December 22, 2021 — A New Year’s Eve well spent includes an obligatory day-after brunch fit with boozy beverages and a superb spread. To celebrate New Year’s Day [and National Bloody Mary Day], we’ve gathered Philly’s best brunch restaurants and bars open for service on Saturday, January 1 including Urban Farmer, Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge, REX at The Royal, Red Owl Tavern, and more.
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Devil’s Den, Philadelphia’s best craft beer bar, is no stranger to executing topnotch brunches for foodies and imbibers to enjoy. Fare includes Omelet Du Jour ($13) boasting ham, peppers, onions and colby jack cheese, served with home fries, in addition to signature dishes such as Huevos Rancheros ($13) prepared with chorizo, tomatoes, black beans, jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, eggs sunny side up, and tortillas, and French Toast ($10) served with whiskey caramel sauce.
Brunch-goers can join in on the fun every Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 2pm and sip on classic cocktails including Mimosas and Bloody Marys for just $5 during brunch.
Hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 4 – 9 pm, Saturday from 11 am – 9 pm, and Sunday from 11 am – 9 pm, with brunch service on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm.
1148 South 11th Street | 215.339.0855 | http://www.devilsdenphilly.com
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North 3rd, Northern Liberties’ new American bar and grill, is the go-to neighborhood spot for a ridiculously delicious weekend brunch. The much-loved locale serves up an ever-evolving menu, available Saturday and Sunday, featuring a hearty Breakfast Burrito ($12) composed of scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, scallions, cilantro, black beans, cheddar, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and jalapeño, Hangover Helper ($15) prepared with Le Bus Brioche French Toast stuffed with scrapple, cooper sharp, and bacon, served with over easy eggs, breakfast potatoes, and Pennsylvania maple syrup, and Louisiana Gumbo ($10) with andouille, pulled chicken, spicy shrimp, saffron rice, and green onions.
Crowd-pleasing libations include Monster Mary ($10) crafted with vodka and house-made famous Bloody Mary mix, and a tasty tequila version dubbed Bloody Maria ($10). Imbibers can sip on the classic Mimosa ($9) topped with choice of orange juice, mango, or peach nectar.
Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday from 5 – 11pm, and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 4pm
801 N 3rd St | 215.413.3666 | http://www.norththird.com/
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Silk City Diner Bar & Lounge, the eclectic Northern Liberties diner and lounge, is a noted destination for brunch-lovers with an extensive selection of starters, sandwiches, large plates, and so on. Fan-favorite dishes include Vanilla Vegan Pancakes ($12) served with seasonal berry compote and powdered sugar, Bananas Foster French Toast ($13) prepared with thick-cut challah, caramelized bananas, brown sugar, cinnamon, and dark rum, Shorty Omelet ($14) composed of braised short rib, arugula, caramelized onions, cooper sharp cheese, and served with homefries, and Biscuits and Gravy ($14) crafted with roasted chicken gravy, scratch-made buttermilk biscuits, and over easy eggs.
Imbibers attending a brunch outing at Silk City can choose from a bevy of craft cocktails including seasonal sippers Hot Mulled Cider ($12) composed of Bacardi Spiced Rum, apple cider, chai, autumn spices, ginger, and lemon, and a Fall Fashioned ($11) crafted with Maker’s Mark Whiskey, autumn spices, and orange.
Weekend brunch service runs Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm.
435 Spring Garden Street | 215.592.8838 | https://www.silkcityphilly.com/
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Square 1682, the modern American kitchen located at the intersection of 17 and Sansom streets, provides an experience ideal for foodies and imbibers alike with the crowd-pleasing Bubbles, Buckets, and Biscuits, a brunch-only offering where each bottle of Cinzano Prosecco purchased for $44, comes with a bucket brimming with Chef Mackenson Horebe’s Fried Jumbo Chicken Wings and house-made rosemary biscuits, served with pickles, hot sauce, and scratch-made pepper jelly.
Additionally, the popular weekend brunch menu features Sweet Potato Hash ($17) with bacon, onions, sweet peppers, and a sunny-side up egg, Duck Wings and Waffles ($18) composed of buttermilk waffle, fried wings, honey, sambal, lime zest, and maple syrup, and the famed Waygu Burger ($18) consisting of a seared double patty, hickory bacon, cooper sharp cheese, and served with French fries.
Hours of operation: breakfast and lunch served Tuesday – Friday from 9am – 2pm, dinner served from 5 – 10pm, weekend brunch served Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 2pm, and dinner served on Saturday from 5 – 11pm. Closed for dinner service on Sunday and all-day Monday.
121 South 17th Street | 215.563.5008 | https://square1682.com/
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Red Owl Tavern, the modern American tavern on Independence Mall, offers locals and visitors a satiating, delicious meal to kick-start weekend activities and exploration in Old City. On Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 3pm, foodies can expect a jam-packed line-up of traditional and inventive fare including Tavern Omelet ($15) prepared with mushrooms, squash, spinach, tomatoes, and served alongside breakfast potatoes, Chicken and Waffles ($17) composed of buttermilk fried chicken thigh, hot honey, and prepared atop a Belgium waffle, and an elevated Avocado Toast ($14) crafted with avocado mousse, black bean sofrito, sunny-side egg, fresno chili, and cotija cheese.
Pair with the Mimosa Brunch available for dine-in only. For $22, enjoy a bottle of Wyclif Prosecco and choice of freshly squeezed orange or cranberry juice.
Hours of operation are Monday from 8am – 9pm, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8am – 3pm, Thursday and Friday from 8am – 10pm, Saturday from 9am – 10pm, Sunday from 9am – 3pm.
433 Chestnut St | 215.923.2267 | https://redowltavern.com/
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REX at The Royal, Philly’s sexiest new restaurant and destination for elevated Southern and Lowcountry cuisine, boasts a bustling brunch service from 11 am – 4 pm on Saturday, January 1 with offerings including Oysters on the Half Shell ($18) served with house hot sauce and pickled cucumber mignonette, Crab Cake Benedict ($35) prepared with lump crab, two poached eggs, caviar, and lemon-tarragon hollandaise, Banana Pudding Stuffed French Toast ($19) crafted with banana pudding stuffed brioche and topped with pecan praline sauce, Roasted Mushroom Frittata ($21) composed of goat chevre, spinach, and fine herbs, and much more.
Hours of operation: Sunday through Thursday from 5 – 10pm and Friday through Saturday from 5 – 11pm.
1524 South St. | 267.319.1366 | www.rexphl.com
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Urban Farmer, Logan Square’s modern American steakhouse, is not only known for its locally-sourced and grass-fed steaks but also its robust and mouthwatering brunch offerings including Short Rib Hash ($18) prepared with potato, Kennet Square mushrooms, Mama Lil’s peppers, spinach, béarnaise, and sunny-side up egg, Shrimp and Grits ($24) composed of Castle Valley grits, poached egg, and housemad tasso ham, Crab Omelet ($19) crafted with grilled onions, local mushrooms, and béarnaise, and Lobster and Avocado Eggs Benedict ($24) served on a house-made English muffin.
Imbibers can sip on brunch cocktails including the Bellini ($13), house-made Bloody Mary ($14), and Farmermosa ($14) composed of Aperol, orange juice, Peychaud’s bitters, and sparkling wine.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday from 8am – 9pm, Sunday from 8am – 3pm, and weekend brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 3pm.
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | https://www.urbanfarmersteakhouse.com/philadelphia-happenings/
-Nicole Schofield