Breakfast, so they say, is the most important meal of the day. This is especially true when you’re going to spend the day exploring Philadelphia‘s historic sites or, say, visiting the new Museum of the American Revolution. Really, it’s important even if you simply want to have a relaxing morning. And starting this week, Philly’s Old City neighborhood has a new option for a morning meal at The Little Lion.
About The Little Lion
While the restaurant has always offered lunch and dinner as well as brunch on weekends, breakfast on weekdays is new. It isn’t merely a coincidence that the restaurant is extending its hours just as the new museum is opening. It’s a smart move as The Little Lion is, literally, located across the street from the Museum of the American Revolution. The restaurant is also offering museum members and visitors all sorts of specials. Members, for example, receive a 15% discount while all restaurant proceeds from the museum’s opening day (Wednesday, April 19th) will, impressively, be donated to the museum!
But what about the food? For breakfast, the restaurant offers standard breakfast fare with a modern twist. They offer a continental buffet but you can also order off a standard menu, too. They’ve got things like peanut butter granola, three different kinds of eggs benedict (classic, smoked salmon, or fried green tomato), and cornbread hoecakes. The new breakfast offerings also include a coffee bar menu with fancy options like Maple Butter Hoecake Lattes and Peppermint Mochas.
The Fare
I had a chance to stop by The Little Lion before visiting the museum last week. It’s a happening spot with lots of windows and natural light streaming in. I can only imagine how nice it is to eat outside there. I highly recommend the back of the restaurant where you can look out onto 3rd Street. There are fewer booths in the back, near the bar for the buffet, so it’s a little more relaxed.
I sampled the scrambled eggs, cornbread hoecakes, red velvet cheesecake French toast and the smoked salmon Benny (aka eggs benedict with smoked salmon). Everything tasted really fresh. I was worried the filled French toast would be too sweet but it was well balanced and full of cinnamon. Although, admittedly, the red velvet aspect was mostly the color and not so much the rich chocolatey flavor you’d expect given the name. I highly recommend their special citrus juice which is a combination of juice from navel oranges, tangerines and blood oranges. It was delicious, refreshing and not too acidic.
For visiting the historic sites in Philly or just hanging out in Old City, The Little Lion is a great option. You really can’t get any more convenient. The restaurant offers a satisfying breakfast service for a reasonable price. And don’t forget that they offer lunch and dinner, too!
The Little Lion
243 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Thank you to The Little Lion! All opinions expressed are my own as are all photos.
