I stopped into Mercer Cafe because I wanted to try something new in the Philadelphia area, but I didn't want to drive into center city. The restaurant was clean, and cute and the service was good. On to the food: my husband ordered the chicken noodle soup which was hot and delicious and then he had fillet tips and eggs. The eggs were cooked over easy and were perfect but he said the fillet tips lacked flavor. He usually eats his steak with A1 sauce, but the restaurant didn't have this. I had the turkey and provolone panini which was very dry and just mediocre. I also ordered french fries which were good, and the coffee I had was delicious. While there, I saw various wraps and salads being served which all looked fresh and delicious. I think I just chose the wrong thing on the menu. If I am in the area again, I will definitely give this place another shot.
(3)
Mallory D.
Again I will say, PORT RICHMOND, NOT KENSINGTON!!! Anyway, this has been one of my favorite neighborhood places since it opened. When it started it was basically the first cute, trendy spot our neighborhood had seen. Now a few other places have followed in Mercer's footsteps, but I will always like this place the best! They have great sandwiches & desserts on the menu. I just absolutely love the vibe here. As a Port Richmond resident born & raised, I always see soemone I know in here. Just a great place to enjoy lunch & hang out.
(5)
Rachel Z.
Have never had a bad meal here. The shrimp and crab quesadilla is amazing for lunch, and the marscapone French toast is to die for. The service is great, all the girls are so nice and accommodating. The owner is in there helping when it is crazy busy and he's so down to earth. My favorite spot to eat!
(5)
Kelly C.
This is a local gem in Port Richmond where most corners have a pizza shop or bar. The food was great and the service friendly and prompt. A huge menu of sandwiches with - get this - homemade potato chips! They came straight from the fryer, hot and a bit greasy. The smell was amazing.
(5)
Colleen M.
This is my first review, although I've been here many times. This was a pretty standard visit. I had breakfast, and my husband had lunch. My veggie omelet was good, but the home fries were just awful. This place almost never gets the home fries right. Their Le Bus toast was great as always. My husband enjoyed his cheesesteak although I thought it didn't taste all that great. The service is almost always hit or miss as well, and this was no exception during this visit. Service was ok, but nothing outstanding. We most likely will be back again.
(3)
Michelle C.
Not only are their plates creative and tasty but they're brought to you by some of best looking ladies in Port Richmond. Mercer is pleasing to the eye and Belly
(4)
Charlene B.
AWESOME!!! Cheese fries were great! I love how the were melted in the bowl! My eggplant pesto and red pepper panini was GREAT!
(5)
Lorie D.
I had breakfast here this weekend for the first time in months. I'm happy to say it was good, and so was the service.
(3)
Nick B.
Hands down the best breakfast/lunch spot in city. Flat out can not get a bad meal here. I would eat here on a daily basis if I lived a little closer. Most incredible crab cake I have ever sunk my teeth into, challenge it vs any on the planet.
(5)
Richard R.
Where did the quality go? We were here first thing (8:15) Sunday morning, and I can only assume that the cook hadn't come in and the manager hadn't come in, and the young waitresses did their best in taking over the kitchen. How can you mess up an omelet? Let me count the ways. I ordered a featured pancetta, tomato, and onion omelet. First of all they were out of pancetta, and used whole strips of bacon instead. I don't have a problem with that, provided they come out and say "We are out of pancetta, is it OK if we substitute bacon?" Which they didn't. They just delivered the omelet as if nothing had happened. And why not erase it from the featured chalkboard? Just as remarkable, there was hardly a shred of tomato nor onion. You know how sometimes a tiny piece of an ingredient sneaks its way in because it stuck to the spatula from another diner's order? That was the quantity of tomato and onion in this omelet - a speck here or there. No cook would have ever done that, which is why I suspect no cook showed up 8:00 am this Sunday. La Colombe coffee was excellent. The potatoes were excellent. The Le Bus bread was excellent (but it was supposed to be toasted, not just warm). Those prevented me from giving this place, a former gem of mine, only 1 star. I think they are really better than this. I truly believe they were pretending all is well, but missing key cooking and management staff.
(2)
Chuck Z.
Great sandwich! Ate twice while in town- worth it if you are in the area.
(4)
Monica T.
The food never disappoints and the coffee is great.
(4)
Caitlin V.
I'd like to consider myself a self proclaimed breakfast connoisseur, so when I find out about a new place to get my breakfast on, my little heart jumps for joy at the change to try out a new spot. Mercer Cafe is a wonderful little corner...diner? bruncherie? I'm not sure but the food is amazing. My boyfriend and I went on a late morning on a Monday. it wasn't busy even though it was a holiday and everyone had off from work. We picked our seat and were greeted with smiles from the staff. The coffee was delicious and the menu was very long. There were almost 4 pages of things to choose from for breakfast alone! They also have an extensive lunch menu. I decided to choose something from the specials menu and got a sausage, pepper, and onion omelet. Everything about it was just right. it wasn't so large that I couldn't finish it, but I feel like I got my money's worth. It also came with a side of potatoes that were cooked just right and perfectly buttered Le Bus bread. My boyfriend got the Liza omelet (named after one of the women working there...perhaps she's the owner) which had some asparagus in it and was also very good. Service was swift, to the point, and polite. This is a new favorite spot and I'm glad I heard about it from a friend. Definitely a good alternative to waiting 5 hours for a table elsewhere.
(5)
R T.
I have only had breakfast here, and even then, only three times over at least five years. Thus over the long run the place is immaculate, service is a good (recognized servers from years ago so it's consistent in staffing to some extent), and prices were great. My last meal there was modest as I am dieting: Three fried eggs, grilled tomato slices, and multigrain toast. Best such breakfast in town. And LaColombe coffee was made so well it tasted just like I was at LaColombe. I love Port Richmond and I love Mercer Cafe. Give it a try.
(5)
Ryan P.
Just had brunch at the Mercer for the first time in too long. This place is one of the best kept secrets in Philly. All the food is freshly made with fresh ingredients. The place has a very local vibe and you feel right at home there for breakfast or lunch. There is never a huge wait, no pretentious hostesses, servers, or design just amazing food. Standouts include bottomless La Colombe coffee, crab and asparagus omelette, their famous mascarpone and berry french toast, egg & cheese on a fresh crossant, and the best eggs florentine I have ever tasted. This place is truly a gem and the perfect cure if you have had one too many the night before.
(5)
Bella M.
love this hole in the wall! cream chipped beef is amazing! the staff can seem unfriendly sometimes but everyone has their days!
(5)
Jim B.
For a luncheonette that shares it's space with a drug store, they sure are ambitious at the Mercer Cafe, I'll give them that. However, that ambition is not exactly matched by execution. The menu is a mix of the typical and creative. Take the shrimp and avocado BLT for example. Great idea, lots of potential, and in the hands of the people at the Mercer Cafe, it's good; but it could and should be so much better. Since it's one of the few decent lunch options available in the area, I've had lunch here many times, and have had my order messed up on several occassions. Another strike on the service.
Pretty good food in an area where there are not a lot of options. Plus you won't get your car stolen. (At least during the daytime.) So it has that going for it... Which is nice...
(4)
Jennifer T.
I moved to this neighborhood 2 years ago from Center City and am used to walking just a few blocks to eat out. Most of the other places to eat in Port Richmond north of Allegheny are pizza/steak places or bars (not counting Aramingo Diner), so Mercer Cafe is a great alternative. The menu is surprisingly varied, and they serve LeBus bread and La Colombe coffee, which is a nice touch. We have always had great service and the food is good - every once in while something will be off (e.g. grilled chicken in the salad is dry), but that is usually when we've gone closer to closing time. Their Shrimp Avocado BLT is always delicious! Peak time on weekends is before noon - we have usually gone around 12:30 or 1 and not had a problem getting a seat right away.
(3)
Pam Z.
4.5 stars My friend and I were driving through Philly at the mercy of smartphone directions early on Sunday morning, and we were out-of-our-minds hungry. Desperate for some breakfast, I just yelped "open now" and "near me" and Mercer Cafe popped up. I love little mom-n-pop neighborhood finds on Yelp! The food here was very good breakfast/diner food in a casual but not too greasy environment. It looks more like a coffeeshop/bakery, and less like a diner. It's worth having breakfast here for the home fries/potatoes alone, since they're crispy all over, but still fluffy on the inside. The sausage links are not your typical wimpy breakfast sausage, but are almost the size of a typical wurst and oh so good. My friend barely made a dent in her mountain of pancakes but thought they were amazing. The La Columbe coffee here is amazingly good too. You get one refill, then they start charging. I could not have asked for better service. The servers were attentive, quick, and super friendly. Breakfast is served all day on Sundays. P.S. I love when you ask for hot sauce, you get both Tabasco and Sriracha.
(4)
Chad W.
If you haven't been here before, do yourself a favor and stop in. Even if your not a local, the breakfast omelets are amazing. Everything is well priced, and the staff is super friendly. Mercer Cafe is on my top 5 best brunch spots in all of philly. Oh and they have La Columbe Coffee!
(5)
Alexandra D.
The food is good and so is the atmosphere. Their French fries are addicting! The only 'meh' meal I've had here is the steak tip Caesar salad. The filet tips alway tend to come out chewy and not that great. I also didn't like that we had no idea they were only serving breakfast ONLY on Sundays until we'd been seated and given menus, with drinks in front of us and then server then came over for our orders. This happened twice. We wouldn't have stayed and that needs to be made more clear.
(3)
David S.
This place is awesome. I skipped going here a couple of times because I thought it was a ice cream shop. When I realized it was a diner, I stopped in for breakfast with my family. The food was amazing. The portions were decent, not huge.....but you'll leave full. The omelets are very fluffy, bacon super crisp. The girls working there are never far away and always ready to refill your coffee. They are very polite and quick with suggestions for breakfast. They aren't super cheap....but not expensive. For a meal for 3 people, my bill came out to about $45 with tip. Not bad. Will be trying this place again real soon. Also, get your home fries with the peppers and onions.....thank me later.
(5)
Gina M.
This is one of my favorite Port Richmond locations ever. It's a cute little corner restaurant with some of the soups and sandwiches you'll taste. And also, with as small as port Richmond is, you will always run into someone you know there. The bistro itself is pretty tiny. You're kinda squeezed in there, especially since its always packed. Also, the parking is awful. Port Richmond is famous for its one way streets so its very tight all around. This is why I couldn't give the full five stars! But the food is delicious. You'll love it.
(4)
Megan A.
Great place for breakfast or lunch. Great creamed chipped bead and very good burgers and fries. Service is good and prices are reasonable. A go to place in my hood for breakfast or lunch!!
(4)
Stephanie W.
4 stars for the marscapone stuffed French toast. 5 stars for the awesome service.
(4)
DJ M.
Hey Benny, come and give me another kiss! Mercer's is a tiny little corner bistro, that serves only breakfast on Sunday's, they are open until 3:00, but do not offer any soups on anything off the lunch menu. On the other hand they have a great selection of omelets, egg and meat combinations, a wide array of French toast and pancake platters. I would be surprised if they had more than a dozen tables, but the long counter is lined with enough stools to double their capacity. Many tea and coffee choices, cookies and a dessert case filled with slim pickings. The large blackboard hosts so many tempting offerings, which makes it difficult to deviate from the daily creative specials. Some of the choices for omelets made me drool, omelets that you would not normally see in a small corner cafe, but my eyes kept returning to the filet with crab topped eggs benedict and it was an awesome choice. The filet was small and cooked perfectly, but the quality of the meat and it even being a filet was questionable, however, the eggs benedict were superb, eggs were perfectly cooked, the hollandaise was top notch and it was all topped with a generous portion of pure lump crab meat. Michael had a bacon, cheddar cheese and onion omelet, which I would not have liked, since the outside of the omelet was dry looking and too brown. I'm so picky about my omelets, don't undercook them, but definitely do not overcook them, regardless, he enjoyed it. It came with a side of wonderful home fries to which he added onions and peppers and toast, I snitched my fair share of potatoes, while he snitched his fair share of steak. Friendly service, they do fill up quickly, but the overall service keeps them flowing nicely. I would definitely return, if you do go on another day for lunch or dinner, it is BYOB. Heck, maybe me and crab Benny can enjoy a Bloody Mary next time. 3.5
(4)
Christine H.
I've never had a bad meal here but lack of seating is what keep me from returning. I live in the area so I usually order to go now. The food always taste fresh and the menu always has a good variety of sweet and savory options for breakfast. If there were more seating I would give this a 5 star. Something about sitting arm and arm with other patrons while eating makes me enjoy my visit a little less.
(4)
Holzer C.
I went here with my boyfriend after 4 hours of college class. We were going to go to Cheers cafe but decided to try Mercer cafe. I had the french toast with Marscapon and berry sauce but I asked for only blueberry's and blackberry's because I'm allergic to strawberry's . I got that and my boyfriend got a egg omelet with asparagus . The food was excellent and I will visit again. The wait staff was great, only problem was that we had to first sit at a table for 4 and being only 2 of us I guess it was awkward, we were asked to move to another table because a party of 6 came in. After moving around then I felt relaxed. It was loud though a lot of talking which was okay by me. I will visit again. I enjoyed it. I over looked this place many times.
(5)
Ceasar B.
This spot is a real gem in my neighborhood. I've eaten here a few times and it's always been fantastic. The crab omelet is one of their daily specials and one of my favorites-- filling and all fresh quality ingredients. The eggs benedict is kind of pricey for the amount of food you get, so don't get it if you're hungry, but it's done right and tastes as good as it looks. Coffee is from La Colombe, so expect it to be good. Plus they have free refills for what is the regular price in the city. Service is great, as expected, and the decor matches the classy vibe of the food.
(4)
Emily W.
We went to Mercer Cafe to day for Fathers Day brunch and it was delicious!!! It was our first time and all of the great things I've heard about it are true! They have many unique dishes like peanut butter, Nutella French toast, marscapone French toast, veggie eggs Benedict, scallion and garlic home fries, the list goes on! It was hard to decide what to get. They also have Le bus bread and la columbe coffee. Ingredients are fresh and staff is super nice!!! I hear they are opening a few new locations with the first being in the Navy Yard, across from Urban Outfitters.
(5)
John Y.
Wonderful neighborhood cafe. Great sandwiches and excellent coffee!
(5)
L.M. Z.
You can't go wrong here. Breakfast and lunch are always great. Staff is super friendly and food is brought out promptly. Love it here.
(5)
Jonathan L.
All I have to say that this place is excellent and you just have to see it for yourself
(5)
Wayne P.
Best breakfast spot in the area, the cream chip beef is amazing. The service is great and everyone is so friendly.
(5)
Maria P R.
Our dishes are always prepared to perfection and with a nice presentation. Always a treat!
(5)
Dan S.
I used to work in Port Richmond and stop in here all of the time for breakfast and lunch. I haven't been back in a while so I wanted to stop by for brunch. It was amazing as always! The owner is a nice guy and greeted us when we walked in. Mercer is a small cafe that fits right into the Port Richmond setting. The servers are nice and waited on us promptly. As for the food, I very much enjoyed my Farmer's Frittata. It was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. You can't go wrong with the quality coffee they serve as well. I'm excited for the new location which is close to me!
(5)
Chelsea A.
This little cafe is adorable, you can't really go wrong here. The food is delicious! The service is decent, and you are bound to see someone you know from the neighborhood in there. The paninis and sandwiches are my favorite
(5)
Michele O.
We came for brunch today to "celebrate" the new school year send-off for our son. As usual the pancakes, challah French toast, bacon, scrapple and fresh squeezed OJ were all absolutely delicious. And the service is always great too. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Sean M.
I absolutely love it here. The sevice is always incredible and the food never disappoints. I went with the hazelnut french toast, basically Nutella and strawberries on your breakfast. This was a special so it isn't always offered. However the rest of the menu is incredible as well. It's a small little cafe so you need to get there pretty early to get a table if you have a larger group. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. Next time you are in Port Richmond give them a try.
(5)
John F.
You know when 6 police officers are wrapping up their meal at a spot, it's gonna be good. Why was today my first visit? Liza is awesome, crab anything is fantastic, and the cookies are just silly! I can only imagine the rest of the menu, and the rest of the desserts, are incredible as well. I guess I'll find out on my future visits! Thanks for a great brunch today, Liza.
(4)
Max T.
An interesting hybrid of a hipster new wave diner, and a classic Philly neighborhood diner. Everything from creamed chip beef to steak and crab cake eggs Benedict. Great staff, fresh squeezed OJ, and street parking, what more could you ask for?
(5)
Cherith H.
They have this great breakfast hoagie that has scrapple on it. It was delicious and big enough to share if you're a moderate eater.
(5)
Michael N.
Mercer Cafe is one of those rare Port Richmond gems. Consistent and delicious, no frills breakfast or lunch at a reasonable price. I've been here about 50 times before I started using Yelp so it's hard for me to have a fresh perspective. It's a smaller restaurant so it may be somewhat difficult to get a seat if you have a large party on a weekend. For breakfast you can't go wrong with one of the neighborhood favorite specials. I generally don't go for lunch, but I've had a few of the panini sandwiches and the burger. All of which were solid. Nice and friendly local wait staff. Very much a local spot, but it appears that outsiders are starting to catch on. Worth a visit if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
(5)
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Address :2619 E Westmoreland St
Philadelphia, PA, 19134
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Suzanne S.
I stopped into Mercer Cafe because I wanted to try something new in the Philadelphia area, but I didn't want to drive into center city. The restaurant was clean, and cute and the service was good. On to the food: my husband ordered the chicken noodle soup which was hot and delicious and then he had fillet tips and eggs. The eggs were cooked over easy and were perfect but he said the fillet tips lacked flavor. He usually eats his steak with A1 sauce, but the restaurant didn't have this. I had the turkey and provolone panini which was very dry and just mediocre. I also ordered french fries which were good, and the coffee I had was delicious. While there, I saw various wraps and salads being served which all looked fresh and delicious. I think I just chose the wrong thing on the menu. If I am in the area again, I will definitely give this place another shot.
(3)Mallory D.
Again I will say, PORT RICHMOND, NOT KENSINGTON!!! Anyway, this has been one of my favorite neighborhood places since it opened. When it started it was basically the first cute, trendy spot our neighborhood had seen. Now a few other places have followed in Mercer's footsteps, but I will always like this place the best! They have great sandwiches & desserts on the menu. I just absolutely love the vibe here. As a Port Richmond resident born & raised, I always see soemone I know in here. Just a great place to enjoy lunch & hang out.
(5)Rachel Z.
Have never had a bad meal here. The shrimp and crab quesadilla is amazing for lunch, and the marscapone French toast is to die for. The service is great, all the girls are so nice and accommodating. The owner is in there helping when it is crazy busy and he's so down to earth. My favorite spot to eat!
(5)Kelly C.
This is a local gem in Port Richmond where most corners have a pizza shop or bar. The food was great and the service friendly and prompt. A huge menu of sandwiches with - get this - homemade potato chips! They came straight from the fryer, hot and a bit greasy. The smell was amazing.
(5)Colleen M.
This is my first review, although I've been here many times. This was a pretty standard visit. I had breakfast, and my husband had lunch. My veggie omelet was good, but the home fries were just awful. This place almost never gets the home fries right. Their Le Bus toast was great as always. My husband enjoyed his cheesesteak although I thought it didn't taste all that great. The service is almost always hit or miss as well, and this was no exception during this visit. Service was ok, but nothing outstanding. We most likely will be back again.
(3)Michelle C.
Not only are their plates creative and tasty but they're brought to you by some of best looking ladies in Port Richmond. Mercer is pleasing to the eye and Belly
(4)Charlene B.
AWESOME!!! Cheese fries were great! I love how the were melted in the bowl! My eggplant pesto and red pepper panini was GREAT!
(5)Lorie D.
I had breakfast here this weekend for the first time in months. I'm happy to say it was good, and so was the service.
(3)Nick B.
Hands down the best breakfast/lunch spot in city. Flat out can not get a bad meal here. I would eat here on a daily basis if I lived a little closer. Most incredible crab cake I have ever sunk my teeth into, challenge it vs any on the planet.
(5)Richard R.
Where did the quality go? We were here first thing (8:15) Sunday morning, and I can only assume that the cook hadn't come in and the manager hadn't come in, and the young waitresses did their best in taking over the kitchen. How can you mess up an omelet? Let me count the ways. I ordered a featured pancetta, tomato, and onion omelet. First of all they were out of pancetta, and used whole strips of bacon instead. I don't have a problem with that, provided they come out and say "We are out of pancetta, is it OK if we substitute bacon?" Which they didn't. They just delivered the omelet as if nothing had happened. And why not erase it from the featured chalkboard? Just as remarkable, there was hardly a shred of tomato nor onion. You know how sometimes a tiny piece of an ingredient sneaks its way in because it stuck to the spatula from another diner's order? That was the quantity of tomato and onion in this omelet - a speck here or there. No cook would have ever done that, which is why I suspect no cook showed up 8:00 am this Sunday. La Colombe coffee was excellent. The potatoes were excellent. The Le Bus bread was excellent (but it was supposed to be toasted, not just warm). Those prevented me from giving this place, a former gem of mine, only 1 star. I think they are really better than this. I truly believe they were pretending all is well, but missing key cooking and management staff.
(2)Chuck Z.
Great sandwich! Ate twice while in town- worth it if you are in the area.
(4)Monica T.
The food never disappoints and the coffee is great.
(4)Caitlin V.
I'd like to consider myself a self proclaimed breakfast connoisseur, so when I find out about a new place to get my breakfast on, my little heart jumps for joy at the change to try out a new spot. Mercer Cafe is a wonderful little corner...diner? bruncherie? I'm not sure but the food is amazing. My boyfriend and I went on a late morning on a Monday. it wasn't busy even though it was a holiday and everyone had off from work. We picked our seat and were greeted with smiles from the staff. The coffee was delicious and the menu was very long. There were almost 4 pages of things to choose from for breakfast alone! They also have an extensive lunch menu. I decided to choose something from the specials menu and got a sausage, pepper, and onion omelet. Everything about it was just right. it wasn't so large that I couldn't finish it, but I feel like I got my money's worth. It also came with a side of potatoes that were cooked just right and perfectly buttered Le Bus bread. My boyfriend got the Liza omelet (named after one of the women working there...perhaps she's the owner) which had some asparagus in it and was also very good. Service was swift, to the point, and polite. This is a new favorite spot and I'm glad I heard about it from a friend. Definitely a good alternative to waiting 5 hours for a table elsewhere.
(5)R T.
I have only had breakfast here, and even then, only three times over at least five years. Thus over the long run the place is immaculate, service is a good (recognized servers from years ago so it's consistent in staffing to some extent), and prices were great. My last meal there was modest as I am dieting: Three fried eggs, grilled tomato slices, and multigrain toast. Best such breakfast in town. And LaColombe coffee was made so well it tasted just like I was at LaColombe. I love Port Richmond and I love Mercer Cafe. Give it a try.
(5)Ryan P.
Just had brunch at the Mercer for the first time in too long. This place is one of the best kept secrets in Philly. All the food is freshly made with fresh ingredients. The place has a very local vibe and you feel right at home there for breakfast or lunch. There is never a huge wait, no pretentious hostesses, servers, or design just amazing food. Standouts include bottomless La Colombe coffee, crab and asparagus omelette, their famous mascarpone and berry french toast, egg & cheese on a fresh crossant, and the best eggs florentine I have ever tasted. This place is truly a gem and the perfect cure if you have had one too many the night before.
(5)Bella M.
love this hole in the wall! cream chipped beef is amazing! the staff can seem unfriendly sometimes but everyone has their days!
(5)Jim B.
For a luncheonette that shares it's space with a drug store, they sure are ambitious at the Mercer Cafe, I'll give them that. However, that ambition is not exactly matched by execution. The menu is a mix of the typical and creative. Take the shrimp and avocado BLT for example. Great idea, lots of potential, and in the hands of the people at the Mercer Cafe, it's good; but it could and should be so much better. Since it's one of the few decent lunch options available in the area, I've had lunch here many times, and have had my order messed up on several occassions. Another strike on the service.
(2)Brian P.
great food
(4)Jenny K.
Mercer Café is a neighborhood gem, serving up creative dishes with quality ingredients, but located just a little bit off the beaten path. One thing that I liked was that they go the extra mile with La Columbe coffee and LeBus bread, for instance, but the restaurant has an utterly low key, unpretentious atmosphere. The location is in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood, not far from the Castor Ave/Alleghany I-95 exit. Our party of 6 stopped by for lunch on Saturday, and the entire group left the Mercer Café happy and satisfied! The restaurant is not a large space; while we were there, they were able to accommodate 2 groups of 6, plus several other tables seating 2 or 4 people, mostly families. There is also a lunch counter. Service was friendly and attentive, with the owner pitching in and also checking in with each table. It seemed like there was a lot of familiarity in the greetings. The only downside was that we were seated near the door and the alarm kept on beeping. I hope that is a glitch that was acting up that day, because it was pretty irritating before we eventually were able to tune it out. The menu has a lot of variety, including specials, and I found it hard to choose since it all looked really good. Some of the items that we ordered included: bacon, lettuce, tomato, shrimp, and avocado sandwich (on LeBus multigrain); grilled vegetable panini; house salad; salad plate of tomato, mozzarella, and tuna in olive oil; roasted turkey sandwich; freshly made potato chips. Our portion sizes were more than adequate, but we saw some hoagies delivered to another table that were absolutely gigantic! If my lunch experience is any indication of what the Mercer Café is capable of, I definitely look forward to stopping back for breakfast or dinner!
(4)Aaron T.
Pretty good food in an area where there are not a lot of options. Plus you won't get your car stolen. (At least during the daytime.) So it has that going for it... Which is nice...
(4)Jennifer T.
I moved to this neighborhood 2 years ago from Center City and am used to walking just a few blocks to eat out. Most of the other places to eat in Port Richmond north of Allegheny are pizza/steak places or bars (not counting Aramingo Diner), so Mercer Cafe is a great alternative. The menu is surprisingly varied, and they serve LeBus bread and La Colombe coffee, which is a nice touch. We have always had great service and the food is good - every once in while something will be off (e.g. grilled chicken in the salad is dry), but that is usually when we've gone closer to closing time. Their Shrimp Avocado BLT is always delicious! Peak time on weekends is before noon - we have usually gone around 12:30 or 1 and not had a problem getting a seat right away.
(3)Pam Z.
4.5 stars My friend and I were driving through Philly at the mercy of smartphone directions early on Sunday morning, and we were out-of-our-minds hungry. Desperate for some breakfast, I just yelped "open now" and "near me" and Mercer Cafe popped up. I love little mom-n-pop neighborhood finds on Yelp! The food here was very good breakfast/diner food in a casual but not too greasy environment. It looks more like a coffeeshop/bakery, and less like a diner. It's worth having breakfast here for the home fries/potatoes alone, since they're crispy all over, but still fluffy on the inside. The sausage links are not your typical wimpy breakfast sausage, but are almost the size of a typical wurst and oh so good. My friend barely made a dent in her mountain of pancakes but thought they were amazing. The La Columbe coffee here is amazingly good too. You get one refill, then they start charging. I could not have asked for better service. The servers were attentive, quick, and super friendly. Breakfast is served all day on Sundays. P.S. I love when you ask for hot sauce, you get both Tabasco and Sriracha.
(4)Chad W.
If you haven't been here before, do yourself a favor and stop in. Even if your not a local, the breakfast omelets are amazing. Everything is well priced, and the staff is super friendly. Mercer Cafe is on my top 5 best brunch spots in all of philly. Oh and they have La Columbe Coffee!
(5)Alexandra D.
The food is good and so is the atmosphere. Their French fries are addicting! The only 'meh' meal I've had here is the steak tip Caesar salad. The filet tips alway tend to come out chewy and not that great. I also didn't like that we had no idea they were only serving breakfast ONLY on Sundays until we'd been seated and given menus, with drinks in front of us and then server then came over for our orders. This happened twice. We wouldn't have stayed and that needs to be made more clear.
(3)David S.
This place is awesome. I skipped going here a couple of times because I thought it was a ice cream shop. When I realized it was a diner, I stopped in for breakfast with my family. The food was amazing. The portions were decent, not huge.....but you'll leave full. The omelets are very fluffy, bacon super crisp. The girls working there are never far away and always ready to refill your coffee. They are very polite and quick with suggestions for breakfast. They aren't super cheap....but not expensive. For a meal for 3 people, my bill came out to about $45 with tip. Not bad. Will be trying this place again real soon. Also, get your home fries with the peppers and onions.....thank me later.
(5)Gina M.
This is one of my favorite Port Richmond locations ever. It's a cute little corner restaurant with some of the soups and sandwiches you'll taste. And also, with as small as port Richmond is, you will always run into someone you know there. The bistro itself is pretty tiny. You're kinda squeezed in there, especially since its always packed. Also, the parking is awful. Port Richmond is famous for its one way streets so its very tight all around. This is why I couldn't give the full five stars! But the food is delicious. You'll love it.
(4)Megan A.
Great place for breakfast or lunch. Great creamed chipped bead and very good burgers and fries. Service is good and prices are reasonable. A go to place in my hood for breakfast or lunch!!
(4)Stephanie W.
4 stars for the marscapone stuffed French toast. 5 stars for the awesome service.
(4)DJ M.
Hey Benny, come and give me another kiss! Mercer's is a tiny little corner bistro, that serves only breakfast on Sunday's, they are open until 3:00, but do not offer any soups on anything off the lunch menu. On the other hand they have a great selection of omelets, egg and meat combinations, a wide array of French toast and pancake platters. I would be surprised if they had more than a dozen tables, but the long counter is lined with enough stools to double their capacity. Many tea and coffee choices, cookies and a dessert case filled with slim pickings. The large blackboard hosts so many tempting offerings, which makes it difficult to deviate from the daily creative specials. Some of the choices for omelets made me drool, omelets that you would not normally see in a small corner cafe, but my eyes kept returning to the filet with crab topped eggs benedict and it was an awesome choice. The filet was small and cooked perfectly, but the quality of the meat and it even being a filet was questionable, however, the eggs benedict were superb, eggs were perfectly cooked, the hollandaise was top notch and it was all topped with a generous portion of pure lump crab meat. Michael had a bacon, cheddar cheese and onion omelet, which I would not have liked, since the outside of the omelet was dry looking and too brown. I'm so picky about my omelets, don't undercook them, but definitely do not overcook them, regardless, he enjoyed it. It came with a side of wonderful home fries to which he added onions and peppers and toast, I snitched my fair share of potatoes, while he snitched his fair share of steak. Friendly service, they do fill up quickly, but the overall service keeps them flowing nicely. I would definitely return, if you do go on another day for lunch or dinner, it is BYOB. Heck, maybe me and crab Benny can enjoy a Bloody Mary next time. 3.5
(4)Christine H.
I've never had a bad meal here but lack of seating is what keep me from returning. I live in the area so I usually order to go now. The food always taste fresh and the menu always has a good variety of sweet and savory options for breakfast. If there were more seating I would give this a 5 star. Something about sitting arm and arm with other patrons while eating makes me enjoy my visit a little less.
(4)Holzer C.
I went here with my boyfriend after 4 hours of college class. We were going to go to Cheers cafe but decided to try Mercer cafe. I had the french toast with Marscapon and berry sauce but I asked for only blueberry's and blackberry's because I'm allergic to strawberry's . I got that and my boyfriend got a egg omelet with asparagus . The food was excellent and I will visit again. The wait staff was great, only problem was that we had to first sit at a table for 4 and being only 2 of us I guess it was awkward, we were asked to move to another table because a party of 6 came in. After moving around then I felt relaxed. It was loud though a lot of talking which was okay by me. I will visit again. I enjoyed it. I over looked this place many times.
(5)Ceasar B.
This spot is a real gem in my neighborhood. I've eaten here a few times and it's always been fantastic. The crab omelet is one of their daily specials and one of my favorites-- filling and all fresh quality ingredients. The eggs benedict is kind of pricey for the amount of food you get, so don't get it if you're hungry, but it's done right and tastes as good as it looks. Coffee is from La Colombe, so expect it to be good. Plus they have free refills for what is the regular price in the city. Service is great, as expected, and the decor matches the classy vibe of the food.
(4)Emily W.
We went to Mercer Cafe to day for Fathers Day brunch and it was delicious!!! It was our first time and all of the great things I've heard about it are true! They have many unique dishes like peanut butter, Nutella French toast, marscapone French toast, veggie eggs Benedict, scallion and garlic home fries, the list goes on! It was hard to decide what to get. They also have Le bus bread and la columbe coffee. Ingredients are fresh and staff is super nice!!! I hear they are opening a few new locations with the first being in the Navy Yard, across from Urban Outfitters.
(5)John Y.
Wonderful neighborhood cafe. Great sandwiches and excellent coffee!
(5)L.M. Z.
You can't go wrong here. Breakfast and lunch are always great. Staff is super friendly and food is brought out promptly. Love it here.
(5)Jonathan L.
All I have to say that this place is excellent and you just have to see it for yourself
(5)Wayne P.
Best breakfast spot in the area, the cream chip beef is amazing. The service is great and everyone is so friendly.
(5)Maria P R.
Our dishes are always prepared to perfection and with a nice presentation. Always a treat!
(5)Dan S.
I used to work in Port Richmond and stop in here all of the time for breakfast and lunch. I haven't been back in a while so I wanted to stop by for brunch. It was amazing as always! The owner is a nice guy and greeted us when we walked in. Mercer is a small cafe that fits right into the Port Richmond setting. The servers are nice and waited on us promptly. As for the food, I very much enjoyed my Farmer's Frittata. It was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. You can't go wrong with the quality coffee they serve as well. I'm excited for the new location which is close to me!
(5)Chelsea A.
This little cafe is adorable, you can't really go wrong here. The food is delicious! The service is decent, and you are bound to see someone you know from the neighborhood in there. The paninis and sandwiches are my favorite
(5)Michele O.
We came for brunch today to "celebrate" the new school year send-off for our son. As usual the pancakes, challah French toast, bacon, scrapple and fresh squeezed OJ were all absolutely delicious. And the service is always great too. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Sean M.
I absolutely love it here. The sevice is always incredible and the food never disappoints. I went with the hazelnut french toast, basically Nutella and strawberries on your breakfast. This was a special so it isn't always offered. However the rest of the menu is incredible as well. It's a small little cafe so you need to get there pretty early to get a table if you have a larger group. I've been here several times and they never disappoint. Next time you are in Port Richmond give them a try.
(5)John F.
You know when 6 police officers are wrapping up their meal at a spot, it's gonna be good. Why was today my first visit? Liza is awesome, crab anything is fantastic, and the cookies are just silly! I can only imagine the rest of the menu, and the rest of the desserts, are incredible as well. I guess I'll find out on my future visits! Thanks for a great brunch today, Liza.
(4)Max T.
An interesting hybrid of a hipster new wave diner, and a classic Philly neighborhood diner. Everything from creamed chip beef to steak and crab cake eggs Benedict. Great staff, fresh squeezed OJ, and street parking, what more could you ask for?
(5)Cherith H.
They have this great breakfast hoagie that has scrapple on it. It was delicious and big enough to share if you're a moderate eater.
(5)Michael N.
Mercer Cafe is one of those rare Port Richmond gems. Consistent and delicious, no frills breakfast or lunch at a reasonable price. I've been here about 50 times before I started using Yelp so it's hard for me to have a fresh perspective. It's a smaller restaurant so it may be somewhat difficult to get a seat if you have a large party on a weekend. For breakfast you can't go wrong with one of the neighborhood favorite specials. I generally don't go for lunch, but I've had a few of the panini sandwiches and the burger. All of which were solid. Nice and friendly local wait staff. Very much a local spot, but it appears that outsiders are starting to catch on. Worth a visit if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
(5)