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a.kitchen, Philadelphia, PA
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a.kitchen

$31 to $50
French American

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 29 times today
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Innovative
  • Great for creative cocktails
a.kitchen, situated in Hotel AKA Rittenhouse Square, is a French-inspired American restaurant led by Executive Chef Eli Collins. The bistro-style menu offers everything from small plates to more traditional lunch and dinner options. Known for its innovative wine list, a.kitchen is a top destination for natural and terroir-driven wines from regions around the world. Reservations are available for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.

Adjacent to a.kitchen, a.bar offers a cocktail-focused experience along with a menu of snacks, burgers, salads, and seasonal dishes. Guests of Hotel AKA Rittenhouse Square can also enjoy in-suite dining for a more private experience.

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Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Chef Eli Collins

  • Award icon

    James Beard Award

    2023

From the OpenTable editors: James Beard Award-winning restaurateur Ellen Yin's beloved bistro remains one of the best restaurants in Philly for French small plates and outstanding wine. For more than a decade, the gougeres, chicken liver pate, and smoked duck breast have been getting cozy in a candlelit space on historic Rittenhouse Square. The wine list is not to be missed—it's a Wine Enthusiast favorite and multi-semifinalist for James Beard's outstanding wine category.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French American, Dining Bar, Bistro
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Tue–Fri 8:00 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (215) 825-7030
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    a.kitchen and a.bar are available for private functions. Contact the restaurant by emailing harry.jamison@highsthospitality.com
  • Award-winning
    1. James Beard Award 2023
  • Area
    Center City
  • Cross Street
    18th & Walnut St.
  • Parking details
    Parking available in local garages. No Valet available. Central Parking System – 1616 Sansom Street Parkway Corporation – 1845 Walnut Street Central Parking System – 201 South 18th Street Priority Parking – 1710 Chancellor Street
  • Public transit
    Bus: Route 21, 42- 18th and Walnut; Route 17- 20th & Walnut; Route 2: 16th and Walnut SEPTA Orange/ Broad Street lines: Walnut-Locust station SEPTA Blue/ Market-Frankford line: City Hall Station SEPTA Regional Rail lines: Suburban Station
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,128 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
a.kitchen in Philadelphia offers "amazing food and services," with a creative menu and exceptional wine selection. The "wonderful service" and cozy atmosphere make it ideal for special occasions. Diners rave about the "best cheeseburger," octopus appetizer, and "exquisite" brunch offerings. Despite some noise, it remains a "must-visit" destination.

2,129 Reviews
  1. Suzanne

    VIP

    Coastal Georgia

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I haven’t been to a.kitchen in a while and decided to try it with friends and family. I was so pleasantly surprised at how comprehensive the menu was. I had the tuna melt, my sister had the eggs and my friend had the octopus and soup. It was so delicious. The staff was so friendly. The only down side was how loud it was in there. There was a large party there and it was very loud. I’ll be back.

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  2. Foodie11

    VIP

    New York City

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Food delicious. Service responsive and knowledgeable. Valentine’s price fix overpriced.

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  3. Kristene

    New York City

    62 reviews

    4.0

    62 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We sat at the Chefs table… always fun to enjoy watching what goes on in the kitchen. Paul our server was great fun, answered any questions about the menu, and was aware of allergies. I had Hamachi crudo, my partner ordered the chickpea pannise, and the oyster mushroom dish, all were outstanding! Thanks to everyone for a lovely evening

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  4. Scott

    VIP

    Philadelphia

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Once again a.kitchen did not disappoint! The food, ambience and service were all up the usual high standards! Thank you, a.kitchen!

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  5. Kristin

    Philadelphia

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We went for breakfast on a Sunday morning. My wife's omelet and my eggs were delicious, as were the potatoes. I ordered the sausage with my eggs, and the patties left me wanting more. The waiter kindly accommodated our request for a pineapple and cranberry juice mix. The space isn't big, but the tables are not super tight, either. We stayed at AKA, so it was super convenient after checking out. Regardless of where you stay, if you're in Rittenhouse, this is a great spot for breakfast.

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  6. Joseph

    VIP

    Cleveland

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a gem!!!!!!! From entry to departing and everything in between. Awesome! Our server Hartis ( I think) was knowledgeable and could anticipate our every move so to speak. The food……Gourges - heavenly. Beet salad - perfect balance. The bits of radicchio and dill just worked perfectly. Chicken liver toast/ a must have. The show stopper was the dry aged duck breast. We licked the bowl and the subtle crispiness of the duck. Wow. Chocolate pot de crème. Perfect finish. Folks we ate here a few summers ago and had a great time. This time was off the charts- you for sure firing on all cylinders. Can’t wait to come back. Thank you all!

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  7. Kyle

    Baltimore

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate at a.kitchen for their last night of restaurant week. Our table wasn’t ready when we arrived. However, the hostess was absolutely wonderful and moved us to a more comfortable spot and offered us a beverage. Once we arrived at our table the waiter, Harrison, was accommodating to our concert tickets and made sure we made our event. Harrison was knowledgeable and helpful through the entire meal. The food, drinks, and presentation were amazing. I would give the entire experience a 10 out of 10. We will definitely be back to dine again. Thank you, a.kitchen!

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  8. Julia

    Philadelphia

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Everything we orderer was delicious. A Kitchen is one of our favorite restaurants because we've never come away without feeling that the food was special and perfectly made. The service is very nice as well.

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  9. CM

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and services! I’ll definitely visit again!

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  10. Catherine

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 31 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I went in for Restaurant Week and had a really nice time. I was seated at the chef's counter which is interesting, I liked observing the chefs actually. The food was incredible, which was expected, but my big pleasant surprise was how fun and chatty the wait staff was. They were just so friendly and attentive, and I had a couple of really funny conversations with one of the servers. I'd just gotten better after a pretty gnarly illness and this was my first time out in a while and I definitely left smiling.

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FAQs

You can order delivery directly from a.kitchen using the Order Online button.

a.kitchen is rated 4.7 stars by 2128 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 29 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for a.kitchen

135 S 18th St, 0, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5228

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. James Beard Award 2023
  • Cross Street
    18th & Walnut St.
  • Area
    Center City
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Tue–Fri 8:00 am–11:00 am Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Tue–Fri 11:00 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon, Sun 4:30 pm–9:00 pm Tue–Sat 4:30 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French American, Dining Bar, Bistro
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Parking available in local garages. No Valet available. Central Parking System – 1616 Sansom Street Parkway Corporation – 1845 Walnut Street Central Parking System – 201 South 18th Street Priority Parking – 1710 Chancellor Street
  • Public transit
    Bus: Route 21, 42- 18th and Walnut; Route 17- 20th & Walnut; Route 2: 16th and Walnut SEPTA Orange/ Broad Street lines: Walnut-Locust station SEPTA Blue/ Market-Frankford line: City Hall Station SEPTA Regional Rail lines: Suburban Station
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (215) 825-7030
  • Private party facilities
    a.kitchen and a.bar are available for private functions. Contact the restaurant by emailing harry.jamison@highsthospitality.com
  • Privacy policy
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