We had a belated Mother's Day dinner here on Monday and really enjoyed everything! Peter, the owner, was also our server and he was wonderful, accommodating, kind and just so pleasant. He brought out all the gelato flavors for our three year old to see before he made his decision and chose pistachio which was delicious. He also brought us sample bites of the fresh strawberries with tiramisu mousse which was amazing! He also gave us samples of the focacce by the slice to take home. Highly recommend for the pasta, pizza, focacce and dessert. Thank you, Peter! read more

Food is good. Service, not so much. $15-20++ entrees/appetizers but a lot of self service for yourself is an interesting mix. I feel like they pick and choose who they want to serve. No thanks. read more

Food is great! It's unassuming from the outside but the quality of the food and service were excellent all around! We got the bucatini carbonara, scallopini di pollo, and lasagna. Pasta seemed hand made and perfectly al dente. Of the 3 we enjoyed the scallopini di pollo the most but you can't go wrong with either one of them. Our only complaint was the seating. Table seemed too high for the chairs so it was a bit uncomfortable. We will be back regardless! read more

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My dear friend and I had dinner at Caffe Italia on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. She surprised me with the dinner treat. Thank you my friend! It was on a Tuesday night. They weren't super busy with about one table occupied at the time we arrived. A few more customers came in after us. It's a cozy and comfortable restaurant with plenty of seating. Our server was nice and helpful, but her attention span was a tad delayed. We had to ask for things a couple times before she gave them to us. Menu had unique selections of entrees. We got 1 pizza, 2 main dishes, and 2 drinks. I enjoyed my La Pasta Al Tonno that came with tuna plus one blood orange sicilian drink. Pasta had a beautiful bright orange sauce. Tuna was delicious! Drink was quite refreshing. My friend got the Parmigiana di Melenzane e Pomodoro dish that had eggplant. Sauce was tasty, but she didn't taste much of the eggplant. Her fresh lemonade was just okay... nothing special. We didn't care too much for the cold prosciutto and burrata cheese on the Parma Burrata Pizza. Though the pizza sauce and crust were amazingly good. Overall our meal was decent, but nothing spectacular that would make us return for more. You can give them a try. Perhaps you may receive a better dining and food experience. All the best Caffe Italia! read more

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Newer spot in Pasadena serving up some solid Italian food. Came by for lunch on a weekday with some coworkers and it did not disappoint. Our server Lilly was great, super attentive and helped guide us through the menu. I ordered the bucatini amatriciana and it was delicious. The noodles were cooked perfectly and really soaked up the sauce. My coworkers got a margherita and a Sicilian pizza and I tried a slice of both. They were both pretty good, especially for the price. Overall I really enjoyed the pasta here and I'm looking forward to coming back to try more of the menu. read more

Caffe Italia - Bucatini Amarticiana - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I tried the spicy penne and meat lovers pizzas. Both great options. The food was pretty good. I was expecting average at best but was pleasantly surprised. The taste and quality of the dishes were up there. The vibe is great cozy and has a nice Mom and pop feel. I will definitely revisit this place the next time pizza cravings hit me. read more

Caffe Italia - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I think this place is updating their menu again. Their pizzas...no longer have fresh basil? i think that's what i read off their menu for the margherita at least. read more

Fresh and authentic Italian food. A perfect place for an uncomplicated dish. You can taste every ingredient. The potato focaccia was my favorite. Chewy and tasty. The pasta sauce was colorfully vibrant and fresh. Basil was necessary for the margherita focaccia. I need to try pizza next time. Tiramisu was very balanced, nicely moistened, not too sweet. Like i said its simple. read more

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The food was delicious and the chef is amazing and so nice! We had the buccatini and the pesto pasta and both were cooked very well and the sauce was so flavorful. It is very reasonably priced for the quality and amount of food you are getting. We will definitely be back! read more

The best pizza ever. The crust was perfect, ingredients fresh and plentiful. With pizza like this, why go to the chains!!Just had their special pizza with zucchini blossoms, mushrooms and truffle oil. A treat indeed. Don't miss out on authenticity. Try them and you will love their food. read more

Food is Bellissimo! and delicious! . I'm in full Italian heaven. I recommend this place . Good job chef! The owner is very nice and welcoming ! read more

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Best cappuccino in Pasadena. The owner is delightful and the food looked amazing. We'll be back soon to try the mains!

This is my mom's third time this week. We would probably be there more if they were open on the weekends. The owner is so sweet and catering to his employees being able to spend time with their families. The food is amazing. The service is amazing. The owner comes to chat with you and we just love that in a local mom and pop restaurant. Did I mention the food is amazing?? It's so good and what keeps us coming back for more. Every dish is delicious and home made recipe. I would love for everyone to know about this place. It's a real chill place and casual dining with an upscale flavor!! The price is so good for the portions and quality. Everyone needs to support this delicious local establishment. read more

Hands down best pizza in all of town. The owner is a real Italian and all the ingredients are delicious. We started ordering for the whole office a collection of pizzas , and nothing was ever left behind. I highly Recommend it. read more

I had a wonderful meal with friends. We had the lasagna bolognese and the Sicilian pizza. The waitress was very attentive and the owner came by our table to make sure we had everything we needed. Very quiet and able to have conversations. I had the lemon cake for dessert that was delicious. The best Italian I have eaten in a long time read more

Caffe Italia - Lasagna bolognese - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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An outstanding hidden spot in Pasadena. Visit chef Piter for a visit to remember. Quality, Authentic and great value. read more

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The intentional service, deliciousness, and personal ambiance is incredible. Stopped by and immediate favorite with how much flavor is packed for an amazing price too. Dining alone or with family you will have a great time engaging chef Peter bringing his home to every dish and experience. read more

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This is the best Italian pasta in Pasadena. I've tried most of them, from Union to Agnes to Gale's to Marina to Tardino Brothers. This is it! Deliciously fresh and flavorful, and the prices are incredibly reasonable for the quality and portion. It's on par with Maccheroni Republic in DTLA, my other favorite spot. Excited to have a new go-to Italian place in the neighborhood! And the people who work here are lovely. read more

Best cappuccino I've had - rich, smooth, frothy. Felt like I was in Italy and not in Pasadena. Will be back for more and will try their food too! read more

We had an excellent breakfast here - frittata and an amazing chocolate croissant. Our server was terrific and she made a really good cappuccino and latte. Looking forward to trying the pasta and pizza soon read more

Lovely new Italian restaurant. The sauce is delicious and brings back memories of my grandmothers. I had the Italian chop chop salad it was delicious. My nephew had the eggplant parm and raved about it. Great casual Italian place. Owner is wonderful read more

I was strolling around Pasadena and wanted something easy and light. This place caught my eye as it seemed pretty authentic to Italian cafes. I decided to try. The service was great. I ordered a double espresso and a pizzette ( small hand sized pizza). The pizzette was great simple and great flavor. The espresso was served with a small cookie. The espresso was perfect; it had a beautiful cream foam on top and was not bitter. The whole experience took me back to Italy. I would love to come back and try this place again for dinner. The owner Peter is very nice and welcoming. I hope this place becomes a staple in the area. read more

Hospitality and good food is the Italian way!!! This place is vivacious and quite an experience. The food was made with love and attention to detail. The sauce was simply delicious making the pizza and eggplant to so tasty. The owner is the heartbeat of this place, making sure that guests feel welcome and leave with a taste of his homeland. The passion is present in the flavor of his food, He creates a casual dining experience that is memorable and makes you want to come back again and again. A truly great Italian eatery for an entire meal or small bites. A definite place to try!! read more

Absolutely delish, had the vodka penne and meatball appetizer. To die for. Some reviews have complained of slower service but I think we could all exercise a little patience when it comes to authentic cuisine. I found the server to be sweet and helpful, and the owner is around and is friendly read more

Amazing food & hospitality!!! Highly recommend 10/10 experience. The pepperoni & sausage calzone was so delicious! Will definitely be back .

I often walk by this location and finally decided to pop in now they've been open for a few weeks. I thought it was just for coffee but looking at their menu I was very happy to see a wide variety of food options. I was craving pizza and this place didn't disappoint. Loved their fresh house made crust. I really need to come back and try the pasta. The menu is huge and quite affordable compared to the other Italian spots further south on Lake. I hope more people try this place, it's fantastic and up there with the fancy places. The staff was very nice, I liked the very casual vibe of the place. Sometimes to get good Italian you've gotta go out to a fancy restaurant. This was much more relaxing. read more

We must have gone there in a bad day- Saturday afternoon. Food was very good but I would say over priced because there is no real service. You order at the counter. Our appetizer took 40 minutes and it was just small meatballs with Focaccia cheese and meat topped Bread. Our Entrees came out first, but with no Silverware- so we had to ask for that as well. Diet Coke's were the mini cans for $2.50 each with no ice. The appetizer finally arrived and when I asked about the delay, Some Guy maybe an Owner was quick to try to whisk it away and comp it. We asked him to leave it but they charged us and offered no apology. Not worth the $80.00 spent for 2 of us for a late Lunch. Also, a couple that was seated after us received their food first. read more

Must try place in Pasadena. Food is excellent! I had eggplant parmigiana and my husband had Pinza Alla Peter. Eggplant parmigiana is the best I've ever had. My husband spent a lot of time in Italy and he said this was pretty authentic. The owner and staff are super friendly and generous. Will definitely go back there! read more

Not only the best Italian food in Pasadena but also one of the best meals. Chef is Sicilian; you could be sitting in a restaurant in Italy. Though everything on the menu is delicious, have him recommend what to try. Buon apetito! read more

If you read any of my other reviews, you'll know that I don't leave reviews just for giggles. If you're going down Colorado Blvd in Pasadena, you've probably seen this place and wondered what it is or if it's any good. Do yourself a favor and just go right on in and grab a seat. The ambience, layout and the overall feel of the place just reminds me of a place right out of Italy. The food? Pretty damn good! The meatballs transported me to my last trip in Rome. The Carbonara was magnificent and you can just taste the egg yolk in every bite. The gelato was also right on the money. The service was great as well. The gentleman helping us whom I assume is the owner was extremely friendly and personable. Just a wealth of knowledge and he's just enthusiastic to share his culture with you through food. I would suggest you ask him what he recommends; you may think you know Italian food but then The Dunning-Kruger effect kicks in. If you want an authentic Italian experience, this is the place. Ciao! read more

Incredible family dinner for our party of 15! Table was beautifully set, Chef came out and started us off with various different specialty focaccias, calzones pizzetas, and tomato burrata salads. That was Followed by eggplant parmesan for the table-which was out of this world. Some of the items we ordered among our party and we all tasted and shared. Lasagne bolognese, Milanese Parmesan, penne à la vodka, fettuccine Alfredo, pepperoni pizza, spaghetti polpete, chicken scaloppine Al limone, and 2 specials of the night- braised short ribs with mashed potatoes and a penne tartufo (truffle) with crisped mortadella. Dessert was flourless chocolate cake, gelato, tiramisu and warm panettone bread pudding. Everything was exceptional including the service! We will definitely be going back often and highly recommend this new gem in Pasadena! read more

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Excellent food and service. I'm from New Jersey and often feel LA lacks great no-frills options for simple, homemade style Italian food at a reasonable price point. Enter Caffe Italia. The food is excellent and you can taste the freshness and care that goes into each dish. This brought me back to childhood in New Jersey, which is the highest compliment I can give. The prices are incredibly reasonable and the food is fantastic. Please support this place and keep it in the neighborhood. read more

Caffe Italia - Eggplant Parmesan - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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A wonderful casual cafe in Pasadena owned by Peter from Sicily. The best choices are those with lemons. Buccatini with lemon cream sauce is fantastic. They also serve an ice cream desert with olive oil and lemon rind. Incredible!! read more

Cafe Italia is a gem. Chill modern Italian atmosphere, kind attentive staff, and really good food. Big portions, great flavor, and just an overall solid spot. Great place to stop in for a tea and lunch. :) Vodka sauce pasta was amazing and they added vegetables to make it more vegetarian friendly. GREAT spot read more

Caffe Italia - Vodka pasta - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food is DELICIOUS!! The owner, Peter, is from Sicily and shares his love of cooking authentic recipes from home. Everything is so good, you won't be disapointed.The focaccia is, by far, the best I have EVER had!!!! You have to try the mushroom with truffle oil!!!!!!!!! This has become my favorite Italian food go to. read more

One of the best pizzas in LA! Great value and quality product. What a delightful spot in Pasadena for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is a must try ! read more

Sweet little spot on Colorado across from Target. Peter was a great host and the food was so good! The dishes were perfectly seasoned without being over salted! We had the tartufo pasta, potato pizza, penne vodka and finished it off with espresso and tiramisu. We'll be back! read more

I was welcomed immediately upon entering! The staff were so friendly. This restaurant is casual and family friendly! Now for the best part... the food was FRESH and absolutely packed with flavor! So delicious. I was shocked by how great this small spot is! Another great spot to try in Pasadena. Highly recommend giving it a try for lunch or a casual dinner read more

Caffe Italia - Penne Arrabbiata and Pizza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

What a nice neighborhood cafe! We got the chopped salad, focaccia with mortadella and bucatini amatriciania and all three dishes were delicious. The price was great and service was great as well. read more

Was visiting Pasadena a month ago with some friends and was excited to try this place. We were shocked because it was really dirty inside. The floor was dirty and our table top was sticky from before we were seated there. My "clean" wine glass had lipstick on it so I had to ask for a new one. The food itself was pretty bland and nothing exciting. I had the chicken vino bianco and the cream sauce tasted about the same as what I've had at any Olive Garden. I really wish we had gone somewhere else and we won't be back. read more