Philadelphia | Classic French Brunch at Café Lutecia

📍 Café Lutecia I’ve had this place on my list for a while but never got around to visiting. It’s rumored to have the best French brunch in Philadelphia, but I was skeptical because I couldn’t find a full menu online, and some of the reviews seemed a bit off-putting. I finally went with a friend who really wanted to try it. Ambiance: It’s a cozy, family-style restaurant with warm decor. The tables are quite small, and the spacing between them is minimal. The restaurant was packed when we arrived, and we had to wait about ten minutes for a table. There were always one or two tables waiting after us. Menu: The menu options are fairly limited and not particularly innovative—pretty standard French brunch fare. Croque Madame ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ Both Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame are classic French brunch dishes. I ordered the Croque Madame. The taste was average—nothing special but decent. However, the bread inside wasn’t toasted separately. It was just raw bread slices with ham and cheese heated together. While it’s not necessarily inauthentic, it pales in comparison to other places that specialize in this dish. Omelette - Champignons (Mushroom) and Cheddar ⭐️⭐️⭐️ My friend ordered this, thinking it would be a safe choice. The flavor was fine, but the presentation was underwhelming. When I saw the flat-looking omelette being served, my first thought was: “Is that it?” It wasn’t bad, but the portion was a bit small, which is probably why they added a baguette on the side. We didn’t order coffee because Rival Bros is right across the street. However, if you want to try coffee here, you might like the Noisette or Café Viennois (Viennese coffee), both of which are more French-style coffee options. #Philadelphia #PhillyFood #PhillyEats #PhillyLife #Brunch #FrenchCuisine