Honey's Sit-N-Eat

Honey's Sit-N-Eat can be a difficult table to get, especially on weekends. But the restaurant does warrant the line out its front door.

800 North Fourth St.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
215-925-1150

Hours
Monday–Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

There are certain Philadelphia bruncheries that are held in such high regard that reviewing them almost seems silly. It's just understood that Honey's Sit-N-Eat, with its mix of Jewish and Southern comfort food and heavy dose of local ingredients, serves some of the best breakfasts (and lunches, and dinners) in Philadelphia. Everybody knows that.

But humor me, for a moment, and let me tell you why I like Honey's. The food, yes, is great (I'll get to that in a moment). There was one thing that happened to me on a recent visit, though, that really crystallized my love for the restaurant. In trying to decide between two meals, I asked the waiter his opinion. And instead of shrugging his shoulders like I've seen so many waiters do, he said, "Let me tell you what I like about each" and proceeded to detail both meals – when he liked eating them, how exactly they were cooked and with what ingredients, how big they were and so on. It was the most helpful a waiter has been to me in a long time, and it was obvious that he both loved and was knowledgeable about the food.

So, about that food. The Southern/Jewish thing is great, and the wide range of options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike is also nice. But all of that information pales in comparison to how straight-up good the food is. The veggie-burger patty melt, one of several specials available on a recent visit, stands out as one of the best sandwiches I've eaten in Philadelphia: A firm, chickpea-based burger served with warm melted cheese and jalapeños for just a bit of heat, served on whole-wheat toast with a side of honey mustard. The turkey burger is also great, lean but flavorful, and Honey's fries are thick and crispy without turning to mush. A slice of Jewish apple cake was gloriously moist with a streusel crunch on top. For breakfast I especially love their pancakes, the whole-wheat ones stuffed with granola and fruit, two massive head-size discs that could easily provide three days worth of morning meals.

The missteps I've experienced at Honey's have been little things. The restaurant hasn't served real maple syrup anytime I've visited, although a waiter once told me that it was going to happen in the future. And when I ordered the Jewish apple cake in the winter, it was served with a garnish of strawberries. The berries were good, but it felt like a strange choice for a restaurant that prides itself on eating local.

Honey's Sit-N-Eat is a difficult brunch table to get; if you want to visit on a weekend, expect to wait for an hour and sit at a table where you're bumping elbows with strangers. You're better off visiting for breakfast on a day off from work, or getting lunch or dinner there (despite its fame as a brunch spot, the lunchtime foods are some of my favorites). But then again, you've might've been told that already.