Talula's Garden — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I found this place on Tiktok and just based on the aesthetic alone I decided to give it a try. Best decision I ever made!!! From beginning to end, not only were my expectations met, but they were exceeded more than I ever thought could be possible! The atmosphere alone is very cozy with plants everywhere and cute garden lights. We reserved an early dinner slot at 430, so it wasn't packed at all. We sat outside on a beautiful fall day and the ambience was perfect. Our server, Conner, was so incredibly nice and his timing was always on point. We ordered the cornbread and the artichoke dip as our appetizers and the taste and presentation was the best opening to what would become the best dining experience of our lives! For our main entrees, I chose to just get another starter as my entree and I got the Ricotta Gnudi with apple cider brown butter sauce. My partner got the Tuscan Short Rib. I usually don't order pasta when I eat out because it's too filling, but holy sh** this was the best pasta I have ever had. That sauce. Omg that sauce. No words. My partner also commented that the short rib was spectacular. At this point of the meal we realized there was no way we were leaving our, now favorite, restaurant without trying dessert. It was at this point, one of the managers approached us to ask how our meal was, which of course we praised to the high heavens. We then asked her about her dessert recommendations which she recommended the apple cider donuts. I had explained that I was going back and forth trying to decide between them and the lemon souffle cake. Ultimately, I ended up ordering the cake and my partner ordered the smores sensation. When our dessert was brought out, we were surprised by an order of donuts as well, on the house!! The carmel and the whip cream on those donuts was made by a confectionary genius. The lemon souffle cake was just the right amount of lemon with an extra moist cake. The lemon curd was amazing and that raspberry sorbet was so tart and sweet it made my taste buds dance. The smores sensation had the perfect juxtaposition of crunchy graham cracker crumble, with gooey marshmallow and the smoothe, cool, pot de creme was tay-stee! Talulas Garden has raised the bar so high that I don't know if I'll ever be able to eat anywhere else without feeling let down. All my love, support and praise to the chefs, servers, and all other staff at this restaurant. Thank you for the best dining...

Dining at Talula's Garden turned into a truly memorable evening thanks to the exceptional warmth of the hosts, who thoughtfully found me a perfect spot despite my lack of reservation, though I highly recommend making one.

The experience began with freshly baked cheddar chive biscuits. Served hot from the oven, each biscuit had a crispy, cookie like exterior that gave way to a soft, fluffy center, seasoned perfectly. Alternating bites with the accompanying salted honey black pepper butter was an excellent way to start.

Next was the Tuna Crudo. The tuna tasted remarkably fresh, like it was caught just hours earlier. Each bite had a mix of flavors with gentle heat from jalapeno and ginger, juicy watermelon, crisp shallots, and a refreshing cucumber basil vinaigrette. Delicious.

My entrée was the Black Angus Strip Steak, cooked perfectly. Each slice was tender and flavorful, accompanied by asparagus a la plancha, herb salsa verde, truffle aioli, fresh watercress, and pickled shallots. Paired with a glass of Aviary Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, it was an excellent combination.

For dessert, I chose the Summer Corn Crème Brulee, an interesting twist on a classic. The caramelized sugar crust broke open to reveal smooth custard beneath, topped with sweet and salty house made caramel corn. Paired with Talula's Over Achiever Espresso Martini, which was rich and balanced, it was a perfect end to the meal.

Beyond the food, the warmth and kindness of the staff stood out. Watching a server genuinely entertaining a tiny guest in a high chair just to earn a smile showed how special the atmosphere was. Moments like these make Talula's Garden unique, combining exceptional food and genuine hospitality.

If you're looking for more than just a meal, Talula's Garden is...

A few years ago, while visiting Center City, Philadelphia, we stumbled upon Talula's Garden. We had no idea of the magic that awaited us, but fast forward a few years, on a return trip to the area, we were sure to make a reservation at Talula's again for our first night in town.

Driven by local ingredients Talula’s Garden, is a farm to table experience conceived by award winning chef Aimee Olexy. The restaurant is nestled on a beautiful street just across from a park and offers both luxurious inside dining and fairytale-esque garden seating options.

We began our meal with a bright and refreshing cocktail, The Sicilian, Talula’s Blood-Orange Gimlet, which is made with gin, Italian blood orange, fresh lime and agave. A super delicious start to a yummy meal!

Next we delighted in the Thai Cucumber Salad, which was deliciously marinated in a sesame chili vinaigrette and garnished with red onion, mint and crunchy peanuts

We selected the Bronzino and Roasted Bone-In Pork Chops for our entrees. The Branzino was beautifully seared, flaky and flavorful. It topped a creamy, lemony, white bean puree and was accompanied by broccoli, baby kale and a spectacular garlic-anchovie-chili vinaigrette.

The Smoke Roasted Bone-in Pork Chop was charred in just the right way and remained super juicy and fork tender. It was accompanied by cheddar grits, roasted shishitos, poblanos, red onions and chipotle beurre fondue. The only suggestion would be to assess the grits to pork chop ratio as we felt the portion of grits was quite substantial.

Overall Talula's is a fantastic find and will remain on our Philly Food Faves list for all future visits!! I highly recommend trying this magical little haven in the heart of...