Rouge

Rouge has set the tone for dining on Rittenhouse Square since opening in 1998. Husband and wife owners Maggie and Rob Wasserman’s commitment to quality ingredients and great preparation has reinforced the restaurant’s status time and time again as a destination for a truly standout meal. Rouge is the Square’s original dining destination and the bistro remains a favorite among locals and...

The best sidewalk seats for a hot day are those shaded by the black-and-white awning. During brisk weather, outdoor heaters warm sidewalk diners.

Dinner is served until 1am Tuesday through Saturday and till midnight Sunday and Monday.

Rouge combines a see-and-be-seen bar atmosphere with a seductive dining room and sidewalk seating to create one of the most happening spots on Rittenhouse Square. Chef Sam Noh presides over the compact kitchen, turning out food familiar and fresh. Noh brings some global touches to the Euro menu that includes a creative pho made with dashi broth, fish tacos and steak tartare with pastrami spice....

The "original Rittenhouse bistro", this "sophisticated" New American is popular for its "mouthwatering" burgers, plus "entertaining people-watching" from "see-and-be-seen" sidewalk tables with "lovely" views of the park; the "dark", "atmospheric" room is "elegant", but a bit "cramped", while the service is "top-notch", though a few see red over "snobby" attitudes.

This circular, velvet-curtained white bar is known for its roasted chicken, chiffon-thin carpaccio of beef on pristine arugula, and lavish, caramelized onions and gruyere-topped $16 hamburger. A stylish crowd gathers at the cafe tables along the sidewalk from April through October to sip and flirt. Tip:  Please don't come here without your most expensive shoes and bag.

There's Rouge in every cosmo city. Not literally, it's not a franchise, but you'll find similar menus of wasabi tuna, gruyere burger and expensive Chardonnay in SoHo, Chicago and certainly San Fran. While you can rack up a bill pretty quickly, it can be worth it if you snag one of the coveted outside tables. Inside's fine to, the handsome oval bar affords similar views of upscale people looking...

Located on Rittenhouse Square, the outdoor seating at Rouge offers a fresh environment to dine on French fare and sip a glass of fine wine. Wines of exquisite vintage enhance the delicate entrees of traditional and contemporary French seafood, poultry and beef dishes. Prices tend to be on the high side but are not exorbitant for a restaurant in the Rittenhouse area. Popular day and night, the...