Philly Dining Spotlight: RENATA’S KITCHEN

Cafe Renata is Renata’s Kitchen

By Tinsel & Tine Editor, Le Anne Lindsay

This past summer I got to work from home. It was one of the best summers of my adult life. One reason being, I really got a chance to walk around my neighborhood. I moved to West Philly the prior summer, but having more free time to go to the park, work from coffee shops and explore, made a big difference in getting to feel more at home.

During my travels, I kept seeing the coming soon sign for Renata’s Kitchen on 45th & Baltimore Ave. (4533 Baltimore Ave) This adorable little bistro was taking shape under the care and attention of restaurateurs Kate and Yasser Aiq, only at one point they seemed to be at a standstill as they waited to get zoning approval to install a proper stove and exhaust system. It seems the property was zoned for a take out restaurant, not sit down. Eventually the red tape was cut through, perhaps with Yasser’s chef’s knife, and by mid August the couple was ready for their grand opening!

Kate and Yasser Aiq

They started by serving only breakfast and lunch. Now the BYOB restaurant serves dinner (Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – 10 pm,
Saturday 8am-10pm,

Sunday 8am-10pm) The first thing that caught my attention on the menu was the Lemon-Poppy Pancakes
– full stack stuffed with lemon-poppy ricotta & lemon custard. I’m big on anything lemon flavored and my all-time favorite muffin is a Lemon Poppy Seed and Pancakes, well, you know!… my only hesitation was that $11.50 price tag. But I had to try them, and I’m glad I did. Not quite 4 Tines, but a solid 3.5.

While enjoying my leisurely summer breakfast, I asked Kate, a bit more about the restaurant. That’s when I found out this was not their first rodeo. She and her now husband, then boyfriend, Yasser had been doing a good business with Cafe Renata on 43rd & Locust, until they had a fire. Can you believe some oily dish towels which had already gone through the washer, caught fire in the dryer, as the remaining oil made them still flammable! Surprisingly, it was a blessing in disguise as the fire exposed the restaurant’s structural damage, too costly to repair. Which lead them to Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Ave. By the way, the name comes from a regular customer Yasser knew from an earlier job, who was sweet, but a very particular foodie.

Renata’s Kitchen serves American cuisine with a distinctively Middle Eastern influence. Below is a sampling. Click HERE for the full menu.

I haven’t had an opportunity to return yet, but plan to see some friends between Christmas & New Year and think I’ll suggest this for our outing.

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