Bar Chelou

4.8

430 Reviews

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 42 times today

Innovative
Lively
Neighborhood gem

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
Website
https://www.barchelou.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress

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

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Popular dishes

Marinated Olives$7.00
Pan de Cristal$7.00
Crispy Potatoes$13.00
aonori, aïoli
Clam Toast$15.00
leeks, escabeche
Burrata Toast$17.00
paleta ibérica, pickled peppers
Ramp Toast$16.00
km39, sorrel
Breakfast Radish$13.00
fromage blanc, furikake
Boquerones$14.00
piquillo pepper
Scallop Tartare$20.00
green garlic, meyer lemon, serrano, chips
Salade Verte$15.00
cava vinaigrette, quinoa, guindilla peppers, manchego
Carrots$19.00
coconut dressing, lime leaf, peanuts, shoestring potatoes
Bloomsdale Spinach$14.00
roasted garlic broth, brown butter
Shelling Beans$14.00
bottarga, dill, sea beans
Sprouting Cauliflower$11.00
almonds, sichuan au poivre
Snap Peas$15.00
chistorra, cured egg yolk, anchovy
Squid $21.00
seaweed, swiss chard
Cheeses$22.00
plum & timur berry jam, pan de cristal
Meats$24.00
jamón ibérico, coppa
Ibérico Pork Chop$36.00
cabbage, fennel pollen furikake
Duck Leg$34.00
yu choy cous cous, spicy labneh, macadamia dukkah
Rainbow Trout$45.00
corn rice, garlic chive pil-pil
Dry-Aged Short Rib$55.00
blackberry black vinegar, perilla
Lemon-Chamomile Semifreddo$14.00
calamansi, sweet fritter
Raspberry & Sumac Sorbet$14.00
poached rhubarb, vanilla, sorrel
Bruleed Cheesecake$14.00
toffee date cake, spiced coffee anglaise
Matcha Mousse$14.00
butter mochi cake, coconut sorbet, green tea tuile
Caramelized Banana Bar$15.00
peanut butter crisp, banana custard, milk chocolate mousse

What 430 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

Noise • Moderate

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 an exceptional dining experience with "amazing food," a "vibrant ambiance," and "impeccable service." The creative menu features standout dishes like crispy potatoes and duck leg, perfect for sharing. While the noise level can be high, the restaurant's location next to the Pasadena Playhouse makes it an ideal spot for pre-theatre dining.

430 Reviews

M
Martin
Los Angeles
415 reviews
vip
4.0
415 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
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.
Is this helpful?
J
Jennifer
Los Angeles
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
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!
Is this helpful?
D
Dan
San Francisco
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
I
Isabel
Los Angeles
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
Y
Yvette
Orange County
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
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.
Is this helpful?
S
Sandy
Los Angeles
88 reviews
vip
5.0
88 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
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!!
Is this helpful?
J
Jenny
Los Angeles
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
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
Is this helpful?
d
deborah
Los Angeles
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Amazing trout! Fabulous carrots! A must try in Pasadena
Is this helpful?
M
M
Los Angeles
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our first visit but we plan to return. Everyone we encountered at Bar Chelou was so friendly and professional. Excellent service, food and ambiance.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
A perfect preshow drink for the Pasadena Playhouse! Every staff member took great care of us
Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Chelou is rated 4.8 stars by 430 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 42 times today

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

Website
https://www.barchelou.com/
Phone number
(626) 808-4976

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Bar Chelou

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles

Ibérico Pork Chop

Rainbow Trout

Ramp Toast

Main

Marinated Olives$7.00

Pan de Cristal$7.00

Crispy Potatoes$13.00

Clam Toast$15.00

Burrata Toast$17.00

Ramp Toast$16.00

Breakfast Radish$13.00

Boquerones$14.00

Scallop Tartare$20.00

Salade Verte$15.00

Carrots$19.00

Bloomsdale Spinach$14.00

Shelling Beans$14.00

Sprouting Cauliflower$11.00

Snap Peas$15.00

Squid $21.00

Cheeses$22.00

Meats$24.00

Ibérico Pork Chop$36.00

Duck Leg$34.00

Rainbow Trout$45.00

Dry-Aged Short Rib$55.00

Lemon-Chamomile Semifreddo$14.00

Raspberry & Sumac Sorbet$14.00

Bruleed Cheesecake$14.00

Matcha Mousse$14.00

Caramelized Banana Bar$15.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Chelou restaurant rated?

Is Bar Chelou currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

Editor’s choice: 12 favorite restaurants in Los Angeles