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

If you’re celebrating Thanksgiving in the neighborhood, check out information below on holiday hours and closings at some popular local stores and cafes. We also included information on SEPTA holiday service. Information on Thanksgiving Parade is available here.

SEPTA Holiday Service

• Buses, trains, and trolleys will operate on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving Day.

• Broad Street and Market Frankford and Broad Street Line and trains will operate with all night service beginning Thursday, Nov. 28 at 12:01 a.m. Regular Owl Bus service will resume Friday, Nov. 29 at 12:01 a.m.  Continue Reading

While the weather is still warm, folks in Cedar Park and nearby areas may be interested to know that there is a new addition to the local drinking establishments scene. A pop-up wine garden, named simply The Wine Garden, which focuses on wine and wine only (no beer), has recently opened at 5019 Baltimore Avenue, in the outdoor space previously occupied by Taco Angeleno. One of the co-owners is Saba Tedla, owner of Aksum and Booker’s restaurants also located on Baltimore Ave.

The Wine Garden offers seating for up to 30 people and serves vintage wines and specialty drinks, plus live entertainment featuring local musicians, according to Philadelphia Magazine. Basically, it’s a great place to relax after a long workday and on weekends.

The Wine Garden is open Monday through Friday 4-11 p.m.; noon-11 p.m. on Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays. It will stay open through the end of October. So far, there’s no website or Facebook page, but we’ll keep you posted.

September 12 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll map (click to enlarge).

This year’s second and last Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is happening on Thursday, Sept. 12 and will feature hundreds of $1 items (food, drinks, merchandise, theatre tickets, and more!), as well as live music and entertainment. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from 43rd to 52nd Streets, and there will also be a special performance at 40th and Baltimore.

Thirty-six Baltimore Avenue businesses and 15 community food and merchandise vendors will participate in the September edition of the Dollar Stroll. Check out this map for more details.  Continue Reading

Photo from Taco Taco’s Facebook page.

A new Mexican restaurant, Taco Taco, quietly opened last month in the former Honest Tom’s Plant Based Taco Shop location at 261 S. 44th Street. According to a recent report, Honest Tom’s longtime kitchen staff members – Alvaro, Maria and Eli – took over the space after former owner Tom McCusker left at the end of July to start a new business, Fruitadelphia.

The new restaurant is no longer vegan, although it still features some vegan items, like BIFF (a walnut-based “meat”) tacos and burritos. The new owners brought back the old menu, including breakfast on the weekends, which Honest Tom’s used to serve before it went all-vegan in the summer of 2018.

Taco Taco is open Monday – Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

For more info, check out their Facebook page.

Parks on Tap, Philadelphia’s traveling beer garden, is returning this Wednesday to Clark Park at 43rd and Baltimore. The program is a partnership between Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, Fairmount Park Conservancy, and FCM Hospitality. It provides beers on tap, wine, non-alcoholic beverages and fresh food at different parks throughout the city all summer long.

Parks on Tap is family-friendly and offers a variety of programming, including free yoga in the park with Roots2Rise. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Parks on Tap will be in Clark Park from this Wednesday through Monday (Labor Day) during the following hours:  Continue Reading