Talula's Garden 210 W. Washington Square (215) 592–7787
Don't Miss: Sliced Hangar Steak Skip: Cheese plates, unless you're a connoisseur
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The earthy yet elegant decor at Talula's Garden is not unlike that of the organic restaurant owned by Mark Ruffalo’s character in The Kids Are All Right. While filmgoers cannot vouch for the quality of the food at that establishment, a visit to Talula’s Garden will have you convinced you stumbled upon the Garden of Eden in downtown Philly.
Just a few steps away from the chaos of Walnut and 2nd St., Talula’s Garden rests in the shaded luxury of West Washington Square. Opened last year by former Pod manager Aimee Olexy (in partnership with Steven Starr), this farm–to–table gem flaunts a twinkling outdoor patio and an expansive indoor wooden dining area lit mostly by sunlight. Aprons hang on hooks and the tables are proudly unclothed. “A garden brings life and beauty to the table,” reads a quote from chef Alice Waters around the ceiling.
But the down–to–earthiness of the restaurant’s look does not mean the food is simple or understated. The dinner menu includes organic cheese platters ($16–$18), intricate but varied appetizers ($9–$16), drinks and cocktails and artful entrees ($25–$36). A bit out of the average Penn student’s birthday dinner price range, but falling in the range of a splurge or a parent–funded meal, the offerings are delicious enough to be priceless.
My date and I tried “The Master Collection," which meant starting off our meal with eight fine cheeses ranging from Wisconsin gruyere to the cheese of an Italian water buffalo. Served with breads, crackers, candied walnuts and other garnishes, the taste–testing experience was scrumptious and interesting. However, the $18 price tag for eight small tastes of yummy but not life–changing cheeses might be worth skipping for those lacking a passion for cheese.
Our trip through Talula’s delectable garden continued with a tasty gnocchi ($14), notably lighter than those you might get at a basic Italian BYO and accompanied with buffalo milk Taleggio, sweet Saba vinegar and Brussels sprouts, a unique but welcome companion.
We were already getting a bit full from fine cheese and our savory appetizer, but upon first bite of our entrees we knew we would be cleaning our plates. The sea whistle salmon ($27) was seasoned with a crispy outside and had a perfectly cooked inside sure to satisfy all salmon lovers and was served with pancetta, sunchokes and a tomato–esque Fuyu persimmon chutney. Perhaps even more spectacular was the roasted hangar steak ($29), which was superbly tender and soft while still being fully cooked sans excess fat. The flavorful steak was accompanied by a potato puree with mushrooms, caramelized onions and a delicious bone marrow bordelaise sauce.
Our heavenly meal concluded, obviously, with chocolate, and Talula’s pudding tart ($9) with caramel pecan ice cream didn’t disappoint.
With the proper budget, it’s truly a blessing to dine at this culinary Garden of Eden, where none of the fruit is forbidden.
