Review: Hungry Pigeon

My husband and I had plans to meet friends for drinks in Philadelphia and decided to grab dinner first. We browsed available spots on OpenTable and made a last-minute reservation at Hungry Pigeon in the city’s Queen Village neighborhood.

A regular on Philadelphia Magazine’s 50 Best Restaurants list, Hungry Pigeon is housed in a charming corner storefront with exposed brick walls, plant-filled windows and bright décor. We were seated at a table near the window, along the brick wall. We both commented it was a great spot to bring a date. Our waitress could not have been more accommodating. She was incredibly friendly without being overbearing. We knew we wanted to try the chef’s tasting menu, so we ordered our dinner and drinks at the same time.

The first course arrived quickly. We enjoyed a large basket of homemade bread with three dishes: beef tongue, chicken liver mousse and tuna rillettes. Each dish was packed with flavor, though my favorite was the tuna. Next up, we split a pasta course of gnocchi with broccoli and pork sausage. The gnocchi had an unusual preparation and was more reminiscent of polenta. Our main course was a true standout: grilled striped bass collar and belly topped with tomatoes and herbs. The fish was perfectly cooked and the herbs provided a dynamic flavor. Roasted Brussels sprouts and mushroom polenta came on the side. We ended our meal with sugar pie with Meyer lemon. My slice was bitter and we discovered I had a lot more lemon in mine. Regardless, it was a great end to the meal.

Between the service, atmosphere and menu, Hungry Pigeon was a perfect dining experience. I’m looking forward to trying its brunch service in the near future.

Hungry Pigeon

743 S 4th St.

Philadelphia, PA 19147

tel 215 278 2736