Chez Hansi

My partner and I came for Valentine’s Day and were so impressed by the service and the food. The portions were huge and the each dish was delicious. We loved how homey and welcoming the entire experience was. The night ended with a beautiful rose to celebrate Valentine’s Day. What a special place to celebrate.

It is Philadelphia's Center City District Restaurant Week. My husband and I always use this time as an opportunity to try a new-to-us spot. Chez Hansi caught my eye almost right away. The menu looked tasty. The reviews are few, but almost all five stars, even on Yelp! which is mostly unheard of. We immediately made reservations.

Chez Hansi is easy to miss if you're not looking for it. It's buried behind street seating structures from neighboring restaurants, so it's almost impossible to see from South Street. Their sign is simple lettering in their front window.

There are four small tables on the main floor and about just as many on the lower level. The restaurant probably seats less than 20 people. The décor is simple, but charming. The kitchen is behind a half-wall of plexiglass, so, if seated upstairs, you can watch the chef work.

We learned during our stay that Chez Hansi has been open for about six months. It is owned and operated by a husband and wife: she is from Morocco and takes care of the front of the house duties, and he, the chef, is from Germany, but they very clearly work as a team.

They visited our table before we left to chat for a bit. They admitted that they were having a bad day (you'd really never know!), and they hoped we'd come back. We assured them we absolutely would! We know how overwhelming restaurant week is for even the most seasoned restaurants. I cannot imagine what it's like for a fairly new two-person show like Chez Hansi. If you ask me, they knocked it out of the park!

The menu is eclectic, but it adds to the charm. My husband had selected the Galette du Crabe "LBF," the Jaegerschnitzel, and the Mousse au Chocolate for dessert. I chose the Cream of Rutabaga Soup, Royal Tajine with braised lamb, and Tarte Citron.

To start, we were brought a small basket with some fresh baguette and delicious butter. After a short wait, we were each brought a bowl of soup. We were told the Galette du Crabe was taking a bit long to prepare, so they wanted us both to have something while we waited. This was definitely not necessary, but it was a wonderfully kind gesture.

The Cream of Rutabaga Soup was simple and delicious. Not much longer, we were each provided with a plate of Galette du Crabe served over a few green beans. This, too, was wonderful; the sauce, especially, was outstanding.

The entrée portions were very generous. The Tajine was filled with well-seasoned and fluffy couscous, a large assortment of vegetables, topped with a piece of the most tender braised lamb I have ever had. As soon as I put my fork into the lamb, it fell right apart. The dish was cooked perfectly and was well seasoned. The Jaegerschnitzel was equally as delicious. The mushrooms were beautifully seasoned, the chicken was tender and juicy with a delicious crust, and the spätzle was prepared perfectly. We were very happy with both dishes, and ended up taking half of each home with us to have for lunch the next day.

When it was time for dessert, we were told the the lemon tart was not up to their standards, and asked if we wanted something else. I chose the Crème Brule. To our surprise, after bringing us the mousse, which was rich and decadent, and the creme brulee which was smooth and filled with vanilla with a side of sorbet, she came back with a lemon tart that was covered in whipped cream and fruit. Despite being full, we ate every morsel of all three desserts. I'm not sure what didn't please them about the tart, but it was wonderful. The crust was thick and flakey, the filling was tart and smooth, and the raspberries and star fruit on top couldn't be any fresher.

My husband and I both concluded that we will definitely be back for another meal at Chez Hansi. We agreed that it was the best meal we've had in a very long time, and the owners are simply lovely.

Don't pass up an opportunity to give this hidden gem a try! Part of me hopes it stays hidden so I can continue to dine there whenever I want, but Chez Hansi deserves any and all accolades and subsequent popularity it's sure to receive.

We had a wonderful and intimate dinner last night. The experience is something you wouldn’t find anywhere else. The chef is German and gave us a complimentary cup of soup - a recipe he had since he was a kid. The food makes you feel like you’re home. Will be back!

A great hole in the wall! This restaurant is really cute and intimate. The food is really well done - the chef is basically cooking directly for you like private chef. The menu changes frequently so you know the food is fresh, seasonal, and made from scratch. My husband ordered chicken schnitzel with spaetzle (a type of German egg pasta) in a mushroom sauce - very homey and comfort foodey - perfect for a fall evening. I ordered duck confit with potato dumplings and cabbage. The duck was moist and flavorful, the cabbage also had a nice apple vinegar flavor, and the potato dumpling had a good chewy texture. We also shared the onion soup which was light and a nice way to start dinner. Highly recommend for something homey, unique and comforting.

So happy to find this lovely place in my neighborhood! First time having this Moroccan dish, Chicken Bastille, and loved every bite of it. It was the perfect blend of seasoned chicken with nuts wrapped in flaky pastry and served with strawberries and citrus. I had mine to-go, but would like to dine there next time since the server and chef (owners?) were also lovely and we had a nice chat while I waited for the food.