MANAYUNK

Described as “American eclectic” and striving to feature the “best of a lot of worlds,” Chef O’Brien’s food integrates Winnie’s community vibe into its menu with community favorites, seasonal specials, and local produce.  Chef O’Brien changes the menu seasonally and works with local farms and markets to get the best produce available for his weekly specials.  Team favorites from the regular menu include the Blue Colorado salad and the Quinoa salad.  All of Winnie’s food is prepared fresh from scratch each day and every table is still met with bread from the original LeBus Artisan Bakery.

 

Winnie’s prides itself on having local staff that knows how to “engage guests and be genuine.”  As VP of Operations, Joe knows that “the culture of [the] restaurant has to extend to the customers” so even though Winnie’s is a neighborhood place, they won’t hire just anyone off the streets.  Joe gets about 25 applications a week and maybe accepts one.  When asked what he looks for in new staff members, Joe says that “attitude is really number one; we really try to hire people that have a good spirit and a good attitude.”  New staff don’t have to look far for a role model for welcoming customers; Winnie herself is every bit the embodiment of the restaurant’s warm, friendly atmosphere.  When asked about the restaurant’s namesake, Joe says “when I see her walk up to a dining room I think that she hugs more people than I’ll ever know, which is the kind of person she is and the feel of the restaurant as well.”

 

When you find a delicious spot with staff you trust, you want to show it off and bring it along to all your important events.   In response to tons of requests from their regulars, Winnie’s has started offering catering services.  You can now have Winnie’s delicious food at your next corporate lunch, wedding, or party. The Winnie’s team wants to please their clients as much as possible. Catering consultants are available to work with you and their catering options are not limited to just Winnie’s regular menu.  You may also find Winnie’s food featured at your next big Philadelphia event; Winnie’s catering clients have included the Philadelphia Marathon, the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, and the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta.

 

Through making much of Manayunk feel at home at Winnie’s, Winnie, John, and Joe have found that Manayunk has returned the favor.  When asked why she loves Manayunk, Winnie says ““I just love the community! People have come and gone over the years but I always felt a little bit of unity here […]I find a lot of love here!” As a newcomer to Manayunk, Joe raves that there is “a great feel to the neighborhood. It’s got a homey feel to it yet the neighborhood is in Philadelphia which is amazing. The whole feel of the area is amazing, and Winnie’s fits.” The Winnie’s team is so at home in Manayunk that when the time came to open a new location, Manayunk was the obvious choice.  Keep an eye out for Smokin’ John’s Bar-B-Que, a genuine barbeque joint with a full-service bar, opening late fall 2014.