As the masses start to make the yearly migration back into the West Chester area, the opportunities are ripe for trying to squeeze a free meal out of your parents as they help you move in. You may be looking forward to a trip to an old favorite that you’ve been missing over the summer, such as Barnaby’s or Mas. But if you’re like me and want try something new rather than go back to somewhere you’ve been multiple times, look no further than The Couch Tomato.
Located at 31 W. Gay Street, this café-style restaurant has taken the West Chester area by storm. The Couch Tomato has been open since January 31st, so chances are you have heard a friend or two raving about the scratch-made restaurant’s unique and memorable dining experience. But money is tight by that time in the school year, so if you haven’t had the chance to check it out for yourself; make that your number one priority upon your return to the area.
Their menu is headlined with slogan “proudly featuring: fresh, local, organic”, and they mean it. All of the ingredients are prepared in house. They even make the mozzarella cheese that they use on their pizzas in house. Offering a bevy of gluten-free and vegetarian dishes, The Couch Tomato is making eating clean a quick and easy option. A bonus for college students is that they deliver, so if you don’t feel like taking the walk up into town you don’t have to resort to ramen for the fourth time this week.
However, I would highly recommend eating in. The storefront is hard to miss, with the roof top balcony overlooking Gay Street standing out from the usual colonial West Chester architecture. The interior is just as impressive, exposed brick and reclaimed wood make for a homey and rustic atmosphere. The menu may seem daunting; having to choose between a wrap, a salad, wood-fired pizzas, or a sandwich is no easy task. But rest assured, whatever you decide on, you will not be disappointed. For my first trip I decided to try as much of the food as possible, don’t judge, so I ordered a salad, a sandwich, and got a cup of soup. I ended up taking half the sandwich and salad home; you certainly get your money’s worth in regards to portion size. Everything I tasted was better than the last.
What makes eating at The Couch Tomato so enjoyable is their attention to detail. The salad came out with each of the ingredients displayed atop the lettuce. The sandwiches are served with an artful splash of sauce on the plate, my friends was even plated differently than my own. All the while you are reminded of where exactly is serving you this delicious meal thanks to the cartoonish tomato logo burned into the corners of every wooden table.
Another thing that makes this restaurant stand out is the owners’ choice to go with a BYOB policy. In my opinion this is a benefit to the atmosphere, as you don’t have to worry about any unwanted chaos that sometimes comes with restaurants that double as bars. If you want you can even sit on the balcony, which is adorned with peaceful overhead lighting, and spot some patrons of Kildare’s who are regretting their decision to go out at 8:30 on a Thursday night.
I left The Couch Tomato feeling like there aren’t very many better ways to spend an afternoon and $25. The only downside is they don’t offer any combo deals so that people who have apprehensions about ordering half the menu, unlike me, have the chance to taste as many of the fresh and mouthwatering options they have to offer.
