Top 10 Manayunk eateries for college students

By Lauren McGlone
Collegian Editor
August 28, 2008

After a summer of working nine-to-five in an office building just off Main Street in Manayunk, I discovered the best part of the work day is not that joyful point when the clock strikes five and the entire office is reminiscent of the Exodus. Rather, I found lunch time to be something to look forward to each and every day of the work week.

Out of eagerness to escape the office and venture into Manayunk, my gaggle of girlfriends and I discovered quite a few Main Street favorites that kept us coming back for more. Working in this trendy section of the city where many college and graduate students reside when they tire of the dormitory scene brought the opportunity to find some chic, delicious—and most importantly—cheap places to grab some grub. Through a summer full of cheesesteak and hoagie experimentation, I narrowed down the top 10 eateries for college students in Manayunk.

10. Manayunk Brewery—A popular choice among my work friends on a Friday afternoon, the Manayunk Brewery at 4120 Main St. offers various pizzas, sandwiches and salads at a reasonable price. The Brewery is also a popular choice for dinner, dessert or even a drink, as the menu offers an extensive selection of classic entrees, delicious treats and frozen cocktails.

9. Angelo and Josephine’s—This gourmet food market near the corner of Main and Rector streets is a great place to find some premium Italian specialties such as Genoa salami, capicolla and prosciutto. All sandwiches, paninis and wraps are made with top quality imported meats and cheeses and only cost about $6.

8. Kildare’s Irish Pub—Popular with the 21-and-over crowd, Kildare’s at 4417 Main St. features daily dinner and drink specials such as 30-cent wing nights, “rib riots” and reduced cover charges. Not just for those customers hailing from the land of Eire, the pub offers an Irish-themed menu including shepherd’s pie, Guinness stew and various boxty. Most options are reasonably priced and happy hour specials are available 6 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

7. J.D. McGillicuddy’s—Located at 111 Cotton St. just off Main Street, McGillicuddy’s is a larger-than-it-seems-from-the-outside bar and restaurant. Favorite menu options include JD’s world famous wings with your choice of sauce, ranging from barbeque to sesame to buffalo. Other McGillicuddy favorites enjoyed by my co-workers include the Big-T burger topped with Monterey Jack cheese, onion rings and bacon and the various types of cheesesteaks. McGillicuddy’s is also a great place to hang out after work or class to grab a cold drink and catch a Phillies game.

  6. Riverside Pizza—A family-owned pizza place on Main Street between Jamestown and Rector streets, Riverside is within walking distance of my building, so my co-workers and I regularly frequented it throughout the summer. The large menu features all the pizza joint favorites including cheesesteaks, hoagies, burgers and other sandwiches. My favorite had to be the buffalo finger hoagie, of which I enjoyed many over the course of the last few months. Don’t forget Riverside’s famous mozzarella fries to complement your sandwich.

5. Bella Trattoria—When some of us felt the need to get out of the burger-and-fries grind, we tried Bella Trattoria, a chic little Italian restaurant at 4258 Main St. The lunch menu offers a lower-priced menu of all the favorite Italian dishes with a special twist. My favorite was farfalle con salmone, bowtie pasta with salmon in a vodka sauce. Other lunch specialties include scaloppine marsala, lasagna della nonna and risotto pescatora, each dish under $10.

4. Tommy Gunns—If you’re in the mood for some all-American barbeque, look no further than Tommy Gunns, just where Main Street meets Ridge Avenue. The small, brightly-painted restaurant is famous for its “Philly Style” dry-rubbed ribs, slathered with the unique Tommy Gunns barbeque sauce. Other specialties at Tommy Gunns include the Texas BBQ beef sandwich, pulled pork and fried macaroni and cheese.

3. Fiesta Pizza—Some may think D’Alessandro’s has the best cheesesteak in the Roxborough and Manayunk areas, but Fiesta gives its neighbor a run for its money. Located at the corner of Henry and Jamestown streets, Fiesta offers just about the best pizza in the area, not to mention the huge burgers and decent salads. Pick-up service is usually no more than a 20-minute wait and Fiesta offers a dine-in facility as well.

2. Lee’s Hoagie House—While it’s not technically located in Manayunk, Lee’s Hoagie House in Bala Cynwyd is a great place for the hoagie-lover in you, just a few minutes’ drive from Main Street. If you and your party decide to dine in, check for Lee’s daily lunch specials, including free fountain sodas on Tuesdays and $5 Italian hoagies on Wednesdays. Bonus: students get a 20 percent discount on their orders, so be sure to bring your ID.

1. Couch Tomato Café—Located at the corner of Rector and Main streets, the Couch Tomato Café is a cute little pizza place with a fun menu. While it does offer an excellent slice, Couch Tomato features a wide variety of unique salads and wraps, including Blazin Saddles, Mighty Aphrodite, Grape Expectations and Paco’s Taco Salad. The Couch Tomato Café is a popular choice for the health conscious, as all menu items are accompanied by your choice of potato chips or an apple rather than fries. Couch Tomato is especially accommodating for those customers with pets, as outdoor seating allows patrons to bring their furry friends along.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu