Pasadena Restaurants

3 more images

With so many restaurants to choose from in Old Town Pasadena, an expensive steakhouse seems like an unlikely place to eat. But since we have been to many, many restaurants in Pasadena, we thought we should try this one out. The ambience was very nice, not too noisy as a lot of SoCal restaurants can be. We brought our own bottle of wine. Many restaurants in Pasadena will allow you to do this but will charge you a corkage fee. Dinner began with an iceberg wedge salad with bleu cheese and balsamic vinegret. It's a good size salad. We ordered the duck and veal new york strip. Both meals were very delicious and the portions were very generous.

2 more images

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.

4 more images

Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everytime we pass by, there are people waiting out front for a table. Especially, at breakfast time. On the weekends, breakfast is served all day long! The prices are reasonable for the food you are served. Not a fancy place, aluminum tables and metal chairs (outside).

Favorite Dish: I ordered a special not on the menu, a barbecue pork salad. Plenty of food, the barbecue pork I thought would be shredded was actually cubed over romaine lettuce with avocado and tomato. The boyfriend ordered a tri tip sandwich that I was able to get a bite of - yummy! Came back and had breakfast. Delish! My boyfriend had the Denver omelet and I had the fantastic French toast! Good stuff!

1 more image

I was going to take Grandma to the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena but when I found out that the Huntington Gardens had it's own tea room, I decided to go there instead to make it easier. I made the reservation when I arrived at the Huntington on Tuesday morning at the information desk, it was busy but not full when we sat down to have tea. They recommend reservations at least two weeks in advance.

I don't believe you can eat here unless you pay the admission for the Huntington Gardens, currently $15. Afternoon tea without champagne was $19.95 per person.

Favorite Dish: The server brings you tea, there was a choice of just a few including Earl Grey and a special fruit tea. The sandwiches, pastries, fruit and cheeses are self serve, as much as you want which actually might be a little better than the prearranged trays as you can pass over items that you don't care for or have a second helping of something that is particularly good.

My dad didn't want to join us for tea but he sat with us and had a beer and that was fine with the staff.

Walking into this beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant right on the main stretch of Old Town, I had high hopes of getting a good Mexican meal but I have to say that I was very disappointed in the food.

The reviews on this place are mixed, people seem to either love it or hate it, perhaps the kitchen is a bit inconsistent? Or maybe because we were there at an odd time, late Sunday afternoon, the best kitchen staff is not working then.

Favorite Dish: I ordered the crab enchiladas and had to ask the waiter if he brought me the right dish because it didn't seem to contain any crab. It was covered in a very strong red sauce, so strong that I couldn't finish the meager portion they brought. I probably should have sent it back.

1 more image

This is a small restaurant located in South Pasadena. It's actually a tented restaurant, quaint, not fancy, very comfortable and friendly. Our first visit was quite enjoyable. My boyfriend had the New York Strip that was cooked perfectly (that hardly happens). I wanted to order the Duck but they didn't have it that evening. Instead, I enjoyed the Veal Osso Bucco prepared a little differently that I usually have it with the vegetables, instead with a wine reduction. Still delicious. Our second visit, My boyfriend had the Lamb Shank, very tender, served with a very tasty glob of a mint concoction. This time the duck was available. Prepared with paprika and served with red cabbage, spatzle and celery root. It was delicious and sooo much food! I would highly recommend the restaurant as a wonderful culinary experience!

1 more image

Located in Old Town Pasadena, the food is prepared with a little twist from the traditional Chinese cuisine. The fish in black bean sauce with mushrooms was really tasty. We also ordered the spicy crispy beef and though it had good flavor, it was hard to distinguish that we were eating any beef because it was so crispy. As in most Chinese restaurants, dishes are prepared to be shared. If you order three items and steamed rice, dinner could easily cost over US$50 without beverage/drink. There are a few other Chinese restaurants in the area with more traditional style of cooking. I think I would opt to eat at one of those instead when I want Chinese.

4 more images

Serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's located in a quaint area of South Pasadena at Mission and Meridian. The waiters actually speak French when communicating with one another. Menus items are basic. Quiche, salads, Escargot and burgers, paninis, etc. Dinner menu has some traditional dishes such as steak poivre. I ordered the special of the evening, seared scallops with mushroom risotto. Very tasty!

Favorite Dish: I ordered the Panino Vegetarian. Zucchini, eggplant, tomato, onion and mushrooms on panini bread and grilled. Side dish choices were salad, caesar salad or French fries. It was very good and very hot (temperature)!

4 more images

Nothing special from the outside. But walk inside and the dining room has an upscale, calm, romantic feel. The menu is limited but everything on it sounds wonderful. I'm told by a few people the catfish is what they are famous for and that you should order the 3 lb. catfish because the smaller portion tends to be dry. You can take home what you don't eat. But I opted for the maine lobster and scallops dish which was really, really good. My boyfriend ordered the special for the night which was tempura battered halibut on a tomato puree sauce. He really enjoyed his meal, too! This was a great find and we plan to come back to this restaurant very soon!

Located on Lake Avenue almost to the corner of California. It's a tiny place but worth stopping in at. Not in the busy Old Town area of Pasadena but still in a great part of town. The food is reasonable, fresh and tasty!

My boyfriend ordered a Spicy Tuna bowl which looked great if you like spicy tuna. I was particularly hungry and ordered some halibut and salmon sushi along with a shrimp tempura handroll. Just enough to quench my appetite and I wasn't stuffed.