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Bar Chelou, Pasadena, CA

Bar Chelou

4.8
4.8
432 Reviews
$50 and over
Contemporary French
A photo of Bar Chelou restaurant

Bar Chelou

4.8
$50 and over
Contemporary French
Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 56 times today
  • Innovative
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Lively
Bar Chelou is a neo-bistro that is both a distillation of Chef Doug Rankin's broad gastronomic interests and a deeply personal expression of his individualistic style.

'Chelou' (French slang for ‘strange’ or ‘unexpected’) is both the name and unifying theme of the restaurant, which draws from a range of culinary traditions and service styles to create something personal, novel, and fun.

The restaurant is located within the Pasadena Playhouse complex. If you plan to visit the Playhouse after dinner, please book a 5:30p reservation to ensure ample timing for your dinner. We also offer concession cocktails before a showing and during intermission.

NEED TO KNOW
Wine corkage is $30 per 750ml bottle with no limit; we do not offer corkage for wines featured on our wine list.

Ample parking is available on surrounding streets and at several paid lots within a one-block radius.

Gift cards are available for purchase on our website.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French, European, Spanish
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (626) 808-4976
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Neighborhood
    Pasadena
  • Cross street
    Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 432 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Pasadena

    Best Overall

  • Pasadena

    Best Food

  • Pasadena

    Innovative

  • Pasadena

    Romantic

  • Pasadena

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Chelou offers a delightful dining experience with "excellent food" and "amazing ambiance." Located near the Pasadena Playhouse, it's a perfect spot for pre-theatre meals. Diners rave about the "crispy potatoes" and "delicious cocktails." While the noise level can be high, the "friendly service" and inventive dishes make it a memorable visit.

432 Reviews
  1. Charles

    Palm Springs

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great place for innovative small plates and good wines.

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  2. michael

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Every dish was amazing. So much fun. The trout is incredible.

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  3. Martin

    Los Angeles

    417 reviews

    4.0

    417 reviews

    Dined on November 22, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bar Chelou is a very handsome space with a warm and festive vibe. The service from all staff is very friendly and professional. The cuisine, while very good, is somewhat limited in scope. I would’ve liked to see more fresh vegetable selections as well as more main entree choices. I also don’t like restaurants that have many two-tops arranged so that one member of the party faces a wall, limiting that diner’s appreciation of the full atmosphere. Those quibbles aside, it’s a very appealing place, maybe more for drinks than dining at this point.

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  4. Jennifer

    Los Angeles

    29 reviews

    5.0

    29 reviews

    Dined on November 20, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been to Bar Chelou a few times but they have really hit their stride. The service was on point, the drinks were fun and delicious, and the food was incredible. Every dish had an unexpected twist, from the mini peperoncinis in the salad to the tang of peanut butter in the carrots to the umami in the tempura mushrooms, lovely surprises all around! And they coursed everything out beautifully and got us to the show at the Playhouse right on time, chef’s kiss!

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  5. Dan

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious and service was great and helpful to pick the right things. My only thought is the pricing was a bit high for the portion sizes, particularly with the mains.

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  6. Yvette

    Orange County

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love this place! The vibe is great, the staff are wonderful, and the food is delicious! It has become one of my favorite spots to frequent, especially when attending a show at the Playhouse since it is right next door.

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  7. Isabel

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant is gorgeous, the staff is welcoming, and all the dishes we had knocked it out of the park. We had the potatoes (perfectly done), carrots, hamachi crudo, and lamb ribs. I really hope this place is here to stay after the rotating ones there previously.

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  8. Sandy

    Los Angeles

    88 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    88 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant is a gem! Just beautiful all around. Wonderful staff, interesting small plates. Exotic mixology. We loved it!!

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  9. deborah

    Los Angeles

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Amazing trout! Fabulous carrots! A must try in Pasadena

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  10. Jenny

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 16, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Bar Chelou is one of my favorite places to dine. The food is absolutely delicious and the ambiance is perfection. However, our waitress seemed uninterested in our experience and at times annoyed—we had to repeat requests multiple times and eventually turned to other staff for basics like water and napkins. Despite this, everything else about the restaurant is outstanding. 9/10

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FAQs

Bar Chelou is rated 4.8 stars by 432 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

A photo of Bar Chelou restaurant

Bar Chelou

4.8
$50 and over
Contemporary French
Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 56 times today
Google Map for Bar Chelou

37 S El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101-5220

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
  • Neighborhood
    Pasadena
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 5:30 pm–9:30 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French, European, Spanish
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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