Philly’s All Buttered Up With Biscuits

The Southern Staple Finds Its Way Into The Region’s Restaurants, Pubs and Cafesrn

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rnOnce a relatively rare item on area menus, biscuits suddenly seem to take the (savory) cake in Philadelphia. Mitch Prensky’s Scratch Biscuits, a fast-casual concept devoted entirely to the flaky rounds, gives diners endless possibilities, while just about every major bruncherie now serves up a sausage gravy plate or egg sandwich starring the buttery treat. Whether topped with bacon onion jam, baked with golden cheddar or slathered with honey butter, Philly biscuits tenderly hold their own against the competition.rnrnHere are just a few favorites:rnrnGravy Train:rnrnBefore he sold his Vetri Family restaurant group to Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters, Marc Vetri spent his career redefining Italian cuisine in Philadelphia and beyond. It would follow, then, that the biscuits on Alla Spina’s brunch menu would get a Euro twist: duck confit gravy plus poached eggs. 1410 Mt. Vernon Street, (215) 600-0017, allaspinaphilly.comrnNo such thing as too much of a good thing at Queen Village’s N’awlins-style restaurant Catahoula. Not only do the warm toasted biscuits get gravy, but they also come with smothered chicken, rice, cabbage and bacon. 775 S. Front Street, (215) 271-9300, catahoulaphilly.comrnIn Northern Liberties, El Camino Real’s brunch brings out big-time biscuits. Sausage gravy meets fried chicken in a mash-up that hits all the right Southern notes. 1040 N. 2nd Street, (215) 925-1110, elcaminophilly.comrnAmong its eco-conscious fare with local and sustainable ingredients, Green Eggs Café serves up a mean skillet of scrambled eggs over homemade biscuits with sausage gravy at all three of its locations. 1306 Dickinson Street, (215) 226-3447; 719 N. 2nd Street, (215) 922-3447; 212 S. 13th Street, (267) 861-0314, greeneggscafe.netrnOn weekend mornings, Northern Liberties’ live jazz restaurant Heritage tempts even late-night partiers with a real down-home treat. The house-made biscuits get a generous topping of creamy sausage gravy. 914 N. 2nd Street, (215) 627-7500, heritage.lifernJewish meets Southern at Honey’s Sit ’N Eat, where the menu mixes and matches the two cuisines. The fresh biscuits come slathered with sausage gravy at brunch or paired with country-fried steak during later hours. 800 N. 4th Street, (215) 925-1150; 2101 South Street, (215) 732-5130, honeyssitneat.comrnFishtown bar Kraftwork features a mean biscuits-and-gravy plate for brunch. The buttermilk delicacies can also form the basis of a make-your-own egg sandwich. 541 E. Girard Avenue, (215) 739-1700, kraftworkbar.comrnDowntown West Chester’s Market Street Grill layers split biscuits with spicy andouille sausage gravy. The kitchen goes even further with the C-Mac, adding poached eggs and scrapple to the mix. 6 W. Market Street, West Chester, (610) 429-5328, marketstgrillwc.comrnMidtown Village’s modern-day supper club Pennsylvania 6 puts a smart spin on many a classic dish. The house version of biscuits and gravy includes creamed chipped beef and hearty greens. 114 S. 12th Street, (267) 639-5606, pennsylvania6philly.comrnThere’s no arguing with the contemporary Southern eats at Rex 1516 on South Street West. Biscuits find their way onto the dinnertime Farmer’s Platter (paired with pimento cheese) and on the brunch menu (dusted with everything-bagel seasoning and topped with sawmill gravy and fried eggs). 1516 South Street, (267) 319-1366, rex1516.comrnAt Silk City, the biscuit-y brunch meal may include peppery sausage gravy. Or that same golden puck appears on the heartier plate of chicken-fried steak and eggs with country gravy. 435 Spring Garden Street, (215) 592-8838, silkcityphilly.comrnConshohocken’s Southern Cross Kitchen turns fried chicken and biscuits into a brunch bonanza. Count on sausage gravy, two any-style eggs and cheddar grits to up the ante. 8 E. 1st Avenue, Conshohocken, (484) 344-5668, southerncrosskitchen.comrnBetween Two Biscuits:rnrnForget the Reuben. Old City’s Fork gives pastrami an intriguing new identity with its breakfast sandwich at Sunday brunch. The house-smoked meat is topped with pepper gravy and cauliflower on a horseradish cheddar biscuit. 306 Market Street, (215) 625-9425, forkrestaurant.comrnThe Hillbilly Philly specialty at Pennsport bar The Industry tempts the weekend brunch crew. Two cheddar biscuits bookend hot and spicy fried chicken smothered in sausage gravy. 1401 E. Moyamensing Avenue, (215) 271-9500, theindustrybar.comrnBrunch at retro comfort eatery Jones turns an egg sandwich into something memorable. A buttermilk biscuit is halved and stuffed with scrambled egg, ham and cheddar. 700 Chestnut Street, (215) 223-5663, jones-restaurant.comrnWhen the biscuit sandwich comes from a well-established bakery, it’s only a matter of adding some smart embellishments. Metropolitan Cafe’s version includes melted cheddar cheese and a bacon onion jam—perfect for a hangout in Rittenhouse Square, just steps away. 264 S. 19th Street, (215) 545-6655, metropolitanbakery.comrnGraduate Hospital’s Pub & Kitchen delivers a chicken-cheesesteak remix. Grilled chicken, cheddar gravy and a sunny-side egg mingle on a chive-studded biscuit base. 1946 Lombard Street, (215) 545-0350, thepubandkitchen.comrnMitch Prensky’s takeaway storefront Scratch Biscuits corners the market on all things flaky and doughy—and there’s even a gluten-free version. Sandwiches range from the Philly Farmhand, with scrapple and baked eggs, to the Brisket Biscuit, with horseradish mayo, pickled onion and smoked cheddar. 1306 Chestnut Street, (267) 930-3727, eatscratchbiscuits.comrnIt’s no surprise that the modern Southern menu at Society Hill’s The Twisted Tail would be rich in buttermilk goodness, with biscuits popping up all over the place. Who can resist the chicken biscuit with pickles and pimento cheese? 509 S. 2nd Street, (215) 558-2471, thetwistedtail.comrnSides To Savor:rnrnGuests who order the fried chicken platter at Bud & Marilyn’s melt into fluffy deliciousness. Two biscuits with salted honey butter perfectly complement the main event, and they can be ordered a la carte, too. 1234 Locust Street, (215) 546-2220, budandmarilyns.comrnAt least half of the people waiting at Bella Vista stalwart Sam’s Morning Glory Diner are there for the legendary sides. That includes fresh-out-of-the-oven biscuits, which can be ordered with berries and whipped cream. 735 S. 10th Street, (215) 413-3999, themorningglorydiner.comrnOn South Street, Percy Street Barbecue serves a biscuit appetizer that comes with green-tomato jam and honey butter to spread on top. 900 South Street, (215) 625-8510, percystreet.comrnJust in case the Southern-style trout benedict with creamed collard greens on a biscuit doesn’t do the trick, Talula’s Garden offers an a la carte alternative. Buttery mini-biscuits with smoky local bacon make excellent sides during brunch service at the upscale Washington Square destination. 210 Washington Square, (215) 592-7787, talulasgarden.comrnWishbone’s homemade biscuits, dripping with honey butter, are worth the trip to West Philly. They taste extra delicious when used to mop up the dipping sauces for the fried chicken. 4034 Walnut Street, (215) 921-3204, wishbonephilly.comrnVISIT PHILADELPHIA® makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.rnrnOn Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.rn rnrnContact(s):rnDonna Schorr, (215) 599-0782