Figs (Philadelphia)
Figs
2501 Meredith St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130-2421
(215) 978-8440
Cuisine: Mediterranean-Moroccan
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-10pm
Friday: 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-11pm
Saturday: 10:30am-2pm, 5pm-11pm
Sunday: 10:30am-2pm, 4pm-9pm
Appetizers $5-$10, entrées $15-$25, desserts $6, brunch $5-15 CASH ONLY
Reservations recommended for dinner
Figs occupies a small corner shop on 25th St. and Meredith in Philadelphia, just north of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s new Perelman building. This tiny eatery is overshadowed by the neighboring, grandiose PMA and the Eastern State Penitentiary, as well as established local food joints such as London Grill and Rembrandt’s. Nevertheless, Figs is easily worth a trip if you’re in the mood for a quaint brunch spot with a Moroccan twist.
The menu is 50% standard brunch fare and 50% Moroccan-inspired. Traditional eggs Benedict sit alongside exotic raisin-encrusted challah French toast. Both basic orange juice and lemonade with lemon sorbet are available to order.
I chose the hot and sweet mint tea, which was excellent, not too sugary and with just the right amount of diced mint leaves. It tasted great while hot but even better after it cooled down for a few minutes.
The Moroccan eggs were different but delicious. The platter consisted of two eggs sunny side up, ground beef, tomato sauce with plenty of Middle Eastern spices, and a crisp side salad. The sauce was tasty but could have used some more kick. The side salad provided a refreshing contrast.
My party and I dined inside on a warm day to take advantage of the air conditioning, but there were a few sidewalk tables for diners who wanted to take in the cherry blossoms and gaze at passing museumgoers. The décor inside was fairly sparse, but the burnt orange walls and friendly staff still made for an inviting environment.
In addition to the cozy atmosphere and great food, another big plus for Figs, being a BYOB, is its prices. For those unfamiliar with the Philly dining scene, BYOBs are prolific in the City of Brotherly Love (and the only positive result of Pennsylvania’s draconian liquor laws). All liquor stores in Pennsylvania are state-operated by law, making liquor more expensive and forcing restaurateurs to raise liquor prices to be profitable. To avoid the prohibitive cost of a liquor license in the Keystone State, BYOB owners opt to forgo the license, thus avoiding a pass-on of fees to customers in the form of higher food prices.
If you’re looking for an informal brunch eatery with inexpensive, tasty fare, Figs should be at the top of your list. Don’t forget to bring your own wine.
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By Pete Rudegeair
Pete is a financial journalist in Washington, D.C. He hails from Pennsylvania and recently graduated from UPenn. In addition to being an obsessed surveyor of the blogosphere, Peter is a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, an aspiring Jeopardy champion, and a card-carrying member of the Clean Plate Club.
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