Honey’s Sit ’N Eat on South

May 16, 2013

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In September, I finally made it to Honey’s Sit ’N Eat in Northern Liberties (Honey’s Sit ‘N Eat, Sept. 27, 2012) for a delicious, moderately priced brunch. There is always a long wait to dive into eggs, grits, potatoes pancakes and sandwiches on any given weekend. Brunch was so tasty, I wanted to try lunch at Honey’s.

I never made it to lunch because of all the new restaurants I wanted to review. Several weeks ago, I learned Honey’s opened a second location on South Street. The dinner hour beckoned so with a bottle of Côtes du Rhône in tow, Edward and I headed over to South Street. Like its sister location, Honey’s is cash only.

It is a bright, airy, open room with an engaging staff that leaves you to enjoy your conversation and meal. We sat next to a boy, who was having a jolly time in the high chair munching on scrambled eggs and toast, and his parents. This must be one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in the city.

Breakfast/brunch is served during dinner, but I wanted to sample Honey’s brisket because it caught my eye during my previous visit. Specials are written on a blackboard, and a number of items offered are in season.

I began dinner with a cup of matzo ball soup ($3). Huzzah! The rich, homemade broth twinkled with chicken fat although it did need a touch of salt. It was brimming with carrots, onions, celery and fresh herbs, but the light-and-fluffy matzo ball — a floater — was the star.

A platter of fried green tomatoes ($6.25) brought smiles all around. Six thin slices of tomato were dipped into a perfectly seasoned batter and quick fried to a golden brown. They were crisp and grease-free on the outside, soft inside. A ramekin of Ranch dressing came with the order along with a small mound of fresh greens and grated carrots.

Ramps have been lighting up the culinary Twitter sphere for the past month. They are thin, wild leeks, which turn delightfully sweet when grilled. Honey’s did a masterful version ($5) because the chefs chargrill the ramps and set them along side a pool of rich, homemade romesco sauce. This classic from Catalonia, Spain is made with a mix of finely ground tomatoes, red peppers, onions, garlic, bread, almonds and olive oil. This sauce was so outrageously delicious, I scraped every bit of it off from my plate.

Brisket tacos ($12) were on the menu, but I asked our server if I could have a brisket platter ($15).

“I don’t see why not,” he said with a smile.

Brisket should be sliced across the grain for even slices, but the chefs here shred it into strings because it is used to stuff tacos.

The beef was nicely seasoned, but the texture did little to tempt my taste buds. It was a bit chewy. From the sides I chose a potato latke and local asparagus. I have never seen a latke in the shape of a triangle, but it was golden and crisp on the outside and creamy inside. The asparagus spent the right amount of time on the grill to impart a smoky flavor and aroma. My dinner came with a warm-from-the-oven biscuit. I slathered on some butter and homemade peach jam. I never say no to homemade jams and preserves.

Edward’s Reuben ($12.50) was disappointing. You need a base of good Jewish rye bread with a crisp crust. The bread was limp, the corned beef for some reason tasted sweet but it did contain a bit of fat. The sandwich was topped with Russian dressing and sauerkraut. A small ramekin of health slaw came with the Reuben.

All in all I have to say is Honey’s Sit ’N Eat on South was an enjoyable experience. Kudos to Mike, our server, who took care of us and offered me a special treat.

“Here’s a ramekin so you can take some peach preserves home with you,” he said.

We’ll be back for brunch.

Three tips of the toque to Honey’s Sit ’N Eat on South.