Fitzwater Cafe

I’ve only been here for lunch/​brunch, but both times it was good-​not-​great. I had the breakfast burrito the first time and a roast pork sandwich the second. As my first sentence probably communicates, neither was bad but they also didn’t stand out in any way. I like the space, the menu is solid, the staff is generally friendly, and if you go with one other person there’s rarely much of a wait to be seat, though that changes with larger parties.
I like having it close to my apartment because it’s proven reliable and solid, with less waiting that other South Philly brunch faves, but it has yet to prove itself a must-​try for me. That said, I imagine I’ll be back again sooner or later, maybe incorporating some of the tasty-​looking deserts into my experience.

Can I just say that this is one of my favorite spots in the city! They have awesome food and coffee/​pastries. One of my favorites is the tuna blt with avocado or the creame brûlée French toast with vanilla sauce! It’s reasonably priced too so there’s really nothing to complain about. I usually get waited on by Miguel and he is always so sweet and welcoming even when it’s all jammed up in there!

This is a cute corner spot close by my new house that I was excited to try and heard great things about. It can get very busy in here but was glad to get a table with a few friends. They have counter seats available too. They had a good selection of specials to chose from. We had the pesto omelette, the pork sandwich, and the chicken parm sandwhich. The pork was just okay but everything else was great including the service.

I went here for brunch & thoroughly enjoyed the meal. You can tell this quaint neighborhood establishment is frequented by those in the community. The staff was friendly and attentive throughout the entire dining experience.
I had a breakfast combination platter that came with: French toast, sausage, scrambled eggs, and home fries. The home fries were good, the sausage was tasty & the eggs were ok. The highlight of the meal was the French toast. The French toast was thick and the cinnamon was evident. The French toast actually seemed to melt in my mouth as the rich butter taste tantalized my tastebuds.
I really enjoyed this place & can definitely see myself returning in the future. If you are seeking a good meal & laid back atmosphere to enjoy a good brunch, look no further.

Are you basic? Like actually basic? And looking for a basic brunch without all of the frills? Check out Fitzwater Café.
I am labeling my experience as 3-​stars, «A-​OK». On the bright side, they open at 7AM for all of the early birds! That was my initial drawl because sometimes I want my big brunch meal before most places open at 10AM. On the «A-​OK» side, they have a pretty small menu, that covers the basics (eggs, bacon/​sausage/​roast/​potatoes/​french toast/pancakes)…the standard breakfast fare… all nice sized portions. But they don’t have anything creative or *different* to stand apart from the other hundreds of restaurants serving brunch in Philadelphia.
My friend had an omelette that she was very pleased with. It was really big, so she took half of it home. I had their Mexican inspired huevos rancheros; it was good but not the best huevos rancheros that I have had. The dining room seating is rather tight, and reminds me of an old diner.
If you are looking for a trendy, super creative by a forward-​thinking chef, you will leave underwhelmed. If you just want the basics, «Down Home Breakfast» as they call it, this will suit your fancy just fine!

Hi Unilocalers,
I have two questions for you:
1) Would you like some delicious breakfast-​or brunch-​or lunch?
2) Do you want to know what to eat for breakfast, like a king?
If you answered yes to either question, then don’t miss Fitzwater Café. A BYOB café that serves breakfast and lunch.
Can’t go on weekday? Try going for a weekend brunch. I went on a Sunday with my friend, Rena, and we had a fantastic experience. Our friendly server Nicole, brought us some water and complimentary cappuccino (only during Octobor’15).Then I had the Wild Mushrooms Omelette with caramelized onion, spinach and feta cheese. It was delicious and very flavorful. Also, we both shared some thick-​cut crème brûlée French toast, and I could not be more pleased.
«All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.» So, are you in?
Sincerely,
Your Philadelphia Unilocal member,
Sari A
Four Unilocal
P.S: It is cash only!

Absolutely delicious! Ordered the monte cristo with home fries on the side. It was perfect. Real fresh ham, not the gross stuff in the package. Good came out quick and we didn’t have to wait longer than 5 minutes to get sat. They have a pretty decent menu and also have fresh old school espresso. Definitely will be back if I am in the area ! Also it is cash only.

Good brunch spot in my area. Always packed though, so maybe go early if you don’t want to wait. Hit or miss on the service but always solid food. Cash only, so be prepared!

Favorite breakfast in Philly– breakfasts burrito with andouille sausage and FRESHLY squeezed OJ– cash only but worth the trouble

Spectacular. Fresh sandwiches, homemade ravioli (the best, usually not advertised so ask!), soup, service, price, and fresh squeezed oj.
My family has been going for years and I go every time I come to Philadelphia!

«They’re not a hipster brunch place, they were doing brunch before it was cool!»
The Fitzwater Café is a South Philly/​Queen Village staple; a perennial favorite of my grandmother’s. The food is good, traditional brunch fare, and the waitstaff are great… Grandma goes head over heels for Jorge. As a suburbanite, parking is really easy; as an urbanite it’s not bad to get to by bike.
The place is tiny– about 10 or so tables. I usually go during the weekdays but I imagine the brunch lines on the weekends would be tough. It’s now open until 3 PM (a few years ago it used to close at 2).
Grandma & I both got Eggs Benedict, which had an amazing cheddar hollandaise sauce that left me wiping up the remnants with my spare potatoes. We also got 3 English muffins instead of 2. The eggs were done just right, and the English muffin was very enabling of the rest of the dish.
I come here occasionally, but it’s great to know that they have managed to keep on making consistently good food, just like they have for years.

Typical brunch food taken to the next level! My boyfriend had the best «French toast he’s ever tasted» while I went for the prosciutto, lettuce and tomato sandwich. The pesto added a particularly amazing flat to the sandwich, and I’m excited to have the other half for lunch tomorrow! You can get a large portion of great food for your money here.

Delicous breakfast burrito and crème brûlée french toast! Explosion of flavors in your mouth:) Byob so bring your bubbles if you want mimosas with your brunch!
Only reason why I didnt give it 5stars: it’s cash only and this is not advertised. Once you know it, it’s fine:)

This is another place we’ve passed while riding our bikes. We finally tried it today with our son and his girlfriend.
We started with coffee: salted caramel and cococcino. (Not sure if I have the coffee names correct.) the caramel was fine, but the cococcinos tasted watery with little flavor. We had expected something rich and flavorful; we were sadly mistaken. We added half and half to the mugs but still the coffee was disappointing.
After the coffee, the meal was a surprising delight. Crème brûlée French toast was excellent, the bread light and flavorful, the custard sauce perfectly made.
Eggs Benedict were excellent, the yolks soft and runny and the whites firm but not at all rubbery, with a smooth and creamy hollandaise.
My husband ordered his usual eggs over easy, sausage and potatoes. After eating it he pronounced Fitzwater Café as his new favorite brunch place.
I had the frittata with cheese, sausage, spinach and potatoes. The dish was very good, but it wasn’t a frittata; it was a round open-​faced omelet with the other items on top. Delicious, but not a frittata.
Overall it was a very pleasant meal, and I’m sure we will return many times.
Just, please — make the cococcinos without so much water!

Service was great — potatoes were great. The French toast was hard around the edges as if it were microwaved.

Average diner food. I went for breakfast with my sister. She ordered a breakfast sandwich that she was happy with but after being told they were out of everything bagels despite being there at 8 am. They were also out of scrapple. The omelet I order was slight over cooked and a bit dry. Too bad they put the mushrooms in with seasoning and sautéing first. The coffee is just okay. I like strong coffee but this tasted a little bitter like reheated coffee. My toast was okay on one side but almost burnt on they other. Just not bad enough to send back. All and all there are better breakfast places.

This café is a rare gem. First, they are dedicated to salted caramel and pull it off well. Second, they have their own parking, which is pretty convenient. Third, this place accommodates children pretty well. Bottom line: the prices are reasonable and the food delicious. I have tried the salted caramel French toast, the French onion omelette, and blueberry pancakes on different occasions. All were delicious.
Some slight inconveniences: cash only, and they don’t really have child proof cups.

This place was awesome. The wait was 30 minutes the waitress was fabulous. The Crème Bruleé French was to die for !!! Yummy

Having tried Fitzwater Café twice for brunch now, I can say that I’m a fan. They have shorter lines than Sabrina’s Café, and yet the food is just as delicious. Large windows mean lots of sunlight and a nice diner style seating area.
Their Crème Brulée French toast is to die for! It comes with berries and a light sauce that compliments the sweetness of the crème brulée. It’s a huge portion, so this time we split it and were still very full.
The Breakfast Burrito was also delicious, and very filling. They were very cheesy and came with a side of potatoes. Next time, I’d share it as just half is plenty of food.
Great service, nice sunny setting and huge portions. What’s not to love?
Some tips: They only take CASH. There’s also a few parking spots for customers if you prefer to drive

I like that they tell us we can sit where ever we want.
My friend and I came here on a Tuesday morning so thankfully, it wasn’t crowded like the time when the boyfriend & I tried to get brunch on a Sunday morning.
I had the Breakfast Burrito with a side of potatoes. The potatoes came out looking burnt on one side but they tasted fine. The burrito was huge! It was pretty good and I actually liked the mushrooms. The bottom got a bit soggy from all the juice leaking out though. I brought the unfinished half home and even though it was cold, my brother still said it was pretty good; and he is a very picky eater.
My friend ordered the 3 Egg Omelet choosing spinach, mushroom and caramelized onions. You get to choose 2, the 3^rd is $ 1.
The toast that came with her dish was pretty good. I like toast with the hard crust with nuts or something on them.
I really liked Manuel’s Breakfast Taco the last time I was here. I don’t know if they still have it but if they do, I will go back for them!