Step Inside the Stylish French Garden-Inspired Restaurant Forsythia

The new French restaurant Forsythia, from chef Christopher Kearse (formerly of Will BYOB), is edging nearer to its opening on Friday, August 23, as the restaurant has just released its menu and opened reservations as of today. The restaurant is located in Old City at 233 Chestnut Street.

Forsythia will differ significantly from Kearse’s beloved Will, which he closed in April to focus on the new restaurant. Forsythia will retain a focus on classic French techniques, but will make use of more ingredients and a larger kitchen for Kearse, who trained at Alinea and The French Laundry, to experiment. That means dishes like crispy pig tails, rabbit porchetta, and a roasted tuna collar “amandine.” Full menu included below.

Forsythia [Official]

To drink, there is a full bar and French-heavy wine list. The restaurant also teased several wine-based cocktails.

In terms of the restaurant’s physical space, the restaurant has a clear palette of black, white, and mossy green, including plentiful live plants, that evokes a stylish French garden room. The new restaurant has room for 60 diners plus an additional 14 spots at a white marble bar.

Forsythia [Official]

Inspired by European cafes and executed by PS & Daughters, the space continues the well-designed tradition of its former occupant Capofitto, which won Eater Philadelphia’s best designed restaurant of 2014 before closing in December 2018. The restaurant gets its name from the street where Kearse grew up in Levittown.

Forsythia [Official]

Forsythia [Official]

Forsythia will be open daily at 4:30 p.m., closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Guests can make reservations on Resy or by calling the restaurant at (215) 644-9395.