TOWNSEND EPX

"East Passyunk’s Townsend is dark, romantic, and has more candles than the set of Charmed. There’s an upstairs dining room that works well for a nice date night (they’ll even customize special occasion menus for you). From roasted striped bass served with a creamy potato pave to tender pork belly, the menu here is what you might expect from a nice French-ish spot. There’s also a bar downstairs that’s open until 2am." - alison kessler, candis mclean

"Townsend used to be in Rittenhouse but relocated to East Passyunk Avenue. It has the general romantic feeling that someone might propose at any minute or start making out at the table. And the menu is exactly what you might expect from an upscale French spot—from seared NJ skate served with a crunchy savoy cabbage to venison swimming in a red wine sauce. The bar closes at 2am, though, so it’s a great place to seek out the three times a year you stay out past 1am.  " - candis mclean, alison kessler

"East Passyunk’s Townsend is full of candlelight, white tablecloths, and the general feeling that someone might propose at any minute. The a la carte menu includes takes on French food, like roasted bone marrow with a crisp celery salad, escargot with buttery garlic risotto, and a perfectly cooked cote d’boeuf for two. Despite the formal dining room and excellent service, it’s totally laid back, making it one of our favorite spots for a special occasion. Bonus: the bar closes at 2am, so it’s a great place to seek out after dinner, or the three times a year you stay out past 1am. " - alison kessler

"East Passyunk’s Townsend does the white tablecloth thing. But, unlike some other high-end spots serving $95 tasting menus, Townsend feels fancy and intimate at the same time. Lights are low. There are more candles here than there were on the set of Hocus Pocus. Contrasting textures are always thoughtful, like in a dish of escargot swimming in a sweet potato, apple, and hazelnut chai cream. " - candis mclean

"If this isn’t your first date and you’re looking for something a bit more upscale to impress your possible future life partner, take them to Townsend in East Passyunk. It’s two floors, with a white-tablecloth dining room upstairs that serves classic French food, like seared Hudson Valley foie gras and a 32 oz. cote de boeuf that will easily feed both of you. The downstairs bar is good for a pre-dinner drink while you wait for your table upstairs, but you have bigger plans for the end of your night." - sydney mcelwee