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Bar Chelou, Pasadena, CA

Bar Chelou

4.8
4.8
454 Reviews
$50 and over
Contemporary French

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 56 times today
  • Innovative
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
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
  • Area
    Pasadena
  • Cross Street
    Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
  • Parking details
    Public Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 454 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

    Best Service

  • Pasadena

    Innovative

  • Pasadena

    Healthy

  • Pasadena

    Hot spot

  • 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.

454 Reviews
  1. Terry

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    We had a wonderful dinner, and a wonderful time at Bar Chelou! The food was a constant flow of unusual, delicious flavors and textures. The service was perfect, from being greeted at the door to table service. Our services paced delivery of the small plates so we could really enjoy them. No rushed feeling here. And our servers recommendations were spot on. Finally, the food was reasonably priced, so we feel we can return again and again.

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  2. Kelsey

    Los Angeles

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We were pleasantly surprised with everything we ordered! So yummy!

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  3. Vic

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been here a few times now and it’s definitely my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles. Well worth the price!!

    Is this helpful?

  4. gabriel

    Las Vegas

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Bar Chelou never disappoints!!! My wife and I have had nothing but exceptional experiences each time we’ve gone! The food…the staff and the environment are the best. We always have great conversations with the people sitting next to us as well.

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  5. Amy

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Reliably delicous in unexpected and novel ways. Innovative cuisine.

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  6. Lei

    Central Coast

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Make sure you order the crispy potato! And jungle bird if you like sweet cocktails~

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  7. Jasmine

    Los Angeles

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 17 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love Bar Chelou! The shelling beans will stay with me forever!

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  8. doyle

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 16 December 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    very different menu and heavy garlic forward. there were 4 of us and one just loved it. couldn’t be closer to the pasadena playhouse.

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  9. Robin

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    118 reviews

    5.0

    118 reviews

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We've eaten here at least 6 times, and it's always delicious. The dishes are reliably consistent - you know what you're getting each time. The crispy potatoes, trout, carrots and squid are all delicious, and we had the new lamb ribs, which I want to eat every day. Will definitely be back again!

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  10. NICHOLAS

    VIP

    New York City

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on 15 December 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very eclectic menu with many cool combinations. Very interesting approach to sharing dishes. Will be back

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Chelou is rated 4.8 stars by 454 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

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.
  • Area
    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 Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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