Eli Collins

A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Chef Collins developed a passion for cooking while studying Fine Art in the South of France. After returning to the United States, he spent time traveling and working up and down the East Coast, finally landing in New York City where he worked for acclaimed Chef Daniel Boulud at his eponymous Daniel, a Michelin-starred contemporary French restaurant, and later as Executive Chef at Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen, a more casual brasserie.

In 2013, Collins returned to Pennsylvania to take the role as Executive Chef at Pub & Kitchen. A year after his arrival, he received a glowing “Three Bells: Excellent” review from Inquirer critic Craig LaBan who noted the re-review for the five-year-old restaurant came because “current chef Eli Collins’ cooking demanded [his] attention.”

Four years later, Collins joined James Beard Foundation Award-winning Restaurateur Ellen Yin’s High Street Hospitality Group and assumed the role of Executive Chef of a.kitchen+bar within AKA Rittenhouse Square. Collins quickly earned another “Three Bells” the Inquirer for his “compelling French flair” and a menu “driven by seasonality and a love of prime ingredients.” a.kitchen has been named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wine Restaurants in America, was awarded Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence” in 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 and has received praise from Philadelphia Magazine, Eater, Thrillist, and Philadelphia Style Magazine, among others.

In 2022, Eli was named “Best Chef” in Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly” awards. In September 2024, Eli expanded his role with High Street Hospitality Group as Executive Chef of a.kitchen+bar DC. The same year, Collins’ work was recognized by The New York Times in their list of the “25 Best Restaurants in Philadelphia” and in the Inquirer’s “The 76: The most vital restaurants in the Philly area” list. Chef Collins currently resides just outside of Philadelphia with his wife and two sons.