Middle Child - Philadelphia

Citing Middle Child in Center City Philadelphia, the recent NY Times article in the Food Section re great sandwiches around the country, was right on the money: The turkey sandwich with cheese and house-made blueberry jam on a fresh ciabatta roll is superb--really, one of the best sandwiches I've eaten anywhere! Not to mention state of the art breakfast sandwiches prepared by an energetic crew in a slick setting to the tune of upbeat music.

Breakfast sandwich was delicious. Toast was perfectly buttered and toasted. Eggs had a phenomenal texture. I could have eaten three of these!Middle Child serves a breakfast sandwich worth a special trip.

This is my favorite sandwich shop in Philadelphia, and I visit frequently. However, I’ve noticed a significant decline in the quality of service, which is really disappointing. Despite having many staff members on the line, things are chaotic—orders take forever, and during my last visit, I received the wrong order. I didn’t realize it until I got home because it was labeled correctly. I ordered the Surfer but ended up with the Shopsin Club, which is a completely different sandwich. I didn’t bother calling back; it seems they’re too busy to care. Middle Child sandwich shop is far superior to Clubhouse, and I wish the same level of attention could be given to this location. I've spent too much money here, and it feels wasteful, especially since I’m allergic to avocado.

As a certified breakfast sandwich enthusiast (and perhaps a bit of a snob), this place was high on my list of must-tries during my weekend in Philadelphia. It certainly lived up to the hype! I chose the classic breakfast sandwich and added a hash brown, just as many of the reviews I had read recommended. After strolling a few blocks to enjoy my meal in the lovely Washington Square and finding a cozy bench, I unwrapped the surprisingly hefty sandwich and took a big bite—wow, I was blown away! The eggs were incredibly fluffy and cooked to perfection, the cheese was sharp and melty (and I’m generally not a fan of American cheese), the arugula provided a wonderful texture and freshness, and the hash brown truly elevated the entire experience! I was also excited to see that they offered Topo Chico. Plus, there were plenty of other pantry items available (hot sauce, gourmet condiments, adorable shirts, etc.). I can’t wait to return and try some of the other sandwiches on the menu!

Although this is stretching the concept of a cafe, Middle Child has been recommended to me in comments from my other cafe reviews as well as suggested to my niece. So…we paid them a visit.If given the chance, I always try to check out the menu ahead of time. This menu raised an eyebrow as the ingredients were different? BUT they serve locally roasted Elixir coffee, so they must be doing something right.There were two sandwiches we couldn’t decide on. So we ordered both and swapped half with each other. Here is what I thought:Shopsin Club (House turkey, cranberry miso mayo, sweet pickles, bacon, avocado, bibb, ciabatta)I am not a pickle person and was hesitant of this combination, but I wouldn’t change a thing. My tastebuds were VERY happy!Surfer (House turkey, melty Swiss, blueberry chutney, duke’s mayo, arugula, ciabatta)We tried this one second and probably should have cleansed our pickle palate as it was delicious but lacked a “kick”. My niece took the rest of hers home to add some pickles.Next, the atmosphere is fun and retro. Staff was incredibly helpful, cheery, and friendly. Seating is limited, but available both inside and outside. We opted to go sit in the park. One of my favorite perks when eating in the city.I love the name of this cafe (deli/diner). When I think of a middle child, Jan Brady always comes to mind. Hence, at least to me, the retro vibe here definitely fits the bill.If you like to challenge your tastebuds and happen to be near center city in Philly, give Middle Child a try. I plan to go back this week Shopsin Club all the way! #trustkj