Wednesday, December 30, 2015

A Feast with a View

A Feast with a View - SkyBrunch at Top of the Tower

Months ago, I received a text from my sister saying "Have you heard about SkyBrunch?! You should post about it." I was intrigued - SKYBRUNCH?! What could that possibly mean? It had the word brunch in it so I was obviously sold. I looked into it, and it turns out that super-fancy venue Top of the Tower hosts a brunch buffet on Sundays. Their website boasts about incredible views 50 floors up. It sounded fantastic. With the $50 price tag, however, I thought I'd save it for a special occasion. In the meantime, I posted about it on Instagram with the hashtag #brunchbabedreams.

Weeks later, I found one of those deal vouchers for this fancy brunch with a heavy discount. Sky Brunch for 4 with a $115 price tag. I couldn't resist. I quickly created a group chat with my 3 most likely brunch dates, who all already knew about my Sky Brunch dream. "OMG guys, I found a deal for Sky Brunch for almost half the price. WHO'S COMING WITH ME?!" 5 minutes later, the voucher had been purchased. Quick tip, if you do purchase a voucher (and I've seen them a few times since), make your reservation right away and be sure to include a note in your reservation that you have the voucher.

We made our reservation about a month out. After a very long month, it was finally the beginning of December! I took a break from studying for finals to indulge in an excessive brunch buffet, complete with a complimentary cocktail. 


The space is set in a high rise on Arch Street. We were asked for our reservation name upon arrival, and were then directed to the elevator and instructed to head to the 50th floor. Once we reached the 50th floor, we were directed through a lobby area, which held several food stations, and sat at a table for 4. 
The views were amazing!
The website wasn't lying - the views really were incredible! We took a moment to appreciate the view before we sat. There were several options on the cocktail menu to choose from. I went with the bloody mary. Our waiter then told us he'd bring the drinks over, but that we should feel free to start in on the buffet. Now, this wasn't your average brunch. Normally we'd sit and chat, have a laugh over a cocktail, replay the previous night's activities and cringe at the texts we'd sent the night before. But that day, there was no time for that. Brunch was served.

The first round
We took our time perusing the endless stations. The large main room had an omelette and short rib station, as well as quiches, fruit, bacon, and sausage. As if that wasn't enough, the hallway between the main room and the lobby contained even more stations, with items ranging from dessert to sushi. It took several minutes just to figure out where to begin! 

Chicken over french toast
Our first round began with fried chicken over french toast, one of the highlights of the meal. The combination between sweet and savory was perfect. Syrup added some extra sweetness, and it all melted together in your mouth.

Lox Station
Another favorite was the lox station. There were several different types, including a blackened smoked salmon. This station provided bagels, cream cheese, and all the fixings. 

Charcuterie
In addition to the breakfast foods, there was charcuterie and roasted chicken. The au gratin potatoes, another standout, were just the right amount of cheesy. Yet another station held a sushi plate and enough shrimp cocktail to feed a small army. Everywhere I turned there was another station - and it was all delicious! 
Just a few desserts
Our last round was dessert, and we each carefully selected a few small cakes or pastries from the delicate display. The cakes were moist and flaky, and were the perfect sweet ending to our indulgent feast.
Classic bloody mary
An hour and three (okay fine, maybe four - but dessert doesn't really count, right?) plates later, my friends and I had had enough. After paying our bill, we slowly peeled ourselves out of our chairs and walked towards the door. Sky Brunch had been great, but it was time for a nap. My recommendation for all of those considering this brunch: get a deal if you can, take some time to appreciate the views, and come hungry.

Another incredible view

SkyBrunch at Top of the Tower
1717 Arch Street, 50th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103




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