Aimee Olexy’s and Stephen Starr’s Talula’s Garden opens tomorrow on Washington Square where the restaurant will serve as Olexy’s stage in her return to downtown Philadelphia.

Aimee Olexy

• Owner of Kennett Square’s Talula’s Table, a gourmet market and restaurant
• Talula’s Table
  • Praised by Saveur, Food & Wine and the New York Times Magazine
  • Called one of the hardest reservations to get in the country
  • “Restaurant” is a single table for up to 12
  • Guests must call one year in advance to place a reservation
• Django
  • Before Talula’s Table, Olexy and ex-husband Bryan Sikora owned Django, a small BYOB off of South Street
  • Only BYOB to receive 4-bells from Craig LaBan
• Olexy worked for Starr previously at Blue Angel and Pod
• Olexy is passionate about cheese

Executive Chef Michael Santoro

• Blue chip background includes:
  • Blue Duck Tavern, Washington D.C.
  • St. John, UK
  • Fat Duck, UK
  • Mugaritz, Spain
  • Gilt, New York

The Space

• Former Washington Square restaurant space
• Seats 102
• 66-seat seasonal outdoor garden
• Cheese counter constructed with a salvaged granite counter will be a focal point of the restaurant
• Much of the Washington Square space has been brightened with additional windows and lighter colors and fabrics
• Richard Stokes of Stokes Architecture and Olexy worked together to create the atmosphere
• Green wall of edible herbs and flowers line the walls, inside and out
• Seasonal flowers brighten the garden area
• Salvaged materials dot the decor
  • Redwood planks from Vlasic pickle barrels which have been restructured as the ceiling
  • Materials from Wilmington’s Queen Theatre were converted into the rustic wood tables
• Ten-seat communal table built from salvaged wood was built by at-risk teens in Wilmington
• Alice Waters quote “A garden brings life and beauty to the table” adorns three sides of the middle dining area

The Food

• Talula’s Garden will showcase rustic ingredients including pastured meats, farmstead cheeses and locally grown vegetables.
• Menu will change frequently, highlighting the seasons
• Highlights:
  • Veloute of sweet peas with cuttlefish “ravioli”
  • Spring salad of herbs, flowers, and lettuces, with almond milk dressing and croutons
  • Braised halibut, oxtail stuffed artichokes, sea beans
  • Lancaster saffron barigoule, and roasted morels with new potato gnocchi, Meadowset egg, raisin puree and mushroom jus
• Tasting Menu
  • 12-course tasting dinner
  • Around $100 per person
  • Hyper-local
  • Will be available a few weeks after opening
• Cheese
  • A focal point of the restaurant
  • Selection of artisinal cheeses paired with sweet and savory accompaniments
• Dinner Menu (PDF)
• Dessert Menu (PDF)

Drink

• Fifty-bottle wine list
• 100% sustainable wine list
  • Bonny Doon from Monterey, CA
  • Hendry Rosé in Napa Valley
  • Dreyer Family Vegan winery in North Coast, CA
• Food-friendly beers
• Cocktails made with seasonal herbs and ingredients grown right at the bar
• Beverage Menu (PDF)

Talula’s Garden
210 W Washington Square
215-592-7787

Dinner served nightly from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Brunch served on Sundays

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Talula's Garden Sign

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Welcome to Talula's Garden

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