MANAYUNK

By Rachel Jenkins

It’s another exciting Saturday night that you’ve been looking forward to all week. You’re meeting a friend on Main Street for a bite to eat and a few drinks at your favorite local bar or restaurant. If you’re a resident or frequent visitor of Manayunk, this scene may feel quite familiar.

Over the years, Manayunk has become a crowd favorite for its top-notch bar and restaurant scene—but we’re here to let you in on Manayunk’s best kept secret: brunch. Check out these tasty options on Main Street to make your next brunch easy like Sunday morning.

Lucky’s Last Chance
Lucky’s brunch is not for the faint of heart. With a menu that’s heavy on decadent flavor with a dash of something sometimes-boozy, this is for the serious bruncher with a big appetite.

• Lucky’s Sausage Gravy & Biscuits: These are not your average biscuits and gravy. Lucky’s uses farm-fresh breakfast sausage doused in white gravy, all served over bacon-fat painted biscuits provided by another Manayunk favorite, Sweet Elizabeth’s Bakeshop.

• Pumking Pancakes: The secret to this delicious fall-inspired recipe? The fluffy batter includes a pint of Southern Tier Pumking beer.

Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant
If you’ve ever found yourself craving smooth morning jazz over a breakfast buffet, then Manayunk Brewery is your dream come true. They offer live jazz every Sunday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., so there’s plenty of time to stroll in, put your feet up, and enjoy the most important meal of the day.

• Breakfast Buffet: For a flat fee, Manayunk Brewery offers a Build-Your-Own-Omelet Station, Belgian Waffle Station, Carving Station for breakfast meats, and more. Be sure to take all you can eat!

Winnie’s LeBus
It’s often said that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Winnie’s does just that. You can’t go wrong with their brunch classics and house specials, cooked and seasoned to perfection.

• Huevos Rancheros: This is the Mexican favorite done right—with scrambled eggs on a crisp corn tortilla, topped with guacamole, cheddar, ranchero salsa, sour cream, and olives.

• Rustic Fritatta: This baked omelette is accented with prosciutto, zingy aged asiago, artichokes, peppers, and broccoli. It’s a light option with just the right amount of tangy flavor to wake you up on a lazy Sunday.

Bourbon Blue
Bourbon Blue does brunch like it does everything else: with a sweet Southern flair. For some hearty and sometimes off-beat options, Bourbon Blue delivers.

• Maple Bacon Poutine: We guarantee you won’t find a brunch item like this anywhere else on Main Street. These crispy french fries loaded with cheese curd, smoked maple bacon and country gravy are practically irresistible!

• Hangover Burger: This appropriately-named burger makes sure you don’t have to choose between breakfast and lunch. Drizzled with country-style gravy and topped with an over-easy egg on a brioche bun, it’s the best of both.

The Goat’s Beard
With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and unique menu options, The Goat’s Beard likes to keep things local, with a culinary influence from around the world.

• Croque Madam: This is more than just fancy French grilled cheese. Served over country white toast with serrano ham, arugula, tomato jam, three-cheese sauce and a poached egg, this is....super fancy French grilled cheese. (And super delicious, too).

• Vegetable Mash: This proves there’s more to brunch than bacon and pancakes. Goat’s Beard offers this tasty veggie-heavy option with fresh seasonal vegetables, pistachio pesto, grilled tomato, toast, and an egg sunny-side up.

Mel’s Kitchen
A homey Manayunk gem tucked away on Umbria Street that’s practically a local secret (until now). Get your taste buds involved with their breakfast classics and signature menu items, to eat in or take out.

• Crab Cakes Benedict: This twist on the old standby is only available Friday through Sunday, so it’s practically made for brunch! Dig into two poached eggs on English muffins with two crab cakes, fresh spinach and hollandaise sauce.

• Breakfast Burrito: With a tortilla packed with eggs, cheese, peppers, onions, salsa, and your choice of meat, you’ll be full ‘til dinnertime. Needless to say, it’s exactly what an empty stomach craves on a weekend morning.

Greg’s Kitchen
Breakfast is not just their specialty, it’s all they do. Check out this cozy, family-run business for an affordable crowd-pleaser.

• Challah French Toast: Sweet like mom used to make, and super-fluffy (the Challah bread makes sure of that). It’s a favorite that keeps locals coming back for more.

• Brekky: In short, this dish is a well-thought-out mess, in the best way possible. You can customize the ingredients to fit your taste, but you’re basically filling a warm bowl with all the best things about breakfast and lunch combined: eggs, tater tots, bacon or sausage, steak, and even sauteed vegetables. Yum!

The Juice Merchant
Since 2014, this has been the place to go for “healing” food and juices made with 100% organic ingredients—but now it’s also the place to be for a healthy brunch. They’ve recently unveiled a brand-new, scrumptious fall menu just in time to celebrate the season.

• Organic Pumpkin Pancakes: Can you really go wrong with a title like that? Everyone loves a good pancake, but you’ll really love this all-natural flapjack with a hearty pumpkin flavor to celebrate autumn.

• Fruit Bowl: For a light and refreshing mid-morning snack, this bowl of seasonal fruit with yogurt and cinnamon satisfies like nothing else.

Don’t forget:
If you’re looking for a quick morning pick-me-up, grab a pastry or delicious panini from Volo Coffeehouse, along with a cup of Philadelphia’s own La Colombe Coffee Roasters!

Well, it looks like the secret is out. Wipe the sleep from your eyes on Sunday morning and bring the family to Main Street for a delicious weekend wakeup call. Let’s do brunch!