Thomas' Restaurant  

4201 Main St., Philadelphia, PA 19127  

Location: Manayunk, Phila., PA (contrary to popular belief, Manayunk isn't it's own town, it's a neighborhood - they pay the same Philly wage tax as the rest of us shulbs)

Phone:  (215) 483-9075

Click Here for Map/Directions

It was a brisk Fall night back in 2000, when Elbo and I wandered around Manayunk looking for just one place to throw back a few pints and to forget about the past week. It was a Friday and  we were growing tired of the crowded, frou frou offerings. The Flat Rock Saloon was too crowded. Grape Street Pub:  packed; Manayunk Brew Pub:  we passed because the ghost of p*ssy past lurking.. then we came upon Thomas'. Sure the place was thick with meat market specials, but Elbo made a bee-line for the bar and I was not far behind.

That was then and this is now. Well, now is a visit after the Manayunk Brewing Festival in April 2001. Since we were all in this neck of the woods, a stop at Thomas' was required. 

The place has the comfortable feel of a neighborhood pub. Some places in Manayunk attract a hoity-toity crowd, but at Thomas' the crowd is often a laid- back post- college aged crowd looking for a nice night out. Not only do you have a bar, but a 2nd and 3rd floor restaurant if you're in the mood for some Lobster Strudel. The Thomas' menu is described as "global cuisine with Asian and French influences. The creative offerings include: Salmon Dumplings, Calamari Salad, Roast Chicken Stuffed with Crabmeat and Ravioli of the Day. 

The green tiled bar with marble kickplate seats about 15. Thomas' only holds about 7 taps. At the time of our visit, the highlights included Flying Fish Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Woodchuck Cider, Harp, Guinness, Yuengling & Miller Light.  

The subtleties of Thomas's makes it a nice place to hang out. The plaster ceiling is cleaner than any other in the city, the white tile floor looks great and probably makes beer spills easy to clean up. The men's bathroom door has a Suicide King mirror on it. The globe lights and sidewalk seating in the summertime make dining au fresco all the more aesthetically pleasing.   

Sure the place gets crowded on the weekends, it's Manayunk. On the night of our initial visit, the place got so tight, a few daring women took matters into their own hands and ventured past the Suicide King mirror into the Men's Room. The room only accommodates one person at a time, it's about the size of a large phone booth. 

If you're so inclined you can light up a stogie at Thomas'. Forgot your stogies? No worries, they sell them behind the bar. I challenge you to light up a stick at Cafe Zesty or Chemistry. Those places will probably look at you like you just committed a war crime.  

So if you're in Manayunk and tired of the meet-markets and the frou-frou crew, stop by Thomas', order a pint (or two) and enjoy breathing the same air as the beautiful women seated at the far end of the bar (or men, sorry ladies).