There are two Bess locations! Celebrated a birthday for dinner, the food was amazing and had so much flavor! Each dish is small so our table ordered a quite of few plates and did more of a family style. So we could try all the dishes. The wines were also great, we got to the bottle of moscato and a wine flight! Our waiter was friendly and great! :) We brought a birthday cake and they were able to keep it in the fridge for us. We decided not to have it served there since they had an additional $25 fee for brought in desserts. Overall the ambiance of the restaurant was very pleasant and the Photo Booth was working and took only card and you get 2 photos for $5.55. Felt very nostalgic read more

Bess - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

After seeing a few posts on social media about this place, we decided to stop by for an early dinner. What a pleasant surprise! This small, quaint restaurant in the heart of Sierra Madre exceeded our expectations. I had the Chicken Parmesan, and my wife ordered the pesto pasta. Both dishes were excellent. We also couldn't help but notice a Caesar salad served to another table that looked absolutely amazing--that's definitely on our list for our next visit. To start, we ordered the focaccia bread with olive oil and Calabrian chilies, and it was outstanding. If you're in the area, I highly recommend giving this place a try. You won't be disappointed! read more

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Update: Glad my experience has been helpful to others. For comparison, Gus's BBQ in South Pas will wholeheartedly seat a party of 2-3 with a 3 year old at a booth that can seat up to six. That's without you even asking them about a booth. They just do it. This is because their service and common sense about the needs of young children/older toddlers far surpasses Bess's. Even when they could seat us at a smaller table with chairs only. Many staff here are not in tune with the needs of families who dine because it's quintessentially more geared toward date-nighters or the occasional larger adult-only party and because the staff demographic doesn't scream "I have dined with kids!" Only recently have they started giving plastic utensils and cups to 3 year olds that would otherwise break lots of glass. Also it's clear others have had negative hostess experiences here... I stand by my original review and wish the owner would do more than just wishing patrons well if they got up and left (in fact he never offered any kind of comp and only backs up his hostess saying in the past we didn't sit at the "table" we reserved). Sadly, I don't see this place being around for a very long time despite the food being overall fine enough. You could certainly get more authentic and elevated Italian-Italian food in Duarte if you look around a bit.. read more

Excellent service! Sat outside on a a Saturday afternoon and had a fantastic time. The coffee cake was incredible, loved the flaky finishing salt! We had white wine spritzers which were delicious & refreshing. My friend enjoyed the carbonara pasta & I had steak and eggs. The real star of my dish was the salad. Fresh dill & a lemony dressing really elevated the dish. I'm looking forward to coming back to try their dinner menu. read more

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At Bess, the night unfolded with quiet elegance house salad, olives, a beautiful cheese platter, and a crisp glass of pinot grigio. The room carried a soft, intimate glow, and the service matched it graceful, attentive, never intrusive. But she was the evening. The way she introduced me to her friends throughout the evening, the thought she put into every detail, the way she made me feel seen and completely taken care of it stayed with me more than anything on the table. There's something rare about her warmth, effortless and genuine, that turns a simple dinner into something unforgettable. A truly romantic night, because of her. read more

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Superb flavors. Their ingredients were so fresh. We got a bunch of dishes, and everything was so on point, but the tomato sauce especially was truly a stand out in the meatballs and bucatini. The thyme on the focaccia was also very impressive - it was so earthy and minty. Their pastas were all cooked very fresh. We ordered 3 and I can't decide which one I liked the most because they were all so delicious. read more

Bess - Focaccia and Meatballs - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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(Would give it a 3.5-3.8) We ordered the chicken parmesan, bucatini, caesar salad, and tiramisu. The caesar salad was yummy! Liked the dressing, it was light and had a lot of parmesan on it. The bucatini was probably the worst thing we tried. Although the sauce was super good, I thought the noodles were a bit undercooked. The chicken parmesan was good, although it does not come with noodles (everything is ala carte). Also, the portion was a lot for one person but not enough for 2 people to share. The tiramisu was sooo good, I loved how it was a little salty and was not too sweet. But, I wish the portion was bigger since it is $14. (definitely the best thing we tried) The service was ok, our hostess was super nice but the hot food took awhile to come out so we were waiting after we had finished out salad. The layout of the restaurant is a little weird, you have to walk through the kitchen to get to the back. But the ambiance was good, we liked the songs playing as well. We also loved the photo booth in the back! Overall would go back to try the lasagna and the foccacia (saw other images and those looks good), and it is a super cute spot for a date night. read more

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Great vibes with great food. Came here for Sunday brunch with my husband and we were seated immediately by the window bar area. We ordered the steak and eggs, Italian baked eggs, bucatini carbonara, lasagna, and coffee cake. My favorite was the Italian baked eggs-- I'm probably biased bc I really like shakshuka and this dish is basically an Italian version of that. It comes with focaccia and is the perfect bread for dipping. Steak and eggs is.. exactly what it sounds like, not bad but nothing particularly special. The bucatini carbonara also delicious but definitely on the heavy side. I like how they used lemon ricotta in the lasagna-- provided some depth of flavor. My husband and I really enjoyed the coffee cake. Overall I would recommend checking this place out. It's in a such a walkable, nice place in downtown sierra madre. read more

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I just had dinner here in a quint part of Sierra Madre. The menu is small, but everything we ordered was great. We ended up ordering the olives, chips and dip and lasagne. While the chips and dip may not sound like it's a cohesive part of the menu, it was delicious. I am not a fan of olives, but the marinated olives were also surprisingly good. The lasagna was fine, I didn't taste the notes of lemon ricotta, as it was likely overpowered by the meat sauce. All, in all, great place for a simple bite. read more

The service was great. Super friendly and accommodating. If you are really hungry this place is not it because of how small their portions are. However, this is a perfect place for a fancy night for just the vibes and some drinks. When you first enter the place it's quite small, but there is more seating in the back and outside. In the back there is also a cute photo booth which I really enjoyed! As for the food, their menu is kinda small and half the items are vegetarian and gluten free. So a plus for people who are vegetarian. I feel like they should try expanding their menu for more food options though. Foccacia - 6/10 Meatballs - 9/10 Super flavorful, the sauce and the meatballs tasted so good together Pesto Orecchiette - 7/10 Lacking the pesto flavor I was expecting, the walnuts were a nice touch. read more

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Oh my gosh what a gem of a place. The location is so nonchalant you could miss it. Located across the street from the Sierra Madre Play House and so small but mighty! I highly recommend making reservations especially on a weekend. Walk ins can be turned away or experience long waits. But I promise the food, service and atmosphere are worth it. read more

5 stars for a100% health score and a perfect recovery from misplacing our order. Lost in our conversation and the gorgeous weather, we weren't served till about an hour after our order was taken. Partly our fault for taking so long to speak up, but our server was so sweet and handled the snafu so beautifully, that it was easy to forgive whatever went sideways between her and the kitchen. Once the food arrived, it was pretty good... the chicken parmesan was probably our favorite. We were told that the portions were large / family style, but I found them to be individually portioned. The location is enchanting. Go a bit early so you can drive around this historical neighborhood and check out the beautiful homes and the majestic trees. read more

The food was packed with flavor, staff were insanely attentive and had great energy, the ambiance was homey, cozy, curated with love and intent. There was something really whimsical about the layout and lighting. The hostess was so sweet and accommodating. Our server Erika is truly a professional. Chicken parm, Cesar, mushroom pasta dish, wine, key lime pie... & a Photo Booth!!??!?? BOOM!! The bessssss time at Bess xo read more

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Happy I was able to make a Resy reservation on their website. The restaurant has a chic interior and had more seating in the back. From the hostess to the servers, everyone greeted us politely and very attentive. So charming that they have a photobooth which is located in the back. $5.55 for 2 strips (3 pictures per strip with pretty good lighting) which was a lot of fun! There were 5 of us and we opted to do family style to try more of the dishes. We ordered meatballs, broccolini, chicken Parmesan and lasagna. We underestimated our hunger so we ended up ordering another lasagna and chicken Parm. The meatballs were small but flavorful. I felt like it was more sauce than meatballs, I had to remove some sauce to taste the meat. The chicken Parmesan was a good portion, chicken was flavorful. I enjoyed the lasagna and broccolini. The house sauce was delicious but it was refreshing to have the freshness of the broccolini cut through the acid from the tomato sauce. Dessert didn't disappoint. The chocolate cake slice was surprisingly refreshing and light. It looks really dense by it had a beautiful orangey taste from the zest. The tiramisu had a great balance of boozy and espresso taste. Would definitely come back for that. Overall it was a beautiful dinner experience. They have a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. I got a mocktail, the Phony Espresso Negronis which I highly recommend! It was lighter than I expected and had a beautiful espresso flavor. read more

Bess - Chicken parm, lasagna, broccolini and meatballs - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

Bess has great ambience and great service. The food is good but the serving sizes are small. We had the cesar salad, meatballs, bucatini, and mushroom cavatappi for dinner. The cesar salad was our favorite of the night. The vibe was nice for date night and we enjoyed taking pictures in the photo booth at the end of the night. Still felt like picking up mcdonald's chicken nuggets on the way home lol read more

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Solid neighborhood spot for Italian. They are a wine bar but serve pretty solid food. Came in on a Friday night and they were gracious in offering a frozen sangria and seems like they are experimenting with frozen rose for Saturdays at the moment. Food-wise we had: + Tinned fish: The smoked trout was nice but I'm gonna put a pass for now. I didn't take off points for this because the concept and ingredients were solid, but I find it hard to share and eat with the thin crackers. I badly wished this was a dip rather than the way it was presented. + Bucatini: This was my favorite. I appreciate that they can offer you up a side of meatballs to add in here versus ordering the full 6 meatball dish. Flavorful and can't go wrong. + Pesto Orecchiette: Very earthy pesto and has a nice crunch with the walnuts. Tomatoes are very fresh. We were pretty stuffed so skipped dessert but it looked great on paper. Might be my reason to be back next time. Ample free parking in the lot near the back of this strip of businesses. Plus the neighbors are a pretty cool bookstore worth stopping by! read more

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Bess is a gem in Sierra Madre with great service and great food. I was able to verify that they use aged Parmesan which my lactose intolerant self can enjoy and let them go wild with it which made the food even tastier. I really enjoyed their meatballs and bucatini. They offer their Pinot Noir in 1/2 a liter which is great to share with three people when we each only want one glass. The ambiance is great in the front part of the restaurant. There's an old school Photo Booth in the back for $5! I highly suggest making a reservation as this place is small and does get busy. read more

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I don't know where to start. The moment we walked in and experienced the best hospitality that I've had in a long while or the food that we ate. We had reservations at 5 and we were sat immediately. We ordered the meatballs and focaccia to start and those meatballs were soooooo good they melted in our mouths so we had to order another one. Ordered the Cesar, broccolini, two chicken Parm's and the lasagna. All were incredible. The chicken parm was soooooo good and delicate. It wasn't too heavy. The lasagna was decent but it was still pretty good. The service. I can't say anything bad about it and they made our evening holding our cake and bringing it out to us where most places would charge a cutting fee. I am definitely coming back. Thank you Bess for the food and most importantly the service. You guys made us feel like we were at Moms Restaurant. read more

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I thought the food was just ok. We got the caesar salad and mushroom cavatappi. The caesar salad was anchovy heavy for me and the mushroom pasta was ok. I would still go back because some of the other items looked delicious. I did get a rose Italian soda which was amazing! The ambiance is very cute. They have a front and back room. Don't forget their photo booth--it was a cute addition. The parking is great. There is street parking and also a huge lot behind the restaurant. read more

Bess - Mushroom Cavatappi - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

Came here on a Sunday night and had such an amazing time! I love the vibes atmosphere this place gives off! The Calabrian bean dip was okay - had a nice kick to it when you eat from the middle. I LOVED the Caesar salad! It had a bit of an anchovy taste to the dressing but it was delicious! I didn't leave any last bit on my plate and ate it all :) the lasagna was AMAZING!! It has a slight lemon taste but it was soooo good and tasted authentic! The pesto was great for someone who likes basil! The broccolini was pretty spicy so beware! The tiramisu was really good too and had a rum taste to it! James was wonderful and added so much fun and excitement to our dinner! We will definitely be back for more! read more

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A really cool little Italian spot. Foods delicious and ambiance is fantastic! Don't forget to hit up the Photo Booth before you leave! read more

Bess - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

A total gem in downtown Sierra Madre! Bess is exactly what the neighborhood needed -- a modern, inviting wine bar and Italian dinette that feels both chic and effortlessly welcoming. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the buzz of good energy -- great music, warm lighting, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours. The wine selection is fantastic -- thoughtfully curated and perfect for both casual sippers and true wine lovers. I loved being able to try different glasses instead of committing to a full bottle. The food? Simply delicious. The menu is a fresh, flavorful take on Italian-American classics -- think perfectly cooked pasta, beautiful small plates, and a few fun twists that make everything feel special. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely passionate about what they do, which makes the whole experience even better. Whether you're popping in for a glass of wine after work or settling in for dinner with friends, Bess hits the mark every time. It's informal yet refined, energetic yet cozy -- truly a perfect spot for Sierra Madre. So happy to have Bess in the neighborhood! P.S THEY have a PHOTO BOOTH read more

Bess - Photo booth - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

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We've been waiting for this little gem to open for months, & it did not disappoint! TL;DR - the ambience, the service, the food & drink - it's all dynamite ... We ordered the chips & dip (which were both light and indulgent at the same time), meatballs (tender with killer sauce) the pesto dish (so wonderfully aromatic & fresh) and the lasagna (oh baby - I'd come back just for that :) The wine list is curated and on point, and they even have some complementary local brews. The dessert was fantastic; the chocolate cake kind of reminded me of an olive oil cake, but with cocoa ... not too sweet, and the tiramisu was moist and delicious. We'll most certainly be back to explore the whole menu! (Thanks James & Sarah for a lovely night!) read more

Bess - Lasagna - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

A much-needed addition to the small but growing Sierra Madre food scene, which mainly caters to those of us who live locally. If you want to make the trek and promise not to act like a diva, expect a lovely meal. Like at any good family gathering, dietary restrictions are accommodated and there are options to please parents, kids, and out-of-towner cousins. It's busy here for a reason, so make a reservation if you can. The mushroom pasta dish is *chef's kiss*. The vibe is like if an interior designer did their own version of a 1970s diner. I always say hi to the chef when I pass through the little hallway to the lounge area in the back. The servers are busy but always sweet, and always check in to see if I need anything. Part of me is proud of all the TikTok reviews of this place, and part of me wants to gatekeep it, and all of me gives it five stars for being down the street when I need a proper meal. read more

The service was so kind and quick. And the ambiance was great for a nice dinner date or catching up with a friend. The food was just alright and I think the portion size was perfect for 2! I wish the sauce in the mushroom cavatappi was more creamy! Overall solid place. read more

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It's funny - a few weeks ago I went to Betsy in Altadena with a friend, and now Bess in Sierra Madre (with the same friend!). Both B-first names and in the same general area. Is this a new naming trend I don't know about? (Fun fact - Betsy and Bess are both derivatives of Elizabeth) Bess has a mostly Italian menu with simple, no-frills classics like lasagna, bucatini, and chicken parmesan. I ended up ordering the mushroom cavatappi, which I really enjoyed, and my friend liked her lasagna as well. We also shared an off-menu dessert for that day - which was a chocolate peanut butter pie that was quite tasty. The food was good, but the portions seemed small for the prices. Also, the space inside is tiny and quite cramped. The seating layout inside is a bit odd. We were sat next to a corner table, and in order for the people at that table to get out...or for the server to reach them...I actually had to move my chair out of the way. Otherwise they were literally trapped in the corner with no way out. That said, the restaurant is located in a charming, walkable part of Sierra Madre with lots of shops and small businesses nearby. I could definitely see this being a cute date spot followed by a stroll around the area. read more

the food here was good but nothing out of this world. portions are decent size to share depending on your appetite as everything is à la carte. the moscatos were sooo yumm and sweet. my friends got there before me and were already sat but mentioned how they were completely ignored and left waiting for a long time when trying to check in for our reservation. Restaurant is a bit tiny inside but gives a cozy feeling. read more

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Food is just so so. Feels overpriced too. The meatballs are so small. Long wait for the pasta. Server claims it's because there's only one chef. read more

The food, amazing, the staff absolutely wonderful, the ambience so cute! They even have a vintage Photo Booth inside where you can capture the moment! Highly recommend. read more

Bess - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

My favorite thing there was the salad. The crunch and texture was just so good and you can never really go wrong with a caesar's. All the other pastas were just okay. I can make better pasta on my own tbh. It just wasn't out of this world. The service was pretty good though. Everyone was super sweet there. Ambiance was also great. It was super cute & intimate inside. There's also more seating in the back with a photobooth! read more

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We strolled in on a Thursday evening with no reservations and was lucky to snag a table right away! Service was excellent and food was even better. We tried the caesar salad (so good! loved the texture of the crushed croutons), mushroom cavapatti (our favorite), bucattini (perfectly al dente), meatballs and pesto pasta. The vibe of the place was relaxed and fun. Bess is a great addition to Sierra Madre. We can't wait to go back to try the lasagna, dessert (we were too full!) and brunch! read more

Bess just opened in Sierra Madre and is such a welcome addition to my hometown. The location on the main boulevard is perfect and the ample parking lot in back is a huge plus. The space is swanky and chic while also being welcoming and cozy. We felt totally comfortable dining there with our three young children and sat outside in front of the restaurant to give us some extra space, but would also love to come back for a date night. The "secret room" in back looks like it would be the perfect spot to host an intimate dinner party and the classic photo booth is an awesome addition. The servers were friendly and helpful. They provided good recommendations on food and beverage and we enjoyed everything we ordered. Our favorites were the meatballs and lasagne. Our kids also loved the focaccia. They did find the olive oil on the side had a little kick, but that was fine because they were able to use the bread to scoop up every last bit of sauce from the meatballs. We finished the meal with the chocolate cake and it was scrumptious. We love that they're featuring local beers. Only three at the moment, but hopefully they'll get some seasonal options in the future. I also tried the rose and white wines on tap. Both were delicious! I'm so happy to welcome Bess to town and can't wait to come back for more. read more

Bess - View from our sidewalk table. Great spot for people watching and saying hi to friends walking past. - Wine Bars Near Me - Sierra Madre, California

A cozy Italian comfortable restaurant with excellent flavor burst of traditional Caesar Salad,Meatballs,lasagna & Focaccia bread with a bottle of wine. We enjoyed!They know when to check on you, promptly take your orders and just delightful staff. I'm in!! Retired Deputy Health inspector Bev Hills read more

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First time visiting this restaurant. My friends and I shared the chicken parmigiana, dinner salad and Cesar salad. The chicken was delicious with the marinara sauce. The salads were fresh. Would definitely come back read more

Such a great place -- great service and great owner! Lots of family recipes and learned that the owners daughter is celiac so they take any dietary restrictions very strictly. There is a limited menu but it's all very curated and thoughtful. The ceasar salad was phenomenal, lasagna amazing, chicken parm was top notch! Smaller portions but so good. Wine list is also very curated but not too many options. Photo Booth is $5 but you get two strips printed. The ambiance is impeccable and will be returning again. read more

Bess is a fabulous intimate, Italian restaurant with warm lighting and checkered floors. There's outdoor seating in the front + additional seating in the back for larger parties. Celebrated my birthday here with a party of 9 and had plenty of space. The food and service was phenomenal- highly recommend the vegetarian lasagna, Caesar salad, focaccia, and a glass of orange wine. The tiramisu was a delight, we were just too full to finish it! I'll definitely be back. read more

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Such a great addition to the neighborhood! We recently met up with friends at Bess for drinks and dinner and had a wonderful experience. We ordered several of their dishes to try and absolutely loved them. We started off with the Meat & Cheese Plate and Foccaccia. They were pretty good but our favorites were the bigger dishes. We ordered their Broccolini, Meatballs, Bucatini, Pesto Orecchiette, Chicken Parmesan and Lasagna. Our favorites were the Chicken Parm and Lasagna. For dessert we tried both the Chocolate Cake and Tiramisu. Between the two, the table favorite was the chocolate cake! For parking, there's a lot in the back or there's also street parking if you get lucky! read more

This is a great new addition to Sierra Madre, with a nice, relaxing ambiance, good service, and very rich Italian food. The food itself is very nice and rich, with very deep sauces! I hope to come again! read more

Is just a place for fancy people to hang out Overpriced food and the food itself is mediocre no flavor and very small amount. ( we went to in-n-out after spent $21 compare to $$$ plus tips) Definitely not for a family reunion or a family birthday . Hospitality wise they do a good job - - - they do pay attention to their guest. The back Room is too dark " the Dracula Room" the kids called it. This place is for your first date or just to have a couple drinks with friends a beautiful Town I must admit. read more

This place is super cute and the staff is super nice however my mom and I did not enjoy our food we got the hot honey omelette and it was not edible. We will be back but probably only for dinner. read more