Renata’s Kitchen is expanding into the two-story restaurant space at 3940 Baltimore Avenue (former Trolley Car Station restaurant location).

The two-story restaurant space at 40th Street Trolley Portal Gardens, formerly occupied by the Trolley Car Station restaurant, is finally getting a new tenant. Well-known West Philly restaurateur couple, Katie and Yasser Aiq, the owners of the popular cafe and brunch spot Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Ave., have signed the lease for the space and expect to open this winter (“in the next month or so”), with immediate plans to serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

The restaurant, which offers a mixed menu of Mediterranean and American dishes, is not only expanding into a bigger, 125-seat space at 3940 Baltimore Ave., the owners are also planning to eventually launch dinner service, as well as an “inventive drink” menu when they secure the liquor license that comes with the space. 

“We are really excited to bring our brand to the Portal Gardens and even more excited to announce that we will be opening dinner service with a full bar in the spring,” Katie said. “Our dinner menu will feature flavors of the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin, lots of Meze and shared plates, and then of course MIMOSAS at brunch time.”

                   Yasser and Katie Aiq

The Aiqs (who by the way welcomed their second child last month) opened their first restaurant, Cafe Renata, at 43rd and Locust seven years ago, but were forced to look for a new location after a devastating fire in 2015. They reopened as Renata’s Kitchen the same year at 4533 Baltimore Ave.

“In the spirit of the season, we wanted to extend our gratitude to you, our community, for supporting us through our trials and triumphs as a small business,” Katie wrote in an email announcement to the community and friends.

“We cannot wait to share this beautiful space with you. We hope to bring a vibrant, comfortable space for the community with the same great food and service you’ve come to know us for.”

The owners are currently hiring for all restaurant positions at 40th and Baltimore. As for their location at 4533 Baltimore Ave., it will continue serving breakfast and lunch.

Renata’s new two-story home at 40th and Baltimore offers two dining rooms, an outdoor patio, coolers for take-out beer, and a large state-of-the-art kitchen. It is owned by Ken Weinstein, President of Philly Office Retail and owner of now closed Trolley Car Station restaurant, which operated in the space just for seven months – from its opening in September 2018 until April 2019.

As some of you may remember, Trolley Car Station closed due to a series of conflicts with the staff, after some of them, including well-known executive chef Barbie Marshall, quit. Renata’s Kitchen owners are aware of why Trolley Car closed. Although they are planning to hire a lot of staff, just like Trolley Car did, they also plan to be at 40th and Baltimore “all the time,” since they live in the neighborhood, Katie told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a recent interview.

We’ll keep you posted on the new Renata’s Kitchen opening date.