Matt Cahn
Middle Child | Philadelphia
April 2019
Matt Cahn grew up going to old-school Philly diners and luncheonettes, hanging out at the booths of joints like Snow White, Salumeria, Little Pete’s, and Sarcone’s. After graduating from Boston University and working in advertising for a few years in New York City, Cahn knew he needed a change. He moved to Colorado and worked at a bistro in Vail Valley, flipping burgers and learning the rhythm of the kitchen. Moving back to New York, he joined Court Street Grocers as a prep and line cook, eventually becoming a manager. At the same time, he joined the opening team of Brooks Headley’s Superiority Burger.
On visits home to Philadelphia, Cahn saw many of the classic hoagie shops and diners that he frequented in his childhood closing. Wanting to preserve their legacy, Cahn moved back to Philly and opened Middle Child, a daytime eatery in the Washington Square West neighborhood that has captured the spirit of the city and heart of the industry. Cahn works with Chef Keith Krajewski, an alum of fine-dining Marigold Kitchen to craft a menu chock-full of downright deliciousness, including Vietnamese “Phoagies” and a corned beef-American cheese egg sandwich named the Herschel Walker. Philadelphia Magazine named Middle Child the “Best Breakfast of 2018.”
