Audrey Claire selling 2 restaurants to Rob Wasserman

A long-simmering deal has Audrey Claire Taichman — whose 1996 founding of  the casual-chic Audrey Claire helped spark a Rittenhouse Square restaurant revival — selling that BYOB and Twenty Manning Grill to restaurateur Rob Wasserman, whose holdings include Rouge, on the square.

The deal is pending, Taichman and Wasserman said.

Since her marriage two years ago, Taichman has moved to Baltimore to raise her children.

Taichman maintains ownership of Audrey Claire Cook, the studio kitchen a few doors from Twenty Manning Grill.

Wasserman also is a partner in the Snap Custom Pizza brand. The deal not only is synergistic, he said, it also is a true labor of love. "Audrey is one of my best friends," he said. "She created an incredible legacy that is the essence of the Rittenhouse Row community."

Michael Yeamans, who got his start at the famed Striped Bass and later served as executive chef at Rouge, has returned to Philadelphia from Florida to serve as executive chef of both restaurants.

Sam Noh remains chef at Rouge.

Menu items will be gradually tweaked but a total overhaul will not occur.