Booker’s Restaurant is ready to welcome outdoor diners on Baltimore Avenue (Facebook photo).

Starting today, Philadelphia restaurants and cafes can re-open for outdoor dining as part of the City’s Phase 1 (Yellow) coronavirus re-opening plan.

Some West Philly restaurants that have outdoor seating have already announced their plans to re-open. For some, customers will have to reserve their table in advance, but for others, reservations are not required. All restaurants have to follow the City’s guidelines on how to serve customers safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, including limited seating, 6-foot distance between tables, wearing masks for both customers (unless they are seated) and staff.

Restaurants that don’t have an outdoor dining licence can request an application. Go here for more information.  Continue Reading

There’s a new map out showing more than 150 Black-owned restaurants in Philadelphia and the region.

The project began when local food writer and editor Kae Lani Palmisano put together a database of Philly restaurants open during the coronavirus pandemic. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the focus shifted to Black-owned restaurants. The project is crowdsourced and the map was created by South Philly resident and IT specialist Charles Rumford, according to BillyPenn. As the database keeps growing the map will also get updated.  Continue Reading

Visit UCD’s new Digital Dining Days website

To help support local restaurants in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, University City District has launched the Digital Dining Days website, an in-progress online guide to restaurants offering takeout, delivery, gift cards, and staff fundraisers in West Philadelphia. The website will be continually updated as conditions at restaurants change. If you don’t see a local favorite on the list, please email UCD at marketing@ucd.org and let them know! As of April 1st, the website includes information on around 80 local restaurants, cafes and eateries.  Continue Reading

UPDATE: Fresh Grocer will be closing the store at 40th and Walnut Streets in early March, according to Jennifer Rizzi, Director of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has signed a lease with Acme Markets for this location. Acme is currently working on an anticipated timeframe for renovations to the existing facility and anticipated opening.

Fresh Grocer will leave its 40th and Walnut Street location this spring after four years of legal battle with the landlord – The University of Pennsylvania. According to a joint statement from Penn and Fresh Grocer, the store will close in March 2020, after almost 20 years in operation.

Penn terminated the Fresh Grocer’s lease in April 2016, claiming that the store had failed to renew it on time. Fresh Grocer countered with a lawsuit against Penn and refused to vacate the space until this spring.  Continue Reading

Renata’s Kitchen owners Kate and Yasser Aiq at their new location at 40th and Baltimore.

Renata’s Kitchen is ready to welcome customers at their new location at 40th and Baltimore, in the two-story building formerly occupied by Trolley Car Station Diner. The new Renata’s Kitchen & Bar is officially opening to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Restaurateurs Kate and Yasser Aiq, the masterminds behind Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Avenue, are bringing their brunch menu to the space, which is roughly six times larger than the current location. Customers can expect familiar items such as lemon pancakes, an eclectic selection of espresso beverages and an expanded meze (small plates) menu with fan favorites like shakshukas, a Middle Eastern stew with eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and garlic.  Continue Reading

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.  Continue Reading