Top restaurant - easily one of the best in the city. The chef creates an eclectic, rotating menu, offering insanely good dishes with unique and perfectly balanced, often complex flavors.Anything from frog legs and corn bread (best in the land), to baby octopus with tomato jam, or even snail tacos (yes, incredible); all the way to a full Indian seven-course meal, and everything in-between (also some of the best house-made bread you'll ever have).Always excellent service with great people. Legendary restaurant. Will be very missed!
Haley Bell
Ken Loves is a unique experience! A small gem in the heart of Northern Liberties, it’s a great neighborhood spot for date nights or group dinners. Chef Paulie’s delicious food showcases skill and technique without pretense. Not to mention that Chef Paulie is larger than life- eating at Ken Loves you not only get dinner but also a show, you have to go to see what I mean. He treats everyone like family, with a warmth that you feel even after you leave. I will definitely miss this amazing place. Thank you for everything, Chef!
Deborah Flanagan
Chef Paul is a master of flavor. Each of the 6 courses of the tasting menu was executed to perfection and a perfect balance of flavors. Everything is house made by Paul, including bread and pasta. Portions are generous but not outrageous. Exceptional taste and value. The tasting menu changes every 2 weeks!! Don't miss this great Philadelphia BYOB gem.
Catalina Lopez
We had our corporate dinner at this amazing restaurant and we had such a wonderful experience! The food was spectacular and chef Paul was a blast! He and Taryn were attentive and made the experience out of this world! Highly recommend this place for a get together and come with an open mind, food is not your average food but it will have you mind blown! Thank you for a wonderful night!
RebeccaF
My family and I went to KenLoves BYOB for Christmas Eve 7 fishes special. This was an incredible experience. The food is incredible, perfect sized portions and super innovative. You're greeted by Chef Paul who takes you through the menu and the history of the dishes and it's like you're instantly part of the family. It was intimate but also private and I had easily the best food in Philadelphia. Hidden gem in Northern Liberties that everyone needs to frequent. It's a dining experience that makes you feel warm, inclusive, and above all FULL. Did I mention it's BYOB??? I'm lucky to live in the neighborhood!
KerstinH
I've had some great food at Ken's, but this past time, the cacio y Pepe was way too peppery. The peanut butter corn cake with the veal was overly done and dry. Ultimately we were all disappointed.
JackPhilly
NONE of this is negative! This is a very small place. The kitchen is in one corner of the room. The server handles the entire restaurant. The owner/chef is visible and willing to discuss the preparation of your dish if you're interested. It's a fun experience. It is not a white tablecloth stuffy place. THE FOOD is fantastic! Blackboard menu changes daily. We shared mussles in pumpkin beer as an app For mains we split the catfish etouffee and the brussel sprouts Plenty of food for two. All really tasty BYO & cash. Highly recommended.
DavidJ
If KL were located in Rittenhouse Sq or the suburbs somewhere, the place would be mobbed. But, it is not. And I say, "So what!" The food is superb. The quantities are ample. The ambience is a struggling OK. And that's the (meaningless) problem. So, what do you go to a restaurant for? The food? OR The outfits on the customers seated next to you? Wise up, folks, most people dress like fashionable slobs anyway. It's the food. And KL won't disappoint you.
LeynaB
The food was delicious and the staff was amazing!! Great service overall. The chef especially made us feel very welcome and included within the whole dining experience. Definitely coming back.
TheGrun
I maintain that KenLove's BYO is THE BEST BYO in Northern Liberties, if not the best overall restaurant! This particular evening Paulie wowed with his pop-up taco Tuesday. Perfectly crafted tacos, quesadillas, and desserts! If only we can talk him into doing this every week!
This is a very cool restaurant with great vibes. Our server was very friendly. The cook who was also the DJ had MF DOOM on in the background. Our pasta was tasty and the portion was pretty good, I got the veal bolognese and we also tried the frog legs w cornbread and it was all good.
Fielding Miller
One of the best meals I have ever had, Paul the chef cooks great food and you can tell has a great time doing it. The steak in the caramel pepper sauce and the goat cheese mac were my favorites. My cousin said the mussels were the best he has ever had.
KaitlinK
What an incredible evening! The food was delicious, Paul is not only a talented chef but an awesome person. It felt like we were dining at a friend's house. Taryn took great care of us as well. We tried most of the menu (had a party of 6) and each dish was better than the last. Would highly recommend and we will certainly be coming back.
Wowww. We've been living in northern liberties for 3 years now and we've somehow failed to go into Ken Loves until last night. The food was absolutely amazing. They had a handful of really unique dishes. My boyfriend and I literally couldn't believe we had been missing out all this time. The vibe is very cute and fun (mostly due to the chef). He had great music going all night and would be singing along. He really fuels the energy in that place. Service isn't super quick since there's only one chef and server, but it didn't matter to us. We were able to relax and enjoy the byob and good vibes. Definitely recommend!!!!!
NewToPhillyExplorer
I seriously am stunned I will be one of the few people to give this place a bad review. I think I might have gone on a night that the chef/owner didn't give a crap about customers. Walked into grunge/emo music being blasted and the chef singing along. And I mean stomping, yelling, banging singing along. His energy was... manic. Very manic. W/e, your place, you chose the vibe but you have to back it up with great service and food. Not the case. We were later in the evening and one of under five remaining tables but the large plates for two people took 45+ minutes to come out. The chef and waitress, the only two people working, also just left for 10-15 minutes after we ordered. Clearly weren't preparing or cooking. The food itself was poorly cooked. The pork chop was incredibly salty and the fettuccine noodles in the bolognese were over cooked. We ate cause we were hungry and it was late, but couldn't wait to get out of there. And the staff seemed to feel the same about us. It's a shame b/c we went out of our way to grab cash ahead of time since it's cash only. And you'll throw down $50+ a person. But it feels lousy to have been excited to go to a place and have such a weird experience with aloof, manic staff. It has left a bad feeling in my head and stomach.
Top restaurant - easily one of the best in the city. The chef creates an eclectic, rotating menu, offering insanely good dishes with unique and perfectly balanced, often complex flavors.Anything from frog legs and corn bread (best in the land), to baby octopus with tomato jam, or even snail tacos (yes, incredible); all the way to a full Indian seven-course meal, and everything in-between (also some of the best house-made bread you'll ever have).Always excellent service with great people. Legendary restaurant. Will be very missed!
Ken Loves is a unique experience! A small gem in the heart of Northern Liberties, it’s a great neighborhood spot for date nights or group dinners. Chef Paulie’s delicious food showcases skill and technique without pretense. Not to mention that Chef Paulie is larger than life- eating at Ken Loves you not only get dinner but also a show, you have to go to see what I mean. He treats everyone like family, with a warmth that you feel even after you leave. I will definitely miss this amazing place. Thank you for everything, Chef!
Chef Paul is a master of flavor. Each of the 6 courses of the tasting menu was executed to perfection and a perfect balance of flavors. Everything is house made by Paul, including bread and pasta. Portions are generous but not outrageous. Exceptional taste and value. The tasting menu changes every 2 weeks!! Don't miss this great Philadelphia BYOB gem.
We had our corporate dinner at this amazing restaurant and we had such a wonderful experience! The food was spectacular and chef Paul was a blast! He and Taryn were attentive and made the experience out of this world! Highly recommend this place for a get together and come with an open mind, food is not your average food but it will have you mind blown! Thank you for a wonderful night!
My family and I went to KenLoves BYOB for Christmas Eve 7 fishes special. This was an incredible experience. The food is incredible, perfect sized portions and super innovative. You're greeted by Chef Paul who takes you through the menu and the history of the dishes and it's like you're instantly part of the family. It was intimate but also private and I had easily the best food in Philadelphia. Hidden gem in Northern Liberties that everyone needs to frequent. It's a dining experience that makes you feel warm, inclusive, and above all FULL. Did I mention it's BYOB??? I'm lucky to live in the neighborhood!
I've had some great food at Ken's, but this past time, the cacio y Pepe was way too peppery. The peanut butter corn cake with the veal was overly done and dry. Ultimately we were all disappointed.
NONE of this is negative! This is a very small place. The kitchen is in one corner of the room. The server handles the entire restaurant. The owner/chef is visible and willing to discuss the preparation of your dish if you're interested. It's a fun experience. It is not a white tablecloth stuffy place. THE FOOD is fantastic! Blackboard menu changes daily. We shared mussles in pumpkin beer as an app For mains we split the catfish etouffee and the brussel sprouts Plenty of food for two. All really tasty BYO & cash. Highly recommended.
If KL were located in Rittenhouse Sq or the suburbs somewhere, the place would be mobbed. But, it is not. And I say, "So what!" The food is superb. The quantities are ample. The ambience is a struggling OK. And that's the (meaningless) problem. So, what do you go to a restaurant for? The food? OR The outfits on the customers seated next to you? Wise up, folks, most people dress like fashionable slobs anyway. It's the food. And KL won't disappoint you.
The food was delicious and the staff was amazing!! Great service overall. The chef especially made us feel very welcome and included within the whole dining experience. Definitely coming back.
I maintain that KenLove's BYO is THE BEST BYO in Northern Liberties, if not the best overall restaurant! This particular evening Paulie wowed with his pop-up taco Tuesday. Perfectly crafted tacos, quesadillas, and desserts! If only we can talk him into doing this every week!
Restaurantji Recommends
This is a very cool restaurant with great vibes. Our server was very friendly. The cook who was also the DJ had MF DOOM on in the background. Our pasta was tasty and the portion was pretty good, I got the veal bolognese and we also tried the frog legs w cornbread and it was all good.
One of the best meals I have ever had, Paul the chef cooks great food and you can tell has a great time doing it. The steak in the caramel pepper sauce and the goat cheese mac were my favorites. My cousin said the mussels were the best he has ever had.
What an incredible evening! The food was delicious, Paul is not only a talented chef but an awesome person. It felt like we were dining at a friend's house. Taryn took great care of us as well. We tried most of the menu (had a party of 6) and each dish was better than the last. Would highly recommend and we will certainly be coming back.
Wowww. We've been living in northern liberties for 3 years now and we've somehow failed to go into Ken Loves until last night. The food was absolutely amazing. They had a handful of really unique dishes. My boyfriend and I literally couldn't believe we had been missing out all this time. The vibe is very cute and fun (mostly due to the chef). He had great music going all night and would be singing along. He really fuels the energy in that place. Service isn't super quick since there's only one chef and server, but it didn't matter to us. We were able to relax and enjoy the byob and good vibes. Definitely recommend!!!!!
I seriously am stunned I will be one of the few people to give this place a bad review. I think I might have gone on a night that the chef/owner didn't give a crap about customers. Walked into grunge/emo music being blasted and the chef singing along. And I mean stomping, yelling, banging singing along. His energy was... manic. Very manic. W/e, your place, you chose the vibe but you have to back it up with great service and food. Not the case. We were later in the evening and one of under five remaining tables but the large plates for two people took 45+ minutes to come out. The chef and waitress, the only two people working, also just left for 10-15 minutes after we ordered. Clearly weren't preparing or cooking. The food itself was poorly cooked. The pork chop was incredibly salty and the fettuccine noodles in the bolognese were over cooked. We ate cause we were hungry and it was late, but couldn't wait to get out of there. And the staff seemed to feel the same about us. It's a shame b/c we went out of our way to grab cash ahead of time since it's cash only. And you'll throw down $50+ a person. But it feels lousy to have been excited to go to a place and have such a weird experience with aloof, manic staff. It has left a bad feeling in my head and stomach.