My girlfriend and I had lunch here on a gorgeous Saturday a few days ago and really enjoyed the delicious food, and fast and friendly service at this charming place in beautiful Chester. The Pren Bae sandwich. You won't be disappointed. read more

Great little place with healthy options. Portions are reasonable. You won't leave gorged. High quality ingredients. Totally recommend

On a cold, icy rainy day today, i found a cure for Winter... It came in the shape of a takeout Meatloaf dinner from Pren Kitchen. Juicy, perfectly seasoned meatloaf, with carmelized onion draped over, buttery mashed potatoes with Grandma-whipped texture, and brussel sprouts roasted into sublimity... Yum! Looking forward to my next visit! And importantly, placing phone order and picking up were very easy and pleasant! Thank Ms. Apgar! read more

First time here tonight and we will be back!! Food was delicious and service was great. We had the brussels and french onion soup to start, which were both delicious. Then the short rib pot pie and a caesar salad. Make sure to try the oren french fries (rosemary and parm). Dessert was even better, très leche cake and flourless brownies. The brownies were so fudgey. Atmosphere is adorable and intimate, which makes it great for date night. read more

Pren - brussel sprouts, delicious! - American Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

Food was very good, a nice setting for having lunch, very good service, but very pricey

I have been dying to try Pren Kitchen ever since we heard they were moving into the old Robin's Nest. Based on early reactions from other locals, I knew I wouldn't be the only one trying to get a seat there as soon as possible. The Man and I waited for about a month to avoid the "OMG MUST TRY THE NEW PLACE THE MINUTE IT OPENS!" crowd. I've gotta say, I have a new obsession. I have now been to Pren four times in the last two weeks, and I'm already itching to go back. Pren is a bit hidden - you won't know it's there unless you either know where to look or someone tells you where it is. Located next to the Black River Candy Shoppe (yet another local gem), the place doesn't look like a restaurant from the outside. Once you step inside the door, you're in their quaint waiting area. There's seating and a small area directly in front with some promotional items for sale and a small refrigerator with drinks to the left. On the right is the register/host area. You order and pay there, and then find a seat in the dining area - a warm, cozy room with booths on one side, a large table in the center, a nook with small tables, and 2-tops on the other side. All said, the dining rooms probably seats no more than 30. The dining area is an electronics-free zone, meaning that they discourage patrons from talking on their phones while they are in there - probably a good suggestion since it's a pretty small space and you don't need everyone and their mother being up in your business, ya know? The entire space feels warm and inviting, making you feel more like you're sitting in someone's home than in a restaurant. They have an array of board games to keep kids and adults busy, and the servers generally make regular rounds to see if anyone needs anything. Because you order and pay upfront (all their prices include tax and service charge), things more pretty quickly. It has been pretty crowded during some of my visits, and I don't think I've waiting more than 10 minutes from the time I walked in the door until my food arrived at the table. Not bad considering everything is made fresh! Now on to the things we've ordered from Pren and what our thoughts are... - Bacon omelette (weekend brunch menu) - the prettiest, fluffiest omelette I've ever seen. Lightly seasoned, beautiful presentation, and the home fries served with it were excellent. - Chicken and the egg (weekend brunch menu) - crispy buttermilk fried white meat chicken with a fried egg and sriracha mayo. This is my favorite. The yolk on the fried egg breaks as you close the brioche bun, coating the chicken with creamy, savory goodness that mixes with the not-too-spicy sriracha mayo for the perfect sauce. - Sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich (weekend brunch menu) - this is NOT a drive-through breakfast sandwich! Homemade sausage with a glorious fried egg, cheese, and sriracha mayo. It doesn't take anything like what you get at the Golden Arches. - Potato cheddar soup with sausage - I could live in a bowl of this thick, creamy soup. Don't let the portion size fool you. This soup will fill you up in a hurry. I practically licked the bowl when I was done. - Roasted tomato tart - another "small but mighty" menu item. The puff pastry was sublime, the herbed and roasted tomatoes packed a ton of flavor. This paired really well with the potato cheddar soup for a quick lunch combo. - Grassfed burger with PREN fries - sure, it might look like any other burger you'd get at a non-fast food joint, but it is so much more. The burger itself was well-seasoned, bringing out the umami of the beef. This had so much flavor, in fact, that The Man didn't bother with ketchup. The fries also packed a mean punch with rosemary and Parmesan. Perfect compliment to the burger. - Pastry basket (weekend brunch menu) - mini croissants, chocolate croissant twists, and a pumpkin muffin made for a terrific starter for brunch. The croissants were buttery, flaky, and everything you want from a French pastry. The muffins are light, fluffy, give you just enough pumpkin flavor to leave you wanting more. So yea, I'm clearly Team Pren. I was just there yesterday, and I'm already craving another trip in a big way. If they're already this good only a few weeks after opening, I can't wait to see how amazing things they'll have to offer once they've found their groove! read more

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Excellent food! Great service! And you never feel rushed to leave. I highly recommend it.

Ordered chicken and egg sandwich, and bacon cheese omelet. I thought this place would be unspectacular after eating the omelet, but the sandwich saved this place, it was actually pretty good. Portions were just right. Table next door had waiters come ask how was the food 5 times (I counted!) but nobody asked us even once, and they forgot to give us water in the beginning as well. If you want boring american food in a comfortable environment, this is your jam. read more

Pren - Omelet - American Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

Absolutely delicious fresh food with a nice modern twist. Loved the healthy options, dessert was great. The service was excellent! We even had the owner check on us, Definitely will be back! read more

This place is a gem and now a regular spot to eat. Glad Chester got a new option outside of Italian or diner / bar food options. In addition the owner is a nationally known architect and brings his cultivated passion to food. Decor and Info: Informal and friendly with games for kids and adults and a modern farmhouse style approach to the old and boring diner / american food. Order food at counter style and all food freshly made little to no processed food. Meat is from Pastoral pig butcher so local meat sustainably grown and super fresh. Lots of vegetarian options for those not wanting meat. Baked goods are really good with whoopie pies and cake options. Food that I've eaten so far (will update with more here): Kale salad was excellent and I'm stealing the recipe for making at home. Mac and cheese is legit good as well. read more

Really good, Tremendous service!! Working backwards, the vanilla cake with light white icing and strawberry filling. Bravo! BYOB so don't forget the bottle of wine. Cool, spacious and quiet during NJ dining restrictions, as only 3 other tables were filled while we were there after 7 pm on a Friday night. We enjoyed a Syrah from Oregon with one order of the meatloaf platter (best she's ever had) and the pulled pork + Mac and Cheese! The meatloaf exceeded all expectations with mashed potatoes aside, and wonderfully crispy Brussels sprouts. The pulled pork was to die for. It rivals the BBQ from Austin TX, brined for hours in veggies and shedded to perfection. Mac and Cheese was good but outshined by the pulled pork. Cornbread was too dry so each bite needed a helping of pulled pork. We also got a side of small Pren Fries to start, so good and crispy. Cool building, tucked away off Main St. in Chester. Well-decorated to make a custom-curated cozy ambiance. Love the scrabble board and table games there. Took a pic of the huge scrabble board on the wall to make in our basement. Great spot, we'll be back again. read more

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Had an amazing brunch today! So nice to get the kids out without their phones and play some games over a great meal. It's been a long time since they dined without going online. I got the chicken and egg sandwich. It was incredible. read more

Very nice little place hidden in Chester. I had the falafel in a pita and it was amazing. The staff is courteous and accommodating. The decor is spotless and in great taste. I will definitely be back! read more

Was super excited to try this place because of the reviews and honestly being new to the area we haven't found good food. As soon as we walked in they told us we had to have a reservation when I could see multiple tables open. The person in the front acted like they were gonna get so busy in the next 5 mins. The manager came out and stared us up and down and said that we needed a reservation at this point I could tell they were just rude. We walked out and I will never set foot in there again. read more

Really. Just.... amazing. Friendly service from real people. Food was perfectly portioned and flavor was absolutely outstanding. (I could have had 2nds, 3rds and probably 4ths) I added salt to a few things but I appreciate a chef who doesn't over power a dish with salt. The flavors were really balanced with every dish so much so that my husband and I tried to guess every spice and flavor. The butternut squash was my absolute favorite. Hands down. Cool atmosphere too. Really excited to come back. read more

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Nothing great.. food was bland and tasteless. Ordered chicken fingers and a lentil burger which tasted like cardboard

Delish. We had the buffalo egg rolls (YUM), and a pulled pork hoagie and chicken sandwich. We opted for the Pren fries (parmesan cheese and rosemary) and that is a must! Dessert was the lemon cream cheese, double chocolate cookies and a flourless brownie. Everything was top notch. We will be back! read more

What a beautiful little place! Such a nice vibe. Friendly welcoming staff! Our waiter provided excellent suggestions, his love of the place and its food was evident. Scrumptious food, too! Definitely coming back! :) read more

Loved this place. Very cozy. Staff made u feel at home. Quiche and burgers and soup we had were delicious. This was a lucky find.

This establishment is perfect in every way, the service was as spectacular as the food. Very hard to narrow down what to try and looking forward to going back!!! We started with the pierogis with onions which were authentic and perfectly cooked and delicious. We felt like we were family by the time we were leaving. Run, don't walk to eat here. read more

Pren - Avocado BLT with garlic Aioli mayo, pulled pork, black beans over cornbread with a fried egg, spicy Brussels. - American Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

Ordered catering from Pren for our daughter's baptism and could not be happier. They were quick to respond, very professional, and most importantly: the food was delicious. Don't pass on the Buffalo egg rolls and the pulled pork and crab cake sliders. The brownies for dessert were absolutely decadent. Thank you Pren for not making me lift a finger!! read more

Great new restaurant right in the center of Chester. Cozy setting with delicious food. read more

Great Food, Great Service, and a Great family that owns this gem in the heart of Chester.

Nice place with modern and relaxed ambience. Good for brunch or lunch. I had the cheeseburger . It was good. My husband got the chicken sandwich and enjoyed a lot. Overall good experience read more

Great neighborhood restaurant. Nice staff, good food, casual, friendly atmosphere with a bistro vibe, upscale touches in terms of decor, flatware, serving plates, glassware etc, reasonable prices- Pren Kitchen is what a neighborhood bistro should be like. Some seafood, currently not on the menu ( other than a crab cake ) would be a welcome addition read more

Can't have enough their hearty soups! French onion soup is classic and the split pea soup is a lovely addition. It is a place of wonderful uplifting soul foods. Friendly service and cozy ambiance with great food. Nothing is better than this. read more

It's a cute little place, with friendly staff. The food left much to be desired. First round was drinks. I ordered an iced tea. They advertise freshly brewed. It was muddy and murky, and tasted like it was old so that went back. They offer some very nice bottled diet root beer, so I did have something to drink. They had a special of chicken pot pie, and since it was a chilly day, a warm comforting dish like that was tempting. Unfortunately, it was more pie than pot. Typically, chicken pot pie is indeed served in a pot, and when well made has a glorious, creamy, filling, full of chunky moist chicken, lovely vegetables and a beautifully seasoned sauce. This was actually cut as a pie. It was a slice of pie, double crusted. You may be wondering how a creamy filling can be cut like a pie, well, there you are.... it wasn't . It was anything but creamy, rather a congealed, bland, mushy, mess, with a crust that bore an uncomfortable resemblance to a concrete slab. It wasn't flaky, and light, rather tough and bready. The dish was north of $20, I think $24, and a huge disappointment. It came with two sides, so fries and mac and cheese were the choices. The fries were your garden variety fast food type of fries, the mac and cheese was decent, albeit slightly grainy, but it did save me from being hungry. If you go, you might want to stick to burgers or sandwiches. read more

The food was really good and I totally recommend. And they have really good service. The Ambiance is really good too.

My employer orders lunch everyday for his office staff. Loved it from the start. Amazing food.

What a great little gem this place is! We live local and cannot believe it took us this long to visit. Simple and clean inside, great service and a lovely eclectic menu. So many great choices and we loved our dinner. Guess we'll be back soon so that we can try everything! read more

Pren - Pork rice bowl w/veggies. Delish!!!! - American Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

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Came here after a day at the nearby Apple orchard. We wanted a nice sit down meal and this place did not disappoint! We ordered the lamb burger, the lump crab cake sandwich, the falafel, and the pulled pork hoagie. The pulled pork hoagie was so juicy and flavorful, onions were cooked perfectly and the bread was fresh with just the right amount of crunch. I loved my lump crab cake sandwich and enjoyed the butternut squash side alternative to the fries. My friends liked the lam urged but not the the falafel. Getting a falafel at a non Middle Eastern restaurant is like getting a taco at a non Mexican restaurant -it's likely to disappoint. The service was also quick and friendly. They provided a high chair for my son. Just a note that they don't serve alcohol. I'd definitely recommend this place if you're in the area and looking for a nice meal that's tasty m, good quality ingredients and not crazy fancy. read more

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Great spot to catch up with family. Very friendly staff, clean and calm restaurant space. This was the last place we went out to eat before the pandemic hit- so glad it was a nice experience. Everyone enjoyed their food, though we all thought the portions were a little small for the price. Would happily come again. read more

Stopped here impromptu on our way home based on the reviews. It's not often you see a place with 5 stars. It was a very busy day for them here and with 2 small kids in the car who refused to eat lunch on this particular day we were worried this 25 minute wait would feel like 25 hours with still an hour ride home ahead of us and almost cancelled, however as luck would have it there was a really cute candy shop next door to keep them occupied. Lol. THANK YOU food gods and my gut feeling to wait it out. Delicious!!!!!! The hubs ordered the pulled pork hoagie with Pren fries. This man loves pulled pork and also has no issue telling you how he feels about it. When he said this is probably the best pulled pork I've ever had, of course I had to try it and hell yeahhhh it was. I was in the mood for a good burger and that's exactly what I got. The mushroom onion cheese burger added bacon and switched it to a pretzel roll. Go big or go home was the motto today. This was heaven in a bun. Complete silence filled the car as two happy kids went ham on a ring pop and mommy and daddy got lost in their lunch. Thank you pren for feeding us a bag of zen!!! read more

Ok second time here. Full disclosure I know the owner as our kids are friends. However if I didn't think Craig's food was awesome I just wouldn't post anything. This place is just too good not to tell everyone! Onion soup...yeah I always like the cheese topping the best. Not here. Craig puts just enough gruyere to not overkill the amazing rich red wine broth and onions. The baguette is crispy and soft as well. Best onion soup ever. I had the pulled pork entree with mac and cheese last time so I was sure I was going for the grass fed burger this time. NOT. Craig just finished a batch of pulled pork and gave me a taste. That's all it took. Pulled pork sandwich with melted provolone and fresh red onions. OMG. The contrasts of flavor, crunchy crusted baguette and provolone is off the charts. Ridiculous restaurant. Best in area. read more

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Good food, nice staff, definitely has to be the best restaurant to occupy this storefront.

Totally agree that this place is a must. The burgers were SO DELICIOUS that we didn't even snap a photo - just enjoyed the meal! They don't offer coffee drinks, just regular black coffee. Usually I don't drink coffee without milk, sugar or creamer but this cup of joe was amazing without any extra flavor. Highly recommended! read more

Pren - the outside of the restaurant - American Near Me - Chester, New Jersey

For many weeks we had heard of the great new restaurant in Chester, Pren Kitchen. As local foodies, we were eager to try the new lunch spot, but until today did not have the opportunity to eat at the popular eatery. My review is mixed, but in summary, Pren Kitchen doesn't quite meet expectations. Food: We ordered three appetizers, two lunches, and two desserts. Appetizers were wonderful, mains and dessert were dissapointing. Spicy Brussel Sprouts: These were delicious; browned and crisp and just enough heat and well seasoned. We loved them. Buffalo Chicken Egg-rolls: Also delicious, the chicken was moist and the egg roll was crispy and fresh. Pierogi with Carmelized Onion: The presentation was great, with a perfect sear on each of the three large pieces. Unfortunately, the texture of the filling could have been improved-felt slightly overworked and paste like. Silders with Pren Fries: Two tiny ground beef pucks, way overcooked and without much flavor. I expected steamed onions or a sauce-- something - but these were ground beef, cheese square and bread. Truly disappointing. The Pren fries were comical; limp and undercooked potato under a pile of Parmesan and rosemary crumble. When described by the server it sounded appealing, but the textures didn't come together and were mostly left on the plate. Chicken Cheddar Jalapeño Burger: Was there cheese? Was there spice? I honestly don't remember. It tasted like a common chicken burger from the grocery store but somehow with less flavor. Again, it needed a sauce, better cheese, and something to elevate this otherwise boring protein. Fries were undercooked and left on the plate. GF Dulce de Leche "Fluffy" Cake: This was incredibly disappointing. There was nothing fluffy about the texture of this cake, so why did they advertise it as so? The cookie on the top of the cake was delicious as was the thin layer of frosting. However the cake itself was a failure - not moist, not flavorful and not sweet. We decided it wasn't worth the calories, but when the host asked us about it and we were telling her about how we enjoyed the cookie, she walked away before we were able to explain why the rest of the cake had been left largely untouched on the table. Atmosphere: The ambiance is lovely; you feel as though you've been transported to a chic college town or the Upper West Side for a grown up lunch. Much attention was spent on decor. It was surprising that our water was served with disposable cups. Our bottled drinks were served unopened, and without ice or glasses. When we asked for same, twice, they never appeared. We watched with some horror as the host belittled guests without a reservation and moved people around the small (and largely empty) dining room to accommodate reservations that had not yet arrived. Every single person that entered was told that their reservation was incorrect - those that had requested outside seating were moved indoors. We had requested an outside table, but were taken into the dining room. Several tables were sat, drinks served, and then moved to make room for parties that had not arrived yet. One diner promised to "eat quickly," only to be rushed to another table. Our three servers had little knowledge of the menu and looked completely checked out. They didn't ask if we needed anything or to check on our experience. Further, they forgot several of our requests. A neighboring party was served soup and only after it had sat for several minutes did the guest get up and find the server to get spoons. When they finally got them, their soup was cold. No apologies or explanations were given. The service felt like an opening day- clearly their front of house needs some training. When packing up a leftover egg roll, the server literally tried to take the plate from my hand. I had requested a box, and was filling it - the eggroll was the only thing left on the table - he just wasn't paying any attention. Again- no apology- we felt as though we were an inconvenience, as we were hurried out of the restaurant. If they had a liquor license, this would be a fun spot to have an appetizer before a night out. However, the prices were far too high for what was served. At this price point, something has to be exemplary and service impeccable. The problems in service would be funny had it not been so expensive. Unfortunately, after the appetizers, the food was overpriced and just down right bad. We left feeling unappreciated and hungry for something special. There's a lot of potential here- but attention needs to be paid to front of house experience, customer service and the quality of everything on the menu. read more

Great experience all around. I got the buttermilk chicken sandwich and the bun and chicken were about as tender as I could imagine them being. The Pren fries were also perfectly seasoned with rosemary and parmesan. Wouldn't change anything. read more

Great restaurant! The interior was cozy, and their foods were all delicious! I highly recommend to book your table in advance. read more

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This is an amazing story.... I have supported this restaurant since its beginning.....Having a big birthday party here and constantly bringing and meeting friends. I would say I am probably a loyal Pren fan and frankly appalled at the way I was treated with my friend today. This is what happens , when children run a restaurant.... possibly why it has not been crowded recently. We sat down and air was on to an extreme, so we asked for it to be lowered. The little girl said she was in charge and could not do.... we asked we to speak to someone in charge. She left and then 2 kitchen workers came out and said that the owner was not there. and he said to ask us to leave snd that we would NOT be served. They would not serve us and we left. Is this how good customers are to be treated? Would it have been soooooo hard to put air slightly lower ? They said girl was crying ????? Because my friend asked to speak to the person in charge??????? too ridiculous .... An apology please?????? Too ridiculous at how this was handled! read more