November 24, 2008
Philly, Day 2: Breakfast Pizza, a Most Awesome Brunch Sandwich from Morning Glory Diner
Note: This entry originally took place on November 8.
I know I just said that I don't understand the fervor behind brunch, but I think that's only when I'm in New York City where long wait times and high prices tend to go hand in hand with eggs Benedict.
In Philly, where it's a bit cheaper and the wait times are shorter (at least on a semi-rainy Saturday morning), I kind of get it now. At least if there's a "breakfast pizza" involved.
- A Finer Diner
Alex, Dave (Alex's roommate), and I headed to Morning Glory Diner (the prices on the menu are out of date) due to a recommendation from one of Alex's friends. Although we had to wait a bit, there were plenty of seats outside to rest our bums on. You'll get a spot more quickly if you sit at the counter.
- Space
Which we did. Sitting at the counter is better anyway since you get to see the cooking action.
- Waffle
Like the Drippy Waffle.
MOUNTAIN OF AWESOME
Alex's monkey French toast ($9; I don't remember the prices of the other dishes, but here's a photo of part of the menu) consisted of French toast stuffed with banana and mango with caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream. Holy shit. What other reaction is there? We had already went, "Holy shit," when we saw the chef griddle the thick egg-soaked toasts and banana mix and lovingly plop on fresh whipped cream from a tub. And then it came to our table—a beautiful mound of sugary, carby, creamy, fruity goodness. Of course it was awesome.
- OMG BISCUIT
Their biscuit was also exceptionally good. It wasn't anything like a typical light, flaky, Southern-style biscuit, but like a meltingly tender, buttery, moist crumb cake. As good as it was, the three of us had trouble finishing it since it was so huge.
- MIIINE!
And then there was the breakfast pizza. Strange name, since it's not at all like a pizza but more like a massive open-faced sandwich of crisp, toasted bread topped with a thick slice of potato, uber-soft caramelized onions, a scrambled egg patty, and gooey melted mozzarella. Sweet baby jesus. Excessive and delicious.
- STARE INTO IT!
While the scrambled egg was perfectly fine, I feel like a sunny-side up egg—with its crispy edges and rich, oozing sac of failed embryo nutrients—would be even better.
- Ketchup
I found the "pizza" a bit bland on its own, but ketchup perked it right up. Ketchup was served in bottles and came out runny like tomato sauce. I'd guess that they make it themselves.
- NOM NOM
With our powers combined, we tackled the beast, the only survivors being a few ragged strands of onion and a neglected slice of raw tomato. Once again, I felt the need to finish a dish even though I knew the consequences would be an uncomfortably bloaty belly and decreased monching ability for the rest of the day. When will I learn? Probably never.
Morning Glory earns extra points for the chef who noticed and loved my "Praise the Lard" shirt. YOU ROXORZ.
Related: Philly, Day 1: Gelato Night at Capogiro
Address
Morning Glory Diner
735 S 10th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Posted by roboppy at 1:09 AM
Comments (16)
OMG- you went to one of my favorite places! I love their biscuits.
I think they do make their own ketchup. I heard this story (from a waiter from another diner) that their bottles of ketchup would sometimes explode, causing a rather gruesome-looking scene.
I remember seeing a biscuit like that on a PBS show about biscuits.
Okay, I hate that there are no diners with that level of epicness around here. Not one. =( Everything looks amazing! (Even the drippy waffle maker, which I hate when that happens at home.)
Ahh the breakfast pizza looks awesome. If you ever get the chance to use a pizza oven (preferably wood fired) try a pizza with just tomato sauce and very thinly sliced potato.
OMG SPOON
Posted by: G at November 24, 2008 12:42 PM [#]
Caroline: Orgasmically...maybe that's why my site gets blocked in some people's offices. ;D
Jesse: I CLOG SO HARD.
Yoko: Woohoo, I went to one of your face places without even knowing! As for exploding bottles..that sounds...not good.
Christina: Maybe you can recreate BREAKFAST PIZZA at home! ..I'm too lazy to do it though.
G: OOH I LOVE POTATO ON PIZZA!!! So goood. I once had a pizza with potato CHUNKS on it (in Italy), which was kinda..not as nice as thinly sliced, I think, but still good.
Morning Glory is the best ever. I've been there a bunch of times, most recently with my boyfriend at 7am on a Monday as part of an ongoing quest to try all the diners in Philly. The quest is sort of derailed by the fact that we keep going back to MG, but whatevs. Biscuits is biscuits is biscuits is delicious scrapple sandwich.
Next time you're down here, maybe stop by Rx in West Philly, if you haven't already? Tasty huevos rancheros and things!
I am always overwhelmed when I see the size of American servings! I like big helpings, but I think I might explode if I had both a whole biscuit and breakfast pizza.
then again, I can eat almost unlimited amounts of pork. I guess it's seeing it all at once that surprises me.
Posted by: Mahar at November 25, 2008 9:44 AM [#]
I think your breakfast pizza would be even greater if they subbed a poached egg instead of scrambled, poke the yoke, let the runny yellowness slide over the potatoes et al. Woof.
I want some biscuits!
Posted by: Mila at November 25, 2008 6:17 PM [#]
wix: I HAVEN'T HAD A SCRAPPLE SANDWICH! I WANT ONE!
Mahar: Oh, I almost exploded. However, I am capable of eating a buttload of pork! Sometimes! If it's cooked the right way. :)
Julie: I've never had a breakfast burrito. ;_; Do I fail?
Mila: Poached is nice as well. ..but I like crispy edges on my fried egg! Heh.
Dude, pricetag of your meal? I wanna head to Philly, but only if I could afford it..
Posted by: X at November 26, 2008 11:15 AM [#]
X: Can't remember exactly, but you could spend $10 to $15 here (before tax and tip)? Unfortunately I can't remember the exact prices since that menupages thing is outdated, but I know the Monkey French Toast was $9. I had a cheaper brunch later that weekend.
French toast...mmmmmmmmm...
Want...deliciousness that is Monkey french toast...
*Goes and prices flights to Philly...*
*Wishes she weren't a broke college student*
Posted by: Kate at November 26, 2008 12:53 PM [#]
I think you're right; a sunny side up egg on top of that breakfast pizza would look entirely appetising. The fun would be poking the yolk and watching it ooze all over everything else. Mmmmm.
Brunch is just for people who don't get up early enough for breakfast. Isn't it? o_0?
Posted by: SuperChomp at December 7, 2008 4:48 PM [#]
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Mmmm.... I love caramelized onions! and Brunch!
OMG! That French Toast looks orgasmically delicious! (Am I allowed to say that? o_O)
Posted by: Caroline at November 24, 2008 2:17 AM [#]