Rouge

"Show up to Rouge and you’ll probably see athletes or coaches from a Philly sports team, a DJ randomly doing a set in the corner, and a bar area that gets as crowded as the pit at a Paramore show. But one bite into their burger and you’ll be prepared to sit through any of the wild things going on here just to keep eating it. The patty is super meaty, topped with caramelized onions, gruyère, housemade dill pickles, and lettuce. And it all comes together on a light and pillowy brioche bun. " - Candis Mclean, Alison Kessler

"If Rogue was a choose-your-own-adventure book, there’s no scenario in which your night ends in a low-key way. With a DJ fist pumping in the corner, diners creating an impromptu dance floor between the bar seats, and the staff saying “the party is just starting” between course, make sure you take a group of friends here who would be down for a mini turn-up inside a Rittenhouse Square bistro. But it’s not all about the atmosphere here, they have some good food and a few cocktails that are worthy of toasting to another year. The bourbon-based Thyme After Thyme cocktail has a perfect peppery and minty taste, and you should order the striped bass dish that has a lemony beet puree sweet enough to replace your birthday cupcake." - Candis R. McLean

"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

"A few doors down from Parc is another elegant spot that invites four-legged friends to enjoy its sidewalk tables facing Rittenhouse Square. Doggies get bowls of water and treats while human companions linger over bistro fare and cocktails. Bonus points: Rouge was the first restaurant in Philly with sidewalk seating." - Sarah Maiellano