Pasadena Restaurant Tips by GracesTrips

Restaurant Name: Green Street Tavern

I don't know how to describe the kind of food served here. I would guess Continental cuisine but with a flair. All I know was the food was excellent and have been back several times. Not an extensive menu to choose from but who care if it's good. You're presented with a very nice leather bound menu that immediately exudes some class. Portions were plenty, you won't leave hungry. Personal wines are okay, a $15 corkage fee will apply.

Our second visit was just as enjoyable as our first. The food is exceptional! I didn't mention the ambience which is modern, simple yet the wooden tables gives the restaurant a rich look. The music reminds you of Moby or Enigma.

Favorite Dish: My boyfriend and I shared a salad, it was plenty for the two of us. He ordered the duo of beef. A beef short rib and rib eye steak served upon a puree of potato and another vegetable (?). Both prepared and tasted great! I ordered a pork tenderloin dish with macadamia nuts and mango over a puree of parsnips. OMG, this was great! Too much meat - to huge pieces of pork tenderloin not overcooked. I was stuffed.

The second visit, we shared a beet and arrugula salad with a lighted breaded, warmed goat cheese. It was plenty for the two of us and just delicious! My entree was the paprika seared ahi tuna - ahhh, as much food as they served I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it and yet somehow I managed because it was scrumptious! My better half enjoyed the petite filet served with a potato puree.

The third visit, I ordered the pork chop. It was about 1 1/2 inches thick! I let them cook it at the chef's recommendation which was perfect - not dry but cooked between medium well to well. Very juicy and was served with cubed sweet potatoes with carmelized pecans and greens. My boyfriend ordered the short ribs. It was delicious (I had a bite)! The meat was extremely tender with a rich mushroom sauce served with what seemed like layered potatoes au gratin but it wasn't quite that.

So far, have not been disappointed once! No more room for pictures so I will start a travelogue of food photos on my Pasadena page!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.229.9961
Address: 69 W. Green Street, Pasadena, CA
Directions: Northeast corner of DeLacey and Green Street.

Restaurant Name: Parkway Grill

I have had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant about five times now. There is no better restaurant when it comes to service, quality of the food and the ambience. Unfortunately, to dine at such a fine establishment will cost you (an arm and a leg)! If you order your filet mignon medium rare - it will be prepared exactly as that. The staff is very helpful if you are unsure as to what kind of wine to have with your meal. They are willing to bring you a few glasses of wine to sample so you can make the right decision. The staff will not annoy you with asking you how is your meal or is there anything else they can get for you. They quietly stand by watching to see when they can clear your table or bring you more water. They will not bring you your bill until you ask for it.

One time, the chef prepared a prix fixe meal for Valentine's Day. He then came out to the dining area to see if you were enjoying the meal.

Make your reservations well ahead of time as this is such a popular restaurant, it gets booked up fast. There is parking available on the street. The parking lot for the restaurant is entirely valet.

You can make reservations on www.opentable.com


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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.795.1001
Address: 510 S. Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105
Website: http://www.theparkwaygrill.com/

Restaurant Name: Roy's

Roy's quietly opened on 08/08/08 and is very well known for their Hawaiian fusion cuisine. They didn't need too much press about it's opening because everyone has been waiting for this in Pasadena. The place is packed. I made my reservations two weeks in advance to get a decent time for dinner. They have an unbelievable butterfish dinner! It's the only thing I have ordered since I like it sooo much! We ordered the braised short rib appetizer which I was suprised with how much they served. Very tasty! They are also known for their unbelievably, delicious chocolate souffle.

You can bring in your own bottle of wine for a $15 corkage fee.


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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.356.4066
Address: 621 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101
Directions: South of the 210 Freeway, exit Lake Avenue, and go west on Colorado Blvd. It's on the north side of the road.
Website: http://www.roysrestaurant.com/

Restaurant Name: Restaurant 561

561, the Restaurant of the California School of Culinary Arts. Supervised by Instructors and run entirely by students completing their Le Cordon Bleu curriculum training, the restaurant provides the experience of blending classic French techniques and four-point service with the innovative and dynamic influences. Personal wines are welcomed for a $12 corkage fee. My first experience was not memorable but I thought I would give it a second chance and I enjoyed my experience this time.

Favorite Dish: We ordered a tapas (appetizer) of Beet 'n Bleu. Red and gold beets cubed with crumbled blue cheese. It was a tiny portion but it went well with the DuNah Pinot Noir we brought. I ordered the Grilled Ono. This was extremely good! Served with a tiny bit of coconut rice, a round wedge of roasted red pepper and two round wedges of pineapple. The sauce served with the ono (from Hawaii) was hibiscus essence and a five-spice blend (I think that's the Chinese five-spice). Anyway, it was delicious and enough food for me. My boyfriend ordered the Grilled New York Strip. His entree was very good. The steak was not very big but very flavorful. The potatoes served on his plate were like mash potato dumplings, deep fried dusted with a hint of curry powder. Curry tends to be a very strong spice but like I said you can just grasp a hint of it on the potatoes. It was very tasty.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.405.1561
Address: 561 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101
Directions: On Green Street, just south of Colorado Blvd. between Los Robles and Lake.
Website: http://www.561restaurant.com/

Restaurant Name: Cafe Verde

This is a great, tiny restaurant that is "off the beaten" path in Pasadena. It doesn't look like much on the outside or inside. The tables are too close for comfort but let me tell you, the food is outstanding for the price! They do not have a wine selection - so, bring your own bottle of wine. Try to get there early in the evening if you don't have reservations, otherwise, it's difficult to get seated.

Favorite Dish: Just about everything on the menu is extremely good. One time I ordered a medallions of pork loin dish. It was prepared a bit rare for being pork. So, I sent it back to be cooked more well done. They ended up preparing me a whole new plate. We have been to this restaurant several times now. This particular evening I ordered the special wild bass and my boyfriend ordered the porterhouse steak. Both were just excellent. The sauces is what makes the difference. Everything was great!

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.356.9811
Address: 961 E. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91106
Directions: Just east of Lake Avenue, south of the 210 Freeway
Website: http://www.cafeverdepasadena.com/cafeverde.html

Restaurant Name: Tre Venezie

We have dined at this restaurant three times so far. Each experience has been very enjoyable but can easily run you $100 for two. The pasta is made fresh. Specials are offered and are usually very different, very good. The wine is very good, too! Offering not just Italian vintages but French wines as well.

Favorite Dish: I usually order a ravioli dish. I had a butternut squash ravioli and this last time, a fish special ravioli. Not only the filling is delicious but the sauce that is served with it is always very tasty and very flavorful. My boyfriend ordered a Pappardelle with rabbit. They also offer authentic Italian dishes served during Italian holidays. Don't expect Lasagne, Fettucini Alfredo or Rigatoni. It won't be on the menu.

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.795-4455
Address: 119 W. Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91105
Directions: Green is a one-way street traveling east. The best way to approach the restaurant is from Pasadena Ave. You have to park on the street - metered parking or find a public parking lot. It's on the north side of the street and can be easily missed.

Restaurant Name: Cafe Bizou

What can I say about this place... It has nice ambience and the food is really good! Personal wines are welcome for a $2 corkage fee! We eat here often but the menu doesn't change. So, if you like what they have, then that's what they are always serving. Making reservations is a good idea if you want to dine on Friday or Saturday evenings.

Favorite Dish: Crispy Potato Scaled Salmon is my favorite. They put very thinly sliced potatoes on the top of the salmon and it's crisp almost like a potato chip but still moist. Cooked spinach and a few mushrooms underneath the salmon along with two very flavorful sauces. I've had the halibut with a vegetable streudel which is also very delicious. The pork tenderloin is also really good. They have an Ahi Tuna salad that is delicious and the Ahi Tuna tartare is also very good.

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Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.792.9923
Address: 91 N. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103
Directions: North of Colorado Blvd. on the corner of Raymond and Holly
Website: http://www.cafebizou.com/pasadenaindex.html

Restaurant Name: Corner Bakery Cafe

This is a chain so you find them here and there in various cities. I do enjoy the sandwiches they make. They also serve pasta dishes and other items. You order at the counter, assigned a number and they bring your food to your table.

Favorite Dish: They have this sandwich that is basically a caprese salad on a french roll. It's really good! All the other sandwiches I've had are great, too.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.578.1281
Address: 345 South Lake # 107, Pasadena, CA 91101
Directions: On the west side of the road, south of the 210 Freeway next to the Macy's
Website: http://www.cornerbakery.com/locations/index.aspx?PC=91101&ID=79

Restaurant Name: Cha Da Thai

What a great surprise! A fairly new restaurant in Old Town Pasadena. So new that they don't have their liquor license yet. Thai food with a little twist. The ambience is nice, even romantic. A water feature on the back wall is also nice to look at. They now have their liquor license but personal wines are welcome - no corkage fee!

Favorite Dish: We shared a rib eye salad. A little spicy but plenty for the two of us. The flavors were great! Then ordered the crispy sea bass, a chicken curry dish and sticky rice. I think there were 3 choices on the rice. I especially liked the sticky rice which comes wrapped in plastic into a woven basket. The fish was very fresh and delicious served with some asparagus. The curry was great, too, not spicy.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.844.4524
Address: 29 East Holly Street, Pasadena, CA 91103
Directions: North side of the street, near the corner of Holly and Raymond.

Restaurant Name: Celestino

This is a wonderful little restaurant, very classy. The food is very expensive when comparing to other Italian restaurants but you will notice immediately why it's expensive. The food is unbelievably good! The staff, are Italians from Italy.

Favorite Dish: I have enjoyed dinner a few times here. The appetizers are very small portions but delicious. Have had the Beef Carpaccio with capers and parmesan cheese and the smoked breast of duck with red and yellow beet salad. The Torellini Di Zucca al Burro e Salvia is fantastico! Tortellini stuffed with pumpkin, cream-butter sage sauce. Yum! I have also had the Mezzelune d'Anatra con Salsa di Funghi, Marscapone e Mertilli. Half-moon ravioli stuffed with duck, mushroom, marscapone and blueberry sauce. Double Yum!

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 626.795-.4006
Address: 141 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Directions: South of the 210 Freeway. Park on the street on park behind the stores on the east side of the road and walk over.
Website: http://www.calogerodrago.com/