. Skip the Mediterranean plate altogether. Period. Too-thick foccaccia, flavorless hummus, over seasoned cucumber salad, limp, over-roasted vegetables and orange zest smothered feta. Too many wrong flavor profiles happening here in combination.
(2)
Nikki D.
I was just there a week ago, and I would NEVER go again. I ordered something simple - a green tomato BLT. I am not a picky eater by any means, I can tell you that. But what I was served, was a green tomato on a plate with two large chunks of unedible pork on top. It was so tough, that I could not cut it with a knife, nevermind chew it. I took only one bite of my food, and I thought that when the waitress came over, she would make sure the food was okay. She did not, and when I asked her if that was bacon on my plate, she said "yeah...it's just thick cut". And with that, she walked away rudely. It was NOT bacon, I can tell you that. Then, when she came back, I politely asked her if she could remove this item from our bill, because I did not even eat it. She said she would look into it..... she didn't say yes or try to make this right. She was SO rude that I wanted to storm out!!!! Never again! Spoiled my night.
(1)
Dana S.
Came here on a Groupon lunch Buffett deal I had, the lunch Buffett was gourmet and so delicious. The food was very fresh and came out very quickly. The service was incredibly friendly and welcomed you there with a warm welcome. I tried the beer sampler, and surprisingly all the beers were from local breweries, and were interesting to try. I enjoyed my meal, and my beers. Most convenient and favorite part of the dining experience at Tomato Bistro was the free valet parking, you just park out front call their number and someone comes out to park your. Car for you for free. Will definitely be coming back again. I had decided to change my previous rating to 5 stars, because I was amazed to get an email from the owner of the restaurant with an offering of free beer on tap, and was thanking me for saying such good things about his restaurant. I didnt actually think people read these reviews and it caught me off guard, but is a great customer service thing to do and a great gesture, I will gladly accept. I will be heading back down there in a couple weeks to enjoy my complimentary beers and having lunch.
(5)
Patrick K.
I've visited the Couch Tomato Cafe a few times in the last 2 months because of their Sunday Brunch special. It's $12 all you can eat buffet and it is delicious. The pizzas are fresh and hot. They have a rotating selection as well, which is awesome if you want to try some of their specialty pies and not just the normal plain or pepperoni. They also have french toast and the cinnamon butter which is unbelievable. I highly recommend that. They also have some other brunch buffet items you see like salads, yogurt parfait, & homemade baked potato chips, which are amazing. I definitely recommend the Sunday brunch. Its quick, easy, quality food, and cheaper then some of the other brunch specials on Main Street. I believe craft beers are $1 off and they have endless mimosas and bloody mary's for $12. Definitely worth checking out for brunch.
(4)
Michael F.
Having made multiple visits to the Bistro, I can say I'm impressed. They certainly take using fresh ingredients very seriously. My latest trip, I investigated their new lunch buffet. $9.99 for all-you-can-eat top quality foods. It includes a mix of salads, pasta, vegetables, and pizzas. While you can't find everything on their menu, it does provide a bunch of choices solid mid-day eats. Besides, you'll have time to sample a bit of everything, as I believe the buffet runs from 11 to 2:30 every week day.
(4)
Jenny T.
We arrived hoping to sit outside since it was so nice but was told there was only one server on. We were seated and given menus by the hostess. After 15 min, we were given a complimentary sauce n dip. A few minutes later were greeted by a server and she took our drink order. We got our drinks and 10 min later, we were greeted by another server who took our food order. So we got: *Truffle Sliders & Buffalo Sliders Blah, truffle sliders tasted bland with no truffle flavor. Buffalo sliders were ok, I've had much better. *Mac n Cheese- NOT BAD but not great. I actually added a tad but if salt n pepper. *Manchego & Pear Salad- Simple yet tasty. I love almost anything with arugula. *Fried Goat Cheese Salad It was good but the manchego n pear salad was better and tastier. *Duck & Apple Pizza Wasn't my favorite. The apples seemed a little odd on this pizza. *Basil Pesto Pizza Didn't try this one but the kids seemed to like it. *Chocolate Torte Ehhh nothing special *Chocolate Dipped Waffle for two It was good but nothing special. After the first two apps, they cleared our plates and silverware. The salads came out and the server asked if we wanted plates. Well DUH, we weren't going to pass the bowls around and do a " pick, eat, pass" with our fingers. We had to ask for silverware and was rather slow throughout our fining experience. Overall, The Tomato Bistro is just a tad bit below mediocre. I've had better pizzas for cheaper and better service at McDonalds. My gf's and I decided that we probably would NOT RETURN. Server was extremely slow and not very friendly. And did I mention she opened the checkbook right at the table after we tipped 20% and told her she's good. Thought that was pretty rude. Save your money and appetite for something well worth it.
(2)
Julia K.
We tried something different for brunch, and holy clams, are we glad we did. We went to the bistro (Upstairs). Not only is the decor very nice, this place serves up a righteous pizza, delicious sliders, and the servers were all amazingly friendly. We had the pizza with bacon & goat cheese, which was the perfect size for two people. Crispy crust (but with enough give to make it chewy, too), and the perfect blend of goat and mozzarella cheeses, caramelized onions, and bacon. The sliders were amazing - just the right size (3 or 4 bites, depending on who's eating), and the Kobe beef was delicious, the crab cake was light and crispy, and the buffalo chicken was also very good - honestly, I didn't really want to share. They also do what looks like a pretty great all-you-can-eat brunch deal, too. It looked like a variety of pizzas and calzones, some bacon-laced mac and cheese, some garlic knots, two different kinds of salads, 3 different dressings, the tomato bisque, and some kind of chicken in a sundried tomato sauce. The server told me it was $10. Bonus: pretty much anything with bread (the slider buns and the pizza crusts, anyway) can be made Gluten-free. SCORE. Two hours later, we're sitting here going, "Holy God, that was great pizza." Guess who's coming back?
(5)
Emily K.
Loved this place! I can't wait to take my boyfriend here. There shared plates deal is a great buy and the perfect amount of food. Service was great and the atmosphere was nice and relaxing.
(5)
Max H.
Took a lovely young lady to this place for our first date. Great atmosphere, with upstairs dining that is a little bit more romantic. I was pleasantly surprised by the beer selection; the Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA was delicious and a great recommendation by our waitress (sorry, I forgot your name!). When I first looked at the menu, with a moderately-priced selection of fantastic meals (or at least fantastic descriptions), something immediately caught my eye: Chicken and Waffles. Chicken and Waffles in a bistro? That's right. And daaaayum, what a great choice. I've read a few reviews about people being compensated due to some of their complaints. This just goes to show the level of customer service at this place. Now, I'm SURE some of those complaints did not warrant a free drink, meal, etc. but Tomato Bistro is just too damn nice. With a friendly staff, who are quite knowledgeable about the beer selection, this place is just about perfect. Peace.
(5)
Perry W.
Very enjoyable, food was very good and the special they offered was a good deal. Would go back next time in Manyunk! The service was very attentive and helpful with the menu and specials
(4)
Kim T.
Tomato bisque, yum. Chicken and waffles, out of this world. Grilled salmon salad, oh my. Pulled pork pizza, mmm hmm. My new favorite place.
(5)
Kionna W.
I really like this place, Parking is a B**** of course because its in downtown manyunk and when you come in you might get a little confused by the 2 restaurants. But once you get pass that and walk up 3 levels of steps into somewhat a "V.I.P" area its great. We started with the sliders, one truffle and one egg the truffle was great i couldnt taste the egg because my boyfriend said it was too good -_- but i will next time :). They gave us some complimentary biscottis and tomato bisque also very tasty, a good wine selection I had a glass of Sauvignon and margherita pizza to finish the night. Overall a relaxing enviornment cool decor and nice staff. Will def be returning and trying some new items.
(5)
Kunjan P.
Living in center city I was hesitant on visiting The Tomato Bristro, but am very pleased that I did. The food is delicious and they offer an amazing happy hour menu. Their pulled pork sliders, and buffalo quesadilla are a must. Service is fast and the staff is very courteous. If you are driving, you can get free valet service so you do not have to worry about parking.
(4)
Brittany F.
Went here with my husband because I love Couch Tomato and have been patiently waiting for the Bistro to open. I then got the Groupon and off we went. Small Plates: Frites: We had the fries which were AMAZING but needed salt. The Aioli it came with was perfect and my husband loved the seemingly home made ketchup. Kobe Sliders: They were ok. Not amazing. There were 2 of them on the plate. Strozzapretti Pasta: It was HUGE and I thought it was pretty tasty but the pasta to sausage and broccoli rabe ratio was off. I think there were 4 pieces of sausage and 2 pieces of broccoli rabe. Salad: Caprese: I don't think it had any basil other than the pesto which the mozzarella was drenched in. It was good but the lettuce wasn't that fresh and the tomatoes were slightly mealy. Pizza: Meatball: I have to say, had I not come with my husband (and his limited palate) I would have gotten a different pizza. The meatball pizza was ok, Nothing to write home about but not horrible either. My husband didn't think it was too flavorful (that's a big deal) Dessert: Cheesecake: This was AMAZING... so good. I took it home since we were stuffed and then ate it at 2 AM. Don't you judge me! All in all, the food was OK. There was nothing I ate that I thought was horrible. I enjoyed to little cups of tomato bisque they brought us, also. The service was painfully slow and they weren't really that busy when we got there. I may go back but I would have to be with a friend who has similar tastes as me, pray they aren't so damn slow and the food is better.
(3)
Emily S.
Finally had a chance to go back to the Tomato Bistro last night. We were seated right away at a little table upstairs. Definitely better than the first table we sat at the first time. We had the crab stack, cheesesteak bites, & the goat cheese & bacon pizza. Everything tasted great. Glad we gave this place another try!
(4)
Diane A.
Returned for a late lunch the day before Thanksgiving, this time to the Coach Tomato downstairs. I had a personal sized house pizza with artichokes and portobellos and such, and everything was, once again, excellent. A few brews on tap. Great place to chill for a couple of hours before the holiday jam.
(5)
Bizz M.
I've been here (I being my wife, who is writing this review) 3 times and have failed to write a review. I'm sorry. The food is delicious. I have had the following menu items: Sweet Potato Latkes Crispy Artichokes Risotto Fritters (twice) Muscles (White Wine & Garlic) Mac & Cheese Quinoa Chicken & Waffles (twice, once with Bacon, once without) Sesame Chicken Chicken Cutlet Pizza (wheat) Beer Flights House Mimosa (thank you for this, now just sell it in a pitcher and i'm in!) ALL the food I've ordered as well as the guests I have been with have loved all of the food. The Chicken & Waffles are soooooo delicious...it's not your traditional fried chicken & gigantaur waffle. I always prefer anything with bacon, but I wasn't feeling bad when I ate it without.....the Risotto Fritters - YES. The atmosphere is really casual and fun. My most recent trip (5/31/12) there was a live acoustic act. Pretty sure this is new. One of the owner/managers came over and asked if it was too loud. It was a perfect volume to enjoy drinks & food & friends. There is another upstairs area if you wanted to get away I'm sure, plus some outside seating. It actually hurts my heart that I won't be able to eat here in a month....but alas Florida awaits & needs some Yelping help. However I will be bringing as many people as possible here before I leave and I will order the Chicken & Waffles & Risotto Fritters every single time. Complimentary Valet parking can't be beat either....Manayunk is a PAIN.
(5)
Marybeth C.
My daughter took me here for lunch. I eat gluten free. They had a nice choice of gluten free items. Greet salad selection. The gluten free bun they used for my slider was delicious. Even my daughter liked the gluten free bun. I definitely will be back.
(5)
Joanne A.
Used a Yelp discount AS WELL AS a groupon discount about 3 months ago (May?)!!! Red sangria, margarita pizza, and a salad that I don't recall specifics of - were all good. The pizza was better than the salad. This place is great for a first or second date or a quick bite / get together with a friend or two. The staff is overall very friendly and we sat outside which was nice.
(4)
Shane W.
Cool looking open space upstairs, if only a little cramped feeling. Went here for lunch with a LivingSocial voucher for one pizza and one salad. Price aside, the pizza was fantastic. Got the Meatball pie, and it was banginnn. The sauce was delicious, slightly sweet, and the crust was crispy and awesome. Salad was pretty good as well, though small for the $9 pricetag, and not really filling. The pizza was $13, and a little small, but enough for one person to feel full. Overall a good experience and very tasty pizza, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again.
(3)
Sean P.
This is a great little food establishment that I frequent often with my girlfriend. I just ate there the other day and the gourmet pizzas are fantastic!
(5)
Liia R.
There are lots of great places to eat in Manayunk but I have to say Tomato Bistro is one of my top favorites. Service is always great, their wine selection is fab and everything I've had to eat is amazing. I'm in love with the goat cheese and bacon pizza and their salads are to die for! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable, delicious evening.
(5)
Kelly C.
I went here for lunch with co-workers. I had the buffet and it was really good! They had a nice variety of salads that were excellent and the flat bread pizza was really good also. Everyone in my group liked their food and I would love to return in the near future.
(4)
Emily B.
We came here for dinner after purchasing a Groupon for two pizzas and two main dishes, and I'm so glad we checked it out! The two-floor restaurant is cozy and casual, and it was very busy early on a Saturday night which is always a good sign! The complimentary tomato bisque was delicious, and our food was amazing. There were so many great choices, and I am looking forward to trying different things the next time we go. The beer list is awesome...I got a delicious pumpkin brew on draft, perfect for autumn. Service was OK; our waitress was training someone, and everything was on the slow side, but it wasn't a huge deal. I just feel like they should be a bit more prepared for a busy dinner rush crowd.
(4)
K A.
This is a great spot for dinner and drinks. My friends and I often meet up here for girls night dinners. We love the tapas style so we don't have to make too many decisions, just order a bunch and share! Great food, great beer & wine selections, always great service. We'll be back again!
(4)
Whoy G.
Very nice...truffle sliders excellent...frites good...pizza good...only complaint was service...waitress would just disappear...but will give it another try just for the sliders...wife he the Mexican salad...and loved it...try the waffle and ice cream dessert...I would recommend it
(3)
Jane V.
So I actually discovered The Tomato Bistro from a Groupon a few months ago. Holy cow what an awesome deal! 4 course meal for 2 people for $25! Pros: The Bistro is located upstairs, cute atmosphere, good service. Perfect portion sizes, we were actually full before the pizza came out (salad and 3 small plates prior to the pizza). And the waitress was pretty attentive. Oh, and I did sample duck bruschetta at a Yelp event 2 weeks ago - tasty! Cons: I guess my only complaint is that when they did have live music the one night, it was a little loud, but fortunately it started towards the end of our meal. Overall, I would definitely check it out again :)
(4)
Alicia O.
we used a two for $10 deal this afternoon for their lunch buffet. i was pleasantly surprised. the restaurant itself is light and airy, colorful and open but not too open. i can see why the locals would come here often. the server was very friendly and accommodating. so usually when you think buffet you think of stale food thats been sitting out for hours, coughed on, in a long trough-like apparatus with glass covering it so you cant reach the stuff in the back smh this was a delightful buffet with fresh pizza choices, delicious choices of salads and some yummy pulled pork do-it-yourself sandwiches. and everything was fresh, tasty, seasoned well, very delicious. i would make this a regular buffet lunch with friends on the weekend. there wasnt a sweet option for dessert which i was kinda bummed about but still worth it.
(4)
Rich D.
Energetic and informed staff, tasty food and novel menu. We had the Crispy Artichoke and the PISTACHIO CRUSTED SALMON to get started, both were tasty. We also shared the Ceaser Salad and Quinoa salad (we felt like taking a risk and the salad was wonderful. We finished with a the Signature Margherita Pizza. A great experience and they also had free valet parking.
(4)
Andrew L.
I was so excited to try out the new restaurant opened by the guys from The Couch Tomato Cafe! Impressive! The menu offered a great selection of gourmet pizzas, tapas, soups and salads. The tapas were generous in size, and the pizzas were definitely big enough to share. The complimentary sample of tomato soup they served before our meal was a nice touch. The ambiance was hip yet calming, and the service was excellent. The free valet parking worked out nicely for my two friends who are preggers. We shared the fried mozzarella, risotto fritters, and cornflake chicken with delicious prosciutto to start, followed by a pesto pizza and a meatball pizza for dinner. The tapas were excellent, the pesto pizza was topped with fresh arugula, and the meatball pizza was savory and delicious. Both the tapas and pizza were A++! They also offer an impressive beer and wine list. I had a great beer by Bruery Brewing Company, which went perfectly with my meal. I forget which beer it was exactly, but I'm not worried about it, because my boyfriend and I are having dinner with friends at The Tomato Bistro tonight! A great addition to Manayunk! It blows Cooper's out of the water in quality, service, freshness, and price!
(5)
Maria S.
The Tomato Bistro hosted our daughter and future son-in-law's engagement party. It was a flawless event under the direction of Robin. The choice of menu items was varied, unique and interesting. The price was very reasonable especially for the quantity of food provided. Our guests just loved the appetizers, pizzas, entree, sides and dessert. The wait staff could not have been more attentive or friendly. The beer and wine was flowing and everyone had a great time. Keep up the excellent work.
(5)
Catherine S.
We've eaten here a few times. The goat cheese bacon pizza is great. They have a bunch of microbrews that I've never heard of. The menu is quite small and after 830p, you always feel like they are cutting servers and getting ready to close. Not a romantic date place.
I still have to make it here but my dad got a duck and apple pizza to go on and it was delish. I know that it sounds extremely strange but the blend of goat cheese, mozzarella, duck, apple butter, and greens was amazing. They don't offer this pizza downstairs and it is more like a flatbread-style pizza than the typical, NY-style. The crust was crispy and nicely seasoned. We were definitely fighting over the last piece. I'll be back to try more of the menu.
(4)
Jordan P.
Having been to the Couch Tomato in the past, I was excited to try the upper floor's take on slightly upper-scale food and drink. As we climbed the steep set of stairs, I felt as though we were entering an entirely different atmosphere, and, since I wasn't sure what to expect, I'll admit, I felt a little underdressed for such a classy place. But, as it was a Wednesday night and not too crowded, I cast that thought aside and focused on the task at hand. And that task was pizza and beer (just a little nicer than Dominos and Bud Light). We were seated quickly on the third floor, and our waitress was friendly and happy to answer any questions we had, as well as rattle off the specials. Speaking of the specials, there are MANY, and they're fantastic: -Monday: Buy one pizza, get 1 free (with additional purchase, limit 2 per table, not valid on takeout) -Tuesday: Half priced bottles of wine -Wednesday: HALF PRICED DRAFT BEER ALLLLLL NIGHT! -Thursday: Flight night - All beer flights are $7 with live music from 7-9pm -Weekend Brunch Special: $4 bloody marys and Mimosas / breakfast panini and breakfast pizza -Sunday: Gluten-free dinner $45 for 2 people, 4 course gluten free meal with a round of drinks -Every Day: When it Rains, We Pour! - Half off all drafts (MUST mention the special to get it!) While we decided on our pizza, we were treated to a complimentary mini serving of tomato bisque and a crunchy bread (like a savory biscotti). The tomato bisque was warm and smooth, but chunky enough to tell that it wasn't from a can, and was a great start to the meal. As we scoured the menu, my picky dining partner honed in on the Pulled Pork pizza, hold the onion. And then, we got to the fun(ner) stuff. The craft beer! The list was impressive, a pleasant surprise having never been before. The list seems to change somewhat frequently, and the night of my visit a few of the beers on the list had just kicked. LUCKILY, they'd been replaced instantly, so there was an abundance of options. I started off with a Southern Tier IPA, and later enjoyed a Great Lakes Holy Moses White and an Avery Joe's Pilsner. Less than $8 for all of these made for a happy Moi! The portions on the pizza were not as large as I was expecting, but the ingredients tasted fresh and high-quality, and we found ourselves nearly licking our plates. The pork was tender and decadent, and didn't need any other flavoring to make it enjoyable. So essential. My biggest tips: Come when it's raining, or on a Wednesday, get at least two dishes if you're hungry (we were getting dessert elsewhere after, so didn't mind the smaller portion, but I think would've been still hungry if we hadn't), and bask in the friendly staff, they were a cut above most service I've received on average in Manayunk!
(5)
Eric D.
Visited here on a Sunday and to our surprise..happy hour specials! Absolutely loved the truffle beef and lobster cake sliders, the side salad was equally delicious. Also tried the crispy artichokes and they were very good as well. Nice selection of local beers and a very laid back and welcoming atmosphere. I will be back here with friends. Thanks!
(4)
Jazzmin E.
I came into Tomato Bistro after hearing great reviews from everyone when I told them I'd moved to Manayunk. Was not disappointed. I had the portabello slider and the truffle slider along with the mac and cheese. Both of the sliders had quality ingredients and great flavor, I only wish they featured them in full size! The mac and cheese was also very tasty, the pieces of bacon in it were perfect and never got soggy (which is sometimes an issue). I think one of the best pieces of this meal, however, were the little touches. The chips drizzled in sauce were wonderful, as was the complimentary small serving of soup and bread, I definitely would have ordered a cup if we weren't waiting to fill up on mac and cheese. Overall a great experience, I'll definitely be coming back to the Bistro and checking out the cafe as well.
(5)
Lindsay M.
Husband and I moved to the Manayunk area recently and the couch tomato quickly became one of our favourite places to eat - both at the restaurant and for ordering out. The artisan pizzas are delicious and we have enjoyed working our way through the selection. We also enjoy the excellent gluten-free bases from time to time and are always very impressed. At the restaurant we like to take advantage of the sharing special that they run which is excellent value and allows us to try lots of different things. Highly recommend this restaurant for a bite to eat when in Manayunk!
(5)
Victoria R.
My instinct was to give this place one star, but it's probably a solid 1.5 in reality. The food wasn't terrible. The service was good, and they had plenty of beer on tap. Yet even though it's main street in Manayunk, I was still really disappointed by how much they charge for their food. I thought that the pizza was alright. A bit on the thin/small small side, but fine. I'll accept that. After all, I eat a lot. But that wasn't the worst part. My friend (who doesn't enjoy pizza, grilled cheese, or mac n' cheese because of lactose intolerance) chose a steak and vegetable plate with her entree that came with only 4 tiny pieces of meat over carrots and peppers. This "small plate," which was predominantly cheap vegetables in teriyaki sauce, cost $13. I've been to plenty of places in Philadelphia where you can get an excellent entree for that price. Heck, you can go to Amada ($$$) and find plenty of options for less than what this place charges for "okay" food. Maybe it was an off night, but I don't feel like going back to find out. I feel like this place isn't nearly good enough to charge the prices it does. This is decent Italian we're talking about, and I didn't have anything special. So I'd keep downstairs or go elsewhere if you want Italian/pizza and actually have an appetite.
(2)
Alexander S.
really enjoyed my experience here. It was a quick meal full of flavor. I had their buffet which was out of this world. I will 100% be back
(5)
Vanessa T.
I'm updating my review and giving this restaurant a 5+ star if that was possible. The owner took the time to follow up on my review on a message he sent me 5 months ago and to me, that's impressive customer service. Food is great, service is personalized. Absolutely impressed.
(5)
Mari M.
I consider the atmosphere to be chill and relaxing and the food and service are better than average. I tried two different pizzas, the tequila lime chicken and the basil pesto. Though both were very good, I preferred the former. I do want to go back to taste the other varieties as each of them are definitely different! Very friendly servers and staff. Plus, it was great having free valet parking (only if you are going to the bistro).
(5)
Shane S.
I had the unlimited brunch buffet and it was some of the best brunch I've ever had! There were so many options, great prices, and the atmosphere was so inviting. They also have free valet parking which is ideal in Manayunk! I will definitely recommend The Tomato Bistro to my friends and I can't wait to go back for other meals! TheTomatoBistro.com
(5)
Michael J.
Only Experienced their lunch buffet. So my review is based soley off that. It was skimpy. but the food that they did have was pretty good. $10 lunch buffet for two(Groupon) can't beat that. I mean It was cute for what it was. The staff were friendly. and they have free valet parking. If your in the area and they still have the $10 for two groupon going on. why not..go for it! but nothing to go out your way for. And honestly I would never go here without a groupon. not worth full price which is about $12 or $13 a person.
(3)
Chris A.
This is not our first time here. Today we had the lunch buffet. Everything was fresh and tasty. There were selections for everyone from the vegan to the carnivore. The staff is friendly and very attentive. It's a great atmosphere for some great food. When you are in Manayunk you should definitely eat here!
(4)
Jay B.
After 5 times dining at the Tomato Bistro, I feel that it's time to review my experiences. The first time I went was their first week open and was blown away. We had a groupon and with 6 of us, we had just about one of everything and were all wowed. Specifically the grilled romaine Caesar salad was phenomenal. The second time we went, it was NYE and there was a prix fixe menu and it was good, not great. The service was slow initially and then the server was piling food on our table for 3 courses when we ha barely had 10 minutes to enjoy the course. We chalked it up bc it was a fixed menu and said we'd be back since it was so night and day from our first experience. The next time we came it was awful. It was about 8 pm and we were one of three tables that were seated on our entire floor. Our service could not have been slower. We both ordered a salad and a pizza. I again ordered the grilled caesar salad and what I was served was the white stems of the lettuce, completely different from the full romain leaves I had the first time, with barely any char from the grill, not one crouton and in a tiny bowl (for $9). I stuck it out and figured maybe it was late, maybe they didn't have full leaves left. We waited 40 minutes for our pizzas to come out (after having the manager come by and say, "what are you guys waiting on?). We waited another 20 minutes from that point and when we finally got the pizzas, they were burnt to a crisp and dry from being burnt. That was strike 2. The next time I came it was just for appetizers and they all went pretty well. Service again was awfully slow and was served a beer in a cracked glass, not the servers fault but waiting upwards of 10 minutes for me to even see our server again to ask for a new glass just seems a little weird since the restaurant is not big at all. On the fence. My last visit was right down the middle. Again the grilled Caesar salad was served a differen way and still nowhere near as memorable as it was initially. Artichoke appetizer was pretty good. Service again was lacking and by lacking I mean just unbelievably slow. I wasn't in a rush but from the time we decided what we wanted and the server returned, we totally forgot what we were going to order. The girls ordered "sangria" and what they got was a grape/apple like juice with no fruit and no remnants of wine. It was awfully sweet and had no acidic taste that wine would provide. I can say that I've given it more than a fair shot and can't really say that it will bring me back. The only consistent thing in this restaurant is the inconsistency of everything. It's unfortunate because the Couch Tomato does everything so right and it's simple. It's worth a try but don't be surprised if it doesn't blow your mind. The ambiance, and decor is awesome and their rotating draft beers are good although most of their selections now are not right for the season. I'm not sure if they set the bar way too high on my first visit and I'm stuck holding them to that standard or if it has evolved to something different that I'm not sold on, either way, the potential is there just needs some fine tuning.
(3)
M B.
I love this place. The first time we went, I was excited just looking at the menu - they have so many things that are right up my alley: fried artichokes, mac 'n cheese, frites, pretzel fondue, the list goes on! But I was even more excited when our order came out and I saw and tasted how great everything was - it's one thing to have an exciting, ambitious menu but you've got to execute! And Tomato Bistro really does. My favorite menu items (so far) are the crispy artichokes, the fried goat cheese salad (hold the bacon), and the fig pizza (hold the bacon again!), and the margherita pizza. When they first opened, they also had a really nice cheese board, which it looks like they may have done away with? Not sure why... I thought that was excellent too. Their pizzas are a little bit funky (options like Hot and Honey Chicken, Duck and Apple, etc) and they're A LOT delicious. They're ovular in shape and they serve them sliced once longways and three times on the short side so your pieces are approximate squares. I would characterize their crust as thin and crispy - I know that some people will start throwing around comments like "tastes like a pita chip" when crispiness is a primary characteristic of a pizza crust but unless you're dining with a deep dish die-hard, it's hard to imagine that someone would think this crust should be any softer or thicker than it is because the elements of each pizza are so cohesive. Like TB's more casual counterpart downstairs, you can order any of their pizzas on a whole wheat crust and I see they recently added a GF crust option! The pizzas are a little on the small-side, even for gourmet pizza but I think that attention-to-detail is an important part of what makes their pizza so good and in a busy restaurant, it's hard to imagine that the "A2D" wouldn't suffer some if the pizzas were significantly bigger. They have a strong beer list with 11 craft brews on tap and beer enthusiasts can keep an eye on what they have on deck via the "coming soon" section on their website. The restaurant also has a great layout and a really modern, stream-lined aesthetic that still manages to be warm and relaxing. In terms of ambiance, I could see it being a good first date spot but, because of all the "small plates" and pizza, it's definitely a good place to go with a significant other or someone else that you're comfortable splitting dishes with. Highly recommended!
(5)
Christina P.
I used a groupon deal with my boyfriend on friday. it was a great deal...we got a slider, salad and pizza. and he got two beers (not on the deal). the food was all very good! I am a very frequent customer to the downstairs cafe...whose pizza I honestly dont like but upstairs the pizza is great! service was friendly upstairs and food was good not great. I would definiately go back again. it is perfect for lunch or if you awnna grab a few beers and food with a friend
(3)
Dinh Felicia N.
I usually don't like buffets but this place really yummy food. The tomatoes bisque is the best I have ever had. The waitress is friendly and the place is cute.
(5)
Rick B.
This place has some great food and awesome specials throughout the week. My wife and I dine here regularly and always leave satisfied. They also have a great rotating beer list. Check it out!
(4)
Tyler T.
I've been back to The Tomato Bistro a couple times since my first visit. The first time back I had a groupon for a salad and pizza. We ordered the goat cheese salad again because we loved it so much the first time and again it was great. We also ordered the guacamole pizza and it was cooked just right and very flavorful. The owner sent us a card for a free small plate, pizza, and drink because our first not so positive experience. (great customer service and shows that they really care about the customer). This time we ordered the Aztec Shrimp for the small plate (three well cooked large shrimp with some cool rice I've never seen before. The dish was solid, but I would have liked a little more flavor to come through). We ordered the guacamole pizza again and I really enjoyed it (crispy crust and the melted cheese is delicious). We also ordered the cobb salad (not my favorite salad and probably the worst salad I've had at either the Bistro or Couch Tomato). I would really love it if the Bistro would let you create your own salad like you can downstairs. I know its supposed to be more of a restaurant atmosphere than take out, but I would order my $12 spinach salad with turkey, bacon, candied pecans, and sesame dressing everytime if I could. I gave it a third star because they genuinely care about my business, but I can't give it more because the food is really just mediocre. With that said, its still a fairly decent place for Manayunk and I'll probably come back when I'm craving a fried goat cheese salad.
(3)
K. B.
Have never been to the Couch Tomato (the lower level of this place), but as I live In Manayunk and am a Groupon fool, when one for this place popped up I had to try it. The inside (2nd and 3rd floors) is a comfortable but casual. The menu selection was nice and the portions we got were average I guess. $10 for a salad appetizer for 2 seemed steep to me, but that's why we had the Groupon. One beef would be that we couldn't choose pizzas from the downstairs menu to eat upstairs. Sure, the Bistro's pizzas seemed interesting, but if I wanted a pepperoni I couldn't have it?!?! Weird. But it was a nice weekday dinner spot. PS. Why does every bar now feel obligated to carry Purple Haze? Its not longer unique if you can find it everywhere! (and its kind of eh anyways).
(4)
Natalie E.
This place is alright. The menu is pretty creative- there's apple and duck pizza and similar combos not usually seen together on a menu. That being said, the food is just ok. Sure, it's interesting but it's not super-must-have-delicious. I would say go here if you have a coupon or something.
(3)
Peg B.
This place is great. Pizza is tasty , and they have a great gluten-free crust. There is something on the menu for everyone. Atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. Great service. Wines by the glass at a decent price.
(4)
Meg F.
Loved the Yelp deal. Salad was delicious - gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, apple (i think?), added chicken, got the vinaigrette - yum!! Boyfriend's pizza with chicken and guac was delicious! Would go back.
(4)
Christina B.
Perfect place for dinner with the girls. Great option if you're on a diet, but don't want to give up your social life. In fact, the waitress and kitchen worked with me to make their already healthier than average dishes work even better for someone working to lose weight. HUGE customer service. On the flip side, my guy doesn't love this place. He thinks it's too healthy. It isn't the cheapest place for the options.
(4)
Lisa K.
Price for the food is great . .Great wine prices. Specialiy pizzas, small plates. love the hot and honey chicken pizza! Large selection of gluten free and vegetarian items so there is something for everone
(4)
Reagan R.
I absolutely love the Tomato Bistro! The food is delicious! I have never had a bad meal yet! The Buffalo Quesadilla is a MUST! It is ridiculous good! I have been to this place twice in the last week because I was craving this quesadilla. Their pizzas are really good too. The place is real cool and they offer a lot of different kinds of beers that you can't get other places.
(5)
gillian h.
Tomato Bistro is our new go-to place for lunch or dinner because the food is delicious and the variety is excellent. My husband loves the sliders and the selection of unique beers. I love the salads. Everything is fresh and well presented. You can tell that the chef and the staff care about the food and the service.
(5)
Youjin L.
Tomato Bistro has the healthiest food ever! Their $9.99 lunch buffet is so worth it! Pizza gets rotated, so you get to taste about 6-8 different pizza slices, and plus amazing salads and entree! They're so healthy and delicioius!!! They have the BEST PIZZA!!! But because the buffet table is pretty small, it tends to get very crowded, which is fine with me, but they're not quick enough to restock the food in time. So I recommend going for lunch buffet on weekdays, not weekends. But except that little issue, I HIGHLY recommend Tomato Bistro!!!! For dinner, I recommend Portabella sliders, Short rib, Pan-seared scallops, duck & apple, basil pesto pizza!!
(4)
Lynda R.
The atmosphere was great. The service was impeccible. The food was fresh and deliciously prepared. Prices are average. I love tapas small plates so you can try a bunch of different things. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Brittany R.
We went to the lunch buffet, and had previously bought a $5 groupon. It was great! They had a tasty variety of pizzas, salads, and side dishes. We were in a hurry and we were able to serve ourselves, get drinks delivered, eat, pay, and leave within 20 minutes.
(4)
Nicole F.
Not the traditional fold in half, cheese & sauce pizza but if you're looking for a yummy, flavorful, thin crust pizza - this is the place! They do deliver however, I prefer to eat my pizza right out of the oven. I've tried the Sangria which was ehh.. But it's a pizza place so on that note it rocks!
(4)
Milla G.
My sister and I were in Philadelphia for a week visiting a friend. On one of the many nights we ate out, our friend took us to the Tomato Bistro. We weren't expecting anything phenomenal, especially after the other places we ate at on the first nights in PA. Well, once we got there, our hopes ascended in delight - The place was so cozy and friendly, yet very open and spacey! And there was a little surprise. We happened to be there on Thursday, which is Flight Night! Amazing deals on beer flights. We settled in and the waitress was quick to take our order. I got the Cavatelli with Pistachio Pesto - MMMMMM. And my sister, always being on the safe side, just got the Grilled Caesar Salad. My friend got her usual - Duck & Apple Pizza. Yes. DUCK & APPLE PIZZA! Tomato Bistro's definitely not a standard soup, salad, and pizza place. (You got ya duck, ya sesame chicken, ya shrimp, ya salmon...) Definitely will be going back next time we're in PA. Great food, great atmosphere; just the PERFECT bistro.
(5)
Rick T.
I just moved to Manayunk and have been trying all of the restaurants on Main Street. I must say that this place is one of my favorites. The weekend lunch buffet is an excellent deal. All of the food is fresh, well prepared and replenished often. Excellent tomato basil soup. Inviting and friendly staff.
(5)
Megan M.
My boyfriend and I have been here twice. The first time we went, we had a groupon deal and were there right after it opened..we had the pesto pizza (good), the bruschetta (really good), a meatball/penne small plate (no longer on the menu), the caprese salad and something else I can't remember. We went back tonight with a living social deal and when we called to make reservations, they told us it was quizzo night. We had never done a quizzo night before, and tonight was pretty fun..they do it every Monday, even though we did horrible, I think we'd go back to try our luck again. First prize was a $25 gift certificate, second place was a free pizza..good deal! Tonight we ordered the caprese salad again, but they changed it!! Before it was large tomato slices and slices of fresh mozzarella with some greens, this time it was mostly greens, barely any tomatos, and mozzarella balls. It was still good, but we liked the old caprese A LOT better. We also ordered the duck and apple pizza, which was AMAZINGGGGG. They don't have your typical pizzas here, so you have to be prepared to try something different. We went with this because we picked the strangest thing on the menu, and it was DELICIOUS. Very sweet, and the duck was moist. We highly recommend this place for a nice night out. They run a lot of coupon specials and even have one on here (the $10 for $20). If you want more than just dinner go to quizzo on Mondays..starts at 7:30!
(5)
Eric H.
There good is amazing. Truffle and pimiento sliders were outstanding and the chicken/waffles are out of this world! You honestly can't go wrong with anything on their menu though!
(5)
Darnell T.
Very cool place to eat. The food is great. The lunch buffet is good and at a reasonable price. They have valet parking that helps offset the squeeze of Manayunk.
(4)
Mander P.
Excellent food and excellent service! My boyfriend got the sausage and pepper pizza and I got the short rib pizza, which came with a delicious fig sauce! We had the fried risotto as an appetizer which was amazing, as well as complimentary biscotti and tomato bisque shooters which were adorable! Plus, the biscotti was super fresh. Our server was very friendly and attentive, which really put the cherry on top of our experience. We will definitely be back here! My only complaint is that I didn't quite understand the serving sizes, and I had to ask.
Love Couch Tomato so decided to try the Bistro. Definitely different vibe than downstairs, more like a sit down restaurant. Acoustics are terrible, so loud due to the open balcony area. Be aware that you can't order any of the amazing wraps, etc. from downstairs. However they do have delicious pizzas and sliders and other dishes, and are very accommodating to food allergies and gluten free ppl! I am not GF but have had their GF dough and buns and YUM.
(4)
J M.
I'm glad I finally got to try this place. The small plates and sliders were delicious and actually quite filling. Beer selection was alright. Overall, nice little place to grab a bite.
(4)
Josh A.
My work colleagues and I have enjoyed the Couch Tomato Bistro lunch buffet on many occasions and have never been disappointed. The buffet offers a wide selection of salads, pizzas, pastas, and other entree items... plus soft drinks are included. Overall, it's a great value. If you leave hungry, it's your own fault.
(5)
IvoryCycle I.
Very delicious food. My parents and I stopped here upon our journey looking for apartments. It was a welcome comfort. I'm gluten free and they used quinoa in a very unique way which made me very happy. Thanks for supporting us GF fanatics!
(5)
Stephanie M.
This is one of our favorite restaurants to come to as a family. There is something on the menu for everyone. I have Celiacs Disease so this is my favorite place to get the BEST PIZZA!!! You should try the Fig & Pear Pizza. The menu has something for everyone; Salads, Pizza, Burgers, Small Plates...they have a great selection of various food items that our kids even look forward to going as much as we do! They can make any sandwich GF by request. This is a great place to come to on date night or with the family. Full bar and complimentary parking as well.
(5)
Jeff H.
To be truthful, I don't know how anyone cannot like The Tomato Bistro. Prob if I scan through the many Yelp reviews, I'll discover some negatives but everyone I know - including myself - thinks this place is great. The people who work there are always super friendly, the atmosphere is light-filled, industrial chic, and cool .... and the food is more than tasty. One of the best deals around is their gourmet lunch buffet. For 12 bucks you have an all-you-can-eat choice of fabulous thin crust pizzas and salads and assorted other dishes and soups - wow what a deal. This is why it is usually crowded at lunchtime. And The Tomato Bistro is right in the heart of Manayunk so afterwards you can walk around and enjoy the cool atmosphere in this colorful corner of Philadelphia.
(5)
Jeff T.
Wonderful service, wonderful atmosphere, and wonderful food! Gluten Free Pizza's are incredible and really are the best I've had. Same with the salads, and all of the small plates. The Tomato Bistro knows how to pair good food with healthy options and really is a great part of the Manayunk/Roxborough Community!
(5)
Josh K.
My girlfriend and I came here after we saw their brunch special posted in a Facebook promotion - only $13 for all you can eat food, with a really nice mix of breakfast and more substantial lunch-type items. Would highly recommend both of the breakfast strombolis - both the veggie and meat options were delicious. The garlic knobs (basically little bread balls with butter and garlic) are top-notch. The buffet on that particular day had some flatbread pizzas as well as chicken Marsala and tortellini. The "Bottomed Out" option for brunch was nice - much cheaper than Bottomless deals at many restaurants, as you pay $8 for your first drink and $2 for each subsequent one. The Bloody Mary was fantastic, but very hearty and rich. If that's your thing, great - but don't plan on having more than one. Next time I think I'll go with the mimosas, which were lighter and made with fresh, pulpy orange juice and a liberal amount of champagne. The atmosphere was great - not too loud and certainly enough space. With as crazy as some places can get on Sundays for brunch, we were seated immediately and with the brunch special being a buffet, we didn't have to wait long for service. Though we were just there as a party of two, it's certainly a place that is conducive to larger brunch gatherings, especially if you've spent the night prior out in the Manayunk area. We actually ended up coming back the same day for dinner, as we had gotten some promotional cards for free slices of pizza. This was a much smaller meal, but almost equally as satisfying. The toppings on the pizza were fresh, especially the ricotta cheese. Certainly not like some pizza places where you go and you can tell that the pizza had sat out a while. Overall, it's probably the best restaurant experience I have had in the Manayunk area. While we didn't have to deal with much service, being a buffet and then just grabbing a slice, the employees were all very courteous and attentive. The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was relaxed. We'll be back soon, and we'll probably be bringing friends.
(5)
Matt N.
We have been to The Couch Tomato a few times in recent months with our 2 year old son. It's delicious food, well crafted, with a solid selection of beer, wine and cocktails (essential elements for the parents of a toddler!). The service is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. On our last visit we did the $50 special (app, salad, pizza, dessert, 2 drinks) and it was worth every penny. A great spot on Main Street.
(5)
Monique W.
I had dinner there with 5 other friends, and we received top-rate hospitality the entirety of our meal and after. The food was delicious, and the wine selection was average. I'm really looking forward to going back again, particularly on a Sunday for the BYOB night!
(5)
Katrina C.
This place gets it right on all counts! We went on a weeknight and enjoyed some great beer discounts. They also sent me a free pizza coupon for my birthday which was an awesome marketing tactic. We enjoyed a short rib appetizer, a goat cheese salad and a yummy cheesy pizza. This place has a neat vibe, good music on the radio and some of the most pleasant service I've received in all of Manayunk.
(5)
Naomi B.
I am a huge fan of The Tomato Bistro! I've stumbled upon this place whilst looking up gluten free restaurants via Google and the first to pop up was The Tomato Bistro, so why not? I've never been here so one, dreary Sunday afternoon, I stepped foot in here for the first time. The decor and atmosphere is very laid back, and the man at the door asked if we were dining and said the hostess will be upstairs, I was pathetically excited when they said they had a second story seeing, and was awed that there was a third story. The menu isn't only gluten free, but has vegan friendly options and for you meat eaters, there's also something for you too. I opted for the Cajun Shrimp salad that was divine. In it, it had mixed greens, avocado (my favourite!) , roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, and had a tasty orange chili vinaigrette. My friends had a white pizza that was also delicious. Our server was a darling, telling them it's a tad too small to split but offered to make it a tad bigger since it was our first time there and explained the menu to us. I'll be a regular now every Sunday :-)
(5)
Amanda C.
I love the Couch Tomato Bistro! All of the salads and pizzas are absolutely fantastic, and the portions are excellent. Perhaps the best part about The Couch Tomato is the Tomato Bisque, which is out of this world! Everything always tastes so fresh and healthy. Great atmosphere and service, as well!
(5)
Gino C.
My wife and I took another couple out here. They have some serious food allergies but The Tomato Bistro was able to provide them a great selection of items. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. It wasn't very crowded though it was a Sunday evening. Nevertheless, the food was good. I'd come more regularly if I lived closer. :)
(4)
Lou M.
The Tomato Bistro offers quite a unique dining experience. Quietly set above The Couch Tomato cafe you will find the Tomato Bistro. Private and casually elegant, it offers fantastic food options with excellent service. Perfect for a date night or just a dinner with friends.
(5)
Gina M.
I might have written a review for here before but this place is amazing.. We had our engagement party here and the food was amazing.. The staff was so helpful and friendly.. Our guests had the best time.. I can't say enough about how wonderful and special they made us feel!!
(5)
Brian G.
Such a wonderful time we had. Service and food was amazing!!
(5)
J K.
Came here on a Monday. On Monday, sliders are buy one get one free. Each order comes with two sliders (your choice of flavors) and a small salad. Enough for a light meal. That's a pretty good deal for $9,50!! They offer 7 different kinds of sliders, I tried the Portobello Mushroom and the turkey. I recommend the mushroom. The bistro (which is above the cafe) is actually really cute and a nice place to dine. It had a more upscale feel that I was expecting. Overall, would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner in Manayunk!
(3)
Kirsten D.
This place is fantastic to meet up with friends for their lunch buffet or just dinner any night. The buffet had tons of options for a great price and you could still pick from the regular menu if you wanted. The food was fresh and held at the right temperatures. I would never say no to eating at the Couch Tomato Bistro.
(4)
Justin L.
Since previously coming in for the lunch buffet, I have returned to grab pizza for take out. Honestly, was impressed at how good the pizza was given my previous experience was not ideal. The one thing that I did like about ordering was the timeliness since living local it is nice to pick up pizza that is fresh from the oven hot. Oveall, I would reccomend this place for take-out pizza in Manayunk and be sure to look for specials.
(3)
Alison S.
OK Really? Can these guys get any better? I arrived here and had the most pleasant server who was consistently refilling my glass. Then moving onto the small plate of scallops which were Divine. Then the salad. Fresh as hell and FANTASTIC. I swear to whatever higher power is out there that I'm coming back tomorrow. The food is fresh, the bathrooms are clean and the staff is wonderful. I didn't try the craft beers but it looked like a nice selection. GO THERE ASAP. It's a great date night place!
(5)
Laurie C.
We have been to Tomato Bistro about 4 times. I cannot say enough about how much we love it here! The ambiance is casual and welcoming! Love sitting on the third floor by the window! Every single dish they serve is delicious and different! Love this place! Highly recommend...especially for a group of people!
(5)
Doug D.
Excellent food with some unique choices. They offer free valet parking in a neighborhood that is tough to park in. I went on a weekday and had good service. They even have a frequent diners club. I tried to use a promotional coupon, however the waitress never applied it. In the end it was worth even if I did pay full price.
(5)
Aimee S.
The take out is amazing as well as dining in! I absolutely love the pizza, it tastes sooo good. There are specials every night as well- half off bottles of wine on Wednesday is my favorite. The salads and wraps are very good as well, very healthy and fresh. Ordering online is very easy and seamless, great experience!! I love this place!!
(5)
Tim C.
This place really deserves 4.5 stars. There's really nothing to not like about the Tomato Bistro. They have a varied menu that is still manageable with a great array of small plates that all satisfy. The lobster ravioli is my favorite. Their sliders are iffy, but definitely edible. Their salads are delicious, and that's coming from a meat and potatoes guy. And their best item, their pizzas, oh Lord, their pizzas. My favorite is the Florentine (a white pizza with spinach and ricotta), but any pizza is a good choice. They have gluten free and whole wheat crust along with a variety of non-pizza gluten free and vegetarian items so you can pretty much take anyone here. Add this to their great beer menu (try the Dubhe, awesome black IPA) and solid wine selection, what else can you ask for? Additionally, they are easy on the wallet at their standard prices, but they have specials most nights of the week. They also have a great lunch/brunch buffet with a wide array of cold salads, pasta dishes, and pizzas. They rotate new pizzas in and out with never the same pizza twice in a row. This is a great place for going out with friends or a date (it's one of my go-to's). If you haven't been here, you need to rectify that ASAP.
(4)
Natalia C.
Very good food and friendly staff. I haven't had a disappointing meal yet. They offer BYOB on Sundays I believe. It's a great spot for a cute first date as it is intimate. Lastly, they have valet parking! That sold me since it's in a very busy part of the city.
(4)
Jared J.
The bistro continues to amaze me. The food here is some of the best in manayunk, and the environment lets me relax. The pizza ideas are creative. Tonight we were given free samples of their tomato bisque, which was really good. It's nice that tomato treats their guests. Next sliders pork, southwestern, truffle, and lobster. On nom nom. Did I mention I just finished my first Belgian triple from lauganitas. So nommy!
Solid, solid, solid bistro. My wife and I have been long fans of the cafe, but we always just did take-out... and with take-out, rarely can you take-out alcohol. So once they opened the Bistro and offered a full bar with some pretty awesome local micro-brews, that made my Couch Tomato pizza obsession only worse... in a good way :) From salads to soups, pizzas to sandwiches, you can't go wrong here. Make sure to sit on the top, top level... the exposed brick and balcony provides a nice ambiance!
(5)
Lindsay L.
The brunch is amazing! Great food and selection - everything from gourmet breakfast pizza, normal gourmet pizza, veggies and salad to french toast casserole, fruit parfaits, etc. Plus, the mimosas deal doesn't hurt - $8 for the first and $2 for each after.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Accepts Bitcoin : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Julie M.
What a cute place for when you want some eclectic pizza! I mean, not your average tomato pie. The rizzoto balls appetizer is fantastic and the prusciutto pizza is also quite yummy. This is a great place for a lunch date or dinner with friends.
(4)Robert D.
Unique, one of a kind! If you're in Manayunk and have the craving for some exceptionally fresh , well prepared, clean food , good drink , with an array of micro brews on tap. Then, you must give this place a try! Wether you're meeting up with a group of friends, going on a date, or spending time with the family, then this is the perfect place for you. The ambiance of traditional yet modern decor will put you at ease and prepare you for a dining experience far beyond your expectations. Folks, take my advice and order as many apps, flatbreads, and entree's off the menu as your heart desires. I salute the Chef and the owners on this concept!! What else can I say, forget about it!! In closing, please for your own benefit stop in and give this place a gander. It will exceed your expectations.
(5)Carrie D.
Delicious food and good service. The bread for brushetta was less than impressive, but the pizza delicious!
(4)McK S.
When I heard that the couch tomato had expanded, I couldn't wait for it to open and try it. The space is so fantastic. It's got great ambiance. The decorations are great and it has a very comfortable feel. The menu has several of the options from the downstairs. They are totally different kitchens. The menu has lots of great options. We ordered the artichokes and toasted macncheese. Both were delicious. The salads didn't dissapoint. The portions are reasonable. And lastly, the staff were so sweet. Really accommodating and funny. There is also free parking, which in manayunk is a great perk.
(4)Ben D.
Stopped in for a tapas dinner here on a Saturday a few weeks ago and had a great time. I think this place is more known for its pizza but the tapas menu was pretty good as well. The standout among the tapas was definitely the chicken and waffles. It was so good and would have fit in, in any of the best tapas places in the city. Even if you're just stopping in for a pizza, you should treat yourself to one of these bad boys. The rest of the tapas menu was average. Great presentation on all of the dishes but they were lacking a bit in flavor and overall a bit uninspired in my opinion. the staff was really friendly and there was a manager walking around making sure everything was ok at every table. gotta love that. So overall we had a great time and may come back at some point in the future but aren't in a rush.
(4)Michele H.
We had lunch here yesterday and were pleasantly surprised. The Bistro is decorated comfortably with nice touches and the service was truly some of the best in the area. My kids each had a gluten free pizza, which is second only to Risotteria. It was a great combo of a delicious crust, great tasting sauce and just the right amount of cheese. I had the salmon salad which was good (the guacamole tasted a little funky to me) and the salmon was cooked a little more than I like. Our server gave us samples of the tomato bisque, which was very good. One last thing, the iced tea was fresh. We will certainly return.
(5)David B.
Great menu and fairly priced. We'll be back!
(5)John M.
The Tomato Bistro used to be a go-to for us in Manayunk. They have reasonable prices and pretty good food. Recently we have been increasingly disappointed with the service and the menu. The last straw for us was when we purchased a Yelp $10 for $20 deal and we were told by our server that we couldn't use the deal for alcohol (which we already knew); but, what she really meant was that using the deal voided their half-off drink specials. Rather than explaining this clearly, she brought us the check with drinks listed at full-price which made the total above what we would have paid without the Yelp deal. When we pointed this out, she didn't even attempt to discuss it; instead, she walked away as we were speaking to get her manager. I should note that we were being very friendly and non-confrontational because this is obviously not her policy, despite her not explaining it clearly. The manager came over and in a passive aggressive way said, "I hear there is some problem with the bill?". His argument was that the Yelp deal states that it cannot be combined with other discounts and in my opinion drink specials that you run for every other customer in the restaurant every single Wednesday do not qualify as a discount. Why would you offer deals through Yelp to bring customers in on weeknights and then negate the whole purpose of the deal when they arrive? Rotten. What we wanted was to use the Yelp towards the 4 significant dishes that we had ordered and to receive the half-off price for our drinks and instead of accommodating a fairly reasonable customer request, he argued with us to the point that we ended up tossing the Yelp deal out and just paying as if we hadn't purchased it at all. It was very disappointing, especially considering how much we had previously enjoyed this restaurant and how friendly many of the other servers/staff have been in the past. We WILL NOT be returning nor would we recommend it again after this experience.
(2)Christopher W.
omg the appetizer fries with pulled pork. omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg. get them! go now! go!
(5)KJ S.
The food was good.. I had the pork panini and Waldorf salad. One of the best side salads I've ever eaten! We all shared frites, which have a distinct seasoning that sets them apart from normal fries. The server, Patrick, was great. I'd definitely visit again. Next time I'll save room for dessert.
(3)Tough C.
In response to my review of Couch Tomato and my complaint that the gluten free [GF] pizza was only available in the bistro upstairs, the owner sent me a coupon for a free GF pizza at the bistro. So I went with my son, also GF. The space is very nice, two story and lit with "Christmas lights" as my son described it. The staff have to bring all food up the stairs--no dumb waiter! We ordered the sausage pizza, GF and caprese salad. The crust is one of the best GF crusts I have tried. The sausage was VERY good, but the broccoli rabe on the pizza fell flat, being hard to taste and mushy. My son wasn't sure how he felt about the ricotta on the pizza, but, then, he is a teenager and not very adventurous about food. I found it tasty. The salad was fresh and I was told they are changing the serving dish, so I won't comment. The wine list is short, and for this price point, they should have wines in the $6-7 per glass price available, instead of most in the $8-9 and up range. The shiraz I had was very good. The menu is well-marked for vegetarian, vegan and GF dishes. Thank you!!! They have valet parking for the bistro. Pull up, call the number on the sign and they send someone out. They also offer specials, both GF and non-GF for $45-49 for two people. I think that this is a bit overpriced for this place.
(4)Angela E.
This place was pretty great. The pizza was fresh and delicious, the staff was friendly, and the price was right.
(4)Meredith C.
Everything is great, and so reasonably priced for Main St! Highly recommend the Pretzel Fondue or the Chicken and Waffles! Will absolutely be going back!
(5)elisa s.
I went back and I was thrilled! My husband got the french press coffee which was an individual adorable little coffee press and delicious and we got our usual (a salad and a pizza) and it was amazing as usual. In addition we also ordered a small plate of bruschetta which blew us away! This is our go to place. It's cheaper and quainter than the brewery and more modern than other bars/restaurants. Ideal for a group or a date. Also if you do make a reservation get the barstools near the windows.
(5)Brittany R.
Ate once more at this restaurant, and we just had to try to duck pizza with goat cheese. It seems a little weird, but by our surprise, we really liked it. For one, I have never had eaten duck before, and to have it for the first time on pizza? Wow. It was very good though. This pizza is extra fresh, fresh ingredients..and not "Your everyday pizza." Also, nice environment!
(5)Elle H.
I love the Couch Tomato Cafe and so was very excited to try the Tomato Bistro. Their website however gave no information about their hours, especially during their first week so I kept going but they weren't serving food when I would go. When they finally began serving dinner I went and enjoyed two of their dishes -- both of which were delicious. Unfortunately they had not yet acquired a liquor license so my craving for wine went unsatisfied. The portions were smaller than I would have liked but the service was very good. My big concern is that there is no handicap access to the main restaurant. Customers who cannot use stairs will need to eat in the cafe.
(3)Karen Y.
i was very excited to try this place since a friend who used to live in the neighborhood loves the pizza at the cafe down stairs. the groupon i bought allowed us an opportunity to try 3 small plates, a salad, pizza and dessert at a great value. in short the salad, pizza and dessert were delicious. the small plates are just okay at best. we started with the fried goat cheese salad which was delicious. four balls of deep fried goat cheese was matched well with arugala, bacon and cranberries in a surprisingly light vinaigrette. then came our three small plates. the sweet potato latkas had a hint of cumin and were a bit on the heavy side. didn't taste at all like it was described on the menu but i would say the best of the three. the lobster ravioli was blah. the corn on the top did not belong at all and the sauce was a bit watery. i've made better at home using frozen ravioli's from tj's. the bruschetta came with four different toppings and i could have done without the one that was a little too much like tomato paste on a crouton ( i think it was suppose to be the fig pesto, but it was definitely NOT). the bread itself was meh too; tasted like a giant crouton. the other three toppings were in a league of their own and were full of flavor and refreshing at the same time. someone at another table ordered the mussels which smelled awesome and we wished we ordered that instead in hind sight. they didn't have the duck and apple pizza so we went with the fig- absolutely delicious! the fig pesto is paired well with thinly sliced pears, crispy bacon, gorgonzola and caramelized onions. the crust is light and slightly crisp on the crust. we were so full, we brought most of this pizza home along with our dessert. the chocolate tort was delicious chocolate decadence and was thoroughly enjoyed the next day with the leftover pizza. overall, definitely a repeat for salad and a pizza. maybe even a small plate of mussels. unfortunately the small plates are pretty disappointing and not at the same caliber as their pizzas.
(3)Megan G.
I thought it was a great atmosphere with a wide selection of small plates and pizzas. It is different then the cafe but I enjoyed it. I went with a friend and we ordered two small plates and pizza. We couldn't finish everything but it was all very good. We ordered a bottle of wine which was delicious! Our waiter had recommended it- Santa Martina a cab blend. The wines are also very reasonably priced. Normally in restaurants they sell for 4x the glass but at the bistro they only sell for 2x! I recommend checking it out!!
(4)Jennifer J.
Just came here for the first time after purchasing one of their Meal for 4 Groupons. We had one slider a piece, two small plates, and 2 pizzas to share. I had the Kobe slider which was delicious. We also ordered the crispy artichokes, which came out blazing hot so you had to be a little careful with them. The risotto plate we ordered could have used a little more flavor or salt, however that would be my only complaint. We were seated right by a large bay window which provided really nice nighttime views of Main Street Manayunk. The atmosphere was really delightful and charming. Our waitress was very accommodating and had one of their prosciutto pizzas special ordered so the vegetarian in our group could enjoy one half. The food was a little slow to come out, however we figured it was because they were firing each course after the one was delivered. Overall, great experience. Would definitely come back.
(4)James J.
one of the best and more reasonably priced places in manayunk. would advise to stay away from the more fanciful pizza items and stick with the basics though the apps especially the sliders are pretty good
(4)Sarah R.
I had to upgrade to 5 stars because I finally got around to trying this place out again and wanted to give an extra star for them having VEGAN options, which can be hard to come by. AND I was informed that they don't use soy in their vegan cheese. That's a rarity in the vegan restaurant world! Plus the service is great because they were trying out new Sangria recipes so I was fortunate to get some samples on the house.
(5)Ken R.
We usually eat at Couch Tomato but we decided to check out the Bistro through a $35 groupon. VERY GOOD dinner and service! They have an awesome selection of non-traditional pizzas, sliders and small plates. The groupon included one order of sliders, one small plate and either a pizza or a salad. We got and order of the crabcake sliders as well as the truffle sliders - both were extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. Also, got the mussels - just OK and the fig pizza. The fig pizza was different but in a very good way, sweet and salty. It was definitely worth every penny and I'm going to keep my eyes open for another groupon.
(4)Shannon O.
I've been here a couple times since they opened and I feel like this is just the kind of place that Main Street needs - casual but upscale clientele and interesting, delicious food in a beautifully remodeled space. In short, not fine dining but not a fratty sports bar either. Also, since you're sitting on either the second or third floor of the building, the views out the windows are more than just sidewalk. Last night, my brother, his wife and two children and I stopped by for dinner. (Earlyish, probably around 5:30.) The staff happily rearranged tables to make a space for five, and when we told them we were in a bit of a rush they made a point of getting food to us fast and checking up on us often. Our server, Bob, was professional but friendly, and while we were waiting for appetizers he brought over little samplers of tomato soup with bruschetta. He also admitted, upon seeing my nephew showing me Fruit Ninja, that although he'd once played it for three days straight, he was still terrible at it. This is now my go-to for a sit-down meal on Main Street.
(5)Jessica W.
I've been going to Tomato Bistro and Cafe since I moved into Manayunk. Their food is always amazing. The portions are nice with creative combinations of pizza and salads. The staff is very friendly and attentive. They also have good deals throughout the week and a date night special. I will continue to be dining at the Bistro and Cafe.
(5)Eric R.
The small plates are all incredible. The meditarranean appetizer was delicious as well as the risotto. We then split the Guac pizza. I had never tried it before but I was pleasantly surprise. Great experience overall. I suggest going when there is live music. It lightened up the atmosphere.
(5)Elliot K.
My family and I had dinner at the Tomato Bistro last Friday night. First, having free valet parking is a major bonus in such a busy part of town. Second, the service was amazing...very knowledgable people who can provide you great recommendations. Thirdly, the food is awesome...we have to go back since there are so many options to try. And finally the beer list was very cool...especially having the option of getting a flight of beers for $10 (4 different samples). Very nice! I would highly recommend and would go back again and again! It's my new favorite place!
(5)Erica M.
Wow...I was beyond impressed by this place. When you walk into Couch Tomato, you could have no idea that there is such a wonderful, tranquil restaurant upstairs. And the food was fantastic as well. We started with a sample of the tomato bisque. I don't like tomato soup, but this stuff was amazing. I wanted to lick my little cup clean! We then had the salmon salad - absolutely wonderful. The salmon was cooked perfectly, the guacamole was delicious, and the light vinaigrette on the green was a great complement. I did get a rotten tomato, which was kind of gross...but it happens! We then had 3 small plates: the Mediterranean plate, the risotto fritters, and the mussels. The Mediterranean plate was quite large, especially for the price. We weren't huge fans of the cheese (it had an odd marinade) but the veggies were well-cooked, and the olives were really yummy. The risotto fritters were a bit too fried for us and the inside risotto wasn't particularly flavorful. It was the only disappointing dish of the night. The mussels blew me away - a huge bowl for large, juicy, perfectly cooked mussels. I can't even tell you the last time I had such good quality mussels - usually they are puny, but not these! We then got the fig and pear pizza (subbed goat cheese for gorgonzola). The ingredients on this pizza were fresh...and the whole wheat crust was perfect. We didn't love the pizza but I think that is 100% person preference and we shouldn't have ordered a sweeter pizza. For anyone who likes a sweeter pizza, this is a MUST order. We finished with the vanilla cheesecake...a small slice if light, creamy cheesecake heaven. Overall, we had a wonderful experience. Our server was attentive without being a nag. This is going to be my go-to nice dinner spot in Manayunk now. Without naming names, this restaurant far surpasses the others in the area with similar food/price points.
(4)Kevin W.
Since this place is new I decided to try it out and on the menu I saw toasted mac n cheese so I ordered it and a soda it was good but its not your traditional mac n cheese it is mostly cheese,corn and what tasted to me like risotto my only complaint is that it's a small portion but it is listed under the "small plates" section the bill came to roughly 10 dollars and like I said it was good but 10 dollars is a lil high for the portion size.service was very good
(3)Carla T.
I love the Couch Tomato Cafe and was excited for the addition of the Bistro. A few weeks after it opened, my boyfriend and I went over to check it out. The layout/decor is nice and there was less than a 5 minute wait which was great. We were greeted at our table with complimentary tomato basil soup shooters (nice start to our night out); when we got the menu I wasn't too impressed by it. Very similar menu to the Cafe with a few exceptions. Still, I placed my order (the mussles and an order of frites to share) and my boyfriend placed his and that is when I started to loose my appetite... He asked for a side of salsa for whatever it is he ordered (I believe it may have been the Mexican salad). For some reason, this request dumbfounded our waitress and she gave off an annoyed look/attitude. After some back and forth, he let it go and said if it was not possible then to just not worry about it. We were talking about her attitude and how uncomfortable it was and looked towards the direction of our waitress and saw her talking to a coworker while literally laughing and pointing in our direction. It made me feel very uncomfortable and we didn't feel like paying for bad service so we got up and let her know to forget about our order. We left and went over to the Manayunk Tavern, much better experience there. Don't think I'll try the Bistro again; maybe I'll return to the Cafe at some point. Still have a bad taste in my mouth though.
(1)Lisa J.
Don't do the lunch buffet. The small space when there's a crowd is quite annoying. The food is limited, and it's annoying going up and down the stairs to get food (if you're seated upstairs). My experience was OK. I finished my first dish before I got my water, which is awful for me because I need to drink something with my food. The waiters tried though I guess. I'm giving this place 4 stars because the other stuff on the menu looks better. Just avoid the lunch buffet.
(4)Jill B.
I love The Tomato Bistro. It's always quality, fresh food. The lunch buffet is by far my favorite - many varieties of pizza, salads, soups, pasta, garlic knots and always something a little different like chicken fajitas to try - all for just $10! My friends from upstate NY and FL request to go here every time they visit. Keep up the good work!!
(5)Krystal A.
Casual and friendly environment. The pizza was amazing, so were the mussels. Got a groupon and got to try the small plates, which are good sized portions (lunch portions). Pizza can be easily shared with 3 people. Great place for a casual date.
(4)Tori C.
I've been to The Tomato Bistro several times, and each time has been very pleasant. The food is delicious and there is a unique variety of foods. The pizza is not your traditional pizza, but that's a good thing. I've had the pulled pork, duck and apple, and bacon and goat cheese pizzas, and they were all amazing. Good food at a good price, especially if you go for the lunch buffet...then it's a great price! I'd definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a nice spot for lunch or dinner, and the complimentary valet parking makes it easy to park in an area that can otherwise be terrible to park in!
(5)N M.
We were looking forward to trying the Tomato Bistro since it opened recently. The Couch Tomato Cafe downstairs is wonderful with healthy, fresh salads/sandwiches/pizza so we knew this would be good for dinner. The bistro opened up on the second and third floors. To start, the space is fantastic. A quaint feel to the place with a bar on the second floor. Great beer and wine selection with some great deals-50% off beer flights last night!. Our server was really friendly/knowledgeable as well. We started with the Caprese Salad-Amazing! Really flavorful and perfectly seasoned. Second, we had some small plates-the crab crepe, sweet potato latke and the farro grain. All were delicious, but for me, were a little on the heavy side (maybe too much cream and/or butter?). I tend to like my food on the lighter side though. Our main course was the Mediterranean Pizza. Tasty, but very salty. Love that you can get the pizzas on wheat crust. I would love to see different variations of the pizzas they make at the cafe downstairs. To end the meal, our server brought out a sample of the bread pudding just for us to try (really nice of her by the way!) and an incredible chocolate cake with an equally incredible serving of espresso ice cream. Overall, nice experience but maybe just a few adjustments to the menu can be made. We will be back!
(3)Jason K.
The food is great. Recommended items: pulled pork sliders, tomato basil mussels, chicken & waffles, pulled pork pizza, and the tortilla salad. Honestly, everything is good so try different combinations each visit.
(4)Neel P.
Enjoyed it. Good location. Nice staff
(4)Lesley P.
Update August 2012- we went back and found the food to be delicious and the dollar value to have gone up. We did this independent of any invitation by the owners. Our server was excellent and we were even moved to buy a gift certificate to the place as a gift to a friend. ------------------------------------- I have been seeing good reviews on this place so I decided to check it out. The look of the restaurant is very pretty and open and one would not guess the size from the outside. I met a friend for lunch. I had a salad for under $8.50 and she had a pulled pork small plate for $7.50. We both had something like expresso gelato for dessert (very good). The wait-person kept letting us know portions are small. They were not miniscule but I guess she wanted to make sure we understood these are not TGI Friday's size portions - which are gross anyway. As mentioned in other postings, the bill could get high pretty quickly if you want to eat a lot- but this way you can try different things and share. I guess Agiato - down the block, has a similar scheme of savory food in small portions that can add up quickly. I think Tomato Bistro is a good addition to the neighborhood. Supposedly there is some free parking during weekday lunch which is nice. We did not use it but it is listed on their website.
(5)Jennifer B.
Hands down overall EXCELLENT experience! Our server, Erin, made for an enjoyable evening. She was very friendly, had great recommendations on wine, was knowledgeable about the draft list, and had excellent reasons behind trying the food dishes she recommended. The food was really great! Next time, I would order a whole bowl of the tomato bisque they give as a complementary starter-Delicious. The Salmon Salad was well thought out with the flavor combinations, the pizza was a nice thinner crust with toppings exactly as described, and the Mother-In-Law Cheesecake with fresh caramel topping was the perfect way to end the evening.
(4)Shana T.
Amazing food and drink selection! Very friendly and helpful staff! Great layout and decor!
(5)Becky B.
I've been to 'The Tomato Bistro' twice now and both times the experience has been exceptional. The wait staff is very attentive and friendly. The restaurant is nice and clean and as a bonus, my friend with a gluten allergy can eat here because of all the gluten-free foods. I haven't tried all of the dishes yet, but the Pesto Pizza was delicious. I was a little surprised at how it looked when it came out, green with basil (which kind of looks like clover) and cheese. But it was amazing and I will be ordering it again. I like that when you sit down at your table your server brings you a soup sample in a tiny cup with a piece of bread. Very tastey tomato bisque. There were a few downsides as well. I ordered a few glasses of wine and was unaware of how overpriced it would be. We ended up spending $30 on three glasses of wine. I could have gotten three bottles for that price! Also I ordered the bruchette which is one of my favorite appetizers to get when I'm out. What they served was not at all what I was expecting. Bruchette should be tomatoes and olives on top of thin pieces of bread. This was big chunks of bread with strange toppings, salsa-impersenator, raisins, what I hope was ground figs, and more salsa-impersenators. I took a tiny bite of each, but did not care for it at all. This dish should be renamed because it was misleading. While I am disappointed in the appetizer that I ordered, overall my experience was a postive one and I would go back again.
(4)Terri K.
Had dinner here last week with my 3 daughters and my granddaughter. The staff was great; very accommodating and helpful. I love the many offerings for small plates they have. We ordered about 8 small plates and a pizza and salad. Everything was delicious. I especially appreciated not feeling rushed since it was my Birthday and I wanted to enjoy the company of my family.
(4)Tyler R.
Get here. Great micro brews, food, atmosphere and staff. Best happy hour of Manayunk, thanks Zach and Bob
(5)Carla L.
My husband and I went because we love the Couch Tomato Cafe and found a coupon online for 3 small plates, a pizza, a salad, and a dessert! We couldn't pass it up. The decor was beautiful and I also enjoyed the tomato soup shooter that started the meal. Our server, Tom, was very friendly and checked up on us throughout the meal. We started with garlic shrimp, risotto fritters, and the meatball. The risotto fritters were great and the garlic shrimp were huge and pretty good. I was not impressed by the meatball. We had the pear salad which was good but not great. I think it needed a more robust dressing like the one they use for the hawaiian salad downstairs. We had the Greek pizza which was also really pod but had a few too many olives. We were told our cheesecake was fresh so we had it and it was also quite tasty. I would suggest them offering an optional topping for it. Beer selection was impressive but prices do need to be added. I didn't think the prices were bad but everyone is cost conscious now so it would be good to add it. Granted we are giving it 5 stars because we had a coupon but we do plan on going back for Margherita Mondays. A Margherita pizza and two margaritas for $17.99. Sounds good to us!
(5)Jena N.
I love the couch tomato ( I think i even wrote a review on it as well) so i was extremely excited when there was going to basically be a couch tomato with a bar. win win. My boyfriend took me here the other night and it was so much nicer than i expected. The atmosphere is perfect for couples. Its decorated very well with romantic lighting. the waitress was nice, she recommended we share a "small plate" and a pizza. perfect suggestion. We had the crab crepe which was amazing and then the sausage pizza. Every was fresh and delicious. The beer was pretty great too, I wish they had more of a champagne selection but i know thats reaching pretty far. All in all i liked it a lot and would probably go again.
(4)lee k.
i love couch tomato. i especially love the bistro's new buffet option, great options and a great deal. all you can eat of a variety of salads, pizzas, soup and pasta for $10 including drinks.
(5)Thomas E.
The restaurant is alright, but it has a lot of kinks to work out. [EDIT] Wow, I just returned to this restaurant after many months, and boy has it improved. The beer selection is wonderful, the flavors of the food are bold yet balanced. If you care to read my original review below, just know that they have pretty much fixed everything that I took issue with. [END OF EDIT] Like its downstairs counterpart, the Tomato Bistro strives to take a different and fresh approach to Italian/American cuisine. However, also like its downstairs counterpart, most of the menu items seem to have been invented by a single person overly engulfed in their culinary vision and ignoring (or perhaps lacking in) knowledge in traditional dishes and cooking. The pizza margherita is an example of this. The pizza was an oval of doughy, undercooked pizza crust, topped with tomato sauce, thick blobs of straight mozzarella cheese, herbs, and a single sliced grape tomato on each piece. The grape tomato seems a step down from the usual topping for a margherita - thin slices of a much larger tomato that covers the majority of the surface. The pie tasted like it had come out of my own toaster oven - ingredients thrown together and flavors hardly married. A sad drizzle of olive oil sat atop the cheese, failing to be the glue to hold the dish together. The small dishes varied greatly in quality. The mussels sat in a flavorful sauce, but sadly, they were covered in a few too many pieces of bacon. I did very much enjoy the use of artichoke in some of the dishes. My favorite mouthful came from the simplistic and perfect "crispy artichoke" dish. The hearts had a flavorful crust with just enough firmness to compliment the soft center. The beer selection could be widened a bit from the hops-intensive swill we've come to love in Eastern PA (and indeed across this whole country.) Maybe a dark beer that's not a porter? Meh.. The atmosphere is great though. That's its strongest point.
(5)Linda K.
Great place for take out or a to go lunch. I keep going back for more. The food is generous portions and the pizza really is wonderful. Could have wifi and more outdoor sitting. Great casual down to earth place. I always get a bunch of substitutions on my rap and they always manage to get it right!
(4)Natedogg G.
We had an excellent experience here. The gourmet pizzas are as good as it gets...have been twice now and can't decide which pizza is my favorite...may just have to keep trying new kinds! Was kid-friendly but can also see going there for a date. This place is a great reason to get a sitter. Staff so nice and friendly. Can't wait to go back! Manayunk just got even better.
(5)Antonio J.
Very nice! Good food, cozy place, free valet, and the waiter was laid back, but helpful.
(4)Marie S.
ate here tonight for the first time and all i have to say is the CHICKEN & WAFFLES... wow. just wow. super moist pulled chicken braised in lager with bacon and apple butter and maple syrup...in a belgian waffle sandwich. mmm so good. we had a few other dishes too that were decent but i still can't get over the chicken & waffles! it's very cute and comfortable in here too.. not too pricy. can't wait to go back and try the pizzas (fig pesto sounds yummy).
(4)Tracy S.
Our night started by having to wait over 40 minutes for a table that we had an 8:00pm reservation for. Due to the fact that the restaurant was so over crowded the host actually suggested we go wait at the bar across the street, Manayunk Tavern, which is not even owned by the Tomato Bistro, which should've been our first clue to go somewhere else for dinner. Our table was still not ready at 8:45 so the host literally threw together 2 mismatched tables that were wobbly. When we were finally greeted by a server, our waitress brought us samples of soup with a biscotti, which was nice but she started to clear the soup within minutes and take them before we were even finished tasting our sample; because she was rushing she spilled soup all over my friend, who was luckily wearing black. The waitress then came back with a napkin and proceed to physically wipe off my friend despite the fact that my friend asked her repeatedly to stop touching her. We ordered 3 pizzas for our group of 6 and when our food arrived one of the pizzas was missing, by the time we got the forgotten pizza we were done eating. The late/forgotten pizza was undercooked and taken to our table right out of the oven without cooling so when you tried to pick up a burning hot slice it all fall apart. I am typically not a person to write bad reviews but our experience at this restaurant was just SO awful from start to finish. A person who I think may have been a manager came to our table and asked how everything was and we told him about the crummy chain of events that happened...he did not seem to care very much. He offered us no compensation and was not very apologetic. As someone who worked in the restaurant business for many years, I can honestly say that the Tomato Bistro should be embarrassed. I recommend eating at the Manayunk Tavern across the street, they have great service and great food.
(1)Kristen S.
Went on a groupon. Caesar salad was ok... It was nice that it was vegetarian, but that may be why it was just ok. Crispy artichokes themselves were awesome, but the salad they served them on tasted like it was meant for another dish--it was a bad bad match. The bruschetta had three toppings. The fig paste tasted like a coffee shop. The tomato topping was way too lemony. The eggplant and raisin one was good. The Mediterranean plate was fine, but not special. Fig pizza was pretty good. Fruit cobbler dessert was terrible. I'm a big fan of dessert and this might have been the first dessert i met I didn't like. The apples were tough and dry, swimming around in a watery spiced broth with a few cranberries tossed in before having a mix of flour, nuts, and water dribbled over the top and the whole thing microwaved until tepid. Neither of us leaves food on the table but that dessert got left behind. So glad we didn't pay full price. Server was nice, beer list was great. But there are a lot of places around town with good beer and good food, too. Edit: After posting my initial review (left above in its unadulterated version), the owner reached out to me to apologize for the experience, and to seek very specific feedback so they could address the problems. He offered me the opportunity to come back and try again, some costs on them, in the hopes of upping my review. They seem very intent on doing better and staying an integral part of the neighborhood. Stay tuned for the re-review.
(2)Jessica O.
The Tomato Bistro was a great experience! The food was great and the atmosphere was also nice. The service was great and I will definitely be back!
(4)Mike H.
I the moment I arrived at the Tomato Bistro, I was very please with the set up and color schemes. It was a very comfortable setting with modern decor and a great atmosphere. I am a fan of craft beers, so when I saw the beer menu I was pleased to see a good variety with a few beers I haven't heard of. The wine menu was great also. The food menu was not large, which in my opinion means that the items on the menu are done correctly. Our table split a couple of appetizers that we delicious and not too filling. For the entree, our table ordered personal pizzas which were all delicious. The crust is not over powering and the ingredients were fresh and delicious. The staff was very accommodating to slight alterations or changes to the pizza on the menu. For example, my pizza did not come with red sauce but they did not hesitate to follow through with my request. I would have to say the overall experience was wonderful. The wait staff was friendly and the food was delicious. It was also close to all the "hot spots" on main street, so it was easy to go out an enjoy a night out after dinner. They also honored all coupons that we had that evening. I would highly recommend this place for a great dinner affair.
(5)Parnell G.
I've been to Tomato Bistro severl times.Each time I had an excellent experience. The staff are friendly and helpful. FREE valet parking, cant beat that! And their brunch buffet is delicious and affordable. Overall a really nice and enjoyable dining experience.
(4)Erin W.
I've been back to Tomato Bistro a couple of times now and every visit I'm more impressed. The weight staff is great and the food never disappoints. On our last visit we had the buffet and everything was delicious. The French toast was better than most breakfast joints, the pizza had a good rotation of flavors and the pulled pork was melt in your mouth. A great variety to start the day!
(5)Liz W.
The food was DELICIOUS. Really really worth what you pay for it. Menu Tip: The buffalo chicken quesadillas melt in your mouth. The owner is great! He's very concerned with customer service and satisfaction. Very impressed by how my (mild) complaints were handled. I look forward to visiting here again! (Complaint: We waited 45 minutes for our food [on a slow Monday evening] and although our server consistently filled our drinks [which was awesome!!], she left us totally in the dark about our food.) HIGHLY recommended! If you're in Manayunk, you want to go here.
(5)Mr And Mrs Nurse A.
OMG! I have only ever been here for their lunch buffet (brunch on weekends). It is so awesome. There is always a hot pasta dish, usually a hot vegetable. Two or three types of gourmet salads with dressing, a couple of pizzas (meat and veggie). There's this stromboli thing with egg and bacon and sausage...it's awesome. On the weekends it's all of the above plus usually french toast sticks and yogurt parfait. This isn't your typical 30-item-on-a-steam-table type of place. The food is freshly made and replenished frequently. Sometimes when it's busy there can be a wait before new pizza or salad is brought out, but it's not a terrible length of time and it's worth the wait! This is a great place with super service. The food is awesome and it's a nice place to go if you have the day off during the week, or want a nice lunch on the weekend. We always take family here we we have out of town guests
(5)Victoria L.
Stumbled in here hungover last month after the 4th of July and found the miraculous buffet. What a deal for $12 including fountain soda/iced tea. It's all restaurant quality food for a very reasonable price. The caesar salad was delicious; the pizzas were brought out regularly; the pasta and chicken dishes were very decent. While we were sitting we also found out about their brunch drink specials, so I'm super excited about that. I'm definitely going to start coming here more often!
(4)Rita C.
Announcement: The Tomato Bistro had pumpkin beer on tap in August so I was instantly a fan. A friend and I stopped in for dinner one weeknight and were able to be seated right away. The waitress came right over to take our drink order. They had quite a few craft beers on tap (as I mentioned, pumpkin beer was there!) and it happened to be wine night, which I'm all about. My friend ended up with the BLT wedge salad and sweet potato fries; I stuck with the bacon and goat cheese pizza. Both were delicious! The wedge salad was pretty large and looked like it was really filling. The goat cheese pizza was fantastic. The crust was cooked perfectly, the bacon was plentiful, and the whole pizza was simple yet tasty. I'd definitely head back here in the future to try other things on the menu (and drink more beer!).
(4)Steve S.
I was torn between giving this place 3 or 4 stars. Allow me to explain. I decided I had to try this place after sampling their wares at the Yelp Backstage Party. So I stopped in over a week ago with a friend for dinner and sat at their tiny bar. So, I gave the chicken and waffle dish a shot. Yes, it is small. It is tasty with that bacon infused syrup. The chicken was not quite what I expected. But it did fine. The meatball pizza was quite good as well. The meatballs could have used some more flavor to me, but my grandmother spoiled me when it comes to meatballs so perhaps that's an unfair comparison. I do love their tomato bisque. The simplicity of it makes it better to me. That's what I loved at the Yelp event and it did not fail. Call it 3 1/2 stars for the food which I considered slightly pricey for what you get, but they win the 4th because the staff was great to talk to and I like the location. You won't go wrong here.
(4)Andrew W.
Great staff and an amazing chef! The quality of food is the best I have ever experienced at a pizza spot, and the prices are spot on. Down to the smallest leaf of lettuce in their salads to an entire pizza pie their quest for perfection and quality food is commendable and worth every penny!!!
(5)Amber L.
This is my favorite Philly restaurant. I drag everyone here. I have celiacs and their gluten free pizza is AMAZING and their sandwiches are great too. I haven't had anything here I didn't love.
(5)Monica C.
Went here for brunch on a Sunday. Their brunch is a buffet selection with a variety of pizza, pasta, salads, veggies for the lunch section and then French toast, bacon, and granola for the breakfast selection. For someone who prefers the breakfast option over lunch, this was slightly disappointing since I don't eat bacon. However the French toast was amazing and came with cinnamon sugar butter. I also ordered a Bloody Mary. Their Bloody Mary recipe is a little weak and I would not order it again. I asked the waitress for horseradish and hot sauce so I could spice it up a little, and she was great and brought me some. She even admitted that she has been trying to tell the manager to change the recipe but they refuse. The outdoor seating here is first-come, first-served. So get here early if you're trying to dine al fresco.
(3)Jessica P R.
Came here for lunch. The food was quite good, but the service was slow. I'd definitely come back. We ordered off-menu instead of going to the buffet (which looks very enticing). Salad was very good and the pizza was delicious.
(4)Joey M.
This visit was better than the last :) We had a voucher for a free pizza in the bistro and we're happy to use it! We really wanted the Maui wowie pizza toppings that you can get in the cafe but was not offered as an option in the bistro. We asked the waitress if this was possible and she made it happen :) Glad we did bc it was awesome! I ordered a flight of beer (see pics) which I somehow missed on my last visit. I am a big fan of flights since I am a big fan of beer and this allows you to sample a plethora of drafts! I was not disappointed!
(5)Amy H.
Shortly after you are seated, they serve you a tiny cup of their acclaimed tomato soup as an amuse-bouche. The food is delicious with options for all dietary preferences, and they also have a decent beer and wine selection. They frequently offer specials for two - double them up for your group of more because the savings are noticeable. For example: two beers, salad, large pizza (creative and healthy topping combinations) and dessert for under $40.00. It was a nice and inexpensive choice for our gathering. Don't forget to tip your server as though you're paying full price for your meal and drink. We stopped in late on a Saturday afternoon, and were delighted to be in the shadows of a child's birthday party where it appeared as though the service staff was having as much fun as the guests. I noticed comments in reviews about the challenges of parking, and we made the same mistake our first time here. Take advantage of the valet parking, it's free!
(4)Current G.
Wonderful food, great service--there's a reason this place is so popular! Sliders are a great choice, as arw the pizzas. Why everyone wants a buffet, I will never know, but more tasty food for us!
(5)Chris T.
Great place to eat. We went for brunch on a Saturday. We were pleasantly surprised with a breakfast buffet option. Great selection of food that all tasted amazing.
(5)Daniel Y.
Couch Tomato Cafe is on the first floor and the Bistro on the top two. I got here early during dinner service because I wanted to walk along the tow patch before the rains came. I ended up ordering the sliders.You have the option to choose three from eight different kinds which makes each slider about $4 each. Lobster Cake - avocado, corn, lemon aioli A thin lobster "patty" that made me wishing the avocado had more of a presence and a brighter acidic splash from the lemon aioli. If you like your lobster cakes without filler or very little, this isn't your cake. Though I'm certain the filler helps the cake hold together in a burger shape. Beef Short Rib - bacon, grana padano, horseradish cream sauce, micro greens What? There was bacon in there? I think the horseradish, though not terrible strong, had hid the fact that there was bacon, which makes me quite sad about it. The short rib, on the other hand, was tender and very well-sauced. Fried Egg - grass-fed beef, cheddar, bacon apple jam A more "standard" burger style, the fried egg brought back memories of eating at Fatburger in college (minus the fancy bacon apple jam and grass-fed beef). I wish they give you the option of specifying how well the burger should be. Mine was well-done, but I definitely prefer a medium to medium-well depending on the freshness and if it was ground on the premises. The sliders also came with a choice of side. I tried to be slightly healthy and opted for the apple chips - which turned out to be apple chip crumbs and could have benefited from a spoon. Overall, it was a good experience and enjoyable. When I was there they were giving out complimentary samples of one of their tomato bisque and bruschetta. Bonus tip: They have free parking validation which is worth its weight in gold in this area.
(4)Mobola O.
Great service! Came in for a late brunch and we were greeted by a very friendly hostess. Service was fast and the food was pretty good.
(4)Justin M.
Best brunch in town hands down! Buffet always has great choice and attentive wait staff! Can't wait to come back again
(5)Cat P.
The Couch Tomato Bistro is a two-level establishment that offers two different experiences: casual counter service with fast-food style seating on the main level and full-service dining in a bistro setting on the upper level. We opted for upstairs dining because we're fancy like that. :P I was still pretty full from lunch, so I ordered tomato soup and a small plate, tandoori scallops. The tomato soup was creamy and satisfying but not exceptional. The scallops, on the other hand, were phenomenal--plump, juicy, HUGE, well-seasoned, and delicious. These molluscs were served with hummus, roasted red pepper, roasted butternut squash, and sun dried tomato aioli. This dish would have been a 10 had it not been a tad on the saltier side. But they really treated those scallops right. Service was friendly and fast. And the overall environment is nice, comfortable yet upscale. Couch Tomato is a great neighborhood spot and an ideal place for group dining. Noise level was surprisingly not bad considering how packed it was when we came. They're known for their pizzas, so will definitely try one of their pizza creations, if I visit again. Maybe pistachio pesto or the Florentine, which consists of roasted garlic aioli, organic spinach, fontina, mozzarella, ricotta, and grano padano. Both sound really, really good.
(4)Celyne C.
Went with friends, one who is vegan. It's difficult to find affordable vegan friendly food in Manayunk, but this meal hit the spot. The food was fresh and tasty. Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly, making sure all our dietary needs were met. Enjoyable experience overall.
(4)Taylor B.
Huge fan of the Couch Tomato Cafe so I figured I'd take my dad to the Couch Tomato Bistro for lunch during his last visit. We sat at the bar and our waitress was very nice and accommodating. As a starter she gave us a shooter of tomato soup and a savory biscotti, perfect start to lunch. My dad had the fried egg slide and the beef short rib slider and he was a big fan. I had the fried goat cheese salad and would definitely recommend it! They have the healthiest options around and I will definitely be visiting again!
(5)Jennifer R.
Had a wonderful dinner here with my friend this weekend. The owners are doing a lot right from the cute naming of "couch tomato" for the take out side, the amuse -bouche, the unique dishes, and options for each like gluten-free or wheat crust. We had a really tasty few dishes which included the risotto balls, fried goat cheese salad and spinach ricotta pizza (forget the name of that one). The pizza tasted really fresh and was cut in a memorable way, but truthfully was my least favorite of what we ordered. was very flat and a bit one note. Some of the other pizzas look much better though, so maybe it just wasn't the right choice. Risotto balls and salad were beyond delicious. Everything else was fantastic for the most part. Our server was a little on the grumpy side, but they have a fantastic beer menu with flights and some really clever tactics. We were super impressed with the menu and will definitely be back to try one of the more out of the box pizza (hehe). Pricing was moderate. There's a lot of charm and characterizing factors to this place, so it's a hit in my book.
(4)Kevin M.
We visited again for a quick bite. Love the food and atmosphere....Manayunk! Also tried the West Chester location. Equally good. Live all locations.
(5)Steve S.
Excellent and affordable lunch buffet with a variety of delicious options. Extremely friendly and helpful staff.
(5)Shannon M.
This is an awesome spot in Manayunk, and a great place to have dinner with friends, on a date, etc. Before going to the Bistro, I had already been several times in person to the downstairs Couch Tomato Cafe, so I was expecting great things from the Bistro my first time there; it did not disappoint! My group shared the Signature Margherita pizza and the Fig & Pear. Both were excellent! This place has a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and is an overall great deal.
(5)Sarah B.
I was very impressed with the types of pizzas, crusts and other menu items available. If you aren't a pizza person, there's salads, sandwiches and sliders. Duck pizza was fantastic with shredded bits of duck and apple butter on it. None of the bottoms were charred, so the oven is at exactly the right temperature. Our server was very nice, the selection of craft beers was good, the sangria was better. Multiple levels with limited outdoor seating. We went fairly early because we were going to a Paint Nite event at Mad River at 7, but at 5:00 the atmosphere was laid back and quiet.
(5)Jay G.
I went to The Tomato Bistro because I purchased a Groupon for it after seeing the reviews on Yelp were good. Finding parking on the street was pretty difficult, even on a cold, windy winter night. First, I accidentally followed a car into the alley next to the restaurant which did not contain public parking and probably scared the people who first pulled in there, but after that I drove around the block to a usual parking garage that I use on Cresson St.. The parking lot was completely full and the attendee asked me to leave my car with the key for him to park. I wasn't going to allow this to happen as I prefer to park myself so I asked him if I could park on the street. He pulled out a cone and gave me "RSVP" parking outside of his garage. This worked out for me as I would've probably had to park further away from the restaurant, which isn't fun in 20 degrees. At the restaurant, we went upstairs and were seated in front of a window on the lower story of The Tomato Bistro. We had a nice view of the intersection of Main St. and Rector St. out the window, but there wasn't much happening due to the cold weather. My girlfriend and I decided to order the fried egg, pimiento, and truffle sliders which all turned out to be very good. They were all cooked around medium and were full of flavor. For our small plate, we had the mussels which were good but not amazing. Some of them were overcooked or very tiny but we still ate the entire dish. For our entree, we had the prosciutto pizza which my girlfriend really enjoyed but I wasn't a huge fan of the peppers on the pizza. Either way, it was good enough for me to eat half of the pizza. Overall, the restaurant was pretty good and we would recommend it to anybody looking for a good meal in Manayunk.
(4)Dan C.
We grabbed pizza from this place one night an it was really pretty fantastic. Definitely surprised with the quality and flavor. Recommend.
(4)Alicia O.
A couple of my friends and I grabbed dinner here on a weeknight. I bought the Yelp $10 for $20 deal beforehand and glasses of wine were half off at the restaurant that night, so we definitely saved a lot. We all went with the small plates and here's what we had: -mussels with white wine and garlic -mac and cheese -crispy artichokes with olive tapenade and lemon aioli -pretzel fondue with kielbasa and apples My only complaint is that I had no idea what kind of cheese was in the pretzel fondue. I could definitely taste some cinnamon in the cheese, so it's more a sweet fondue, but overall, my friends and I were really happy with everything we ordered. Next time, I'm looking for a dinner spot in Manayunk, this place will definitely be on my list. Still gotta try the pizza too!
(4)Becca D.
Another winner for the Manayunk Tomato folks! I had been to the Bistro once before, but it was after a crazy busy/stressful day so I wanted to wait until I had the chance to go back to write a review. Craig had sent me a coupon for buy-one-get-one and I finally made it back with the boyfriend last night! First off, two changes since I last went in December - they now have a few liquor options instead of just beer and wine, and they give an appetizer tomato soup with biscott. Everything was absolutely superb! I hadn't known about the appetizer so was pleasantly surprised when that came to the table, and it was absolutely delicious as well. We split a bunch of things - risotto fritters, mussels in wine/garlic sauce, sliders (1 lobster and 1 pulled pork), and a margherita pizza. Risotto fritters came first - they were creamy, cheesy, and the pesto sauce was awesome! Next were the mussels. I have tried mussels a handful of times and never really cared for them either way, but these were delicious... the wine/garlic sauce really won me over. Dipping that thick hunk of bread in that sauce was heaven! The sliders came after that - the lobster one was very fresh and crisp, and the pulled pork summery and savory. The boyfriend was still hungry after all that, so we got the pizza as well. I just had a small piece and it was super yummy, loved the big leaves of basil on top. Our server, Phil, was great - very attentive and knowledgeable! The ambiance is both casual yet intimate, a little more upscale-ish than the downstairs Tomato. Very glad I finally had the chance to make it back here! I definitely saw many more things on the menu I eventually want to try. And based on Yelp reviews, it seems I will need to make it back for the lunch/brunch buffet at some point. A+++ for the Tomato folks, you guys really nailed it with both the Bistro and Couch Tomato!
(5)Victor R.
Recently moved to within walking distance of main street. This is my go to spot for food. Pizza and sliders are very good. They also provide a small complimentary tomato bisque sample which is also very good. The restaurant itself is very nice and clean, much larger and nicer than I expected. Wait staff is very friendly and accommodating. They had no qualms splitting a check with 4 credit cards. If you are in the area, this is a must eat location.
(5)Annie W.
The food was good as well as the service The buffet is fairly small, but fresh & adequate. The following was deelish: watermelon salad Tomoato bisque The pizza, rice & bruschetta was tasty the pesto ziti & chicken marsala was ok. It was a great value $12 for unlimited buffet & included unlimited soft drinks The place is rather small. The buffet is on the 2nd floor & we had to sit on the 3rd floor. It was lunch & a workout at the same dam time lol
(4)Erin C.
Whenever someone from out of town visits me in Manayunk, this is where I bring them. They have an awesome selection of delicious personal pizzas, sliders, salads, and more. I get the pizza soup every time - there's nothing like it. They also have a great beer selection, which is a must in Manayunk. I highly recommend Couch Tomato!
(5)Gia M.
I was very pleased with my visit to Tomato Bistro last week. My friend and I barely missed happy hour, but I was happy to see some of my favorite local craft beer on tap (gotta love Victory!) and we immediately fell to, as it was a very humid day outside. Our server was also great-- very friendly and answered all of our questions (there were a few more than usual for me). We ordered one of the mason jars to start-- the marmalade and goat cheese, which was very tasty. A surprise was the complimentary tomato bisque that appeared on the table, although I think I was still too overheated from the walk to properly enjoy it. My friend ordered two of the sliders-- a southwest and a pulled pork. They looked delicious but she ate them too fast for me to get a bite. She loved the chips that came on the side as well. I ordered the buffalo chicken quesadilla, which came with heavenly gorgonzola sauce, but I didn't detect a lot of buffalo flavoring. Not a huge disppointment, but I would have liked the chicken to be a little more distinguishable. Overall, a VERY solid choice for Main Street Manayunk. I want to come back for brunch, which I hear is quite good.
(4)Florie F.
Got to stop in for lunch before an anatomy exam with a friend. It was the perfect atmosphere to relax and get some good food! Got to indulge in the lunch buffet and enjoyed the variety of both meat lover and vegetarian options!
(4)Emily P.
Went for the sunday brunch and would probably give betwen 3 and 3.5 stars. Food was pretty good and the buffet was nice. However, servers were not refilling buffet even when it was slow and not even busy. Service was okay. Overall I thought the food was pretty good but other than that it is nothing special.
(3)Liana L.
Updating my review as we tried the bistro again. Everyone was very friendly there and love their atmosphere but was again a bit disappointed in certain ways. I ordered their gluten free vegan version if their Margherita pizza with spinach added. It was delish like I remembered the first time but was disappointed bc after finding out their Margherita sauce was def vegan friendly that on my pizza there lacked their of the sauce! And my pizza came out on strange metal plate instead of the nice wooden one with the handle like my husbands pizza.
(4)Joe K.
Went for brunch with the family and ordered the buffet and also off the menu. Arugula steak salad from the menu was fresh and tasty. Steak was tender and was perfectly dressed. Kids Chicken strips were delicious and well made with panko. Buffet was small, but really had everything you'd want from a buffet - great mix of pizza, breakfast calzone, French toast, thick cut bacon, tortellini, teamed veggies, broccoli salad, cookies and brownies. Bloody Mary was effective not "gourmet" like you'd get at Beau Monde. Service was great and I left full and satisfied.
(4)Donna M.
Great food and service. Its hard to find GOOD gluten free options or places that are willing to TRY to make something on the menu GF. This place does both! Great home made GF pizza crust and bread made there. Not pre packaged.
(5)Jade V.
Oh, oh, oh! The Tomato Bistro! (That rhymes, right?) I discovered the existence of this place at Yelp's Backstage Pass Party at Union Transfer. These guys have some great PR going on. So it's called The Tomato Bistro. But that's not all they have. We ordered mostly off their tapas menu, with the exception of their duck & apple pizza (full disclosure: we had a coupon for a free pizza from the Yelp Event). Actually, let's start with the duck & apple pizza. Amazingly different, and a brilliant combination. Take a look at their menu for more tempting toppings. And the chicken & waffles. Not the typical "Roscoe's" style fried chicken and waffles, but an interpretation I'd eat over and over again. Certainly less guilt-inducing. And, by chance, we were there on Thursday, which is Flight Night! $6.99 beer flights, what a deal! A positively casual atmosphere that I would not hesitate to revisit. Pleasant surprises: Free tomato bisque with a biscotti inside upon sitting down, and free valet parking! Do yourself a favor and stop on by!
(4)Mike A.
Love Tomato Bistro. Quality ingredients, cool small plate options, and the sliders are legit. I highly recommend the slider with the truffle oil. The salads are also great. I do sometimes wish there were more entrée-size options if you don't want pizza, but I understand that's not necessarily the model of the restaurant.
(4)Matt R.
The best specialty slice of pizza I ever ate was this past Sunday at the Tomato Bistro. They really stepped up your game with the Buffalo chicken slice. The celery while most places dice it and put it on the pizza you guys had it shaved. Albeit I think celery is a preposterous notion to begin with but this was the least invasive I've ever seen it. Cheese, always excellent. Where it really excellent was the extremely crispy freshly fried and battered breaded chicken on top. Amazing seasoning. Juicy. And the crème de la crème was the "chili/buffalo" oil on top. It wasn't really a sauce but more so a glaze. It was the consistency of of a Chinese hot chili oil, lucid red spicy but also sweet. Basically the perfect culmination of all things buffalo!
(5)Sarah L.
My fiancé and I went here for lunch early on a Saturday. We picked this place because we wanted to wander around Manyunk and we wanted a healthy meal. We did not order beer, but they do have an impressive beer selection and they do a $12 buffet for brunch. We each ordered a salad- mine was a Cajun shrimp salad and his was a salmon and spinach. Both were great sizes and delicious. My shrimp were perfectly spiced and cooked, there was just enough dressing on the greens, and all fresh ingredients. His salad was also great- the salmon was cooked perfectly and the avocado was amazingly fresh. We will definitely be back here the next time we come to Manyunk! Totally worth a brunch stop, but the pizza options and sliders also looked delicious. Friendly wait staff and a great atmosphere. Gluten Free, Vegetarian, and Vegan friendly.
(5)Julie A.
This is a great place for a quick bite. Good food, decent prices, and even valet parking! Nice little spot in Manayunk.
(4)Khanh V.
I came here mainly for the pizza with friends. We ordered the Basil Pesto and requested eggs on top. The pizza was very earthy and I like it. I wished I added mushroom as well though. I didn't leave full, but it was ok. We only wanted to snack. Overall, the place is nice and clean. The service was good and friendly. I would definitely return to try other foods on the menu. On my second return, I tried other pizzas on the menu. The pizzas were ok. I enjoy the live music and romantic feel to the place. I heard the cafe has more pizza choice, so I want to try that next time.
(3)Valerie F.
I don't even know where to begin describing how much I love this place. I'll start with the lunch buffet: it's delicious! Love the selection of foods and for $12 you can't beat it. The brunch buffet is pretty much the same thing except they add the most amazing French toast I've ever tasted into the selection. For dinner all if their pizzas are good, sliders are amazing and any if the other appetizers are good too. I think I've tried everything on the menu and have always been pleased.
(5)Megan M.
First thing first: the pizza was good, but nothing too special, and certainly overpriced. As another reviewer mentioned, maybe pizza is rave-worthy for PA, but if you're from NJ or NY then skip this -- you can find the same for cheaper at home. Their salads, however, are awesome. I can't speak for the rest of my group, but I got the Tortilla Salad (Chicken, black beans, pepper jack, tortilla strips, avocado, and chipotle dressing). Delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the creamy avocado/dressing combo (with a great little kick from the chipotle!) was like magic in my mouth. I thought it was a perfect portion size and appropriately priced for the quality. I'll probably return if I'm in the area again, but will stay away from the pizza in favor of their more sophisticated menu items. P.S. Use the free valet parking! Saved us time & hassle on a rainy night
(4)Dana T.
We had a great experience at The Tomato Bistro! The service was great, and I loved the variety of unique pizza toppings. They make their own Gluten Free pizza dough, and it was delicious! The rest of my group had the regular pizzas, and they loved them too! Will definitely be back!
(5)Jessica G.
Amazing Brunch place ever!!! Pizza and salads are so yummy!!!
(5)Katie P.
The tomato bistro is delcious. All the goodness of couch tomato cafe but a little fancier. Good beer selection and I really like the look of the place. Lots of light and exposed brick walls make it very welcoming. A great place for lunch or dinner. Try the ricotta salata!
(5)Megan T.
If there was a 4.5 stars, that's what I would give them. But because yelp only allows whole numbers, I will round up. I went with friends for the lunch buffet today after church, after hearing good reviews from Peter L, who reviewed it in April! I was impressed by the buffet because not only was the food mostly tasty, but it looked like a good deal of thought goes into their preparation. They had sesame seeds in their garlic/herb knots (which were very good, by the way). They provided cinnamon butter for the yummy french toast. They had a mini parfait station with granola that, although I didn't have room for it, looked as though they made it or at least bought it from a quality vendor whose name was not Quaker Oats. The buffet plates also seemed a bit smaller than normal, which was good because I think it encouraged less food waste. They also had 3-4 types of pizza and stromboli as well (with non-vegetarian and vegetarian labels). Pizza types included what I think was a fig jam, pear, bacon, and bleu cheese (?), pesto, and buffalo fried chicken, among others. I thought the pizza was the strongest on the buffet. For the salads, i wish the green bean salad had had a bit more flavor (though I appreciate the non-overcooked string beans), and that the dressing on the broccoli salad had been less watery. My favorite salad was the fiesta salad, which had generous chunks of mango, which I know has to be a bit expensive this time of year. Oh! I also liked that sodas (a nice variety) were included in the price of a buffet. I will definitely be back to see what other foods they create!
(5)Kristi F.
One of my favorites on Main Street in Manayunk. Don't miss the weekday lunch buffet!
(5)Geraldine B.
Great little place I have been enjoying for several years. Kudos to them for their gluten free items on the menu. Everything fresh and delicious. Wait staff always friendly and helpful. Top of my list and I bring many guests who also enjoy the place. Cheers to Couch Tomato.
(5)Ernesto Hideyokidz C.
Solid beer list, unique menu items, and friendly staff. When you come in at the ground level, it's cafe style dining. Going upstairs, you'll see there's a small dining area but they have a third flight with more seating. They had a few TVs on for people who wanted to watch the game which was a nice touch. Classy place and accommodating to the patron. I'll come back
(5)Shaun P.
TheTomatoBistro.com I ordered a pizza with prosciutto, a waldorf salad, and the short rib small plate. The pizza was very good, flat bread style. The salad came as expected as seemed very fresh. The short ribs were very tender although the sauce was not to my taste, but I think that was just personal preference because it had a tomato base and I'm not a huge fan of tomato. The waitress was very nice, not overbearing but always there when we needed something. The atmosphere was casual but nice and the place seemed very clean. I would definitely recommend this place to friends because the prices are reasonable, the food is good, and it's a comfortable place to eat.
(4)Tyler C.
We definitely just found our favorite restaurant in Manayunk. Delicious pizzas with unusual toppings. Gourmet slider burgers. Great drink selection. Solid service. Before you decide to go I would make a couple recommendations. First is to call ahead for a reservation. Their actual dining room with service is quite small, as it is only on the second floor as the first floor is their takeout/casual dining section. We made one The second recommendation would be to check Groupon and LivingSocial first. We bought an amazing dinner for four deal through one of those sites (don't remember which) that basically took $60 off our check. The only condition was that the meal had to be two appetizers, two slider plates and two pizzas of our choice. Highly, highly recommend for anyone looking for a the perfect place in Manayunk to meet up with friends, family, or a date for dinner.
(5)Brielle M.
I've been to the Couch Tomato about 5 times now and each experience has been wonderful. Food is excellent here. I recommend the mac and cheese, it is absolutely delicious! Also the sliders are a great alternative - specifically the pulled pork one! The gluten free cider is a great light beverage as well and isn't too sweet, better than Angry Orchard's Cider, definitely recommend trying that out.
(5)Harry E.
Totally above and beyond my expectations... and they were quite high. Shout out to Rudy who provided us with a wonderful dining experience! Meal started with there tomato bisque and some baguette chips, very tasty - and this is coming from someone who doesn't even like tomatoes or tomato soup! We ordered the dinner for 2. For 45 bucks we got 2 adult beverages, a pizza to share, 2 small plates or salads (or one of each in our case), and dessert! We ordered drinks, they had Pumpking on tap by southern tier (excellent choice), and for the lady was the Pranqster, both tasty drafts. The Cobb salad came out with grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, guacamole, Gorgonzola, egg tossed with a nice light dressing and mixed greens. Very good salad, the guac was a wonderfully tasty surprise. The small plate we got was the aztec shrimp. The shrimp were plump and cooked to perfection, just wish we got more than 4 of them with some rice. The pizza was a prosciutto pizza with smoked provolone topped with baby field greens was great! The sauce had a wonderful flavor. The smokiness of the prosciutto and the provolone balanced nicely with the greens. Wonderful pizza that lasted on the table for about 2 seconds. ha ha! Finally to dessert, Bananas Foster... WOWZA! Great stuff. the ice cream was good (I love vanilla, so it was a little light to me but I think my desire for vanilla might be off putting to others, so I cut them some slack) The rum sauce on the Bananas Fosters was top notch, could have maybe been a little thicker, but no buyers remorse! Trust me! Cannot wait to return! This time I will park in the lot and not move my car halfway through the meal, ha ha (no harm no foul)
(5)C P.
Love the second floor bistro. Great salads and small plates to much on. Their pizza (flatbreads) upstairs are great too! Good diverse beer selection for beer drinkers who don't want miller lite.
(4)Carla D.
Best vegan pizza!
(5)S K.
Have never dined in but catering & take out are great! Fresh healthy ingredients. Something different in the way of salads & pizza and really tasty! I only wish they still offered the Mediterrean salad as it was unique and delish but all of them have been great.
(4)J M.
I enjoyed my quaint lunch at the Tomato Bistro. Small surroundings made me feel comfortable but not claustrophobic. I ate the food and liked it, so there. Their buffet was different and delicious. I had no idea what I was in for when my brother brought me here, but I am walking out the door with a full stomach. I don't, but you can tell this place takes food and dining very seriously. I'm most interested in getting my order in, eating my food and paying as quickly as possible so I can be out the door and away from you people. This place worked for me on every one of those levels.
(5)Tommy C.
I brought a groupon coupon for this restaurant that I have never been to and when I arrived, it was like they knows us as regular customers. The guy that parks the cars was helpful and great. The manager accommodated us and made us feel at home. I would have liked to sit upstairs but my mom was in a wheel chair so it is not handicap friendly, but they made up for that. I have recommended this restaurant to all of my friends and family. I am looking forward to visiting again.
(5)Kristen M.
Being that it was Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend and dining partner and I were not at the shore, we decided to trek to Manayunk for a change of scenery. We planted ourselves at a table outside The Tomato Bistro in a prime people-watching location. We ordered the coconut shrimp, mac and cheese (sans bacon), and the Margherita Pizza. I don't normally eat seafood, but the coconut shrimp looked so good and crispy, I couldn't resist. The shrimp came with cold sweet coconut dipping cause which was a great compliment to the hot crunch. The mac and cheese was gooey and fresh, the pizza had a crisp flavorful bite. I like the fact that you have a choice of crust: wheat, white, or gluten free. We opted for white, as wheat often just doesn't measure up. For dessert, we enjoyed the chocolate covered Belgian waffle and vanilla ice cream. The free sampling of the tomato bisque and bread was a nice touch as an appetizer. Service was good, prices were extremely reasonable, overall a great distraction to get over the fact we weren't at the beach.
(4)Kelly C.
We live in the area and have been wanting to try this spot. I found a Groupon for 2 sliders, a small plate and pizza. It was perfect for the 2 of us. We went on a week nite and it was a nice scene .. restaurant was full but a nice place to relax. The server did a great job maintaining our table, telling us about the menu etc. Our 3 courses of food came out in great timing and we loved everything .. Southwest and Truffle sliders, Coconut shrimp and white pizza were sooo good! Decent beer and wine selection too ! We will definitely be back!
(5)Monica T.
Love going there for lunch. Ive ordered individually (the salads are awesome) and I've had the buffet lunch - which is also super delicious and clean for a buffet area. Delicious and fresh food and always friendly servers!
(4)Tara M.
As my husband eats gluten free finding a restaurant with so many gluten free options was perfect. And the food was great! I had aracini,he had scallops and we tried the prosciutto and also the short rib pizzas. Even tried the gluten free brownie which was also tasty. It's a tad pricey but the food is good so you do get what you pay for.
(5)Steve I.
Had brunch on Saturday with the wife and our daughters. Nice selection. Really enjoyed the different offerings of pizza. Especially the BBQ. Several salads were on the buffet brunch and the broccoli with raisins was excellent. Had French toast and some pasta selections but the best of the brunch was the panko crusted chicken cutlets. Lots of steps to climb and lack of parking was a problem although I found out that they will valet park your car if you call ahead.
(4)Sunia M.
Been here a couple of times, and I've never been disappointed. First time I had the Caprese salad, I highly recommend it. The sliders and pizza are also really good items. The staff is friendly. The restaurant is extremely accommodating for allergies and other dietary restrictions. They have gluten free and vegan options. Also, the bottomless mimosas/bloody marys are a good deal.
(5)Tara C.
The pizza/salad buffet was fantastic! I can't wait to go again. :) In particular, the peach salad with glazed pecans was very tasty and the various thin crust pizzas had non-meat options if you were so inclined. (I was) Everything was fresh and I can't wait to try other fare. Valet parking too.
(5)Lauri A.
We've been several times for the lunch buffet and it's great! Plenty of options, including vegetarian, and parking is a breeze. Love this place!
(5)Rhian T.
Attended mothers day brunch. Options were generous, service was friendly.
(4)Trevor T.
Tasty food. Friendly people. Great atmosphere. Try their grilled cheese! It's dynamite!
(5)Gabby M.
Probably one of the best flat breads I have had in Philadelphia. Every single thing I have tried here is amazing. The salads are also great. My favorite is the shortrib flatbread. Surprisingly, they also have a phenomenal beer list. I love it!
(5)Stephanie G.
Upstairs from the Cafe, the Bistro is a hip and casual little place with a great vibe. Our table enjoyed pulled pork pizza, pulled pork sandwich, frites (huge serving with great house made ketchup) and crispy artichokes. The Dijon dressing is fantastic. Great beer list, too. Fair prices and great food with good service.
(4)Kaia Z.
Honey, let me tell you guys something, this place is soooooo excellent. First off they offer valet parking, even though we parked conveniently right on the street. Anyway, this place is quaint and really cute inside. I had a groupon and was too happy I bought it for couch tomato. We were promptly greeted and seated upstairs. Our waitress was really nice and attentive. The complimentary starter was sort of like an olive tasting bread with a tomato based dipping sauce that came in these tiny cute mugs. It tasted so heavenly and teased our taste buds. We were allowed to order any 2 items from the menu so we started off with the peppercorn crusted steak salad which came complete with 4 juicy tender steak medallions. It was enough for 2 people and it was really tasty. The beef tasted hormone free and fresh. We then ordered the short rib pizza that had a slight sweet hint of fig paste. Yes I said fig paste and the combinations of the greens and fontina cheese explodes in your mouth. Everything at this bistro was on point!!! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone! Here's a tip: make reservations even if you have a groupon and go during the early evening hours.
(5)Eric P.
Stopped into the Tomato Bistro for lunch last week. Overall a delicious meal. Service was great and attentive. Some stand out dishes were: -Pimento & Truffle Sliders -Burrata Caprese -Duck & Apple Pizza Definitely will be trying this place out for dinner sometime soon.
(4)Luke H.
My friend and I went on a Tuesday and were delighted to hear that it was half off all their bottles and glasses of wine. It went really well with our meal. The food was great too. We ordered the Prosciutto, Cajun Shrimp salad, and Pizza soup (which sounds really weird but it was a real tasty tomato soup done up like french onion). The food isn't out of this world, but it is a great place to go and enjoy a bite with a friend. Oh, and our waiter was great and made us feel welcomed.
(4)John F.
Great fresh salads. Good service. I'll be back.
(4)Ive E.
Its a very nice environment very cool calm but yet still very high class looking. Great place to just unwind and relax. I had the pulled pork slider and the southwestern slider. The pulled pork slider is too die for!!! Its really good. And I am usually very picky with my pork because its so delicate and not everyone can make it. The southwestern is also very good. Loved the avocados on it and the beef was cooked well. And the chips with the balsamic was absolute genius I would have never thought of that!! It is a must try place!!
(5)Rushabh J.
Really enjoyed the food and atmosphere. The pizzas were awesome. Lots of for vegetarian and vegan choices on the menu and the service was delightful. We have been here a few times and try new items from the menu every time, have not been disappointed. Icing on the cake: Free Valet Parking. Yay! Perfect place to spend the evening, will visit again!
(4)Anthony L.
Completely blown away by how delicious the Prosciuotto Pizza was. I eat A LOT of pizza and this is one of the all-time best I have tasted. I cannot wait to go back and try some other pies. The sliders are also perfect. We had a pulled pork slider, truffle burger and southwest burger slider. All three were delicious and were served with a side of perfectly cooked kettle cooked potato chips drizzled in balsamic vinegarette. The interior is modern and trendy yet relaxing and the service was good. They have a nice selection of local and other craft beers. You can get a sampler with 4 different beer styles and they invite you to rate them and choose a favorite. I will be going back from Rhawnhurst to Manayunk just for The Tomato Bistro!
(5)Bill F.
I had some sliders which were solid. I'd go back though.
(4)Samantha B.
I recently moved to the area and have been searching for places to sit down and eat a healthy meal or grab a good salad and sandwich to go... this place has both! Best salads around! I have tried a few from their large selection and have enjoyed every bite! My boyfriend and I ordered a pizza and salad last weekend and tried a couple of their New Hope natural sodas and were very very impressed (try the wheat crust-so good)! We went upstairs to check out the bistro and it is the perfect place for a date or to catch up with a friend. Very cute atmosphere with a friendly staff! They have a buffet every day, $12 during the week and $13 on the weekend. Great deal for such an excellent meal! I will be a frequent guest here and bring any guest of ours along to enjoy it with us! Highly recommend!
(5)Lesley G.
Thank you Tomato Bistro for a wonderful experience in both food and service. I was in town for a conference in nearby Conshohocken. The front desk staff at the hotel suggested we take the short drive to eat at the Tomato Bistro. It was a Saturday night and so the restaurant was very busy. The vibe was both family friendly as well as urban chic. We were greeted by the host who told us that we needed to have a reservation but since were were visiting from out of town he would see what he could do. He then came back and told us that if we were willing to wait about 15-30 minutes, he would make room for us. Not more than 20 minutes later we were seated upstairs. The service was excellent, and the food sensational. I had the prosciutto pizza - YUM!! Just the right amount of fresh ingredients. We loved the special treat of the tomato soup shooters. I don't know when I will back in Manayunk, but when I am, I will be going here for another fabulous dining experience.
(5)Atiya C.
This restaurant HAS to be one of Philly's best kept secrets. The food is phenomenal, and I'm not talking about just some of their items. ALL of there food is top notch. It's so fresh, the presentation is off a five star restaurant quality and most importantly, it's flavorful. To top it all off, the service can't be matched. They are all genuinely nice and knowledgeable of their restaurant. I absolutely recommend everyone try this place out.
(5)Kara M.
My in laws and I went to Tomato Bistro last weekend and the service we received was beyond fantastic. I am gluten intolerant and my mother in law has a serious garlic allergy. The server and manager were absolutely wonderful helping my mother in law navigate the menu- by far the most attentive and diligent staff we have encountered with our unique allergy needs! I HIGHLY recommend Tomato Bistro to anyone with food allergies- its a place you can eat like a normal person!
(5)Peter L.
Great place! I've only been to their lunch buffet, twice, but both times were delicious. Its such a good deal: $10 for all you can eat, FRESH food. AND you get unlimited ORGANIC sodas. I don't even like soda, but here I am spending several sentences raving about them. They're good. The food is not at all like your typical buffet food - they only put out around 3 main dishes, 3-4 kinds of gourmet pizza, a couple soups, 4 types of salads, and a selection of breads. But everything they put out is like something you could order as an individual dish and since they make them in small quantities, the food is constantly fresh. It's like being able to try everyone's dish at your table. The breads are freshly baked and delicious as well. All for only $10 - its a steal. Not to mention - you can start eating as soon as you arrive - no waiting for servers or orders to be taken!
(5)Gita B.
Delicious! And the reason this is getting four stars is for a very very specific reason: the coconut sauce that comes with the coconut shrimp. This is hands down the best sauce. I was about ready to ask for a bottle of it to take home with me! Other than the sauce, the pizza is pretty good. Great beer selection too. It changes frequently. I would recommend getting the flight. Be careful with street parking on the weekends. Read the signs carefully. I got a parking ticket because I didn't :(
(4)LeeAnne P.
We recently moved to Manayunk and heard good things about the Tomato Bistro. We first went there using a groupon and fell in love with this place after the first bite. We now consider this our go-to place for good food and drinks for a good price. The small plates are filling for being small plates. We've ordered the mussels (and you'll get plenty), lobster pot pie in lobster bisque (which had lots of flavor) and the risotto fritters. The pizza is also very delicious. Our favorites include the hot and honey which has a sweet and spicy taste with breaded chicken and the white which has a great oil and garlic taste with a lot of yummy cheese. Also look for their free sample of biscotti and tomato soup, we certainly look forward to it. The servers are always on top of things and know their menu.
(5)Justine J.
and + one for exceptional management
(5)Mark V.
Stopped in looking for a brunch place to kill an hour (and a hangover) before a wedding. One pot of French press coffee and a couple of stops at the buffet later and I was feeling mighty fine. As far as buffets go, this one is top notch. And while I tend to avoid pizza for breakfast, you'd be a fool to do so here. In fact, you'd be a fool to skip anything at the buffet table.
(5)Stephanie Z.
Who knew the little bistro above a pizza shop wouldn't one be so little and would pack a flavorable and interesting punch?! My husband and I decided to take a stroll on Main one night and check this place out on the reccomendations of several of our friends. I wasn't expecting much to be honest because the pizzas downstairs while delicious have not wowed me at all in all the times my husband has ordered them. Colro me surprised when I took a peaky peak at the Bistro menu and saw all of the interesting and wonderful small plates that they were offering. Interest definitely heightened. So we sat, got cozy in the warm atmosphere of the Bistro and decided what plates we were going tio dive into! Some of the choices that we got were: Tandoori Seared Scallops - they were succulant and perfectly seared on both sides and the tandoori flavoring gives them a beatiful and rich flavor that seriously works even when my brain was like "whaaaaaaat?" Good times with the scallops! Lobster Pot Pie - It is kind of a fancy little take on the traditonal pot pie. Lobster is tucked away in a pastry-like bread that sits a top a buttery tomato bisque. You break the bread and smother it in the bisque and it is a happy place. Duck Flatbread - Wow, again so much flavor and the duck was tender and perfectly cooked. The flabread was crispy, the goat cheese was tangy and the whole thing worked so well on my taste buds! Love this dish! If you are around town in the afternoon their lunch buffet is an EXCELLENT choice. I went on a day off from work with a friend and the spread was delicious! I had a margarita flatbread that was amazing, a pear salad that had some many wonderful textures and the sundried tomato tortellini which was refreshing! Their sliders are super juicy and you can mix and match them any way you like. Definitely a good place to meet friends, catch up, and have a deliciously satisfying meal!
(4)Lily A.
I went to the Tomato Bistro with a few friends and we shared pizzas for lunch (The pizzas upstairs are personal size). We loved the Prosciutto pizza! The customer service was great and always attentive. I have been there a few times before and always have a great experience. Four stars because it is a little expensive and we were sad to learn that they don't serve the sliders until dinner.
(4)Something Y.
I loved the food. I just wish they served bacon in their brunch buffet menu. Service was great and there is also free valet parking. There is a phone number you call for the valet service. I've never used it but sounds awesome! The bloodymary and mimosa specials are a great deal and they taste very good with a good amount of liquor.
(4)Zach Q.
After 3 visits to the bistro I'm convinced that it is absolutely delicious. Tonight we had a variety of dishes and all were great. We had a groupon which made it super affordable. The prices are normally a bit much (salads at higher cost don't compare to a salad you could get downstairs for much less) but the quality of the small plates and pizzas make up for it. The seating was plentiful, they do free valet parking, and craft beer was surprisingly cheap (may have been happy hour). I'm a long time fan of the couch tomato and now the bistro is becoming one of my favorite Manayunk spots.
(5)Laura D.
After a long period of anticipation waiting for the Tomato Bistro to open, I finally got to try it last week. Glad I did! The atmosphere is so cute and cozy. I was surprised the bistro extends onto the second AND third floors providing lots of table space and a cool balcony-like dining area. My only criticism was the noise level from the crowd talking below... soft background music or more sound-absorbing surroundings would've helped. It didn't make conversation difficult, it just would've been more pleasant with a little music of something. The food was well done and different from the menu downstairs (which I also love). I had the Caprese salad with jumbo shrimp (wasn't sure what made them jumbo, but they were good). The flatbreads and sandwiches on the menu look good too. Service was attentive and quick - my friend and I were in and out of there in under an hour. Next time I want to try the craft beers!
(4)Nina S.
Great menu, friendly service, full bar- what's not to like? I already loved Couch Tomato's pizza and salads and now you can have even more great food from the same owners but in a cool loft-style space upstairs. The pizzas are pretty small for two people to share for a whole meal so I suggest getting a salad too! Update: I came back for dinner and had an even better experience! They changed up their menu and some of the items that I tried the first time were off the menu. Last time I was there I had a small plate that was chicken breaded with corn flakes but it was not an option this time. I tried the new dish, chicken and waffles and it was so good!! It is full of flavor and not what I was expecting, it was better than I expect! I also had the Guacamole pizza with wheat crust and loved it! This is a great place to go for lunch or dinner! I'll def. be back.
(5)Jon M.
While we're head over heels about Couch Tomato Cafe', the bistro portion is in low regards in our eyes. I don't know if it's a Manayunk thing, but this really is more of a tapas bar than a bistro, and should be advertised as such. Its small plates, limited personal pizzas and salads. And the prices are really high. Like $16 personal pizza high. I can get a huge plate of pasta or 2 cheesesteaks at other locations for that price. Why can I get great panini's or whatever pizza i want down a flight of stairs, but not upstairs? Makes little to no sense to me. The service that night was horrendous also. It was definitely a one-off, because we've been here before and had a good time. But it was obvious that the kitchen overlooked or lost our ticket, because it took 35 minutes to get a soup and 2 sliders appetizer. But there wasn't really any apology made or mistake admitted to. Could have that there was no manager present, from what I could tell. I'm sure if there was there would be an apology. We love the tomato cafe', but we'll have to pass on the bistro from now on. UPDATE 1: I was contacted by one of the guys that runs Couch Tomato. They apologized and offered to send me a gift card for a free pizza upstairs. Nice personal service by the owners. It doesn't take away from the experience that night, but it shows that the owners actually care about their customers. Thumbs up guys.
(3)Monica L.
PROS: Solid food, decent portions & prices, friendly staff CONS: Nothing spectacular to draw you back
(3)Nina R.
I love the decor here. We enjoyed the Saturday buffet and it was so healthy AND yummy! TheTomatoBistro.com
(5)Caitlin N.
Delicious first meal at Tomato Bistro. We had heard so much about it and recently got a gift card. We went tonight, a Saturday, and they had a date special. $45 for round of drinks, salad, small plate, and pizza, and dessert. What a deal! Great honey chipotle pizza and crab dip. We will definitely be back again. Tight seating upstairs but it was okay.
(5)Cristina L.
Right off Main St in Manayunk, the Tomato Bistro is a cozy restaurant right upstairs from the Couch Tomato Cafe. We made last minute reservations to go last Saturday night, and I was very glad we did. We were taken up to the third level and greeted by a very friendly and knowledgable waiter who told us about their awesome special: A pizza, salad, small plate, dessert, and round of drinks for two for only $45 total! We obviously went with this option, and really enjoyed most of the food, including the Margherita pizza, burrata salad, seared scallops, and Belgian waffle. All of the food was pretty good, especially for the prices, although the dressing on the burrata salad was just too sweet for me. The scallops were GREAT though! Otherwise, there wasn't anything mind-blowing about the experience. Rather, it was a good, solid meal that didn't break the bank. I'll be back!
(4)Adam W.
Ate here for the first time using a dinner groupon. Had an appetizer, sliders, and a pizza. Everything was excellent. Went back and shared several different pizzas with some friends again it was all delicious. The honey chipotle chicken pizza is really something special!
(5)Melissa C.
Had lunch here yesterday, it was my second time there and both times I was impressed. The food is amazing. Everything tastes so fresh and flavorful. The atmosphere is pleasant, and the service is great. I live over 30 miles away from here but I will make the drive again next time I'm looking to get out for a good meal. Only thing I can say that isn't so good is It always seems to be cold in there, but still I'll just bring a jacket next time.
(4)Mira S.
Such a great discovery! I loved my first dinner at the Tomato Bistro. The menu was impressive and exceeded my expectations, being that I came to eat a sandwich or salad that I'm used to at the downstairs part of the restaurant. I couldn't wait to go back. A great variety of food and drinks, perfect for a range of people's food preferences :)
(5)Gabrielle L.
The 2-star rating reads "Meh. I've experienced better." - this I will say, but I will also say that the 'better' is downstairs at Couch Tomato. I urge you to forego the steps up and just order your pizza, salad or wrap downstairs. Seriously, I eat at Couch Tomato literally every time I'm riding through Manayunk. We ordered a sampling of items: Two sliders - the kobe truffle and the lamb. There was NO truffle flavor on the first, it was over-well done, and there was supposed to be cheese, but that was also non-existent. The lamb was okay - it was cooked medium and had pretty good lamb flavor. The buns were hard, like day-olds. The chicken & waffles was another okay, although the chicken was shredded, so it lacked the expected crunch of some country fried thighs. Skip the Mediterranean plate altogether. Period. Too-thick foccaccia, flavorless hummus, over seasoned cucumber salad, limp, over-roasted vegetables and orange zest smothered feta. Too many wrong flavor profiles happening here in combination.
(2)Nikki D.
I was just there a week ago, and I would NEVER go again. I ordered something simple - a green tomato BLT. I am not a picky eater by any means, I can tell you that. But what I was served, was a green tomato on a plate with two large chunks of unedible pork on top. It was so tough, that I could not cut it with a knife, nevermind chew it. I took only one bite of my food, and I thought that when the waitress came over, she would make sure the food was okay. She did not, and when I asked her if that was bacon on my plate, she said "yeah...it's just thick cut". And with that, she walked away rudely. It was NOT bacon, I can tell you that. Then, when she came back, I politely asked her if she could remove this item from our bill, because I did not even eat it. She said she would look into it..... she didn't say yes or try to make this right. She was SO rude that I wanted to storm out!!!! Never again! Spoiled my night.
(1)Dana S.
Came here on a Groupon lunch Buffett deal I had, the lunch Buffett was gourmet and so delicious. The food was very fresh and came out very quickly. The service was incredibly friendly and welcomed you there with a warm welcome. I tried the beer sampler, and surprisingly all the beers were from local breweries, and were interesting to try. I enjoyed my meal, and my beers. Most convenient and favorite part of the dining experience at Tomato Bistro was the free valet parking, you just park out front call their number and someone comes out to park your. Car for you for free. Will definitely be coming back again. I had decided to change my previous rating to 5 stars, because I was amazed to get an email from the owner of the restaurant with an offering of free beer on tap, and was thanking me for saying such good things about his restaurant. I didnt actually think people read these reviews and it caught me off guard, but is a great customer service thing to do and a great gesture, I will gladly accept. I will be heading back down there in a couple weeks to enjoy my complimentary beers and having lunch.
(5)Patrick K.
I've visited the Couch Tomato Cafe a few times in the last 2 months because of their Sunday Brunch special. It's $12 all you can eat buffet and it is delicious. The pizzas are fresh and hot. They have a rotating selection as well, which is awesome if you want to try some of their specialty pies and not just the normal plain or pepperoni. They also have french toast and the cinnamon butter which is unbelievable. I highly recommend that. They also have some other brunch buffet items you see like salads, yogurt parfait, & homemade baked potato chips, which are amazing. I definitely recommend the Sunday brunch. Its quick, easy, quality food, and cheaper then some of the other brunch specials on Main Street. I believe craft beers are $1 off and they have endless mimosas and bloody mary's for $12. Definitely worth checking out for brunch.
(4)Michael F.
Having made multiple visits to the Bistro, I can say I'm impressed. They certainly take using fresh ingredients very seriously. My latest trip, I investigated their new lunch buffet. $9.99 for all-you-can-eat top quality foods. It includes a mix of salads, pasta, vegetables, and pizzas. While you can't find everything on their menu, it does provide a bunch of choices solid mid-day eats. Besides, you'll have time to sample a bit of everything, as I believe the buffet runs from 11 to 2:30 every week day.
(4)Jenny T.
We arrived hoping to sit outside since it was so nice but was told there was only one server on. We were seated and given menus by the hostess. After 15 min, we were given a complimentary sauce n dip. A few minutes later were greeted by a server and she took our drink order. We got our drinks and 10 min later, we were greeted by another server who took our food order. So we got: *Truffle Sliders & Buffalo Sliders Blah, truffle sliders tasted bland with no truffle flavor. Buffalo sliders were ok, I've had much better. *Mac n Cheese- NOT BAD but not great. I actually added a tad but if salt n pepper. *Manchego & Pear Salad- Simple yet tasty. I love almost anything with arugula. *Fried Goat Cheese Salad It was good but the manchego n pear salad was better and tastier. *Duck & Apple Pizza Wasn't my favorite. The apples seemed a little odd on this pizza. *Basil Pesto Pizza Didn't try this one but the kids seemed to like it. *Chocolate Torte Ehhh nothing special *Chocolate Dipped Waffle for two It was good but nothing special. After the first two apps, they cleared our plates and silverware. The salads came out and the server asked if we wanted plates. Well DUH, we weren't going to pass the bowls around and do a " pick, eat, pass" with our fingers. We had to ask for silverware and was rather slow throughout our fining experience. Overall, The Tomato Bistro is just a tad bit below mediocre. I've had better pizzas for cheaper and better service at McDonalds. My gf's and I decided that we probably would NOT RETURN. Server was extremely slow and not very friendly. And did I mention she opened the checkbook right at the table after we tipped 20% and told her she's good. Thought that was pretty rude. Save your money and appetite for something well worth it.
(2)Julia K.
We tried something different for brunch, and holy clams, are we glad we did. We went to the bistro (Upstairs). Not only is the decor very nice, this place serves up a righteous pizza, delicious sliders, and the servers were all amazingly friendly. We had the pizza with bacon & goat cheese, which was the perfect size for two people. Crispy crust (but with enough give to make it chewy, too), and the perfect blend of goat and mozzarella cheeses, caramelized onions, and bacon. The sliders were amazing - just the right size (3 or 4 bites, depending on who's eating), and the Kobe beef was delicious, the crab cake was light and crispy, and the buffalo chicken was also very good - honestly, I didn't really want to share. They also do what looks like a pretty great all-you-can-eat brunch deal, too. It looked like a variety of pizzas and calzones, some bacon-laced mac and cheese, some garlic knots, two different kinds of salads, 3 different dressings, the tomato bisque, and some kind of chicken in a sundried tomato sauce. The server told me it was $10. Bonus: pretty much anything with bread (the slider buns and the pizza crusts, anyway) can be made Gluten-free. SCORE. Two hours later, we're sitting here going, "Holy God, that was great pizza." Guess who's coming back?
(5)Emily K.
Loved this place! I can't wait to take my boyfriend here. There shared plates deal is a great buy and the perfect amount of food. Service was great and the atmosphere was nice and relaxing.
(5)Max H.
Took a lovely young lady to this place for our first date. Great atmosphere, with upstairs dining that is a little bit more romantic. I was pleasantly surprised by the beer selection; the Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA was delicious and a great recommendation by our waitress (sorry, I forgot your name!). When I first looked at the menu, with a moderately-priced selection of fantastic meals (or at least fantastic descriptions), something immediately caught my eye: Chicken and Waffles. Chicken and Waffles in a bistro? That's right. And daaaayum, what a great choice. I've read a few reviews about people being compensated due to some of their complaints. This just goes to show the level of customer service at this place. Now, I'm SURE some of those complaints did not warrant a free drink, meal, etc. but Tomato Bistro is just too damn nice. With a friendly staff, who are quite knowledgeable about the beer selection, this place is just about perfect. Peace.
(5)Perry W.
Very enjoyable, food was very good and the special they offered was a good deal. Would go back next time in Manyunk! The service was very attentive and helpful with the menu and specials
(4)Kim T.
Tomato bisque, yum. Chicken and waffles, out of this world. Grilled salmon salad, oh my. Pulled pork pizza, mmm hmm. My new favorite place.
(5)Kionna W.
I really like this place, Parking is a B**** of course because its in downtown manyunk and when you come in you might get a little confused by the 2 restaurants. But once you get pass that and walk up 3 levels of steps into somewhat a "V.I.P" area its great. We started with the sliders, one truffle and one egg the truffle was great i couldnt taste the egg because my boyfriend said it was too good -_- but i will next time :). They gave us some complimentary biscottis and tomato bisque also very tasty, a good wine selection I had a glass of Sauvignon and margherita pizza to finish the night. Overall a relaxing enviornment cool decor and nice staff. Will def be returning and trying some new items.
(5)Kunjan P.
Living in center city I was hesitant on visiting The Tomato Bristro, but am very pleased that I did. The food is delicious and they offer an amazing happy hour menu. Their pulled pork sliders, and buffalo quesadilla are a must. Service is fast and the staff is very courteous. If you are driving, you can get free valet service so you do not have to worry about parking.
(4)Brittany F.
Went here with my husband because I love Couch Tomato and have been patiently waiting for the Bistro to open. I then got the Groupon and off we went. Small Plates: Frites: We had the fries which were AMAZING but needed salt. The Aioli it came with was perfect and my husband loved the seemingly home made ketchup. Kobe Sliders: They were ok. Not amazing. There were 2 of them on the plate. Strozzapretti Pasta: It was HUGE and I thought it was pretty tasty but the pasta to sausage and broccoli rabe ratio was off. I think there were 4 pieces of sausage and 2 pieces of broccoli rabe. Salad: Caprese: I don't think it had any basil other than the pesto which the mozzarella was drenched in. It was good but the lettuce wasn't that fresh and the tomatoes were slightly mealy. Pizza: Meatball: I have to say, had I not come with my husband (and his limited palate) I would have gotten a different pizza. The meatball pizza was ok, Nothing to write home about but not horrible either. My husband didn't think it was too flavorful (that's a big deal) Dessert: Cheesecake: This was AMAZING... so good. I took it home since we were stuffed and then ate it at 2 AM. Don't you judge me! All in all, the food was OK. There was nothing I ate that I thought was horrible. I enjoyed to little cups of tomato bisque they brought us, also. The service was painfully slow and they weren't really that busy when we got there. I may go back but I would have to be with a friend who has similar tastes as me, pray they aren't so damn slow and the food is better.
(3)Emily S.
Finally had a chance to go back to the Tomato Bistro last night. We were seated right away at a little table upstairs. Definitely better than the first table we sat at the first time. We had the crab stack, cheesesteak bites, & the goat cheese & bacon pizza. Everything tasted great. Glad we gave this place another try!
(4)Diane A.
Returned for a late lunch the day before Thanksgiving, this time to the Coach Tomato downstairs. I had a personal sized house pizza with artichokes and portobellos and such, and everything was, once again, excellent. A few brews on tap. Great place to chill for a couple of hours before the holiday jam.
(5)Bizz M.
I've been here (I being my wife, who is writing this review) 3 times and have failed to write a review. I'm sorry. The food is delicious. I have had the following menu items: Sweet Potato Latkes Crispy Artichokes Risotto Fritters (twice) Muscles (White Wine & Garlic) Mac & Cheese Quinoa Chicken & Waffles (twice, once with Bacon, once without) Sesame Chicken Chicken Cutlet Pizza (wheat) Beer Flights House Mimosa (thank you for this, now just sell it in a pitcher and i'm in!) ALL the food I've ordered as well as the guests I have been with have loved all of the food. The Chicken & Waffles are soooooo delicious...it's not your traditional fried chicken & gigantaur waffle. I always prefer anything with bacon, but I wasn't feeling bad when I ate it without.....the Risotto Fritters - YES. The atmosphere is really casual and fun. My most recent trip (5/31/12) there was a live acoustic act. Pretty sure this is new. One of the owner/managers came over and asked if it was too loud. It was a perfect volume to enjoy drinks & food & friends. There is another upstairs area if you wanted to get away I'm sure, plus some outside seating. It actually hurts my heart that I won't be able to eat here in a month....but alas Florida awaits & needs some Yelping help. However I will be bringing as many people as possible here before I leave and I will order the Chicken & Waffles & Risotto Fritters every single time. Complimentary Valet parking can't be beat either....Manayunk is a PAIN.
(5)Marybeth C.
My daughter took me here for lunch. I eat gluten free. They had a nice choice of gluten free items. Greet salad selection. The gluten free bun they used for my slider was delicious. Even my daughter liked the gluten free bun. I definitely will be back.
(5)Joanne A.
Used a Yelp discount AS WELL AS a groupon discount about 3 months ago (May?)!!! Red sangria, margarita pizza, and a salad that I don't recall specifics of - were all good. The pizza was better than the salad. This place is great for a first or second date or a quick bite / get together with a friend or two. The staff is overall very friendly and we sat outside which was nice.
(4)Shane W.
Cool looking open space upstairs, if only a little cramped feeling. Went here for lunch with a LivingSocial voucher for one pizza and one salad. Price aside, the pizza was fantastic. Got the Meatball pie, and it was banginnn. The sauce was delicious, slightly sweet, and the crust was crispy and awesome. Salad was pretty good as well, though small for the $9 pricetag, and not really filling. The pizza was $13, and a little small, but enough for one person to feel full. Overall a good experience and very tasty pizza, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again.
(3)Sean P.
This is a great little food establishment that I frequent often with my girlfriend. I just ate there the other day and the gourmet pizzas are fantastic!
(5)Liia R.
There are lots of great places to eat in Manayunk but I have to say Tomato Bistro is one of my top favorites. Service is always great, their wine selection is fab and everything I've had to eat is amazing. I'm in love with the goat cheese and bacon pizza and their salads are to die for! I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an affordable, delicious evening.
(5)Kelly C.
I went here for lunch with co-workers. I had the buffet and it was really good! They had a nice variety of salads that were excellent and the flat bread pizza was really good also. Everyone in my group liked their food and I would love to return in the near future.
(4)Emily B.
We came here for dinner after purchasing a Groupon for two pizzas and two main dishes, and I'm so glad we checked it out! The two-floor restaurant is cozy and casual, and it was very busy early on a Saturday night which is always a good sign! The complimentary tomato bisque was delicious, and our food was amazing. There were so many great choices, and I am looking forward to trying different things the next time we go. The beer list is awesome...I got a delicious pumpkin brew on draft, perfect for autumn. Service was OK; our waitress was training someone, and everything was on the slow side, but it wasn't a huge deal. I just feel like they should be a bit more prepared for a busy dinner rush crowd.
(4)K A.
This is a great spot for dinner and drinks. My friends and I often meet up here for girls night dinners. We love the tapas style so we don't have to make too many decisions, just order a bunch and share! Great food, great beer & wine selections, always great service. We'll be back again!
(4)Whoy G.
Very nice...truffle sliders excellent...frites good...pizza good...only complaint was service...waitress would just disappear...but will give it another try just for the sliders...wife he the Mexican salad...and loved it...try the waffle and ice cream dessert...I would recommend it
(3)Jane V.
So I actually discovered The Tomato Bistro from a Groupon a few months ago. Holy cow what an awesome deal! 4 course meal for 2 people for $25! Pros: The Bistro is located upstairs, cute atmosphere, good service. Perfect portion sizes, we were actually full before the pizza came out (salad and 3 small plates prior to the pizza). And the waitress was pretty attentive. Oh, and I did sample duck bruschetta at a Yelp event 2 weeks ago - tasty! Cons: I guess my only complaint is that when they did have live music the one night, it was a little loud, but fortunately it started towards the end of our meal. Overall, I would definitely check it out again :)
(4)Alicia O.
we used a two for $10 deal this afternoon for their lunch buffet. i was pleasantly surprised. the restaurant itself is light and airy, colorful and open but not too open. i can see why the locals would come here often. the server was very friendly and accommodating. so usually when you think buffet you think of stale food thats been sitting out for hours, coughed on, in a long trough-like apparatus with glass covering it so you cant reach the stuff in the back smh this was a delightful buffet with fresh pizza choices, delicious choices of salads and some yummy pulled pork do-it-yourself sandwiches. and everything was fresh, tasty, seasoned well, very delicious. i would make this a regular buffet lunch with friends on the weekend. there wasnt a sweet option for dessert which i was kinda bummed about but still worth it.
(4)Rich D.
Energetic and informed staff, tasty food and novel menu. We had the Crispy Artichoke and the PISTACHIO CRUSTED SALMON to get started, both were tasty. We also shared the Ceaser Salad and Quinoa salad (we felt like taking a risk and the salad was wonderful. We finished with a the Signature Margherita Pizza. A great experience and they also had free valet parking.
(4)Andrew L.
I was so excited to try out the new restaurant opened by the guys from The Couch Tomato Cafe! Impressive! The menu offered a great selection of gourmet pizzas, tapas, soups and salads. The tapas were generous in size, and the pizzas were definitely big enough to share. The complimentary sample of tomato soup they served before our meal was a nice touch. The ambiance was hip yet calming, and the service was excellent. The free valet parking worked out nicely for my two friends who are preggers. We shared the fried mozzarella, risotto fritters, and cornflake chicken with delicious prosciutto to start, followed by a pesto pizza and a meatball pizza for dinner. The tapas were excellent, the pesto pizza was topped with fresh arugula, and the meatball pizza was savory and delicious. Both the tapas and pizza were A++! They also offer an impressive beer and wine list. I had a great beer by Bruery Brewing Company, which went perfectly with my meal. I forget which beer it was exactly, but I'm not worried about it, because my boyfriend and I are having dinner with friends at The Tomato Bistro tonight! A great addition to Manayunk! It blows Cooper's out of the water in quality, service, freshness, and price!
(5)Maria S.
The Tomato Bistro hosted our daughter and future son-in-law's engagement party. It was a flawless event under the direction of Robin. The choice of menu items was varied, unique and interesting. The price was very reasonable especially for the quantity of food provided. Our guests just loved the appetizers, pizzas, entree, sides and dessert. The wait staff could not have been more attentive or friendly. The beer and wine was flowing and everyone had a great time. Keep up the excellent work.
(5)Catherine S.
We've eaten here a few times. The goat cheese bacon pizza is great. They have a bunch of microbrews that I've never heard of. The menu is quite small and after 830p, you always feel like they are cutting servers and getting ready to close. Not a romantic date place.
(4)Mahir S.
INTRODUCTION: My friends and I were driving around in Philadelphia looking for a place to eat, when a large sign with a tomato caught our eye. We had to go...we love tomatoes! When you arrive you have to walk up to the second floor because the Bistro (the fancier one) is above the Couch Tomato (which is more casual). We ordered the fried risotto balls and 2 pizzas on a buy one get one special that they have on Mondays! STAFF/ENVIRONMENT: The waitress was cute, funny, and very knowledgeable. She made great recommendations and was very friendly and helpful throughout our meal. The environment was comfortable and quiet (although there was barely anyone seated upstairs when we arrived). FOOD: We got biscotti with a crème tomato sauce (complimentary), fried risotto balls, the duck and apple pizza, and the pesto pizza. The free biscotti with the crème tomato sauce was great - the biscotto had a great crumbly texture with toasted pine nuts and a mixture of herbs baked inside - the tomato sauce's richness and acidity perfectly balanced the flavors. The presentation was a plus; the sauce was served in small espresso cups - which, of course, prompted my friends to drink the sauce afterwards. The fried risotto balls were a recommendation from our waitress and were quite good. They were crispy on the outside and had a nice gooey inside, while maintaining some bite from the risotto. The balls were served with a pesto sauce which added another dimension to the dish, BUT I did have one small problem with the balls - the inside tasted somewhat bland and one dimensional, and the overall dish was lacking in acidity. The duck and apple pizza was my favorite - slightly shredded duck with the fat rendered so perfectly, added a savory bite that was perfectly offset by the crunchy, sweet, and slightly tart apples and the tangy goat cheese. The pesto pizza on the other hand needed some work - the crust was great, but the pesto was lacking in flavor, while the parmesan that was both in the pesto and grated on top stole any of the other flavors (especially the delicate basil taste I was expecting) from my taste buds. As if drowning in the ocean, I was left with salt enveloping my taste buds - I yearned for water and some more delicate flavor profiles. PRICE: The Monday special with the buy one get one pizza was great! For around $32 we got 2 pizzas, an appetizer, and 3 non-alcoholic drinks. Without the special I can imagine this place might be a bit pricey, but don't forget yelp also has a $10 for $20 deal going on also. CONCLUSION: With great pizza, nice staff, and excellent deals, I would most likely come by again. I especially like their Thursday deal with live music, and would love to try their chicken and waffles and other pizzas. I also would not be hesitant to try the sister café downstairs - the more casual Couch Tomato.
(4)Danan R.
I still have to make it here but my dad got a duck and apple pizza to go on and it was delish. I know that it sounds extremely strange but the blend of goat cheese, mozzarella, duck, apple butter, and greens was amazing. They don't offer this pizza downstairs and it is more like a flatbread-style pizza than the typical, NY-style. The crust was crispy and nicely seasoned. We were definitely fighting over the last piece. I'll be back to try more of the menu.
(4)Jordan P.
Having been to the Couch Tomato in the past, I was excited to try the upper floor's take on slightly upper-scale food and drink. As we climbed the steep set of stairs, I felt as though we were entering an entirely different atmosphere, and, since I wasn't sure what to expect, I'll admit, I felt a little underdressed for such a classy place. But, as it was a Wednesday night and not too crowded, I cast that thought aside and focused on the task at hand. And that task was pizza and beer (just a little nicer than Dominos and Bud Light). We were seated quickly on the third floor, and our waitress was friendly and happy to answer any questions we had, as well as rattle off the specials. Speaking of the specials, there are MANY, and they're fantastic: -Monday: Buy one pizza, get 1 free (with additional purchase, limit 2 per table, not valid on takeout) -Tuesday: Half priced bottles of wine -Wednesday: HALF PRICED DRAFT BEER ALLLLLL NIGHT! -Thursday: Flight night - All beer flights are $7 with live music from 7-9pm -Weekend Brunch Special: $4 bloody marys and Mimosas / breakfast panini and breakfast pizza -Sunday: Gluten-free dinner $45 for 2 people, 4 course gluten free meal with a round of drinks -Every Day: When it Rains, We Pour! - Half off all drafts (MUST mention the special to get it!) While we decided on our pizza, we were treated to a complimentary mini serving of tomato bisque and a crunchy bread (like a savory biscotti). The tomato bisque was warm and smooth, but chunky enough to tell that it wasn't from a can, and was a great start to the meal. As we scoured the menu, my picky dining partner honed in on the Pulled Pork pizza, hold the onion. And then, we got to the fun(ner) stuff. The craft beer! The list was impressive, a pleasant surprise having never been before. The list seems to change somewhat frequently, and the night of my visit a few of the beers on the list had just kicked. LUCKILY, they'd been replaced instantly, so there was an abundance of options. I started off with a Southern Tier IPA, and later enjoyed a Great Lakes Holy Moses White and an Avery Joe's Pilsner. Less than $8 for all of these made for a happy Moi! The portions on the pizza were not as large as I was expecting, but the ingredients tasted fresh and high-quality, and we found ourselves nearly licking our plates. The pork was tender and decadent, and didn't need any other flavoring to make it enjoyable. So essential. My biggest tips: Come when it's raining, or on a Wednesday, get at least two dishes if you're hungry (we were getting dessert elsewhere after, so didn't mind the smaller portion, but I think would've been still hungry if we hadn't), and bask in the friendly staff, they were a cut above most service I've received on average in Manayunk!
(5)Eric D.
Visited here on a Sunday and to our surprise..happy hour specials! Absolutely loved the truffle beef and lobster cake sliders, the side salad was equally delicious. Also tried the crispy artichokes and they were very good as well. Nice selection of local beers and a very laid back and welcoming atmosphere. I will be back here with friends. Thanks!
(4)Jazzmin E.
I came into Tomato Bistro after hearing great reviews from everyone when I told them I'd moved to Manayunk. Was not disappointed. I had the portabello slider and the truffle slider along with the mac and cheese. Both of the sliders had quality ingredients and great flavor, I only wish they featured them in full size! The mac and cheese was also very tasty, the pieces of bacon in it were perfect and never got soggy (which is sometimes an issue). I think one of the best pieces of this meal, however, were the little touches. The chips drizzled in sauce were wonderful, as was the complimentary small serving of soup and bread, I definitely would have ordered a cup if we weren't waiting to fill up on mac and cheese. Overall a great experience, I'll definitely be coming back to the Bistro and checking out the cafe as well.
(5)Lindsay M.
Husband and I moved to the Manayunk area recently and the couch tomato quickly became one of our favourite places to eat - both at the restaurant and for ordering out. The artisan pizzas are delicious and we have enjoyed working our way through the selection. We also enjoy the excellent gluten-free bases from time to time and are always very impressed. At the restaurant we like to take advantage of the sharing special that they run which is excellent value and allows us to try lots of different things. Highly recommend this restaurant for a bite to eat when in Manayunk!
(5)Victoria R.
My instinct was to give this place one star, but it's probably a solid 1.5 in reality. The food wasn't terrible. The service was good, and they had plenty of beer on tap. Yet even though it's main street in Manayunk, I was still really disappointed by how much they charge for their food. I thought that the pizza was alright. A bit on the thin/small small side, but fine. I'll accept that. After all, I eat a lot. But that wasn't the worst part. My friend (who doesn't enjoy pizza, grilled cheese, or mac n' cheese because of lactose intolerance) chose a steak and vegetable plate with her entree that came with only 4 tiny pieces of meat over carrots and peppers. This "small plate," which was predominantly cheap vegetables in teriyaki sauce, cost $13. I've been to plenty of places in Philadelphia where you can get an excellent entree for that price. Heck, you can go to Amada ($$$) and find plenty of options for less than what this place charges for "okay" food. Maybe it was an off night, but I don't feel like going back to find out. I feel like this place isn't nearly good enough to charge the prices it does. This is decent Italian we're talking about, and I didn't have anything special. So I'd keep downstairs or go elsewhere if you want Italian/pizza and actually have an appetite.
(2)Alexander S.
really enjoyed my experience here. It was a quick meal full of flavor. I had their buffet which was out of this world. I will 100% be back
(5)Vanessa T.
I'm updating my review and giving this restaurant a 5+ star if that was possible. The owner took the time to follow up on my review on a message he sent me 5 months ago and to me, that's impressive customer service. Food is great, service is personalized. Absolutely impressed.
(5)Mari M.
I consider the atmosphere to be chill and relaxing and the food and service are better than average. I tried two different pizzas, the tequila lime chicken and the basil pesto. Though both were very good, I preferred the former. I do want to go back to taste the other varieties as each of them are definitely different! Very friendly servers and staff. Plus, it was great having free valet parking (only if you are going to the bistro).
(5)Shane S.
I had the unlimited brunch buffet and it was some of the best brunch I've ever had! There were so many options, great prices, and the atmosphere was so inviting. They also have free valet parking which is ideal in Manayunk! I will definitely recommend The Tomato Bistro to my friends and I can't wait to go back for other meals! TheTomatoBistro.com
(5)Michael J.
Only Experienced their lunch buffet. So my review is based soley off that. It was skimpy. but the food that they did have was pretty good. $10 lunch buffet for two(Groupon) can't beat that. I mean It was cute for what it was. The staff were friendly. and they have free valet parking. If your in the area and they still have the $10 for two groupon going on. why not..go for it! but nothing to go out your way for. And honestly I would never go here without a groupon. not worth full price which is about $12 or $13 a person.
(3)Chris A.
This is not our first time here. Today we had the lunch buffet. Everything was fresh and tasty. There were selections for everyone from the vegan to the carnivore. The staff is friendly and very attentive. It's a great atmosphere for some great food. When you are in Manayunk you should definitely eat here!
(4)Jay B.
After 5 times dining at the Tomato Bistro, I feel that it's time to review my experiences. The first time I went was their first week open and was blown away. We had a groupon and with 6 of us, we had just about one of everything and were all wowed. Specifically the grilled romaine Caesar salad was phenomenal. The second time we went, it was NYE and there was a prix fixe menu and it was good, not great. The service was slow initially and then the server was piling food on our table for 3 courses when we ha barely had 10 minutes to enjoy the course. We chalked it up bc it was a fixed menu and said we'd be back since it was so night and day from our first experience. The next time we came it was awful. It was about 8 pm and we were one of three tables that were seated on our entire floor. Our service could not have been slower. We both ordered a salad and a pizza. I again ordered the grilled caesar salad and what I was served was the white stems of the lettuce, completely different from the full romain leaves I had the first time, with barely any char from the grill, not one crouton and in a tiny bowl (for $9). I stuck it out and figured maybe it was late, maybe they didn't have full leaves left. We waited 40 minutes for our pizzas to come out (after having the manager come by and say, "what are you guys waiting on?). We waited another 20 minutes from that point and when we finally got the pizzas, they were burnt to a crisp and dry from being burnt. That was strike 2. The next time I came it was just for appetizers and they all went pretty well. Service again was awfully slow and was served a beer in a cracked glass, not the servers fault but waiting upwards of 10 minutes for me to even see our server again to ask for a new glass just seems a little weird since the restaurant is not big at all. On the fence. My last visit was right down the middle. Again the grilled Caesar salad was served a differen way and still nowhere near as memorable as it was initially. Artichoke appetizer was pretty good. Service again was lacking and by lacking I mean just unbelievably slow. I wasn't in a rush but from the time we decided what we wanted and the server returned, we totally forgot what we were going to order. The girls ordered "sangria" and what they got was a grape/apple like juice with no fruit and no remnants of wine. It was awfully sweet and had no acidic taste that wine would provide. I can say that I've given it more than a fair shot and can't really say that it will bring me back. The only consistent thing in this restaurant is the inconsistency of everything. It's unfortunate because the Couch Tomato does everything so right and it's simple. It's worth a try but don't be surprised if it doesn't blow your mind. The ambiance, and decor is awesome and their rotating draft beers are good although most of their selections now are not right for the season. I'm not sure if they set the bar way too high on my first visit and I'm stuck holding them to that standard or if it has evolved to something different that I'm not sold on, either way, the potential is there just needs some fine tuning.
(3)M B.
I love this place. The first time we went, I was excited just looking at the menu - they have so many things that are right up my alley: fried artichokes, mac 'n cheese, frites, pretzel fondue, the list goes on! But I was even more excited when our order came out and I saw and tasted how great everything was - it's one thing to have an exciting, ambitious menu but you've got to execute! And Tomato Bistro really does. My favorite menu items (so far) are the crispy artichokes, the fried goat cheese salad (hold the bacon), and the fig pizza (hold the bacon again!), and the margherita pizza. When they first opened, they also had a really nice cheese board, which it looks like they may have done away with? Not sure why... I thought that was excellent too. Their pizzas are a little bit funky (options like Hot and Honey Chicken, Duck and Apple, etc) and they're A LOT delicious. They're ovular in shape and they serve them sliced once longways and three times on the short side so your pieces are approximate squares. I would characterize their crust as thin and crispy - I know that some people will start throwing around comments like "tastes like a pita chip" when crispiness is a primary characteristic of a pizza crust but unless you're dining with a deep dish die-hard, it's hard to imagine that someone would think this crust should be any softer or thicker than it is because the elements of each pizza are so cohesive. Like TB's more casual counterpart downstairs, you can order any of their pizzas on a whole wheat crust and I see they recently added a GF crust option! The pizzas are a little on the small-side, even for gourmet pizza but I think that attention-to-detail is an important part of what makes their pizza so good and in a busy restaurant, it's hard to imagine that the "A2D" wouldn't suffer some if the pizzas were significantly bigger. They have a strong beer list with 11 craft brews on tap and beer enthusiasts can keep an eye on what they have on deck via the "coming soon" section on their website. The restaurant also has a great layout and a really modern, stream-lined aesthetic that still manages to be warm and relaxing. In terms of ambiance, I could see it being a good first date spot but, because of all the "small plates" and pizza, it's definitely a good place to go with a significant other or someone else that you're comfortable splitting dishes with. Highly recommended!
(5)Christina P.
I used a groupon deal with my boyfriend on friday. it was a great deal...we got a slider, salad and pizza. and he got two beers (not on the deal). the food was all very good! I am a very frequent customer to the downstairs cafe...whose pizza I honestly dont like but upstairs the pizza is great! service was friendly upstairs and food was good not great. I would definiately go back again. it is perfect for lunch or if you awnna grab a few beers and food with a friend
(3)Dinh Felicia N.
I usually don't like buffets but this place really yummy food. The tomatoes bisque is the best I have ever had. The waitress is friendly and the place is cute.
(5)Rick B.
This place has some great food and awesome specials throughout the week. My wife and I dine here regularly and always leave satisfied. They also have a great rotating beer list. Check it out!
(4)Tyler T.
I've been back to The Tomato Bistro a couple times since my first visit. The first time back I had a groupon for a salad and pizza. We ordered the goat cheese salad again because we loved it so much the first time and again it was great. We also ordered the guacamole pizza and it was cooked just right and very flavorful. The owner sent us a card for a free small plate, pizza, and drink because our first not so positive experience. (great customer service and shows that they really care about the customer). This time we ordered the Aztec Shrimp for the small plate (three well cooked large shrimp with some cool rice I've never seen before. The dish was solid, but I would have liked a little more flavor to come through). We ordered the guacamole pizza again and I really enjoyed it (crispy crust and the melted cheese is delicious). We also ordered the cobb salad (not my favorite salad and probably the worst salad I've had at either the Bistro or Couch Tomato). I would really love it if the Bistro would let you create your own salad like you can downstairs. I know its supposed to be more of a restaurant atmosphere than take out, but I would order my $12 spinach salad with turkey, bacon, candied pecans, and sesame dressing everytime if I could. I gave it a third star because they genuinely care about my business, but I can't give it more because the food is really just mediocre. With that said, its still a fairly decent place for Manayunk and I'll probably come back when I'm craving a fried goat cheese salad.
(3)K. B.
Have never been to the Couch Tomato (the lower level of this place), but as I live In Manayunk and am a Groupon fool, when one for this place popped up I had to try it. The inside (2nd and 3rd floors) is a comfortable but casual. The menu selection was nice and the portions we got were average I guess. $10 for a salad appetizer for 2 seemed steep to me, but that's why we had the Groupon. One beef would be that we couldn't choose pizzas from the downstairs menu to eat upstairs. Sure, the Bistro's pizzas seemed interesting, but if I wanted a pepperoni I couldn't have it?!?! Weird. But it was a nice weekday dinner spot. PS. Why does every bar now feel obligated to carry Purple Haze? Its not longer unique if you can find it everywhere! (and its kind of eh anyways).
(4)Natalie E.
This place is alright. The menu is pretty creative- there's apple and duck pizza and similar combos not usually seen together on a menu. That being said, the food is just ok. Sure, it's interesting but it's not super-must-have-delicious. I would say go here if you have a coupon or something.
(3)Peg B.
This place is great. Pizza is tasty , and they have a great gluten-free crust. There is something on the menu for everyone. Atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed. Great service. Wines by the glass at a decent price.
(4)Meg F.
Loved the Yelp deal. Salad was delicious - gorgonzola cheese, walnuts, apple (i think?), added chicken, got the vinaigrette - yum!! Boyfriend's pizza with chicken and guac was delicious! Would go back.
(4)Christina B.
Perfect place for dinner with the girls. Great option if you're on a diet, but don't want to give up your social life. In fact, the waitress and kitchen worked with me to make their already healthier than average dishes work even better for someone working to lose weight. HUGE customer service. On the flip side, my guy doesn't love this place. He thinks it's too healthy. It isn't the cheapest place for the options.
(4)Lisa K.
Price for the food is great . .Great wine prices. Specialiy pizzas, small plates. love the hot and honey chicken pizza! Large selection of gluten free and vegetarian items so there is something for everone
(4)Reagan R.
I absolutely love the Tomato Bistro! The food is delicious! I have never had a bad meal yet! The Buffalo Quesadilla is a MUST! It is ridiculous good! I have been to this place twice in the last week because I was craving this quesadilla. Their pizzas are really good too. The place is real cool and they offer a lot of different kinds of beers that you can't get other places.
(5)gillian h.
Tomato Bistro is our new go-to place for lunch or dinner because the food is delicious and the variety is excellent. My husband loves the sliders and the selection of unique beers. I love the salads. Everything is fresh and well presented. You can tell that the chef and the staff care about the food and the service.
(5)Youjin L.
Tomato Bistro has the healthiest food ever! Their $9.99 lunch buffet is so worth it! Pizza gets rotated, so you get to taste about 6-8 different pizza slices, and plus amazing salads and entree! They're so healthy and delicioius!!! They have the BEST PIZZA!!! But because the buffet table is pretty small, it tends to get very crowded, which is fine with me, but they're not quick enough to restock the food in time. So I recommend going for lunch buffet on weekdays, not weekends. But except that little issue, I HIGHLY recommend Tomato Bistro!!!! For dinner, I recommend Portabella sliders, Short rib, Pan-seared scallops, duck & apple, basil pesto pizza!!
(4)Lynda R.
The atmosphere was great. The service was impeccible. The food was fresh and deliciously prepared. Prices are average. I love tapas small plates so you can try a bunch of different things. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Brittany R.
We went to the lunch buffet, and had previously bought a $5 groupon. It was great! They had a tasty variety of pizzas, salads, and side dishes. We were in a hurry and we were able to serve ourselves, get drinks delivered, eat, pay, and leave within 20 minutes.
(4)Nicole F.
Not the traditional fold in half, cheese & sauce pizza but if you're looking for a yummy, flavorful, thin crust pizza - this is the place! They do deliver however, I prefer to eat my pizza right out of the oven. I've tried the Sangria which was ehh.. But it's a pizza place so on that note it rocks!
(4)Milla G.
My sister and I were in Philadelphia for a week visiting a friend. On one of the many nights we ate out, our friend took us to the Tomato Bistro. We weren't expecting anything phenomenal, especially after the other places we ate at on the first nights in PA. Well, once we got there, our hopes ascended in delight - The place was so cozy and friendly, yet very open and spacey! And there was a little surprise. We happened to be there on Thursday, which is Flight Night! Amazing deals on beer flights. We settled in and the waitress was quick to take our order. I got the Cavatelli with Pistachio Pesto - MMMMMM. And my sister, always being on the safe side, just got the Grilled Caesar Salad. My friend got her usual - Duck & Apple Pizza. Yes. DUCK & APPLE PIZZA! Tomato Bistro's definitely not a standard soup, salad, and pizza place. (You got ya duck, ya sesame chicken, ya shrimp, ya salmon...) Definitely will be going back next time we're in PA. Great food, great atmosphere; just the PERFECT bistro.
(5)Rick T.
I just moved to Manayunk and have been trying all of the restaurants on Main Street. I must say that this place is one of my favorites. The weekend lunch buffet is an excellent deal. All of the food is fresh, well prepared and replenished often. Excellent tomato basil soup. Inviting and friendly staff.
(5)Megan M.
My boyfriend and I have been here twice. The first time we went, we had a groupon deal and were there right after it opened..we had the pesto pizza (good), the bruschetta (really good), a meatball/penne small plate (no longer on the menu), the caprese salad and something else I can't remember. We went back tonight with a living social deal and when we called to make reservations, they told us it was quizzo night. We had never done a quizzo night before, and tonight was pretty fun..they do it every Monday, even though we did horrible, I think we'd go back to try our luck again. First prize was a $25 gift certificate, second place was a free pizza..good deal! Tonight we ordered the caprese salad again, but they changed it!! Before it was large tomato slices and slices of fresh mozzarella with some greens, this time it was mostly greens, barely any tomatos, and mozzarella balls. It was still good, but we liked the old caprese A LOT better. We also ordered the duck and apple pizza, which was AMAZINGGGGG. They don't have your typical pizzas here, so you have to be prepared to try something different. We went with this because we picked the strangest thing on the menu, and it was DELICIOUS. Very sweet, and the duck was moist. We highly recommend this place for a nice night out. They run a lot of coupon specials and even have one on here (the $10 for $20). If you want more than just dinner go to quizzo on Mondays..starts at 7:30!
(5)Eric H.
There good is amazing. Truffle and pimiento sliders were outstanding and the chicken/waffles are out of this world! You honestly can't go wrong with anything on their menu though!
(5)Darnell T.
Very cool place to eat. The food is great. The lunch buffet is good and at a reasonable price. They have valet parking that helps offset the squeeze of Manayunk.
(4)Mander P.
Excellent food and excellent service! My boyfriend got the sausage and pepper pizza and I got the short rib pizza, which came with a delicious fig sauce! We had the fried risotto as an appetizer which was amazing, as well as complimentary biscotti and tomato bisque shooters which were adorable! Plus, the biscotti was super fresh. Our server was very friendly and attentive, which really put the cherry on top of our experience. We will definitely be back here! My only complaint is that I didn't quite understand the serving sizes, and I had to ask.
(5)E A.
Darn, I wish I had read that they had free valet parking, as we ended up parking in the new lot by the river for $8. We went with friends for the weekend brunch and it was nice. 3 of us had the buffet and one an omelet. All the food was fresh. The buffet is really a very small affair as there is no wasted space in this place. The Tomato Café is on the first floor, this looks like a grab something type of place. You go up the stairs to the first level of the Bistro and are greeted and seated. The personnel were all friendly and polite. We got seated on the top floor. So if you have the buffet you go down the stairs to replenish your plate each time. There were 3 different types of Pizza, 2 different salads/dressing and two hot tray choices. There was French toast, pulled pork, rice and vegetables. The food was good because it was fresh. The garlic knots are to die for. The buffet ran $13? per person and if you can eat a lot in one sitting this is definitely a great bargain. However, I was disappointed in the table service. Friendly and polite go only so far, replenishing water, removing dishes from the table occasionally would have earned another star. We'll most likely try it again when in the area.
(3)Nissa G.
Love Couch Tomato so decided to try the Bistro. Definitely different vibe than downstairs, more like a sit down restaurant. Acoustics are terrible, so loud due to the open balcony area. Be aware that you can't order any of the amazing wraps, etc. from downstairs. However they do have delicious pizzas and sliders and other dishes, and are very accommodating to food allergies and gluten free ppl! I am not GF but have had their GF dough and buns and YUM.
(4)J M.
I'm glad I finally got to try this place. The small plates and sliders were delicious and actually quite filling. Beer selection was alright. Overall, nice little place to grab a bite.
(4)Josh A.
My work colleagues and I have enjoyed the Couch Tomato Bistro lunch buffet on many occasions and have never been disappointed. The buffet offers a wide selection of salads, pizzas, pastas, and other entree items... plus soft drinks are included. Overall, it's a great value. If you leave hungry, it's your own fault.
(5)IvoryCycle I.
Very delicious food. My parents and I stopped here upon our journey looking for apartments. It was a welcome comfort. I'm gluten free and they used quinoa in a very unique way which made me very happy. Thanks for supporting us GF fanatics!
(5)Stephanie M.
This is one of our favorite restaurants to come to as a family. There is something on the menu for everyone. I have Celiacs Disease so this is my favorite place to get the BEST PIZZA!!! You should try the Fig & Pear Pizza. The menu has something for everyone; Salads, Pizza, Burgers, Small Plates...they have a great selection of various food items that our kids even look forward to going as much as we do! They can make any sandwich GF by request. This is a great place to come to on date night or with the family. Full bar and complimentary parking as well.
(5)Jeff H.
To be truthful, I don't know how anyone cannot like The Tomato Bistro. Prob if I scan through the many Yelp reviews, I'll discover some negatives but everyone I know - including myself - thinks this place is great. The people who work there are always super friendly, the atmosphere is light-filled, industrial chic, and cool .... and the food is more than tasty. One of the best deals around is their gourmet lunch buffet. For 12 bucks you have an all-you-can-eat choice of fabulous thin crust pizzas and salads and assorted other dishes and soups - wow what a deal. This is why it is usually crowded at lunchtime. And The Tomato Bistro is right in the heart of Manayunk so afterwards you can walk around and enjoy the cool atmosphere in this colorful corner of Philadelphia.
(5)Jeff T.
Wonderful service, wonderful atmosphere, and wonderful food! Gluten Free Pizza's are incredible and really are the best I've had. Same with the salads, and all of the small plates. The Tomato Bistro knows how to pair good food with healthy options and really is a great part of the Manayunk/Roxborough Community!
(5)Josh K.
My girlfriend and I came here after we saw their brunch special posted in a Facebook promotion - only $13 for all you can eat food, with a really nice mix of breakfast and more substantial lunch-type items. Would highly recommend both of the breakfast strombolis - both the veggie and meat options were delicious. The garlic knobs (basically little bread balls with butter and garlic) are top-notch. The buffet on that particular day had some flatbread pizzas as well as chicken Marsala and tortellini. The "Bottomed Out" option for brunch was nice - much cheaper than Bottomless deals at many restaurants, as you pay $8 for your first drink and $2 for each subsequent one. The Bloody Mary was fantastic, but very hearty and rich. If that's your thing, great - but don't plan on having more than one. Next time I think I'll go with the mimosas, which were lighter and made with fresh, pulpy orange juice and a liberal amount of champagne. The atmosphere was great - not too loud and certainly enough space. With as crazy as some places can get on Sundays for brunch, we were seated immediately and with the brunch special being a buffet, we didn't have to wait long for service. Though we were just there as a party of two, it's certainly a place that is conducive to larger brunch gatherings, especially if you've spent the night prior out in the Manayunk area. We actually ended up coming back the same day for dinner, as we had gotten some promotional cards for free slices of pizza. This was a much smaller meal, but almost equally as satisfying. The toppings on the pizza were fresh, especially the ricotta cheese. Certainly not like some pizza places where you go and you can tell that the pizza had sat out a while. Overall, it's probably the best restaurant experience I have had in the Manayunk area. While we didn't have to deal with much service, being a buffet and then just grabbing a slice, the employees were all very courteous and attentive. The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was relaxed. We'll be back soon, and we'll probably be bringing friends.
(5)Matt N.
We have been to The Couch Tomato a few times in recent months with our 2 year old son. It's delicious food, well crafted, with a solid selection of beer, wine and cocktails (essential elements for the parents of a toddler!). The service is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive without being overbearing. On our last visit we did the $50 special (app, salad, pizza, dessert, 2 drinks) and it was worth every penny. A great spot on Main Street.
(5)Monique W.
I had dinner there with 5 other friends, and we received top-rate hospitality the entirety of our meal and after. The food was delicious, and the wine selection was average. I'm really looking forward to going back again, particularly on a Sunday for the BYOB night!
(5)Katrina C.
This place gets it right on all counts! We went on a weeknight and enjoyed some great beer discounts. They also sent me a free pizza coupon for my birthday which was an awesome marketing tactic. We enjoyed a short rib appetizer, a goat cheese salad and a yummy cheesy pizza. This place has a neat vibe, good music on the radio and some of the most pleasant service I've received in all of Manayunk.
(5)Naomi B.
I am a huge fan of The Tomato Bistro! I've stumbled upon this place whilst looking up gluten free restaurants via Google and the first to pop up was The Tomato Bistro, so why not? I've never been here so one, dreary Sunday afternoon, I stepped foot in here for the first time. The decor and atmosphere is very laid back, and the man at the door asked if we were dining and said the hostess will be upstairs, I was pathetically excited when they said they had a second story seeing, and was awed that there was a third story. The menu isn't only gluten free, but has vegan friendly options and for you meat eaters, there's also something for you too. I opted for the Cajun Shrimp salad that was divine. In it, it had mixed greens, avocado (my favourite!) , roasted corn, cherry tomatoes, and had a tasty orange chili vinaigrette. My friends had a white pizza that was also delicious. Our server was a darling, telling them it's a tad too small to split but offered to make it a tad bigger since it was our first time there and explained the menu to us. I'll be a regular now every Sunday :-)
(5)Amanda C.
I love the Couch Tomato Bistro! All of the salads and pizzas are absolutely fantastic, and the portions are excellent. Perhaps the best part about The Couch Tomato is the Tomato Bisque, which is out of this world! Everything always tastes so fresh and healthy. Great atmosphere and service, as well!
(5)Gino C.
My wife and I took another couple out here. They have some serious food allergies but The Tomato Bistro was able to provide them a great selection of items. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was nice. It wasn't very crowded though it was a Sunday evening. Nevertheless, the food was good. I'd come more regularly if I lived closer. :)
(4)Lou M.
The Tomato Bistro offers quite a unique dining experience. Quietly set above The Couch Tomato cafe you will find the Tomato Bistro. Private and casually elegant, it offers fantastic food options with excellent service. Perfect for a date night or just a dinner with friends.
(5)Gina M.
I might have written a review for here before but this place is amazing.. We had our engagement party here and the food was amazing.. The staff was so helpful and friendly.. Our guests had the best time.. I can't say enough about how wonderful and special they made us feel!!
(5)Brian G.
Such a wonderful time we had. Service and food was amazing!!
(5)J K.
Came here on a Monday. On Monday, sliders are buy one get one free. Each order comes with two sliders (your choice of flavors) and a small salad. Enough for a light meal. That's a pretty good deal for $9,50!! They offer 7 different kinds of sliders, I tried the Portobello Mushroom and the turkey. I recommend the mushroom. The bistro (which is above the cafe) is actually really cute and a nice place to dine. It had a more upscale feel that I was expecting. Overall, would recommend for a casual lunch or dinner in Manayunk!
(3)Kirsten D.
This place is fantastic to meet up with friends for their lunch buffet or just dinner any night. The buffet had tons of options for a great price and you could still pick from the regular menu if you wanted. The food was fresh and held at the right temperatures. I would never say no to eating at the Couch Tomato Bistro.
(4)Justin L.
Since previously coming in for the lunch buffet, I have returned to grab pizza for take out. Honestly, was impressed at how good the pizza was given my previous experience was not ideal. The one thing that I did like about ordering was the timeliness since living local it is nice to pick up pizza that is fresh from the oven hot. Oveall, I would reccomend this place for take-out pizza in Manayunk and be sure to look for specials.
(3)Alison S.
OK Really? Can these guys get any better? I arrived here and had the most pleasant server who was consistently refilling my glass. Then moving onto the small plate of scallops which were Divine. Then the salad. Fresh as hell and FANTASTIC. I swear to whatever higher power is out there that I'm coming back tomorrow. The food is fresh, the bathrooms are clean and the staff is wonderful. I didn't try the craft beers but it looked like a nice selection. GO THERE ASAP. It's a great date night place!
(5)Laurie C.
We have been to Tomato Bistro about 4 times. I cannot say enough about how much we love it here! The ambiance is casual and welcoming! Love sitting on the third floor by the window! Every single dish they serve is delicious and different! Love this place! Highly recommend...especially for a group of people!
(5)Doug D.
Excellent food with some unique choices. They offer free valet parking in a neighborhood that is tough to park in. I went on a weekday and had good service. They even have a frequent diners club. I tried to use a promotional coupon, however the waitress never applied it. In the end it was worth even if I did pay full price.
(5)Aimee S.
The take out is amazing as well as dining in! I absolutely love the pizza, it tastes sooo good. There are specials every night as well- half off bottles of wine on Wednesday is my favorite. The salads and wraps are very good as well, very healthy and fresh. Ordering online is very easy and seamless, great experience!! I love this place!!
(5)Tim C.
This place really deserves 4.5 stars. There's really nothing to not like about the Tomato Bistro. They have a varied menu that is still manageable with a great array of small plates that all satisfy. The lobster ravioli is my favorite. Their sliders are iffy, but definitely edible. Their salads are delicious, and that's coming from a meat and potatoes guy. And their best item, their pizzas, oh Lord, their pizzas. My favorite is the Florentine (a white pizza with spinach and ricotta), but any pizza is a good choice. They have gluten free and whole wheat crust along with a variety of non-pizza gluten free and vegetarian items so you can pretty much take anyone here. Add this to their great beer menu (try the Dubhe, awesome black IPA) and solid wine selection, what else can you ask for? Additionally, they are easy on the wallet at their standard prices, but they have specials most nights of the week. They also have a great lunch/brunch buffet with a wide array of cold salads, pasta dishes, and pizzas. They rotate new pizzas in and out with never the same pizza twice in a row. This is a great place for going out with friends or a date (it's one of my go-to's). If you haven't been here, you need to rectify that ASAP.
(4)Natalia C.
Very good food and friendly staff. I haven't had a disappointing meal yet. They offer BYOB on Sundays I believe. It's a great spot for a cute first date as it is intimate. Lastly, they have valet parking! That sold me since it's in a very busy part of the city.
(4)Jared J.
The bistro continues to amaze me. The food here is some of the best in manayunk, and the environment lets me relax. The pizza ideas are creative. Tonight we were given free samples of their tomato bisque, which was really good. It's nice that tomato treats their guests. Next sliders pork, southwestern, truffle, and lobster. On nom nom. Did I mention I just finished my first Belgian triple from lauganitas. So nommy!
(5)Sarah G.
Tomato Bistro and the Couch Tomato Café in Manayunk is one of my all time favorite spots in Philadelphia. The ingredients are always fresh and delicious, the service is always excellent and they even do free valet parking. I have never been disappointed in my meal at Tomato Bistro and they are very accommodating!!
(5)Ryan G.
Solid, solid, solid bistro. My wife and I have been long fans of the cafe, but we always just did take-out... and with take-out, rarely can you take-out alcohol. So once they opened the Bistro and offered a full bar with some pretty awesome local micro-brews, that made my Couch Tomato pizza obsession only worse... in a good way :) From salads to soups, pizzas to sandwiches, you can't go wrong here. Make sure to sit on the top, top level... the exposed brick and balcony provides a nice ambiance!
(5)Lindsay L.
The brunch is amazing! Great food and selection - everything from gourmet breakfast pizza, normal gourmet pizza, veggies and salad to french toast casserole, fruit parfaits, etc. Plus, the mimosas deal doesn't hurt - $8 for the first and $2 for each after.
(5)