Hungry Pigeon

I give this place five stars only because last night I was treated so wonderfully by their bartender Marianne… She has since been fired for having too much personality and not being the kind of robot that they must want working there… I’ve been there three times and the only reason I’ve gone back is because I wanted to give them a chance to get their shit together… That obviously isn’t going to happen and I don’t expect this place to last over six months, the food is subpar, the service is robotic, and they just lost one much of the best bartenders in the city because they’re lame as fuck. Avoid this place like the plague.

Let me start out positive; The restaurant/​café has a very nice atmosphere, servers are nice and friendly, and great beer selection as well. The same cannot be said for the food. Their food menu is not specific, but I ordered the goat with greens and noodles anyways. When it came out, the presentation was ok, not good but not bad, my plate mostly consisted of greens drenched in mustard, and you could barely see any goat or noodles on the plate, and the plate was $ 18 before taxes. In fact, I had to use the lit candle on the table to search for the goat meat because it was a late night dinner and its a dark restaurant, and only found 3 very small goat pieces, literally 3. I really wanted to like this place because it’s literally a couple of feet from where I live and it’s a nice looking place, but the food was such a disappointment.

Absolutely delicious!!! I went this morning (weekend menu) and it was booming but I was able to steal a seat at the bar! The service was speedy and the food was delicious! Best croissant I’ve ever had. I also really enjoyed the loose leaf teas. Cool ambiance. I’ll definitely be back!

Great addition to Fabric Row. Space is airy and well lit. We ordered the breakfast bowl (very flavorful), sardine sandwich (good flavors but hard to bite without making a mess), and croissant (really flaky).
We are not big fans of the coffee but that’s a personal preference against the brand. Overall a very nice breakfast spot that is already very popular. The staff could barely keep up, so I’m curious to see where this place goes next!

The good: the hash brown, the morning beer, and the décor. The bad: everything else. My frittata was sad and tiny and the toast was inedible. Our waitress was also very rude. I really wanted to like this place, but I won’t be going back.

Quick note before my review:
It’s so disappointing to see so many people giving negative reviews about things that are standard growing pains for a new restaurant. If you’ve ever been part of the opening staff for a new restaurant, you know how hard it can be to get in a groove. It can take a little while to get everything running super smoothly. Challenges pop up that you never anticipated and they need to be dealt with on the spot, etc. Try to keep that in mind whenever you visit a brand new establishment.
That all said, I love the Hungry Pigeon! First of all, the space is freaking *stunning*. It’s big and bright with gorgeous art, including a Hawk Krall original. Seriously, whoever put this place together gets so many props.
As for the food – well, let’s just say I ate here twice last week and I may go back for lunch this week. I’ve tried the cured organic salmon, the chopped liver, the scallop crudo, the grilled sweet potatoes, and the goat stroganoff. I would recommend them all, the crudo and goat stroganoff in particular. We were stuffed by the time the stroganoff came out, but it was so good we almost got into a duel over it.
My boyfriend and I are not huge dessert people. I think we honestly only order dessert once or twice a year, but when we saw the $ 100 chocolate cake on the menu, curiosity took over. It’s $ 10 a slice ($ 100 if you want a whole cake, which, I kind of do), and it comes with a glass of Maplehofe milk from Lancaster. Guys. This cake is insane. I just. I can’t even talk about it. It’s so good. I think it’s the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had in my life, and like I said, desserts generally don’t make me feel any sort of way. Also the milk is amazing. That may sound weird, but trust me. It’s damn good milk. Plus, is there anything more comforting than a giant slice of cake and a glass of cold milk?
When I returned for brunch the place was packed, so keep that in mind if you decide to come on a weekend around 1 PM. I got lucky and sat quickly, but some parties came in right after me and were on a wait. The bloody mary here is excellent and rather unique. I can’t really place why other than the fact that I think they strain it so it’s completely smooth. You know how some bloodies have so much «stuff» suspended in it that by the time you’re at the end your straw is clogging and you have to abandon the drink? Not this one. I destroyed it.
I had the breakfast bowl which was yummy. It’s light and feels healthy – I’d definitely order it again. My friend had the brisket hash which I didn’t get to try, but it looked reallllly good.
They were out of pigeon when I went for dinner (obviously not the easiest meat to source), so if you’re wanting to try that I would call in advance just to check.
Hungry Pigeon is an awesome addition to the neighborhood and I’ll be visiting often.

Can’t recommend enough. Was visiting from New York and went twice, dinner and lunch. Cosy atmosphere and great manner from the staff.
Food was delicious, the burger from the lunch menu was top drawer and the chocolate cake after dinner was also a highlight!
Can’t wait to visit again

I’m sorry but it’s not good. We just had brunch there and the only things that were even acceptable were the bread basket and the hash brown and these were only just acceptable. My scrambled eggs were completely liquid inside (yuck!) and the gravy for the biscuits and gravy was separated and hardly had any sausage in it, the biscuits were just fair. The staff, although friendly enough, were pretty clueless. I mean who brings tea and coffee w/​o sugar and cream and then when asked to bring sugar and cream doesn’t bring spoons? Then she brings a bread basket (the delivery of this was weird too) w/​o giving us plates. Now, all that being said, we will give dinner a chance. We will wait a month or two in hopes that the staff will get a clue.

It was fine. Not a lot of food for a lot of money. Probably won’t return even though we live in the neighborhood. Also, no options except whole milk for coffee. Would be nice to have skim, soy, etc. as options.

Something different and so welcome to Philly. We need this place. Had the goat stroganoff, roasted radishes, monk fish and house pickles. All outstanding. Roasted sweet potatoes with grains and Brussels was so delicious. Real sweet potatoes — not yams. It was a perfect mix of flavor and texture. The bread and the pigeon were some of the best i have eaten anywhere.
The space is gorgeous and special. The light and succulent plants set a beautiful scene. Service was fantastic.
Get the pigeon. It tastes better than it looks and it’s a piece of art.

The hubby and I tracked over in the snow, as we’ve been dying to check this place out since we learned of its existence. Upon walking in, we were loving the warmth of the décor, the fact that everyone looked happy, and the fact that they had a few tables open so we wouldn’t have to wait long.
The best way describe what ensued is that its name ‘Hungry Pigeon’ serves it right… it’s perfect if your appetite is bird-​like… or if you’re more of a drinker I could see this as a great lil spot.
We each grabbed a beer which was a delightful start to a brunch. The Blood Orange Gose was EXACTLY what the doctor had ordered. From there, we split a banana cinnamon bun… which served cold… and with no knives or sign of a waiter/​waitress, we broke apart with our forks. It was pretty damn good, but would have been out of this world if it had just been thrown on a griddle for a few minutes to warm back up.
For my brunch, I went for the breakfast bowl ($ 9). It sounded really hearty, and being so cold… it was exactly what I wanted. My husband went for 2 eggs over hard, toast, a hash brown ($ 9), and a side of scrapple ($ 5). When our food came out, we were kind of blown away by how teeny it was. My bowl was served in a little tin dish that had a military feel to it, yet was still very chic. My food… was essentially a watery porridge with ¹⁄₈ of an avocado, a tablespoon of green stuff (kimchi salsa verde?), 1 poached egg, and some beans + sprouts thrown in it. I ate it very slowly because I didn’t want to be rude… but essentially it was like 8 solid bites of food. Please keep in mind this was my brunch… i.e. breakfast + lunch. I guess I’m not the hungry pigeon I thought I was.
He had a similar experience. He balked at the fact that they gave him 1 piece of toast… as if 2 pieces of bread would have broken the bank. The eggs were pretty standard… as eggs are. I took a bite of his hash brown, and it was absolutely delicious, but maybe 60% of the size of my hopes and dreams (and Honeys… and McDonalds even…). He’s a big dude… and crankier than I am when he’s hungry, so i layed off and let him eat. He ate every last bite…
$ 40 + tax/​tip later, we left and went to Lorenzo’s and split a slice on the walk back home. The food was amazing… but there just wasn’t enough OF it to justify the price, nor the effort.
When the Very Hungry Caterpillar opens up, call me!

The new kid on the block has arrived in Queen Village. Over the past week, have frequented the Hungry Pigeon twice, once for drinks with friends and this snowy morning for breakfast with my wife.
While i have a lot of hope for the space, there are some basics affecting the customer experience that are far off point, even for a newly opened establishment, before I’d be able to boost its Unilocal star power.
Attention to detail: after ordering a coffee, sugar or cream wasn’t part of the standard delivery. In fact, cream (or skim milk or anything beyond whole milk) was non-​existent. A pretty long wait for the sugar and then a double-​ask for milk resulted in some very chilly coffee. Along the same detail lacking lines, a salad ordered with dressing on the side showed up with heavy dressing.
Non-​dairy options: This day in age, especially in Philly, options beyond whole milk to add to coffee is the norm. Unfortunately, HP lost a sale this morning to my wife. Adding almond milk and/​or soy milk would open up options without much of an inconvenience for the restaurant.
Portions: This has come up in a few other reviews. I ordered the Breakfast Bowl (very good with a bit of a kick) and side of hash browns (good but luke warm) while my wife ordered the chopped salad (good), both left still hungry. In fact, my wife’s parting words when we left were, «I need a coffee and something to eat.»
We are pulling for you Hungry Pigeon, but work on some of the loose ends.

Excellent vibes. I want to hang out here. Just had biscuits and gravy with a fried egg and a black & white cocktail. Put me right. I’ve also had the burger for lunch and the pot roast at dinner. All good! Can’t wait to come back and see what else they come up with. Oh yeah the almond croissant was excellent too. I’m really happy it’s in my hood.
The only thing I’d like is pot roast for 1. It’s soooo good but what if no one else at the table wants it? Or least a pot roast for 2 and a bigger portion for 4 instead of pot roast for 2 – 4. That’s my two cents. Can you tell I love that pot roast? I do. Love it. I don’t want to share it even though sharing is caring. I need my own personal pot roast.

This is a review of 1 thing. The best croissant I have ever had. I can’t speak about anything else because this almond croissant has blown me away completely. Wow. I seriously enjoyed this pastry! Short and sweet.

Lots of plus and Indifferences for this new spot. First pluses, great service (Brian), lovely atmosphere and good martinis. Second, food was so so. Which happens with a new restaurant. It needs a little tweaking all around, less salt and maybe better pricing (seemed expensive) but we’ll be back to try again soon.

Okay — this a review based on the first week of operation for HP — which is (literally) a block away from our house. I went on the FIRST night they served dinner as a soft opening. It was packed and the staff were just being trained so it took 90 minutes for the main plates to be delivered followed by the apps — don’t ask!, just chalk up to the first night). Food was creative but will be too strange for most and especially kids. Portions small except sharable mains like pot roast. But it’s $ 45 and serves 3 – 4. But what if you are just one or two. Guess I won’t be having that. Since it officially opened on Monday ¹⁄₁₈ it was not been full as I go by around 6 or 7pm. Menu is small and doesn’t change so how often can you eat fish strogonoff or pigeon (think size of a quail).
I hit breakfast on the 18^th. (as an earlier Unilocaler said it wasn’t open before that). I arrived at 11:15 and was told that breakfast is 7AM-​11AM and then they switch to lunch till 5pm. There were some baked goods. (basically 4 varieties of baked goods — bran muffin, biscuit, plain croissant and the breadpudding cinnamon roll. (Muffins only available when topped with eggs). The coffee (Ultimo) was wonderful. No discount on refills.
This morning I walked by at 7:35 and the sign said they were closed. So maybe they now open at 8am. I’d call first before coing before 8Am to not be dissappointed.
I found the wait and counter staff to still be «in training» (no one knew what the 2^nd and third coffees listed on the menu were and I got an odd look when I asked for butter or jelly for the plain homemade biscuit. (Someone finally found me jelly).
The room is great during the day with lots of light and wasn’t full so fairly quite. If it is full at night expect LOUD.
This coming weekend the Philly «brunchers» will hit HP for the first time. I don’t know how the «Breakfast till 11 AM only» thing will play out. Guess we’ll see. Again, I’ll suggest that folks call first to verify the times of any menu change.
Neither time I was there were either of the owners in the dining room observing. I highly encourage them to do so. Many of the «issues» could be overcomed if they were «on site»
The neighborhood has been waiting 9 months or more since owners Scott and Pat announced their plans. the current menu doesn’t quite match the sample they showed. My guess is that HP will evolve as neighbors (their core business demographic, if open for B, L and D) come and return (or not). Like the NEW Living Room Café (5^th and Monroe) this is a new venture and will evolve. I’ll give it another try in a week or so and see if they have adapted to the neighborhood)
I’ll update and re-​grade this review again.

Newly opened. Great space, beautifully finished. First day of breakfast/​lunch today and, despite some technical difficulties with software, they put out a great product. Food & coffee were excellent. Sticky bun was outstanding!
The whole counter service, get your own water, number on a stand thingies need to be figured out as they’re a little awkward right now. They’re likely just teething problems like all new places go through however so I’ll be back to see how that changes. Bottom line is the food is great, the place is a welcome addition to the area and the service is friendly. Keep up the good work you guys!

Are here a few days ago… The drinks were good, especially the black & white, but food seemed to lack punch. Everything was cooked well, texture-​wise (except for the liver appetizer– it was a bit mealy… Maybe overlooked?) but all in all the dishes lacked flavor. I’m definitely excited to stop in again.
One note– the music was way too loud. If you’re looking to make small talk (or, God forbid, a conversation), this isn’t the place to go. The music was atrociously loud.

I’m happy there’s a new addition to the Queen’s Village area, especially when the menu boasts things I couldn’t concoct in my wildest dreams– goat stroganoff, pan roasted pigeon, a $ 100 chocolate cake (you read that right), etc.
We went on a Thursday night around 7 without reservations and got a seat no problem, but it did get pretty packed within the hour or so we were there.
The place is adorable. Think farmhouse hipster wedding reception. Succulent plants everywhere, cute light fixtures, whimsical country cottage wallpaper in the bathroom, farm style tables and chairs, Led Zeppelin cover music playing in the background, and one of the owners wearing overalls.
The waitress informed us that the menu is shareable and suggested ordering a combination of some small plates and large plates to get a feel for everything. She said it’s «non-​coursed,» meaning the dishes come out as they are ready. I usually hate the tapas gimmick (I want my own damn dish), but I was willing to give it a try.
Drink menu is not large, but unique. They offer wine on tap, select local craft beers and some interesting cocktails. Wine was served in little rocks glasses.
We ordered 2 of the small plates: steamed clams and grilled sweet potato. The sweet potatoes were absolutely delicious– buttery and served with roasted brussel sprouts and some kind of barley/​grain on top. The clams were also delicious, simmering in a buttery broth and served with a SPICY dipping sauce in an adorable sugar jar. But they were itsy bitsy clams, so not really filling.
Since we figured 2 small plates and 1 large plate should be substantial enough for 3 people, we ordered just 1 large plate that claims to feed 2 – 4 people– the family style pot roast. This is the only reason I took off a star. I likened it to be the size of a Cornish game hen served on a platter, but instead what we got was a couple hefty chunks of meat and some mashed potatoes (cold on the first bite) in a little school cafeteria lunch tray (but about a third the size). It truly was an adequate size for 1 adult human only– MAYBE 2 birdlike eaters. We all kind of looked at each other like «there’s more coming out right?» Luckily we had the small plates to tide us over– but I still was wishing I had more. However, the flavors were so good and the pot roast was moist. And combined with the crispy rutabaga, silky potato purée and delicious sauce to sop it up in, I couldn’t knock it that much just because of size. The roast also came with another adorable sugar jar with horseradish.
Which is why we ordered dessert. We got the apple tart Normandy with a scoop of ice cream and it was perfectly done– super delicate, but packed with a perfect sweet/​tart combo.
Overall, I am definitely returning to try the stroganoff, pigeon or braised chicken and maybe a different small appetizer. It’s a little pricy, but the quality and uniqueness of the food makes it worth it.

Went to Hungry Pigeon on the second day they had opened. Love the ambience — very chilled out. Good for dates, groups as well as families. Wait staff was super attentive — and the bartender was awesome. All four specialty cocktails were great — my fave was the black and white (think of a cold cappacino with rum). The appetizers were good — the crudo could do with a little more acid. The chicken entrée (comes with soft tacos) rocked. and the wife fell in love with the dessert (apple tart).
Overall — fantastic addition to the neighbourhood. Hope they continue to do great. will be back soon.