Cool spot but beware of very rude male bartender . Asked him for a julep since it's derby day and he gave me a dirty look and ignored me read more

Rouge - Rude bartender. Beware - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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A fixture on Rittenhouse Square for over a decade, Rouge offers an unrivaled lounging experience in a cozy, ritzy space, and like George Costanza, is not afraid to drape itself in velvet. I could say Rouge suffers from multiple personality disorder or call it a jack of all trades and master of none--but Rouge wears its many hats well, and it's this unique ability that defines it as the apogee of the Square. From brunching outside on a beautiful Sunday morning, to meeting friends after work for a few drinks, mingling with the upscale, eclectic late night crowd, or the start or finish of a romantic evening, Rouge turns on a dime to deliver an experience that suits the moment. The Rouge Burger, a legend in Philadelphia, will melt in your mouth, the cheese plate, so bountiful it's like they stole Zeus' cornucopia and dumped it in your lap, and the Macaroni & Cheese...well I don't think it comes from a blue box. The deft bartenders make a mean martini and the clientele won't fail to satisfy your sartorial curiosities. For these reasons, it's often crowded, but always worth the wait. Lounging, brunching, dining, and drinking; there's no wrong way to Rouge. read more

So I used to go here something like 15 years ago when the clientele was a bunch of twenty something tech hipsters and Sex & the City wannabes. (Yeah, including me - the tech hipsters, that is.) it always amazes me to see places still going strong that I frequented 15 years ago. The clientele sure has changed! But I digress... There are a million amazing places in Philly I'd have liked to check out - I used to live here but live on the West Coast now. But we were short on time and starving as we walked through Rittenhouse, so Rouge it was! We went on a weekday afternoon so it wasn't busy - though our food took surprisingly long to come out given how few people were there. Service was good, good was just slow. Sitting outside people-watching was fun. Also surprising how little honking by Rittenhouse there is these days. Food was good, though! I got the Bibb & Endive salad and shrimp dumplings, both were satisfying. Husband got scallops over risotto that was delicious (I may have tried a bite.) All in all, a decent lunch. read more

One of my alltime favorite restaurants. Rouge is very close to our office, and we have probably eaten there 100 times. I like it every time. It's funny how people do the cutdown thing about the patrons -- I go most of the time in a black t-shirt and jeans (we have an agency) and that works fine with people who are in bespoke. There's a good mix at Rouge. I agree that Tommy, the bartender, is the best. He is efficient and entertaining. The waitstaff is excellent. We went last night with some friends and I can say we had another great time sitting inside in front of the windows. As an added bonus: You can see a lot of Philadelphia and out-of-town glitterati at Rogue. But it's no big deal because they're there so often. What does that tell you? read more

Easily found a table for brunch on a greyish Sunday morning with my sister. Loved the view of Rittenhouse park as the sun started to peek from behind the clouds. Service was great, eye contact and a smile. The eggs benedict were OK. Good, not great. I ordered the truffle parmesan frites on the side and that turned out to be my favorite part of brunch. SO GOOD. I'd like to try the burger one day. Something I thought was odd was a smell from the outside that I normally associate with hobos. Looking around I noticed that a rug was covering a vent on the pavement (some of the air was escaping). I believe that was the source of the smell. read more

Food: Ordered rouge burger, truffle fries, and seasonal pumpkin gnocchi. The burger was cooked medium rare as requested but fell apart instantly as the buns absorbed the juice. The pattie was really thick and juicy yet somehow the burger still ended up being dry. We ordered truffle fries but were given plain fries. They were replaced and on the house. The truffle fries weren't any different though. I found the fries over cooked and dry. Truffle flakes didn't make them any better. Gnocchi was a small but heavy dish. Full of flavor but way too much flavor. Needed something simple and clean to pair with it. Has a hint of Asian cuisine flavors. Service: Slow server. He got our order wrong but apologized and replaced the fries on the house. read more

I finally lost my Rouge virginity over brunch with a view of the square. Sat outside on a Saturday at noon and enjoyed the mushroom truffle scramble accompanied by a very well made Bloody Mary. Can't beat the people watching, and the service is quick and accommodating. The eggs benedict here are great, too. Nice portion sizes and the ambiance can't be beat. I'll be back, especially with warm weather upon us.. read more

I love a burger and a beer and as EVERYONE in Philly knows, this place has one of the best. Sure it's double the price of a burger anywhere else but it's worth it. Rather than rehash what all the other reviewers said I'll leave it at that. kathy t has a good review that gives you the low-down on the burger scene. read more

For better or for worse I have been doing to this place since it opened. It had its ups, it had its downs... Probably about four years ago its dfood/dt became negative. Bar stayed great... and since contrary to popular belief the number of decent brunch places in the center city where one can blow a few hours every weekend is actually quite small I kept going ... and going... and going. It is as if a few months ago a light bulb went off in someone's head. That someone must have thought "There was a time when food at Rouge did not suck! There was a time when burger if ordered medium rare came out medium rare and not raw! There was a time when during brunch one did not have to figure out how Israeli salad ended up next to inedible calmari-type thing because neither of those things would have been on a menu to begin with! We must bring a chef that cooks food instead of hitting on the guests! Even better, why not bring a chef that used to run it!" The food improvements are magnificent - the yolks of eggs Benedict actually run when cut, tuna tartare has taste, the brunch menu no longer resembles the creation of a dropout from culinary arts school after a week-long bender. See, it only took getting a real chef (M. Yeamans) , who , dare I say it, prefers cooking to sitting like a peacock in front of the restaurant which the previous "rebel"-chef was famous for. Slowly but surely it is getting back where it should have always been. read more

I came here by myself for dinner and sat at the bar. This was a good choice for solo dining; plenty of small tables and bar seats, and lots of options for wines by the glass. My food--lobster fra diavolo with housemade pasta--was delicious. I probably would have liked it just a touch spicier, but other than that it was pretty perfect; perfect portion size, plenty of lobster, and well-cooked pasta. The wines-by-the-glass list included choices starting at $10, and both of the ones I tried were tasty. The complimentary bread was a bit hard and could have benefited from a toss in the oven, but it was still tasty. My only complaint about Rouge is how cramped and crowded it is. It was not full to capacity when I went, but it was still uncomfortable sitting at the bar and having people constantly bump me trying to negotiate the small space. If they ever decide to do a big renovation, I bet they could make this place much more ergonomic. read more

Beautiful evening in Philly, we couldn't wait to check out the "new" Rouge, as it was one of our favorite places in the city, especially on a gorgeous night! Definitely miss the circular bar, being able to look at the park and people watch at the same time. Does not have the same sex appeal or ambience. As for the food, very disappointing! All four dishes were overly salted. The octopus was like a rubber band, so tough and chewy. Even the bread that accompanies the cheese plate was nothing special. It's ashame! read more

The food is good, the location is good and the service was also good. You get what you pay for at Rouge and it seems fair. I had heirloom tomato salad with mozarella cheese and my very handsome friend had the lunch portioned scallops. Both items are just enough to fill you up and the price range isn't so bad - the scallops I believe were $14 for 2pcs of medium sized scallops and moral mushrooms+asparagus and the tomato salad was $13...I think. We had a couple drinks, too. I don't know a whole a lot about wine but I drink wine occasionally and I really like their wine list. Praise Jovly Vouvray!! The venue is pretty tiny but everything is velvet and makes you feel like you should be snobby and pretentious. So I did. :p P.S. I know Rouge burger is big and delish but I did not get this because I could always get them at 500 degrees. ;) read more

Rouge's creator and founder, Neil Stein, is a crazy genius. Now that Starr owns it, it's lost a star (oh yes, the pun). Still a fancy looking, upscale restaurant on THE square, but its service and "je ne sais quoi" have lost some of its sparkle. Same applies to the Striped Bass. Nevertheless, scene-sters and wannabe scene-sters (I can't tell the difference) love this staple of Rittenhouse. Food is delicious. Mussels are top quality. Great view right on the Square for people watching, sunlight, trees, grass, and dogs. read more

Finally stopped into Rouge for one of their ballyhooed burgers with my friend, a musician and videographer visiting from Brooklyn. I had just learned of my admission to grad school, so I was in high spirits. I love Rittenhouse dining, regardless of how stuffy the crowd can be, and Rouge is now one big reason why. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I was here a year earlier for a beer and some appetizers, but never actually completed my review here. Whenever I've gone, the place was relatively small and rarely packed, which I actually prefer, especially in lieu of its gargantuan, almost cafeteria-esque neighbors. The decor is refined and slightly conservative, but pleasant nonetheless. You'll look out of place if not dressed "casually," but only if you pay attention to such ridiculous things. THE DRINKS: I had one of their cocktails made with Root, a local Philly spirit fans of dark stuff like Jager will appreciate. It was very cool, defusing the aftertaste to leave only the finer points of the spirit's aroma. I've also downed lager here a few times, great place to enjoy a couple beers in a relaxed, upscale environment, especially when the windows are open to the park (rain or shine being equally nice). APPETIZERS: Got the lobster spring rolls, they were very good, super crispy, but a little undersized...not like we needed anything more before the burger. THE BURGER: I say the Burger and not the food because they have an entire menu of what I'd imagine is probably pretty decent fare, but since I went with the cheapest and most typical thing on the menu, it should be specified as such. That said, holy @%#$ do they make a good burger and fries! It is massive, for one thing, one of those deals where you have to approach it at an angle, only people with massive heads can rock a full bite. I'm talkin Shaq sized domes...what the Israelis would call a certain, "rosh gadol." The fries were heavenly as well, served with a wire stand in wax paper, perfect companion to this behemoth burger. THE SERVICE: Our server, Lauren, was very nice, responsive and courteous. Either I've been getting lucky, or I haven't been out enough (probably the latter), but I haven't had major issues with service while eating out for a while. THE BOTTOM LINE: I recommend this place for a burger, especially to people who, like me, try to avoid burgers for most of the time...this is where you go to indulge once or twice a year. It's also a great spot to have a relatively intimate place to unwind that won't hit your wallet as hard as some of the other joints on Rittenhouse square. read more

I was a college idealist barbacking at Rouge to subsidize my art historical leanings. Working here was a nightmare: I was the worst barback Philadelphia has ever seen, and this late-night hot spot made for some very long nights. I hated serving steaming hot burgers and frites to gaggles of partiers. I wanted to consume everything I put on their tables --- the butter, the mussels, the champagne...eight years later, I ate my first meal as a paying customer. In town for a conference, I arrived late in Philly and knew of only one place that would serve me decent food on a snowy Saturday. I ordered a Plymouth and ginger to fend off the chill. I helped myself to the delicious butter and bread I used to sneak during my long nights, and used it to mop up the broth from the mussels. And I couldn't believe it --- the mussels were amazing. I figured my college inexperience made the food look and smell better than it was. But now that my palette is more refined than the mac 'n cheese and top ramen I used to crave, I can safely say these mussels ranked among the best I've ever had. The waitresses all made it look so much easier than I'd remembered. My old nemesis had softened throughout the years. The gin probably didn't hurt, either. read more

The worst service ever! We had a Saturday brunch reservation that was done 3 weeks in advance, we arrived early and they gave us the smallest foldable "stool table" to eat brunch on while the other tables were completely free and the waitress kept telling us the other tables were the same which made zero SENSE. Will never return to this place! read more

We are extremely disappointed with the way we were treated at rouge. We made a reservation 3 weeks in advance snd traveled an hour and a half to eat here. We specifically requested a large table outside and were informed our request would be accommodated. Once we arrived, we were given two tiny stools to eat off of. When we informed the hostess that we reserved a large table, she denied our request. Finally, she agreed to at least ask the manager, but returned within minutes saying the other tables are exactly the same. We could clearly see that they were larger, but she refused to move accommodate us. Never coming back!!! Be warned, do not waste your time here!! read more

Rouge Bar Score: 21 Burger Quality: 5 Bun: 4 Fries: 4 Extras: 4 Value: 4 2 Sentence Review: Great burger...you will taste the seasoning on the fries for days. Atmosphere is similar to my Aunt Pats dining room. ------------------------------------------- How does Burger Einstein's rating system work? - Burgers are rated across 5 categories (see below) - Category scores can range from 0 to 5, with 5 being "Outstanding". - Total score (out of 25) is determined. Scores above 20 earn 5 Stars (rare), between 16 and 20 gets 4 stars and so on Burger Einstein Categories 1. Burger Quality: Good meat or Bubba Burger? 2. Bun: Does it compliment the burger or overwhelm it? 3. Fries: Do I accept the guilt or compare them to my Ex 4. Extras: Wild card. Could range from Cheese to bourbon to atmosphere 5. Value: Burger cost relative to smiles (heavily influenced by how much bourbon I drink) read more

Underwhelmed - especially for the price. Server came after almost 15 minutes after we were seated, and only one other time after we ordered food... and we had to request the check. The food was decent, but not what we expected. One of the bass plates had bones in it, and the amount of fish on the plate was laughable (we actually laughed when it got put down on the table). It was literally 4 bites of fish. The drinks however were delicious. Ambience was the best part - guess that's what you pay for? 2.5/5 but I rounded up to 3 because I got a great selfie there with a drunk guy in sweat pants with his hands down his butt crack. read more

I have been curious about Rouge for a long time, I was apprehensive about trying it considering they do not take reservations, and was concerned that they would be very busy and have a long wait. However when walking past the restaurant I was delighted to see that there were several open tables. Upon entering the atmosphere was very luxurious and had a elegant feel to it. However it is a very small space, the hostess seated us at a table which was right adjacent to the bar area, it didn't leave much room for comfort. I inquired about the 3 open tables by the window which were open, but was told "they are spoken for". For a place that "doesn't" take reservations this was disheartening. We decided to stay even though the hostess seemed to have an attitude at this point. We ordered the Rouge Burger and the Gnocchi. The burger was delicious, however I think it was very overpriced. The burger ended up being $18, and the Gnocchi was delicious but also overpriced for the serving. The sever was very pleasant and attentive with our drinks, however disappeared when it was time to take the check. Overall, the food was good but overpriced and the hostess's attitude was unnecessary considering how many excellent restaurants there are in the area for either the same money or less. Those tables sat empty for our entire meal, and other patrons left the restaurant because they wouldn't seat them at those tables instead of packing them in like sardines. I only gave it 2 stars because the food and server was good. I used the email on the website about our seating/hostess issue and received no response. I won't be returning there ever again. read more

I have been here twice now. Once for a company holiday lunch and recently for drinks. Both times service was awful. My boss sent back his steak three times! How embarrassing for the poor guy to have to do this in front of everyone he works with. The most recent time was this past Saturday with a group of friends. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and water. My lone water came but no one else was brought water!!...I jokingly asked my friends if they wanted a sip. Lol. When I mentioned to the waiter about 10 minutes later that everyone had ordered water, he gave me a huge amount of attitude. It took another 15 minutes for him to bring everyone water-seriously?? It's hot out and the restaurant was not even full. There were several empty tables... We finally ordered and the waiter brought drinks about 20 minutes later. Only one person at our table of 5 liked their drink and we each tasted each other's...not even not good but bad!!! Bitter and distasteful. I went to the bathroom (which for a nice place like Rouge is a quite a sore sight). Small dingy bathroom, with old half working fixtures. No place to hang or put your purse or bag (it's a big no no to make people put it on the icky floor!) the faucet handle does not turn off unless you balance it into the middle?, the air hand dryer blower thingy is gross and has black standing water in the bottom. There was smashed glass in the front of the toilet-not sure what happened in there before I had the privilege of being in there. This is supposed to be a nice place! Everyone at the table started complaining about the awful service so we decided it was time to leave and will not be back. read more

What I go to Rouge for is the burger. It's right on Rittenhouse Square and when the weather is nice, it's beautiful to sit outside in one of the chairs with a burger and fries and people watch the day away. The burger is on a challah roll, with caramelized onions, and gruyere cheese. The burger itself is piled high... very high. You basically have to unlock your jaw to take a bite. The patty itself must be several inches thick. The burger is juicy and cheesy, and the onions are sweet and go well with the burger. The fries are also very good here. Definitely a must try if you're a burger fan. read more

Dinner here on an uncrowded Sunday night was really chill and enjoyable. You walk into the sumptuous but unstuffy dining room and think: "ahhhhhh. relax time! and why yes I think I'll have a martini." Server was cool. Calamari for our appetizer was the best thing about the meal and so fresh n' so clean clean tasting we got 2 of 'em. Crispy, fresh sea taste, could've used maybe a pinch more salt. My french onion soup (I always look forward to french onion soup) wasn't the richest tasting version I've ever had. I kept taking multiple slurps thinking, "ok, the next one will be a burst of onion-y goodness, " but sadly no. There was plenty of melted Gruyere cheese, but hadn't been crisped up under the broiler quite long enough. I got the famous burger that everyone raves about but surprisingly it was kinda bland, and at 16 bucks, a little $$$ey. It was HUGE but the patty was pretty underseasoned and the ground beef sort of had a strange consistency... I can't really describe it, but let me put it this way: I had 2 bites where I might have bitten into some kind of gristle that found its way into the burger. Yeah, weird. Anyway, the bun was tasty and fries were REALLY nicely crisped and salted just right. I had to ask for a side of mayonnaise which is always annoying. Um, who eats their burgers plain? Yeah, no one. Mishaps aside, it's a relaxing place and I could see myself falling into one of the comfy booths maybe one night a week if I lived here. read more

Although I've never been to a country club, I imagine that Rouge must be something like it. Pricey, exclusive, and filled with ladies who lunch or accompanied by their blazer wearing husbands. I should have known we were in for something else when a Tuesday lunch was greeted by the hostesses with "Do you have a reservation?" Um, lunch, Tuesday, hamburger...reservation?? In any case, we had heard that the burgers were some of the best in Philadelphia, so we had to find out for ourselves. However, Rouge's burgers were nothing but average. First, the meat was under-seasoned. You would think that with gruyere and caramelized onions, the burger would be anything but bland, but neither added or complemented the burger as a whole. Second, the meat was a bit dry and fell apart. I ordered the burger at medium, but the juices ran out making the bun soggy, leaving the meat dry and in pieces. Third, $20 including tax and tip for burger and fries is outrageous when the meat is anything less than top quality. Give me Village Whiskey's or Bobby's Burger Palace over Rouge's burger any day. It's a beautiful restaurant with friendly staff, but as a lady who tastes, I can do without Rouge. read more

I LOVE the burger at rouge. Sometimes I even wake up after dreaming about it... LOL. The ambience is perfect if u sit outside.. youre right on rit house sq and sure to see who's who of philly stroll by or be even sitting next to you enjoying their own burger. the service IMO is just OK... alot of times the servers will congregate by the entrance and be chatting and laughing which just takes away from the whole experience. the cheese plate is a great choice for an app if u just want to go there for a pre din drink and snack. sitting outside at rouge or on the inside/outside spot is fantastic; however, sitting at the tables all the way inside reallyreally pale in comparison. If rouge could expand i think theyd really go up a level. when i sat inside once it was so dark i couldnt see the menu well and i have almost 20/20 perfect vision.. this review so far seems negative but i really do think rouge is a great spot to stop with friends for a drink!! they really just need a face lift of the interior and some fresh training for the staff. the potential is endless in their prime location. oh and the truffle fries are amazing dont go without getting an order!! buon appetito! :) read more

I visited Rouge with a friend for Sunday brunch. The typical brunch type options on the menu weren't too enticing, so I opted for something more lunchy on the menu and ordered the lamb burger. The burger was huge and impossible to eat as an actual sandwich, so I ended up having to cut it up. The burger by itself was good, cooked well and juicy. The bread was soggy though, the lettuce limp and the tzaziki sauce not too flavorful. It came with fries which were overly salty for my liking. The mimosa was fine, but really how can you mess up a mimosa? The service was decent but honestly I don't get the appeal of this place. I don't mind spending a few extra bucks for a nice meal and a fancy atmosphere, but the food here does not warrant the price. Brunch options were minimal and overpriced. Maybe it's better for dinner and a view, if you can snag a table outside when the weather is nice. read more

A true pioneer when it comes to the Philly restaurant scene. This is the restaurant that introduced outdoor sidewalk seating to Center City Philly way back in 1998 and showed that a good restaurant could attract a hip young crowd along with an older crowd until late night. Back then the top restaurants were geared solely towards an older crowd. On 18th St. at the time Devon was a Houlihans, Parc was a crappy restaurant I've forgotten, there was no Barclay Prime, A. Kitchen, Dandelion, Serafina, Continental Mid Town, or DiBrunos. The popularity of Rouge changed everything. To this day it is the best restaurant for people watching. Both people watching of locals around Rittenhouse Square, or celebrities. I remember when Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz caused a stir at Rouge. I've actually seen too many celebrities to mention going into that restaurant when I lived in the apartment building next door. If you eat inside you will find that the ambiance is wonderful, with very plush seats and impeccable service from the staff. All of the food I have tried at Rouge has been good, but I always come back to the burger and truffle fries. The burger is the thickest burger you will find in the city, and despite its thickness its amazingly juicy. The juice will run down your arm, assuming you don't make the mistake of ordering it well done (the same as ordering it burnt). The burger practically melts in your mouth despite the thickness. I have no idea how they do it.The truffle fries are amazing as well. When I finish the fries I want to lick the truffle oil from my fingers. People tend to re-write history when it comes to Philly's food and restaurant renaissance and give Stephen Starr all the credit with his opening of the first Continental in Old City. But it was actually Neil Stein's opening of Rouge that was more influential. It's a shame he had tax problems and no longer owns it. read more

It's really sad for me because Rouge used to be one of my favorite places. This was before I knew of Yelp so I never reviewed. After my last visit, however, I was left with my blood boiling and vouching to leave a "fair" review. The only reason this review is getting 3 stars is because I added a star for the atmosphere. I still love the intimacy, darkness and comfort Rouge offers. Sitting outside to people-watch is great as well, if you can get a table. Inside, you will find some interesting characters; from people with money to punks with mohawks. I was here recently with three other people for a late bite / drink. Our waitress was friendly. She was prompt with the drinks, probably because it was so empty. I ordered a pomegranate margarita and it was great. My husband ordered a Moscow Mule and to my surprise, it was not served in a copper mug as supposed to. Considering the price I would imagine that it should be. We were given a warning that the kitchen was closing down in five minutes and we proceeded to quickly order. We got sliders and an order of fries to share. The sliders were completely and utterly overcooked to well done and the cheese was dry and crusty. It seemed as though it melted on top of the burger at some point but then hardened back up. The fries were just awful. Basically we got the fries at the end of the basket; some were long but mostly many tiny broken up pieces that were crusty and old. Most of the long fries were extremely greasy and cold. This food situation was completely unacceptable in my book! I know we came in late, but I would have rather been turned away for food service vs. given someone elses old order. Not cool Rouge, not cool. I could have overlooked the bad food experience if we were not rudely kicked out on to the street. There was no last call really. We were warned they were closing but asked to sit inside while waiting for the car to arrive. We were asked to wait outside meanwhile "the regulars" were still at the bar. read more

GQ named Rouge's burger one of the 20 you must eat before you die. If you are in Philly and still alive, I think you better head to the Square. In warm weather (and even fall with heat lamps lining the sidewalk) diners eat outside, Fido by their side. Brunch here is incredible, as is breakfast. I would skip dinner, however, and wait until the late night drinking crowd arrives -- always an attractive scene. read more

Do not get any of the following if you expect/want a caloric intake greater than 200 calories: 1. Beet salad $14, mediocre -- I estimate this was maybe 4oz., 150 calories 2. Spring roll (Lamb and pork, or something) $13, less than mediocre -- Estimate less than 4 oz,, 175 calories For $14 in Philly, you can get a well prepared and flavorful *MEAL*. After getting the completely unsatisfying beet salad and 3 oysters -- Total $27, I asked the server for a menu and then asked how many pieces were included in the spring roll -- She said 6. There were, in fact, 6 separate pieces -- It was *ONE* spring roll cut into 6 pieces -- $13! For $40 (not including tax & tip) what do you get -- Almost nothing. Why go here? Go to Parc, which is right next door -- Much nicer, livelier atmosphere, servers who are helpful, better tasting food, more of it, and an infinitely better value for your money. Oh yeah, and a better looking clientele. Stay away from Rouge, it's just plain stupid. read more

The interior of Rouge is one of my favorite things. Just the right amount of velour to make it borderline gaudy, without going over the top. Service was great during a busy lunch period. They allowed my mom and I to split the burger. The tricky part of this is that my mom is gluten-free and they made my half of the burger still on the bun. Fries were delicious. Wine was excellent. read more

Very disappointing. I think the reputation has passed the results. We went Sunday morning for brunch. After being informed we couldn't sit at the "reserved" table (which remained empty the entire time), we sat inside. I had the sausage omelet which sounded good, however, had no taste and was absurdly expensive (for having no taste, wouldn't have cared about price if it was good). Wife ended up with egg whites and did not like it at all, coffee wasn't good either. Frankly, we were annoyed and disappointed. I've enjoyed some good burgers in the past. Service was fair. They better get it together...they have real competition down the street...It isn't the only game in town. read more

Sanitary disaster - mice running around the restaurant-While you have terrible obnoxious service and an owner who says he is too busy running is restaurant empire. Mice, Ignorance , Arrogance with service that is 1 star and yes I mean 1 Star. It's is Where do I start, I start at mice that scurry across the dining room while the bartender screams at you to "shut the f*** up" while her boyfriend who is a constant fixture of each of her shifts tells me he is going to kick my a** if I say a word, as I laughed out loud. I have been going to Rouge since it opened when the real restauranteur Neil ran the establishment, Since Rob has taken over all I have seen was the place go down hill and fall apart with a bar that is a falling apart and most likely covered in mold. After spending a good amount of money in this establishment you might expect service but the ignorance of ownership that flows down to employees shows throughout the entire restaurant. Yes they have an A plus location but the food sucks and they expect you to just show up. I know people like to be seen but to be seen it this mice whole with and owner who is indignant and doesn't care about his clients. The bartender who works Sunday through Tuesday night is a total bitch and only cares about herself. When I told her we were going away for 3 weeks she said Omg you are going to effect my income. Last Saturday when I was walking down 18th street the manager said where have you been I said I will never come back without a written apology and she started a fight next to my home. While her general manager said nothing. There was a simple solution and said how do we fix this situation and we could have spoken. I sent the owner a text and gave them every opportunity to fix the situation. Rob Wasserman the owner said I am sorry but offered not a single remedy like how do I fix this. Didn't offer me a drink an appetizer, so my money will be spent at places that actually care. If you want to spend $20 dollars for a glass of wine and have have mice running around with rude service this is your place. I will never ever go back again. What a disgrace of service, what a disgrace of professionalism, what a disgrace of everything I was taught that is right. Run fast unless you want the same service and their bar is falling apart with mold all over it. Have fun my friends but this is truthful. #98rouge #rougephilly #rouge98 #rittenhouse #rittenhousepark read more

So i have a love affair with Rouge. I meet it at night, when my husband is away, and we sit, and sip red wine and indulge in my guilty pleasure: the burger with truffle fries. the meal conquers me every time, but they cook a burger to specs. If you order a medium, expect a medium cooked burger. the wine list is adequate glass wise, with a real flair for the french (obviously) and less so with the italian and spanish (haven't had the chilean yet). i have cheated, and brought others here, and always been impressed. Specials like a tomato salad with real heirloom tomatoes, in their random colors and sweetness, not overdressed, but pleasantly peppered and salted with a little oil and vinegar compliment. Soups have always been a special treat, too. What also appeals to me is the service, which never goes without a smile, pleasant and sincere, from everyone on the staff that i have met. The Klimt style mirror on the wall behind the bar and low candle light make it feel like a romantic getaway, and it is warm, even in winter (provided you are at the far end of the room). Expectedly over priced fare for the locale, it offers a good alternative to yet another Steven Starr monstrosity (which have all lost my favor over the past year or two with their mediocre at best, applebees style french/japanese/middle eastern/american/chinese fares). Some may not like the burger, but i agree with the majority like a herd member: best burger i have ever eaten. maybe it's because the lust of a forbidden lover that leaves you full up for hours, is one that can only be indulged rarely, and when absolutely needed for one's sanity. read more

Great experience & location. Friendly staff. I've been there before and after the renovation. One of the most laid back quality restaurants in Rittenhouse. Would def recommend! Thanks! read more

I have NO idea how this place has 4 stars, it was horrid! I am actually writing the review as I sit at the table waiting on them to take our check with so much unfinished food. My friend ordered the eggs benedict which came with fried potatoes. The fried potatoes were not prepared correctly, they were boiled and drenched with olive oil. The eggs benedict was mediocre at best. I ordered the Rouge Burger, let me just tell you, I am a burger girl. This THING was tasteless and boring. Our bill with no drinks or tip was over $40...now we are walking to another nearby spot to have a real brunch. Do yourself a huge favor and go somewhere else. In my friend's words: I want to throw up. I want to throw up for multiple reasons. 1. It was disgusting 2. I was just done in the ass for $45 3. I have to go wait in line somewhere else. read more

Been on a burger quest for a while now and Rouge has been on my hit list for many many months and the anticipation and expectations couldn't have been any higher. Burger; Disappointed. Throughout, genuinely and intrinsically disappointed. The quality of the beef was pretty good. I have to say the burger itself was too big. The term too big is something I normally never use in the same sentence as food but just too big. It came with lettuce, tomato and cheese. Couldn't really taste anything. There was just no signature taste that made you say "damn this is a good burger!". It was basically like just eating for the sake of eating something and at $16 a pop, I'm sorry but I just deserve something more. I've had MANY better tasting burgers in this city and for around $10. Very disappointed and this will be a one shot deal for me. Sorry Rouge, but Royal Tavern has you guys SMOKED! You guys don't even hit my top 10 in the city. read more

After being home from my vacation to Paris, I was really craving a Parisian-style café for a drink and Rouge was exactly what I was looking for. They décor looks just like something you'd find in Paris and they offer some delicious cocktails. I tried to the Fresa Chopin Vodka which was refreshing and delicious. I'm always a sucker for St. Germaine. My husband had the Moscow Mule which was also very tasty. I would love to come back for brunch or dinner next time to try their food in addition to some more cocktails. read more

Rouge is definitely one of my favorite in the city. Its cozy and chic - come for lunch and take a seat by the window, people watch with an ice tea and a nice salmon burger (one of my favorites) or come around happy hour and squeeze in at the bar for one of their signature cocktails and a great cheese plate along with a seared tuna salad (delicious!) Its small so sometimes harder to get a good seat than other spots but worth the wait. Also a tight squeeze around tables to get to the bathroom etc can get a little loud too.. The service is excellent and the food is on point. read more

I only had the Buger, and it is very good. Their fries compliment the burger very well and head more towards the crispy end of the spectrum than the soft end. Not much else to say. The service was spot on and eating the burger outside on a nice day was awesome. read more