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Like a whisper, Townsend Wentz opened his second restaurant, A Mano, in Fairmount last night. The casual Italian bistro is Wentz's second concept in Philly following his namesake restaurant, Townsend, tearing it up on East Passyunk Avenue. Executive chef Michael Millon will run the show in Fairmount having been a Wentz-disciple for over ten years — something almost unheard of in the industry.
In fact, Wentz has kept much of his team together through his career: Colin Leary, now sous at Townsend, Lauren Harris, wine director/general manager of both restaurants, and Millon all stem from Wentz's days working behind the line at Twenty21. When asked how he's managed to keep his team together for so long, Wentz responded simply, "The team's expectations, goals, and commitment [are] the same across all staff, front and back. Be the best, work with the best, and grow together. Succeed together."
Millon's menu knows no bounds — regionally, at least. Instead, the menu's focus will span from Northern Italy to Southern Italy, depending on the season. During the colder months, Millon will focus on dishes from Italy's north like Alto Adige and Milan; come summer, he'll pull his inspiration from the south. The restaurant's name, A Mano, Italian for "by hand", is an ode to the cuisine's customary intimacy between hand and food, exemplified by the chef's house-made pastas and salumi.
The restaurant will not take any reservations, and its hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to close. Check out the menu (without prices) below; dishes range from $8-$32:
