Out & About: Sabrina’s Cafe
WHERE: The eatery, Sabrina’s Café, has new West Philly digs at 34th Street and Powelton Avenue, on Drexel’s campus. The restaurant has two other locations in the Italian Market and Fairmount/Art Museum neighborhoods.
WHAT: Among foodies, Sabrina’s is as well-known for delicious stuffed challah French toast as it is for long lines (and up to a two-hour wait) during Saturday and Sunday brunch. But at the new Powelton location, customers can beat the lines and sample some of the eatery’s finest on Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
BREAKFAST ALL DAY: It’s possible to satisfy your breakfast cravings at lunch or even at dinner since Sabrina’s serves the most important meal of the day from open until close. If the stuffed challah French toast ($9.99) is too sweet for your liking (it’s filled with farmer’s cream cheese and topped with bananas and vanilla bean syrup), try one of the other signature breakfast items. The Barking Chihuahua ($8.99) is a favorite, with scrambled eggs, black beans, red peppers, pepper jack cheese and topped with sour cream and marinara. If it’s meat you’re craving, go for the bleu cheese and bacon frittata ($8.99), which includes fresh spinach and mushrooms.
DON’T FORGET LUNCH: The restaurant also boasts several large sandwiches, including the Cali-turkey with sprouts, avocado and bacon ($8.99) and a chicken cutlet with spinach, marinated long hot peppers and melted provolone cheese ($9.99). A standout is The Islander, grilled Ahi tuna with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and wasabi mayo, all piled on a brioche ($12.99).
ON THE SIDE: Sure, you can get regular fries, a fruit salad or field greens with your sandwich, but it’s hard to pass up the polenta fries: thick-cut rectangular slices of crispy fried polenta served with a savory marinara dipping sauce.
SANS MEAT: This eatery has plenty for vegetarians, too, including crispy tofu over soba noodles, tossed with a peanut sesame sauce, mango salsa and avocado ($9.99), or a vegetarian Philly cheesesteak, comprised of seitan and sautéed onions, topped with long hots and provolone cheese ($9.49).
ENJOY THE VIEW: The eatery is located in a lovely refurbished stone building on Drexel’s campus, with a wraparound porch and a patio for warmer weather dining. Alas, unlike the Italian Market and Fairmount/Art Museum location, this Sabrina’s is not BYOB. Make do with a La Colombe coffee instead.
MORE INFO: For questions or more information, visit the website at http://sabrinascafe.com/ or call 215-222-1022.