Renatas is always so good and the people there are wonderful! Such a reliable brunch option. Definitely on the pricy side but i always enjoy my meal. Tried the eggplant halloumi sandwich and loved. The sauce is flavorful and herby and the eggplant is lovely. Indulgent without feeling too greasy or heavy. I thot the rose chai latte wasnt bad but probably would have been better and more creamy with a milk besides oat milkz read more

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After a whimsical night out with a few colleagues, I was desperate for a hearty meal to fill my growing appetite. [[HIGHLIGHT]]While Renata's Kitchen appeared to be the answer to my problems, I found its fresh and welcoming ambiance deceiving.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For my entree I ordered "A Tale of Two Eggs". This entailed two eggs (cooked anyway), potatoes, bacon, and toast. I assumed I couldn't go wrong with the classics. I assumed wrong. My over easy eggs were fried to a crisp that my fork alone could not conquer without the aid of a butter knife. Moreover, my bacon slices were dry to the bone! I've had beef jerky in the Sahara desert that tasted better. I wish to not even comment on the toast slices. Truly a painful experience. Overall, Renata's Kitchen is no more than an overpriced trendy brunch saloon used as gentrification tactic in west Philadelphia. read more

Was recommended by a friend of mine, walked two miles to get there. The food was amazing and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambience was very modern and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was not the best, we only saw our server at the beginning and at the end. The mocktails were alright, a little pricey for the size though. I would definetly go here again just for the fries, they were amazing! read more

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This was my first time here. Very cute atmosphere and the service was good. I really enjoyed the drink and the hummus read more

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Came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Took advantage of the daily special and happy hour prices! Ambiance and service was nice. Falafel and wings were great. Wings were a little sweeter than I thought they'd be. Batata was okay and the fries could have been seasoned a lot better. Server said the Chicken Mohammar was very spicy so I opted for Chicken Shawarma but after tasting the Harissa Maple Wings and Batata, it wasn't spicy at all from the harissa so I'm wondering if I could have handled it. Chicken was cold in the pita wrap. Not a fan of the onion relish. Also got the knafeh and baklava to go. My partner liked the knafeh, but we both thought the rose blossom syrup on the baklava was a bit much and sickly sweet. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Chicken Shawarma and Harissa Maple Wings - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Mediterranean spot in West Philly - came in ~6pm on a weekday night. Atmosphere: For indoor dining, they require physical copies of proof of vaccination, and do not require masks indoors. They also offer outdoor seating. The atmosphere is quite casual, with a large long table in the center. I believe they have 2 floors as well. Food: I thought the portion sizes were great - I enjoyed the taste of the sumac fries, but I think the chicken shawarma wrap could have been spiced better / tasted a bit bland. My primary issue was with the haloumi eggplant sourdough sandwich because it got too soggy with the tomato and eggplant included. The pound cake with rose infused wasn't too sweet, which I liked. I was mostly just bummed by the sourdough sandwich. Overall: 3/5 - I may come back to order other things from their menu, but I just thought the food was okay - wasn't my favorite Mediterranean food, largely due to the soggy bread from the sandwich. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Chicken shawarma wrap - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

stopped in for a great drink and some appetizers during happy hour ! i believe my servers name was callie- (im so sorry if i got it wrong you were great!) so attentive and wonderful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]overall a great place![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Lovely neighborhood spot. Very accommodating staff. I did a little work and had a delicious brunch. Can't wait to revisit read more

Amazing location and nice servers, but a bit overpriced! I think if you're able to take an extra 20 minutes or so, there are better brunch options for the price )x That being said the Shakshuka was very yummy! read more

Renata's Kitchen - Shakshuka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food was good, but we were seated outside, and it was so cold outside, that the food quickly got cold, so it made for not such a great experience. I was surprised that a restaurant has outside seating but no provisions for the climate. That's unusual. many places have outdoor heaters and the like for when it gets cold. I ate here back in September and it was a nice warm day and the experience was wonderful. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Shakshouka Merguez - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Renata's is one of my favorite places for brunch, lunch or dinner in the city. I have never actually ate inside (though the space is beautiful) because I love their outdoor patio so much. It's mostly private (surrounded by plants) and shaded with umbrellas. They typically have great draft beer options, tasty cocktails, and even quite a few zero-proof options (really enjoyed the Casablanca Palmer -- lemonade with mint infused tea). This visit we shared the hummus and baba ganouj - I absolutely love their warm grilled pita bread. For an entree, we split the falafel wrap and it was outstanding. Their seasoned fries are among my favorite. Will continue to return to Renata's, any time! read more

Renata's Kitchen - Falafel Wrap - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wine list had some really disgusting choices and [[HIGHLIGHT]]restaurant was unwelcoming.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Food was poor. It will be easy to resist never returning. read more

Had food delivered. Mixed review. Ordered the chicken and waffles. Wife had the eggplant entree. The chicken was dry and over-cooked. The breading was thick and tasted of flour. The waffle was good, with a nice cinnamon crust. The portion was huge. The hot sauce was very tasty. If it had not been over-cooked it would have been a delicious meal. Instead I give it a C- I will try again sometime. If I was at the restaurant I would have sent it back. Eggplant was delicious. Wife loved it. Flavorful, lovely Mediterranean tomato based sauce. She gave it an A. Would order again. My advice is to eat at the restaurant. Delivery does not work in this instance. read more

staff was unskilled and rude. they seemed bothered by any request. took forever to get our food and the orders were wrong. wouldnt come back

This is the second time I've tried this place. Everyone loves it and this time I give them a 4. I had the chicken and waffles and wished the chicken skin was crispier. The spicy syrup was a delicious addition and the waffle was just fine. Nothing special. My bestie had the smoked salmon Benedict and enjoyed every morsel. The margarita tho that was the thing that did it. Of course the service was excellent. Tons of room upstairs, not a busy brunch at all. Iyana was great, always there when needed but not hovering and friendly. Smiling. Would I return? Eh. I wouldn't run or make reservations but if folks were going, sure, I go too. And ask for chicken fried hard! read more

Renata's Kitchen - Smoked Salmon Benedict and Roasted Potatoes - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Lovely little brunch place located in Ucity. They are Mediterranean fusion. I got a Diablo chicken sandwich- it was decently crispy and not too dry. Wasn't the best chicken sandwich I've ever had but still a solid choice. The fries were great if you enjoy very potatoey and soggy texture which is my favorite. The hot sauce that comes with it is like a Smokey bbq flavor with a bit of spice; a tasty choice for fries. Overall a solid brunch experience that was reasonably priced with good portions. Would come again. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Fried Chicken Diablo Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What a great addition to the University City dining scene is Renata's Kitchen. Situated at the intersection where four Philly trolley lines come together to enter the transit tunnel to Center City, it provides a good reason to get off one of the trolleys and get something to eat. First of all, it looks great .... from the outdoor cafe to the bar and common table, and completed with an attractive second floor dining room and mural. The food is tasty eastern Mediterranean. I ordered a Mezze assortment the last time I was at Renata's. I started off with a decent lightly fried cauliflower in tahini sauce, followed by a crispy spanokopita. The Turkish fried eggplants with Moroccan charmoula sauce were truly delicious. Only the Shush Barak disappointed - dry and not as flavorful or spicy as I would like but the tzatziki sauce added some needed moisture. Now speaking of spice - their homemade hot sauce def added a little kick to the flavor buds. Service was adequate although I was there during a mid-afternoon change of shift. Def keep Renata's in mind when hanging out in University City. It has nicely filled a niche. read more

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I went with a group of friends to this place for Saturday brunch. There was spacious and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. We stayed there for like an hour and a half, and the waiters were super nice and filled up my water like seven times (lol). I ordered the Waffle Ranchero, which was basically huevos rancheros but Belgian waffles instead of tortilla, and it was phenomenal! The waffle had a great texture and was a good mixture of savory and sweet. I ordered over-medium eggs, but they were slightly over done. The pico and guac were nothing crazy but definitely hit the spot. It was a bit pricy, spending about $25 dollars after tip. I'm very satisfied with the brunch and would recommend it to anyone! read more

Renata's Kitchen - Waffle Ranchero - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Renata's is just an okay restaurant. The food is serviceable, the atmosphere is nice, and it's a convenient spot for West Philly folks who want to grab a meal with a friend after class. I got the chicken shawarma wrap the first time I came. There's a creamy, almost lemon-y sauce that comes with it that's very light in flavor, to the point it's almost unnecessary to use it. The chicken itself is soft, and the fries were crispy. I took a little less than half the meal home because the portions were big, which is a plus, but I didn't find myself eager to finish it as leftovers. I also ordered catering from Renata's for a club event: falafel and chicken shawarma bowls. The individual boxed falafel bowl came with five pieces of falafel, which were all pretty hard... in fact, my plastic knife struggled to cut through them, but the taste was fine. It had the same light and creamy sauce. The combination of the sauce and falafel was good. There was also a salad that came with it, containing herbs, tomatoes, and cucumbers. It tasted fresh but was somewhat bland. But it also complimented the falafel well. Overall, I'd come here out of convenience more than anything else! read more

Love the new location by the trolley stop with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. This is a great brunch spot on a nice sunny day. I had the shakshuka with pita and it was delicious. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Shakshouka - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Renata's Kitchen is the only place I'll get chicken & waffles because theirs is a GAME! CHANGER! My first time here, I got my usual eggs benny but everyone else got chicken & waffles and, after stealing one bite, I knew why. Usually that dish is a dry ordeal, but here, the chicken is juicy and tender, fried but not too hard, and the waffles are sweet through with pearl (?) sugar. I still think about it and can't wait to come back. Service is great and patio seating is available for dining in covid times. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Eggs Benedict, Chicken & Waffles - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Renata's Kitchen features American brunch with a Mediterranean twist. I appreciated the measures that Renata's taking right now with COVID. They take your temperature before you enter and the tables all have dividers in between. The staff members were wearing masks and gloves the entire time as well. They're currently offering both indoor and outdoor seating and you can make a reservation online. The waitress was really friendly and checked on my table frequently. The food came out fairly quickly too. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles ($14) and right when it came out my mouth started watering. The Belgian waffles were crispy and not too sweet, while the chicken was well flavored and complemented the waffles perfectly. The sauce that comes with it adds a great kick to it as well. Renata's brunch prices are pretty average for the area and the portion sizes are fair in my opinion. TLDR: Lots of measures in place for COVID and the chicken and waffles were the perfect combination of spicy and savory. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Chicken and Waffles - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This has been on my West Philly bucket list for SO long, and we finally checked it off today. Went around noon for brunch. Renata's currently offers indoor seating -- aka booths separated by plastic dividers, as well as outdoor seating. It was a bit nippy when we arrived, so we opted to stay in. Tryna stay on that no-dairy grind and also stay true to the restaurant's Middle Eastern roots, so I went for the Shakshuka Merguez ($15), which is the same thing as the original Shakshuka, except it's $1(?) pricier and has deliciously heat-y chorizo slices. Portion size is more than sufficient. Shakshuka is a solid pick. I also sampled a bit of my friend's Chicken and Waffles ($14) and dang those waffles were perfection! Plus the new trolley station location is kinda vibey -- good date spot, mayhaps? read more

Renata's Kitchen - Shakshouka Merguez - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went to Renata's Kitchen since the place we'd been planning to go to was closed. Renata's food is fine & solid, totally adequate but doesn't make me look forward to coming back. Here's a food summary (I use ^ to indicate a half-star and * for a full star. So, ***^ means 3.5 stars): ****^ Shakshuka merguez with sausage: Tasty, good. The tomato stewy part is flavourful with sausage & the eggs are cooked in it. It's probably the best shakshuka I've had in West Philadelphia. **^ Cauliflower appetizer with tahini was okay. The cauliflower was a bit undercooked. *** Cuban Sandwich was half-good. It was unevenly constructed so while about half the sandwich was tasty, the ingredients were not proportionately distributed so the rest of the sandwich was not great, too dry and bland. I didn't want to eat those parts. Service is fine. I'd be okay with returning, but not really excited. read more

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Very solid Mediterranean food. A bit expensive, but that seems to be par for the course following the Inflation Reduction Act. Friendly service too. read more

Food was great. We had Hummus, crispy grape leaves, falafel for apps. And had Greek salad and Fattush salad. All very good. Service was great. Highly recommend read more

Came here for breakfast with an old friend. Located in West Philly, my hometown it is a gem on Baltimore Ave. My companion had quiche Lorraine which she said was quite tasty. I was in the mood for a breakfast sandwich but didn't see one o the menu. They were happy to make one for me with cheddar, bacon and roasted red peppers, on sourdough. It was divine. They are a Mediterranean restaurant with gorgeous baked goods as well. I may have to come back for dinner to try more traditional Mediterranean options! read more

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Had a reservation for 11:15am and we didn't get seated until 30 minutes later. I wonder if they even take reservations into consideration? Anyway, as walk-ins kept getting seated ahead of us, we pondered going to the breakfast place up Baltimore, but finally we were told that something had opened up. We definitely walked in while it was busy, but it died down soon after so the wait felt a little pointless. I ordered a mushroom burek pastry, along with the diablo chicken sandwich with lentil soup instead of fries. Sandwich was crispy and the soup was very good and well spiced, but the long hot placed on the sandwich was odd and the toast for bread instead of a bun was just alright, it didn't make it any better. My friend's poached egg was way over cooked, not runny at all like he expected. Burger was more of a little lump of meat, refreshing ingredients with good flavor but the patty was small and thick. Friend said the bagel was good, but they only give a small amount of lox. The mushroom onion burek tasted mostly like mushroom, flaky but sort of flavorless. With the wait time even with a reservation, average food quality, and portions, I probably won't be back anytime soon for brunch, but they do have some interesting specials and you can tell people love to sit around, eat, and drink coffee in this space. read more

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Visited this spot at its new and old location -- and the new location doesn't measure up. While there is expanded seating (hooray!), make sure to go early for Sunday brunch. My go-to was the Shakshuka, however the new plating (no longer in the skillet) affected the flavorfulness. I would highly recommend the Middle Eastern breakfast plate -- the ful is absolutely amazing! read more

Fantastic new location. Ride to this place on the trolleys. 11,13,36 & 34. Kate and Yassir The staff is very friendly and I really enjoy the food and fun cocktail menu. Friday night I had the most delicious lamb of my life it was the shank. Very tender. I also shared the fool, and fried grape leaf appetizers. The music makes a groovy lounge vibe while the decor and high ceilings say hip urban bistro. Today I returned for Sunday brunch and had my favorite - the salad nicoise. The tuna, olives, capers and dressing are always a real treat. My dining partners enjoyed the breakfast burrito and waffle w fried chicken. Whether dining al fresco on the verdant brick patio or chilling in either the lower or upper dining room I always enjoy Renata's Kitchen. They are easily my favorite all around spot in University City. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Lamb shank, aromatic rice, steamed cauliflower, tomato cilantro soup, cucumber infused vodka lemonade - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Wow! I will definitely be going back to Renata's. Great service and friendly staff and lots of seating for bigger parties. I went there to celebrate a friend's birthday and they have a nice large island with bar seating - perfect for large groups. They also have outdoor seating. The food was great, I got the Croque Madame Sandwich which was absolutely insane! It was delicious French toast with deli meat, Swiss cheese, and a fried egg on top. It also came with either salad or roasted potatoes and I got the potatoes read more

Renata's Kitchen - Croque Madame and Roasted Potatoes - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Charming little restaurant conveniently located right outside of the 41st street trolley stop with plenty of outdoor seating. It's been a favorite of mine since moving here. All the food has been at reasonable prices and have all tasted great, and there are always weekly specials going on. The service and staff have also always been amazing, and I've never had a single complaint. One thing not to miss though is the dessert, the Kunefe, which has been the best version I've had in the city so far. They were closed for a little while for the summer, but I believe they should be back open soon! Definitely give it a try for any occassion. read more

Very cute brunch place! They had lots of room on Sunday morning, which was nice. I had the passion fruit fizz (6$), which mostly tasted sweet, with a hint of fruitiness. The shakshuka merguez (17$) and breakfast burrito (15$) were fine, but not particularly well composed or flavorful. Overall, it would be a convenient brunch spot if in the area, but not with a special trip. read more

I went here for brunch with my mom and sister and really liked the menu options. I had never tried eggs benedict, and was so excited to finally have the chance! I got the smoked salmon benedict, and loved how the hollandaise sauce, tomato, and smoked salmon paired together. It came with roasted potatoes, which were cooked perfectly. Their coffee was great as well. However, my mom ordered an omelet and said it was a bit dry. I'd definitely go back to try their pancakes and cocktails if I'm ever in the area again though! read more

Renata's Kitchen - Smoked Salmon Benedict - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The BEST mediterranean I've had in a hot second !!! 10/10 would eat here again! The chicken was so good hummus was amazing and the salad was perfect. The staff were super kind and conscientious. read more

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Fourth time at renata's kitchen, 2nd time for brunch. If you're near the area without access to Center City, Renata's is one of the few nice brunch places you'll find. This time we ordered the chicken and waffles, Norwegian omelette, and Norwegian lox. The chicken and waffles were decent, the Norwegian lox was the best out of the three dishes, and the Norwegian omelette was a bit salty for my liking. Food is definitely a bit pricey and was better in the past (maybe an off day), but good for an occasional treat read more

Renata's Kitchen - Chicken and Waffles, Norwegian Lox, Norwegian Omelet - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A long overdue visit, to what has been referred to as a staple of my new neighborhood. On a rainy, gloomy, Saturday, the outside of this restaurant was unsuspecting. What was found was a cozy aesthetic, modern design and a knowledgeable attentive service staff. Everything I tried was amazing, however, this braised lamb shank may have been the most tender lamb I've ever enjoyed. This place doesn't skip small details and it's a philosophy that speaks through the experiences they provide, I'm looking forward to visiting again and working my way through their menu. read more

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Went for dinner. Chicken was so soft and tender! The sauce was slightly spicy, which I loved. The potatoes underneath the chicken was nicely cooked as well. Shakshuka was classic. read more

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Amazing, authentic Palestinian food. Highly recommend the kunafe, lamb, hummus. There wasn't a dish we didn't like. Attentive waiters, good drinks too. Spacious. read more

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Overpriced and overhyped. Came here with a reservation for a Sunday morning and was seated immediately once the entire group arrived. Service was incredibly slow, took about 10 minutes to receive water. Waitress couldn't really talk about what she recommended and so I ordered the falafel platter. Incredibly disappointing with only 5 small piece of falafel, soggy fries, and salad. The tahini was very bland and this meal was so unsubstantial considering it was a "platter." Worth $17? Absolutely not, considering there wasn't much flavor at all in the falafel. Definitely go somewhere else. read more

Renata's Kitchen - Falafel Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania