Went to this chic little establishment with some friends on Monday night. We made a reservation beforehand so there wasn't a wait. The ambience is perfect for a lively but comfortable evening with friends. The recommendation is two plates per person. The potatoes are such a standout, delicious with a soft but firm texture, we were on the precipice of ordering a third helping! I would also recommend the rainbow trout, which is buttery but still very light. Other standouts include the carrots, which have a Southeast Asian citrusy flavor palate, and the radish which is bathed in a rich sauce-like broth. Last but not least, the service here is excellent! From the maître d' to the wait staff, we had such kind and helpful service including recommendations and never an empty glass! I would definitely recommend the courteousness of the staff alone.

Best meal I've had in a while and so I hope we get a chance to come back here soon. I can't really pick a favorite...the shelling beans were unexpectedly delicious, the carrots in that creamy curry sauce , crispiest crispy potatoes I've ever had, and I'm not even a fan of mushrooms but we devoured that plate. Service was great and the venue was dark and romantic. Can't wait for next time.

Fabulous date night dinner! We had tickets to a show at the Playhouse so I decided to make reservations here for dinner. I'm so glad I did because we had an excellent meal! The restaurant bills itself as a neo-bistro. If you read through Chef Doug Rankin's bio, it's no surprise that a meal at Bar Chelou is one of the most exciting and delicious meals you'll find in LA right now. It honestly reminded me of my favorite NYC restaurants. Innovative new dishes that utilize seasonal produce and redefines haute cuisine. Everything we ordered was incredible but what blew me away was a humble looking plate of white beans. So much flavor thanks to an addition of bottarga, it inspired me to try and recreate the dish at home. The cocktail program is equally wonderful and I urge you not to skip the dessert! With a well decorated interior but a casual atmosphere, the restaurant feels welcoming and destination-worthy at the same time. The service is well above what I've come to expect in LA restaurants. They made sure our dishes came promptly so we weren't late for our showing and their intermission cocktail program was an added treat. We pre-ordered cocktails which I was able to quickly pick up during intermission. Honestly, one of the best theater and dinner dates we've had! If I lived in Pasadena, we'd surely be regulars. Hopefully I'll have occasion to come for dinner again some time soon.

Lovely aesthetic, the interior gave me 70s vibes. The dimmed lighting makes it feel cozy & intimate. Everyone was super friendly & warm. The delivery of our dishes was perfectly timed. We had the crispy potatoes, tempura mushrooms, carrots dish and the duck leg. Ended the meal with the caramelized banana bar for desert. The dishes were okay but lacked flavor. The potatoes were a little too salty for my liking, the wild mushrooms were too oily. The carrots had a strong tangy flavor. The duck & the desert were just okay.

Fantastic place! Cozy and lively with a great bar area, Bar Chelou was an amazing find. Their tapas and larger plates are wonderful, thoughtful, and fairly priced. We had the clam toast (great bread), the meats plate (delicious and buttery jamón ibérico) cauliflower (fantastic sauce!), and our server recommended the chef's special carrots (not my favorite- tasted more of Asian seasonings than of carrots). For a main, we ordered the pork chop which was the highlight of the evening as it was tender, juicy, and perfect! I'd definitely return!

A real gem with lovely atmosphere and legit good food. We didn't realize we were coming right before the show was starting at the Pasadena Playhouse next door so the place was packed, but they managed to fit us in even without reservations at the communal table. That worked out fine but something to note if you come around 6pm before a 7pm show. Food: + Clam toast: Doesn't sound like much but this is really good. The onions pack a nice punch. + Spinach: I was a less a fan of this. There's an interesting aftertaste from the broth but my boyfriend was ok with it. + Squid: Even the server noted to us as she placed our plate that this was her fave. And for good reason, this was well seasoned and such a good mix of textures. The squid was thinly sliced with a nice crunch to every bite. + Rainbow trout: This was well seasoned and tender but watch out for bones. They deboned the fish but not a clean job. Overall I'll be back! Loved everything about this place.

I am so glad I stumbled upon this on Yelp as I was looking up a restaurant to try with my friends in the Pasadena area. The restaurant makes vegetables or what we typically consider side dishes the star dishes. We ordered a good amount of the dishes on the menu. Thanks to the fact that the menu is designed to be eaten family style. The carrots, snapped peas, and crispy potatoes really stood out with so many textures and layers of flavors. I love the texture of those crispy potatoes and the light aioli sauce that they were served with. We also ordered the steak tartare, clam toast, heirloom tomato toast, squid, and duck leg, which were all so delicious. We left very satisfied and full. Service was amazing. Our server gave wonderful suggestions and checked up on us often to see how we were enjoying our meals. The ambiance was nice. I really like how intimate the setting was. Noise was at a good level where we could comfortably have a conversation.

Bar Chelou is a nice whimsical escape. The lighting throughout the restaurant is really fun and I really like the mirrors they put up to enhance the space. The food and drinks are also very good! Parking may be difficult to find, but you might be able to park on the street or pay for parking by the playhouse. What we tried: Crispy potatoes- the potatoes are perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Pairs well with the aioli! Would definitely recommend :) Clam toast - I really liked the idea, the bread was nice and the clams were flavored well but it was hard for me to put the flavors together. I had to try it separately to truly appreciate their flavors. It also gets a little messy! But it's yummy. Mushroom tempura- the sauce is good and the mushrooms are crispy, but I felt like the tempura didn't soak up as much of the flavor as I had hoped. Still good! Snap peas - one of the crispiest dishes! I loved how this one was cooked and all the flavors blended well together Rainbow trout - this was the best dish! The trout melts in your mouth, it goes well with the crispiness of the corn rice, and the sauce - it was all perfect! I would highly recommend! Pork chop- perfectly cooked. The bone they threw in was whimsical and perfectly seasoned! Definitely would come back to try the other dishes! They were all really creative and I appreciated how good the food was

I came here for a work dinner after seeing this restaurant on infatuation LA, and it was so good! My coworkers couldn't stop complimenting me for making such a good choice! There were three of us and we shared everything. EVERYTHING hit! There isn't anything I wouldn't order again. The standouts for us was the clam toast and the boquerones. The restaurant is dim and cozy, very romantic. The service was excellent, we'd brought a few bottles of wine and the somm was great. Parking is the only tricky thing, but we lucked out and found a spot right in front. I can't wait to come back!