Tucked away on Sansom Street is Day By Day, a bustling Rittenhouse brunch staple for the last 30 years. Eager to welcome you at the counter is Robin Barg, the owner and heart of Day By Day. Barg’s menu is a unique take on breakfast classics that will make you want to become a regular.
Dedicated to high–quality seasonal ingredients, Day By Day opened its doors with the idea of producing new food and a new menu every day (hence the name). Nowadays, you’ll find a menu that returns each day, but the original concept remains on a floor to ceiling blackboard listing daily pastry specials and pancakes stuffed with seasonal fruit. Barg is proud that Day By Day was fresh before it was hip to be fresh.
Day By Day doesn’t take reservations, which makes it feel like you’re stopping by for a casual meal in a friend’s kitchen. They ask patrons to call before they come and are happy to recommend the least busy time to come that day. But be warned: the array of pastries dwindles by 1 p.m. on a Saturday, so if you’re craving a pumpkin cinnamon bun, stop in early.
We started our meal with a basket of warm baked goods, made earlier that morning by Barg’s daughter. Barg sat down at our table momentarily to explain that her restaurant is a family affair. Day By Day has always been open during brunch–time hours so that Barg could be both a restaurateur and a mother. Her daughter, growing up at the restaurant, learned how to bake a mean pastry somewhere along the way; just try the cranberry cream cheese muffin or the pear coffee cake while you wait for your entree.
Our first dish was the signature challah French toast stuffed with caramel and apples ($10). The thick pieces of challah were a decadent treat, although they should offer a prize to those who can finish the enormous portion. The puffed pear pancake ($9) came next, which the server asked us to allow up to a 30–minute wait. Called a pancake, this plate is a delicious, cinnamon filled, bready dish, unlike any pancake you’ve ever had.
Our favorite plate of the morning was the potato pancake benedict ($12.50) for its twist on a brunch staple. The potato pancakes added an interesting taste and were made from high quality ingredients. We ended with the eggs over chorizo and sweet potato hash ($9.50), a hearty plate that should be skipped by anyone looking for a light egg dish. Each dish is a pleasant surprise: interesting flavors, new combinations and specialties. Day By Day is a must try spot for when you want a rich and filling breakfast.
Day By Day 2101 Sansom St. (215) 564–5540 Don’t Miss: the potato pancakes and the basket of baked goods Skip: the eggs over chorizo and sweet potato hash $$$$$
