Santucci's Pizza Review [2]

Until I received a menu in my mailbox, I never realized Santucci's had opened up an outpost on North Broad. Better yet, stamped on the front was a note saying they could deliver their delicious square pies right to my door. So it literally took just a day for me to place my first order to see how their pies would stand up to delivery. 

Fried Mozzarella w/ Marinara [ $7]

The GF and I are big fans of their homemade fried mozzarella sticks. Huge chunks of fresh mozzarella were expertly fried in Italian bread crumbs and held up well to delivery. The marinara wasn't overly sweet and clearly housemade as well. 

6 Garlic Parmesan Wings [$7.10]

The garlic parm wings were well-cooked - crisp and juicy. They were slathered in garlic butter and studded with plenty of salty parm. 

Chicken Fingers w/ Hand-Cut Fries [$9]

The GF and I love the fact that all of Santucci's dishes are homemade. So we knew the chicken fingers would be legit. They were juicy and well-seasoned, though unfortunately a bit limp rather than crispy due to the extra steaming in the takeout box. Similarly, the hand-cut fries were limp as well, but still tasty. The accompanying stone-ground honey mustard was killer though - I could drink it for days. 

Large "The Works" Square Pizza [$19]

Extra cheese, pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, onions 

But the star of the show? Perfect. Ten rectangular slices of heaven awaited us upon delivery. The crisp and lightly buttery dough was topped with plenty of cheese, toppings, and Santucci's marinara. 

So if you live in the Fairmount area, don't forget to hit up Santucci's if you've got a hankering for a proper tomato slice. Keep in mind though - cash only! 

Hungry Pigeon Review

Before venturing out on his own, Scott Schroeder was known as one of the city's best for gastro-pub cuisine. And with South Philly Tap Room and American Sardine Bar under his belt, Chef Schroeder partnered up with pastry chef Pat O'Malley, whose own experience includes NYC's French brasserie, Balthazar. 

In Queen Village, their Hungry Pigeon offers up casual, yet elevated comfort food. From the exposed brick to the pigeon cages in the back, it's got a neighborhood feel that makes you want to move to the area. 

The GF and I stopped by for brunch with some friends and we all started off with some mimosas to whet our whistles before diving into the menu.

Breakfast Salad [$12]
Greens, bacon, cheddar cheese, warm lentils, poached egg, hashed brown, toast 

The GF went "light" with an incredible array of bites extending from dressed greens, which offered up an acidic counterpoint to the warm, hearty lentils. The wonderfully crisped hashed brown is always a must-order (it's available as a side!). Along with the sharp cheddar, the poached egg provided the richness to tie it all together. 

Biscuits & Gravy [$5]

I decided to go the all-side route to try the Hungry Pigeon's take on some of my favorites. Biscuits and gravy were spot on, with a pair of flaky biscuits that had some texture, despite being drenched in a wonderfully rich and peppery sausage gravy. 

Scrapple [$5]

The scrapple was beautifully griddled, crisp, and unctuous. But I couldn't help but amp it up by asking for a pair of poached eggs on the side. Why you ask? 

Obviously because I didn't think I had enough to clog my arteries. Clearly gilding the lily, I enjoyed the rich on rich action, which made for a meal on its own. 

Pear Dutch Baby [$12]

And you can't go to the Hungry Pigeon without ordering their dutch baby. Beautifully crisped on the bottom thanks to the cast-iron pan, I enjoyed the textural juxtaposition, with chewy bits strewn throughout, along with macerated pear slices. It's all made even better when drenched in syrup and butter. 

Queen Village's known for its neighborhood hot spots (read: Dmitri's, Little Fish) and the Hungry Pigeon clearly fits the bill. I'll need to stop by soon for dinner and to try some of their cocktails. But in the meantime, I'd highly recommend you hit it up yourself!