Honey's Sit 'n Eat Arrives to an Anxious Crowd in Graduate Hospital

After more than a year of rumors and anticipation, Philadelphia brunch mecca Honey's Sit 'n Eat opened a second location last weekend at 21st and South Streets. [The original location is in Northern Liberties. Read about our visit.]

When we came out at 11:30 a.m. - big crowd!

It was promptly packed by 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, with a crowd growing outside. There is a small waiting area just inside the door as well, in case it's raining or you want to sit down. Or you can wander next door to Doggie Style and look at the puppies in the window.

At 10:30 a.m., we actually sat right away and were reminded of an important brunch tip: tables for two come a lot quicker than anything larger. It's nice to eat with your friends, but if you're really there to try the food, just bring one date. Or do your best to go on a weekday when Honey's has a mega-cheap breakfast option. $3.95 for two eggs, a side dish and coffee from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m.



Honey's is an ideal addition to the Graduate Hospital neighborhood. The area is packed with young professionals, grad/med students and young families. Between Grad Ho and South Street West we're seeing new bars, restaurants and shops open each season to target our demographic and couldn't be more pleased. [See our round up of where to eat in South Street West.] We didn't have a larger, family-friendly diner-ish spot so Honey's will fit right in. With a reputation for consistently delivering great a brunch, it is guaranteed to be packed every weekend. We hope it doesn't hurt Ants Pants too much, though, because they do make a mean breakfast sandwich.

The new Honey's is pretty similar to the original 4th Street location with tables packed in close together, a lunch counter and throwback-themed decor of old signs and random other stuff laying around. The signs hanging from the ceiling look like old ads for a hardware and paint store. Anyone know if that is what occupied the corner years ago? I haven't been able to confirm.

The menu also appears to be the same at both restaurants and includes kid-friendly dishes. For now, Honey's South is serving breakfast and lunch starting at 7:00 a.m., with dinner to come soon. We won't judge it too hard yet - we did go on opening weekend, after all.

My breakfast quesadilla ($12) was hearty with plenty of eggs, ham and cheese, but could have used more tomatoes. Bradd's Honey Cristo ($14) was also good but sat in the kitchen a little too long before being delivered. We ran into friends who loved their meals and their 3 year old daughter refused to share a single bite of her chocolate chip pancakes. Service a little shaky but again, that's opening weekend for you.

Honey Cristo - Challah french toast stuffed with ham and swiss, with sunny-side egg on top

Breakfast Quesadilla - scrambled eggs, ham and cheese with avocado sour cream (left off the refried beans)

All that said, we have full confidence that Honey's South will settle in immediately as a neighborhood gem and we will be eating there often. Once spring comes and Honey's can open up the windows and add sidewalk tables, the corner of 21st and South will be buzzing even more with young pros enjoying a delicious and comforting brunch.