Manayunk’s Main Street is not exactly devoid of restaurants, but the Manayunk Diner is not your run-of-the-mill eatery. The restaurant is a unique place to find some delicious food, from good old-fashioned diner food to more upscale options, not normally available in a diner setting.
The first thing that sets it apart from most other diners is the bar. I’m not talking salad bar here. The diner features a full bar with an upstairs cocktail lounge. This means you can enjoy a cocktail while chowing down on your favorite comfort foods.
You see, the Diner wasn’t always a diner. In September 2002 Anthanassios Kondaris and Eric Papougenis, also owners of Manayunk’s Zesty’s, converted what used to be an upscale restaurant called Fish on Main into what now stands as the Manayunk Diner.
This transition did not mean taking all of the elegant elements out of the equation for the two entrepreneurs. They managed to meld the two worlds together producing this unique dining experience.
With contemporary dcor and impressive windows overlooking Main Street, the Diner’s atmosphere is upbeat and pleasant. Its eight page menu reveals a wide spectrum of entrees from grilled cheese to lobster tail and everything in between. There are Italian dishes, seafood, steaks, sandwiches, burgers, soups and salads. The food is delicious and served in those notorious diner portions.
Speaking of portions, you have no chance of getting past the dessert case located next to the door. One cannot help but stare at the cakes and pies, piled high with all things sweet. Before you know it there is a stream of drool on your chin. Not to mention the traditional Greek pastries displayed with pride from the owners’ homeland.
Sharing a parking lot and a majority of its business with the Diner is the United Artists Movie Theater.
The Diner has become an extremely convenient stop for moviegoers who don’t want to spend their life savings on popcorn and drinks. Instead they stop by the Diner, before and after a movie to get some real food for a fraction of the cost. And that is why the Diner prides itself on speedy service.
It’s the perfect spot to chat with friends about who should have ended up with who and why or why not that movie bombed.
It has become a new Manayunk staple, known for its consistent quality in food and service. Manayunk is easy to get to by way of Septa’s Regional Rail.
The R-6 Norristown line can get you there for about $3 to $5, and that way there’s no parking worries. So next time you find yourself on the crowded streets of Manayunk, worn out from an evening of intense window shopping, drop by the Manayunk Diner, and be sure to save room for dessert.
Located at 3720 Main St., the Diner is open Sunday through Thursday from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. and on Friday and Saturday they are open 24 hours. Call 215-483-4200 for reservations or more information.
Milli Protheroe can be reached at bobhope@temple.edu
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