Philadelphia Brunch Restaurants by Neighborhood
NEW JERSEY
The Pop Shop
We’re not going to, ahem, kid you — on weekend mornings, the decibels in this retro diner can reach playground levels. But Pop Shop’s filling versions of brunch standards (16 kinds of omelets, six of eggs Benedict) will keep the whole clan happy: Your hungry he-man will want to try Connie’s Brunch Thing (a plate-filling hunk of baked eggs, sausage, cheddar and country bread), while the youngest ones — pajamas welcome, by the way (kids wearing them eat for free on Saturday mornings) — will find the many varieties of pancakes as enthralling as the vinyl-spinning jukebox. Brunching hours: Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 a.m. 729 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-869-0111, thepopshopusa.com.
Tortilla Press
Mexican for first meal is totally doable thanks to the toned-down Latin flavors that this cheery Collingswood cafe applies to brunch eats. Try not to fill up on the complimentary cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips while you wait for your entrées to arrive. The pan perdida (a Mexican riff on French toast) stuffed with cream cheese is a standout dish, and the spicy chorizo hash will keep the habeñero-heads happy. Show up before noon and order from the early-bird-special menu — all items are just $5, and portions are sizeable. Brunching hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. 703 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-869-3345, thetortillapress.com.
Casona
We like to brunch at this Cuban-themed South Jersey spot and pretend we’re in Havana — which the open-air porch, catchy Latin music, fried empanadas (with sauces muy delicioso) and juicy Cuban sandwich make easy to do. Not with Latin lovers? Big plates of fruit-covered waffles or French toast will keep them happy. Brunching hours: Sunday from 11 a.m. 563 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, 856-854-5555, mycasona.com.
The Kibitz Room
You’ll remind yourself not to order too much before you walk in — you’re well aware of how enormous and overstuffed everything here is. But then that Bubbe’s-kitchen aroma hits your nose, and you find yourself tacking a side of crispy potato pancakes onto your egg-and-cheese sandwich, or splurging on the $15 nova platter with a bagel and slaw. That’s okay; you’ll eat the leftovers for breakfast tomorrow. Brunching hours: Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. 1521 Locust Street, 215-735-7305, and 100 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, 856-428-7878; the-kibitzroom.com.
