Ресторан · Philadelphia · ⭐ 9.7/10 · 3008 reviews · $$$ · updated: 2026-06-30 20:15:49
Address: 210 W Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106, United States
Talula’s Garden: The Prettiest Patio in Philadelphia Hides a Cheese Obsession
Plenty of restaurants claim farm-to-table; Talula’s Garden has the receipts — and a garden. Twinkling lights over a leafy patio off Washington Square set the scene, but the real flex is inside: a cheese program running to roughly forty-five selections, tended like a wine cellar, in a city where most kitchens stop at five.
The Story
Aimee Olexy earned cult status with Django and then Talula’s Table in Kennett Square — the country-market whose single chef’s table was famously called the toughest reservation in America. In 2011 she partnered with restaurateur Stephen Starr to bring that sensibility downtown, naming the place for her daughter, Annalee Talula Rae. The result is seasonal Mid-Atlantic cooking with a gardener’s calendar and a hostess’s warmth.
What to Order
Start — or finish — with cheese: boards arrive with house chutneys, wine-plumped dried fruits, candied and curried nuts, local honey and salted caramel, plus Talula’s own baguettes and herb ciabatta. Between courses of whatever the farms sent that week, expect vivid vegetable cookery, thoughtful seafood and a wine-and-spirits list with a sustainable streak. Menus shift constantly; that is the contract.
The Space
An urban oasis: the garden patio glows on warm evenings, and the dining room keeps the botanical mood going with rustic wood, greenery and soft light. Few Philadelphia restaurants feel this transporting while staying this relaxed.
Who It’s For
Golden-hour romantics, cheese pilgrims, seasonal-menu loyalists and anyone who wants a special evening without a jacket requirement.
Good to Know
Do I need a reservation? Yes for prime evenings — the patio in particular books out well ahead in fine weather.
Is the patio open year-round? It is seasonal; spring through fall is its glory window.
What is the must-order? A cheese board with all the trimmings — bookend the meal with it if you are ambitious.
Does the menu change often? Constantly — it follows the local farms, so favorites rotate with the seasons.
Is it vegetarian-friendly? Genuinely — vegetables are treated as headliners here, not sides.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Tuesday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Wednesday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Thursday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Friday | 17:00–22:00 |
| Saturday | 16:00–22:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00–14:00, 16:00–22:00 |
Photos
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Visitor reviews
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 20:15:49
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: philadelphia-trend.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
I brought my girlfriend here for dinner to make up for a missed girls' night, and Talula's Garden completely delivered. The atmosphere is incredibly beautiful and extremely pleasant. Although I forgot to book a table, th…
We were here for the first time and unfortunately live out of town, so we won't be back soon. This place was wonderful, everything we tried was top-notch. We started with a few cocktails, an Old Fashioned and a Manhattan…
Recommend it 100%.. very colourful and tasty food! Worth every penny. We ordered a few appetisers, mains and sides, and it was one of the best meals and service I've ever had. I'll definitely be back. They also kindly ad…
Very tasty food with an interesting combination of flavours we don't usually get. The service was very good. The server's manager and others made sure our drinks were full and our table was cleared after each plate was s…
The indoor and outdoor dining areas had a wonderful atmosphere, nice lighting and a fantastic server. Brought my wife here for a date, and we were seated on the patio.
Biscuit (7/10): didn't disappoint; a well-balanced…