Stopped here for happy hour to check out the place. Got there at 5p on a Friday. Perfect time because shortly after so many people came in and I understand why! The bar was cozy and Guests seemed to be enjoying themselves. The Happy Hour menu was excellent $35 and you get 3 items. Noah, the Bartender chose for me the Beef Tartare and the Gnocchi, both of which were excellent. The Beef Tartare had these fingerling potatoes chips that had the perfect amount of crisp for the tartare. And the mushrooms in the gnocchi were so good. The broiled oysters had lump crab too which added a nice sweetness to that dish. Noah provided great service and I could tell he enjoyed his work. Also highly recommend the happy hour red wine. I generally enjoy a bold cab and this stood up nicely. read more

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This place is such a vibe!! Moving to the area so wanted to explore the food scene and this place did not disappoint!! It has such a cozy, intimate vibes that is lowkey but the food is delicious! The cocktails are also great. I had the pumpkin gnocchi and the braised pork belly which was super flavorful! Highly recommend in the east passyunk area! read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Gnocchi and pork belly - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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We used to go to Townsend quite often; mainly for drinks and small bites on our way through Passyunk. We've gone less as staff has turned over and menus have changed a bit, but I'd still say it's a solid spot to check out. The staff is always friendly, and the bar area is always cozy and full of regulars, creating an interesting dichotomy between feeling like a local bar and a fancy French-inspired, white tablecloth date spot. Being able to have a casual vibe and enjoy excellent food is always our favorite type of place, and Townsend really works for whatever type of dining experience you're looking for. We generally prefer the bar area, and the cocktails are always solid. They have good house cocktails, but with a well-stocked bar and knowledgeable folks behind the bar, you can usually order any traditional cocktail and expect a good version. As for the food, it's very good. Their house sourdough is wonderful to accompany meals. The steak tartare was almost always a must-order. If you prefer your beef cooked, their burger is essentially the tartare cooked, and it's excellent. We've done tasting menus and à la carte and everything has always been really good, from their seafood options to their meats. It's definitely a safe spot to go for a dependably-delicious meal. read more

My friend and I came here for dinner and did the vegetarian tasting menu. I started out the meal with a glass of brut as we were celebrating! First, we were brought sourdough bread and butter which was unexpected and yummy. Our first course was the Golden Beet Salad with balsamic gastrique, sesame, and frisee salad. I'm not a huge beet fan but it was tasty! The second course was Roasted Endive with mustard, baby turnips, and orange. The combo was a little strange at first but grew on me with every bite. The next course was the Mushroom Risotto (with shiitake, maitake, aged parmesan, and demi gloss). This was my favorite course of the evening - the depth of flavor in the mushrooms was unreal. The last savory course was Caramelized Turnip Ravioli with snow pea leaves, basil, and beurreblanc. This was very good as well. The dessert course was a Valrhona Chocolate Souffle with Pernod anglaise. The texture of this was a little off for me, but the flavor was good. Overall, everything we had was good, but the only standout was the mushroom risotto. I would definitely return for drinks and to order food a la carte, but not sure if I'd do the tasting menu again. read more

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I had such high hopes for the tasting menu here that were ultimately not met. The price for the tasting menu itself is not prohibitive and the drinks are also not so horribly priced. However, when you do the tasting menu it is likely you will leave hungry after spending a good amount of money. The bread comes first and it was fine bread. Hamachi crudo next was okay, the flavoring not terribly inventive and the portion really left a lot to be desired. This latter aspect is true for every aspect of the tasting-the portions are quite small in a way that seems unwarranted. The scallops were my favorite part with a very nice cream sauce. The tortellini dish was three very small pieces and honestly not enough to even form an opinion about. The main course-the duck-was no showstopper. Finally, the chocolate soufflé was super underwhelming with the warm sauce added on top. The service was super attentive. Drink menu had tons of appealing options. However, overall it was a bit of a weaker tasting menu and wouldn't necessarily need to come back to try any of their a-la-carte options. read more

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Escargot $16 sauce would go really well with bread Foie Gras Mousse $16 was tasty. A lot of mousse for the bread. Would get this again Cote du Boeuf for two $150 ribeye was nicely done. Still some red. 32oz was a lot of meat though. Took this home to eat the next day. read more

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The food was not bad. Very cute space. My chocolate souffle was completely visibly burnt on top but once I got past that layer, it was the best souffle of my life and maybe one of the best desserts I've ever eaten. read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Melon soup. It was ok. - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Townsend has quickly become one of our favorite spots in town. We were initially lured in on a hot day on our walk to another establishment for a drink and a snack. And that initial experience with some of the best beef tartare I have ever had has kept us coming back. We have had some bites on our initial visits - the tartare, of course, and a crudo which was inventive and tasty - but finally took the plunge and did the tasting menu. And it didn't disappoint. Everything was on point from start to finish. I keep dreaming of the cappelletti dish. Service has been exceptional all around - truly top notch. Alexander at the bar is nice and very knowledgeable - and passionate about his work - delivering a great experience with each visit. In fact, everyone we have encountered staff wise has been wonderful. We will certainly be back. I am already looking forward to the next experience there! read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I feel like I found the perfect bar for a cozy drink! My partner and I came here on a Thursday night to have drinks before dinner. The bartender was awesome and told us about their food menu and happy hour. Even tho we didn't come here for food, I so wish we did! for our next night out we will absolutely come to Townsend. The vibes and service are exactly what I look for in a dining experience and I look forward to trying their food. read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Walked in here on a Christmas Eve for a quick drink & had a great time. We used to go to The Hayes, another establishment owned by the same restaurant group & have been meaning to check out the Townsend for a while. The spot is very tasteful, quiet, classy & welcoming. Our bartender Sean was skillful and professional. I had T&G and my husband had the old fashioned. We definitely recommend this place & will be back! read more

Townsend East Passyunk - T&G cocktail. - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I will have to go back to Townsend to write a more thorough review. By the time I went to write the review, the menu changed and I don't recall the name of the dishes. The food and service are great so I would definitely go back. read more

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We have been going to TownsendEPX since January 2015 and went once to the Rittenhouse location before coming back to TownsendEPX for the first time since they reopened on Passyunk Avenue. We both had the tasting menu tonight and added the roasted marrow bone to start with before the tasting as well as the Harbison with dessert. Missy was fantastic as were the bartenders - very friendly, welcoming and it 'felt' like the Townsend we know and love. We started with a cocktail each, I had the Normandy Sour which was great and my spouse had the l'audace which he loved. Both were big hits. The roasted bone marrow was delectable and the radishes, celery salad and parmesan bread crumbs really made it superb. A slice of bread each was just not enough but there seems to be some bread rationing going on as it only came out a slice each per request. It is a must-have though, with or without bread. Delicious. The tasting menu started with: Marinated Hamachi and it was the only dish of the night that failed to impress. It was a nice portion, looked great but the fresh bits of apple and cucumber had no voice against the lake of sesame oil that the Hamachi were rescued from - with sesame oil, a little goes a long way and this was, as we say in French - "insupportable". The Loup de Mer (branzino) was next and it was stellar - the saffron rouille was perfection, the artichoke barigoule a great component of the dish and the fish was as perfectly cooked as it could be, moist, succulent flesh, crisp skin - wonderful. The best branzino either of us have ever eaten. The potato gnocchi with the seasonal mushrooms were another home run. Melt-in-the-mouth, light and tender gnocchi bathed in an unctuous sauce filled with mushrooms and some oven-dried tomato and a bright bit of spinach for color. I would definitely have cleaned up the sauce with a bit of bread - but for the bread rationing. The seared duck breast was next and it was also very tasty. The potato fondants were perfect, truly perfect. Tender interior with a beautiful crust on the outside, each capped with a delightful little mushroom made for a lovely bite. The duck was perfectly cooked, the red wine glace was fantastic, the bit of mustard, classic and it all worked well together. The green olive purée, while adding a nice pop of color, didn't add anything to the dish flavor-wise; at least in my opinion. Dessert was a Valrhona chocolate souffle with a Pernod crème anglaise and it was classically and expertly prepared. Nice tall sides, piping hot, molten in the center and the crème anglaise was sublime with just a hint of Pernod. I also added the Harbison, which was a Vermont raw cow's milk cheese with some sliced apple, an apricot jam and some pistachios. It is from Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont, I believe and is named for Anne Harbison - but I digress. It's a nice, soft cheese, spoonable, woodsy and sweet. Since it was served with no utensils, I was happy to have my coffee spoon to enjoy this course. Again - a few slices of bread would have been great but - you know - the bread rationing. All in all, it was a great dinner and it felt great to be back at TownsendEPX where we have spent many hours enjoying delicious food with each other or with friends and celebrating birthdays, anniversaries (tonight was our 26th and we were wished "happy anniversary" numerous times; which was very nice) and other special moments in our lives. The minor issues I mention only as a note to the restaurant as an FYI. Welcome back TownsendEPX - this is the Townsend that we fell in love with years ago on East Passyunk Avenue. read more

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The Duck orange cocktail is probably the oddest but good cocktail I've ever had because it has duck fat in it so likely not for everybody. Overall this place is a pretty standard good fine dining place. read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Duck' Orange cocktail - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Popped in for happy hour and couldn't be more impressed. The specialty cocktails were delightful. The bites were so so delicious. We ordered the hamachi, calamari, snails and burger. We loved it all. My husband remarked that it was the best burger he'd ever had. The restaurant itself is gorgeous, the ambience quaint and romantic. The service was attentive and welcoming. We can't wait to go back. read more

Townsend East Passyunk - happy hour burger and epic potatoes - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We arrived after an amazing dinner at Laurel. There were 10 of us celebrating a retirement, so we decided to stop at this charming bar/lounge for an after-dinner drink. The ambiance was warm and we were all enjoying ourselves. But then things took an odd turn.. The bartender had already served half of our party when she suddenly told us we needed to leave. It was extremely bizarre, and we were all taken aback, trying to make sense of what was happening. After pressing for more information, she claimed that she had overheard someone use a homophobic slur. We were all confused and stunned--no one had heard anything that would warrant such a reaction. The situation felt increasingly uncomfortable. The bartender disappeared and the "bouncer" waited for us to finish our drinks. We left feeling like we were being attacked for something we didn't do. There was no formal explanation of what was "supposedly said" in a very loud environment. It was a very bizarre ending to an otherwise really nice evening of celebration. read more

This place has the best cozy vibe in the winter. Perfect for a date night, especially if you're celebrating something. I loved the tasting menu. Everything was delicious and felt very fancy. The cocktails were also delicious and our server was amazing. The only qualm I have is that it was pretty pricey. read more

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This review is a little late, I visited Townsend's East Passyunk location about a month ago, but I remember the meal well. My wife and I opted to do the tasting menu and ordered a bottle of wine to go with it. Let me get this out of the way, this was a pricy dinner, just over $300 for the two of us (with tip), but everything was was perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. We asked for a recommendation for our bottle of wine and were extremely happy with what we received. To be honest, I was conflicted between giving Townsend 4 or 5 stars, I wish Yelp allowed a 4.5. The food was excellent, the restaurant was cleanly and attractively decorated, the service was top notch. However, I knew the tasting menu would be small plates and I had a feeling I might need a snack later on in the night. My feeling was correct, which is a shame considering what everything cost. That said, I knew what I was getting into and the skill at play here did not disappoint. We received a variety of items, many of which I never would've ordered on my own, but I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I also love that Townsend looks and feels upscale, something that's increasingly rare in Philly's restaurant scene. It was a very hot day, so I went in with shorts and a short sleeve button down, I was well dressed for the heat, but I felt underdressed here. Everyone else was dressed similarly though, so all was well, but I'd still dress up much more on a cooler day. Overall, I'd absolutely return to Townsend, but, given the price, I'd likely reserve the trip for a special occasion. It's a great, romantic spot for a couple looking for a special night out and I'm happy to have it nearby. read more

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Food was simply incredible. The tasting menu and wine pairing was perfect and perfect amounts. Cannot recommend enough!

What a treat! Elegant and creative cocktails and dishes, we had the best time for dinner at Townsend. For food - Hamachi - really well balanced with the addition of apple and seasonings Potato gnocchi - such a flavorful dish. It had fantastic texture differences, it was such a delight on the palate. I would totally eat this over and over. Scallops - these medium size scallops were perfectly done and over seasonal vegetables and a fish broth. Half chicken - this was surprisingly (and impressively) the best executed dish of the night. The chicken was prepared two ways and was so incredibly moist and flavorful. Faroe island salmon - honestly, this was probably the most underwhelming dish. It was unique to pair with muscles, however the flavor profile was very dull. Dessert - this was described to us as the "gold bar". Better than your traditional poundcake with tons more flavor. Perfect dessert to share. We were really happy we did not do the tasting menu and rather ordered à la cart. The reason for the four stars, however, was there were no curtains on the first floor back of the restaurant, so guests were looking at an alleyway and into a tattoo shop, coupled by neighbors that were smoking cigarettes and you could smell the cigarette smoke which was very disrupting to the ambience of the dinner. The small was so strong at one point that it tainted our food. Very disappointing. read more

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We did the tasting menu at Townsend and it was such a wonderful experience. The oysters with the watermelon was a revelation, the scallops I could eat every day for the rest of my life, the duck was to DIE for, and that chocolate soufflé.. bury me in it. The ambiance was wonderful, the staff was so friendly and fun to talk to, and the drinks were great! read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Duck - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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New French place in an old house, very dim light but not in a romantic way... Just seems a bit old, especially upstairs. Tasting menu $85 with some good range of items, or you can do a la carte. We ordered separately to be able to share and taste more dishes (supposedly a la carte has bigger portion than tasting menu), however the portion size is really small even for "French" restaurant Also almost everything was overly salty... To start, the escargot came in a tomato cream sauce, with mini squashes, very nice flavors, not your usual garlic butter bake, would recommend though the sauce was a bit salty... Tiny oysters and only 3 in an order, nothing special in the juice to justify or enlighten the taste... don't waste your $$$ I was very excited about the black bass when I saw it came with uni sauce, however the sauce was extremely salty (flavor not bad though) and barely 2 bites of fish Pork cheeks was also very salty and syrupy, 2 small pieces. The butter sauce in the scallops was pretty good (a tad salty for my taste but overall good) and good pairing with corns and chanterelle mushrooms. A good chunk of Maitake mushroom was charred nicely with sesame, however it was again-buried in over salty and oily sauce on a bed of overly vinegary diced beets Our last hope was the duck breast, saw some pictures seemed good, but for some reason it came out thinly sliced, more like duck bacon than duck breast... and Again, crazy salty sauces and even the puffed potatoes on the side were salty! Desserts were pretty plain and just sugary, nothing worthwhile... read more

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Came for restaurant week and had a delightful meal. Ambiance is upscale yet cozy. Food was great despite the limited restaurant week menu. Looking forward to coming back for a special occasion and indulging in the steak. Don't let the hostess who screams at you from across the dining room give you a bad first impression. Figure if you go in with a fair warning, it won't be as much of a jump scare. Overall lovely experience! read more

The best music the in the history of the world. Ever. And since I need to write more characters... the drinks are good too. read more

The tasting menu is incredible! And they offer a pairing. We had cocktails by the bar before heading upstairs for dinner. Cute space, narrow around the bar. Everything was good but there were a couple of outstanding dishes. The staff did an amazing job. I left so satisfied with that meal. Definitely check out their food pics, exactly how they were presented and droolworthy. read more

Wonderful gem in the neighborhood!!!! We love to go sit at the bar, hang out....no problem to sit in the main restaurant and order a la carte. Food is French and exquisite however servers are incredibly approachable and friendly. Great for a fancy night out but just as great for a drink and a nibble. read more

I loved my experience here. The food was exceptional and the service was too but I felt the price was a little too high for what you get. Outside of that, truly enjoyed myself and my meal read more

Townsend East Passyunk - Wine Bars Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Truly an exceptional experience at Townsend. The ambiance was great-- music was nice, lighting was perfect, and the attention to detail by staff was superb. We had the tasting menu and added the escargot-- would highly recommend. The marinated hamachi and escargot were our favorites, however the duck was a little chewy and we were not fans of the sauce (still an amazing dish nonetheless). The drinks were great as well. Staff was extremely attentive and kind. This is a great restaurant for special occasions and we will definitely be returning!! read more

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Easily one of the best meals I've had. The tasting menu is expensive but the way to go. Every bite was a new experience. Service was good. The food. Was. So. flavorful. read more

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Excellent food and service. Two of us had the tasting menu and shared two bottles of wine. Came in around $400 before tip. Only complaint is they fleece you by adding additional money on your bill if you pay with a credit card which is absurd for that type of restaurant. read more

Townsend is back to being one of my two go-to spots on East Passyunk for good cocktails. Of those two spots, Townsend has the more consistently friendly and welcoming service. I still wish they would add a bar menu for food, but regardless, I'm back to being delighted by my experiences there. read more

Just had dinner there. A++++. Absolutely fantastic. Mrs. had the cauliflower bisque, the monkfish and the chocolate soufflé. She loved every bite of each one. I had the beef tartare (best one I've ever had and I've had many exalted ones) and the branzino in blood orange sauce. Freaking outstanding. Pains me that I haven't been here in years. I put this in my Top 5 Philly dining experiences ever (Vetri, Vernick, Zahav among them). Bravo. And the service was the perfect balance of knowledgeable, fun and passionate. I couldn't say enough good things about tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Townsend. read more

Delicious food in a really nice setting. We did the chef's tasting menu and all of the food was delicious. We would have liked a bit more in terms of portion size, but the quality was excellent. Their drinks were also very good. This is a really cool dining experience for a special occasion (we went with friends to celebrate our anniversaries together). read more

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I went with a friend for dinner mid week. The restaurant area is small but very pleasant. Apart from a handful of people at the bar there were just 2 other people dining. As one of us couldn't have the tasting menu, it was both only, we opted for 2 different dishes from each of the 3 courses on offer. I have to agree with some of the other reviews that the portions were quite small. The beef tartare was wonderful but it was pretty mediocre after that. The saddle of rabbit was very ordinary, the perfectly pink duck breast was tasteless and the sweetbreads, although perfectly cooked, lacked any attempt at seasoning to bring out their true flavor. There seemed to be so many opportunities missed to make these dishes delicious but they just missed the mark. Cocktails are good but, at $75 for the least expensive bottle of wine, (a very uninteresting Malbec), everything seemed overpriced. The food Just simple missed the mark. Maybe the regular chef was having a night off but the prices certainly weren't! As the bill was well over $350 I think this restaurant needs some serious dish and price revamping otherwise I fear it won't survive. A pity because it has potential but I wouldn't return. read more