A loft-inspired space, specialty coffees, and a menu chock full of unique brunch favorites with a focus on local ingredients is what you’ll find at Almost Home General, the city’s latest breakfast, lunch and brunch cafe/coffee shop.
The space, which took over the previous home of United by Blue (at the base of Bridge on Race apartments) opens this Thursday, April 18, to the public and uses its 3,000 square-foot venue to construct “a home away from home” for Philadelphians.
The concept, which has numerous locations in New Jersey, was developed by Robert Doran, who partnered up with Glu Hospitality for its Philly venture. Doran’s partners in business over the bridge include Andrew Datre (Gianni’s Pizzeria in Monmouth County) and Braxton Berrios (former New York Jet and current Miami Dolphins wide receiver).
Doran likes customers to think of the welcoming front-of-house team as “family” — where they get to know customer’s first names and orders — and who are always ready to make suggestions for those feeling adventurous or those wanting the simpler classics.
The new venue also takes notes from the owner’s time spent in Thailand and Vietnam from November 2019 to February 2020, as well as an 1,800 mile bike ride from Florida back to New Jersey.
For Almost Home in Philadelphia, Doran brings his passion for coffee to the City of Brotherly Love — plus his appreciation and respect for Philly’s food scene, the release notes.
Food-wise, visitors can find duck fat braised onions, truffle fondue, wasabi tiger sauce, tempura fried scrapple, house blended sausage and more as some of the ingredients on the menu. Stand-out dishes include the tempura fried scrapple with an olive oil poached egg, truffle fondue and crispy potato sticks on a hoagie roll; house-made lamb sausage with gorgonzola dolce, dried cherries and sesame brittle on a hoagie roll; plus bites like a croque monsieur, fancy duck homefries and much more.
The other enticing half of Almost Home General comes from the coffee offerings, which span “Philly Specials”, matcha, almost famous signatures, smoked drinks, coffee mocktails, lemonade, pour overs and teas. Highlights span the salted caramel latte, purple haze matcha latte, s’more latte, cereal latte, old-fashioned cold brew, charcoal lemonade and more.
The beans come from a small batch roaster in New Jersey and are personally curated blends and single origins picked by Doran under his coffee company, Just Rob’s. They’re used at all Almost Home locations, the release states.
Doran noted in a statement, “While we take our coffee very seriously in terms of quality and sourcing and flavor, we like to have fun with our menus and incorporate creative specials like cereal lattes, smoked maple lattes, old fashioned cold brews, [and] an amazing and creative matcha menu where we source our ceremonial grade matcha powder from a family-owned farm in Kyoto Japan.”
He added, “I collaborate with our baristas to come up with new drink specials both every month, and every season. Together we put out a full new drink menu for winter / fall and then a new one for spring / summer while also putting out monthly special menus made up of 3-5 additional drinks.”
As far as the atmosphere of the new space, specific elements were put in to make it feel airy, open and inviting with floor-to-ceiling custom bookcases and windows, couches, lounge areas, a new subway tile coffee counter, latte art and plans to add in a cozy nook down the road.
“When we took over the space it felt dark and overwhelmed with wood. We developed a new color palette that included [the] brand colors we are known for and love to utilize whenever possible: A light pink and teal color. These are inspired by the Jersey Shore summer and warmer happy weather,” continued Doran.
“We chose to do rich, natural tones of oak [to] impart a sense of timeless elegance and ground the space with an earthy warmth. Chestnut leather accents add a touch of luxury and comfort, offering a cozy and inviting atmosphere for guests to unwind. Pastel Tiffany blue subway tiles introduce a refreshing pop of color, evoking a sense of tranquility and modernity.”
Down the road, Almost Home is set for future expansion with plans in the works for at least three more locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the next year. For more information on Almost Home General in Philadelphia (205 Race St.,) visit almosthomegeneral.com
