Rating on my first experience, giving a 5 stars overall for customer service, when I say customer service is a powerful thing it is. Our server was sweet, attentive, and looked like she was about to go kick ass in a tomb raider movie haha. We ordered 2 drinks, my espresso martini I do have to say was a 4/10. Too sweet. I was going to send it back but I just kept it and watered it down with ice from my water. My bf's drink was delicious and refreshing. We ordered the birria quesadilla which was very good! I'm definitely going to crave that in the future. It had a smokiness to it that I really thought was tasty and different. Next time I would probably ask to get a side of consome with it. We also ordered the buffalo taquitos, crunchy, light, pleasantly surprised. The buffalo sauce went well with the taquitos. We also ordered a Cesar salad which was refreshing and crunchy. Their Cesar dressing was good as well with the Parmesan cheese. Loved the fun Decor! read more

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I had reservation but kitchen understaffed (not a good sign), waited another 20 minutes and had cocktails. Staff were nice and apologetic. Once seated, discovered some menu items no longer served, like the chili bowl that is still listed on menu. I ordered steak with chimchurri (as shown in a Yelp photo) with understanding it was still available, however, was served NY steak ($54) doused with lime juice and cilantro garnish - this was ruined meal. I could have gone to Houston's or The Derby and eaten better steak for the $$ and experience. The tri-tip was dry and unimpressive, daughter complained of lack of spice (e.i. bland bbq). I really want this restaurant to flourish, but food is mediocre at best. I want to say that customer service is great, cannot blame the servers, but the food/ kitchen is poorly managed. The menu needs major overhaul. read more

Pretty good experience here overall. Good food & friendly service. Just seemed a bit under staffed when we went, but really glad we selected this place. Fall off the bone short ribs & veggie sides were amazing. Also loved the Mac & cheese we shared. Parking was not too bad & it was fun walking around after dinner & seeing what else was around there. Very popular down town area so great people watching as well. read more

The food was good! However, the server on Thursday night seemed stress for no reason... we were there towards the last hour of closing. She took more than 5 minutes to seat the party in line before us, then decided to walk around some more before seating us. We requested to sit outside and again, it took her soooooo long to come outside and take our order. I saw her walk by so many times and either forgot about us or was putting us off. Mind you, the restaurant did not look that busy at all. By the time she finally came around and took our order she told us a mocktail couldn't be made bc they were out of an ingredient to have that drink be brought out after being told it couldn't be made. The server not only looked surprised but annoyed to see the drink out, most likely due to the miscommunication on her and the kitchens end. Salad was good. They never brought out our coconut shrimp appetizer. I advise that server to slow down and relax. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Craft bbq salad - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love the food at Craft, which is the more upscale version of the casual dining restaurant Smoke & Fire... food is consistently delicious but what stood out about this particular experience was the Como La Flor drink in tribute to Selena. It was so adorable and tasted great! I hope this stays on the menu. Service is also friendly and efficient, which is nice. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Como La Flor - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We came here on the day of Rose Parade! Yes, we are brave. LOL. It turned out to be a good choice. Since our bleacher seats for the parade are just about 10 minutes from the restaurant, we came right after the parade was and waited less than 30 minutes to be seated. The food is above my expectations! Many of the bbq restaurants drown their meats with cheap bbq sauces, not this one which is a big plus! I'm so impressed with the "meaty beef back ribs". It's so flavorful and again, not drown in cheap sauce! This takes work! The M.A.C. burger really lives up to it's name! So much meat and so fun to eat!!!! I'm not surprised it has over 7000 reviews on yelp! The restaurant is big, bright and airy. It's so festive and fun seeing football fans cheering for their teams! read more

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BEST BBQ IN PASADENA. I love the MAC Rib and the Texas-style smoked short rib. The MAC Rib is amazing (reallyyyy tender smoked short rib meat and creamy mac and cheese stacked in a burger). It's huge and kinda messy to eat but my waitress offered me black gloves which made it so much easier to enjoy. I don't think they normally offer them but it was such a good idea and I appreciated it. The Texas-style smoked short rib was just as good so tender with smoky meat that falls apart and melts in your mouth. The restaurant has a casual and welcoming vibe and the staff were super friendly even though service was a little on the slower side. Parking can be a challenge since it's Pasadena but there are plenty of paid lots nearby if street parking is full. Portions are big and definitely worth the price so come very hungry. read more

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Will be back 1000%. First, the beef back ribs were AMAZING, literally fell off the bone and just scrumptious. Chili was also really great, 10/10 recommend. Our server Drew was so sweet and very attentive! read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We made reservations on Open Table and were seated right away when we arrived. Our server, Joe was helpful, friendly, and super attentive. I enjoyed how open the restaurant was so that you could see the bar, the tvs and even people watch outside. The food was really good and I am looking forward to trying more drinks off their cocktail menu. read more

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Good was very tasty, and the drinks exceeded our expectations. Brandi was our very friendly server, didn't make us feel like a tip, but more like a helpful friend read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Nice BBQ spot in Old Town Pasadena. It's usually loud and packed on weekends, but I went on a Wednesday night and it was refreshingly calm. (The place is huge and has lots of tables and screens - good place to catch a sporting game on TV) Our table of 5 all ordered brisket dishes after hearing that brisket was the thing to get. I went with the BBQ salad with brisket and a side of waffle fries. My brisket leaned a bit dry, while others at the table got fattier cuts which I definitely would have preferred. The clear winner of the night was the Brisket Grilled Cheese...that was hands down the best dish we ordered. Shoutout to our waitress too -- she was very friendly and attentive. Overall, it's a decent BBQ joint but there are definitely better ones in LA area. read more

The place is half bar half restaurant. And it's huge. So be patient if you see they are short staffed, it is quite a lot of ground to cover. Ordered the rib eye and it's cooked per my request. Tender, juicy, and great quality meat. It's a bit salty though. And the chimichurri was more a distraction than complementing the steak. They cut it to strips so it's easier for you to eat, but personally i'd rather i cut my steak on my own to keep the heat as long as possible. Halfway towards the end of steak, it's already cold like a steak sandwich. I chose waffle fries for the side, while it tastes alright but it was tough. Can't believe it's tougher to chew the fries than the meat. Overall it was an interesting experience. The place is a bit loud with the sports bar vibe, but if you're here on your own or just for a hangout i guess it's perfect. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Medium ribeye - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Being generous with a 4. Prob more of a 3.5 star. The food just didn't do it here for my group. The environment is more open air in the front, tvs in the back. High ceilings. Tables are spread out enough. Staff was great. Vinny was our server and he did it all right. They do have a happy hour. Drinks are BOGO but it has to be the same drink. We got one and the foam at the top was so fun!!! Next came the food. The brisket is very good, but some of the choices are really just a carb overload. We got a burrito but asked for the Mac and cheese on the side. We also got a sandwich with the Mac and cheese on it. It was too much stuff, and not a lot of taste. Also had an order of waffle fries and they tasted like they'd been sitting out for a day and just reheated in the air fryer. And my guest never met a fry he didn't like. We ate 2 and left the rest. So for a fun and more unique menu, this is a cool choice. But if you're going just for the food andva full belly you're good. hoping for a party in your mouth? ... don't set expecting too high. . Parking in this area can be a challenge. You may have to walk a couple blocks. Lots going on. One block down from the main strip of shopping and eats in Pasadena. read more

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Best service ever with Jennifer. My personal best this year. The barbecue is basic bare bones meat and fixings. Brisket was moist not dry. 4 solid stars. read more

Chelsea helped us select a salad with buffalo chicken flautas - food came out right away and she was very attentive. Service was really good, the ambiance was welcoming and would definitely come back again Shout out to Chelsea!!!! read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Buffalo chicken flautas - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

First the FOOD...great menu with so many great BBQ and fusion options! Definitely a menu that allows everyone in your group to find something amazing. Our party of 3 ordered the Spicy Buffalo Chicken Flauta appetizer - this was AMAZING everyone agreed that it was the show stopper and could have been the entree we each ordered and we all would have been SO happy. You receive 4 very large flautas (think the size of 2 egg roles end-to-end but a bit thicker). The buffalo sauce is not mixed into the chicken stuffed flauta, it is a dipping sauce, along with ranch, so even those who don't like spicy will LOVE these!! We also ordered the Baldwin Burger and fries (lots of banana jalapeños on this so just be warned), Short Rib Birria Tacos and Winter Lodge Salad. All three were delicious. Ok now SERVICE... We showed up on a Sunday right at 11am when they opened and no one else was there; however, we were immediately greeted warmly and given menus and told we could sit anywhere we wanted and someone would be right with us. We wondered if we would have to wait for service since the staff looked busy opening still and guess what? We didn't - we were immediately asked if we wanted to get any drinks started and if we had questions on the menu. We ordered 2 beers and a lemonade and they arrived on our table able within probably 1 minute, followed by waters. Our server made recommendations and we ordered. Food was out and to us very quickly. Like I said, we were the first ones there, but the staff were all still completing opening tasks and still made sure we were receiving great, timely service!! The AMBIANCE is great, especially if you appreciate old movies, as they have murals with old movie quotes on random walls (even in the women's bathroom). They also have lots of seating and TVs. A great place to eat and watch a game. I'm still thinking about the flautas can't wait to go back for more. read more

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Came in expecting a solid dinner and left frustrated. We were seated quickly, but the kitchen completely fell apart. Appetizers took over 40 minutes despite multiple "they're coming out" promises--and then arrived just minutes before our entrées. The brisket was mediocre, the tri-tip was bland and tasted reheated, and the $11 loaded baked potato was hard, lukewarm, and clearly not fresh. It looked and tasted like a day-old potato reheated in a microwave. Unacceptable. The waiter was the only bright spot and the sole reason for two stars, as he removed the potato from the bill. Still, the check was nearly $200, and the food quality didn't come close to justifying it. In a city like Pasadena, there are much better choices. read more

Jen killed it. We had a group of 20 and not only was she super attentive we got our food and drinks very fast. She kept our cups full and kept the vibes going. Def returning to this location. Food was amazing too but the service was read more

Had to come by again with some friends for Sunday funday (and football)! Our waitress, Kylee, was fun, friendly, and extremely accommodating. She was insightful about the newly updated drink and food menus. Kylee recommended I add the breaded/fried chicken to top my Winter Lodge Salad, I'm glad I did! It offered a more savory twist. Excited to explore more of their new menu! read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Winter Lodge Salad with Fried Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Popped in for a late lunch but ended up deciding I could combine with my dinner. Got the mac and cheese loaded burrito. This thing was huge and full of meat. The only issue we had was it seemed like it wasn't really clear who was serving us. The bartender came by to take our order but it took 20 min to flag someone down for our check and ask for refills on our drinks. Other than that, the ambiance was great and food selection was eclectic for a BBQ spot. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - BBQ Brisket Burrito - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We got a last minute reservation and rushed over. Four adults, two meat loving toddlers, and two infants... we knew we had to order heavy. We got the family deal for 4-6 and took home one cornbread, and a small chicken wing. We killed it. There was nothing to complain about - the food was all great, service (Drew and the entire team) was stellar, and it was so easy to eat there with kids (always a concern). It's absolutely on the short list when hungry in Pasadena. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Menu May 2025 - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came here for a birthday lunch because we were craving some nice bbq. Decided to try this place out because of the good reviews. We ordered brisket, ribs, tri-tip, birria tacos, and all of the sides. Service was good but also a little slow which is understandable for low staff. Brisket 3/5 - At the time I had this, it was very chewy and not tender. The bbq sauce saved it from being not eaten. Tri-tip 4/5 - This was the best meat out of the other ones we tried since it was tender and felt buttery/fall off the bone type Ribs 3/5 - Also not the best ribs i've ever had. It was more tender than the brisket but still a little dry and not enjoyable. Birria Tacos 3/5 - I liked this a lot but also didn't. I liked it because of the texture and the presentation. I really liked how the meat was tender and yummy, but there was almost no flavor to the dish, whether it be the soup or the taco itself. Sides 5/5 - All of the regular, non premium, sides were really good and I have no complaints with them except for the baked potato which I wish it just had more sour cream on it or on the side since the potato is so big. Other than that everything else was yummy and worked well the bbq dishes. Overall, I would probably not be coming back here unless there was a good deal going on but I was just a little disappointed in how everything turned out. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Birria Tacos - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The service is really good. The ambience was nice a little bit warm, but it was a hot day out but overall the service and food and drinks will definitely bring us back. Highly recommend. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - This is the first old-fashioned. They have a buy one get one free. - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We had such a great experience thanks to our amazing waitress, Tarra! From the moment we sat down, she was so sweet, friendly, and genuinely helpful. You can tell she really cares about the customer experience--she made great recommendations, checked in on us just the right amount, and had the kind of positive energy that makes your whole meal feel better. It's not every day you get someone this kind and attentive. Tarra really went above and beyond and made us feel welcome the entire time. Give that girl a raise! Thank you, Tarra--you were truly everything nice. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - New York steak, Ribeye steak & BBQ ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Stopped in for a happy hour. Bogo drinks, yahoo! Lots of open seating. Ordered the birria brisket quesadilla, very tasty and loved the pickled onions and pickles. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Birria brisket quesadilla - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

In short, I wanted to like it more. The food was okay, and the service was spotty (came on an off-night, but still, it sucks to have to experience it). For weekends, it's probably best to make a reservation online as there was a line out the door by 6PM on a Saturday. It had a decent atmosphere with TVs throughout. And with the huge glass doors, it never got terribly loud. It's great for families as they do have high chairs available. I ordered the All the Smoke Platter, which I thought would be an easy way to try what they're known for: BBQ. I can confidently say that it can feed 4, but feeding up to 6 (as advertised) may be a stretch. Most of it was good, but there were some definite misses. Prime Brisket - Juicy, tender, and the best thing on the platter. I wish there was more. Prime Pastrami Brisket - Also juicy and tender, albeit quite salty. Lamb Rack - Lacked seasoning and was begging for more of a crust or sear. Short Rib - The big beef rib was presented with the bone slipped clean off, but wasn't at all tender. It lacked seasoning or any real flavor. A real head scratcher. Smoked Chicken - This was a chicken breast that was cooked 4x longer than it should have been. Cooked to death. Smoked Sausage - Beware, this packs a big kick with the jalapeno! Cornbread - Flavorful, sweet, and moist. Quite good. 3 Cheese Mac n Cheese - Well seasoned and creamy. Above average. Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes - Pretty good. Street Corn - Great char on the corn, but little else. Broccolini - This is considered a "premium side" so it cost $3 more to include it with the platter. However, it was very good-- charred and crispy with just the right amount of bite. It was clear that they were having an off night service-wise and the waiter apologized profusely and even gave us free nachos. But service aside, I'm not sure if I'd come back. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Second time here and just as good as the first! We were seated right away, which is always a great way to kick things off. The vibe is lively without being overwhelming, you can actually hear the person you're with, which is a big plus. Shoutout to Bernie for making our visit extra awesome. She was super friendly, quick, and gave great recommendations. We went with the Castaway (so good & STRONG!) and ordered some meats (short rib and Ribeye) that were insanely delicious. Definitely left in a full-on food coma... meat sweats and all! read more

Excellent BBQ meats and service. Free nachos the 2 times I've been here -- lucky me. The tri-tip was tender, juicy, and full of smoky flavor. Coconut shrimp appetizer was also good with cocktail sauce. Restaurant was mostly empty on a Monday night, but the waitstaff were attentive and did not slack off. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - BBQ tri-tip. So very good! - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Any item here will leave you happy and stuffed. Really enjoyed their loaded baked potatoe with a smoked rib on top. Quite literally fell off the bone and a bang for your buck. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food was bombbb I really wanted the 32 ounce Tomahawk steak but for a little more we opted for the last supper package and we're so glad we did ! Oh emmm geeee the tomahawk was perfection. My mom loved it so much. The package typically comes with sausages but they ran out so they doubled our brisket. Scoreeeee. The brisket and the short ribs literally just MELTED. For drinks, I didn't even look at the menu. I asked for the most extra thing they of course. Yall, She came out with a HARRY POTTER sorting hat !!! Team slytherin!! Had so much fun here and honestly still full from it. Will def be back with some friends. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - The Last supper$225.99 Prime Tomahawk Steak,Double Prime Brisket,Double Prime Pastrami Brisket,Short Ribs,Corn Bread+6Sides - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

We came hungry, left happy, and possibly a little in love...with the burgers, the beer, and Tarra, our radiant waitress. The food? Chef's kiss. Juicy, flavorful burgers that made us question every past burger choice we've ever made. The beers? Ice-cold, perfectly crisp, and tasted like someone knew we were parents who needed a break. Music was peak 2000s and late '90s nostalgia...haha think fries in one hand, dancing in your booth with the other. Tarra was a total gem! Attentive, kind, and somehow gracefully balancing "dog person" and "baby whisperer." She was so sweet to our whole crew: fur baby included, and our 3-year-old toddler who had zero chill and infinite energy. Just as a burst of toddler energy was brewing, a hero from the team appeared with origami and a rubber duck. I cheered in glee. My child sat down for a moment. This place nailed it. Casual, delicious, and welcoming in all the right ways. We'll absolutely be back for more burgers, more beers, and hopefully more ducks read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Quick Photo of Peach the Cheweenie and Daddy on our family date to Craft in Pasadena. - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came here last night for dinner with some girlfriends; it was easily the worst dinner experience we've ever had for the following reasons: -Our waitress, Tara (apologies if I'm spelling her name incorrectly), was inadequate. While she was quick to serve us waters, it took close to 30 minutes for her to return to take our food orders, and that was only because we flagged down another waitress to see if she'd take our order instead, and that waitress went and told Tara we were ready. -A friend wanted the chili, but it was sold out. It would have been nice to have been told this from the moment we sat down, but no worries. The issue is it took Tara another 20 minutes to return to our table to ask my friend what she wanted after letting her look over the menu again. The service was terribly slow and the guest service was worse. -Understanding we were upset without having actually said anything, Tara brought us the loaded nachos from the appetizers part of their menu, on the house as a means to make up for the service. However, the nachos didn't come with the brisket as described on the menu, AND we were charged one dollar for them, even though we didn't ask for the nachos and were told they were complimentary. -Another friend ordered the shrimp tacos and the taco shells were cold. -Tara checked on us just once after we received our food. I informed her that the tacos were cold and asked for them to be taken off the bill because they were not going to be eaten, to which Tara agreed and obliged. I won't complain about that. However, we never saw Tara again afterwards. -We flagged down the hostess, Mina (who is an absolute delight), and asked if she could get the manager for us. Mina returned to us from the back and informed us that the manager, who we learned is someone named Court, wanted to know why we needed to speak with him. This tipped me over the edge. Court, if you are reading this, as the manager/business partner, it is your duty to see to it that your patrons are pleased and taken care of. If your patrons are in need of your assistance and need to speak with you, it is very unprofessional to attempt to get an employee to figure out what the issue is before you do so after your presence is requested. YOU should have walked out and asked us what our issue(s) was. As the manager, that's your job. Your lack of care is probably the biggest reason why we will never return to your establishment. You failed to make us feel welcomed and cared for. Truly and sincerely awful. Please do better for the sake of your restaurant. By the way, Court never actually came out to inquire about our issues. Thank you, Court! -It was extremely, uncomfortably cold in the restaurant. We were freezing, and it was obvious other patrons were as well, and the staff, too. Besides Mina, another staff member, who is also a manager of the restaurant, Stephanie ("Steph"), showed us kindness, care, and great customer service. She noticed we were talking to Mina and she walked over to our table after completing her break to ask us what our issues were and how she could make it better. After we explained everything to her, not only did she apologize, but she sympathized and empathized with us. She even explained why the restaurant was so cold, which she didn't have to. She ended up comping our entire bill, even though we had already paid (two of us, myself included, decided to not order food because we had lost our appetite). We didn't ask for a refund; she simply refunded us out of kindness and understanding. She made us feel heard and welcomed us back for a future visit (again, we will not be returning). Steph and Mina were the highlights to what was otherwise a pretty terrible experience, and they are the reason I've left an extra star on this review. They are treasures and Craft is very lucky to have them on the team. While I recognize this experience was likely a one-off, I had to share my thoughts. Court, PLEASE IMPROVE. read more

Craft by Smoke & Fire - Pasadena - Loaded Nachos without the brisket on top. - Barbeque Near Me - Pasadena, California

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came here for my birthday lunch and it was quite disappointing. we ordered a variety of meats such as brisket, tri tip and ribs and every single one of the meats were dry and chewy. tri tip was the best of the three and it was still not up to our standards the sides were the best part of our meal. we ordered mac and cheese, potato salad, baked potato, mashed potato, corn, and the winter lodge salad. the potato salad was the best of the sides. the other sides were also pretty good and very filling service was friendly but very slow. it was fairly busy so understandable overall smoke & fire is a letdown. we came for quality meat and was only satisfied with sides. portions were ok for price but the meat was so chewy that we will not be back read more

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