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.
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.
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.
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!
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