Next to the Bayou, on the corner of Main Street, which is across the road from The Couch Tomato, which happens to be down the street from Bourbon Blue and underneath what I can only assume is some person’s apartment, stands Manayunk’s newest hot spot: The Manayunk Tavern.

The Manayunk Tavern looks nothing like what you’d think a “tavern” would look like. By definition, “tavern” is a public house where travelers and other transient guests are accommodated with rooms and meals; an inn; a hotel; especially, in modern times, a public house licensed to sell liquor in small quantities. (That is how dictionary.net defined it, although, it is important to note that they had spelled “accommodated” incorrectly which I’ve since corrected via Microsoft’s handy spell check feature.) Anyway, when I think “tavern”, I think rustic, so consequently, when I think “tavern” I think “townie”, and as a result, when I think “Manayunk Tavern”, the last think I think is that it’s “something that would belong on Main Street”.

So, naturally, I was curious when this corner bar popped up, seemingly out of nowhere. My initial thoughts were: How would this bar “fit” in Manayunk? I mean, before that place became The Manayunk Tavern, in that very spot I watched restaurant after restaurant fail. As a result, I was quite curious as to how this new bar would fair on Main Street.

I went into the Manayunk Tavern with an open mind. I expected it to be empty and naturally, because I’m rarely wrong, it most certainly was empty. A server came over to us immediately and offered two good seats on which we could sit. Then she said, “You’ll definitely want to sit before it gets packed!” She took our orders, smiled and walked away. As soon as she disappeared, my boyfriend turned to me and said, “Packed? Is she kidding? Now, there is person who thinks positively.” But no sooner did those words exit his mouth, did the entire bar become occupied by people. I was pleasantly surprised (one of those rare occasion on which I’m proven incorrect. I like being wrong…it humbles me).

As I scanned the scene throughout the night, I realized something very interesting. The Manayunk Tavern had immediately found a “nitch”…a much needed “nitch” in Manayunk and on Main Street. It seems to provide a much needed break from Main Street’s usual social scene. Quite simply, The Manyunk Tavern’s accommodates Manayunk’s older crowd. The polar opposite of The Brew Pub and Kildares, this bar provides solace to the ‘Yunkers in their mid to late 20’s and early 30’s.

The scene is good. Comfortable, I should say. In the background, 104.5 plays just loud enough to provide entertainment, but because it doesn’t come blasting out of four foot speakers, it doesn’t dominate the room, and as a result, conversations do not suffer. It is a fabulous “date” bar because there are no screaming, wasted chicks, wearing tank tops with no coat, despite the freezing winter temperatures. Also, the entire front of the bar is made up of huge windows, so that you can relax…and unassumingly watch drunken strangers fall on the uneven pavement outside!

The last point I’m going to make is about the staff at The Manayunk Tavern. They’re so nice. I mean, like, they are really nice. Every time I’ve been in there, I’ve never had to wait for a beer because as soon as I’m done, some waiter or waitress is standing behind me with another one. One night when I arrived, I had no where to sit, so the bartender ran downstairs to get a stool in the basement for me. Oh, and another time, I had to throw up, so the owner held my hair back and rubbed my shoulders. Ok, well, that part never happened, but they really are nice.

I’d check out the place if I were you. Take a date there! And if you are nervous about conversation topics, I highly recommend the seats by the large window so you can people watch. It will be perfect, if you run out of things to talk about on your date, you can simply chat about the peeps outside, tripping on the uneven pavement. I promise you won’t be disappointed- about the bar or the pavement!