"Rouge, the bar and restaurant right on Rittenhouse Square which first opened 21 years ago, reopens this week after an extensive revamp, including a new look and an almost entirely new menu. Located at 205 S. 18th Street facing the square, the restaurant started the trend of sidewalk seating in Philly when then-owner Neil Stein convinced the city to make it much easier for eateries to add outdoor dining. A sidewalk table at Rouge is still one of the hottest see-and-be-seen spots in town — perfect for people-watching in the park. Inside, the small restaurant used to feel a bit cramped, with the bar in the middle of the room. The bar has been moved to the back wall, making more space for tables. The European look is from Marguerite Rodgers, who also did the design for Rouge back in 1998. She kept some of elements from the original, like the chandelier. New chef Sean McPaul wasn’t as interested in retaining pieces of the old Rouge. He got rid of everything except the ever-popular cheeseburger in favor of more small plates than his predecessors, with lots of seafood dishes. On the drinks side, Hop Sing Laundromat owner Lê, who is also in the process of opening a banh mi shop, put together a new cocktail menu for Rouge. Dinner is on now; lunch service will be added Thursday, March 21, with brunch following Saturday, March 30. It’s walk-ins only at the moment, but the restaurant plans to start taking reservations again very soon. Stein’s daughter and son-in-law, Maggie and Rob Wasserman, took over the restaurant in 2006. Wasserman bought two other long-running Rittenhouse restaurants, Audrey Claire and Twenty Manning Grill, last year." - Rachel Vigoda
