In Pennsylvania, one intimate restaurant blends French bistro cooking with Southern comfort food in a charming dining room with just 25 seats. Fried chicken topped with hollandaise, steak au poivre, and rich mac and cheese are just a few of the dishes that make its menu stand out.
Beyond the food, the restaurant has a surprising connection to a Canadian seaside village, a memorable dessert with a saltine crust, and beautiful outdoor seating. A little planning goes a long way, especially when it comes to reservations, parking, and drinks.
A Pine Street Door You Could Easily Walk Past
Mabu Kitchen sits at 1120 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Pennsylvania. Locals call this stretch Antique Row, and the name fits the old brick buildings lining the block.
My first pass almost became a miss. The front is quiet and humble, tucked into the historic row like it belongs there, which it does.
Inside, the room holds roughly 25 seats. That small size means you are never shouting across a crowd, and the staff can actually remember your face.
Hours matter here, so I checked before going. Dinner runs Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 PM, and Friday and Saturday until 10 PM.
Weekend brunch happens Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Mondays are closed, so plan around that.
You can call them at 215-279-7590 with questions. The building looks modest, yet the story behind the sign stretches all the way to the Canadian coast.
Where Two Rivers Meet, In More Ways Than One
Chef and co-owner Ayad Sinawi, known as A.J., once planned to open a restaurant in Mabou, a small coastal village on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. That village felt like a second home to him.
Then the pandemic shut those plans down. During a 2021 visit to Philadelphia, he found the Pine Street space and saw a new chance.
The name carries a second meaning too. In Indigenous culture, Mabu is said to mean a place where two rivers meet.
Philadelphia sits right between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. I love when a name works this hard without trying to show off.
A.J. grew up in Vancouver, trained at the French Culinary Institute, and worked with Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. His partner, Grace Cavallo, is a magazine editor and photographer.
Together they opened the doors in February 2022, and they live just a few doors down. That French training and his Southern cooking crush explain the menu you are about to meet.
Paris Manners, Southern Appetite
Grits and duck confit on one menu should feel odd. Here, it just tastes like good planning.
The kitchen calls its style elevated but unpretentious. In plain words, the plates look fancy, but the food feels like something a favorite aunt might cook on a Sunday.
French classics hold down one side. You will see steak au poivre, duck confit, French onion soup, and ratatouille served with warm bread.
Southern comfort covers the other side with shrimp and grits, fried chicken, and a rich mac and cheese. The two styles trade ideas instead of fighting for space.
Everything is cooked to order in a small kitchen. The menu changes based on what ingredients are fresh, so my favorite dish might not be there next month.
Gluten-free choices are clearly marked, which made ordering easy for a friend at my table. Staff asked about allergies right away.
Before we talk plates, though, the room itself deserves a moment, because the mirrors on those walls have stories of their own.
Candlelight, Old Mirrors, and an Indie Soundtrack
Cream walls set a calm mood the second you sit down. Antique mirrors hang around the room and bounce candlelight back at you in a soft glow.
At dinner, the lights stay low. It feels romantic without being stuffy, which makes it a strong pick for a date night.
Brunch flips the mood. Daylight fills the room, and the space feels bright and easygoing.
Indie pop plays overhead at a volume that lets you hear your friends. I never had to lean in and say what twice.
Tables sit close together, so this is not the place for top secret conversations. Still, the small layout makes it feel like a neighborhood living room.
The staff even helped reseat guests who found the main room too busy, which tells you how much they care about comfort.
Groups can also book the whole place. One wedding party fit 27 guests for a rehearsal dinner, cozy but happy.
Now, about that chicken wearing hollandaise I mentioned earlier.
The Benedict That Broke My Brunch Rules
My usual brunch rule is simple: eggs or waffles, not both. The Fried Chicken and Waffles Benedict ignored that rule completely, and I let it.
Crispy fried chicken sits on fluffy waffles. Then comes hollandaise, a fried egg, and a light herb salad on the side.
The chicken skin is flaky and crunchy. The waffles are light and airy, so they actually matter instead of acting like a plate under the chicken.
Ask for extra hot sauce if you like a little kick. The kitchen is happy to share.
The menu clearly loves eggs, since they show up on almost every brunch plate. If you are an egg fan, you are in luck.
The Croque Madame is another winner, with slow-cooked ham, melted Gruyere, and a fried egg. Its side salad comes with a light poppy seed dressing.
Turkish eggs, a Dutch baby, and a pork katsu breakfast sandwich also show up. Sweet tooth fans, hold on, because the next plate is pure dessert disguised as breakfast.
Sweet Mornings and the Shrimp That Stole the Show
Bananas Foster French Toast is the dish I ordered twice. Thick slices come with whipped mascarpone cream and fresh blackberries, and it tastes like a holiday morning.
Shrimp and grits is the savory star. It comes gluten-free, topped with a sunnyside egg, Gruyere, preserved lemon, roasted sweet corn, and peas.
That preserved lemon is the clever part. It brightens the creamy grits so each bite stays lively.
Avocado toast gets a fresh spin too. Thick whole grain bread carries a poached egg, spiced mint yogurt, and radish.
Fresh squeezed orange juice is on hand, along with coffee and mocktails. A churro waffle with Nutella sauce has also appeared on past menus.
Brunch portions feel right for a weekend morning. You leave satisfied, not sleepy.
My tip is to share one sweet plate and one savory plate. That way, nobody at the table has to choose between dessert and breakfast.
When the sun goes down, the menu changes gears, and a peppery steak takes the lead.
Pepper, Duck, and Dinner Done Right
Steak au poivre is the dinner dish to beat. An 8 ounce hanger steak arrives with crispy hand-cut fries and a creamy peppercorn sauce.
The Seared Duck Leg Confit is my other pick. It comes with edamame, shiitake mushrooms, apricot chili sauce, and sweet potato mash.
Sweet, spicy, and savory all show up in one forkful. The duck skin gets crisp while the meat stays tender.
The burger has a loyal fan club too. Several diners call it one of the best in Philly, and the fries get plenty of love.
Pan seared salmon with rice congee and piccata sauce offers a lighter path. Lamb shank and pork Milanese have also shown up on the menu.
Starters are worth a look as well. Burrata with tomatoes, octopus, beet salad with citrus and goat cheese, and French onion soup all earn praise.
Still, one side dish quietly runs the room, and it is not the one you would guess.
The Sprouts That Upstage the Main Course
Brussels sprouts rarely become the talk of the table. At this spot, they get mentioned more than almost anything else.
They are roasted until the edges turn crisp. Then they get tossed with cranberries and a maple balsamic reduction.
The result is sweet, tangy, and a little smoky. Even my vegetable-avoiding friend kept sneaking forkfuls.
Southern Mac and Cheese is the other side that people rave about. It blends Colby, Fontina, and cheddar under toasted panko with a pinch of Cajun seasoning.
That small dash of spice makes it taste grown up. It is still gooey, still cozy, and still impossible to stop eating.
Ratatouille deserves a shout too. It arrives looking gorgeous, with two pieces of warm bread for scooping.
Shepherd’s pie has made appearances as well, especially when the weather cools down.
My advice is to order sides for the whole table to share. Just leave a little space, since the desserts here come from someone working only on sweets.
A Lemon Tart With a Salty Secret
Saltine crackers in a dessert sound like a mistake. In the Saltine Lemon Tart, they become a crunchy, salty crust that makes the lemon pop.
Fresh whipped cream and berries finish it off. Sweet and salty trade places with every bite.
An on-site pastry chef makes every dessert by hand. That focus shows on the plate.
Banana pudding is the crowd favorite. It comes with fresh cream, vanilla wafers, and sliced bananas, and it tastes lighter than you expect.
Chocolate lovers should grab the Mud Pie. Rich chocolate custard sits under Valrhona ganache on a cookie crust.
The Basque Cheesecake has a dark caramelized top and a raspberry coulis. The tart berry sauce keeps the creamy cake from feeling heavy.
One table I saw ordered every dessert to share. Honestly, that is the smartest plan in the building.
Desserts are covered, so let us talk drinks, because your beverage plan starts before you even leave the house.
Pack Your Own Pairing
Mabu Kitchen is a BYOB restaurant, which means you bring your own bottle from home. The staff opens it for free and sets out glassware and ice buckets.
This keeps the bill friendlier. You skip the usual markup and drink exactly what you like.
For guests who skip that route, the kitchen has you covered. Fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, and mocktails are available.
They also sell mixers, so your table can create its own brunch combos. Outside soft drinks are not allowed, since those are sold on site.
A few money notes help too. Credit cards, except American Express, carry a 2.75 percent surcharge.
Parties of five or more get an automatic service charge. The suggested tip guide is based on the full total, so check the math if that matters to you.
Prices feel fair for the area. Now comes the part that makes regulars keep returning, and it has nothing to do with the menu.
Servers Who Remember Your Name
Good food brings people in once. Warm service is what pulls them back, and this team nails it.
Servers here give honest recommendations. My server pointed me toward the pork katsu breakfast sandwich, and I was glad I listened.
They time courses well too. Appetizers land, plates clear, and mains arrive without a long gap or a rush.
Small mistakes get fixed fast. When a dish misses the mark, the owners want to hear about it and make it right.
Grace is often around the room, chatting with tables. It feels like visiting a neighbor who happens to cook beautifully.
The kitchen is small and makes everything to order. On busy nights, food can take a little longer, so settle in and relax.
Got a show to catch? Tell your server early, and they will try to speed things along.
Tables usually run about two hours, or 90 minutes on busy nights. Speaking of planning, a few smart moves will save you some stress.
Book Early, Park Smart, Eat Outside
Reservations are your best friend here. I booked on OpenTable two days ahead, which is the usual advice for weekend brunch and dinner.
Solo diners can sometimes grab a window seat on short notice. Last-minute openings also pop up online if you keep checking.
Parking takes a little planning, since there is no lot. The ACME garage at 545 South 11th Street is about a five-minute walk and offers two free hours with a 10 dollar purchase.
Symphony House Parking Garage at 440 South Broad Street sits about six minutes away. It works well if you have theater plans later.
Now for the best seat in the house. Outdoor tables line a shaded side alley with potted flowers and birds chirping nearby.
Families with little ones enjoy it, and pets are welcome outside if you call ahead. The area is not heated, so bring a sweater.
Multiple allergies? Call and speak with an owner first.
Then just show up hungry and let this little kitchen on Pine Street do the rest.
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