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Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American (New), Caterers [Edit]
Neighborhood: Bella VistaDon't Just Wish Someone A Good Holiday, Give Them One With Chili's.
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suburban living has its pluses: quiet nights, lots of space for less money, a driveway for my car. but it doesn't have sabrina's.
so when i found myself waking up within walking distance of the italian market this lovely saturday morning, heading over to one of my favorite [and one of the city's notoriously best] brunch spots was a must. meredith K called in our reservation as we walked out her door, so upon arrival we had, maybe, a 3 minute wait. if that. word to the wise for all you wait haters.
shortly after being seated and handed menus, we were served coffee and then had our orders taken. for as mobbed as this place always is, they run one helluva tight ship, as our meals were placed on the table before we even needed caffeine refills! mer ordered the florentine eggs benedict special with turkey bacon and remarked that it featured one of the best hollandaise sauces she's ever had.
i should have dipped one of my home fried potatoes in it to try...but i was too focused on tackling my "to catch a thief" tostada special. wow - a crunchy tostada topped with eggs, black beans, sour cream (that i should have asked them to hold), a corn salsa, granny smith apples and butternut squash. GET THIS before it's no longer in season! you'll thank me. be forewarned tho, like everything sabrina's dishes up, this is massive, so be prepared to either share, gorge yourself into a food coma or, do what i did, and take home half for later.
Sabrina's is an excellent place to go. They are consistent, fun, cheap, and they deliver excellent food.
Definitely try:
Stuffed French Toast
Sandwiches
Specials
Note: Do not go here on the weekends. Take a day off and go on a Monday morning. Quite honestly I am sick of avoiding you obnoxious marshmellow hipsters waiting to get in on a Sat/Sun.
Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Cakes - Pumpkin pancakes topped with a lemon-ginger pound cake topped off with peach-vanilla syrup, and lemon-honey butter.
Five words..GO AND GET THEM NOW!
The food is good. My only complaint is that the tables are really piled on top of each other. Spread it out . . .I mean people already wait a long time for a table - you should just let them enjoy their meal without having another couple sit on top of them.
YUMMY!!!! A good BIG meal for your money's worth!!! When we heard about their portion size, i said hell yea because im sick of eating little meals! About time a restaurant knows how to make a meal!! LOL!
Well we saw the french toast, and it is HUGE!! I ordered pancakes, eggs, homefries and toast, wow all SOOO good!! and yes BIG meals!! Better than ihop, better than diners, better than what i make. Haha! And I tried half of my friends burger, yummy!! I LOVE their bread!
i thought we were going to wait for awhile, but we actually got a table in less than 2 mins. It was a little small, but hey i can't complain when I have good food. :D Totally worth the money!! I would definitely go back again :) And everybody that was with me, agrees, good food!!!
This South Philly landmark is a must-go-to if you're in the area! First time we went, we waited an hour for our table and it was totally worth it. yummy yummy yummy
Sabrina's hasn't received a scathing review in a while and I'm here to change it up. Granted, I haven't been there in months, so perhaps they've stepped up their game. But I doubt it.
My first visit to Sabrina's in South Philly was for breakfast in the middle of winter. Fortunately the wait was short this day. If it would have been any longer, we would have peaced out - I see their good intention with handing out hot chocolate to the suckers waiting in subzero temperatures, but that turns eating a meal into a cutesey little activity. Just let me at a damn plate of Juevos Rancheros! My brunch was exceedingly mediocre, but not that bad.
The second visit was the worst. What's with all the garnish? I had the roasted veggie sandwich and my boyfriend had an egg salad sandwich that came with the mystical parmesan fries. Aka, french fries tossed with powder parmesan and more garnish. The sandwich was okay while I was eating it. A little oily, a little too rich, generally a little too wet, but saved by the crusty roll. I felt sick about halfway through and had to stop eating. You will be happy to hear that I don't think their world famous wreath of garnish sprinkles that surrounded both of our sandwiches had anything to do with it.
I want to give Sabrina's another shot, but I probably wont. Maybe I didn't choose wisely from the menu, but I doubt it. But I'd rather go to Cafe Estelle (no wait) or Honey's (better food & selection & service) any time any place any day anywhere. Or Figs at 25th and Aspen.
Let's be honest - Sabrina's rocks at it's game. Big portions & food that everyone loves. I LOVE the chicken salad sandwhich, any of their salads and the stuffed meatloaf. (And I thought I'd only eat my mom's meatloaf.) I've never been dismayed by wait time for food (that is, once you're seated...) and the staff are always attentive and friendly.
OH - and they love dogs. We bring our dogs just about twice a month to sit outside, and they're always brought bowls of water (sometimes before we are!)
So grab a few beers (or wine), grab your dogs, and head over for a massive meal at a reasonable price.
Oh, and know that you will wait if you go on a Saturday or Sunday. But you can always pop down to Fantes (for fabulous kitchen wares), Claudios (for yummy cheeses), or have a coffee at Gleaners while you wait.
As you've read, their breakfast is top notch. I agree completely and love their unique breakfast dishes, La Columbe coffee and quirky decor.
Best kept secret: Their dinner menu is just as amazing, it's a byo and dinner is never packed as breakfast! Their desserts are stellar, and I usually get the mussels app in a white sauce and eat it as an entree.
Rude and don't get the fascination with the food. Extreme uberhipster as well. Won't be going back.
It's been a while since I have visited the brunch mother lode that is Sabrina's. I used to hit it up once a week. That was before I discovered other favorite locales. Nevertheless, after a visit this past Saturday morning, I found that it's still worthwhile to wake up at 8am on a Saturday for the promise of whatever special stuffed french toast is on Sabrina's menu.
Notice that I indicated I woke up early...get to Sabrina's after 10 am on a weekend and you will wait for a table. Waiting is not my thing. I'd rather stumble groggily from bed, hop into the car, and receive my highly anticipated sweet and savory breakfast fix.
Sabrina's portion sizes are huge. My husband and I strategize our ordering. He always gets the Eggs Benedict Florentine. I've become a convert to the way of the Apple Cheddar Omelet. Notice, both dishes are "savory." Then, we order a half sized order of the special stuffed french toast to share as our "sweet." Since our egg dishes come with delicious home fried potatoes, it's an understatement to say that we have to roll ourselves back to the car. In fact, after this last visit, I don't think I was hungry again until much later that evening.
The service is really efficient. The servers are trained to flip tables quickly, and the food comes out very soon after your order is placed. (If you visit the Callowhill Sabrina's, they move even faster, to the point of making you feel rushed when you are eating.)
I've found that hitting Sabrina's for lunch during the work week also yields a quick and tasty meal. It's all about timing...if you don't want to wait, just go on an off peak time. You won't be disappointed with the food.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, do NOT eat here. We went for brunch because it had such good reviews and was in our neighborhood. Everything seemed good at first: nice atmosphere, attentive waitress, etc. Then I found the hidden piece of bacon under my toast. My meal was not supposed to have any meat with it, let alone bacon. I promptly lost my appetite and ended up paying for a meal I was too grossed out to eat. It makes me wonder that if they are so careless to "accidentally" drop a piece of bacon onto my plate, are they also cooking their supposedly vegetarian foods in meat? I wouldn't be surprised.
If you don't mind eating pork or whatever they happen to throw on your plate, I'm sure this place is fine. Personally, I think I won't be going back.
I indulge in Sabrina's weekend brunch at least twice a month. I have their number in my phone. Call ahead, but you'll still wait. The classic menu is delicious, but I always order off the specials menu.... or else I regret it when a huge plate of _____, _____, & _____ pancakes/french toast/ or egg dish walks past to another table and I say... "see, I should have ordered that."
Stick to breakfast... lunch is just ok.
Quality food, the specials are just so different than your typical breakfast menu. Definitely check this place out if you're a big fan of breakfast like I am.
I've been hearing the hype about Sabrina's since I returned to Philly - it's nice to have amazingly high expectations for something and have them met.
Ok - so there was a wait... and I could see the wait getting kind of absurd... but it wouldn't matter. The only thing I can think of that would make this place better would be a solid Bloody Mary - but the free-refill fruit juices more than made up for that in my book. Oh yea - and a better website... but I might be the only person who cares about that ;)
My sister had the Huevos Rancheros - which leaned more towards a chili for base instead of the more beany way I love Huevos Rancheros. Even still - the twist was well executed and amazingly tasty. I was considered stealing the Spicy Red Pepper Guacamole that came with the dish when I tasted my gf's Tofu scramble.
Now, I'm a meat eater - but this was good stuff. Maybe a bit too much garlic is you're hoping for people to enjoy your company afterward... but you can resolve that by having everyone at the table try some.
So what did I have? Darned if I know. Mexi-something that was on the menu but not on the forementioned crummy website. All I remember was fried eggs, a whole mess of pork roll on what I think was a grits/black bean fritter slathered in avocado pesto. Yes - I said avocado pesto. Oh yea - and great breakfast potatoes.
Now we eat outside - and I never stepped inside - but my dad said it was like Grand Central Station during rush hour... loud and busy as hell. Not sure how I'd feel about that myself - but sitting outside on a sunny day this scored as one of my favorite breakfast places. I'm looking forward to trying the one in the museum district to see if it measures up.
I LOVE SABRINA'S..for brunch and especially DINNER! if you haven't been to Sabrina's for dinner yet, you need to go now!
I always get the Greek Salad - lettuce, raddichio, cucumbers, onions, olives, big delicious chunks of feta and greek vinigrette served with a mound of hummus and warm pita bread.. definitely can be a meal in itself. Last time I was here, my friend and I decided to share a steak, which came with our choice of garlic mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. Needless to say, it was amazing, and came split and separately plated, which was such a pleasant surprise! Other recommendations: calamari, honey-ginger sweet potato mash, sweet potato fries, potato leek soup (on rare occasions).. seriously though, just try everything!
The staff here is always friendly and attentive. And the portions, are always generous.
Most of the time I find that most popular places don't live up to the hype surrounding them, but this was not the case with Sabrina's. I just had one of the most satisfying breakfasts I've had in a long time, and it wasn't just because the food was amazing (which it was). Sabrina's offers the whole package: great service, delicious food and coffee, outside seating, healthy options, and a diverse, enjoyable clientele.
I got there around 9 this morning and it was already pretty crowded, but I had no trouble finding a shady seat. The waitress (I wish I could remember her name... I think it may have been Avalon?) came over almost immediately with a menu and water. When she returned a few minutes later, I ordered the Egg White and Turkey Bacon Frittata with multigrain toast and coffee. The coffee is nice and strong, and they are very liberal about refilling your cup. In the hour-and-a-half that I was there, I was offered at least six refills (which explains my current jittery state).
There were probably at least ten other tables there, but my food came out pretty quickly. I know I have yet to experience the insanity that is Sabrina's on weekends, but I have to say that the service has been phenomenal both times I've been here (Hunter and I came for dinner last week and we both loved it). Today, my frittata was divine. I substituted bell peppers for tomato, and they gave me yellow, red, and green. The turkey bacon was perfectly cooked and the provolone was melted across the whole thing. I have to say, I was pretty intimidated by the size of it (the plate also included two huge pieces of multigrain toast and perfectly cooked home fries), and for good reason: I could only finish half of everything. Smaller portions, please!
After I enjoyed all I could eat of my meal and drank enough coffee to kill a baby, a nice couple sat down at the table next to mine and we engaged in a little conversation. There isn't much that accents a nearly perfect meal quite like a little dessert conversation. I haven't had such an enjoyable solo breakfast experience in a while. I'll be back for brunch!
Everyone brags about her brunch, and rightfully so, but I am here to tell you that her dinner is worth a visit. My wife and I dined there last night with another couple and it was good times all around. We started off with mussels in red sauce and hummus and both were very good. I had way more mussels than hummus and that's because they were so good.
For my entree, I had the pork tenderloin which was wrapped in goodness disguised as pancetta and mustard. I had a choice of sweet or garlic mashed potatoes and I chose sweet. And I chose well. The steam veggies we also excellent.
We BYO'd wine and had great convo with the great meals. (Yes, everyone enjoyed their meals too.) And in the end, the bill was $42/ per couple - not bad huh? (Oh yeah, our server was great too. She was prompt and courteous.)
All-in-all a tremendous night. So there you have it. She, the lovely Sabrina, is just as good at night as she is midday. Go enjoy!
Sabrina's is one of my favorite little places in Philly, right in the middle of the italian market. It is great spot to eat outside during spring/summer. It is very relaxed and casual, but the food never fails to impress- always large portions, delicious, and not very expensive. I've enjoyed their breakfast, lunch and dinner. Always perfect for some sunday brunch or an evening date (valentine's day menu this year here was great).
Also vegetarian friendly which is a plus in my book.
I will sum it all up. The food is DELICIOUS, the portions are HUGE, and you are going to wait FOREVER for a table. done.
Celebrity sighting at Sabrina's! Went today for brunch for the first time and who walks up? Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon, OMG! The kids came along so I refrained from making a scene and stuck to texting everyone I know :)
The food was good - I can see why this is *the spot* for brunch in the city. I had an omelet, my boyfriend had the stuffed french toast. I opted to create my own combination of ingredients, and went for spinach, tomato and American cheese. Overall it was a good standby, and you can't really go wrong with a cheese omelet. I did find it a bit strange that there weren't any meat filling options (ham and cheese omelets being my absolute fav) but I ordered bacon on the side and I was happy. Note for next time - the portions are HUGE! The stuffed french toast was easily half a loaf of bread with cream cheese, banana and vanilla maple syrup. I tried a bite (couldn't resist) and it was a bit over the top for me, but still delicious. I think next time I'll go for the plain french toast instead of eggs. When in Rome after all..
There was a wait when we got there, but it seemed to move quickly. You can also call ahead and have your name put on the list, or just get there before 11 when it starts to get really crowded.
My absolute FAVORITE breakfast spot in Philly! I love the stuffed french toast! It's so fatteningly scrumptious (stay away if you're on a diet!!!) and it melts in your mouth!!!
They give you two slices, but you'll probably only finish one.
I love their "hip-hop themed" breakfast, where some of their items on the menu are named after hip hop artists. So clever.
The dinner is great too. A little on the pricey side, but well worth it. I can't remember exactly what I ordered here, but I remember loving it. Some kind of tilapia on top of mashed sweet potatos. It was delicious, though.
I had no idea you can all ahead to reserve seating. I read this on a few of the reviews, so I will make sure to do this next time. I go to Sabrina's at least 2-3 times a month.
If you've never eaten here, you are in for a delectable treat.
Wooow. This place is exceptional. Basically a wealth of american food with a unique twist. You have trouble deciding what to order... and the truth is, it probably doesn't matter. EVERYTHING is good. We got a burger and tuscan chicken sandwiches and both I would order again.
Oh, and another thing...the portions are gigantic!! The stuffed french toast is literally the size of Mount Helena. You could probably order one plate for two people and still have leftovers.
Transcendent. Cute, diner-esque atmosphere. You're an idiot if you don't go.
"Hello, lover. Have you missed me?" This is what I think every time I venture back to my beloved hometown and pop in for a brunch or dinner.
Sabrina's is simply heaven on earth. Who would think to put apples and cheddar in an omelet? But it's so good! As well as their dessert-like french toasts and the frittata. And the dinners are just as good at this brunch place!
A trip home is not the same without a visit to Sabrina's! Of course, the idea of where "home" actually is is another story altogether.
The absolute best brunch in Philadelphia!!!
What to expect: a long wait (call ahead before you go and put your name on the list to avoid the huge line), extreme deliciousness, hipster wait staff, extremely friendly owner
What to order: anything from the Specials menu. I have several friends who have described Sabrina's as "okay." When asking what they ordered, it has always been something from the regular menu, not the Specials menu. After ordering from the Specials menu, the opinion changes from "okay" to "amazing."
The only thing I can really add here is that while this is one of Philadelphia's premiere brunch spots, I am always surprised at how quickly I can get a table when I specify that I am more than willing to sit outside. How come nobody ever wants to sit outside? It's great! Firstly, you're outside. Secondly, you're sitting pretty and pretty quickly, too. Try it! Air is top-notch.
I have been trying to get in for a meal at Sabrina's for months now. I wish someone had told me that they are only open until 4pm two days a week as it seems that those were the days when I tried to go for dinner.
I was able to try out their lunch menu earlier this week with my mom and her friend. Being a Monday afternoon, the place was relatively quiet and we were seated immediately. The menu was a little daunting since you can get everything from eggs to cheesesteaks.
I settled on a veggie burger with portobello mushrooms and cheddar cheese + the parmesan fries. I rounded things out with an ice cold rootbeer opting for the increased caloric hit rather than subject myself to Diet Rite.
The burger was hearty and delicious - you'd have hardly known it wasn't meat with all of the mushrooms. I was quite happy to not have received anything wimpy and previously frozen from a cardboard box. The cheese was perfectly gooey and resembled nothing like those chemically concocted slices you find elsewhere. The fries were the best thing on the plate, though. Who would have thought that parmesan cheese could significantly elevate the humble french fry?
The service was average - nothing spectacular. I did catch a little bit of hipster vibe from one of the servers, but such attitudes are becoming harder to avoid in most city neighborhoods.
The only thing that could have made the day better? If they hadn't been out of key lime pie.
Sabrina's Cafe is a nice little place to visit if you are in or near the Italian Market. The Pancakes are huge and very filling, quite tasty too. If your in the mood try Sabrina's Specials that are named after various video games like Contra and Metroid.
Brunch + Philadelphia = Sabrina's.
There are a number of good spots in the City to get brunch, but Sabrina's is the only one I've returned to again and again. Portions are giant, food is delicious and the service is quick. The only downside is that too many people know about it, on the weekend a "short" wait is 30-45 min. Where's that Men In Black memory-erasing thing when you need it...
Love it here. Really well prepared food, huge portions for not too much money. While it's known for breakfast, it's also AMAZING for dinner and a byo - plus if you go at that time, you won't have to wait like you would for weekend brunch. Highly recommend this place!
People who wait here on the weekends: just because you have to wait on the sidewalk does not mean that it is not still, first and foremost, a sidewalk. So in all seriousness you should move out of the way when people are actually trying to use it as such. Especially do not try to carry laundry through here on your way to the laundromat. Cross the street and recross later. It's worth sparing yourself the crooked looks.
The food is good. Service is OK. I like it for a day one calls out sick at work or a weekend you pass by and go "why is there no wait at Sabrina's?".
It would get four stars if not for the immovable sidewalk people.
I really think this is the best breakfast in Philly. The homey decor, the stellar food, and the great service keep me coming back. I would live here if I could!
Breakfast here is not to be missed! The Huevos Rancheros were outstanding! Typically breakfast is my least favorite meal of the day, but put Sabrina's in the lineup and it changes everything.
Coming from rural PA Dutch Country, I grew up with easy access to breakfast that was delicious, greasy and cheap at crusty little diners. Philadelphia, sadly, lacks in good diners. SO, my boyfriend and I make do with Sabrina's. And by "make do" I mean we are madly in love with everything they have to offer. 'Specially breakfast.
Coffee = delicious
Potatoes and onions = omg.
Their turkey (sliced thick) + bacon + avocado (big, fresh chunks o' it!) + sprouts sandwich = better than the one you'll ever make at home (I've tried).
Service = lots of friendly, hipsterly folk that don't make me feel uncomfortable.
I head of Sabrina's only a few weeks ago from a friend showering this place in good reviews. I had to check it out for myself.
I ordered up the Special Burger and was delighted when a towering burger of thick bacon, juicy apple, perfect beef and dripping cheese covered this mountain of a burger. With a soft buttery bun to boot, this was hands down one of these best burgers I've ever had.
Don't even let me get started on the sweet potato fries.
I will definitely be returning in future! Thanks!
This little place is tucked in the Italian Market and always seems to have a line waiting out the door. For brunch, it can't be beat. The portion sizes are perfect for ravenous appetites, perhaps after a night of drinking, or not. There is outdoor and indoor seating, a cheery but non-patronizing staff that keeps the brew coming. They are very adept at getting folks in and out.
Most brunch entrees come with a side of diced potatoes and toast. While the menu lists many $10 - 12 specialty dishes that are beyond scrumptious, there is also the two eggs any style meal for under $6 that is more than filling.
Bring a friend and if you can't make it for brunch or get fed up with the line, go for dinner. The coconut shrimp is amazing!
If you want to experience South Philly, walk around the Italian Market and make a stop here!
Went here based on fellow Yelpers and was not dissapointed. We arrived for late breakfast on monday, so didn't have to wait for a table. The service was great and the food fabulous. My friend ordered this huge french toast tower that had some sweet cream cheese filling with bananas and syrup. It was fabulous.
I read that the lines here can be really long on the weekends, so if busy, spend some time wandering the Italian market.
Sabrina's is exactly the type of breakfast place I was looking for in Philadelphia. If you like diner breakfast classics with a contemporary twist, this is the place. I had the juevos rancheros and it was all the spicy-hangover-curing deliciousness I could have asked for.
Yeah there's a huge wait, but why don't you call ahead?
Chicagoans and visitors see also: Over easy in Ravenswood. Very similar, and equally as delicious.
I went to brunch with my girlfriend, Lana, on Sunday. Neither of us had been to the S. Philly Sabrina's, so we headed down there, ready for a wait. This cafe has a surprisingly long wait on Saturday and Sunday, be we arrived around 10:10, and were seated by 10:40. If you arrived between 10:30 and 11:30, however, you're likely to stand around an hour before you're ordering.
Looking at the menu, I was kind of baffled that there was this kind of wait. I go out to brunch often, and I couldn't understand why so many people keep showing up here. Because it was so busy, the service wasn't the best, but it was more than acceptable.
Lana custom made an omelet, and I ordered the barking chihuahua burrito. The coffee kept flowing while we waited for our food, and once it was delivered I knew why this spot was so popular. The food looked great, and between the two of us we had enough to feed a small family. Most of the dishes come with Sabrina's homefries, which are not to be missed. The food, overall, was excellent, and was definitely worth the wait. The menu at Sabrina's allows you to stick with what you know and love, or go all out and get something that is truly a one of a kind creation.
At Sabrina's, you'll leave full, happy, and probably with some left overs for later.
I don't know what took me so long to have lunch here!
I had the chicken salad and substituted avocado for swiss cheese. I love chicken salad and this was great. It was peppery and flavorful and not the least bit bland. It was enough for lunch AND dinner.
My mother/dining partner had a turkey sandwich which was hand cut turkey, not some piece of lunch meat, and she enjoyed it. We had the sweet potato fries and the parmesan fries. I wasn't impressed by the parmesan (or lack thereof) but the fries were pretty decent.
The service was nice as usual and not too busy on a Friday afternoon. It was a little noisier than usual but I guess people were getting a little excited about the long weekend!
Sabrina's is great. I don't care about the "hype" or out of control wait list. I actually have never… Read more »
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Diners
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Bella Vista
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Northern Liberties
Category: American (New)
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