River Twice is about to feel a lot bigger on East Passyunk. The tasting-menu favorite is taking over the shuttered storefront next door, turning it into a new bar and laid-back dining area that will finally give neighbors a true walk-in option while keeping the multicourse format at the heart of the restaurant. Chef Randy Rucker and co-owner Amanda Rucker say the expanded setup is meant to be more welcoming to spur-of-the-moment visits, without sacrificing the restaurant's tasting-menu identity. They are aiming to have the new space open this fall.
The buildout and where it’s happening
The project will absorb the former Manatawny Still Works tasting room at 1603 E. Passyunk Ave., adding roughly 24 seats overall. That count covers a 13-seat bar, additional tables, and a standing drink rail, along with a temperature-controlled wine display and a second restroom. Renovations will carve a passageway between the two neighboring storefronts and swap out a few existing dining-room seats while still increasing total capacity. The team is targeting a September debut for the reworked footprint, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A la carte menu and the Mother Rucker
The new bar area will have its own a la carte menu built around small plates and snacks geared to walk-ins. Planned items include shrimp toast with uni, ricotta beignets, nightly oyster crudos, and rotating cheeses from The Farm at Doe Run. The expansion also means the cult-favorite Mother Rucker burger will be far easier to snag, instead of showing up in limited runs. Anyone sitting at the bar will still be able to opt into the full tasting menu if they want the longer experience, as reported by Philadelphia Magazine.
The bar program and walk-in logic
General manager and beverage director Jhazmyn Wallace will oversee cocktails and wine for the new bar, which the owners describe as a more casual, evening-friendly landing spot for people who prefer to pop in rather than book a full tasting. The plan is for the bar to run Thursday through Monday starting at 5 p.m., giving East Passyunk neighbors a low-commitment way to slide into River Twice. The landlord approached the Ruckers about taking the space after Manatawny announced last summer that its tasting rooms would close, according to PHILADELPHIA.Today.
Why it matters for East Passyunk
For the Ruckers, the expansion is equal parts logistics and creative outlet. Amanda plans to paint a mural along the bar's south wall, while the extra casual seating gives Randy more room to play with lighter plates without losing the tasting-menu DNA that built River Twice's reputation. The restaurant opened in 2019 and has become a fixture on local best-of lists; its site notes a 2026 James Beard semifinalist nod, and its debut was covered by Eater Philadelphia. “This expansion feels like the next natural chapter in that journey,” Randy Rucker said, as reported by Philadelphia Magazine. Additional background is available on the restaurant's press page at River Twice.
