Townsend Owner Has Two New Center City Restaurants in the Works

What cuisines will Townsend Wentz try next? He already runs elegant French restaurant Townsend on East Passyunk Avenue, Italian BYOB A Mano by the Art Museum in Fairmount, and Spanish tapas bar Oloroso on 11th and Walnut. And now he has two new projects in the works.

The chef, who goes by Tod, is in the process of buying the building next to Oloroso, which until very recently housed the long-running Irish Pub, reports Philly.com. The other Irish Pub, from the same owners on 20th and Walnut, is still open with no plans to close.

According to the newspaper, Wentz is also renting the space that was Talk at 2121 Walnut Street. Talk, an Art Deco-styled new American restaurant from the owners of West Philly’s highly regarded Marigold Kitchen, last only five months before closing in late 2018. Marigold Kitchen couldn’t survive Talk’s sudden closing and shuttered shortly after.

Wentz hasn’t disclosed plans for Talk, but he did tell Philly Mag the former Irish Pub will be an American pub called Pearl Tavern. It should be ready to open in a few weeks.

• 9 Philly Restaurants With Tasting Menus Worth Making Time For
• Chef Townsend Wentz, expanding his restaurant empire, to take over former TALK [Philly.com]
• Take a Photo Tour of the Dishes at Talk, Now Open on Walnut Street
• West Philly’s Long-Running Marigold Kitchen to Shutter