Pren Kitchen in Chester

STYLE

A warm and welcoming spot in quaint downtown Chester that embraces comfort in every sense of the word, from the food choices to the design of the space to the board games on hand for diners to play.

THE SCOOP

Opened by architect and Chester resident Kraig Kalashian in 2019 after pals kept asking him to start a restaurant that would jazz up Chester’s food scene. Kalashian crafts the menu and runs the kitchen, but prides himself on having a team-centered mentality in the kitchen and front of house.

As an architect, Kalashian says the design of the “light and airy” space was paramount and embraces the Scandinavian idea of “hygge,” which implies coziness and comfort. Pren’s furnishings and decor feature all-natural materials—cork wall coverings, oak tables, etc.—and custom-made furniture.

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THE MENU

The menu changes seasonally and is filled with scratch-made comfort food, including customer favorites like meat loaf and pot pies, plus sandwiches, salads, toasts and more. A variety of plant-based items is always available, and the house-made cookies and other baked goods are top-notch. “It’s like going over to someone’s house to eat a meal,” Kalashian says of the restaurant.

HEADS UP

Pren Kitchen hires local students and trains them in the art of hospitality.

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