05/09/2022
Let's Eat Local: 🍽 Sabrina’s Café
QUIRKY, SLIGHTLY KITSCHY AND QUAINT — the best three ways I can summarize a visit to Sabrina’s Café. Of course this mainly refers to the ambience, but the dishes are well executed comfort foods with
a slight twist and are simply delicious. Sabrina’s Café offers a comfortable atmosphere with both traditional choices and some interesting twists on old standards.
Sabrina’s Café is a long established eatery on Haddon Avenue, as it opened its doors in Collingswood in late 2015. When thinking of Sabrina’s, the phrase “oldie but goodie” is the best phrase to define this classic Collingswood staple. The husband-and-wife owners, Robert and Raquel, also own and operate a few locations in the Philadelphia area including University City, and the Fairmount section which puts Sabrina’s Café just over the 20 year old anniversary mark.
Being a self professed foodie and “babe who brunches,” I couldn’t miss the opportunity to highlight one of my recent visits and reminders why this classic Collingswood eatery is a town favorite!
If you’re in the mood for breakfast, I highly recommend you kick start your day with a large specialty latte. With equal parts caffeine and dessert, I ordered the Maple Caramel latte, which is available as hot or iced.
I will admit that as a connoisseur of coffee, it was a tough choice from their other fun selections. The only thing to supersede the latte was the Challah Stuffed French Toast which was stuffed with a perfectly sweetened cream cheese and topped with bananas and vanilla bean syrup. To balance out the decadent overload, we counterbalanced and ordered the Avocado Toast. Of course this toast was prepared in a Sabrina’s Café fashion, with smashed avocado, olive oil, pickled red onion, poached egg, everything spice piled on a thick multi-grain bread slice and served with a side salad. Another notable mention was the chicken and waffles, which is a favorite amongst regulars.
Feeling incredibly satisfied and as stuffed as the French toast we just consumed, we were ready to roll. But as any good foodie will tell you, if you love the place, order something ‘to go’ — you know, “for later.” Having my eyes on the prize and lunch on my mind, we ordered a few Bhan Mi sandwiches to take with us on the road. Already being a fan of this sandwich, I was excited to try Sabrina’s spin on this classic Vietnamese specialty. With pickled vegetables, hoisin mayo, shredded Nappa cabbage, jalapeño and your choice of pulled pork, grilled chicken breast, or crispy tofu or seitan for vegetarians, I went with the pulled pork. It was fresh, zesty and delicious, and paid ample respect to origins of a true Bhan Mi sandwich.
If you haven’t tried Sabrina’s Café, I highly recommend that you add it to your bucket list of places to dine in town.
One small word of advice, do not go while on a diet, unless you’re looking to test your personal willpower! Serving sizes are generous and while there are healthier selections than what we ordered, why skip an opportunity to indulge, even just a bit!