Rouge
American restaurant · Rittenhouse ·
American eatery with sidewalk seating for people-watching
American eatery with sidewalk seating for people-watching
"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 Rouge was a choose-your-own-adventure book, there’s no scenario in which your night ends in a low-key way. With diners creating an impromptu dance floor between the bar seats, and the staff saying “the party is just starting” between courses, it's far less about the food than the menu would suggest. FYI—it's not atypical to be ignored once seated in the dining room, so your best bet is sitting at the bar and ordering the burger there." - Candis R. McLean
"Lê created the cocktail list for Rouge’s revamp on Rittenhouse Square." - Rachel Vigoda
"I noted that Lê has been designing cocktail menus for other venues, including the newly revamped Rouge on Rittenhouse Square." - Rachel Vigoda
"Reopened this week after an extensive revamp, Rouge — the bar and restaurant on Rittenhouse Square that first opened 21 years ago — is located at 205 S. 18th Street facing the square; it helped start the sidewalk-seating trend in Philly when then-owner Neil Stein convinced the city to make outdoor dining easier, and a sidewalk table there remains one of the hottest see-and-be-seen spots for people-watching in the park. Inside, the bar has been moved to the back wall to open up space for tables, and Marguerite Rodgers retained a European look and some original elements like the chandelier. New chef Sean McPaul discarded most of the old menu except the ever-popular cheeseburger, favoring more small plates with lots of seafood, while Hop Sing Laundromat owner Lê created a new cocktail menu (Lê is also in the process of opening a banh mi shop). Dinner service is already underway; lunch begins Thursday, March 21, with brunch following Saturday, March 30; it’s walk-ins only for now but the restaurant plans to resume taking reservations very soon. Stein’s daughter and son-in-law, Maggie and Rob Wasserman, have owned Rouge since 2006 and bought two other Rittenhouse restaurants, Audrey Claire and Twenty Manning Grill, last year." - Rachel Vigoda