Review: Bourbon Blue Restaurant and Canal Lounge in Philadelphia, PA

A sunny fall day in Manayunk, strolling along the canal. Do a little shopping, do a little flirting, enjoy a moment outside of the hustle and bustle of Center City. Finding the brunch spots along Main Street was too overwhelming and exhausting, we ventured down Rector Street to the New Orleans-inspired Bourbon Blue. Housed in a voluminous building leaning next to the water, Bourbon Blue is two floors of warm terra cotta and wrought iron. The downstairs bar is warming up to seat thirsty neighborhood Eagle's fans, while the sunny and warm upstairs is serving a fine brunch menu to a happy crowd. Without having to board a flight south, Bourbon Blue brings some New Orleans spice to Philadelphia. Relaxing with a perfect Mimosa and a slightly Cajun spiced Bloody Mary, we relaxed in the dining area and mellowed out the weekend.

Brunch, being the only meal you're legally allowed not to calorie count, my date and I chose three plates. No meal can call itself brunch without pancakes, so we shared two light fluffy and absolutely fantastic buttermilk pancakes ($8.50), served with maple syrup and berry compote. Along side the pancakes, a plate of Eggs Benedict, with classic smoked ham, and lyonnaise potatoes. Hollandaise sauce can make or break the greatest eggs benedict ($11.50), and Bourbon Blue's sauce was a perfect kick without any heavy cling on the palate. Both were classic choices for any brunch, perfectly prepared and plated. Following our breakfast choices, we split a lunch plate-since it was nearly 2pm. (Ain't brunch grande!) We opted for a serving of Chef Mark Ziebis' Southern Fried Chicken ($11)-lean chicken battered in buttermilk, alongside some of the best Cajun fries east of the Mississippi. Making this plate the overall favorite was the thick, country gravy that smothered the chicken and fries, a perfect respite when you aren't thinking about the waistline and your only concern is taste.

Are you lucky enough to live in the East Falls/Manayunk hood? Or do you plan on taking advantage of this unseasonable weather and do some canal crawling? While your there, make your brunch, lunch or dinner reservations at Bourbon Blue.

Oopps! We almost forgot, Bourbon Blue is celebrating 5 years of success, one of them being named Best Neighborhood Bar in the nation by Maxim. Some of you might think this honor instantly means big bazonga girls and drunken frat boys...Well, you'd kind of be right. But Bourbon Blue is a spiritual descendant of the clubs and bars of the Big Easy. With live entertainment almost every night, and the always-randy Manayunk crowd, stop in after 10 to truly appreciate Maxim's award. Don't be shy, while the bacchanal never seems to stop, it's a party everyone is welcome at Bourbon Blue.

Bourbon Blue Restaurant and Canal Lounge, Number 2 Rector St, Philadelphia, 215-508-3360, 215-508-3365, bourbonblue.com.