Rouge

I have been dining at Rouge since it opened, The food, ambiance and service are consistently excellent. When vacationers ask me, as a "local", for restaurant recommendations, Rouge is always on the list.

Rouge Restaurant is spectacular--the food sublime, the atmosphere scintillating, the entire experience comfortable AND fascinating. My wife and I live more than an hours drive away but on those occasions when we seek "that special night" we take the Pike or Route 9 and head straight to Rouge. (Wish we lived closer!) Whether we eat at the bar with its reasonable and hip menu or in of the cozy dining rooms doesn't matter...the space is always alive with excitement AND warmth. I've yet to fully explore the appetizer and entree choices (it's on my list of must things-to-do), for I find myself returning to dishes that can easily become an obsession--the steak, the duck, lamb chops, the seafood specials--there's not a dud in the house. Writing this review has quickened my appetite. I'm hungry to get back to the Rouge experience quickly. I heartily recommend it to anyone desiring a perfect night.

Living in the Berkshires, I've had the great pleasure of eating at Rouge on several occasions. It's atmosphere is a gem among the many restaurants of the Berkshires. Tucked over the hill from Lenox, nestled up against the Williams River, Rouge is both classy, with beautiful polished wood and subtle lighting, and cozy, in the way only a New England cottage can be. Upon walking in, you see the bar with the low ceiling with the original house's dark wood exposed. There are several adjoining rooms, halls, and different levels. Honestly, Rouge achieves something rarely attainable: an atmoshere both intimate and lively. You feel like you have privacy without feeling isolated. It's classy without being expanse and sterile the way some large dining areas can be. Furthermore, while it's often bustling, it's not overwhelming in the way it can be when you're usher into a huge open dining room. Really charming.
That's not even to begin on the food. It's great to go for tapas or for an appetizer and an entree. One night I tried duck confit, baby back ribs and piparras. Another I tried the saffron mussels, squid ink calamari, and the passionfruit ceviche. Most recently I had the shitake spring rolls, and NY strip steak. I really cannot speak highly enough of the presentation and the taste. Everything is delightful and absolutely delicious. The deserts, riffs on the standards of profiteroles and creme caramel are without peer.
I guess most importantly, this restaurant makes you feel like you're someplace special. People enjoy themselves, people share stories at the bar. On weekends you might be surprised to have a female folk musician playing. The owner Maggie Merelle has a graceful charm. She's always found chatting with people from both the community, and both new and devoted customers from afar. Her husband, William, the French-born chef, will sometimes come out from the kitchen towards the end of the night for a glass of wine at the bar. And you'll find yourself giving him compliments. You just can't resist.

Rouge was once a good restaurant, but no more. Having recently expanded, it can evidently no longer handle the demands of offering good food and good service. Tonight we were greeted with dismissive service from the moment we stepped into the restaurant, waited an hour and a half for a meal that was overcooked and mediocre at best, and then overcharge for an off menu item (white rice and veges) cooked for our vegetarian son. To top it all off, the hostess, who we had thought was just someone who was very bad at her job but turned out to be the owner, was defensive. We will never return to Rouge, and suggest you find a different, better restaurant.