“Kennett Restaurant is helping to revive the Queens Village Neighborhood.”
Trying to recreate a piece of history that stood as a cornerstone of the Queens Village area of Philadelphia for 62 years, Johnny Della Polla and Ashley Bohan reopened Kennett Café, now under the name Kennett Restaurant, just over a year ago. Closed in 1986, new life has been brought to the classic Queens Village café. Located in what used to be home to the Lyon’s Den for a number of years, Della Polla and Bohan took their experience in the restaurant industry to turn the Lyon’s Den into a vastly different type of eatery. Remnants of the Lyon’s Den are now unrecognizable as Kennett brings a whole new feel to South 2nd Street. With a focus on local and sustainability; Queens Village is now home to a much more fitting restaurant.
Food may be slightly at the forefront in this rustic, dimly lit, yet comfortable bar, but the beer list is far from taking a back seat. Offering fifteen beers on tap as well as one on hand pump, the draft lines are filled with a well-chosen list of American craft. Favorites such as Ithaca Flower Power and Allagash White are regulars, while offerings from breweries such as Avery, Ommegang and Southampton rotate through the remaining taps. Della Polla’s Yards’ roots are also clearly stated, as you are certain to see a couple options from one of Philly’s most beloved breweries. Love Stout is a constant on the nitro-line and Kennett is almost a guaranteed destination for Yards’ increasing amount of one-offs and specialties. Beyond the beer, they also offer a cocktail menu they strongly stand behind. They may not be hand cracking ice and offering a selection of hundreds of spirits, but the cocktails are creatively done and can stand side by side against most.
Philly Beer Scene | Review | Matt Falco
