A Walk to Parc for an Authentic Brunch

Today marks exactly two months since I’ve moved to Center City, Philadelphia, and there are so many restaurants in the city I want to share. For visitors, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall might be the biggest lure, but the food will surely make you want to stay. One of my favorite dining spots just so happens to be one short block from where I live and serves the best Sunday brunch in Philadelphia.

Parc has become my go-to spot for Sunday brunch for so many reasons. Located at 18th and Locust, the restaurant is nestled beside Rittenhouse Park and imitates a classic, Parisian brasserie in the midst of a big city. It’s the perfect spot to people-watch on a sunny day and just as cozy to sit inside once the weather starts to cool. From the outside looking in, the restaurant itself is covered in a Parisian-inspired burgundy awning, floor to ceiling windows letting in natural sunlight, and classic marble tables with wicker chairs flocking its perimeter . The interior is thoughtfully designed to mirror a bistro and cafe with wide French doors at its entrance and a chalkboard noting Philadelphia’s weekly weather in the Romance language itself. The beauty of Parc for me is its authenticity - the realness of bringing one country to another through tangible objects and ingredients.

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I left brunch yesterday with a greater appreciation for the restaurant than ever before. My boyfriend Dillon and I sat at the bar while we awaited a text to notify us of our table being ready. We struck up a conversation with a bartender named Curran, who gave us the inside scoop behind the detail put into the making of the restaurant. It turns out that the French doors I was talking about earlier are actually imported directly from a bistro in France. In fact, the majority of items visible in the restaurant come straight from France, including the tile floors and wicker chairs. Once we sat at our table, I took a moment to recognize all the effort that was put into the restaurant around me. A vintage framed portrait hung on the wall nearby surrounded by small touches of gold fixtures gracing the doors and various cabinets, and the menu - the humble menu - screams Parisian, even to those who have never paid the city a visit. Parc’s brunch menu encompasses traditional bistro fare with classics such as French Onion Soup, Eggs Benedict, and French Toast.

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Arguably one of the most difficult tasks is bringing authentic French cuisine to the States , and Parc has by far achieved those merits. With the menu boasting simple ingredients, each dish is executed beyond expectation. The eggs benedict, comprised of four parts: English muffin, ham, poached egg, and hollandaise sauce is a breakfast entree easily mishandled. However at Parc, upon taking a first bite, anyone French or not would say, “Oui, oui!”

It’s no secret Parc prepares a French experience from beginning to end, saving money on a plane ticket to the other City of Love. Whether you’re a local or a traveler, you can enjoy an incredible out-of-this-country experience at Parc – just be sure to make a reservation ahead of time!