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With the revitalization of Old Town Pasadena, more people are discovering the beauty of Rose City. They mingle at bistros, upscale eateries, and taco trucks, but are also discovering the newer innovative dining spots that are giving Pasadena a hipper feel.
There’s a Michelin-quality Italian restaurant hiding in plain sight in Pasadena. The small and homey space where Northern Italy meets California is typically filled to the brim as diners await heaven-sent local wild mushrooms with polenta or the squid-ink lumache (shell pasta) with Maine lobster. Make sure you come with a healthy appetite and a desire to drink—the wine list will not disappoint.
Those who normally skip vanilla ice cream because it's so—well—vanilla should shelve their preconceptions and order a scoop of Carmela's beloved brown sugar vanilla bean. But this local fave also encourages a dive into more complex flavor profiles like carrot orange ginger sorbet. The toothsome ice cream sandwich will make you feel like a kid again.
It's no secret that the San Gabriel Valley where Pasadena is located has some of the best Chinese food outside of China. Green Zone is at the top of its class, serving out organic Chinese cuisine. Their claim to fame is their buttery Hainan chicken, paired with a bowl of aromatic rice and spiked with ginger and scallion sauce.
A nautical-themed seafood restaurant is giving Pasadena couples another reason to go out at night. The seasonally changing menu might feature amberjack crudo or crostino with chopped octopus. The wine pairings are on point for the perfectly cooked albacore tuna and Hokkaido scallops in brown butter. Always packed (even making reservations can be tough), this seafood haven is a welcome treat to the ever-growing food scene in this sleepy part of town.
Since 1963, this small and charming diner has done two things really well—pies and burgers. Most seats are counter-style, with a griddle searing up patties. Along with limited outdoor seating, there's also a smattering of tables for larger groups, where you can spy on the oversize cake and pie slices in the back. Burgers are on the simple side, but the pies range from banana and lemon meringue to apple and blackberry. It's the perfect way to end your day after a long trudge in the Huntington Gardens.
With pierced steel-paneled walls covered with fanciful designs, this tucked-away, twin-concept Thai palace has an extensive menu that varies a bit between the two neighboring locations; compare the menus before settling on a location. Next door to the indoor Saladang proper, Saladang Garden offers an outdoor dining space that's also used for special events. You'll find all the SE Asian favorites, including satays, curries, and pad Thai. But also consider the restaurants' other specialties, like the Thai omelet with ground chicken or the fried taro rolls served with a cucumber salad. Be sure to save room for the mango with sweet sticky rice for dessert.
This farm-to-table eatery uses all local ingredients to whip up creative cuisine in a chic environment. Savory musts include the oysters with grapefruit mignonette, as well as the outstanding Mediterranean sea bass. Upon entry you'll notice a wood-beam ceiling, brick-laden bar, and hanging Edison lights that set the stage. Open for lunch and dinner with a revolving weekly special, the Arbour's cocktail menu includes a mezcal paloma emblematic of its Pasadena roots.
The coolest kid on the Pasadena block, the Raymond 1886 is carved out of an old Craftsman cottage and has an expansive patio with long wooden tables and hanging lights. Chefs dish out everything from roasted acorn squash with "forbidden" rice to braised beef cheeks with mole sauce. Inside can be a little more claustrophobic, but makes for a perfect spot for intimate daters to get a little closer. Be sure to explore the daring seasonal cocktail menu, with intriguing names like the Princess Ain't Here and the Shepherd's Betrayal. Don't miss the truly killer chilaquiles on the brunch menu.
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