Brunch was awesome. Great service and the garlic egg noodles is probably one of the best things I've ever had in Philly. Outdoor seating with heaters right now. read more

a.kitchen - Cornmeal pancakes - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We stopped here for a drink before our dinner reservations somewhere else. When I walked to the bathroom I noticed that the food on the plates looked amazing. I told my wife and we decided to stay. I quickly looked up reviews and saw they weren't great, but decided to trust my gut (we know good restaurants). Thank god I stayed, this place is incredible. It is a foodie paradise. Seems people were leaving dumb reviews for not having a fork or spoon, for example. Everything we ordered was delectable, the cocktails were divine, and the bartender who served us (Jess) was fantastic. I highly recommend a.kitchen for anyone traveling to Philly. The vibe was awesome. Hope to come back some day! read more

The steel cut oatmeal with dried cherries and granola is amazing. Perfect sweetness from the granola, the oatmeal itself is served warm. I ordered Rittenhouse breakfast with scrambled eggs. Instead of home fries, I substituted it with High Street bread. That meal comes with a choice of a side order and I chose roasted escarole. Scrambled eggs: it has a creamy texture and basically melts in your mouth. Bread: very light and moist. It's a potato sourdough bread from their sister store High Street. I asked mine untoasted. I believe it's better because I noticed there's burnt grilled marks on others. It's served in 4 slices, which are more than enough. Roasted escarole. It's greasy and spicy, so it's not a perfect accompaniment for my breakfast. That's why I took down one star. Home fries: I had a bite of my husband's. It's very crispy with herb seasoning. Very good. I recommend making reservations especially for weekends because it can be crowded. Service: great service. The chef and waitress gave me good explanation on the menu item. Very friendly. read more

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Came here for an outdoor brunch on a pretty cold day and was very satisfied. The outdoor dining enclosure was well heated and blocked off the view of the street, giving it a more intimate feel. This restaurant has done a good job making use of the little space that they have for outdoor dining. I got the oysters and new I was going to (sort of) regret it. The oysters were *amazing*. Possibly some of the best oysters I'd ever had. But as expected, not enough for a full meal. Our super attentive (in a good way) waiter immediately asked if I wanted some toast to go with my meal, saving me from spending the rest of brunch waiting for it to end so that I could go home and have a meal. The bread was quite good, by the way. Speaking of the waiter, the service was really impeccable. I was obnoxiously thirsty since I had worked out right before brunch and he never let my glass get empty despite how much water I was consuming. I also had a taste of one of the brunch eggs, bacon, and potatoes option, and the potatoes were really good. All around, good food and excellent service. read more

Excellent starters. Raw scallops were inventive. Raw peaches salad was on-point. Fry bread was hearty and delicious. Great tequila forward rhinestone cowboy cocktail too. And service was strong- waitress was knowledgeable and had excellent recommendations and fun anecdotes to share about the menu Only dings we're that the octopus main was good but not great. And dessert menu was meager with only two meh options so we got ice cream down the block instead Strong dinner overall read more

Unfortunately can't give this kitchen an A. Came here for the brunch and ended up a little disappointed. They had a decent indoor and outdoor space, with inside being a bit more "moody". The menu was pretty standard, with a few interesting options. I got the cornmeal pancakes and they were decent, but definitely not worth the hefty price tag. The cocktails were pretty decent, but again I wasn't blown away. As soon as we sat down it felt like they were rushing us to leave, which did not make sense considering their were empty tables around us. Needless to say, glad I went, but won't be going back. read more

Long overdue review, I came here with a group for Restaurant Week lunch back in January 2019. There were not any dishes in particular that I enjoyed from our set. read more

a.kitchen - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The service and ambiance is amazing for a not too pricey elevated week night experience. Great wine. Great food. Great staff! read more

a.kitchen - Grilled Half Chicken - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I love a.bar and the aka brand. The drinks, food, service, and abeyance is upscale-casual. Always a good time. I would probably say a.bar has some of the best cocktails in the city. This is during covid and I know things are a little off but neither I or my friend enjoyed any of our cocktails. The food and drink menu was completely new, which isn't a good or bad thing. Our server wasn't very pleasant but I did notice she may have been the only server while we were there. The food was good but this was disappointing experience this time around. Overall, I'd recommend aka for a chic, casual vibe. read more

a.kitchen - Spaghetti - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Super disappointed with the food here. Limited options and it lacks flavor. Drinks are okay. Only good thing about this place is their staff: very friendly and attentive. Nothing really eye catching with their ambiance. read more

3.0/5 Mediocre and overpriced. The food was very mediocre, and offered little of the interestingness or creativity that I've come to expect at places with $$$. Actually, I take that back -- a $$$ place that does very normal food very well, even if without creativity, can still score 4.5 stars in my rating system. However, a. kitchen delivered a mediocre menu with mediocre cooking. I didn't dislike my food per se, but my wallet felt very sad paying $40 or so for this fish that I probably could have made better at home... (and this is even after I got a discount through Restaurant Week) read more

a.kitchen - expensive yet mediocre - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

So our original reservation was at 9 PM, but when we arrived, we were told that we had to wait a little bit to be seated. We were sat at our table at 9:45, which was a little later than we expected. Nonetheless, staff and the service was excellent. They compensated with a free round of drinks, 2 appetizers, and even a dessert on the house. Even though we had to wait a bit, I definitely enjoyed my time here and the food was amazing! They know how to take care of their costumers! read more

a.kitchen - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Alright, so the Center City Restaurant Week is happening right now and I was bummed that I hadn't capitalized on this so I urged a friend to go with me to the A Kitchen for a nice restaurant week lunch. I checked the website and the menus many of them stated that they were not doing lunch on specific days but this one didn't so we picked this. Only to show up and discover that they were not doing the RW lunch menu on the weekends. Bummer, but we did end up eating there anyway. I got the cornmeal waffle with roasted apples and burnt walnut honey and was just what I was looking for.It gave me all the fall feels. It soothed my burn from the aforementioned Restaurant week fiasco. My friend got the Tuna bagnat sandwich which was on a ciabatta bread with confit tomatoes, preserved lemon and olives. she enjoyed hers too. I made a reservation but I think we would have been fine without one. The space is very cute and the service was great. And it wasn't very noisy. It was great to sit and enjoy a nice meal and catch up with a friend. Will I go back for brunch? I never say never. But I'd definitely go back to check out their dinner offerings. All in all, I was happy with their food, the service and the ambience! read more

a.kitchen - Cornmeal Waffle - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Arguably the best burger in Philly according to the The Inquirer, Philly Mag, and now me. The answer to your next question is yes, I do realize how ridiculous it is to include myself along side those publications, but this was my meal and my moment of burger bliss. The burger is comprised of double beef chuck and brisket mix patties, cornichon, american cheese, and dijonnaise on a high street sesame roll. All the elements were delicious. Beyond the burger, I enjoyed some delightful house made fries and mussels in a carrot curry sauce. The mussels were a tasty appetizer with a unique flavor profile. The waiter said it was intended as a main course, but I assure you the portion size is more suitable as an appetizer. Environment was intimate and lively, the staff attentive and friendly. Bottom line: Awesome burger and fries. Good appetizers, drinks, and service. Highly recommend. read more

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Restaurant Week at a.kitchen feels like highway robbery - $35 for 4 courses of a variety of delicious, fresh options in a chic, dim-lit, sexy Rittenhouse hotspot is one helluva deal. I can't say, however, that I'm fully convinced to run back beyond restaurant week because the normal prices and portion sizes I received during my experience don't seem like an incredible value. Our group of 5 was sat promptly at our reservation time, and thank goodness we had a reservation. Our table would comfortably fit 3 people, but squeezing five at a small round top proved to be tricky as we played plate Tetris throughout our entire meal. The place was very busy and tightly packed with patrons. It's not a very spacious location, so I would be a little leery of a weekend dinner here if you have any level of claustrophobia. Restaurant Week allotted each of us two starters, one entrée, and one dessert - it's a very generous offer, and the options were fairly vast and varied catering to our different food restrictions and preferences. To the dismay of my friend and reservation-maker, there was no duck on the menu despite the menu shown on the CCD website saying otherwise. I ordered gnocchi and the cauliflower soup for my appetizers. The soup was creamy and beautifully flavored! The gnocchi was also very delicious with a light, fluffy flavor. For my entree I ordered the beef entree medium rare, and it was delicious and cooked perfectly. For dessert, I chose from the chocolate hazelnut cake - it was a little dry, but overall tasty. The portion was LAUGHABLE. It was literally three bites. All in all, I was impressed with the flavors. If normal portions are the same size as the restaurant week portions, I'd have a hard time dishing out $15-30 per plate. I would come back for a happy hour situation, but I'm also not running back. Service and seating was a bit of disappointment, and it felt kind of cramped. Solid 4 stars. read more

We ordered the spiced cauliflower, the beets, and the grilled octopus but the beets were easily our favorite. Although I didn't try the octopus, my friends were happy with the dish. I especially enjoyed the chai to remember cocktail! It's perfect for anyone who prefers a sweeter drink. Very cute. Very romantic. Date night kinda ambiance. Not the kind of place to roll into after a power yoga class but we made an impulsive decision and, well, SO glad we did! Plus, I miss my chai cocktail already. read more

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Came here for brunch and unfortunately the whole place was booked except for the bar-- so me and my group sat at the bar which was fine! The service was good and friendly, and I also liked what I ordered. The potatoes were very crispy and the greens were cooked well. Eggs were meh just like normal eggs. Would probably come here again. The restroom though was very dark and low lit for some reason. read more

a.kitchen - Breakfast plate - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very "high concept" and very good quiche. The quiche was composed of Parmesan, spinach, onion, a very nice crust, etc. As the main it was quite nice. Also on the plate was a salad with possible radishes/beets/other rooty vegetable. The greens were okay, but the dressing was excellent. It was sweet but not overpowering, like so many vinaigrettes these days. The Bloody Mary and the mimosa were quite nice. If I compared the two, the mimosa was the standout favorite. The wine was higher quality than the brunch mimosas that I am used to. On the other hand, I was never much of a Bloody Mary drinker, and that came with a nice olive and lemon. Also it was not a particularly spicey one which I liked. The bar was modern looking and looked inviting for the solo bruncher and/or the person looking to flirt with their bartender. The bar was well equipped with a nice drink menu and several things on tap. I can't imagine a better place to have brunch if you want something modern and refined. It it right off Rittenhouse Square so it is a nice area to take guests to the city. Additionally the minimalist design is ever-present on the menus, the plating, and even the name. This is something us minimalists can appreciate. read more

Only had drinks but their service was good and the drinks were even better. Recommend for cocktail hour.

Came for a business dinner. Chicken liver terrine appetizer was delicious. Several guests had the branzino. All good, but small portion. I had the flank steak and lentils which were delicious. Others had the rubbed half chicken (very large portion). Everything was beautifully seasoned. The chocolate dessert was wonderful. Overall it was a very nice experience. The service was attentive, setting was friendly, and the food was inventive and creative and made with care. I would go back. read more

a.kitchen - Menu - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Anyone who knows me knows like 3 things about me and the weather: 1) I love the fall because it's not hot and humid , 2) I like being outside in Philly when it's not hot and humid, and 3) I have an extreme distaste for anything hot and humid. That being said, I have also never eaten at a chef's counter. Wanting to keep life interesting, I was able to get a reservation at the chefs counter inside a.kitchen...something I was looking forward to experiencing. The night of the event, I stepped out into the coolest, crispest, most perfect-est early fall night and lamented that we were missing an incredible opportunity to eat outside, in comfort, and people watch. Following my experience at the chef's counter, I figure there will be other perfect outside nights. The experience was everything I had hoped to have. Let's head to the review, FFS. Flair: Situated at a corner of Rittenhouse Square, a.kitchen and it's relative a.bar, sit on the ground floor of aka. It's a great, well-trafficked venue that allows for terrific sights and sounds...while allowing some semblance of serenity being close to trees and open park spaces. The interior of a.kitchen is small, quaint, and trendy. The bar inside the restaurant is able to accommodate dining patrons, while the chef's counter allows patrons a full view of the open kitchen. It was such a great experience to witness meals being prepared, the pass being run, and the communication between the staff. Food: There was only one real hitch in our meal, and that was not the fault of the kitchen staff...just an adventurous couple trying a new dish that wasn't our speed. Wasn't a taste thing, more of a "this really isn't our cup of beef tartare" thing. I got the oysters, mainly because how can you pass oysters up. The 6 bivalves were incredibly bright, briny, and fresh. The mignonette and grilled lemon juice offered an incredible balance to the saltiness of the oysters. They tasted like the ocean smells...but in a good way, not the low tide way. The delicata squash was delicata delicious. Often, I've found greens easy to overlook. They get mushy and bland, like my aunts spinach at Thanksgiving (I won't say which aunt, just in case). These were crisp and flavorful. The falafel, crunchy and earthy, offered such a great textural and flavorful balance to the delicate, sweet squash. It was magnificent. The chickpea panisse can only be compared to some of the best paneer cubes I've had. The batter was perfect, the inside was soft and comforting, and the squash was local and delicious. The beets, a root vegetable I usually avoid, were so sweet and savory that there was some only the smallest, most interesting hint of earthiness. Usually beets, to me, taste like digging in a garden smells. Not this time. And almost no worms, either. The beef tartare was...interesting. I'm not a huge beef guy. I'm not a huge tartar guy. I'm not a huge extra vowel guy. All that combined to make me a not huge beef tartare guy. It was well seasoned. It looked great. Many other people ordered it. I guess I just prefer my beef...cooked. Sushi, great. Raw meat, not so great. Again, the fault of my palate and not the kitchen. Our mains arrived, and boy did they sparkle. Watching the grill man work his magic was a great show. It was even better eating that show. Like if PT Barnum was made out of Reese Peanut Butter Cups, I'd probably have the same reaction. The fish was cooked perfectly. Although swordfish is easily overlooked and often comes as dry as the Sahara, this fish was delicate and moist (I thesaurus searched a bunch of different words, trust me). The beans and mint offered crunch and refreshment that accompanied the rest of the dish perfectly. It was amazing to see the garnish station and protein station work together so effortlessly. My chicken was, in all likelihood, the best half chicken I'd ever eaten. Henry the VII would have inhaled like a dozen of these. Crispy skin, tender meat, an incredible glaze, and a beautiful char. The prep work was incredible. The onions were terrific. I've never had Jimmy Nardelle peppers before, but they were a show stopper. I don't know where I can get them, I don't know if they are like, in a Henry Hill witness protection program, and I'm not sure if that's even their real name. I just know they were excellent. Sweet. Tangy. Crunchy. Grill-y. Perfect. Service: Chef Eli and his staff were busy during the dinner rush, but took time to answer our questions and ensure our food was on point. I'm sure that the distractions can get a little tedious, but you'd never know from their reactions. The communication and timing were on point. Our servers were attentive and friendly, taking time to make sure we knew what we were eating and that we were properly accommodated. It was a great experience. read more

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We sat at the Chef's table and had a great experience watching Chefs do their thing! Waiter was very knowledgeable and gave great suggestions... sampled some new wines too. Orange wine is a new obsession... read more

I like the location of this spot. I frequent during brunch hours and the music is perfect. I do wish the menu had more vegan or chicken or Turkey meat options. It's nothing on the menu that makes me return. Just the music, wine, and my support for the owner whom participated in a program giving Philly restaurant owners insight on a successful restaurant. I also think the biscuit is amazing. Maddison at the bar is always sweet and attentive when I'm there on Sat and Sun mornings. read more

This place is always a good time with awesome service and food. I go here often and their service is consistent.

This is not a bang-for-your-buck type of place. This is a look-at-me-I'm-tiny-and-expensive type of place. Granted, the food was delicious. My braised chicken, while tasting a bit like my grandmother's chicken soup, was tender and slightly different from the chickens I've had at other places. But did my tiny little dish really warrant the price tag? Well, no. We're talking about chicken here. A.kitchen is a place that I'll stop into maybe once every two to three years. It's not a go-to, fun spot. It's chic, sure, and it's intimate, sure. But it's way too expensive and not enough "wow." At one point during a meal last week, I put my (used) napkin down on the table. A few minutes later, the server casually walked over and hovered beside me to fold it into a perfect square. I thanked her while thinking, "What in the heck just happened? Why did my napkin need to be folded? Does she plan to wash her hands now?" It felt like an all-eyes-on-you restaurant, which is uncomfortable to me. In other words, it was way too high class for little ole me. With all of that said, I'm still a fan. It does what it does right, and that's what matters here. If you want to have your napkin folded, with an extremely attentive server, in a dark and trendy environment, then this is your place. Oh, and make sure to try the maple creme brûlée for dessert. Stuff is good. read more

a.kitchen - Braised chicken - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My boyfriend, friend and I were exploring around Rittenhouse Square and decided to stop by a.kitchen for food and drinks. It was early evening on a Friday around 5pm, so all the restaurants around the square were packed and lively. We were able to snag the last free table for the time being. I enjoyed the ambiance and vibe of the place. Casual yet classy. Our server was an incredibly nice gentleman. He was hospitable and attentive. I appreciated his tips on their drink and food items. I ordered their creative take on a gin and tonic, which was fruity and refreshing. My friend ordered the burger, which looked fantastic. I had some of the steak fries - standard but made well. A.kitchen was a great local spot to hang out for great food and sophisticated cocktails if you're in the area! read more

Flavorful spaghetti nero. Tender beef hangar steak with tasty sauce and greens. Delivered quickly. Was transferred to a recently vacant table with shade on our request. Drinks slightly lacking. But overall good food and good service. read more

a.kitchen - spaghetti nero, beef hangar steak - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A.Kitchen is probably one of the coolest places to eat in the city. Everything about it, from the exterior to the interior, is very sleek, modern, and new age. It still has a very comfortable, and even had a romantic feel to it. We went and celebrated new years here a few years back, and it was a great experience. Would recommend considering this restaurant if you are celebrating something or when it get dressed up to take on the town. My wife is a vegetarian, so one of the things we appreciated was their vegetable dish options - there was plenty, and they were creative and tasted great (I had a few bites myself.) I had the lamb, which may have just been on the menu at the time or few a new years eve menu. Nonetheless, all of the food was great. The bar is also very elegant, drink menu is extensive with cool cocktails. Main entrees are a little on the pricier side, but worth it. Just be prepared to go and not hold back on spending, or you would limit your experience. read more

Had a great meal at a.kitchen. Walked up on a busy, beautiful evening and got a table right away. For a meal, I had the dandelion green & potato gnocchi. IT WAS DELICIOUS. For a drink, I tried the Tune Squad. The base is carrot juice. Different! But terrific! Our waiter was incredibly friendly too. I will definitely return to a.kitchen. read more

a.kitchen - Dandelion Green Potato Gnocchi - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Pretty satisfied with the overall experience. I really only ordered a club soda and an espresso. And then I went over to Fork. I would say that the bartender was friendly. But I think that it could've been better. I'm not really sure what it was, but I think that the original bartender who was working kind of slipped out and then another bartender kind of filled in. Like I'm not sure what the deal was there. Maybe they were in between shifts. But I don't really know. So I don't wanna say that it was a five star experience but it was definitely a 3 1/2 to 4 star experience. And i love Ms.Yin so I would never disparage any of her establishments. I think that overall it's always a five star experience, so I'll just come back next time and get the pork cheeks that I spoke to the chef about and that was a wonderful experience, because the cook/chef was very very nice to me. And I liked that. And the bathroom was super super clean. So that's also a huge plus. read more

Went for lunch and it was meh. Empty, so I think it's a night spot for sure. Low energy and a harried server working on her own. Food is definitely not worth the price; you're paying for the location. The wine list is excellent, but the food and vibe make it a pass for me. read more

Love this place. The food is great. Unique dishes, fresh menus. Cocktails are out of this world. Eat in the restaurant but order cocktails from the bar - they're exceptional. Excellent service every time I've been there. The bar is a nice place to hang out with friends. The kitchen is always busy but you can have a quiet dinner and conversation. Sometime, I'd love to sit by the open kitchen to watch the staff in action. read more

Service was great. Attentive, nice and pleasant. They work the cocktails descriptions. The food was very good. Nice bolognese, mussels, chicken liver pate. Tasty burger and potato wedges. The star was the duck breast. Tender and delicious. As good as a fine cut steak. Located in Rittenhouse Square, loads of restaurants and bars. Small, intimate space with bar, wood seating, great lighting. read more

This was one of the few Restaurant Week dinners where I've walked away feeling like I just spent double the price. The website boasted one thing, but when we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised to be able to pick from way more options off their regular menu. So reviewing the menu ahead of time and going in with a game plan was shot to hell once there was more to choose from. There were 4 of us and we were sat at one of the booths. Ambiance is lovely/trendy/low-lit. Definitely on the smaller side, but I didn't mind, minus having to gradually increase our volume to talk over the crowd (the women who sat next to us did though, as they requested to move away from us gals having a good time and catching up over some wine, albeit a little bit on the loud side). We obviously jumped on the wine pairing to go with our meals, and SO happy we did. My prosecco was the best I've had in recent past and the Malbec they paired with my entree was divine. Now, on to the food: Apps: rock shrimp salad / sweet gem lettuce / chive + ricotta dumplings Entrees: simply grilled fish (salmon) / steak / duck confit Desserts: apple cake / chocolate + pb cake Everything was FANTASTIC. The shrimp salad was as crisp as could be with that crunchy celery root. The dumplings were decadent and heavy like a cheesy gnocchi, but much more elevated and swimming in an addicting sauce. I got SO many, too. I didn't try the gem lettuce but it was well received. My duck confit was heavenly (and I'm picky with this dish). All the sides/sauces (and that velvety Malbec), combined with that crispy, gamey duck, had the best party of their life in my mouth. I tried a bite of the steak and that was the perfect medium rare and seasoned so well. My favorite part of that dish, however, were those fluffy golden nuggets that were akin to biscuits, but if biscuits were filled with mashed potatoes and cheese? Amazing. My friend also loved her salmon. Dessert was just okay, I've had much better apple desserts elsewhere, but that dulce de leche whipped cream was a nice touch. The chocolate cake was VERY rich, but the peanut butter was a really great addition. Service was okay. Both the hostess and our server were passably affable, but seemed to be annoyed with our questions re: the wine flights/pairings, etc. and it felt a little cold/distant, TBH. The crowd is definitely a little more uppity, too. I would come back just for that duck if it was on the menu. read more

I stopped by A.kitchen for a restaurant week lunch. The first thing I noticed was that none of the dessert choices listed online were available on the menu. Dessert was cookies, with no other choices. Then the waiter said that fries with the burger are $5 extra. Well, with a 3 course meal on tap there is no need for fries but charging extra for them bothers me. Not a good start for my lunch, but then the food came. And the food put me in a much better mood. I started with the mussels in a white sauce, which came with toast. The mussels were large and tasty and the sauce complimented it well. I also received a complimentary plate of the marinated chickpeas. I'm not a fan of chickpeas, so I was shocked this was actually a good dish. I'm thankful I was able to try it. Then came the A.burger. This is one of the best burgers in the city! It's a juicy double patty, with a generous portion of melted cheese, on a toasted sesame seed bun. I dont remember the other ingredients, but it all meshed perfectly. Juices were running down my hand and on to my plate, the sign of a great burger. A minor quibble is that my top bun was over toasted, to say it nicely. The dessert cookies were 3 different small cookies that tasted ok. I will have forgotten the cookies a week from now, but there is no forgetting that burger. I'll definitely be back for lunch again to order it. read more

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Amazing little gem with craft cocktails that were made to perfection! Service was on point and drinks were ordered before the others were even empty! Paul was an awesome host and all the staff were friendly and welcoming. Great outdoor Social distanced seating and ambiance was perfect! Thanks for a great start to the w read more

a.kitchen - a glass of old fashioned cocktail - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I had Easter dinner with my daughter. I had the pate as an appetizer which was so tasty. Entree was the lamb peg which was perfectly rare and the merguez sausage and wilted escarole was a perfect side. Desert was the rhubarb upside down cake. Had a bite (or two lol) of my daughter's panna cotta which was delicious too! Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in CC and surprised by some of the negative reviews. I've been before and it has always been good. Service was superb. read more

a.kitchen - Lamb leg - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Last night I had dinner at a.kitchen with my husband and in-laws. I think it's safe to say that we were all super happy to be reunited with Chef Eli Collins' cooking. Eli's food is always seasonal, innovative and delicious (he was formerly the head chef at Pub & Kitchen, one of our go-tos). The squash and fig dish was out of this world! From the crunch of the pumpkin seeds and rye crisps to the sweetness of the figs, this plate was bursting with fall flavor. I absolutely loved it! The octopus and sausage/shishito peppers starters were great as well, but the squash stole the show. For dinner, I had the steak with mushrooms and bernaise butter. The steak was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. Our server was incredibly professional and kind, knew the menu inside and out, and had a great wine suggestion every time we asked. Dessert was nice but probably not a must. I wasn't crazy about the pecan cake but I did enjoy the chocolate tart, which is ideal for dark chocolate lovers as it's not overly sweet but still very flavorful, with raspberry sauce complementing the chocolate (my favorite combo!). The only negative we experienced was when my mother-in-law requested a black russian with a side of ice. The drink the bartender sent over was not a black russian, but some type of coffee martini. She wasn't crazy about it, and it was removed from our check (very nice and much appreciated!) but I just wish the bartender would have sent our server back to say that they couldn't make the drink/didn't have the correct ingredients/etc. We had this exact same issue years ago when we last dined at a.kitchen together - we even mentioned it to our server when we placed our drink order! It was a small snafu, but kind of strange that a restaurant with a full bar next door wouldn't have Kahlua. a.kitchen is one of those spots I don't get to very often, but after last night's fantastic dinner, I'll be keeping it in mind for future nights out! read more

a.kitchen - Steak - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I really enjoyed my brunch. The cured trout was a little different than I was expecting. Wish I saw a picture of it first. But it was tasty nonetheless with juicy tomatoes and fresh poached egg. The pancakes however, were absolutely delicious! I'd return just for them again. Coffee was hot and fresh. Service was great. I'd return for sure. read more

a.kitchen - Cured Trout "salad" with poached egg and tomatoes - New American Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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After hearing a fair amount of positive buzz about a.kitchen, our brunch club of six decided to give it a try following a two-year COVID hiatus. No one in our party had been before and we were eager to get out and get together again. Ironically, our last outing in February, 2020 was just across the street at The Love. Unfortunately, the two experiences could not have been more night and day. Perhaps it's the new normal in a pandemic or hopefully soon to be post pandemic world, but a.kitchen did not bring their A game during our visit. The food was all pretty much serviceable with some standouts.....omelettes, hamburgers, mussels, corn cakes were all sampled. The scallop chowder was the only truly underwhelming item, lacking flavor, consistency and well much in the was of scallops for that matter. The mussels were nicely flavored as were the biscuits with lamb gravy. The omelette was made to near perfection....light and airy and stuffed with a variety a sauteed veggies. Unfortunately, the true disappointment was in the service or lack of consistent and reliable service throughout our meal. Repeated attempts to get the attention of any number of servers rotating around the room became a lesson in futility. Coffee and water refills were non-existent, as were the additional set-ups for which we were lacking and made repeated requests to acquire.There was much effort expended in trying to get service throughout the meal. I am ready to cut some slack in casual breakfast / brunch spots, but in the land of $20 omelettes, a coffee or water refill shouldn't be too much to expect. read more