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a.kitchen

Visa Dining Collection

$31 to $50

French American

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2 people

1 Apr 2025

19:00

Booked 31 times today

Experiences are available.

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.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Chef Eli Collins

James Beard Award2023

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
Website
http://www.akitchenandbar.com/
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
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
135 S 18th St, 0, Philadelphia, PA 19103-5228
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, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining

Experiences

Vine-yl Night Vol. XIX
29 Apr 2025 only
Vine-yl Night Vol. XIX is here! We're welcoming Chef Kevin McWilliams from Laurel located in South Philly on East Passyunk Ave. Kevin is a 2024 StarChefs Rising Star and has worked in kitchens at Kensington Quarters, River Twice, and Lacroix before settling in as Chef de Cuisine at Laurel. Chefs Eli and Kevin will be transforming the menu into one you'd find in a Parisian wine bar. Our wine program will be taken over by Tom Caruso and Sydney Adams of Pray Tell Winery. They've been totally crushing the Philly wine scene. Guest DJ set provided by Bruce Warren of WXPN radio. Bruce has been DJing for over 30+ years and will be bringing a whole case of 45s to spin. Additional music provided by our resident DJ and sometimes Wine Director, Frank Kinyon.

What 2,157 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
4.8Service
4.6Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

a.kitchen offers an extraordinary dining experience with "excellent food" and "amazing service." Guests rave about its "creative menu" and "outstanding wine selection." The intimate ambiance and "friendly staff" create a welcoming atmosphere. While noise levels can be high, the culinary expertise makes it a "must-visit" spot in Philadelphia.

2,157 Reviews

S
Sheila VIP
Philadelphia27 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
a kitchen never disappoints! Food is consistently wonderful and they never rush you. Great wine and cocktail list and our server was spectacular! Highly recommend!
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S
Santiago
Philadelphia1 review
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Outstanding wine list and fabolous food right in Philly center
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V
Vahideh
Philadelphia27 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was wonderful. I enjoyed all their small plates. The food was all unique. The noise in the restaurant was extremely loud. We could barely hear each other.
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J
Jocelyn VIP
Pittsburgh10 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
This restaurant has a creative menu and they do amazing things with vegetables. We split the golden beets and the chickpea panisse and both were excellent. While the scallops were likewise excellent, the $32 dish came with just 3 smallish scallops. Based on observations of what other customers were getting, a different entree (e.g., the branzino) would have been better for splitting. The service in many ways was quite good. However, the first glass of wine was slow to come and the promised taste of a different wine never happened. Some of this may be due to the fact that it was a very busy Saturday night. It was so noisy, it was hard to have a conversation. The food is definitely worth coming back for -- we'll just try to avoid the Saturday crowd next time.
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v
victor
Orlando1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Unpretentious with excellent service and outstanding food
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M
Michelle VIP
New York City1 review
2.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 1
We sat in the bar area which was loud and felt like a college bar environment which did not match the food. Food was overcooked like it was sitting under a heat lamp. Night and day experience from sitting on the other side of the restaurant. Now we know
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F
Faith VIP
Philadelphia29 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great experience as always!!!! Loved everything. Exceptional service, especially at the bar before dinner, too.
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D
Dana VIP
London36 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Excellent food! Noise made it a bit hard to hear each other.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 23 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fabulous food, some new experiences. excellent service. Will be back.
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J
Joseph
Philadelphia11 reviews
5.0
Dined on 22 March 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We had a great meal at a.kitchen. We were seated promptly. Food was superb and service was equally superb. My only objection was the noise level. It's a small space with an open kitchen, and there's a lot going. Regardless, we'll definitely return.
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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 2157 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

1 Apr 2025

19:00

Booked 31 times today

Experiences are available.

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, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Website
http://www.akitchenandbar.com/
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

a.kitchen

Make a booking

Why they're an Icon

Dining areas

Additional information

Experiences

Vine-yl Night Vol. XIX

Menu

BREAKFAST

RITTENHOUSE BREAKFAST US$16.00

FRENCH OMELETTE US$16.00

CORNMEAL PANCAKES US$14.00

BACON, EGG + CHEESE SANDWICHUS$12.00

OATMEAL US$12.00

YOGURT + CRANBERRY GRANOLAUS$7.00

HOME FRIES US$6.00

What 2,157 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

Does a.kitchen offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is a.kitchen restaurant rated?

Is a.kitchen currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Dining areas

Additional information