Hawthorne’s was a thorn in my side…
October 19th, 2022
Authored by Nina Wilson and Dynisha Murray
Pictured above from top to bottom, Potato Mess ($11), Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($10) [ Bottom left], BBQ Benny ($16) [Bottom Right]. Photo Courtesy of The Brunch Besties.
Hawthrone’s is a farm style american restaurant located in the Hawthorne neighborhood of Philadelphia. Its history is elusive, as we could not find much about it online aside from the owners. Who are husband and wife duo, Chris Fetfatzes and Heather Annechiarico. The restaurant was the first for the restaurateur duo, and since opening Hawthrone’s in 2009, they have gone on to open and operate several other familiar haunts within the city. One of which is still in operation, Tio Flores. Others that are not, such as The Cambridge, Rabbit, Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, Wine Dive, Pivot Coffee, and Soupery.
We visited Hawthorne’s on September 24th, 2022. It was a sunny day in the mid 50’s, and it was beginning to feel like fall. We made reservations for 11 am, and arrived at the restaurant around the time of our reservation. The restaurant had a rustic, antiqued vibe. Lots of distressed wood, industrial styled metal work, and large near floor to ceiling windows, which let in a lot of light and opened the space up. There was also a mini wine and beer shop towards the front of the restaurant, which we later discovered is part of a beverage delivery company called Quick Sips, which is also owned by the Fetfatzes’.
We were seated really quickly, and once we gathered our bearings, we ordered the Potato Mess ($11), BBQ Benny ($16), and Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($10).
Potato Mess
Pictured above is the Potato mess ($11). Photo Courtesy of The Brunch Besties.
The Potato Mess, contrary to its name, was described in an appetizing manner. It consisted of “tossed home fries, eggs, sharp cheddar, and garlic hot sauce.” The garlic hot sauce was something that caught our attention, because it’s unique and seemed intriguing. The presentation of the dish was good. It was clean and simple.
In terms of the flavor, the potatoes were well cooked and had a slight sweet tang to them. They also had a smokey flavor and a kind of spiced seasoning. The textures of the eggs and potatoes worked well together. Which was nice because sometimes if a dish is overcooked everything can become one pile of mush. The potatoes were slightly charred as well, which also added to the smokey flavor and added a bit of a crunchy texture. The dish was garnished with parsley which added a nice bite of vigor, without being overpowering. The garlic hot sauce was delicious and paired really well with the potatoes. Overall, this was a really solid dish. The only complaints that we might have, is that there could have been a bit more cheese. That aside, we rated this dish 4 out of 5 stars.
BBQ Benny
Pictured above is the BBQ Benny ($16). Photo Courtesy of The Brunch Besties.
Next dish we sampled was the BBQ Benny. It was an eggs benedict with BBQ pulled pork, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, pickled red onion, and microgreens. All on a buttermilk biscuit. The presentation of this dish was banal. It was nothing to write home about.
The pros about this dish were that the pulled pork was tender. So much so that it melted in your mouth. And it paired well with the pickled red onion and microgreens. The barbecue sauce was light and balanced but had a bit of an acidic tang that complimented the other elements in the dish. The hollandaise sauce was also delicious. The main cons of this dish was that the pork was a bit fatty, which made it difficult to eat. Additionally, the biscuit was dry which led it to not hold its shape as you cut into it. Which kind of worked considering the composition of the dish. This was a decent dish and is why we rated it 3.5 stars out of 5.
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Pictured above Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($10). Photo Courtesy of The Brunch Besties.
This was kind of an off the menu item that our server recommended we order, so we did. The menu doesn’t really have a description of the dish but it’s self explanatory. The platting was consistent with the other dishes we had sampled up until this point, which was the same clean, neat platting. Nothing extravagant or wildly original.
There was nothing good about these pancakes. They nearly took us both out. They were so dry, that no matter how much you chewed you were doomed to choke on them. They tasted like someone had given up on life. They were devoid of any kind of flavor or seasoning. And if we're going to die eating a stack of pancakes, it could at least be good. It’s very possible that we might have received a bad batch of pancakes, however pancakes should not be hard to make. Especially at a restaurant that specializes in breakfast. We gave these pancakes a flipping 1.5 stars out of 5. We’re not sure if it’s worth the risk to try again.
Conclusions…
Our experience at Hawthorne’s was okay. The service was really good. Our server was very officious. The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and comfortable. It was a beautiful day as well, which also helped.
However the food was mid. We most likely wouldn’t come back. If you guys decide to visit, or have visited Hawthorne’s but you’ve had a different experience, Please let us know. But our final rating of Hawthorne’s is 3 out of 5 stars.
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Thank you guys for your support! And until next time…..
XOXO,
The Brunch Besties