10 Reasons Why I Heart Carman's Country Kitchen

This building has history. From the vintage Coca-Cola sign to the “luncheonette” block lettering, this corner spot screams “serious character” before you even open the door.

This menu changes every Saturday and is chock full of local, fresh ingredients, like NJ blueberries in the summer!

An average of 4 dishes fill the menu, but trust me you’ll have trouble deciding.

Word to the wise: Hold on to the counter if you’re sitting on the bar stool and decide to tilt your head and lean back to get a good look at the ceiling. There’s a chance you might just fall off your stool. Luckily I caught myself and averted a brunch disaster.

one diner noted that “the driving force behind this establishment is Carman. She knows all the patrons by name, inquires about their mothers and children, and sits down for a good chat when it’s not too busy. She makes the big city of Philadelphia seem like a small-town, homier community than it is, and that in and of itself is something you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere.”

Above all, Carmen is a personality. And yes, that is her portrait hanging above the kitchen window cutout.

White chocolate inside and then nectarines, raspberries, and New Jersey blueberries piled on top.

My last meal was heavenly! Buttermilk pancakes with ground pine nuts mixed in the batter, fresh figs and goat cheese on top. MMM

And if you’re an egg head, Carman whips up a killer omelette.

yes, you read that correctly.

It’s a cozy spot that seats about 11 people. Claustrophobic folks might want to sit this one out or maybe just wait for the “outdoor seating” to open up (keep reading to understand what Carman’s version of outdoor seating actually is).

Some brunch spots have patios with outdoor seating, but Carman does it her own way by seating you in the bed of a pick-up truck parked outside the corner spot.

It’s a mix between grandma’s PG knicknacks and R-rated phallic ceramics that are hidden throughout the place.