a. kitchen Reviews

We have always enjoyed dining here, but last Sunday night was not what we have come to expect. The waitress was terrible. She must have been brand new and did not have good people-skills. She knew nothing about the menu and was unable to help one of our friends who needed a dish that used no milk products. She went to the kitchen several times for advice, but was still unsuccessful. It took forever for our order to be taken. My food was only average, at best. My husband said his meal was also mediocre. What a shame. Perhaps this was just an "off" night? But that should not happen here.

Brunch at a.kitchen is a no-brainer. We found the food and the especially the accommodating service to be among the best we experienced during our long weekend in Philadelphia. Our server Paul was warm, friendly, and thoroughly knowledgeable about the restaurant, food and bar. His attention made this an exceptional experience. Cody had the task of informing us that one of our meals was sold out after ordering but handled it with such concern and attention that we were left more impressed than irritated. Cocktails were made to match tastes. The wild rice and vegetable soup had a very clean flavor and was a great starter. All five of us were left satisfied with the burgers and pancakes but the standout was the wild arugula salad with shrimp (the replacement for the sold out shrimp and grits). The flavors of the apple, lemongrass dressing and pepper combined for a a sensational entree. The atmosphere is warm, Golden and inviting. This would be a regular brunch spot if we lived here. Can’t wait to return!

A number of interesting veggie dishes, very well executed. Scallops were very good, pleasant room. (It's very annoying that trip advisor requires reviews to be over 100 characters.)

Came here for brunch. Had Shashuka and the Rittenhouse Breakfast Platter. Food was just ok, nothing special. Service not attentive. Asked for sausages on the side as the one ordering the platter was vegetarian ... it was served on the same plate, touching both eggs & potatoes. Had to ask for salt 2x and had to follow up a juice. Highlight of the meal was the potatoes.

Two of us had an early dinner here prior to a performance. It is a relatively small trendy restaurant in a trendy part of the city. They have both outside and inside dining options including the counter that looks into the kitchen. We chose to be seated inside at a small bare table. That probably was our mistake considering the noise level inside.....loud even for a room that wasn't yet half full. Our server did an adequate job caring for us though she was devoid of much personality and didn't appear very happy doing what she does. She presented us with the limited menu that we spent a considerable amount of time perusing looking for items that would appeal to us. There were several healthful appearing items that might have been quite good but, considering our state of hunger, didn't cut it for us. We ordered a cocktail that was good but skimpy, and a nice glass of wine that also was small. Not seeing anything on the menu that jumped out at us we ordered the mussels appetizer as an entrée and the hamburger accompanied by French fries. Both were very good, the hamburger cooked precisely as ordered. Our take on a.kitchen is that it is intended for the pretty people. We, far from approaching that category, will likely pass on a return visit. PS We left through the main bar area that appeared to be considerably more welcoming than where we were seated for a meal.

a.kitchen is quite good. interesting food, well prepared. BUT, it's next door neighbor a. bar, suffers from pathetic, myopic service. if you're young, buxom or tattooed like a carnival side show, expect the (male) bartender to fawn over you like you are a kardashian. if you don't fall within the aforementioned categories, you're toast. burnt. done. after placing our very simple drink order, we watched the bartender swivel to his left to chat with a pal at the bar and literally salivate over a well endowed patron. come on! that's so lame! impossible to get his attention. oyster order seemed to take forever. perhaps the shucker needs retraining. luckily a female co-worker of mr. unconscious arrived to save the day. don't waste your money here! go to the sansom street oyster house. better oysters, better cocktails and servers/bartenders that take their job seriously - and genuinely like all of their customers, no matter who they are.

Highly recommend. We had breakfast, which was delicious. I had the Eggs in Cocotte and my husband had the Rittenhouse Breakfast. Eggs en Cocotte is an egg poached in a nice spinach and tomato sauce, with tiny lamb meatballs. I think it is called "Shakshuka" in the Middle East and Israel, this was delicious and the size was perfect, served with a large piece of toasted bread. We also had the fruit bowl, which was nice. Service was great, and we would recommend eating here to anyone.

Spicy, delicious Bloody Mary's started us off. We really appreciated our server helping guide us on the right amount of food to order. Per her recommendation, we split the smoked char toast. Amazing! I would be back for this alone. Not even sure how to describe it but the flavors and textures work perfectly together. We split the fried chicken and biscuit, which was a hearty, flavorful dish, and a side of crispy potatoes. A bonus was sitting by the window and enjoying Rittenhouse Square people watching on a gorgeous spring Saturday.

Enjoyed a. kitchen a number of years ago, and I recall having an excellent meal. Dined there again this evening, and was blown away by the attentive service, warm atmosphere and amazing cuisine. Paul & Jess at the bar were excellent hosts, offering dining recommendations, taste pairings, checking in, and generally ensuring all their patrons were well-served. The dishes were original and delicious, thoroughly satisfying. One of the best meals I’ve experienced in the past decade. Highly recommend!

We visited on a weeknight which was nice, because it was not overly crowded as we see sometimes on the weekends. We ordered several items, but the best by far was the grilled octopus. I order octopus at various restaurants regularly, and this was the best grilled octopus I have ever had. We also had the hamachi and the spiced cauliflower, among others. Entrees included duck and branzino. All the food was well prepared and fresh. The drinks were great as well. The restaurant gets very busy on the weekends, but is a great spot during the week when it is less busy. Worth the visit.

Just had brunch at a.kitchen, and it was everything you would expect from one of Food and Wine's Magazine's Best New Chefs, Eli Kulp. The pork cutlet was a perfect plate - crunchy potatoes, a beautiful sunny side up egg, a tender chicken fried cutlet with celery root gravy, and super tart salad with pickled onions and mushrooms that cut right through the heaviness of the rest. Add the that a great cup of coffee from Counter Culture Coffee Roasters and a charcoal biscuit, part of Kulp's famous bread service, and it was one of the most delicious brunch meals in a long, long time.

Wasn't sure what to expect with this restaurant as a friend made the reservation. But wow! This was one of the best meals I've had in Philly, and I wasn't expecting it. Even the bread and butter was a huge draw, and I usually don't eat the bread and butter at restaurants. Would certainly eat here again!

The menu as written sounds a bit precious but masks really well thought-out down home flavorful cooking.

My husband made reservations here and it's not our typical kind of place, so I wasn't very excited about the menu. We just started with the bread, it came out so hot that it was hard to touch at first. It was probably the best bread I've ever had...it was a delicious crust and a super soft and airy center. Then I got the chicken and we got mushrooms and potatoes on the side....each thing was better than the next! Everything was prepared wonderfully! I would go back here in a heartbeat and I would recommend it to anyone! Also, everyone was so friendly. Great place, great staff, great food, GREAT NIGHT!

We are in Philadelphia on business and took a chance on having dinner here. We found that the service was amazing, the food was truly excellent and had the choice of extremely good wine. We had a fantastic evening!! The portions were a very good size, not too gross, but certainly more than big enough. The staff were so attentive and helpful. Cannot recommend highly enough and would be very happy return.

Close to Ritz Carlton, this small upscale restaurant in city center is excellent. Small plates, great food, excellent wait staff, service is timely. Dessert was wonderful. Can be slightly noisy. Would go back, worth going to!!

My husband and I enjoyed being seated at the Chef's Table. Attentive service. We chose fresh oysters, focaccia with butter, beef tartar, tuna with spinach and many varieties of mushrooms. Everything was delicious.

From the original and perfectly judged food, through the beautifully designed and perfectly located place, to the warm friendly and capable wait staff, everything here was perfect. Can't recommend highly enough!

I sat outside at this adorable little restaurant and just enjoyed a glass of wine and some people watching. Service was great. Wine selection was very unique...which I love. The food being served around me looked delicious! I would love to go back for dinner.

Could only get an early dinner reservation on a Saturday night but it was so worth it. Loved the gem lettuce and gnocchi. Staff was attentive and gave us pours of the house wine when our bottle needed extra chilly. Got the chocolate peanut butter crust dessert to share which was perfect. More focused menu but that seems to help them do it right! Would definitely go back...

The staff was knowledgeable and explained the menu. My waitress gave great recommendations. The food was to die for.

We came here for lunch on a Friday, never having been here before. We ordered a sparkling rose to start, which they were out of. The server, Gabriella, gave us a few other choices. The one we chose was wonderful. I had thought she said she could give it to us for fifty, although I see we were billed sixty dollars. We shared the mussel toast to start. Absolutely delicious and perfect to share. I had the seafood barigoule which consisted of mussels, calamari and scallops with tomatoes and green beans and herbs served together in a bowl. It was room temperature. It looked very small when she brought it out, but was plenty for lunch. My husband ordered the pork shoulder sandwich. He enjoy it quite a bit. Everything was fresh. We will be back again to try other selections.

My friends invited me to a.kitchen and I was very excited about.Not my taste.I didn't leave with the "Oh so tasty and " I want some more" feelings, but more like a heavy feeling of too many flavors together. The portions are small and very expensive.

Met client here for a business breakfast. The place was empty but so attractive inside. The service was friendly and professional. Coffee great! This turned out to be a great place to have a serious conversation and we enjoyed it. Our food was excellent - glad to see healthy choices for a change. Overall, really liked everything about the place and would return here again on a future trip.

Visited this place during the restaurant’s week and they offered a bargain deal for 30 usd + 20 for wine pairing Food was really better than the average food in American restaurant this being said the salmon was over-cooked and the chocolate desert was tasteless according to m’y European taste !! Wine pairing was of good quality !! In a nutshell, a place to come

We arrived very early for our dinner reservation and were seated immediately at a great table by the window. There is an open kitchen, so when we were not people watching through the window we could watch the chefs. Good array of choices. Service and food were top notch.

I treated my friend for a Sunday birthday brunch and it was great. The place was chic and cozy. The food was delicious. I had the poached eggs with a side of baked and grilled potatoes, yummy. My friend got a perfect Steak and Eggs. Our server was so friendly. I will for sure go back again, to try the dinner menu perhaps.

The first thing to strike me was the size of the restaurant. It's small; if more than 50 people can fit inside I'd be very surprised. With it being so small, the high volume was to be expected especially with everyone seeming to be enjoying themselves. The food was pretty good. The steak tartare was excellent. The pastrami with red cabbage was okay (a little heavy on the cabbage for me). The duck fell away from the bone and melted in my mouth! The server was helpful with recommending food and wine, and the entire staff supported each other to ensure the meal went smoothly. Enjoyed ourselves a lot.

I was not very hungry so ordered only two small dishes, it ended up costing $40+ for two tasting dishes and one bottle of still water. Not impressed with their salad/small dishes at all. Definitely designed for wine tasting vs. using as a lite meal. Wish I have ordered the entree. The atmosphere & decor are nice, though.

Walking down 18th street toward Rittenhiuse Square, it is easy to find tempting places to eat. Not able to decide whether to have a mid-morning snack or an early lunch, we opted for brunch at a. kitchen. The shiitake sandwich was a pleasure to the senses. Mushroom, cheese, scrambled egg, braised greens and a delicious spicy aioli. The fried chicken with biscuit and pancetta gravy exceeded expectations. The portion would have been enough for the two of us. Service was prompt, professional, and knowledgeable about the selections.

Had a nice restaurant lunch week here yesterday with friends. The three of us shared for the first course heirloom tomatoes, little gem salad, beets with goat cheese, and shishito peppers and sausage. All were very good. For the main courses we had Fried Chicken Sandwich with delicious potato wedges piping hot. Flank Steak and a Seafood Medley. They offered complementary cookies, and our server was very attentive.

We have been in this amazing restaurant to have a nice dinner and so it was. Atmosphere was very nice, ligths very good to create a romantic spirit. Staff very kind any time. Food was great and flavours really good. Price absolutely ok and worth the all experience. We have enjoyed!

In the midst of the Covid 19 restrictions limiting restaurants in Philadelphia to takeout and delivery only, we ordered takeout from a. kitchen. The meal was excellent. The smoked duck entree was extraordinary, and all of the starters and sides were very good. Thank you to a. kitchen for providing excellent food and service in these circumstances.

During Covid 19 we had a difficult time finding a bite to eat since there was only outdoor dining and limited hours. We stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant with amazing food and eclectic dishes. We were impressed they change their menu every 5 days. The food was phenomenal. We had the scallops, cucumber soup, the heirloom tomato salad, and shishito peppers. Every dish was wonderfully prepared and presented. Worrh every penny.

Stopped in for a breakfast because it was close to our hotel. I had looked at the website, but really didn’t know much about it. We were pleasantly surprised. It is a small place, very intimate, and the staff was very friendly. Service was prompt, and the food was amazing. Corn pancakes with lemon curd! I would have never thought of it, and it didn’t sound like it should work, but it did. Glad we stayed so close and stumbled upon such a nice place.

In a city with so many wonderful restaurants, this one was sorely disappointing from the moment we walked in. From the 20 minute wait to take our drink order to the pour lines visibly etched on the wine glasses (so tacky!) to being asked if we'd like bread to start -- "oh, that will be $5" -- to being totally misinformed about portion sizes on a menu described as "all for sharing," I left hungry (and I have never, ever left any restaurant hungry) and feeling nickled and dimed. Usually, when a restaurant menu revolves around small plates, each plate has enough for 4 diners to each have a nice-sized bite. If this is not the case, we've always been told ahead of time to order more than one. Although the food itself was interesting and most items were tasty, I was astounded at how small the portions were for 4 of us -- amuse bouche size, if that. Will not return. No matter how highly Craig LaBan rates it.

Expensive and small portions. The food is fine - just very small portion. For 4 people, ordered Fried Pickle, Small Beets, Spiced Califlowers, Cure Salmon, Beef Tartar, Lamb Belly for the appetizers. Of all, fried pickle was actually the best. All very small portions. For dinner, ordered duck breasts (3 small pieces), grill Brazino (overcook) but fair portion, and dry T-bone steak for 2 (which they cut them into pieces). The T-bone steak was quite tasty - though I could have finished the whole steak by myself. And Baby Bokchoy, Crisp Potatoes, and Sweet and Sour Cabbage for sides. The only thing that is fair portion was the dessert - which we ordered the chocolate custard and something that I can't recall... Not too bad.

Very nice plate dishes with lots of flavors. everything we had was wonderful down to the bread. The vegitables we perfectly cooks as were the meats. The wait staff was excellent, friendly and fun without becoming your new best friend. I would certainly return there to eat. This not the place to go if you are looking for a "meal" It is served as a series of plates which are great to share among good friends. Atmosphere was young and hip but all ages eating and enjoying

I met clients who live in Philadelphia at this restaurant they had chosen. This is a small intimate restaurant with tables close together and while it has a nice atmosphere a large loud party at an adjoining table did make it difficult to hold a normal conversation! Our waiter was friendly and attentive and recommended the Our Prix Fixe $50 pp menu sharing option: starters and desserts chosen by the kitchen to share and our own selection for the entree. The sharing starter option was a good idea as we were presented with at least nine separate dishes that showed off the cuisine of A.Kitchen. The simply grilled fish entree chosen by the client to share looked much nicer than my pork belly option which was disappointing and was more like two thick slices of gammon than pork belly; or certainly what pork belly is in Europe. The selection of desserts was good. Overall with a couple of drinks to start and a few glasses of wine I thought the restaurant was on the pricey side; $244 for three.

We have been here several times and the food is very good every time. The menu varies and is quite inventive. Try something new. Our last meal was in early September and the weather was still warm outside. The large floor-to-ceiling windows were open and we were able to enjoy the street scene without being actually on the sidewalk.

I met a potential investor at a. kitchen and was also introduced to our bar tender, Paul. Definitely an expert on rums and how to mix them, Paul successfully upsold me on ginger beer, in lieu of my usual ginger ale mixer. When I mentioned some of the rums from my personal collection, Paul started drooling! Excellent service in a modern atmosphere!

We were staying next door at AKA, and we're tired after a long day of sight seeing. We heard it was really nice by ppl who ate there so we decided to venture downstairs to try it. The staff couldn't be nicer!! We sat in the window which was super romantic. The restaurant itself is small, and can be quite loud@ times, but that wasn't a problem for us. We weren't that starving so the portions were perfect. The we shared 3-4 dishes and it was more than enough food for us.. The cauliflower is a must! Can't wait to come back next time we're in Philly!!!

a.kitchen is a lovely little low light, warm and cozy place on the ground floor of the aka aparthotel on Rittenhouse Square. The food is new American cuisine, fresh ingredients, terrific wine list and excellent taste. We went there twice this month to sample the restaurant week goodies - the roast chicken was exceptional, totally unlike any other, accompanied by the creamiest mashed potatoes you've ever seen.

We had just flown in to town from UK and we were looking for supper and walked past a kitchen and it was absolutely buzzing, spotting a couple of free tables outside we made an enquiry, the manager? Explained they were extremely busy but would try and accommodate, he duly obliged and we were thankful. Food was flavoursome and restaurant has a good wine list but best asset? The staff! The lady who looked after us is an asset to the restaurant and her 'french' impeccable, many thanks for making our visit enjoyable

Enjoyed a great brunch with good friends. Lovely space, didn’t feel crowded even though the place is small. Food was excellent. Had the heirloom tomato Eggs Benedict which were served with delicious roasted potatoes and ordered a side of the grits. Friend had the cornmeal pancakes which were pretty sweet with the sauces but delicious. Highly recommend for an upscale brunch. Bloody Mary was tasty too!

The drinks and food were great! The beet salad and raw Amberjack apps were delicious, as was the octopus and salt cod gnocchi. Both desserts were excellent as well! Our server even joked that all of our plates were totally cleaned! Everything was so good! If you haven't tried them out you need to make a reservation! You won't be disappointed!

Good food, but overpriced, and small portions. I left feeling rather hungry, after paying 36$ for a small beer and a small main course

Managed to get a table on a busy mid-week night. Danielle was quick to join us to welcome us with a smile, offer menus, suggestions, etc. We started with some sparkling wine and moved to bottles, with her suggestions. We told her the dishes we were interested in trying and she suggested a few more to pair an overall perspective on the chef's menu. It turned out to be a combination of perfect progressions and wine/food pairings. Truly unexpected, and became a beautiful evening. Can not recommend A. Kitchen and Danielle more. She knows her food and wine and works hard to keep customers very happy. I'll be back!

Great vibe, awesome food, servers are all very cool, not too overbearing but perfectly attentive, and the location (Rittenhouse Square) is prime. We sat outside - tables are small, but so are the plates. We just shared everything. Young place, but even though we are older, we felt very comfortable and had a great time.

Came for a late breakfast or brunch on a Friday, but was told only the lunch menu was available at that time (a limitation not indicated anywhere on the restaurant's website). Ordered coffee and an omelet; the coffee was inexplicably served at room temperature, and the omelet was stuffed with a disgusting amount of cheese. The waitress was apologetic about the coffee and quickly replaced it. So while this venue has a good location, pleasant sidewalk seating and a hip ambiance, I would not eat here again.

Ate at the bar and enjoyed the evening. Paul offered tastes of wine before making a selection, and was kind enough to give us several recommendations for dinner on our next night in Philly. Lamb entree was the best I have had and other dishes , including the Brussels sprouts were excellent. Small space, but you don't have to wait for a table if you are willing to eat at the bar and meet your fellow diners. This is an exceptional restaurant.

Every single taste of the food I ate was marvelous and I savored each bite. However, I am conflicted because it was expensive and I left very hungry for more good food. The portions were very small. The server was efficient and sweet and the outdoor dining was fun. I don't like fast food, but driving out of the city, I stopped at one and ate junk food just because it was late and I was really hungry.

Too bad there isn't a 6th star! We had a superb dinner al fresco! We are adventuresome eaters and ordered the tasting menu, which was great! Fun waiter too! It's worth the trip to Philly! !

The place is cozy and has great ambience. We had the "fromage" and arugula salad for appetizers. I think $16 for each dish was way overpriced though. The salmon in rye dish ($16 also) had a very generous portion of salmon but the rye bread was too thick and tough to eat. The Bloody Mary was a bit blah. The latte was delicious.

I've had some really nice meals here in the past couple of years. Last night was awful. Waiter had to be flagged down over and over and over for refills. Grown man waiter spoke in a whisper and avoided his tables. Other staff stood around talking loud and laughing and their own stupid comments. Wrong meals brought out. Meals drowning in a mess all over plates. Oysters were great. Beets were incredible. Gnocchi was garbage - greasy and overwhelmed by celery. Trout was overrun by too must chef-man-ship. But, the lousy waiter ruined the night. $300 to be ignored.

We came to a. kitchen for Easter brunch. It was delicious! One of our party is gluten-free and the restaurant accomodated this need with fruit instead of bread. The steak-frites was delicious, as was the quiche and the omelette. Great service too!

I had lunch at A. Kitchen today with my wife. We did the $28 lunch deal which includes a starter and sandwich or salad entree and everything was excellently prepared and proper portion sizes. I also went wild and had an $8 martini reduced in price with the deal. I didn't specify gin,though I think it would be fair to assume it would be, and received a vodka martini. Not my preference, but I just went with it and all was fine. And we also had a great window seat for people watching. Excellent lunch stop!

A one time chef here who has gone a little grey round the temples, we enjoy an occasional visit to the foodie town of Philadelphia and A. Kitchen has been high of the menu after several tasty visits. Tonight though was a miss. For sure, the buzz was there, the theatre of the open kitchen and the energy of a young vibrant crowd that appreciates serious food. Despite the vibe,sadly, the flavors that had previously peaked our enthusiasm were lacking. The night prior, a visit to another local favorite “Tallulah’s Garden” had been a great success despite a couple of courses on the tasting menu jumping the shark in the salt department. a.kitchen tonight though, swam in the other direction. Flavors were muted, somewhat uninspired. Oysters were immaculately presented and simply prepared which is good but were strangely over sanitized. They lost a little of the ocean from whence they came. I suspect that the meat courses (pork and beef) had sacrificed themselves on the alter of texture over flavor in the temple of sous vide. I hope that tonight was a one off miss and the flavours of a. Kitchen can once again match the energy of the dining room, but my fear is that the serious foodie crowd have moved on to pastures new leaving the restaurant to cater to a less discerning crowd. I hope that I am wrong.

I ate here based on a last-minute look at Chowhound and was able to snag a "people watching" table outside during a one-night stay down the block. Great choice for a summer night! I had the artichoke and Berkshire pork, both of which were super tasty and served by a present-but-not-too-present wait staff. Also enjoyed one of the best old-fashioneds I've ever had. Solid recommendation.

We were a group of ten on the morning after our daughter's wedding. The staff at a.kitchen were helpful from the moment we asked for a reservation, a few weeks before -- coming up with a three-course prix fixe menu that accommodated everyone's tastes and dietary needs. The service was attentive, the pace was leisurely, the noise level low enough so that we could all talk....and the celebrated natural wine list was as good as we expected. We couldn't have asked for a better morning-after meal or a more thoughtful presentation. We look forward to visiting for drinks and dinner on another visit to Philadelphia.

Food was excellent, well prepared and extremely varied. The restaurant was busy, but service was excellent.

Great idea to cook in front of the customers. Sitting at the counter was great but beside plate design the alchemy of tastes was not there. Too complex mixes which seemed to be mixes for the sake of mixing. I will not come back.

Charlotte did a perfect job. Sat at the kitchen counter so saw the magician/chef who prepared this phenomenal fried chicken lunch. Perfect from beginning to end. Prices are way too reasonable for the quality service and extraordinary food.

Service great. Smoked Beet Salad really really delicious. Entrees were large. Wine good. Chocolate Mousse dessert was also delish. Maybe could use a nicer presentation, a little muddled. Fun people watching from the large window.

The food is definitely the highlight at this exciting little bistro and bar in Center City Philadelphia. A nice selection of really different and tasty combinations. Although they are 'small plates' most were as large or larger than the standard U.S. version of tapas. Want to watch the world walk by while you dine? Sit anywhere except the chef's counter. Every table is within 20 feet of the always-busy 18th Street sidewalk. Our server was average at best but I'd hate to label the entire staff that way after just one visit. Another server checked on us once and the hostess also stopped by. Cocktails and wine were well above the norm for even the Rittenhouse Square area. So overall I would recommend it, mainly because the food was quite unique and delicious.

Great selection of food and drinks here. And best of all, plates for sharing so you get to taste more dishes The Cauliflower was spot on as was the Duck w crepes. For dessert went with the kumquat thingy which was ok but wouldn't be in hurry to try that one again Overall enjoyed the restaurant :)

My husband made all the arrangements, which was a gift in itself. We didn't know what to expect, and we're so pleasantly surprised. The service from the moment we walked in was friendly without being overbearing. The doors were open, and we had a lovely table. They let me sample wines, and actually suggested a bottle cheaper than I had originally selected. But the food, amazing!!! Very creative, incredibly delicious, and very abundant. We had swordfish tartare, a charcuterie plate, and a lamb dish for two. As good a meal as I have had it quite sometime. We will be returning soon!

A.kitchen is a very pretty restaurant with good lighting, nice tables and an inviting bar. My number one compliment is to the host, who seated me at a prime table by the window. I eat out alone often, and the test of a good restaurant is how they treat single diners. I ordered a burger, which was served with potato wedge fries. It was very good but a bit overpriced at $24. Weirdly, the plate was so small that the fries fell off the edge onto the table. Also, my waiter never came back to the table and I had to flag down the host for more ketchup.

Very cool vibe. We say at the chef's table which was like dinner and a show. The food was very unique, but delicious. Both the waiter and chefs were friendly. Good wine list.

Had a nice, relaxed Sunday brunch here. We stayed for nearly 3 hours and the crew was warm and indulgent with us, a party of 7. Good food, fun menu.

This is one of, if not the, best restaurant for fine dining in the city. The constantly changing menu always has something to delight. The dishes are executed with top-notch skill and always with amazing flavor. I've never had a dish that disappointed me in the 20+ times I've eaten here. I have no idea why it is "ranked" so low on TripAdvisor. The criticism I'm reading here sorta blows my mind as amazingly picky. Great food, solid wine list, first-class service.

Was it irony or bad timing on our part? Read a terrific review a very short time ago touting the Wagyu Steak and the Duck Breast priced at $25. and $22., respectively. Now they're priced at $28. and $25. While both dishes were quite tasty, the portion size for both entrees were a bit on the wee side. Included sides were greens and I had a cipolini onion, and the only reason my dining companion and I felt sated was the $5.00 mini loaf of bread and the appetizers we ordered. My appetizer was a side of grilled shiitakes, which was also featured in the restaurant review article, and which was also increased in price. My drink was perfectly executed and the service was excellent. I really wanted to try the seafood stew, but at $29.00 for a small-plate of grilled monkfish...I didn't think it was worth it. While I thought that it was a very nice dining experience, I don't think it's cool to raise the prices of the menu items so soon after the positive review appears.

It looked like a great place for Sunday brunch, but, alas....looks were deceiving. We were seated outdoors, which was ok, because we didn't have reservations (even though there were lots of empty tables) but it seems like the outside tables are Siberia. It didn't take that long for our water glasses to be filled (initially) and a bit longer for the waiter to arrive. Our orders took a while, but that wasn't a concern. The problem arose when the waiter basically dropped our plates on the table and ran away. The food was lukewarm to cool and was ok (the eggs would likely have tasted better if they were hot). The real reason this is two stars is because the breakfast potatoes were excellent. We were long done with our food by the time we saw our waiter again, and it took the course of our lunch for someone to refill our water glasses. Maybe the service and temperature of the food is better if you eat inside, but I don't think we'll chance it again.

What a lovely outdoor dining experience we had on a warm October evening at a.kitchen. We enjoyed specialty cocktails, octopus on greens, seared scallops with shaved fennel, and great service from Tosh, who was very knowledgeable about the drinks and the menu. Great experience all around.

tasty food, but breakfast (for example, the french toast, and an egg-mcmuffin-like meal I had once) is not in sufficient quantity to feed either a middle aged man or growing boy. The sides to bulk it up (e.g. a side of eggs) are a bit high. Food volume is better for lunch/dinner.

We had never been to A. Kitchen although we walked by it frequently. And then we stopped to look at the takeout menu posted in the windows. The smoked duck breast caught our eyes. Most of the restaurants offering takeout do a roast chicken of some sort. There are places to get braised short ribs and salmon. But A. Kitchen had the duck and a number of dishes we had not seen elsewhere. And so we ordered and came and picked up. And it was just outstanding. The beet salad and the pork rillette could not have been better. And the smoked duck was everything we hoped it would be and more. It went well with the curried lentils and braised escarole (another dish we had not seen elsewhere). The presentation was first rate for takeout. As soon as we finished dinner, the one question we had was: how soon before we do this again?

We went here as part of a group of four couples and they took great care of us. We were limited by needing to leave for a performance at the Kimmel, but it would have been great to stay longer. Very accommodating staff, and excellent, thoughtfully prepared food.

a kitchen is located just off Rittenhouse Square. The perfect place for a good meal and some people watching. In the summer they open the glass front and inside becomes open air. Food always good. Bar excellent with a very nice selection of wines. Not a big restaurant. If your thinking of dining at a normally busy time do make a reservation. Off peak you might just get lucky. Great location after some time in the park or shopping in the area. Be aware it is in Rittenhouse and price reflect the location.

I'm not a big city guy so maybe I'm out of touch but I thought the price of food was out of line even for Philadelphia. The servings are small as noted by others. The quality and presentation of some items is great but is it really worth that much? This was my second try at skate while in Philadelphia. Both times it was too salty to enjoy. Maybe that's how it's supposed to be done but I would like to taste the fish. Meal for 4 with drinks- no desert = $288 plus tip.

Early dinner with friends on a Saturday. Glad we were early because the place was packed by 6:30. Shared some apps/small plates. The Spiced Cauliflower was really great, one of the more unique preparations of cauliflower I've ever had. Definitely had a kick to it. We ordered another right away. Also had the Burrata in smoked onion soup - heavenly. They kindly split it for us as the onion soup was equally the star of the dish as the burrata. Outstanding. Entree's were Sea Scallops - good portion, very tender and sweet, the Walleye, REALLY tasty green almond romesco - but a smallish fish portion. Super tasty though, and the Duck Breast, perfectly done. Desserts were also very flavorful, especially the Chocolate Custard. Service was spot-on. Friendly and attentive. Definitely a keeper.

We had a wonderful meal on a rainy/snowy night In Philadelphia. The restaurant is cozy and welcoming. We were lucky to get a table facing the large windows so we could see the snow falling. We started with the beets and burratta salad. There was enough to share. Delicious! We then ordered the mushroom lasagna which was made with phylo dough and large pieces of portobello mushrooms. Very light and we shared this along with the chicken dish which was done well and very tasty. We had walnut cake and cappuccino, both were delicious! Not a large menu but definitely something for everyone.

Limited table seating, stools around the counter in front of the open kitchen, and a few tables on the sidewalk make this an intimate place for dining. The wine list is superb. If you cannot find something you like, you must be exceptionally picky. They offer some very inventive cocktails as well. Our table was ready right on time, our server was very personable and the chefs know their trade. The small plates are just the right size so that 2 per person is just about right. I had 2 with two shared appetizers and that was plenty. Without appetizers 3 would have worked. The entrees that my wife and son had were very good, especially the grilled octopus. The duck was cooked to perfection and the beef tartare small plate was fantastic as was the buratta The noise level is tolerable allowing for easy conversation. All in all, we had an excellent experience.

Now this is an interesting menu. I have the grits, Brussels sprouts and shrimp. Believe it or not it was outstanding.

Food was dialed in, ran out of prosecco (!), tartine was really thick toast with thin spread of some cheese topped with lots of chopped endive-a joke. They brought the bill, with the total, and then brought the credit card bill with $20.00 more, when asked they had some lame excuse about some lame reason. Be sure to check your bill. Go somewhere else, too many other choices.

Had a lovely breakfast here, simple menu but very nice. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Reasonably priced. Great location.

A central location. The food is a bit too fancy and lacks something. The lamb dish for 2 was good and a large helping too. Everything was ok quality but both special. The restaurant is noisy when full and compact too. Not good for a quiet, romantic meal. Our waitress whilst friendly and efficient was too much 'in our face' and became a bit annoying. Not a bad restaurant but there may be others that are better.

I thought everything was very tasty, grilling like crazy there. I had a view of the kitchen which was very cool, amazingly the amount of smoke coming off the grill didn't get out of control, it smelled incredible. We were there on a Sun night, I could see how this place could get cramped and noisy, but it's the city and I like the bustle. It's a cozy little, place, very nice interior. The best seats are along the window, you can also sit around the grill area on stools, these can be reserved but are also for walk ins. The bar next door was closed which was disappointing because we wanted to try the raw bar. Food was very flavorful, had the beef tartar, grilled cauliflower was awesome, duck was incredible, perfectly done. Wine pairings suggested by the servers were very good. Service was good but a little on the pushy, gotta order now side, so we had to slow it down a bit. I could not get my water to half full without someone coming by to add some more, very attentive. But that may have been because there were not that many people there when we arrived. Loved the small plates for sharing, corn ice cream was like creamed corn, had to try it just to see. Love the location just on the edge of Rittenhouse Square.

We were there on a Saturday afternoon when only the brunch menu was available. Our server seemed bothered with us from the start. We had my elderly father and it was clear he was not happy about this. The menu is innovative, although looking around people seemed to either have the eggs and potatoes or a hamburger. We chose the white bean hummus which was really very good. The smoked salmon plate was what you would expect. The tuna melt was among the best with nice white albacore. The eggplant and scrambled egg sandwich was awful and didn't hang together. The hamburger was generic but the potatoes were nice enough. Beer selections tend to be sweet and fruity for the student crowd. House coffee at brunch does not include refills. The lemonade was okay. Would I return - no. It was just too noisy and service was bad. There are better options and the food or menu just isn't as interesting as other options around Rittenhouse.

After all the Christmas meals, cookies, and company we went with a special friend to brunch at A-kitchen. Great food, perfect champagne cocktail; Small intimate place with great service and wonderful food. Don't miss it, be sure to get the potatos, and do call for a reservation. Seating is limited. In good weather you can also eat outside with a view of Rittenhouse Square.

We would give them a 10 out of 10. The food was just soooooo good. The flavours and the presentation just first class. Try the Cod Gnocchi, the Scallops or the crispy portobello mushrooms. Very friendly staff! We can *hug* recommend this restaurant and we would dine here again!

This small dining room at Rittenhouse Square serves fresh great tasting food in low key ambience and great service. Our salads and main dishes were delightful and the wine list was excellent.

We visited this very conveniently located restaurant for brunch. The food is very good and their menu is well designed. The service was good not great as they could barely keep with the crowd. It is very noisy and a bit pricey.

Recommended by friends and we weren't disappointed. Small, intimate space but the food and drinks were really good. Great service.

My wife and I had booked a table for Valentine's Day and a friend who didn't know this booked for the night before so we figured why not? The Valentine's Day menu was mostly composed of items from the daily carte so it was a good example of what you will find: artisanal product presented simply with the grill a focus. My wife enjoyed the grilled octopus enough to order it twice. It was a reasonable sized portion charred but not to the point of toughness. I had kale salad on both occasions. This is one of the larger offerings, big enough to share, with crispy kalle, fruits and rye croutons. On one occasion I had delicious duck breast, not a large portion but very tasty and satisfying. Smoked beets were an interesting starter on one occasion as is spiced cauliflower. On Valentine's Day you ordered two small plates, one large and dessert. We opted for the whole grilled Dover sole, which I liked a lot and my wife not as much. The fish came right off the grill on a sizzle plate, ready to be split and shared. I thought it was tasty though it perhaps a tiny bit overcooked. The wine list is extensive and eclectic. the sommelier was pleased that I knew about Ruche, a light red from Piedmont, which went well with the charred fish. Service on both nights was friendly and generally efficient. We had a curtain to make the first night and a train on the second but they managed it well. They recognized us from the night before which is always nice. The restaurant is attached to an extended stay hotel and they also operate "A Bar" which is on the other side of the hotel. The bar has a menu of its own, handcrafted cocktails, draft beer and the same wine list. At Happy Hour,oysters are on sale and over Valentine's weekend there was a champagne promotion with an oyster as lagniappe. Pricing is a bit high, but so are rents in Center City. I would definitely return if the occasion presented itself.

Seriously - this is good. If this was in NYC they would be complacent and arrogant - here they are not. Attention to detail, passion, good food - I will bring people back here again and again. A credit to Philly

Hamachi crudo was outstanding. Also had pork tenderloin, grilled octopus, onion soup with burrata and calamari stuffed with Italian sausage - all were excellently seasoned and presented well. Shared plates, but portion size was generous. Sat at the chefs counter and it was fascinating to watch the "dance" in the kitchen and feel the heat of the wood-fired grill.

i don't know if it's the size (smallish) or the sweet staff, but this place has great vibes. The bartender will make you anything and lets you taste the wine before you order. The food is amazing - really fresh and tasty - and the staff is super helpful!

Horrible…horrible service. Our server was slow and just not that great. And the one other server kept on bumping into my chair all night. I didn’t want to say anything out of fear they would contaminate our food. And the portions are small. But that is a small issue compared to dealing with the laziest, most unwelcoming server I’ve ever met.

Ate brunch here twice. 1st time was a "hit it out of the park" on the coffee, drinks, and food front. Last Sunday was a mixed bag. Delicious coffee Raves over the french toast (HUGE PORTION). Delicious pronounced by the grilled shitake mushroom fan. Steak and eggs filled a hungry man's tummy. Omelet was small, rubbery, and COLD. Relaxing atmosphere with nice sidewalk views. Noise level decent. I'd return for a 2 out of 3 vote!

Got a chance to watch a chef in action from the Kitchen Counter. The food was FANTASTIC. We tried a variety of offerings. Grass Fed PA Beef Tatare, Hamachi Crudo, Spiced Cauliflower to start. Entree offerings included Long Island Duck for 2, Grilled Octopus, Chicken and Dumplings as well as Pork Cheeks. Dessert samplings were equally enjoyable. This place is a MUST try. You will not be disappointed!!!

From the moment you enter the doors of a. kitchen and inhale the wonderful aroma from the grill, you will think it is summer. I love the theme of this menu, consisting nearly entirely of grilled items, many with an eclectic array of spices and flavor combinations. Everything here seems so HEALTHY, but DELICIOUS. My faves are the grilled spiced cauliflower, the Shitake mushrooms with seaweed, the grilled beets, and the grilled arctic char. This is a small restaurant so doesn't get too noisy and has nice natural lighting from the window exposure as well as cozy candlelight on tables. Service is very attentive.

Great foods and drinks. We enjoyed everything. Bread was awesome, mussels and sausage were great. Hamburger was good but too greasy. Fries were really good too.

Went here for a drink at a Sunday afternoon. Nice place, good vibe. The drinks were good. The oysters were definitely great!

In the past we regarded a.Kitchen as one of our favourite Philly restaurants, but our visit there this time was really disappointing as the food simply was not up to standard. Service and ambiance were unchanged and very enjoyable. The octopus appetiser was outstanding and that was the highlight of the meal. Crab croquettes were black as if overcooked and tasteless and the chicken which two of us had as a main was similarly black but dry and also lacked flavour. The hamburger was served on a plate that was far too small, and it was itself not a large serving and just ordinary. After one bite, my dessert was abandoned as it too lacked flavour and the texture was rubbery. Our server was good enough not to change us for that dish. So it will be a long time till we return, if at all.

The main problem of this restaurant is value and how service is constantly pushing you to consume more, you don't feel like a customer, you just feel like a wallet that is being taken for a ride, Vegas style. Starts with the fraud that is "small plates" at $15/each which is designed to push the bill higher in the end. I had 4 dishes : written on the menu "Fried pickles", I was served a mix of vegetables which was decent but they were not fried pickles. When I asked the server, she said I should have understood "pickled", which I guess is why we have different letters in the alphabet so we can distinguish "s" from "d" when written in plain black & white (so the truth is they did not have any pickles left so they replaced it with other vegetables without telling me). I was not finished the first dish but service thought it was OK to simply push the other dish by my side - a cardinal sin of poor service execution as anybody knows except the people doing that job. Beef tartare was well plated but the combination of too much salt in the potatoes and a too strongly vinegared Bearnaise completely overshadowed the delicate raw beef (fail). The burrata was the standout that kept me sane through this ordeal: a well-balanced delicate dish apart from the salsa verde (which I make at home) that was absent from taste because they put so little of it, just enough to write it on the menu. Portion of cheese was too small for $16 and goes back to the small plates fraud that offers no value. Last was the lamb belly dish which I did not enjoy at all because again, the BBQ sauce completely overshadows the lamb which in turn, was well cooked. And after 4 dishes, service thought it was appropriate to bring the dessert menu without asking (??) and BTW, you never talk to the same person, it is a confusion of 3-4 different people serving you, making sure nobody gets you. I hated every minute of this experience and would recommend to avoid this place, it cost me $100 to know it, maybe I can save you the hurt of being taken for a ride. Cherry on top : kitchen staff dropping huge metal something on the floor making a noise so loud it exploded my eardrums (seriously, and they acted like nothing happened). Worst restaurant experience in 2 years.

Excellent and interesting food. Particularly fun to sit at the counter by the open kitchen. You can watch and talk to the chefs. The only problem is you will end up wanting to try all the things you didn't order, in addition to all the wonderful things you did order.

One of the nicest dining experiences. I highly recommend ordering the chefs tasting menu. Each item was both beautifully presented and very flavorful. I'm a fussy eater and I was gobbling up each course. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable. Well worth the price.

Delicious brunch items -- a limited menu but enough for one vegetarian and one omnivore to find several options. Everything was fresh and tasty. Particularly yummy coffee, too!

In Philly for business and walked past a. kitchen on our way to somewhere else and decided to stop in for dinner. The food was incredibly good and served quickly. They did a great job of accommodating my food allergies. Great service. Excellent wine selection. Charming setting and decor. Everything was excellent except that it was extremely noisy... way, way too noisy for me. I had a hard time hearing the waiter and table conversation was challenging. Better for a friend group. Not great for a business meeting.

The best gougeres of my entire life! And yet, we are from Dijon!!! Original and tasty cuisine. We had a great time and the service was very good. We loved it.

I had a great experience at this charming restaurant near Rittenhouse Square. It’s a compact, ambient little spot, with a handful of additional pavement tables. The greeting was warm & I can echo the previous-but-one reviewer who commented on how nicely they were looked after as a solo diner. Service was friendly & attentive throughout the evening. Food was delicious, the menu a fairly concise offer of small, & slightly bigger plates, all very creative & artfully presented. My visit was for dinner, but a.kitchen is a good bet for breakfast & lunch too.

First of all, this is a review of the BAR only. No separate listing for that here. Very poor service, desultory attitude. The menus were basically dropped in front of us with a "food, drinks". No smile, nothing to welcome you or make you feel that they are happy that you are there spending a considerable amount of money (40 dollars) for 2 drinks. No wonder the place was half empty on the day of PENN graduation, when every other establishment in the city was packed to the gills. We WON'T BE BACK. BAD SERVICE = NO TIP

The food is excellent. Was there for Sunday brunch, the seating outside was very European and comfortable. The service was excellent and efficient. The eggs and the burger were great.

Great bar with fantastic cocktails and delicious food. Also great location for people watching while visiting with friends or a date night.

This place has a pretentious feel. The mood is pretentious and so is the food. Don't get me wrong, the food is very good. I was there with friends. We shared everything - spiced cauliflower, smoked beets, the wagyu... The woman working the room tried to talk us into a steak for $93 - puhleeze! We were very happy with what we ordered -delicious. But no one was having any fun. It felt so studied.

We were shopping in Philly and were ready to have a nice dinner. I suggested that we walk into a.kitchen and take a chance on a table for 3. The very pleasant hostess advised that she had just had a cancellation and led us right to a table. This was our first visit and what a nice start. The room is very nice and the aromas from the open kitchen grill very inviting on a drab and damp evening. Our server, Angel, could not have been more professional, explaining the menu and portion sizes. What she could not have explained is what a superb and delicious meal was in store for us. The cocktails (the Benson Hurst was awesome) were great, and everything we ate was terrific, right down to the knocked out butter that came with the hot, crusty sourdough. The mackerel app and stuffed squid were wonderful. I had one of the best pork loins ever, my wife had the octopus entree and our daughter had the duck breast. We enjoyed a reasonably priced Division wine from Oregon, and Angel was right on the money with her assessment of that wine with our food. All in all a great night and I highly recommend a.kitchen for any occasion, especially what turned out to be a special night with our daughter. Thanks to all. Bobby G.

I really enjoyed my visit to A. Kitchen. The quality of the food is great, the portions are generous, and everything I tried was very good. In addition, the staff was very service-minded and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very pleasant. I would be happy to come back. I think it is an excellent spot to have lunch or dinner.

We were leaving on a Sat. morning well before they opened for their special grilled Brunch, and Ashley the barrista was so gracious to serve fantastic coffee and chocolate croissants and even made a hot chocolate for a sort of cranky 4 year old.

Am I the only person left in this city who is fed up with paying exorbitant prices for the privilege of being served "small plates" of overly pretentious food? While everything was well prepared and served with great panache, when spending $125 for 2, I don't want to leave hungry. And pulease, whomever instructs the servers to wax poetic about the restaurant's innovative "bread program" while serving lavash style flat bread before dinner....give us a break! Desperate to be cool is, unfortunately, an albatross around the necks of Philly's "celebrity" chefs.

Cool vibe, dark but good for a date. Dined solo, good wine selection, great food (I had the beets salad and the lamb ribs). Friendly good service. Would recommend for dates, couples, small groups.

We were looking for a new brunch spot to meet friends on a Sunday and decided to try a. Kitchen near Rittenhouse Square. Our bloody marys were a nice way to catch up and peruse the menu. Our choices were limited and we were all disappointed with our meals. Scrambled eggs with their famous crispy fries and bacon (at $13!) were cold and uninteresting. My friend's burger was ordered well done and arrived med rare. By the time it was brought back the rest of us were almost finished. There were two orders of whitefish hollandaise, a disappointing fried fish cake as it turns out. We turned down two dessert choices which were both very strange concoctions. Sorry to say with so many places in vibrant Philly right now, we won't be back to a. Kitchen.

Very accommodating. We arrived on a Saturday expecting lunch but the menu was for brunch. the waitress was able to secure me a lunch entree: Branzino with celery root that i had seen on the online menu. It was nicely prepared and a generous portion. My vegetarian family was happy too.

Quite simply one of the best meals I've ever had when dining out! This restaurant is very small so plan ahead and make reservations. I would guess that there aren't more than 12 tables. The inside of a.Kitchen is non-descript and little shy on space in between tables, but who cares about that when the food is possibly the best you'll ever have. There is a small bar when you enter that seats about 8 people tops. We sat there for a few minutes while waiting for our table to become available (even though there were 3 open tables when we walked in -- don't know what that was about). But the bartender was very friendly and accommodating. But of course the best part of this restaurant was the food! I was part of a party of 4. Each of us ordered something different including sides and salads, and desserts, and every single one of us was blown away at how incredible everything tasted -- even the salad was out of this world! They have a very good wine list as well. The other couple we dined with are real "foodies" from Brooklyn, NY and even they couldn't stop raving about the food. My husband and I live in Philadelphia and plan to go back here the very next opportunity we have. Don't miss this place if you want an unbelievably great meal while in Philly.

We sat at the chef's table which was a delight in its own. The food is presented so elegantly yet without fuss, everything was delicious! we loved the roasted beets with Tabouleh, the roasted mushroom soup for starters. Followed by the pork with apples, and the half-chicken (surprisingly the humble chicken won! Full of flavor and expertly cooked. Delicious.) my son had the burger (oh well, he's 11) but said it was the best burger he's ever had in his short life. the staff was so attentive and gracious: we were conversing with the manager and she even gifted us with dessert! Just because: (Apple spiced cake won over chocolate tart) The place is tiny, modern, so cute, yet mighty. Very impressive for this well-traveled and exposed tastebuds. I'm even going to try their sister restaurant in NYC! Won't disappoint. BTW: Excellent for a date you really want to impress and dote on. Loved it. Can't say it enough...

What could have been "yet another hipster small plate" experience ended up being one of the best nights I have had out in a long while. a. kitchen has a great vibe when you go in, but is made extra special by the team working on the floor and in the kitchen. We were greeted warmly by Danielle who helped us to decant and enjoy a vintage bottle of red wine we had brought in. Understanding our concerns that it could be "vinegar" at this point, she took care with the bottle and pronounced it "amazing" for us, which put us all in a celebratory mood. She advised well on the food selections and what "not to miss" from the menu as well. Each plate that came out was explained by friendly and knowledgeable staff. We also indulged in some other bottles from their well-appointed wine list and talked with several other staff members about the food and wine and just life in general. It was like hanging out with friends! I can't say enough about what a satisfying experience this was. Anytime I'm in Philly again I'd be eager to get back to a.kitchen and enjoy the welcoming ambiance and fantastic food.

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.

This may be better for lunch. The breakfast, with very few customers, to a long time to come and was not all that good. High price for what it was. Friendly staff did try.

We were a group of 5 and ordered lots of small plates. Everything was good. The skate was exceptional. I had not tried skate before, but this was very good. The staff was helpful and made good suggestions. Wine list is a little on the expensive side.

The quick and simple review...GO HERE! Your server is going to make some incredible recommendations. I've been twice and each time the server talked us through the menu. a. kitchen offers a different menu compiled of small, medium and shared plates. Sometimes it's hard to judge how much food you order so that's also where the server will make a huge difference. Make reservations. The place in tiny...super tiny. Also, there is a sommelier on site, so definitely use their services. Connected to a. kitchen is an apartment building and then a. bar (the other half of a. kitchen). It can be really confusing...but you'll figure it out. It's well worth every penny.

Small plates and entrees well thought out. Service is fast and extremely friendly! All the dishes paired well with their wine offerings and I would certainly go back again next time in Philly!

a. kitchen is a small bistro on Rittenhouse square in Center City. My wife wandered in on a Friday evening and were seated outside without a reservation. The menu is unusual, and the food was delicious. The smoked mussels appetizer was perhaps the weakest dish of the evening, as it was rather difficult to find the few mussels hidden in among the shallots and other ingredients. The small serving of hamachi and spicy mustard that came next was fantastic, as was the squid that arrived shortly thereafter. My wife loved the prawns she had as her "main" course, and my duck was the among the most original and tasty preparations I have ever enjoyed. So why the less-than-stellar rating? My "average" rating is a factor of above average taste against below average portion size. As my wife and I left the restaurant, I kidded that we should go someplace and grab a steak. The entire meal felt like an appetizer--and this is particularly problematic given that the restaurant is not cheap. Our dinner for two cost over $120 with tip, and we left hungry despite sharing three courses and eating separate "main" courses. I spoke to a colleague who had recently dined at this same locale, and we agreed that the restaurant would literally have to *double* their portion size to (a) provide patrons with anything approaching a filling meal and (b) justify the prices. So as much as I enjoyed the food, it's hard to imagine that I would return. I'm not a huge eater, but I don't like to walk out of a restaurant feeling hungry--particularly when I've spent over $50/person.

A client recommended A. Kitchen for lunch. We had a nice lunch, at a reasonable price and they accommodated my request for a table where we could talk. They also offer outside dining. The food was tasty and appropriate portion for lunch. Everyone enjoyed their meal. Next time I'll try their wine, which seemed quite popular with the diners.

We were in Philly for our reunion weekend and was amazed how the food scene has evolved in the past 10 years. We booked this place for lunch near Rittenhouse Square so you are already in a nice location. I was here during summer so they had tables outside and huge windows were open so it felt so open and breezy inside. I like checking out house cocktails so I tried the Victorian Copper: gin, lime, white pepper honey, mint, cucumber and ginger... and it was perfect for the hot summer day! For my main, I ordered the American Wagyu Pastrami sandwich with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese and it was delicious! Tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned. And though I was so full, I just had to taste their ice cream with such interesting flavors -- bread and butter pudding ice cream. Yummy! Make sure you make reservations as the place is quite small. Overall a very pleasant dining experience!

Having chosen the restaurant after reading good reviews, our experience at A. Kitchen was extremely disappointing. We arrived on a Saturday at 1:00 when only a brunch menu was offered. Choices were rather limited. I ordered the "Stuffed French Toast" with peaches and almonds. There were very few peaches and the flavors were rather flat. My husband ordered the Smoked salmon which was underwhelming and inexplicably served with a slice a fruit/nut bread that was so hard that it was difficult to chew! To top everything, on a day nearing 90 degrees, the doors were open and there was no air conditioning. We couldn't stand the heat and were will most definitely happy to get OUT of a. kitchen! To add insult to injury, our parking charge at the nearby garage was nearly equal to the cost of our brunch! Such a disappointing experience!

The service wasn't really an issue. The food portions were. As noted in a previous review the duck was very small. The salad was unimaginative, the pork was the size of a #2 pencil. We have tried many tasting menus but this one was just not great, and pricey. Seems like a place to have a drink and share an appetizer.

We went here and the food was delicious, the service was superb and a good value. We sat at the counter to observe the chefs and also the super efficient staff. It was $35 per person and an additional $20 for an excellent wine pairing.

My girlfriends treated me to a birthday Sunday brunch at this hot spot on Rittenhouse Square. The chic, sparse decor and open kitchen add to the coziness of this small restaurant. My eggs and bacon were spruced up with the sautéed greens and interesting charcoal biscuit that more closely resembled a bagel. Desserts and pastries were delicious as well. My mimosa was a refreshing addition to the whole culinary experience.

Stopped in for an early dinner. I was not acknowledged. On a business trip and a solo diner. Not sure if they were reservations only or just didn't want a one-top. Finally gave up and moved down the street.

If this was the only restaurant in Philly, I would be all set. No reason to go anywhere else. a.kitchen has been consistently exceptional for years. Incredibly good food. Always interesting and very good wine. And the staff and servers here are great; welcoming and always accommodating.

The sensibility of this restaurant is a treat for all the senses: dynamic staff serving dishes designed/conceived with a love for seeing, smelling and tasting. That the energy of the crowd reflects cosmopolitanism tempered by appreciation makes me want to come back again and again and again. . .

Was a bit disappointed by our meal. Our server was not helpful in the fact that when we asked about portion size. They give large portions and we ended up not eating half our dinner. The pork dinner and chicken dinner were good, but it was half a chicken and a full pork chop along with a sausage. Wish I hadn't been talked out of ordering the gnocchi's and brussel sprouts (which were large portions too). Might have enjoyed our meal a bit more doing 3 apps and 1 dinner. Didn't have room for dessert either.

Had 4 couples and had purchased during covid shutdown a dinner for 8 at the Chef's counter.....wasn't able to do the counter due to rules, so they put us outside and it was actually a lot easier to interact and talk during the meal. What the chef put together was phenomenal! We had family style appetizers and I believe it was 6 different items, all of which were amazing! My favorites were the oysters, the steak tartare and the chicken liver mousse, but everything was tasty! Then the mains were a bavette steak (my choice, amazing!) a swordfish filet and mushroom spaghetti....all were incredible. During all of this we had a couple wine pairings that were cool, funky and very tasty......dessert came with a choice of tahini chocolate cake and a panna cotta....again both were so very good! Overall, I could not have asked for a better evening with a group of great friends and the folks at a. kitchen put on a great meal with great service and a personal touch that will absolutely bring us back many times! Thank you all for a great evening!

We enjoy eating at the bar. I love to cook and eating at a counter overlooking an open kitchen and watch real professionals cook is even better. Service was personable and excellent. Food well prepared from fresh and locally sourced ingredients, prepared fresh and with great care and pride in the product by all.

Lively friendly creative cocktail bar in Center City. There's a bar menu provided by their "a kitchen" restaurant next door. You're at street level with good people watching outside.

Went to A kitchen last week with my girlfriend. I had been to Eli's other restaurant last month and enjoyed it. I can honestly say the food is among the most beautiful in all of Phila. My first course was a beautiful smoked salmon dish. I wanted to love it, unfortunately I found the pool of buttermilk slightly off putting. I then had a raw scallop dish which was again incredibly beautiful, but left me feeling underwhelmed. The hamachi crudo was fantastic in all aspects. My lamb entree which was cooked a la ficelle was incredible, so tender and flavorful, unfortunately the accompanying vegetables have a heavy caper brine flavor which for me tainted the dish. I believe that a.kitchen is doing a style of cuisine that is unique to Philadelphia. I feel a slight Rene' Redzepi influence to the food which I find quite interesting. Eli is a very talented chef with a gift for making beautiful food.

The weather last Friday night meant staying over in Philadelphia instead of a flight back to CT. My local colleague recommended two spots close to my hotel, one was now closed and the other upon visiting was more pub than gastro for my taste, that evening. So sitting there I OT'd others within a soggy walk and came up with a.kitchen. I had eye-balled it on previous PA visits so decided to try it and boy was I glad I did. Greeted warmly and seated (with a choice) immediately by a charming host, my server soon arrived. A friendly and knowledgeable lady explained the yummy East Coast Squid ‘njuda stuffing, cilantro sauce, pickled peppers which I enjoyed with a glass of white wine from the Canary Islands. My main was Arctic Char with grilled mushrooms, sun-chokes, sunflower-misdo and was equally as delicious as my main. Accompanying this was pinto-noir-like red from Ribeira Sacra, in Galicia in the west of Spain. Intrigued by the eclectic, thoughtful, fascinating but also very tasty wines on the list I was pleased to be introduced to the sommelier Mariel who between duties engaged me in an enjoyable wine geek-out that capped off, with a recommended Malmsy, a great evening. Good luck with wine week - i (we) will be back soon.

Ah, where it begin - this place was all sorts of fantastic. I was dining solo, and all of the staff were more than accommodating - very friendly and amiable, willing to stop and chat at all points, and had excellent cocktail recommendations! I ordered the Stuffed Squash Delicata, which was sensational. The squash was tender, and the quinoa bursting with flavour. I was seated outside, which really boosted the ambience as there was a walking band on the street too! I would highly recommend, and I cannot thank all the staff enough (the host and waiting staff) for their approachable nature.

Definitely the best meal for restaurant week and those days waiting for restaurant week. The service is consistently impeccable, I sometimes try to finish my water before they have a chance to refill it and they always have won. Their dreamy smoked mushroom soup with baratta is dreamy...and perfect, "I just want a big bow of these carrots and not another thing" said another, "these beets are the best beets i have ever had" and on and on. They have an open kitchen and although it was full it was quiet enough to hear your companion and maybe the table next to you if their conversation was juicy enough.

My sister-in-law and I had a 12:15 reservation, via opentable. We arrived at 12:10. There were at least 5 empty tables. We were told that there was a problem - because we were 5 minutes early, so they couldn't seat us. I peered at the empty tables and said, "I don't understand." The hostess looked worried and dashed off to speak to the manager - I assume he was the manager. Then came back and "explained" that they were expecting a big party, and it would tax their waitstaff too much for us to be seated for what were by then the remaining 3 minutes. We stood there for about another 30 seconds, then I told her we were leaving. "This isn't your fault, I'm sure, but this is actually a weird and offensive thing. Making us stand here for 5 minutes for NO REASON AT ALL." I remain mystified. But we had a nice lunch down the street. My question: Since there were 5 or more empty tables, would she have seated us if we HADN'T had a reservation? Just creepy and unpleasant - and not her fault. Clearly some kind of policy.

We had Saturday brunch here and it was wonderful! All of our food was fantastic - the yogurt was particularly good, as was the grilled salad. The staff were gracious and responsive and we sat in one of the seats near the window, which gave us a great view of the street. Recommend highly!

We visited with friends, as a party of 6. The food was delicious. Limited changes were allowed to be made from the menu to your order. Service was slow and we sat with empty Mimosa glasses far too often. Overall, we still enjoyed our time there.

This is a great little restaurant and is hard to get into for reservations. Be sure that you use OpenTable or call the restaurant in advance I was out with a colleague and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Fantastic and reasonably priced wine list paired with a menu that changes constantly. I personally had this stick to tar and the beef and quail eggs both dishes were phenomenal. If you can get there before gets too cold they also have open-air seating. Buyer beware I would not take more than five or six people to this place as it is very small

We had dinner here this week. It was very good. We opted for the selection of starters all of which were good. Very good. My main was salmon.. Excellent. Cooked to perfection. Desserts were also very good. Wines a bit overpriced for what they are, but that seems to be Philadelphia. Worth a evening. Imagination. Creativity and a obvious passion for food..

a. kitchen might fit into a "new American tapas" category. Diners are expected to share a series of small plates and family style dishes. We ordered the spiced cauliflower, grilled carrots and couscous, string beans, shiitake mushrooms, grilled octopus and pork loin. On the positive side my glass of wine was good and they did not scrimp on the portions. Additionally, the various preparations and seasonings were all interesting. It was only towards the end of the meal that we found that cumulatively it was all a little too much. No piece of meat or vegetable was allowed to stand on its own. Every preparation came with a level of seasonings that was supplied with an explanation point. In addition the eventual effect of consuming the dishes, most of which had been grilled or fried, was the feeling that one had consumed a fair amount of cooking oil. Unfortunately this restaurant is also part of the large Philadelphia club that practices sonic abuse. This really isn't the right place for a couple to have a conversation unless you enjoy shouting at each other. We noticed that this was the case even though the room was barely half full. I have been in bowling alleys with a more hushed environment. Choosing to eat out on the sidewalk table would have allowed us to dine in relative peace and quiet.

Let me start by saying overall our dinner was fantastic. I had the mushroom dish and it was beyond good, but the scallops came out cold! While the taste was very good they were barely warm. I'd go back to try different food but would get the mushroom dish in a heart beat! Waitress was slow but very pleasant

1. Décor is modern with a "chef's table'. 2. Menu is eclectic. I had the "Be Deviled Skate Wing", which I loved. My wife had the "American Wagyu Beef", which was incredibly tender. The accompanying greens were exquisite. 3.Our server, Cameron, was knowledgeable re; the wine and food. 4. The Chef de Cuisine, Jon Nodler" is rising star.

I liked A.Kitchen but wasn't blown away. Full disclosure: I just returned from Avignon where I had much better food for much less money. Also, I don't like the "small plates" sharing menus that are all the rage at the moment. Having said that, the food was good, the service excellent and, over all I enjoyed this restaurant. It has a good friendly vibe. Good for coup,Es but probably too noisy for groups larger than 4. Great location and good people watching.

Nobody talks about this place, but I think it has a fantastic lunch deal. Salad and entree for 25 bucks. Wine selections are great and service is superb. Nothing ordinary on the menu except the burger. I was really impressed with the quality and presentation. This is a fine place.

I was recently in philly for three days. My husband and I had an incredible dinner here our first night. Everything was delicious! We were seated by the open windows. Great people watching! It was a lovely night and we had a yummy meal. Creative cocktail menu too! I had such a great experience that I went back two days later with some girlfriends for lunch. Again, excellent meal. I'm still thinking about those prawns in chili sauce. I'm so proud of my home town! Philly really has a sick restaurant scene. Get to A.kitchen on your next visit.

The place is ok. Food is good for brunch as I’m mostly vegetarian. The dinner menu is not that great has more of non veg options won’t go there.

We went Sunday night at the recommendation of a business associate and were very pleased. Our threesome tried the Beet Salad, Fried Oyster Tartine and the American Wagyu Steaks. The portions were appropriate, and we all enjoyed all of the flavors. I suggest reservations, because it filled up quickly

Wanting a good restaurant for Mothers Day I made 11 am reservations at a.kitchen for myself, my wife, and our 2 small children. Soon after we arrived I knew this was a mistake. Despite the fact that the restaurant was not full and had what seemed to be a full staff, it took about 15-20 minutes just to get our coffee and drinks (not all at the same time). (A side note - the coffee was horrible - the street cart outside had a better brew). The waitress could not have been more disinterested - no pleasantries, no smiles. She actually seemed annoyed we had children with us. When we asked if they had children's portions, or even if the kitchen could do a non-stuffed version of their French Toast her response was "They prestuff everything - you should go with your back-up plan" We asked her to ask the kitchen anyway - which we could see she never did. Our pastries arrived and they were all burned/overcooked. When I mentioned something about them the response was "Well that's how we do it here" Our meals arrived quickly (and our server never said anything about our request). Too quickly as it turns out. My wife had ordered a burger medium but what came out was a rare burger - almost raw (what appeared to be a preformed as well). It's Mothers Day and you screw up the mother's meal - wonderful. It took several more minutes to flag down our server to send the burger back. When the hamburger came back, instead of a new burger (which is what should be done), the same burger returned, this time overly well done. Meanwhile the "stuffed French Toast" I ordered (and was told they prestuff) was not really "stuffed" with anything more than some kind of spread. At this point we just wanted to get through our meal and get out. The manager did come over at one point to apologize and to his credit he did take the burger and drink off the bill. But that really does not make up for the overall poor service particularly on what is supposed to be a special day.

We stayed in the hotel (AKA directly above the restaurant), Not only was it convenient but good food and friendly staff. Mary was the bartender when we were there and she also was our server. Pate was excellent. Friendly, fun place.

Went for brunch with friends. Menu was simple and delicious. Conveniently located in Rittenhouse Square area. Rittenhouse Slam, Charcoal biscuit and Stuffed French Toast were delicious. Paul was a great server.....felt like we were at a friend's kitchen having brunch! Highly recommend this place for brunch. We will certainly try this place for dinner soon.

Came here for dinner with my Philly family - food was excellent - very nicely prepared & presented! Great service - would highly recommend to anyone visiting Philadelphia.