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Bar Chelou, Pasadena, CA

Bar Chelou

4.8
4.8
466 Reviews
$50 and over
Contemporary French

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2 people
19:00
Find next available

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Booked 63 times today
  • Innovative
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood 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.

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Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Contemporary French, European, Spanish
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 17:30–21:30
  • 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 Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 466 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

    Hot spot

  • Pasadena

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Chelou offers a "great dining spot right adjacent to the Pasadena Playhouse" with a "unique and inventive menu." Guests rave about "crispy potatoes," "amazing trout," and the "best duck leg." The ambiance is "vibrant and lively," complemented by "friendly and attentive service." It's a "must-try in Pasadena," perfect for pre-show dining experiences.
466 Reviews
  1. Jacob

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were exceptional! Not one bad dish. We traveled all the way from studio city and it was completely worth it. The fake bday cake dessert was a cute gimmick, but maybe a comped actual dessert for a group who’s celebrating a bday and had a tab as high as we did? Just a thought.

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  2. Carla

    VIP

    Detroit

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful romantic location and interior. We had the duck, snap peas, carrots, and bread. We could have made a meal of just vegetables sides-very creative. We ate everything. The music was very loud, which does not include lingering. (Since they were very busy, that might have been intentional.)

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  3. Daniel

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    2.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    Food was too salty Looks like the chefs are not tasting their food Service only came to my table 4 time One to take me water order Second to take my food order Third to drop and pick up my check All diner time which was 2 hrs was sitting with no interaction of the servers or managers

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  4. Mackenzie

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 20 January 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing but it’s sooooooooo expensive for such a small quantity. We had to go to in and out after.

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  5. Stephen

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    47 reviews

    5.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on 14 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been waiting to try this restaurant for more than a year, and now I understand why this place always makes every list for best restaurants in Pasadena. It’s larger than I thought it would be, and the decor is understated yet classy—perfect vibe for a modern brasserie. The service was very friendly and unpretentious. We tried the carrots, as reviewers always rave about them, and they did not disappoint. There are lots of delicious shareable dishes on the menu, most of which are vegetarian-friendly. Everything was flavored beautifully. I had the trout for my entree. I’m not usually a big fan of that fish, but here it was excellent. Highly recommended!

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 6 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First time to this restaurant but will for sure not the last. Food was fresh and tasty. Favorite dishes are pork chop and duck, I’m drooling already talking about it

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  7. Margie

    Los Angeles

    18 reviews

    5.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on 5 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Read the reviews which will help you decide what to order, although wait staff was very knowledgeable. Liked the glasses of wine they suggested, too.

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  8. Jonathan

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 3 January 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Average place, average drinks average food. Overall average.

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  9. Diana

    Los Angeles

    21 reviews

    4.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 1 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    Sat at the bar and server was not friendly at all.

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  10. Susannah

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 1 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a nice celebration on New Year’s Eve, in this non traditional French restaurant. Service was friendly and excellent, contributing to our good experience. From teenagers to octogenarians, all of us enjoyed this place and its ambiance.

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FAQs

Bar Chelou is rated 4.8 stars by 466 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Find next available

At the moment, there's no online availability within 2.5 hours of your request. Do you have another time in mind?

Booked 63 times today
Google Map for Bar Chelou

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

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Located next to the Pasadena Playhouse on El Molino Ave.
  • Area
    Pasadena
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 17:30–21:30
  • 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
  • Impressum
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