Ugh! First off, read my reviews. I honestly don't remember when I've left a two star review. During Covid, I decided that I was no longer in the business of leaving less than glowing reviews. It's hard out there. I'm not going to take my grievances out on a business if I believe owners are trying. Therefore, I review honestly those that I think you should attend for a beautiful meal. I review those that meet my standards (because who am I? I haven't put my hard earned money into opening a restaurant and hoping that it works). If I'm unsatisfied, I generally just don't review. I'll point you to the beautiful places and if I don't like it, I just let it be. I still stand by this. I want to promote businesses.
However, if I feel like people come with their hard earned money and are getting way less than what they pay for then it's a different game. This restaurant is on the higher end. What does one get? Average. Maybe, on some level, less than that.
I took a walk around center city today and passed by Rouge. I remembered having a burger there (probably 10 years ago?) that blew my socks off. Today was beautiful and glowy and I decided right then and there that I wanted to revisit this place. I texted my youngest daughter to meet me there and I got a reservation for 7:15.
I showed up, gave my name to the hostess who checked my reservation and I was being directed to a table when I hear my daughter yell, "mom!". She was seated and checked in. How was that missed? No big deal, but it was a sign of things to come. I joined my daughter and eventually we put in our order with a server who barely looked at us. It was odd. Ok. Still, I'm patient and if the food is good, well, the odd waiter gets a pass.
It wasn't. I ordered the burger and honestly, I've had better at classic burger houses. There is absolutely nothing special about this 27 dollar burger. I asked for medium rare and the center wasn't even pink. I asked for salt because it tasted under seasoned. And the fries? I could have the same taste from a frozen bag from Aldi that I throw on a cookie sheet for the oven. My daughter ordered the steak (again, cooked well, no pink) and the chimichurri sauce was super salty. The nine dollar side of brócoli was boiled broccoli with zero seasoning. Crazy.
And is this a club? A bar? A restaurant? The fist pumping music coming out the restaurant was confusing. I can totally acquiesce that it's not my scene but I'm paying high end dinner costs.
The check that was dropped at our table was someone else's and stated that we owed $250. I tried to address it promptly and approached an empty hostess stand. Turns out, I passed the hostess on my way to the hostess stand, chatting on the steps with other employees. Call me crazy, but it all seems so unprofessional. Again, if these prices were mediocre bar fare this review would be 100 percent different.
I felt taken advantage of, so I'm now trying to bring a bit of justice to those who might come for a semi-high-end experience only to find that their money brought them an average bar in Philadelphia disguised as a place to indulge in good food. Sorry. I do not recommend. read more