Review long overdue! Just recently came across these pictures from a visit to Rouge, figured I would jump on and give well deserved compliments. Ambiance was great, we sat by one of the windows...music in the background was pleasant, the staff provided professional and friendly. Food was phenomenal, missing a few more pictures of the other items but the drinks and appetizer selections we made were outstanding. Looking forward to go back next time we come to town. Hope all is going well for you and your staff through this pandemic. read more

See all

Rouge is the first restaurant in center city Philadelphia to have tables outside the restaurant like Europe had. I pretended to be in Paris, France, when I went to Rouge. I think former mayor Ed Rendell had a lot to do with making this happen. Started a wonderful new tradition for Philly restaurants. I still go there with friends. The food is delicious and service great! read more

As I was walking, I came upon this establishment. It caught my eye because of the outdoor seating. It had the usual Philly vibe, with the veranda, tastefully decorated with artificial hanging vines. The staff was welcoming and I was seated in an Adirondack chair, with a table awkwardly placed and difficult to reach once my drink and food arrived. I ordered shrimp cocktail, though I kept eying the delicious looking, gigantic hamburger another patron was eating. I simply did not want to end up with it in my lap. And the man was holding his food because of the table situation. Anyway I just dealt with it and got something easier to handle. It did not disappoint. I'll return for the hamburger and sit in a more seat. Oh I only drank I e tea because I knew I'd be hitting a happy hour because that's one of my joys in Philly. read more

Stopped in for brunch. Friendly and attentive service. Particularly during this Covid situation. I had two drinks and two meals. One drink was awesome one meal was awesome. The others were kind of eh. Hibiscus margarita- awesome. Burrata-awesome. The Aperol drink was nothing special and most of it spilled cause of slanted table. Watermelon salad had an ugly presentation. It was just chunks of watermelon and a puddle of feta. I might go back and try again. I didn't hate it, just expected more for the neighborhood and price point. read more

Rouge - Burrata - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

The experience at Rouge started off nice with quick seating right away for my reservation. Unfortunately, the seats inside were so close together that I could hear the conversation of the couple next to me. The food was good, the burger juicy and the chicken entree was healthy although it did not have much flavor. The drinks were good and the overall service was good. The overall experience did not meet my expectations at its price point, especially when being seated almost shoulder to shoulder with another couple. read more

I tried Rouge after it re-opened after going under a renovation, and I really enjoyed it! I hadn't been to Rouge before, so I can't compare the before to after that well. I did like the new atmosphere inside, and it has a similar setting to Parc with open windows and lots of outdoor seating. The lunch menu is a little limited, just because it is very small. They offer smaller plates (besides the burger), that range from all different types of food. We shared the duck wings, and I ordered the endive salad and scallops as my main meal. I would recommend getting at least two of the smaller plates to be full. The burger is huge though, and I would probably get the burger the next time I go. read more

Thank you Rouge for saving our Saturday!! Such an adorable place overlooking Rittenhouse Square. The service is attentive without being overly stuffy. Our server was just a delight - she was kind and smiled and patient as we made decisions. We had a Tartare and The Hamache Crudo - both of which were simply wonderful and beautifully plated. We later split a burger which was cooked perfectly although could have been seasoned more. A note on the service and attention here - we ordered the burger to split and they served it this way - on two plates leaving none of the work for us to carry out at the table. It's details like this that go along way with me - I can't tell you how many times we've order a burger to split and we end up splitting it at the table ourselves. Can't wait to come back here !! They have a Cobb Salad that's in my future !! read more

See all

Bad service. We sat down and 2 tables sat down a good 30 minutes after us and they got their food. We asked the waiter and then asked the manager. The manager was nowhere to be found after we asked. He couldn't even come back and give us status of the order. Wasted close to an hour sitting there. Green Eggs Cafe is on the same strip. Go there instead. read more

Came here randomly and it was super cute. The hostess was super nice and friendly which def was a plus. We were seated outside on like lawn chairs though and there was no proper table to eat and we were there for lunch so I didn't like that part. Took away a star for that. It was uncomfortable and awkward to eat. The decor is cute and waiter was nice. Food is meh but I wasn't expecting it to be anything special. Not sure if I'd come back...maybe just for drinks next time because the seating outdoors is really meant for drinks not for dining. read more

I came here for the second time a few weeks ago and each time was enjoyable and I do recommend to friends (I actually wanted to come back this Saturday for brunch with a friend who has never been but couldn't get a reservation). (I also think this place is pretty nice for a date ;) The place is usually QUITE busy, especially on weekends. The last time I was here, I think the truffle fries stole the show. The four of us at the table loved them. I've sat inside before but last time I was here I wanted to enjoy the sunny day and sit outside. Do not sit near the menu board like we did. We were interrupted twice for waitresses/management to change the menus, this involved them leaning over the entire table and is working out drinks might be spilled. Otherwise the waitresses were very friendly, and one in particular was actually quite funny. Even more than the food, I love the cocktails here, always tasty. Last time the 2 hibiscus sangrias I had hit the spot. Others at the table agreed. read more

See all

Simply the closest thing to eating in Paris . No offense to Parc which I also love. They had the street closed off and got to sit right by Rittenhouse Square. Nice rose champagne by the glass, creamy buratta salad and a perfect cheeseburger with fries to die for. Nice service. What a wonderful afternoon. read more

See all

The fries tasted like the ones they serve at McDonalds, thin, bland and tasteless, they had a side of ketchup and a side of watered down mayo tainted by the ghost of garlic. The bao buns were sad and sloppily put together with a slab of hoisin sauce and a whisper of veg, the tofu tasted like the cold packaged fried tofu you get at the Asian market. Everything tasted like it came from a bag or a jar. You'd think that with those prices they'd try to at least put some effort in the food. Also...MY BUBBLY WINE WAS FLAT!!!! read more

The food is so bland and totally tasteless. This place is Not good at all. I walked in thinking it would be a good place because restaurant had a outdoor seating which was packed. For these prices I would expect better food. The baby gem salad was far from being a baby gem salad. Food is just plain bad. I don't recommend it at all read more

See all

Noisy, obnoxious and expensive. Surly waitstaff. Nothing more than a singles bar. If you want a better experience walk half a block South to Parc. Really disappointed with what Rouge has become. Taking over the whole street is not neighborly either. read more

Great ambience for the outdoor seating area. The best decorated I've ever seen. Felt even fancier than the inside of most restaurants. Cocktails were great and came out fast. This green drink will turn your tongue green FYI. Would come back here to chill. read more

Rouge - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Perfect situated by Rittenhouse Square, this is a great spot to people watch as you eat. It's pretty small inside relative to some other restaurants around the city if you're looking for something intimate. We ordered the Brussels sprouts and calamari to start. Brussels were nicely charred and crispy. Came with pine nuts. The calamari was fried well and enjoyed the aioli that came with it. For my entree, I ordered the salmon. This came with some chopped up bok Choy with a Thai coconut curry. There's definitely a good heat to this dish. Salmon was cooked perfectly and it was a great dish to end my meal. Will need to come back to try the burger that looked massive. read more

Wow. What a disappointment. Loud, inattentive and food was less than stunning. Ran out of burgers at a place supposedly know for its burgers! Cannot make this up. Extremely limited wine list. Amateurish and unable to accommodate a big group properly. I'll reserve judgment for a small group experience but for a larger group - forget it! read more

my 5 star review is given specifically because of a bartender Daria! she is hysterical, relatable and professional!I I enjoy a high end fun experience and that is what you get with Mondays with Daria ..... it's Thing! lol happy hour is fu fun fun! I can't wait to have friends come with to meet new friends. lol read more

Have been here for dinner and Sunday Brunch in the past. But last week I stopped in for a drink with a friend. As always the service was attentive and accommodating. We started at the bar. I love the ambiance here. The place is small and intimate. We were able to get switched to an outdoor table after a short wait. The drink was as ordered. We split the fish tacos. Two to an order, they were the perfect size snack on a warm summer-like evening. And they were delicious. They had a good amount of fish and veggie filling and the ratio was right on. I will be back. read more

Rouge - Fish tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great restaurant in Rittenhouse Square. It's quaint and the service and food are delicious. It's so pretty inside. Think simple elegance. Velvet sofas, big windows, velvet curtains on the walls, pretty Mirrors and cool tables. The tuna tartare is my favorite and their truffle pomme frites are yummy. They have great fish tacos and my dad loves their burger. Sit at the bar on Sunday and ask for Angie! She's a doll. And Jackie is a great waitress if you are at a table. Book a reservation on open table as it's a small restaurant. When the weather is nice sitting outside is a great option too. No matter the weather you'll have a great meal and the view of the park is perfect! read more

See all

Best caesar salad in all of Philadelphia - Make sure you go on a nice day and eat outside!

Katie makes the best espresso martinis & cosmos! We keep coming back just for Katie's drinks. 10/10 would recommend

Stopped in for a mid-day drink and lunch. Excellent service! My husband and I split the BLT, thank goodness - it's huge! Also had the tomato soup - very tasty! read more

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. We made a reservation for 98 Rouge nearly 3 weeks in advance for the outdoor seating area for a Sunday in late April for 6PM. We arrived a few minutes early for a reservation, only to find that someone had made an error and that we had been booked for indoor seating. We begrudgingly agreed to sit inside rather than wait an hour for an outdoor table, and within 30 seconds of sitting down, we flagged down the host to ask to wait an hour (until 7pm) to sit outside instead. The volume of extremely loud, modern music, paired with shouting customers would have made it impossible to hold a conversation on the inside of the restaurant. Luckily, we got a phone call within 30 minutes that there was an outdoor table available and we were seated by around 6:45 outside. The service was reasonably quick and we got our meal within 20-30 minutes of waiting. We really enjoyed the food: the pirogies with salmon caviar were excellent, and my glass of Pinot Grigio was great. However, the customers at this restaurant were so unpleasant that I would not return to 98 Rouge due to the clientele they attract. Very shady gentlemen and women were seated nearby and within earshot. 98 Rouge is clearly a restaurant aimed at providing a "bougey" photo op with bragging rights, rather than catering towards customer needs or the quality of the meal alone. read more

Great ambiance and music! Amazing burger and heavenly french onion soup. The drinks were awesome too - we got the espresso martini and the cider on the square. read more

Chicken breast sandwich was really good! Nice atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating too! read more

Rouge - Blackened Chicken Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Overall, this place is a bit overrated. You're absolutely paying for the ambiance and the proximity to Rittenhouse. The inside is WAY too loud to hold a conversation. The outside is freezing with minimal space heaters. They have a good enough wine list and good food, but it is a bit overpriced. read more

Really nice outdoor seating area and great (if not overpriced) cocktails. The food was just ok. Had the ham & cheese sandwich which was good but not great. The charcuterie board was sub par. read more

It was a nice experience. Like the food and drinks but I think it is overpriced. Still, it is a nice place to get drinks with friends.

Rouge is upscale, yet its diminutive size keeps it casual. (As small as it is, we managed to get 10 people at two tables there) Windows are opened during pleasant weather to let diners enjoy the bustle of people and traffic. Their awning can extend out to the sidewalk to keep away drizzle or a beating sun. A mix of music can be heard, from big band classics, Sinatra, Nat King Cole to 80's rock. Petite appetizer portions but large main plates. Don't be surprised if you have to doggy bag! Considering the average lunch entree price, portion sizes are a welcome treat. Rouge's fare has French, American, Asian, Adriatic, and Middle Eastern flavors. Try their omelettes! Their spring rolls are served sliced with brussel sprouts. They were fine. My main dish (with hummus, sticks of meat, and some dipping sauces) suffered from an identity crisis - or perhaps I didn't know how to read it? The flavors conflicted with one another and I was unfamiliar with the cuisine - imagine biting into whipped cream and tasting shaving cream! Once you get used to the dish, the meal gets better. Rouge makes desserts in-house, with the exception of the heavenly-smooth sorbets and deceptively "simple" gelato --provided by Capogiro. The bold green key lime pie was good - it wasn't a terribly sweet confection. A fellow diner recommended the creme brulee - I noticed the egg taste was disagreeably strong to me, as I'm not a fan of creme brulee. She's a dessert fanatic so I trust her judgment. She raved about the crunchy surface which was done "just right". The bread pudding tasted like a cinnamon bun - if you like cinnamon, you'll be satisfied. Our servers (Christopher and Joanna) were friendly and accommodating. The staff was patient when some of our party arrived late. Lunch itself was leisurely (1.5 hours) - we did not feel rushed to leave. While not outstanding, you will enjoy your meal there. Recommended. read more

See all

My wife and I had dinner here before the Pink concert on St. Patty's Day. When we arrived, we were a bit surprised at how small this place is, but fortunately we had reservations and were seated pretty close to our reservation time. We didn't score a table by the window, but we had a nice comfy couch to sit on along with a velvet lined comfy chair. Their is a small round bar in the middle of this small restaurant, and being St. Patty's Day, it was packed. Between all the people at the bar and the background music, the place was on the loud side. Overall decor of the restaurant was quite lovely though. For an appetizer, my wife and I shared the cheese platter and we went with all five cheeses. Along with the cheeses, you get a lovely jam, grapes, small cubed apricots, and thinly sliced apples. We could have made a meal out of the cheese board...it was very good. For our entrees, we both went the the Rouge burger. This was a big burger and in hindsight, we could have split one. While the quality of the meat was very good, the overall taste was just OK. We both felt it could have used a bit more flavor. The pomes frites were good and I really enjoyed my side of mac-n-cheese. I ordered mine with bacon, but for whatever reason, it didn't come out with bacon. It was still very good and I devoured it. My wife washed her meal down with a Pomegranate Margarita, which she said was very good. Even though we were stuffed, we both ordered dessert. I went with the apple crisp (which was also large and could have been shared) and my wife went with the avocado pound cake, which came mixed fruit compote. Both of our desserts came with ice cream, but we could have used a bit more with our desserts. Both desserts were good along with the french press Monte Carlo coffee we had to wash it down with. Service was very good and our waitress was quite friendly and helpful. Since this is a small restaurant, tables are pretty close together. Bathroom was generally clean, but there were some used paper towels on the floor. Evidently if you've been drinking, it's hard to throw the paper towel in the bin on the floor! The music was BLARING in the bathroom! Overall, we enjoyed our meal and certainly don't regret going, but the burger didn't quite live up to our expectations. read more

Rouge - Mac-n-cheese - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What happened here? The best burger in the city is a 33% smaller, at least. The bread prior to the meal was once a part of the experience. It used to be a hand made baked roll with sea salt butter, and now you pay $3.00 for an Amoroso roll sliced four times. What's with the music? Pumped so loud you can barely hold a conversation, and we were sitting outside??!! What happened here? I didn't mind paying the higher prices when the quality and experience was worth it. Now they are ripping their faithful customers off as bad as a chain restaurant counting french fries. This has all happened Int he last year. Extremely disappointing evening at what was one of our regular favorites. Hate being ripped off. What happened here? read more

I have been coming to rouge for last 15 years.... current Staff thinks all of them are PhDs in virology. I had a vaccination card and one shot but prior that I had actual covid less than 90 days before, so doctor recommended to get only one shot due possible strong immune response. These idiots did not let me in cause of only one shot. This is such a shame - low iq individuals with no ability for analytical thinking dominate our society #Shame read more

The staff are lovely and the food is quite good but just know that the pandemic eating sitaution is not ideal. I had to take a table directly under the menu display outside, so I was subject to everyone basically getting right up against my table and leaning over to read it. That being said, the meal itself was quite good. Pricey but reflected in the quality. I had the chicken sandwich sans avacado which was a delight, and the cauliflower appetizer which I could have had ten more plates of. The deviled eggs were less successfuly; wasn't a fan of the consistency of the yolk mix. Still, all in all a nice meal for $43.20. read more

The absolute worst dinner experience I have ever had since moving to Philadelphia. The food was bland. Fries weren't even hot. Took 10 minutes to get the servers attention for some ketchup. Burger beef had no seasoning. The shrimp sandwich was horrific. Stale bread and once again no seasoning. Even the Diet Coke tasted watered. The service was non existent. Go somewhere else. read more

Rouge - Shrimp Springroll and Rouge Burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I've been to Rouge fairly regularly since they opened and it's always a great experience. I love jewel box-like space, lined with warm drapes, and seating so comfortable you melt into the chairs. Lighting, typically dim, was a little brighter on this gray October day. On a quest to order items I hadn't tried, I ordered the Shakshuka which was delicious. The tomato sauce was spicy and full of flavor with onion, feta and poached eggs. One egg was a little overcooked for my taste but it was nonetheless a flavor explosion, and hearty meal while not heavy. My friends' onion soup was, as always, perfectly caramelized onions sweet with luscious broth and savory melted cheese. It's a favorite go-to. May 6, 2018 Apparently, I can't review a place again so quickly. I had the Rouge burger with truffle fries the other night for the first time in ages. It is an exceptional burger. Definitely my favorite in the area! And those truffle fries are a delicious and worthy indulgence. read more

Rouge - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Have tried to come here more than once and told each time the wait would be more than 60 minutes, so I've gone elsewhere. Came Wednesday night w my partner, sat right at the entrance and it smelled like rotten fish. Partner ordered whiskey and ended up with red wine. He was okay with that, but nevertheless, order totally wrong. Moved to under the tent and while we were instructed to wait until the table got cleaned off another couple proceeded to take two of the 5 chairs. Once seated which we shared the space with the other couple I couldn't hear ANYTHING anyone was saying because the music was SO loud. Seems like it's a place to go just to be 'seen' and have no desire to come back. read more

Good for people who: want to see bachelor lookalikes Bad for people who: want to listen to music that fits the vibe of the place Was hesitant to write a review for this place considering I only got drinks here but eh why not. While you can't currently make reservations (I don't think it's usually like this and it's just because of COVID), you can call ahead of time to put your name on the list. On a Saturday night they told my friend and I that it would be around a 2 hour wait which ended up being pretty accurate. When we got there the hostess was very nice even though it looked like she was pretty stressed from all the running around she had to do. We were seated in the outdoor area under the white tent where they had plants hanging from the ceiling. Idk why but I totally thought they were going to be real plants - all plastic. I mean it still looked really cool and created a great atmosphere but I just would've been super impressed if they were able to upkeep real plants hanging from the tent. My friend and I sat in Adirondack chairs and across from us were people that totally looked like they were on The Bachelor at one point. The guy looked like Tanner Tolbert and while the girl looked like Katie Morton (Colton's season). I was trying to convince myself that it was actually them but I think Tanner has a some kids and is married to somebody else from the bachelor so I came to my senses and decided that they were just commoners like me rather than reality show contestants. While the fake hanging plants were more of a moot point, my friend and I could NOT get over the music choice. For some reason there was an actual DJ at the bar which was completely unnecessary (next time just call me up and I'll aux for y'all for no charge - just feed me and give me drinks) considering it's a sit-down restaurant and they were playing club music. It did not fit the vibe at alllllll. Why would I want to be sitting at a restaurant across from Rittenhouse Square listening to Tiesto and Aviccii??? read more

After the new renovations I'm not a fan. I LOVED the old Rouge. I think the new Rouge is a no for me. The old round bar gave an unusual ambiance looking out over the park. One where you could see the park where ever you sat. The new menu is ok- nothing special. Over all, it probably won't be my go to anymore. I used to go for the vibe and round about seating area which gave it a vintage feel. There's really nothing special about it anymore. read more

Rouge - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sure the spot looks cute enough and anyone who's anyone has heard about the Rouge Berger, but here's the real Steven Stein version! The staff will ignore you and your order will be wrong.... unless you're a Rougeler. Which means that you close the bar down every night, tip with cocaine, party like a rock star (undercover of course) and are sleeping with at least three other staff or Rougelers! Dress: leave little to the imagination and white residue on your nose is key Everyone else: enjoy the cold wrong meal read more