Townsend Reviews

Townsend is located in an old rowhome, so seating is limited and tight. The atmosphere is romantic and the staff is extremely attentive. The drinks are fun and creative. We had some high expectations going in, and on a very rare occasion for us, they were all met at Townsend. Each dish was presented well, with great flavor and taste to match. We started with the hamachi crudo, sweetbreads (with an unbelievable bone marrow bed), and some of the best scallops I have ever tasted. Our main courses included the branzino - crispy and delicious, and the duck with fois gras - buttery and bold. The meal ended with the caramelized peach and ice cream with blackberry compote. Not one dish missed the mark, and the entire evening was enjoyable. A meal not to be forgotten. Food quality: A+ Service: A+ Atmosphere: A+ Water test: A+

Wonderful special occasion restaurant. Treated royally on birthday (even personalized menu). Food was excellent; service even better. Just a cautionary note: a little light on vegetables. Didn't see salad of any kind offered,,,maybe an off the menu request? What we did have was marvellous. Mains a little too pricey but 1st and 2nd courses are the way to go!

Townsend is a small 8 to 10 table restaurant with a full bar scene as well. Ambiance is quiet and sophisticated but definitely not pretentious. Our waiter was first rate, very knowledgeable about the menu and the wine selections. Food was outstanding. Highly recommend the halibut. Our only knock on the restaurant was the pace of the service. Our meal took all of 55 minutes from the time we arrived till when we got the check which included coffee and dessert. Perhaps, being a small restaurant there is a premium on being able to turn the tables but we had a 7:45 reservation so not sure what the rush was. All in all a great restaurant but they need to slow down the pace a touch.

One of the best restaurants in Philly. Have been there 3 times already. Wonderful service staff. Try to sit downstairs. The steps are steep. Foie Gras is out of this world. French cusine without all the sauces.

It was good restaurant, and the food was good. I think for the main course , I had lamb, the price was $42 , and the sender of lamb was little bit cold. It was first time to have lamb, and I have know idea the cooking style of lamb. The restaurant may use very expensive lamb, and that why they charged the price. My friend had a kind of bass , was very good . The service was great .

My husband and I had a fantastic meal last night at Townsend. It was our first time there. Our waitress was attentive, and a real wonder with pairing the perfect glass of wine, with each course we ate. Before I continue to sing their praises for an exceptional meal, I would like to share an act of Human Kindness that was also beautifully served up to me, last night. In one of my trips to the Ladies room, a priceless bracelet fell off my wrist unbeknownst to me. I continued to enjoy my meal,and the lovely ambiance that is Townsend. Just to jump ahead a bit, when we returned back home, I realized that the bracelet was missing. I called Townsend immediately. The hostess then delivered the news, that another woman had found my bracelet in the Ladies Room, and promptly turned it into the Manager. To the lovely lady who found my bracelet, and cared enough to turn it in. i must say thank you with all my heart. Your honesty and kindness, was a precious gift, that I will never forget. They locked up my bracelet in their safe. Today I picked it up, and I want to thank the wonderful folks at Townsend for their care, and concern of both my feelings, and my item. Back to the meal! My husband and I are true Foodies. We love to share each dish we order, as to get a true experience of many tastes. We ordered the Hamachi, and the Beef Tartare for the first course. Both were delicate, and wonderfully flavored. Second course, Sweet Breads and the Escargot with Brussel Sprouts. I had to fight my husband to get half of the Sweet Breads, which were silky,and melted in your mouth. Third course the Rabbit, and the Lamb. Wonderful! our meal was finished with the Molten Chocolate desert, which was a great way to end the meal. I had a memorable evening there, and plan on returning in the very near future without any expensive jewelry that could fall off!

Excellent dining in this storefront restaurant The menu always features a short selection of interesting well prepared dishes you can't really go wrong with whatever you order. Excellent service

The broiled oysters were very good, and the escargot also was good. My rabbit was very salty. I think that over all, we were satisfied with the dinner, but it wasn't excellent, especially considering the price. It's a nice cosy house and staff was friendly. It was a bit loud, but what popular location isn't these days.

An amazing menu from which we were able to set up our own tasting menu in a small and intimate setting that was perfect from beginning to end. Reservation was honored, staff was attentive, and the wine list approachable with some interesting craft cocktails. All courses were excellent. Highly recomend.

We had a truly delightful meal, starting with an order of the weekly featured summer wine, a fresh and flavorful rose from Provence, and continuing through incredible appetizers (my Marinated Hamachi was heavenly) and on through the 2nd/3rd course to a sinful chocolate shuffle (we shared it). The waiter was very knowledgeable and made recommendations so that we could each have something different and our courses would complement each other. We enjoyed talking him, and found him efficient and not at all intrusive. We were visiting our daughter from Boston for Father's Day and she made there reservation on the recommendation of a friend. Well done, kiddo!

We found this restaurant by accident. It was Friday night and we had no place to eat... we walked in and the hostess was welcoming. They were completely booked so the hostess sat us next to the bar. Our waiter, Mike, was very welcoming. He covered our bar table with a white tablecloth and instantaneously turned it into a nice cosy dinner for two. Food was delicious and the service excellent without being intrusive. I would definitely recommend this restaurant!

We went to a Townsend for my birthday and did the tasting menu. The complexity of flavors was fun and certainly ambitious. Overall it was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time; I’ve eaten at some Michelin restaurants and it’s on par with them. Quite simply a great place in a somewhat odd neighborhood.

The quality of the food and the ambiance make for a delightful dining experience. We ate upstairs where it's quiet and easy to converse with friends while enjoying the pretty atmosphere. The quality of service was excellent. Would not recommend the "wine on tap," but there are plenty of quality wine selections to choose from. A very rewarding experience.

From our table on the second floor we overlooked the kitchen and the preparation of our excellent dinner. We were a table of four sharers and there was not an appetizer or entree that did not receive compliments all around.

Awesome dinner in the new location on Walnut Street. The restaurant week menu was varied and each course of the three course dinner was spot on. Service was impeccable even during the rush and under the stress of newness. Each course was delicious and we were literally cleaning the plates for every bit of sauce from our Lamb entrees. The wines we enjoyed were memorable. Looking forward to going again ASAP!

We had a fabulous dinner at Townsend. Oysters, sweetbreads, escargot and duck were all delicious! A member of our party had some dietary restrictions and the staff and chef were able to accommodate without a problem. I would happily go back again.

We celebrated our anniversary at this amazing french restaraunt. The service and food was impeccable! Highly recommended!!

We celebrated our daughter's birthday and recent promotion on 8/22 and were thrilled to get the reservation as other top Philly restaurants are closed on Mondays. Our daughter is a senior hospitality exec at Philly's newest luxury hotel, The Logan, and we all know our food and wine, and she had not yet been to Townsend. We will be back! From the moment our incredible server Steven welcomed us with his unbridled enthusiasm for what he does and where he works - and mentioned their rose selections - nothing better on a hot summer evening - our evening was a constant joy of taste, good humor and just simply very special! Fabulous rose wines all night! My daughter and I were seated diagonally and kept insisting we taste each other's food - from the tartare and foie gras 1st course ( both heavenly) to the maitake 2nd course to the sea bass and lamb 3rd course. When she couldn't finish her lamb, I was blessed with the last slice. We also shared a chocolate soufflé that was probably the best we ever have eaten! Kudos to the chef and all the staff for a memorable evening that will be hard to match!

My partner and I recently visited Philly and because we were entertaining friends we need to book a table for six people. Bizarrely Townsend was one of the only decent looking restaurants that could accommodate this request. On the night, my partner was ill, so we were five. The restaurants were fine about this. At first glance the menu was simple with a limited set of options. To be completely honest I prefer this because it implies that they are not cooking from the freezer… I started with the bone marrow sausage, and like most of our table, continued with the Venison . The food was beautifully prepared and the provenance was excellent. Possibly some of the best venison I have ever eaten. The sweet breads were universally adored. The service was personable and professional, and the flow was delightful. Afterwards, talking about it between ourselves, we agreed that it was some of the best food we had eaten in America, and that we would happily return to it without hesitation. Our only regret was that they were not open on Monday, because having dined there on Saturday we were eager to return, but unfortunately, we were leaving Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Walked by and read the menu..the chef came out and spoke with us so we decided to go in. We sat at the bar and shared 2 specials. We had the gnocchi with chanterelles ant the escargot with fiddle head ferns...well well prepared and delicious. Creative fresh ingredients and pleasant service. Would wholeheartedly recommend.

Townsend is the perfect bar dining experience for lovers of imaginative cocktails and scrumptious food. There's ample seating at the long wooden bar with a few high top tables for couples or groups of three. The bartenders are affable, professional, informative and really have some sweet skills at creating magical elixirs. My friend and I each had a cocktail to start. They change the drink offerings fairly frequently but my guess is you won't be disappointed in any of their concoctions. It's not cheap. Cocktails run in the $14-15 range but they are sublime. We decided to have a light dinner and throughly enjoyed our starter, a refreshing hamachi with cucumber and lime. For a main we shared a "can we lick the plate" perfectly cooked roasted barramundi with butternut squash in a hazelnut puree. Bread and salted butter are complimentary and perfect for getting every bit of flavor left on the plate. For dessert a fig and huckleberry mini cobbler paired with a lovely 1/2 glass each of ice wine. It was a happy experience from start to finish & I can't wait to return. Though your bill may run toward the high side, the value here for your dollar is excellent. Townsend displays craft and care in all aspects of food, service and ambiance.

Finding the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or milestone can be daunting to the faint of heart. Townsend was definitely an amazing choice and certainly worth every penny. My dinner companions and I walked away perhaps a bit lighter in our pockets, but the experience has lingered all these months. From the moment we arrived for an early Sunday dinner until we left many hours later, the staff made every minute of our visit special and full of anticipation from one course to the next. Our server was not only friendly and cheerful, but extremely knowledgeable and professional. I haven't had a dinner that not only pleased our taste buds, but enhanced our vision of what a good restaurant is all about. The beverage and wine service was only surpassed by the creative talents of the kitchen staff. Definitely worth a visit from near or far.

I was brought here by my girlfriend for my birthday. The restaurant personalized my menu! The food was very nice french. Everything was quite good. I really enjoyed the sweetbreads and the venison. My favorite was the chocolate soufflé and the banana dessert. Quiet romantic space. The staff was quite friendly. And they make interesting cocktails.

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.

We enjoyed a really lovely time at Laurel tonight. We sat at the small bar for our dinner. We often eat at the bar because we meet interesting people. We had good drinks. Don had a really lovely French White wine and I chose a gin drink from the menu. An unusual combination of liquors. It was different and very good. Don ordered steak tartare which was accompanied by numerous slices of crisp delicious bread. He loved it. I ordered sweetbreads with apples and tongue. A strange listing, but our server assured me it was good. Boy was it. So well cooked and delicious. Don went directly to dessert of apple tart with Chantilly and he didn't leave a crumb. I ordered Cod. It had beautiful little vegetables along side a a light sauce. Yummy. We had such a nice evening. Chatted with other bar guests. The restaurant can hold maybe 80 guests down stairs and upstairs and at the bar (8) and some high tops. Try it,

second visit. I'm not sure why. The gnocchi appetizer, although well done was too salty. The rabbit main course was so small I was hungry when finished. Townsend used to let you bring your own wine, but changed their policy. The only options were a high priced mediocre wine list. I declined. I will not return.

Fell for the hype. Dinner was not as good as expected. My husband and I had our anniversary dinner there and wished we had chosen a different restaurant.

From the moment we entered Townsend, we experienced a magical evening! The waitstaff was warm and friendly, and our meal was excellent. Our kids treated us to a Mother's Day dinner & we were pampered throughout the evening. We look forward to our next experience here.

The restaurant is in a charming townhouse and we loved the ambiance. We choose it because we were in the mood for French food. Out server was very pleasant and gave us great service.The bar had a great selection and the cocktails we ordered were very tasty. As they were out of gernadine(for shirley temple), they created special mocktail for my 15 yr old, who was thrilled because she got her own grownup drink. We ordered beef marrow tartare, the Foie gras mousse and the black bass as appetizers. They were all amazing. But have to say the bass and the tartare were the stand outs for us. I had the hamachi(which was an appetizer)i as my entree, my daughter had the gnocchi special and my husband had the rabbit. The gnocchi was an outstanding soft pillow of yummyness. Felt like lots of fresh garlic in the sauce. The rabbit was really good too.Both dishes had the common component of an outstanding sauce. We ordered the chocolate mousse, which was overkill after all the food, so couldn't eat it. For people who want something differnat, you can go next door to cap giro for some gelato. We went expecting traditional french food and it was anything but. I felt that it was a more refined version of rustic Italian cooking that we enjoyed in Tuscany. Bottom line , great well run establishment.

We were seated in the upstairs dining room. Our waiter was attentive and the service was good. The portions were on the smaller size. The escargot was good but not great. I have had better in Paris and other restaurants. The halibut was tasty but on the smaller size. For a $30 entree, I would have thought it to be a tad larger. Overall it was a nice time but I don't think I would return.

With so many restaurant options on E. Passyunk Avenue, Townsend stands out as special. The atmosphere is warm and understated elegant. The staff are welcoming without pretense and helpful with wine pairing suggestions. The menu is limited to a few careful seasonal selections by chef owner, Townsend Wentz. Reservations a must. Bon apetite!

Our local Phili guide took this pair of spoiled NYC foodies to this recently opened temple of culinary delights. No foam, no foraged ants but what ever appeared in front of us was absolutely delicious, crabmeat stuffed squash blossoms mmmmh, steak tartare, yes it was sublime on the bonemarrow toast, lamb tenderloin and lamb stew absolutely great and so were the seafood plates. A small but well curated wine list compliments the food. We found a great white from the Alto Adige which worked well with every thing but the lovely sommelier thought that a Bordeaux would work better with the lamb and right she was and a glass of delicious red appeared promptly with my meat dish. Open only since May, we wish them lots of success because we would love to be back.

My family had planned a weekend in Philadelphia and I booked our reservation at Townsend for a Saturday evening about two weeks before its Philadelphia Magazine review was published. Good timing! Located in a small row home, it is cozy and intimate. We were seated upstairs. Service was friendly and precise. I had the beef tartare with bone marrow toasts, which was the best I've ever had. Always judging a restaurant by the quality of its roasted chicken, Townsend passed with flying colors. My husband and daughter enjoyed the hamachi and gnocchi. We will be back.

One of the best restaurants in Philly. 4 of us went and sampled various dishes. The escargot with baby Lima beans was sublime. Hamachi appetizer was off the charts in flavor and delicateness. The homemade gnocchi was incredibly delicious. The sea bass was firm and beautifully prepared with a red pepper and caper accompaniment. The cod was excellent with a sorrel and pea sauce. Wines are great by glass or bottle.

Service was fantastic, we had the table in the window upstairs, which was lovely. They had even printed Happy Anniversary on our menus. The food was excellent, one or two dishes were a bit salty for my taste, but overall wonderful. The chocolate souffle was really amazing. We left completely stuffed and happy. Oh and the cocktails were amazing too.

My wife had read and heard about this restaurant so we made the trip into Philadelphia. The area the restaurant is located has many fine restaurants that we have dine in over the years. There are better, The menu is rather limited as is the wine list. I tried the rabbit and it was good but I have often had much better elsewhere. You have to be well versed French wines regions and small wine makers. While the prices appear reasonable for most the price is are high for the quality of wine on the list. This could be the result of the archaic wine distribution system that Pennsylvania stil has of controlling the entire sales of wine. While PA is the largest buyer of wines the ability to obtain wines from small vineyards is not easy and time consuming. Overall I would rate Townsend as between above average to good.

I was with a group of four and we shared some wonderful, creative appetizers. The menu wasn't big but it offered a nice selection. The cocktails and wine were very slow arriving at our table on the second floor. The main floor was extremely busy on this Wednesday night as there may have been something special happening at the bar area. Perhaps more help is needed behind the bar? The chocolate soufflé was amazing as well as the cheese plate we shared for dessert. I would definitely come back again as I imagine the menu changes frequently.

We had a great evening started with broiled oysters, foie gras, chicken breast with Leg Galantine (a disk of leg meat wrapped in thinly sliced pork). This all paired quite nicely with the 2012 Bordeaux recommended by our server. the Chocolate soufflé and the Pavlova ( a meringue berry dessert supposed to be visually reminiscent of a pirouetting ballerina) were equally memorable. Our server was wonderfully attentive and informative in explaining the menu nuances. (I am not cultured enough to have known the story of Pavlova!) Valet parking available almost across the street 12 dollars, a public lot is just behind the valet stand, but was completely filled.

Unusual ingredients, preparation and presentation make the menu fascinating and made it hard to choose what to eat for each course as they all sound terrific - and what I ended up with (steak tartare, escargot, and duck) was just amazing. As was the chocolate soufflé... Service was prompt and attentive without being annoying. Noise level fluctuated, a bit loud at times, but overall pleasant atmosphere. Definitely a place to consider for a special dinner, and well worth the expense.

Dined here with friends recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have dietary needs and they were so accommodating! It was restaurant week and easily adapted it to a vegan fare. It was a small cozy space with a nice fireplace in the corner. It was very cold out so that was a welcome sight. The waitstaff was absolutely delightful. They had many options to choose from other than the prix fixe restaurant week menu. We were all very pleased with out dinner selections and would definitely return.

This winter and spring I have booked the top 10 Philadelphia magazine restaurants. So far this restaurant stands at the top of the list of three that I have visited so far. Even though the menu three courses is very sparse, we all found something that we really liked's. The first course foie gras was very well done, my second course of sweetbreads was a completely new adventure for me and my third course of venison was also a gamble that paid off very well. Even though the ambience lacks somewhat, the tastefulness of the food and the service more than made up for that deficiency. This will go on my list of restaurants that I will return to.

Start at the bar and get a specialty cocktail. This is mixology at its finest! Try the Turf Cocktail (Plymouth gin, dry vermouth, maraschino, absinthe, orange bitters) -- it's breathtaking! Pimms Cup (pimms, beefeater, lemon, soda) also was very tempting. That concludes the drinking portion of the evening (well, at least the hard liquor drinking). I began the eating portion with the Escargot and fiddleheads, which was a specialty of the evening and it was magnificent. I sampled the Foie Gras Mousse. Good Lord! It was like candy for adults! They also served that night a special appetizer, which was also done as an entree -- Gnoochi alla matriciana. My wife and her sister shared this as an appetizer, and my BIL had it for his entree. For my entree, I had the Roasted Organic Chicken with leg galantine, speck, morels in Madeira jus, with a spot on recommendation of Rhone to go with it -- fantastic! The other members enjoyed the Gnoochi, Rabbit Pot-au-feu, Icelandic Cod, Wild Striped Bass. I sampled the Rabbit -- excellent! and the Gnoochi -- Wow! But still, the Orgasmic (I mean Organic!) Chicken was unbelievably delicious. Although the Chocolate Souffle was tempting, I settled on the Cheese Plate to end the meal for which the sommelier recommended an Amontillado Sherry to go with it, and it floored me! This was two weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about it!

We went here for dinner excited about the meal based on reviews and all the lists Townsend has been on. In a nutshell everything was tasteless and bland. We got the duck and escargot both were underwhelming.

Had the genuine pleasure of dining here, and was incredibly impressed with the cuisine, as you really had to think about the layers of flavor in every dish. In addition, it was a pleasure to have an entire staff passioinate about their jobs....the hospitality business needs more of this. Congrats to one and all who made our experience simply wonderful

I really enjoyed our experience at Townsend. Exceptionally fresh Scallops and extremely tender chicken. We found all of the flavor combinations to be interesting and creative. The feel of the dining room was quaint and comfortable. We will definitely return.

Despite my initial concerns due to the poly-blend napkins, the food and service here surpassed my expectations. The limited yet perfect menu offered four choices each for a first, second and third course. We enjoyed the hamachi, which was really flavorful - a jumbo lump crab risotto with truffle and asparagus slivers which was rich, subtle, had lots of crab but was delicately balanced within the dish. Third courses included organic roasted chicken with artichoke hearts, tiny carrot pieces and speck, swordfish in a mustard sauce and rabbit. The most notable aspect of every course was the balance of ingredients that blended to make a strong flavor profile. Dessert of lemon curd and Valrhona chocolate soufflé did not disappoint. Service was excellent. Will definitely go back. Can absolutely see why this ranks as one of Philly's top restaurants.

This is a very good restaurant experience in a town with many imposters and overrated places. The food is simply wonderful with just the right amount of seasoning and mixture of ingredients. Black bass w/ cockles and the beef tartare are standouts as appetizers. The scallops as well hit just the right notes of lemony flavor. The chicken entree is outstanding ( altho a bit over salted for my taste). Easily remedied by asking the server to have the kitchen hold the salt. More impressive is the reasonably priced wine list with ample offerings by the glass. The wines have been chosen to pair with the food and both Lauren and Steven know how to do it right. I highly recommend this restaurant if you appreciate good food and wine.

We have eaten at dozens of Philadelphia restaurants over the past year and this is one of our top choices. The dishes are creatively prepared with fresh ingredients, service very attentive. Relaxed row house environment with more outside light than is typically found in a Philly row house. Cocktail, wine, and beer selection is also a plus.

The foie gras was perfectly seasoned and prepared. The lamb tenderloin with peas was balanced and flavorful. The monkfish was equally good. The lemon dessert was also outstanding. Our server paired each course with a delightful wine. Townsend is a very special place to which I will enjoy returning.

We went to Paris a year ago and decided to mark the anniversary with a French dinner. Found metered parking directly in front of the restaurant so were off to a good start. The restaurant is cozy (aka on the small side) and intimate. We had Steve as our waiter and he had a wonderful personality, was knowledgeable and efficient. We never had to wait very long for anything. We enjoyed the wines he recommended. The appitizers we had were stellar. picked three - the sea scallops, the escargot and the gnocci. They were all good and had awesome sauces. For the entrees we had the rabbit and the sea bass, Both were very good but not quite as superb as the appitizers. Soooooo we doggy bagged the entrees and had another escargot. Yummmm. For dessert we both had the chocolate souffle. Did I say yummmmm? Would go back in a heartbeat.

Only opened 2 weeks, Townsend is an amazing addition to Philadelphia's wealth of great restaurants. Seriously, book a table now & enjoy a wonderful meal in a comfortable, minimalist setting with authentic charm. We started with 3 great cocktails including a perfect martini, a beautifully balanced drink called Hustlers Ambition & a great version of a Pimms Cup. The small wine list by the glass is filled with excellent selections and they also offer two wines on tap as well as good beer offerings. Service was warm, friendly and competent, our server was delightful and explained the menu thoroughly. It's a real benefit in any dining experience to have trained staff, well versed in the menu, food preparation and wines. Kudos to management for taking the time to hire good people and set high standards of service. To begin, we had a warm spring vegetable salad of ramps, fiddlehead ferns, english peas, artichokes and lardons. This is a simple fresh start to a meal & I cannot recommend it enough. The kitchen also accommodated our vegetarian companion's request to omit the lardons from her plate. For entrees we had a roasted organic chicken with morels & speck, a light moist seared cod served with brandade and english peas, & a platter of fresh mixed vegetables. Dessert included a dense rich chocolate souffle, an amazing strawberry rhubarb pavlova & one of the most beautifully composed fruit plates I have ever seen. Portions were large for dessert & could easily be shared by two. Things to know: There are 2 dining rooms, one on the second floor. If a steep staircase is too much for you advise the staff when making your reservation so you can be seated on the first floor.

The restaurant is now at 2121 walnut street. The food was really great, the ambience was very pleasant. We ate escargots to start with, very tasty. This was followed by a filet mignon, perfectly prepared medium rare as ordered. The food was concluded by an excellent desert. Service was as it should be:

We had and an amazing meal topped off by amazing service. Our server Megan was extremely knowledgeable on both the menu and wine and made great recommendations and everything thing was a hit...the potato leek soup won on the 1st course...the escargot and Brussels sprouts were my favorite of the 2nd course but there was a mix of favorites around the table..no clear winner on this course..the lamb was the winner of the entree course...the lame was served two ways and was absolutely delicious..the braised lamb definitely won everyone over... Thanks!

My wife and I had our first meal at Townsend, an intimate restaurant on Walnut street. We dined early on a weeknight, so the restaurant was fairly quiet. We were seated promptly and offered our choice of water by the server. We selected a bottle of wine from the small, but well thought out, wine list (the choice of wines appeared designed to match well with the menu). Bread and a tasty amuse bouche were brought out and enjoyed. All of the appetizers were excellent- I particularly enjoyed my foie gras. The entrees were delicious as well - my duck was perfectly prepared. We ended the meal with coffee and a shared dessert. Service was very good and pacing of the meal was just right. With wine and tip, the meal was approximately $90 per person. We would definitely return.

Overall good experience but would probably not come back. The food was good, but definitely not worth the prices. We went with 2 other couples, ordered a bunch of starters and then we each had our own main course. The wait staff was helpful & attentive. Would definitely recommend trying the potatoes & the almond crusted halibut!

So quaint; elegant, yet not at all pretentious as I expected. All staff was so welcoming, friendly, and informative. The bartender was our server and made our night with the best service we've experienced in years. We stumbled upon Townsend while out on a walk looking for coffee, and so glad we did. Hamachi appetizer over the top fresh and delicious, and creme brûlée best I ever had. Cocktail and wine list very impressive as well. Can't wait to go back for dinner!

I would go back in a minute and intend to. Delicious food served by attentive and knowledgeable staff.

In town for the holidays, my husband and I chose to celebrate my birthday here and were not disappointed. It is a very small place but we found it to be a quiet atmosphere that night. You have a choice of 3 courses but we stuck with two plus dessert. I had the potato gnocchi and my husband had the marinated hamachi, both memorable. Then we both had the seared Branzino which had a sauce consisting of mussel veloute, oranges and sultanas. I would not have thought that combination would go so well together but it was brilliant. We both love Branzino but have never had it like that. The chef is obviously creative and the service is knowledgeable yet unpretentious. The chocolate soufflé we shared for dessert was worth the short wait. Would definitely go back.

This restaurant is one of the best I've enjoyed a meal in, during the last couple of years. From beginning to end the service was excellent, not pushing us along, but adjusting to our pace, and each dish was wonderful. For our first course we had Broiled East Coast Oysters with Fennel, Andalusian Gazpacho, Warm Vegetable Salad and Escargot and Fava Bean "Mange Tout." Four our main course we had Grilled Swordfish, Pan Roasted Magret Duck Breast, Seared Spotted Skate Wing, and Rabbit Pot-au-feu. Each dish was perfectly cooked and seasoned, and looked great on the plates. We had some very nice wine with the meal and dessert. If I could find a complaint at all, I wish there were a couple more dessert choices, especially of a lighter fare. I'd return to Townsend in a heartbeat.

Delicious, but quite expensive, certainly for Philadelphia, since it’s not at all BYOB. We three shared the Hamachi hors d’oeuvre, a little rectangle of compressed Japanese raw fish and vegetables, sort of ceviche style, though the waiter was clear in declaring it not a ceviche proper. The fois gras was excellent with lovely grilled bread, but not to be eaten by one diner alone. It’s very rich. The roast chicken was marvelously juicy with lovely peas and other vegetables (small amount) on the side. We each had a cocktail and a glass of wine. They’re eager to give you rosé, which I would never have thought to order. It was delicious (I had the slightly sparkling one). It was $75. a person, a third of which, I think, was the price of the drinks. You might inquire whether they’ll let you bring your own wine with a corkage. A fine place, the only drawback being the cost of their booze, especially in Philadelphia.

We came in early on a Tuesday evening. We were greeted pleasantly and immediately seated at, what I think, was the best seat in the house - 2nd floor table overlooking 1st floor activity. Our server was Amy - very knowledgeable and helpful with the menu and wines. I would request to be seated at her table next visit. We shared the escargot to start. Excellent choice as it was perfect to split. It was delicious, rich and full of flavor. For our next choice We ordered the octopus as well as the sweetbreads. The sweetbreads were excellent, but the octopus risotto was the thing of dreams. It was so good that I can’t wait to return to have it again. The portions, by the way, are on the large side. For me, either could have been an entree. For entrees we ordered the duck as well as the venison. I can’t imagine either dish prepared better anywhere else. They were done to perfection, with each ingredient standing out as stars of the dish. Wonderful. Our drinks consisted of the sparkling Pinot and Gamay wines to start - delicious and a lovely Pinot noir by the glass. I am lucky enough to have a place only a half block away from this restaurant. Can’t wait to visit again soon. Next time we will try the seafood entrees!

This place is a charming boite in a very charming neighborhood. The bar is welcoming, relaxed, sophisticated...the bartenders are some of the best I have experienced. Very nice, if pricey, wine list. Good food, but small portions...again, no attention to value.

Seems like east passyunk is the spot to eat! We had a dinner date tonight and Townsend did not disappoint. Staff - nice as could be and so knowledgeable about the cuisine. There was one mumbler and had a good laugh with the table next to us because we couldn't hear what he was trying to describe. The took our coats, made sure we were comfy and ready to eat. My husband and I love trying a variety so we comfortably were able to share 1 first course, 2 second course and 2 entrees Below is everything we had - Hamachi tartare - it was very good with a variety of flavors and texture. There was a mixture of finely diced apples that gave it a nice crunch Potato gnocchi - I could have just eat this alone. Possible my favorite dish. There was so much going on, it was in a sauce mixed with bacon bits, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms - just get it Escargot - I'm used to escargot being in a butter sauce but this was pleasantly in a creme friache sauce with bacon and carmelized onions. I loved it. Lamb - it is cooked two ways, a shoulder braised with grapes and pear, and then a loin that is seared just right. I The lamb was cooked perfectly with a medium center. The fruit flavors gave the shoulder a great hint of sweetness and the meat was so tender Venison - my least favorite dish. I was underwhelmed and almost disappointed with this dish. There was so much flavor missing from this dish. It was wrapped with some sort of green mixture and topped with shaved truffle. There wasn't any flavor to the truffle.. it didn't have that earthy flavor or smell to the dish. It was just kind of there for me to push off and eat. I would not get this again if I went. Sadly, we did not leave room for dessert. Plenty of space at the tables, there is even an upstairs! They had an adequate wine selection to go with dinner. Overall a solid dinner, we really enjoyed ourselves!

A great meal with many unique takes on sauces. Everything was delicious. Service was above and beyond, including recommendation of orange wine. Only thought is the dessert menu could be more adventurous. Chocolate soufflé and creme brûlée were the choices and after such a great meal expected more interesting things. Overall, this is a "can't miss."

Surprised my wife with a gastronomic birthday weekend in the city and this was by far the highlight of the visit. Every step of our dining experience was perfection. I would even go so far to say that even our sever, Steve, was one of the best experiences we've ever had with a server. He was extremely passionate and knowledgeable and guided us through every step of the meal. Phenomenal job. But the food was by far the best part of our stay. We ran out of adjectives to describe how unbelievably great it was. Already planning a return visit.

Loved this cozy restaurant. The service was excellent. The food was in small but adequate portions so don’t be scared of ordering 3 courses. The mixture of tastes in the food was outstanding and delicious. Some of the best dishes I’ve had. The rabbit casserole was excellent. Liked the fact that they had good beers available and cocktails and good wine by the glass. Would go again.

Celebrated our 37th anniversary, and enjoyed every minute. Great food, Great wines, and truly spectacular service. What's not to like.

Nice bar, two floor dining room, friendly service, excellent starters, delicious skate, chocolate souffle

Our meal was tasty and interesting and the service was good. The atmosphere is understatedly elegant. I'm not sure I would rush back, though, because I felt as though the portions were unusually small given the pricing--definitely not a great value, and the food wasn't better than other French restaurants in the area.

The whole dining experience was mind-blowingly good. The menu was exciting; the food presentation was artistic; the tastes were sensational; the service was faultless; the Sommelier was helpful without pushing us to ridiculously expensive wines; the ambience was romantic (and it was our wedding anniversary after all!). We had a truly wonderful experience and will we will definitely return. It was an exquisite example of French cuisine.

Townsend did not disappoint. The place is nicely appointed. Tables are spaced nicely so you don't feel like you're sitting on top of each other. You can actually have a conversation without shouting. Service was a little slow at first. We waited about 10 minutes before we were asked if we'd like a cocktail. After that the service was fine and we were not rushed at all. I had the escargot and then the rabbit. My husband had the foie grois soup (it was so earthy and complex) and the halibut. Chocolate soufflé for dessert. We'll be back.

Wow what a nice meal. From the delicious cocktails to the great appetizers , I had the oysters and they were awesome to the fabulous main courses and over the top deserts , chocolate soufflé amazing. It was great The service was a strong 5, our server was great . This place definitely getting a second third fourth visit

I was brought there from my girlfriend for my birthday and the restaurant personalized my menu, so nice and professional staff food cooked to perfection. Do not aspect huge portions but is perfect for a romantic dinner💕

Highly recommended for a date night. Romantic lighting.. Amazing cocktails and the food and staff were just outstanding. No flaws!

Celebrated our wedding anniversary at this restaurant because we prefer French food. We chose well. The food was delicious, and I was able to separate or the many different flavors of each course. The meats were well cooked, and the presentation was excellent. Wine list is interesting, only the dessert menu disappointed. I would chose for the first three courses and skip dessert next time. Our table was located at the back of the upstairs area, and it was a little distracting with waiters coming in and out, but it was quieter and conversation was less difficult. Downstairs is noisier, but has more ‘atmosphere’. Wait staff very pleasant, good timing of courses. Would recommend and will return.

My wife and I celebrated our anniversary at Townsend. The food was outstanding and the wine was exceptional too. The service was friendly and knowledgeable if a bit over eager. It's hard to say there were any flaws, but we both agreed that with the exception of the foie gras second course, nothing we had elevated itself to truly memorable. All in all, it was a nice evening and a great way to spend our first anniversary together.

My wife is in an art school in Philly and I joined her for dinner on a Friday night. We had very early reservations, as I had a three hour drive back and, though we were the first people there, the service was great. Sometimes a restaurant isn't up and running smoothly very early, but they were great. The food was fantastic, from the appetizers to the entrées to desert. Would go back in a heartbeat, though Philly has too many restaurants to limit ourselves to just one!

As much as I hate them, I'm thankful they run this tiny place. The menus and pairings are expertly put together. The sweetbreads were on point as was the homemade pasta special that day. It's a tight fight and if you like great food and drink and talking about them with hipsters who are passionate about what they do-this is the place for you.

I have nothing but good things to say. We enjoyed cocktails at the bar before dinner with a knowledgeable barman prepared to mix us inventions according to our taste. The restaurant is small but excellent service followed us from the bar. Very fine food was accompanied by wines from a very well apportioned wine list. The waiter knew her wines and made an excellent suggestion bases on our varied choices of entree. Highly recommended

Our family dinned at Townsend to celebrate our son's graduating college this past weekend. It's a well done refit of an old storefront in the heart of the East Passayunk scene. I'd call the interior decore understatedly elegant. The menu we ordered from was set up with 3 courses. We were advised by our server, who was excellent, that one did not have to order a selection from each course but did say that each item was 'sized' as if the ordering patron had selected an item from each course. I had never heard of this outside of a prix fixe dining arrangement (they were also offering a 5 course prix fixe at $85 a pop). There were 4 of us, 4 1st and 2nd course items and 5 3rd course 'entrees'. We were each treated to approximately a teaspoon of a green pea puree that was tremendously flavorful and set the tone for our expectations. We ordered one of each of the 1st course items, Broiled oysters, Foie Gras, Marinated Hamachi and Beef Tartar. Each was excellent with the Tartar winning that round by a thin margin over the Foie Gras. For our 2nd course, two of use ordered the Escargot, one ordered the Roasted Maitake Muschroom and my wife ordered the Warm Spring Vegetable Salad. The Roasted Maitake was the clear winner on two counts: overall flavor complexity and portion size. The flavors and care of preparation of the other two dishes were very good but the miniscule portion sizes (I mean REALLY small) were very disappointing, so much so that my wife simply laughed at her salad and passed it across the table to our two hungry young men. For our entree's, my wife had the Pan Seared Skate wing, one son had the Halibut, the other had the Rabbit and I ordered Lamb. Again, tremendous flavors, excellent preparation but seriously, the portion size of my Lamb amounted to maybe one lollipop chop. Again, it was darn delicious but for $38?? I get it. My wife and I ran a few very nice restaurants back in the day. My skills were developed with French influence and I still apply them at home today. I get the math of the business. It's hard to make money in a small space. It just didn't add up here for me. Again, everything was absolutely delicious, revealing a solid kitchen. The staff was excellent too. I feel they'd be truly top notch if they get the right balance of portion versus price figured out, particularly in light of their pricing on wine & beer, etc.. If so, I'll go back but for now, those wonderful flavors are simply overpriced.

I went there with two business colleagues. We decided to try the chef's surprise five-course menu. OMG!! Each course was so brilliantly presented with a full array of flavors. The waiter said that this menu is constantly changing depending on what the chef can get and also his mood that day. Would recommend to anyone that enjoys a relaxed but adventurous evening at a restaurant

As a party of six we had a great table upstairs that was somewhat insulated from the rest of the restaurant. Everyone really enjoyed their entrées, especially the rabbit, branzino and halibut. The halibut is among the best I've ever had. The cheese plate (desert) was a great mix of textures and the presentation was superb. Staff was very helpful and knowledgable.

Started at the bar. Cute space and attentive staff filled water when required. The bartender took the time to give us some Nashville recs as he was familiar with the area. Hubby had a Wiseacre coffee beer, which was interesting, and I ordered a bourbon/bitters style drink - 45 and sunny. No complaints. Dining area was the same. Personable and professional service. Actually the waitress made a mistake with the wines by pouring the same wine for 2 in our party, though they ordered different wines. Nobody could tell the different, yet the server pointed out the mistake and comped one of the wines. Were very accommodating for dietary restrictions as well. Food, again, was solid (not inspiriting). The highlight was a hamachi appetizer that was light and refreshing. Petite omelet, duck, sweetbreads and scallops were tasty. Solid. Cute bathrooms, dining room, relaxed atmosphere.

We really enjoyed our experience at Townsend Restaurant. Love the French Cuisine on the menu, had a really romantic feel with great food and a good selection of wines on the menu and great cocktails.

We dined at the Townsend last Saturday Night with dear friends. It was our first time but certainly won't be our last. All of the three courses were each noteworthy and daily specials. They included a special gnocchi that included escargot and absolutely melted in your mouth. Hamachi, as a first course, while some had amazing Lobster Bisque seasoned to perfection. For the third course I had an extraordinary lamb while the rest of our party raved about the Artctic Char.. Everything was complimented by well recommended wines and we finished with an equally amazing dark chocolate soufflé . Our Server, Caitlin, did a superb job of keeping everything well timed. Now Friends, the Restaurant is small, but well worth booking well in advance to get a reservation. Do enjoy! Cheers!

We are relatively new to Philly and have been sampling some of the top rated places in town. So far, most have been disappointing--pretentious, overwrought presentations and the like. So what a relief to try Townsend. It's small, so you must book in advance. This is one place that knows exactly what it wants to do and does it well. Every dish shows this, without following dumb foodie trends. And the only caveat about Townsend is the wine by the bottle is pretty expensive--bottles start at $65 and soar up from there. But great dishes to start are the Foie gras mousse--perfectly done, the beef tartare and for the second course do NOT miss the sweetbreads, which are brilliantly prepared. Some people (like me) with not huge appetites might be happy with just two dishes although the menu features three. My husband ordered the chicken for dinner which was very good, but not great, and I had the oxtail risotto which was good but a tad too salty but mostly--too much food for someone like me. So if you have a smaller appetite just do two dishes. Attentive service. Highly recommended.

This lovely restaurant in South Philly offers a well-crafted, but limited menu with a rather pricey wine list. Our menu choices were all good served by a courteous, helpful staff. This is not a classic French cuisine nor is it solid Country French; it might rather be called French-inspired cooking. We began with a delightful Amuse-bouche of celery root puree with a sunchoke which was delicious and for our first course (appetizers) the Broiled East Coast Oysters with Fennel, Beef Tartare, Roasted Maitake Mushroom, & Escargot and Brussels Sprout "Mange Tout.” This was followed by Braised Short Ribs, Venison en Creppinette, and Roasted Chicken. All were considered by us as delicious, creative, moist, and perfect. The setting is pretty. The food is good. The drinks were great. The wine was pricey and we lucked out with good street parking. All in all this was a solid 4-star evening in South Philly.

We were a party of 3 for restaurant week. I would think that the restaurant would put forth the best of the best for this week, not so much. The place itself is small but nice, warm and packed with people. I would enjoy have a drink at the bar any day or time of the week. I will definitely par-take in summer drinks here. As for the service, spot on top notch. However, I feel that the wait staff was extremely under dressed whether it is was a waiter, waitress or hostess. I could not tell who was who and the quests were out dressed the staff. The food was the most disappointment and this is so sad as I truly looked forward to this dinner since the announcement of restaurant week for this place. The choices were terrible, two had the Parsnip soup and it was lacking everything. It was just awful, while the other had the warm brandade and it also fell extremely flat on flavor and presentation. The dinner entrée 2 of us choose the cod and the other the saffron malloreddus. The portions were very small, cold with no flavor. The cod was on a bed of what looked like cannellini beans in a running tomato broth. The pasta dish was too under cooked/ al dente for my linking. The only highlight was the crème brulee. Sorry, but I will not be returning for any dinner and /or lunch, however I would return for a drink at the bar. What a shame as I was so looking forward to a great meal.

We had a reservation on a rainy weeknight and were seated upstairs at the table for two in the bay window overlooking the street. The room had low lighting and a nice atmosphere. There were a number of craft cocktails and interesting wines, as well as a hard cider. First course: oysters and the duck liver mousse. The mousse was the better of the two with a sweet aspic on top. Second course: escargot and crab risotto. The risotto was the winner here. Third course: duck breast, one prepared well-done as requested. The duck was delicious as was the cannellini bean cassoulet accompaniment. Dessert: crème brulé and an individual chocolate soufflé. You must really love chocolate to enjoy the soufflé, and it is a large portion which is easily shareable. Our server was very knowledgeable about the food and beverages. Dinner with cocktails, 3 courses, wines and coffee was $250, but worth it for dining at this level.

We dined early on a Friday evening, bar was busy but restaurant was quiet. This allowed waitstaff to linger with us and provide informative, excellent, but not obtrusive service. 1st course dishes were the highlight. Our first dining experience along the Passyunk Ave corridor. Will definitely visit again.

We have been to Townsend twice. Both times, the service and more importantly for us, the food was cooked to perfection. The bartender is s whiz when it comes to concocting drinks. We just tell them what liquor and he will make sure to make up something yummy. Now the food. We had the bass with cockles, the veal tongue(I think), the bone marrow tartare, the foie gras mousse as appetizers. Then for entree we had the rabbit and the lamb. The lamb was outstanding. Def better than the rabbit. The appetizers were all good. For dessert we had the chocolate souffle. Did not love it. But it was decent. Probably because we were too full! We went as a group of 6 including a 5 yr old and a teenager. The chef was very accommodating about their needs. He made a gnochhi special we had had last time, even if it was not on the menu that day. He also accommodated the child's need for plain butter gnocchi. We love the neighbourhood and the quaint restaurant inside a house. Overall really amazing experience, again at the Townsend. If we lived in Philly, this would be on our regularly visiting restaurant list.

My wife and I dined at Townsend this past week and loved it. It was a freezing cold night, but the luxurious warmth of our meal restored us and turned our walk home into what seemed nothing more than a brisk evening stroll. I started with the seared foie gras with hazelnuts and quince paste and my wife had the marinated hamachi. Both were excellent, and the robust unctuousness of the foie contrasted nicely with the sharpness of the quince. Our second course was Branzino for my wife and sweetbreads for me. I all but gnawed on the bone it so good! The servers were knowledgeable, professional and friendly. There was a lovely cross-section of Philadelphia diners, from what was clearly a group of visiting businessmen at one table, to a family of 4 or 5 sitting behind us, to couples. The atmosphere was welcoming, and slow-paced. Though it was a weekend night, there seemed to be none of the hurried table-turning I've experienced in other restaurants. We'll definitely be back!

My husband (a true foodie) read about Townsend and suggested we try it. So glad we did! Staff was friendly and enthusiastic. We ordered the chef's tasting menu along with a wine flight. The food and wine was expertly paired! With the knowledgeable and fun explanations about the wine (try the fabulous white from Turkey!) we felt we were on a trip around the world! Nice clean simple atmosphere. For a small space, tables are arranged nicely so you are not on top of the next table. Highly recommend and we will be back! Ask for Steve for your wine flight trip around the world! He makes the meal!

An old house refurbished into a nice cosy restaurant. The staff were friendly and there were some good recommendations for food/wine. I started with the Foie which was quite a hearty dish followed by the Sweetbreads, a recommended white wine went well with those. For my main I had the Roast Chicken, sometimes a simple dish done well is simply excellent, and that was coupled with another white wine. Wrapped up the meal with the Creme Brulee and a coffee. Each course was flavourful, tasty and fresh, the food was served relatively quickly and the service was excellent. Overall a very nice meal.

This review is only for the cocktails. We came in on a late weeknight. The bartender, Jeff recommended the Summer Manhattan and a delicious Gin drink for me. Both were meticulously made and absolutely delicious. He even gave credit to the other bartender that created the cocktail list! The bar is warm and friendly. We stopped in a few weeks later and before we could even get through the door, the bartender barked that "all the bar seats were taken". He was aggressive and downright rude. We will definitely come back when we see Jeff. It's amazing how the service can change your opinion of a place. To the other bartender...Crack a smile dude. I know I'm not your regular....and thankfully, I never will be.

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). Just wow. And the service was the perfect balance of knowledgeable, fun and passionate. I cannot say enough good things about tonight. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Townsend.

This is a small French restaurant in a storefront on Passyunk Avenue. In the dishes we had, unfortunately, the presentations overwhelmed the flavor of the basic ingredient in the dish – too much panko crusting in some cases and too many ingredients in the stew of whatever the dish was supposed to be. Go by Uber or taxi; parking looked impossible

We ate here for dinner on Saturday night in the upstairs dining room. I think the downstairs is nicer. The ambience is nice and cozy although some fresh flowers and a candle on the tables would have added a lot. Service was very good. My asparagus first course was tasty as well as the foie gras. The squab entrée was not the best. The squad exterior was mushy and needed a proper searing. The accompanying pasta was delicious however. I was excited to see chocolate soufflé on the menu and ordered it. I thought it was a little underdone as the center was still mushy. I also tried the Hamachi and oyster first courses which were delicious. Overall, a lovely evening but expensive.

My husband and I have dined at Townsend twice, and both times it was incredible! The waiting staff is so friendly, the food is delicious and their drinks are unique and tasty! This is a great restaurant for a fine dining experience with such delicious French food, you will have to come back! We devoured the beef tartare and they had a gnocchi dish with mushrooms that we ordered two of because it was so incredible! Their menu changes, so even more reason to come back later on and experience new delicious dishes they have made.

We had dinner here on a Friday night and had an excellent meal with outstanding wine pairings. Although not listed on their website nor on the menu, we had the Chef's Tasting meal offered as a special and all but the designated driver also had the wine pairing that were an accompanying option. I agree with other reviewers about the small size of the portions but after five courses plus a different glass of wine with each course we all left well sated (and feeling no pain). Located in a small store front, the bar is on the first floor with most of the tables on the second floor. Stairs are steep, typical of neighborhood. Decor is best described as austere with white walls and a few locally themed prints in chrome frames on the walls but one does not come here for the decor. There was Valet Parking across the street for $16 which is very reasonable for Philadelphia. Do not, however, arrive expecting to self-park, it is virtually non-existent in this area. Food was exquisite and well presented. Service is very good and friendly but the young runners who presented each course, while well trained and quite proper, mumbled the explanation of each course making it difficult to understand the descriptions. They seemed more scared of making a mistake rather than serving with the confidence of the more experienced staff. The wine pairings with each course were extremely well thought out and complimented each dish precisely. The Sommelier personally poured and explained each wine and it was obvious she was not only well versed in her craft but also enjoyed it and was very happy answering questions and explaining why this wine with this dish. At $85 for dinner plus $55 for the wine this is not a casual drop in establishment but is nicely priced compared to similar Tasting Menu meals we have had at other fine restaurants in Philadelphia. I highly recommend Townsend for anyone who wants to enjoy a gourmet meal with fine wine expertly prepared and elegantly served.

Our recent visit was not the 5 star experience expected. Service and drinks were fine and of our 4 course selections 2 were off the chart good. The selected entre and dessert were well presented, had nice "layering" of flavor but were a bit lacking overall, especially given the very high cost of the meal. Unfortunately the non existent area parking tends to set a negative attitude that can be tough to overcome. Glad we went but price and parking will keep us from returning.

My husband took me here for my birthday and I was not disappointed! A nice touch, in addition to the delicious food and wine, was the personalized menu wishing me a happy birthday! They really went out of their way to make it a special celebration!

Had the 5 course chef's tasting - it was amazing! Must order the broiled oysters (we always end up placing 2 orders for them)!! Excellent service and great cocktails! Highly recommended!!

I would call the overall experience good but uninspiring. Service knowledgeable and unintrusive, may have been the best part of the evening. Decor was minimalist, but ok. It was comfortable, but I think they could have done better than the curtain they had. It was awkward looking and the lone embellishment. I had beef tartare and the lamb. The quality of both meats was excellent. but they were strangely flavorless. The toasts served with the tartare could not hold a candle to the toasts at Fond or In Riva. We ordered the warm vegetable salad to share. Again, the vegetables were amazing looking and perfectly cooked, but lacked flavor. We skipped dessert. Quality ingredients but not worth dealing with the parking to try again.

Just had a very nice dinner with our friends at Townsend on 8/16/13. Townsend is located in an upcoming area of South Philly on Passyunk Avenue. It's in an old row home and has a nice decor. Out table was on the second floor. The menu, although limited when compared to a lot of restaurants today, would please almost everyone. Valet parking is across the street for a reasonable eight dollars. All four of us ordered a different appetizer and entrée, but we shared a couple of nice desserts. The preparation and presentation are just outstanding. And so was the taste. Portion size was just right too. Don't miss out on the specialty drinks of the house. I'm not usually one to deviate from a Jamison's or gin and tonic, but this place really has some fantastic selections that I have never seen before. Our server, Meagan, really helped us with our selections and delivered first class treatment. Bottled wines are a little pricy, so we ordered by the glass, which was fine. If you are a chocolate fan, don't pass on the chocolate soufflé. We go out a lot for dinner, and Townsend rang the bell for five stars.

We only stopped here briefly for a drink and I am glad we did. They had a new year's special menu that we were lucky to be able to order a la carte. The scallops and pork belly was delicious. Delicately cooked scallops that were tender and tasty. They pork belly was cooked just right and not so fatty. We definitely want to stop here again for a full dinner next time.

The food is fantastic. Although entrees are not big the meal was satisfying and everything was great. No noise, quiet and intimate atmosphere. Service is very good.

Sublime , la démonstration classique et moderne de la gastronomie Française. I have literally just returned from Townsend and I must write this review. For my second birthday dinner this weekend, I chose Townsend and while I had initial reservations about the compact menu but I saw enough on the menu that the two of us would want to try for dinner. I am SO HAPPY that I went ahead with the plans to dine at Townsend. It was a perfect – a truly perfect – experience from beginning to end. We were greeted warmly and seated promptly upon arrival at table 34 (tucked into the bay window) on the second floor of Townsend. The immediate ambiance was calm, elegant and understated yet warm and welcoming. Megin was our server and she was phenomenal. Knowledgeable, pleasant, professional and engaging, truly someone who know what she is doing and knew everything about the food and drink menu (including the cheese plate designations of P, R & T) that is offered at Townsend. We started with a couple of Townsend’s signature cocktails – I had the ‘Bizzy Izzy Highball’ at Megin’s recommendation and it was refreshing and yummy. I could have a pitcher of them on a lazy Sunday. My partner had the Pimms Cup and loved it. I am not a gin drinker but I could have had a pitcher of these too…!! I think the ginger syrup and lemon really smoothed out the Christmas tree taste I normally get from gin and made it magnificent. For dinner, I had the Cidre Bouché Fermier de Normandie (a favorite) and next time I will try a bottle of the Isastegi Sagardo Basque Cider. As a cider drinker, I was thrilled to see these on the drink menu. For my first course, I had the Beef Tartare. A very generous portion of fresh, quality beef, perfectly minced and seasoned. It was served with Idiazabal toast which gave a feathery umami kiss to every bite – delicious. There was enough for two of us to enjoy although I would have had no trouble polishing off the whole thing. My dining partner had the marinated Hamachi and it was also delicious. I do not have any raw fish outside of Japan as a rule; but at the insistence of my dining partner; I had a taste and I could have eaten an entire portion of this myself too! Fresh, touched with sesame oil with a furikake finish that seems so perfect and makes such sense that you wonder why it isn’t a common pairing. My second course was the foie gras mousse with pear-ginger marmalade. VrMan XLnt! vraiment excellent!! Foie gras mousse perfection. Again, plenty to share if you are so inclined. My dining partner had the sweetbreads and they were cooked perfectly – slightly caramelized crisp outside and creamy soft juicy inside. The accompaniments of parsnip puree, pearl onion soubise and the truffle madeira jus were spot on. I think my dining partner would have licked the plate clean if he could have! In between the second and third course, we added the handmade gnocchi special with tomatoes and crimini mushrooms. Pillowy, light, gnocchi in a beautiful bit of pan sauce accented with some sage (?) roasted cherry tomatoes and crimini mushrooms. We devoured it. For my entrée (normally the third dish, but my fourth), I had the lamb en cocotte – again, recommended by M. Megin. Beautiful dish, an updated, elevated cocotte dish with lamb two ways. Lamb loin roasted and thin sliced and the lamb shoulder braised (en cocotte) with the most unlikely cocotte-fellows of plum/plumcot, zuchchini, squash, apples and saba. Incroyable! My dining partner had the Rabbit pot-au-feu and it was actually a rabbit roasted loin roulade and braised rabbit with a liver mousse crostini amongst the diced carrots and potatoes. I just cannot eat rabbit (no, not even taste it!) and so I had to take my dining partner’s word that it was indeed a superb dish. We ended with coffee and dessert, crème brûlée and the pavlova. Both were perfectly executed. Townsend’s crème brûlée is the one I like to make at home. Thin, silky cream base, flecked with real vanilla and a crispy, crackly burnt (actually carmelized – not burnt) crust which was garnished with strawberry and blueberries. Delicious! The pavlova was equally perfectly executed – beautiful snow white meringue with a crisp exterior and light as air interior floating on a pool of strawberry sauce lightly accented with pernod. To execute such a perfect pavlova in 72% humidity is the work of someone who know what they are doing. Finally, I think it’s great that for the cheese plate offerings, Townsend provides the P (Pasteurized), R (Raw) and T (Thermalized) designations for their cheeses. In the US, R & T cheeses are both considered ‘raw’ and so might not be a good choice for those who are sensitive to such dairy products. It is this level of knowledge and attention to detail that is a part of the overall Townsend experience and I can’t wait to go back for another amazing meal. To those who have rated Townsend as ‘expensive’ and ‘overpriced’; I would beg to differ…for all that we had – huge cocktails, generous portions, 3 robust courses (and an extra course to share), cider, soft drinks, coffees and desserts – it was under $100 for each and that, in my opinion is not anywhere near what I consider expensive or overpriced. I have been to Philly restaurants that cost more (a LOT more) and provided way less… Mademoiselle Megin – mr6 (merci) thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable evening! Chef Wentz – thank you for an amazing meal - vraiment superbe!!

Went to Townsend with a friend on a Thursday evening during the holidays. We went with the 5 course Chef’s tasting menu. Excellent throughout. Started with a Cobia dish with two types of roe. 2nd course was a foie gras soup followed by a black bass dish which was our favorite. 4th course was lamb. Dessert was a lemon pastry which was not up to snuff with the first four courses. It is a French restaurant so portions are a bit small (as other reviewer comments mention). Nonetheless, the 5 course meal was priced at $85 which felt about right. The option to choose 3 courses ala carte will be something we explore next visit. Most are in the $14 range with several excellent choices for each course. The service was excellent, offering help on wine selections throughout, and allowing us to taste a few before choosing. We went early (5:30) so it was not yet crowded, was seated at an excellent table towards the back by a fire place. Definitely a place for special occasions. A real treat that we will continue to explore.

The food is delicious. Order the warm chocolate soufflé when you order your meal. It takes 20 minutes to prepare but it is to die for. Our dinners and wine selections were the extraordinary.

This restaurant was hands down the best experience I've had in Philly in a long time. Such a gem. We had the tasting menu and every dish was absolutely phenomenal. The specialty drinks were made to perfection as well. Our waiter, Jeff, took the time to give us the best recommendations based on our taste and he truly made our experience even better, which we appreciated. I encourage everyone reading this to try this restaurant as it's my #1 favorite place in philly now, and it will soon to be yours! Thanks to the chef, bartender and Jeff for making our night impeccable!

First... bring a coat. It is freezing outside and they have industrial ceiling fans that they cannot turn off. Seriously. The service is great but the food is just ok. The escargot and the gnocchi basically tasted the same. The sweetbreads were inconsistent - one piece was overcooked and literally "crunchy" while another was under-done. Three of us ordered the duck. It was not medium rare. It was raw. The pot de creme was gelatinous and somewhat tasteless. C'mon guys... how can you ruin cream, eggs and sugar?

An intimate restaurant in the (relatively) new restaurant row in south Philly. Superb service and attention to detail. Very attentive to dietary restrictions. A small but excellent wine selection and, of course, great food. The Hamachi appetizer is a real star. Speaking of stars, this is the kind of restaurant that would merit a Michelin star if Michelin rated Philadelphia restaurants, which they should considering the abundance of excellent eateries here.

My wife and I dined for an anniversary dinner. They had printed special "happy anniversary" menus which was a nice touch. We opted for the tasting menu that included five courses - skate, scallop, partridge, lamb and lemon cake. I am glad we did because every course was excellent - with the highlights being the lamb, cooked rare with a spinach wrap and lamb shank pieces underneath, served with wax beans and potatoes, and the dessert- which had nuts (almonds?) and a beautifully flavored and decadent lemon / velvet cake. The service was impeccable. It was one of the most memorable meals we have had and I will relay that to everyone. Thank you, Townsend, for exceeding all expectations!

Townsend is a lovely little place on the East Passyunk restaurant corridor for a quiet French dinner. It has a small dining room and a limited menu. The food quality was very good, but we wished the selections had been broader; we came away feeling that there were not enough entrée choices that really attracted us. We enjoyed starting our evening at the bar, where the cocktails were creative and prepared with great care by the personable bartender. One additional note: we tried the white wine from a keg and found it disappointing. They kindly did not charge us for it.

Had a great meal last evening at Townsend! I had the beef tartare, scallops, rabbit, and chocolate soufflé. The soufflé was awesome--the highlight of the evening. The beef tartare and rabbit was also very yummy. Only the scallops held this dinner back from being five stars--they were tough, and not very flavorful in themselves. Great atmosphere and friendly and accommodating service. Would definitely go back!

I've been here about 1/2 dozen times since my last review and can say without hesitation, that each visit was a complete delight. Whether a cozy dinner for two or a convivial outing with friends this restaurant hits all the right notes. The menu changes frequently with the seasons and with availability of ingredients. Truly farm to table. The chance of you seeing a repeat offering is slim. Menu is set up for 3 courses with dessert as the fourth. Under each grouping are 5-6 choices so while this may appear limiting, the menu is so well thought out that constructing a dinner to suit your preferences is quite easy. My latest meal was with my family of six. Some ordered one course, others 2, and some 3. This can make for a serving nightmare, but the kitchen and wait staff did an excellent job of accommodating us. Servers are capable, well informed, anticipate needs and handle their jobs with obvious good humor and warmth. Tip of the hat to all of the front of the house staff who took care to present the kitchen's work so well. HIghlights for us were the hamachi, chicken liver mousse, sweetbreads, oxtail risotto, the branzino, and short ribs. Chocolate souffle to end served with chantilly cream was dark, rich and the perfect way to end our meal. Highly recommend.

We love the new culinary scene in Philadelphia and Townsend is definitely one of the new stars. After looking at the menu before we arrived we decided to do an entire small plate evening. We ordered all appetizers minus the foie gras and salad ( had to keep something for an upcoming visit), but we did add the three specials - Zucchini blossoms stuffed with crab, gnocchi dish and escargot. Our server for the evening was Megin and she was fantastic. Very knowledgable of the menu and food and understood how foodies like to eat and savor their meal. We told her we will leave the order of our dishes to her and she created a nice flow of three flights of dishes starting with the four lightest to the final two "heaviest" at the end. Each dish had its own flavors and sauces (didn't want to eat a lot of bread, but had to ask for more to get all the sauce off the plate). All small plates sizes were very nice and perfect for us doing our own tasting menu. We split all of the dishes and found we had plenty to eat. Oysters were slightly roasted plump and juicy - I love oysters and this variation was excellent. The hamachi was perfect in texture and taste. Beef tartare was firm and delicious as well and the toasted bread was god on its own. The black bass was once again perfectly prepared and the zucchini basil purée was over the top. One of my two favorite small plates was the sweetbreads and veal tongue - I love sweetbreads and these were some of the best I ever had. The additional of the tongue just gave this dish the little extra to push it to the top. The scallops were lightly seared and once again served with a perfect sauce. The gnocchi were light and firm to touch and axing. The escargot was the second of my top two all plates and it took all we had not to order another, but I gave in and had to order an entree to end my night. The lamb special is a not to be missed. Lamb was Prepared two ways and was some of the best I had anywhere. Chef Townsend Wentz has brought new French to Philly in style. He is a sauce master and knows how to present a menu with enough variety to give everyone something they will like from the norm to offal (which I love). Service was on par with the best restaurants in town - Megin should get kudos for the way she handled not only our meal, But the floor. We wish there were less gin focused cocktails, but that was the only thing we could have wanted changed. In the end our anniversary meal at Townsend's was one we will remember. We will return in the near future once a menu change occurs as we have to have more of this chef's offerings.

Townsend resides in the space that was briefly Talk and before that was a photo studio. The space has been redesigned to take advantage of the height and windows. This is an airy restaurant with an open, light feel. We liked the mezzanine seating. Even better is the food. We enjoyed the duck and gnocchi and my spouse was most impressed with the sweetbreads. The menu changes pretty frequently which is fine with us. The wine list has a decent range to choose from and a range of price points as well. The service was friendly and professional. We have already made a second visit and will return again.

There were only three disappointments with our meal: 1) it is not a BYOB, 2) the Andalusian gazpacho was more French than Andalusian, and 3) the noise level is overwhelmingly loud. The oysters were great, the sweetbreads likewise. Mains were generous, and the wines good though slightly higher priced than expected. Service was fairly attentive.

Awesome!! I took my wife here for her birthday on a Wednesday night and it was perfect, the restaurant was busy but not full. Overall the ambiance is very nice and elegant, wait staff was professional and was very patient with our many questions. The Sommelier Lauren was super friendly and very engaging, working with us on the type of wine we liked and the food we had ordered. The restaurant has several different wines and the wine list seemed eclectic to me as I had not heard of a single wine they offered. Lauren allowed my wife to try a few different wines to get a perfect match with the food and we didn't have to blindly pick something that we hoped we would like. On top of the experience the food was amazing, well prepared and delicious. Both the main course and the side dishes were very ample. Easily one of the best meals overall we have enjoyed in several years. Thank you for your kind service and attention to every detail. We will be back.