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BLT & Beers at South Philly's Devil's Den

Devil’s Den is one of South Philly’s coziest bars. The local haunt is known for its seemingly endless beer list (16 taps and over 100 bottles), but I’d never stopped by for brunch before. The menu of bar food and brunch items is upscale and filled with options for every palette, including many gluten-free and vegetarian dishes.

Since I was there for brunch, I had to start off with a tasty Bloody Mary, but since Devil’s Den is known for having one of the best beer selections in Philly, a flight was soon in order too. The bar is currently offering three different flights of beer (four samples in each). The winter weather put me in the mood for the Seasonal Flight, which is chock full of spiced Christmas Ale goodness (my favorite was Dogfish Head’s Punkin Ale).

Diving into the brunch menu, the Crab Benedict leapt out at me. Two poached eggs over jumbo lump crab cakes topped with Hollandaise sauce, the dish is a unique, tasty twist on a brunch classic. There are standard as well as more unusual dishes on the menu, including a quiche of the day, and all the items come with home fries, fresh fruit, and LeBus breads. The bar menu also has tons of items that are available all the time and are great for brunch or lunch.

Duck Fries at Devil's Den

The Duck Fries are rich, filling, and great for picking. They’re hand-cut pommes frites topped with bits of duck confit, IPA cheese sauce, duck gravy, and swiss cheese – perfect for sopping up alcohol. A visit to the bar wouldn’t be complete without them! They also serve up six different types of mussels and clams. I tried the Diablo mussels, which were spicy, flavorful, and tomatoey.

Finally, if you’re in the mood for a sandwich, you MUST try the BLT. Bearing almost no relation to its inferior cousin, the sandwich is a much heartier braised pork belly, fried green tomato, and alfalfa sprouts with spicy aiolo served on a decadent brioche bun. Oh, and the Seiten Sloppy Joe will be perfect for anyone in a vegan mood.

Next time you’re feeling winter’s chill, head over to Devil’s Den. It’s the perfect spot to weather a storm, down some great brews, or indulge in a perfect meal.

Devil’s Den
1148 South 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 339-0855
www.devilsdenphilly.com