Kensington Quarters Reviews

It is located at Frankford Ave. above Girard in a resurgent restaurant neighborhood. This is a large industrial style restaurant. What hits you first is the butcher shop across from a large popular bar. In the large two story back section is the restaurant. Surprisingly while there was a lot of meat dishes the emphasis was not on beef. This is not a steak house. There are several main courses of fish and chicken and other meats. We ordered the smaller plates to get a sense of the various meats and they were greats. Zeppoli (dough balls) filled with flavored chicken liver, a beautiful ham sandwich were the highlights. WE bought some meats at the butcher shop and revisited the shop later. These items were also quite good at home.

Three of us went in at 5pm on a Sunday. The retaurant closes for a few hours after lunch and reopens at 5. We walked in at 5:10 and it was already jammed. We didn't have a reservation but they seated us anyway. The menu is very limited and the entrees vary widely in price. Two of us ordered the burgers and they were outstanding. My wife got the pork dish and it was OK. They have a good selection of beers and cocktails but a very limited dessert menu of basically "NewAmerican" offerings, but not even a chocolate cake variation. The staff was very attentive and personable. It was a bit expensive ($20.00 burgers) but worth it. I'm glad we went.

Quite lovely. Parsnip ravioli and braised brussel sprouts were out of this world--we were talking about the brussel sprouts a, which day or two later! I got a kielbasa, which was very high quality. Others got a burger (good) and duck (good, but smallish-portion and nothing special). Interesting beer selection, too. Service friendly and fast. Fun ambiance--space has a bit of an industrial upscale feel to it; hard to describe. A bit on the pricey side, but not bad for the quality of food you get ($113 before tip for three of us with 2 drinks).

This is my favorite place of the several I went to on a weekend Philadelphia foodie experience. The Sunday evening neighborhood night features a three course selection. I had the smoked kielbalsa (made in-house), fettucine with Pennsylvania farm beef and cheese, and the same cheese for dessert with honey and pair. Outstanding flavors. $32. It's better than any Restaurant Week selection you would go to anywhere. Highly recommended.

Went to Kensington Quarters for a night out with my spouse while vacationing in Philadelphia. What a pleasant surprise! The location in the upcoming and trendy Fishtown area where other restaurants and bars are located makes it easy to find. The place is cute and we specially enjoyed the outdoors seating. Food was very good, kind of eclectic, specially liked the farm baked cheese, prosciutto and kielbasa. Sevice was excellent too. Kudos!

The Fishtown area is one of the hippest in Philly and for good reason. Kensington Quarters is one of the places that has seen the growth of the area. They are a hip destination with cool décor and vibe. The service was top notch and meal was pretty good also. I had the KQ burger on a brioche bun that has cheddar, garlic aioli, jus, and caramelized onions with a fried potato.

I've visited many times for Sunday brunch, which is always delicious. Recently, I've been going to the butchery for local organic meat. The breakfast sausages are the best I've ever had! I don't know what they put in it, but fresh is the best!

Really interesting and creative menu. Nice selection of meats, and vegetable dishes. Not a large selection of beers, very unique selection of mixed cocktails. Charcuterie plate was delicious with bread that was homemade. We were able to sit outside in the patio area. Waiter was very friendly and quick.

My sister arranged a group of us to go here for bottomless brunch for her birthday. She called ahead of time to set it up and had agreed on a package where we would all pay $60 for bottomless food, drinks with the tip included. In the end, we all ended up paying $72. Worst of all, we felt like we didn't get what we were promised and were all very disappointed. I've been to my fair share of bottomless brunches and this was by far the worst. Normally, bottomless brunches are, in fact, bottomless. The servers usually are attentive and make sure your glass is never empty. This did not happen at Kensington Quarters. We practically had to beg the servers to bring us mimosas. Half of the people in our party claim they had only 3 mimosas total and we were there for two hours.. The manager had promised my sister that we would have our own servers who would not be serving any other tables to ensure they were attentive. They both had other tables, and we felt like we were a burden for trying to make the most of our bottomless package. They both seemed overwhelmed. One server was a doll, very sweet, accommodating and nice. The other one was super rude. We are adults, and at the rate they brought out mimosas, we weren't even drunk or obnoxious. But the entire time this woman was rude to us. It was very uncomfortable. The food was good. Not exceptional. Not amazing. Just good. My sister expressed that she was unhappy and the manager was rude to her. We had ended up paying more than the promised price but felt like we have received less than the promised service. Even after my sister had called and expressed our group disappointment, the manager was rude, unkind and basically said tough sh*t. I felt so bad my sister had to deal with this on her birthday. DO NOT PLAN YOUR CELEBRATION HERE. Do not bring large parties here. (We were a party of 15.) Do not do their bottomless brunch. The manager will make it seem awesome but it sucks. This brunch was a HUGE damper on what was an otherwise perfect birthday celebration- great weather, great company, sucky "bottomless" brunch. I have never posted a TripAdvisor review in my life, but this brunch was so horrible and my sister was treated so unfairly, I created a Yelp account just to warn other people to not celebrate their birthdays here :/

'4Stars++'. Nicely done all around! A fun concept (restaurant, butchery,bar) in an up-and-coming neighbourhood. Worth the Uber to get their. Busy place, yet comfortable for conversation. Food was excellent. Terrific beer and cocktail list.

I went with my husband and two friends on a Saturday night. It was a really great experience. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was great and was priced well considering the high quality of ingredients. We ordered the mixed charcuterie board and I think my favorite was the pork head cheese. For dinner we ordered the KQ burger (med rare and it actually came that way), spicy roast carrots, eggplant ravioli, fazzoletti, and the pork shoulder. The ravioli were the best and all I wanted was the plates of them for myself. The timing was great and the atmosphere was noisy and fun.

4 of us visited on a Saturday night in July. Had reservations but chose to sit at the bar for dinner. Jason proved to be one of the best craft bartenders in Philadelphia. We gave him basic direction (i.e. summer drink) and just let him create. He made each one of us a different drink each time and took the time to explain each. One better then the next. Food is consistently great as is the service. Highly recommend!

We were very disappointed with Kensington Quarters. It is apparently achingly cool, but in reality just ok. Everything was ok. The meat was ok. The seating was ok. The fashionista staff was ok. The meat platter was good, but no better than I cook at home. Totally pretentious drinks. The flowery language used by the serving team was laughable. Our friends ordered a glass of cider and got the equivalent of a small wine glassful. It was embarrassing. We had 2 drinks per person. The only thing that wasn’t ok was the bill. Our party of 6 always play “guess the bill” at the end of meal, and our guesses varied from $280 to 330, and ended up being $450. It’s reputation is just overpriced hype.

Enjoyed the shared appetizers-mushroom toast and smoked carrots. Great burgers for our entree. Tried the sourdough apple fritters for dessert. They were delicious...very rich. Service was excellent and we would come back.

Great food and service. Go during happy hour as it is a deal for real! The kombucha and vodka was wonderful!

We were very excited to discover Kensington Quarters, a new Philadelphia restaurant with a "use the whole animal" philosophy and a commitment to local farms (with all the requisite "free-of" concerns--no hormones, steroids, etc). There is a butcher shop, and the meats looked beautiful (they give butchery lessons, too). Our first visit was for a "special menu dinner," and we cannot wait to try their regular menu. The regular menu has vegetarian options as well as meat selections. We attended their first-ever "Offal Dinner," and the dishes were superb. (If you are curious about organ meats, try some at KQ. One of the comments from fellow diners was that people who claim not to like organ meats would LOVE the dinner because the meats were so tender and fresh). The Offal Dinner included a luscious pork liver sausage and lamb liver and heart terrine as a first course, with stuffed pork trotters as a second treat. The pasta courses were fazzoletti with chicken gizzards and hearts and pig head ravioli. The house-made pasta was exquisite--dough sooooo thin and perfectly cooked. Everything tasted so fresh! The main course was grilled beef heart and tongue. I have never had heart or tongue so tender--the meat was melt-in-your-mouth, seriously. Portions were huge enough that we knew after the first course that we would have to "pace" ourselves. Veggies were super fresh and included red cabbage kraut, beets, lentils, and a parsnip puree that had a touch of sweetness that made me want to request a whole bowl. The wine pairing was well-conceived and included some organic and biodynamic wines with unique notes. Service was prompt, and the dinner courses were nicely paced. Cannot wait to return to try their daily menu, and to shop at the butcher stand!

I've happily used the butcher shop up front, but hesitated on dinner there as my wife is not big on meat. We stopped by for appetizers and a bottle of wine last month, and thought it was great. Really beautiful outdoor eating area, reasonable wine and excellent appetizers. We will be back.

Wow, so we are here on our first night visiting Fishtown. The atmosphere on Friday night was busy and fun with good energy. We were a little early for our reservation & checked in. Turns out the owner accidentally marked us as a "no show" in his computer! He could not have been nicer - comped us for the drinks we had while waiting. Dinner was so good! I had the KQ burger which was really delicious! My husband...he wanted the mixed grill. It says "for four people" but he got it anyway & we took what he could not eat back to the hotel fridge! Oh it was really yummy too - steak, lamb chops, sausage, spicy beef and heavenly potatoes! Sigh. We left fat & happy. Yeah!!!!

Listen, if you don't care about the meat source in your burger then you shouldn't be judging burger quality. 99.9% of the burger's stand out qualities are derived from the quality of beef (the farm conditions and the animal quality) then the parts used and the freshness of the meat. That's why KQ gets a perfect 10.0 on their burger only matched in my gastro world with experiences with burger masters such as Pono in Santa Monica CA and Table in Ashville NC. I'm from Williamsburg Brooklyn and travel across the usa Half the year, When came across KQ, a rare gastro moment that I praised my good fortune for. Rest assure this is a must experience food and the burger is in the legendary league.

I was born and raised in this, "mean streets," area of Philly that is on its way back to relative safety. My wife and I traveled there (from DC) to see how it was all happening. We booked a relatively early reservation for a Sunday evening. It happens to be "steak night." Parking is close by and the scene is emerging hip. The food was GREAT! The waitress recommended the 20 oz. top sirloin, for its tenderness. We split one. It was one of the best steaks I have had. It was tender, flavorful, and topped with a really nice chimichurri sauce. They served it with sweet potatoes and greens. The two appetizers we split - beet salad and spicy carrots were even better. My wife had a very nice local beer -- Conshohocken Puddlers Row -- while I stuck with Philadelphia's finest aqua. The decor is homey, industrial. The wait staff attentive and pleasant. All in all, a nice meal in a cool place at a fair price.

We ate outside in their backyard patio, which was lovely, with leaves falling softly around. Our cocktails were a mixed bag; the Pimm's Cups were good & refreshing, the bourbon (?) cocktail was watered down, perhaps had sat at the bar too long. In any case, the server replaced it with a different cocktail. About the food, the appetizers of spicy carrots and mushroom toast were delicious. The main courses again were a mixed-bag. The pheasant lasagna (not lamb) was excellent and unusual, creamy & earthy at the same time. The ribeye; eh, was just ribeye, good ribeye, but nothing special. The worst dish was the pork shoulder, the piece of meat was weird & grisly, with a tiny amount of actually edible pork. On to dessert; the paw-paw pudding was not pudding, it was a dense, heavy, bread pudding, If the menu had described it as a bread pudding, I never would have ordered it. The sourdough apple fritters were delicious but again, too heavy. The entire menu was too dark, heavy, rich & mushy. Really unbalance and could have used a lighter, more textured touch. The menu is too limited for us to want to return. Also, the farm-to-table-butcher shop-theme as expressed here is tired and passe.

This is a wonderfully meat-centric place with enough vegetable sides to satisfy the non-carnivore in the party. Portion size is variable and the set-up encourages sharing. Well worth the visit are the pork shoulder and the pastas. The wine list is not extensive but more than adequate, and well-priced. Depending on the hour, the noise level can be a but high; but there is a pleasant neighborhood vibe and the management is smart and the staff pleasant.

Had a great meal at KQ. I had the duck. I eat duck fairly frequently. This was the best I'd ever had. Perfectly prepared, outstanding flavor. They made some adjustments for my 15 year old's pasta... he's a notoriously finicky eater. Staff was great. Very friendly. S

We only got firsts and seconds, and did not try the mains. Everything was beautifully prepared and fresh. Stand outs were the rabbit terrine, bacon ravioli with corn and lasagna. Drinks were great, as was the service. The outdoor area is wonderful in the summer. Not for vegetarians-it's a butcher shop, after all!!

This kitchen really knows that they are doing. The accompiments to the special meat selections are some of the cities best. Not much of a meat eater, this place could turn me into a carnivore. For non meat eaters there is fish and chicken. Contemporary environment, the sound management was actually great. Can't wait to go back and I am know as a restaurant snob.

My son held his reception at this restaurant and the food was very good and was matched by excellent service. We were housed in a private area and it was a nice intimate reception with the private area all to ourselves.

Atmosphere is nice. Menu is odd with "shared plates" being very small. We (party of 4) decided to get the "All the Meats" dish. There were way to many fried potatoes on the dish and since everything comes out on one dish by the time we were finished some of the meats had gotten cold.

Kensington Q knows meat. It loves meat and knows how to make it shine. There are more artful restaurants, more creative restaurants, but I have not been to another Philly spot that puts a better spotlight on local, farm to table meats. Its also a great place for a drink or heavy apps. Staff is attentive, but not fussy and well-informed

My husband and I went to Kensington Gardens this past Sunday for "steak night". This is a butcher and a restaurant and they only butcher what they know will be eaten or sold. So, there is one cow per week butchered and they made Sundays 'steak night". If we went on Saturday night, we would have had many choices of other meats, such as pork, sausage, and fowl. There seems to always be a seafood entry choice available too. If you are a vegetarian and want to join your carnivore friends, they have plenty of small plate selections that will satisfy you completely. I had the mushroom toast with garlic confit that makes my mouth water as I am typing this review. My husband had a sirloin steak cooked black and blue, and done perfectly, with garlic mashed potatoes and a small portion of vegetable. I had the tuna (also cooked perfectly but slightly under seasoned), baked potato pieces and a small amount of greens. The animals for butcher come from a farm several miles away and are raised as ethically as possible. The entire animal is used. The food is cooked very well and you know that it is as fresh as possible. You also pay the price for this but, to me, that is worth every penny. They have back patio seating for nice weather and a nice bar (right in front of the butcher shop) with a nice choice of wines, beers and drinks.

This is a restaurant in an area undergoing a major renaissance. What was old is new again. Food is excellent. Not a large menu but enough options to please everyone. Prices aren't cheap. You can dine inside or out. Very young with great energy. Bar is limited, it doesn't have everything but can meet your basic needs plus some. Great desserts. Friendly staff. Lots of activity on the street and in the area. Reservations are probably a good idea.

I visited this restaurant with friends and the dry aged steak was really good. We enjoyed the 100 days Steak and we had a lot of fun.

We were just there for the meat. But there is so much more. We have been looking for a butcher that can help with our DIY sausage making. We struck gold at KQ. The good -They have beef, pork, lamb and poultry. They make their own sausage but it is a small selection. There is also rendered fat-lard from pork and beef fat. There are local eggs and dairy. The meat is beautiful. I swear they use stage lighting to make it look so great. The bad- its a hike to get to no matter where you are coming from. Its a few blocks off the trolley line and any buses. In the winter not such an issue but in the summer have a cooler. Prices are higher than Giant or Acme, but in line with Whole Foods and farmers markets. The rest -there is a PPA parking lot down the street and street parking if you circle the block. The don't open until 11 but there is a cavernous coffee shop down the street. The butcher classes sell out fast so don't wait to sign up.

First clue that I was going to like this place was our server who took a special request mocktail with perfect respect. I had the pork shoulder, so good, and the apple fritter was yummy. But the service was what really made this place stand out.

The food was excellent, the service needs improvement. We tried to eat family style, ordering several dishes in the center, had to ask waiters to change our dinnerware a couple of times.

Upon entering Kensington Quarters on a Friday evening for dinner you are escorted to your table passing a butcher counter then large well lit meat locker with big windows. The locker is full of awesome aged steaks and hanging beef and pork. I was so excited for that aged prime steak for dinner. However, my excitement was was soon turned to dismay when there wasn't a steak to be found in the menu. The only red meat on the menu that evening was a burger??? I asked my waiter if it was possible to order a steak, since the meat locker display was full of steak, and his answer was no. It seems the only night you can order a steak is Sunday, and if there is steak on the menu during the week, there won't be enough to serve for Sunday dinner. Seriously, that was the answer I was given by both my waiter and the manager. INSANE !!! ( The manager also told me it's a complaint he hears all the time from his customers but he can't do anything about it ....REALLY???) How does a restaurant who markets itself as a restaurant/ butcher shop, that proudly puts its meats on display for its patrons not offer a ribeye or NY sirloin as part of the nightly menu??? It's just silly. I guess I'll have to go back on one Sunday evening for that steak dinner. It better be the best steak EVER!!!

I was lucky enough to dine at Kensington Quarters recently. The restaurant was at a remarkably low volume of patrons when we arrived and we had our choice of tables. We chose to sit outside on the back patio on what was an absolutely lovely night. We had a nice view of the Frankford El train passing in the nearby distance every few minutes. We sat under the low ambient lights of the strings draping overhead and were tantalized by the smell of the smoker working out back on something that seems to have mystified everyone we asked. Our waiter thought it was the pork shoulder, another server corrected him and said it was corn, and yet another thought it was cheese. We never got confirmation but the enigma made me inhale deeper and more often which was just fine with me. I tried their special which was a Buttermilk Dipped Fried Chicken. It was perfect in every way. Deliciously flavored (neither under nor over seasoned). The breading was thin but solid and well coated. It adhered to the meat in just the right way. The portion, a half chicken in the form of a breast, thigh and a drumstick, was far too much for one serving but it'll make a great left-over served cold or warm. I also had the Pork Shoulder which was served with Collard Greens and a Potato Torta. The pork was equally as good as the fried chicken. It was smoked and had an excellent combination of meat and fat. It wasn't overly large in size but it was plentiful enough to satisfy the appetite. The collards were pan fried to the perfect position of soft and slightly oily but still firm and full of their natural flavor. I could have done without the torta--and in fact I didn't finish it. It was a little too chewy and lacking in taste and who needs the empty carbs.

Went to Philly with a friend to help pick up some furniture. After that was done, he wanted to show me this "great" BBQ place on Frankford Ave. it took us about 20 minutes to grab a parking space only to find that the BBQ joint was not open for lunch. We were headed back to the truck when I saw a sign that caught my eye, "Butcher & Restaurant". We walked in & right up front is a display case filled with beautiful cuts of beef, pork, chicken, in store made sausages, pates & lunch meat. Across from the case is a small attractive bar. I was sold! They had a limited but well rounded lunch menu as well as an impressive list of microbrews. I decided to go light since I already had dinner plans for the evening and went with a charcuterie plate. It consisted of a pistachio mortadella, pork liver pate, head cheese, Gouda, pickled cauliflower, mustard & Tuscan bread. I have never tasted headcheese before and was a bit nervous, but it was delicious, everything on the plate was. The plate cost $14 & was completely worth it. My friend had white bean-sun choke hummus with the same Tuscan bread, that was also a winner. Other items that were listed on the menu were a burger, a hot roast beef sandwich, a frittata & other items & soup. There was ample table seating in the back of the restaurant as well as an outdoor dinning area. There is a small open kitchen as well as Windows to allow you to look in to the butcher shop. I couldn't leave before buying some of the nicest, well marbled pork chops I have ever seen. I definitely will be going back to try out some more items & buy some of the beautiful cuts from the butcher shop. The employees were extremely friendly, helpful& knowledgeable. They really made you feel welcome.

The place is cool. The crowd is hip. It was PACKED the Saturday night we went in. Service at the bar was slow but friendly. There is nothing I can eat there (veg) and the sight of the meat locker was a huge turnoff, but I knew what I was getting myself into, so not complaining there. I would stop in again for a drink... yes.

I Loved Kensington Quarters! The pictures on their web site is close to how it looks but it does not bring in the energy of the restaurant. The wood floors, the butcher shop, the meat hanging in the refrigerator, the bar and then to seating, wood tables, even out door seating with fresh herbs growing around you. I felt so welcome by the staff and they were very knowledgable of the food they were serving for the day. It was a great escape from the city. Some noise from the train every once and a while but it did not change my love for this place! The food is fresh; right from the farm! They change the menu changes due to what is available from the farms and current stock in the restaurant. So everything is Fresh. I could not decide what to eat! It took us a while to really figure out what we wanted.We were served fresh bread and dipping sauce while we figured out what we wanted. We ordered First; Shaved Goat Leg!; very happy mouth, Rare Beef, make sure you get all the items in your mouth, the lemon makes it over the top and I can not remember the final item. My palette was so happy and I really was thrilled with the plating of each item; the colors on each plate, how they were placed on the plate. Very inviting. The mixture of flavors and textures was wonderful. Second; Asparagus with an Egg; colors perfect greens, white and yellow from the egg and then flavor!; Home made Ravioli with Goat meat, Asparagus and cheese. Third; one special Pork Loin that my dinner partner throughly enjoyed. Very moist and just right. I stayed with more Goat. Roasted Goat with radishes, spring onions and kale. Wonderful! We topped off the night with every dessert! Each was wonderful all alone and together even better! The Peanut Butter Semifreddo was so soft and flavorful; the Raspberry Tart with Goat Cheese, the tart was so flaky and I had to try it, I am Gluten Free, tasted great!; then the Chocolate Custard! so tasty with toppings. I was so happy and satisfied when we left. We each had wine that they have on tap. Excellent pairing for both of us. Riesling Pinot Gris, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrahriesling. I would recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for new, fresh, responsibly-raised, all natural products, relaxing and very palette pleasing place! A must while in the city. I would book the upstairs for a private party. They have a full bar, plenty of room, and bathrooms.

My wife and I eat out regularly at nice places, and in many ways we enjoyed Kensington Quarters, located in Fishtown (in Philadelphia). We were greeted by three attractive young ladies, one of whom took our coats at the door before we were seated. The front of the establishment is a small but lively bar atmosphere. To the right is a staff work station, including a cooler with windows, where you just might see your dinner hanging on a hook. The mid area of the restaurant is a busy open kitchen, with plenty of staff. Towards the rear is the main dining area with separate and semi-separate tables. It feels pretty intimate and cozy, with other patrons very nearby. That is not a big issue with us, we have eaten at several places with a large community table. If you are coming to break up with someone, or order a hit, you might want more privacy. The lighting is nice, and the service was prompt. Several different people came by our table for water, the candle, to check our drinks, etc. Service is good and everyone is pleasant. The menu is interesting, but as people in their mid-50s, we had to ask a lot of questions to figure out what they offered. The food is good, particularly the sauces (which were very good). I had the short rib ($26), and my wife the lamb chop ($28). Here is where the value proposition changes for us. There was nothing like crackers on the table, or rolls or nice hot mini-loaf of bread with dinner. We did not order an appetizer, though several looked very good. A salad would have been extra. They have a 5" cornbread dish with toppings for $20, which sounds good, but expensive. The meals included a decent cut of meat each (8-10 oz), but hardly any vegetable and a small potato (shaped like a little cake). The lamb chops came with something that looked like barley, with a good sauce. It was an unusual carb. The IPA draft beer was $7 per glass, which unfortunately is about the going rate these days - they had other more expensive beers. We often have dessert after dinner, but as funny as this sounds, none of them sounded very good. In keeping with the fancy names, the waiter had to explain each dessert to us, which is just stupid. We ended up not having one. I left the restaurant somewhat hungry, which after an $87 dinner (which includes a good tip), is not good. My wife and I often split dinners and I am satisfied, so don't think I am some big guy with a gigantic appetite. We like this place, but we won't be back due to the small expensive portions and zero extras. Perhaps it is just me, but the whole concept restaurant thing is a bit presumptuous at this point. I am a fairly well traveled 55 year old, and it seems unnecessary (and condescending) to have to have a waiter explain most of the menu items at an American restaurant. If you are a "foody" who loves to pretend they understand all this, I am sure you will fit right in here. There was a group of four men next to us who shared the $100 meat plate, and that dish looked (and smelled) really good. They each had an appetizer or salad before hand, and I would think got filled up pretty well by the end of dinner. It is a big platter of mixed meats. It is a much better value then 8 oz of lamb for $28. If in a group of 3-4, consider that meat platter.

Nice post-industrial space. Excellent service. Quite innovative menu, which is essentially a spectrum of dishes from small to large and cool to hot. Everything we had was creative and well executed. Wine list is fairly small but very good. I would have like more truffle flavor in the duck entree....really, it wasn't detectable. Nonetheless the dish was throroughly enjoyable.

We were extremely excited to try Kensington Quarters so when our friends came into town from the burbs it was the perfect opportunity. We were all in the mood for steak so we made a reservation. Come to find out (once we drove and tried to find parking for 20 mins) they only serve steak on Sundays!! WTH? There were plenty of pork and chicken options, but when one is in the mood for steak, that was just a huge bummer. Especially when as you walk in you go through the butcher shop which had a ton of steak on display. The explanation given to us was that they don't like to butcher more animals than they need to for the week so they only do one cow a week and only serve that on Sunday. That sounded pretty silly to me, but whatever. The pork dish I had was quite good as were the root vegetable fritters, shaved lamb, and pasta appetizers our table shared. Very good food, just wish we'd had all the info before we went there.

Food - very nice Staff- haven't a clue Sadly they are stuck up - being snobby is never great. No matter what. They were less than impressed that we brought our children, brought my cocktail with my dinner (20mins after ordering), did not get the order right, didn't fix it, but we're super quick to get us the bill. The wait staff needs some serious training and discipline. Too bad, as the food was very nice. BBQ chicken super smokey and tasty.

The pulled pork sandwich and good. Better than the average place, but nothing special. Service was friendly and attentive. Atmosphere is cool. Enjoyed the outdoor deck and the old school hip hop on the radio.

So here we go. Wife and I are vegetarian, so why would we go here. Well, they have some vegetarian options that are just amazing. Sat at the the bar which has ample space. Started off with the beet salad which had the white beets and was totally fresh and amazing. Then ordered the smoked carrots which I have to say are the best cooked carrots in all of Philadelphia. I mean no one comes close to what these puppies taste like. Then had the tomato lasagna which was a struggle to order cause they wouldn't take off the cheese cause it was busy. Well wait a minute, this lasagna was not the heavy thick type with the cheese mixed in ,,, it was a thin crusty style with 3 sheets of lasagna, and look I was able to simply pick off the cheese. And wow was that a great lasagna. This place is really creative in how they prepare dishes. Definitely worth a visit.

Got there 15min before they opened and were still welcomed.. even discussed the menu, beer, neighborhood before meeting a biz guest and sharing a beer before dinner. Had the Brie appetizer which was amazing, as was the bartender! Dinner was just as amazing thanks to the food and service by Gina! Fried chicken appetizer is outstanding thanks to the peppers! We also had another beer, pork shoulder, the night's fried chicken special, etc... ZERO complaints! Very different and wonderful place... well done to the staff & owners!

My family decided to give Kensington Quarters a try. The food is very good but, as with many restaurants in Philadelphia, the staff seems untrained and generally not thinking. Though we had a reservation and no one was in the restaurant, they chose to seat us near the back sliding doors. The only problem was that the staff kept opening the back door, letting in cold air. We told the waitress, at least, two times and she said that she reported it to the kitchen but nothing was done to stop the traffic. By the time the fourth or fifth person opened the door, I said something to them and the person just laughed. Obviously, Kensington Quarters thinks customers who are spending hundreds of dollars on dinner are a joke. They discounted our check a whopping 10% for our trouble of training their staff. Save yourself the trouble and go somewhere where the staff is already trained and who value their patrons. Good luck!

Stopped here for cocktails with friends. Great staff and hostess. Drinks were ok but wine list was below average. They need a higher quality wine or two on the list. Hostess was overly nice and pleasant and a pleasure to deal with.

We enjoyed our brunch at Kensington Quarters much more than many of the other TA reviewers. As a matter of fact, we LOVED our experience. The staff was delightful and helpful, the space bright and welcoming, the coffee superb, and the food wonderful. The only negative was finding a parking space. Not to be missed: the Eggs Benedict.

For however long this place has been open we've said, "Oh yeah, we should go". Finally did. Who knew what we'd been missing?! The food was absolutely fabulous. A perfect charcuterie plate. A gorgeous cheese burger. Fabulous wine choices. And a world class butcher shop for take away treasures to cook at home. The staff is completely lovely including but not limited to Tim, who every foodie in Philly knows and loves. This is our new go to!!

It prepares it own meat and poultry on site. The smells as you walk in is very nice and gets you hungry. We had a pulled pork sandwich that was great and huge....easily cut it in half for two people. Service was attentive. The patio is large with long tables and umbrellas. Unique in today's mass produced food. Try It.

What a snot! Our business called over there to order food for employees. We were not aware that they were not open for lunch which is fine. But when we called before noon the answering service message said that they were open on Fridays at noon for lunch. So We called back at noon. And were told no they’re only open for dinner. We said well your recording says your open on fridays for lunch thats when the snot in the other end retorted on the phone said “So what are you gonna do call me out on it ?” Seriously Mr Snot, not only do you need to brush up on your phone skills maybe you should take a class on customer service and learn how to speak to people. Trust me frankford ave is coming up but you my friend should be left behind with that attitude.

The atmosphere at Kensington Quarters is fun and cozy. The drinks were well crafted and the service was great, with attentive and knowledgeable staff. We had the brussels sprouts and some of the other starters, which were tasty. We had the short rib and duck breast for the larger plates, and the dishes were great. Flavors were strong and the food was rich. Overall, nothing over the top, but a great restaurant in a hot neighborhood.

We had a nice set of cocktails tonight. It’s a local place, I would say quite popular as it is cozy and spacious.

Today after visiting my Daughter that moved to Fishtown in Philly; we had lunch in this place. We choose the 3 Course Menu that was literally fantastic. Jojo our waitress, one of the best we ever had Beer selection is wide. Wine variety is also impressive

Perhaps it's only coincidence that in quirky Fishtown, the fresh seafood here is superb. Perfect for brunch, other items on the appealing menu, such as hefty burgers and perfectly cooked omelets, are equally worthwhile.

Great meal all around. My wife got the burger, which she loved, and I got the special that night which was 16oz Top Sirloin. Quality meat served simply. The brownie sundae might have been one of the best desserts we had. Only knock was the coffee afterward was lack luster. With LaColombe in your backyard, you can do better.

Have been wanting to come here for some time and happy that I did. My wife and I split their mixed charcuterie which was excellent. Next up was their fried chicken which was very good. We split their KQ Burger which was very tasty. We also enjoyed their pickle side. Service was very good All in all a good time

Another trendy spot in Fishtown that serves fresh, quality meals. I went for dinner and enjoyed a burger, which was medium and tender. I added a side of pickled cukes and veggies and that really made the burger stand out. Apps were good- I mushroom toast was decent and the brie was really flavorful, but the bread was very greasy and with the natural fats in the cheese, it was too much oil for me. Ambiance was nice- fun, eclectic, good beer list. They crumb your table which I always appreciate.. A few negatives- I would likely not return due to the limited menu with no lean meats. There is a huge price difference between the 20$ range entrees and goes right to the 70$ steak. One steak option by the way. You can also get the 100$ meat platter. They said it can feed 3-5 and we ordered it for 4, but really it should have been between 3, else the meat portions are limited. There were many leftover potatoes on that plate... Mind you, its a sirloin on the platter not the ribeye. I would have personally liked another steak option, like a strip in the 50$ range... Also, the patio was closed because it rained earlier, but it was nice out. So we had to sit inside and pay full price when we could have been paying happy hour prices. Coincidentally when we left, the sign said 'patio open- come in for happy hour'. But whatever, thats expected with large parties and happy hour- just aggravated me.

Having been turned away from a local eatery (even with a reservation) it was our family’s great fortune to find Kensington Quarters. This butcher/restaurant is unapologetic about their love of meat. Their massive walk in refrigerator has windows! But fear not, vegetarians; my daughter was served a beautiful roasted vegetable ravioli as we devoured the massive meat sampler.

This is a very cool farm to table butchery and restaurant. To get to the dining area you will past the butcher counter and the wood burning grill. The Brunch is unusual fare or standards with a twist. The Benedict came with smoked pork shoulder, and the grilled cheese included pork head meat. Flavored were good but not outstanding. The butcher shop has some great items for a home cook. Will be back for dinner.

Recently dined here with a friend. We split a bunch of plates. Everything was good, nothing super wowed us. Plates are definitely on the higher end. We enjoyed everything but I don’t know if the price warrants the offerings. We were very disappointed with the wine offerings and wine by the glass options. Everything was very flat and lack luster. For the price no immediate rush to go back.

Visiting daughter at temple u. Loved our meals and desserts. Very friendly staff. Even had off street parking. Would recommend.

A bit off the beaten path in hip Fishtown, offers friendly service, a well prepared (but somewhat limited) menu, and indoor and outdoor dining options.A meat market in front gives a preview of what's to come

The restaurant is unique – you walk through a butcher shop to get to your table, checking out what you may be having for dinner as you pass the various refrigerated cases. Our server Shaun could not have been nicer – his knowledge of the restaurant’s farm to table suppliers and the ingredients of the individual dishes was very impressive. The sections of the menu are labeled 1 to 3. Our choices (Rare Beef with arugula and the Headcheese) from #1 were outstanding. The Headcheese was nothing like what you see in a grocery/gourmet store but more like a smooth pate – amazing! From #2 we chose the Goat Cheese Ravioli, which was the thinnest cheese filled pasta I think we’ve ever had – delicious, and the Scallops over a shaved snap pea (?) salad. Again, very very good. But then our #3 choices feel short. The Pork Shoulder with sautéed greens and potato tortas was, although moist, not all that flavorful. This was also found with the Roasted Goat with radishes, spring onion and kale, all the various cuts of meat being over salted. So if we were really only blown-away by 2/3’s of the menu, that appears to come out to an Average rating but it was more than that. With 2 beers, a delicious Herb Garden cocktail and 2 Cappuccinos, the bill came to around $145 before tip. With their main claim to fame being the butcher shop, we were very surprised and disappointed in the lack of “wow” in our main entrees but will be back to give it another try.

Can't say I have ever been greeted on entering a restaurant with beef being dry aged but clearly they know their meat at Kensington Quarters. My son's choice and a good one for unique casual dinner featuring Charcuterie for appetizer, steak and aged beef for main course although I stayed with fish for reasons unknown. Very casual place with minimalist décor I guess with Brasserie vibe focus. The atmosphere is not what will get you here or back here and parking is a huge pain. Would recommend highly if not for parking on this Saturday night which will keep me from going back except for off peak when can park.

An early post-theatre meal that reached far above expectations. Our small party shared four small plates to start, all excellent, the smoked carrots, mushroom toast, a beet salad and a butternut squash tart. I'm particularly fond of this sort of savory beginning as it 'wakes' up my taste buds nicely. For entrees we enjoyed the pheasant lasagna, the duck confit, a burger and delicious speckled trout. The only letdown here were the desserts. we really liked the apple fritters with sour cream gelato and caramel sauce but the lemon panna cotta and the homemade cookies were just okay. Coffee was excellent though. Terrific, personable attentive service with out pretense. The dining area is a big open re-purposed space, convivial & comfortable: perfect for larger groups or an intimate dinner for two. Really looking forward to going back to try more items.

Hands down, the KQ burger is one of the best burgers I've ever had. The meat was nice and juicy and the aoli sauce hit the spot. Highly recommend

Design and concept was promising, ultimately outweighed food and service. Brunch menu was ok - nothing jumping off menu as overly creative. Had yougurt and homemade granola. It was ok. Service was slow considering only about 50% tables were occupied. No rush to return.

This is my go to restaurant for dinner or brunch. The food is fantastic with seasonal specials. The cocktail, beer and wine list is very nicely curated to match the menu and relaxed dining space. Bonus to have a full fledged butcher shop in the same space.