Had a woderful birthday experience. The service at gaz was excellent, and everyone went above and beyond for our special day.

I always enjoy the food and the service in the past . However my Husband and I had reservations for 7:45pm and still waited for over 10mins, another couple came in without reservation and got sited before us. Had to bring it to the host attention why is a couple that just came in got sited before us! When we finally got a table the service from our server was also awful waited to long to get our order from the drinks to the food the starters took forever it was so bad we decided just to call it a night very disappointing. read more

Clams linguine was way too salty and the cake was dry. Couldn't eat it. The owner, Gale, is one of the nastiest women I've ever met. I would think she would be more gracious. Maybe she was having a bad day but probably not. She was aggressive/MEAN and " A LOT.". Horrible experience. Would not recommend and Never going back. Gale, if you're reading this, the ultimate sign of intelligence is kindness, always. You were anything but kind other day. People who behave like you (power trip, egomaniac, like to humiliate others), are usually miserable and/or insecure. Mean people have issues! Hope you get some help and learn appropriate social skills. Btw, you absolutely dont know anything about me either. Nothing. Also, no one cares about how many boards you're on. Not one bit impressive. You may contact me through Julia if you would like to apologize for your unbelievably rude behavior. Otherwise, karma baby. read more

Recently ate at Gales for the first time in a few years. I had always loved eating here, and I wasn't disappointed at all when I returned. I started with the original simple salad. The serving is generous and very fresh. For the main course, I had the chicken piccata 2 large pieces of chicken with plenty of sauce. You can choose 2 sides; I chose spinach and pasta and the servings were generous and delicious. My friend started with the steamed artichoke which she said was delicious. For her main course she had the herb roasted chicken with pasta as her side. We both enjoyed our food and took some home. Dessert - had to split a slice of coconut cake which is always delicious there. Service was excellent. read more

We really enjoyed heading to this local Italian joint. The restaurant feels tucked away, with a busy inside area and a big marquee. It was cold when we went and we were happy that the staff allowed us (we had reserved a table) to decide whether we wanted to sit inside or outside. That was a nice touch. There were loads of staff serving so we always felt we could order. We had wine, which was served in large goblets, bruschetta, lasagne and the aubergine Siciliana. I would note that the portions are really large so we didn't need this much food for two people. The lasagne, in particular, was really large and filling. My husband didn't feel great after and I think that was due to the excess meat sauce. He did say it was delicious though. I think the aubergine was the nicest I've had so far in the US. One thing I would say for neurodiverse people is that this restaurant is very loud. There is a lot of cutlery and plateware noise which I found really difficult with noise sensitivities. I am sure this can be avoided when sitting out in the marquee when the weather is nicer. read more

Casual dress in an elegant ambiance. Excellent food quality and service. Pricey but worth it. A place to go to celebrate or treat yourself.

First visit to Gale's and had a lovely dining experience. Everything we ordered was very good and fresh. Service attentive and there's a small parking lot behind the restaurant. read more

See all

Overall, really good food and good service. Little bit of a wait if you don't reserve in advance. There is a free parking lot available. Don't know how many tables were inside but there were like 10 outside - there were heaters and the pvc screen so it My party and I really loved the chicken rice soup and it was surprisingly amazing. The peach and blueberry crostata was to DIE FOR - SO refreshing and perfectly sweet. (We asked them to substitute the vanilla (I assume) ice cream for passion fruit sorbet and it was a wonderful fruity dessert.) They also serve bread and oil while you wait for your food. read more

Gale's - Cacio e pepe with Italian Sausage - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Make reservations at least a day ahead, they fill up quickly. We parked on the street but could see that it could be problematic so either Uber/Lyft or plan ahead to find parking. Service is quick, flawless and friendly. We had the beef carpaccio, calamari, Zinfandel, Sangria, spaghetti with meatballs and rotini bolognese. Everything came out perfectly piping hot with freshly grated Parmesan to your hearts content. Food was delicious as expected. I noticed that everyone was relaxed and happy. Seems like they take care of their workers and their workers in turn want to take care of their customers. read more

Gale's - Spaghetti Marinara - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Update: This is a review for their to-go order. -- Gale's is still a top contender for Italian for homey Italian food in old town -- it's more down to earth than Union, but I will say that Union is also amazing! -- food- wise: get my brother Jerry's tortellini : the coconut cake (their staple), tried it for the 1st time and the inside cake itself is on the dry side but the coconut and cream part hides the dryness read more

Gale's - My brother Jerry's Tortellini -- fave! - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

The family had Mothers Day dinner at Gales. Nice place, good atmosphere. We were seated at a few tables near the bar. We all ordered our food with some appetizers, bruschetta, garlic bread, etc. When the garlic bread came out, it looked great! Until you flipped it over and there's MOLD! That's nassssty. Mold on bread. We let the waiter know about the unhealthy problem, to which he said he will bring out another and took the plate away. A few minutes later another plate of garlic bread came out to the table....no mold on this one. Not one word or apology for the moldy bread. Actually, no one, not even the manager came around to check on us or our food but they did come around quick with the bill. We thought they would have comped the moldy garlic bread but we still paid for it. Also check your drink glasses, we had one that was cracked all around. We could have cut ourselves. At the end, asking for a plastic bag seemed like a chore for some of them. Besides the moldy garlic bread, the rest of the food was good. read more

Gale's - Moldy Garlic Bread - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Staff was amazing, food was amazing. service was amazing and im not one to leave reviews, very quiet but quite nice for dinner date read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Love this special local Pasadena Italian favorite. The ambiance is warm, welcoming and feels like an old friend. Ordered a nice bottle of reasonable priced Chianti reserva with our meal. Generous beet feta and Caesar salads to share. Enjoyed the generous linguine with clams with white sauce followed by a tart with a dollop of ice cream. Scrumptious! Attentive and kind service. We will be back! read more

See all

The service was fast and great. The food was amazing. Everyone was so nice and attentive. A hidden gem for sure. read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Excellent service from start to finish. Every dish was prepared to perfection. The appetizers set a wonderful tone for the meal, and the Pepe pasta was absolutely outstanding--rich, flavorful, and perfectly executed. The soft Pinot Noir paired beautifully with the pasta, enhancing the flavors of the dish. On top of the incredible food and wine, the ambiance made the experience even more enjoyable. A fantastic place for a memorable dining experience. read more

I ordered spaghetti with meat sauce and could not stop eating. It was $30 for a heaping plate that could've lasted 4 or more meals if i knew how to portion control. Simple, elegant, and absolutely delicious. Their EVO is also soo good i asked for some to take home. The only negative was the service, like others have pointed out, i was sort of ignored. There was one man that would kindly check up on me but my waiter disappeared after he jotted down my order (and also motioned for the other menus on the table which was rude). Overall the restaurant has a decent atmosphere and good food but probably better ordering to-go. read more

Gale's - Spaghetti Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Made a reservation a month in advance for my husband's birthday lunch. It went smoothly making the reservation over the phone and they texted me reminder confirmations twice before the date. We walked here so I can't comment on the parking. Inside is really nice and quaint. I wanted to avoid sitting outside because it was a hot day. I like a lot of their decorations. Our waiter was helpful but not friendly. His expression seemed very bothered but I guess because it was a busy day (a Saturday). They brought us water, bread, and oil&balsamic vinegar once we sat down, so that was nice! We ordered the Cacio E Pe Pe and Pork Panini. Both were delicious! Portions are kinda small so I definitely would get my own entree. After paying the bill, they bring you out complimentary biscotti (a nice gesture but it felt like I was biting into a rock. Couldn't eat it with my sensitive teeth). I did specify and ask, when I made my reservation, if they provide anything for bdays. They said a free slice of cake! I kept waiting to see if they would bring it out to surprise my husband but they never did & instead asked if we wanted a dessert menu. So I got up to ask the waiter if they provide anything for bdays and he said coconut cake. So he brought it out for us on a plate and even included a candle! Overall, I would say we had a good experience. The food is really good. Just on the smaller portion side. Pricing is average. Probably would come back again. read more

See all

Went to get a piece of the coconut cake to take home. I'd read such positive reviews but it was dry, had a long hair in it, and cost $15.00. What a waste of money and disappointment. read more

It does seem nice on the outside. Unfortunately, we opted for outside seating because the weather permitted, unbeknownst to us the sound of traffic is so overwhelming it ruins the ambience. A few quick tricks like a water fountain, extra shrubbery, and/or some ambient music would've made the difference. In addition, the food honestly was subpar at best. The spaghetti tasted like Chef Boyardee- which is just embarrassing, considering this is an Italian restaurant. The clam chowder was like straight out of a can. I had ordered a salad off of the specials menu, which I never received, and wasn't charged for. However, I know that it was the first thing that was stated when giving our order. While they did give us water and bread quite immediately, the water did not stay topped off. And I think bear bones your drinks should be full when eating at a restaurant, particularly one that's about $40 a plate. The staff was nice, but they were slow. And I don't believe that they were super busy because when I did go inside to use the restroom- sidenote, they have three restrooms which are all single person and are clean- I saw a lot of staff not working. For me to believe that they were super busy I would have to see every single employee hustling, and that was not the case. While I appreciate the opportunity to dine out, and all that goes with dining out, I definitely do not feel like I got bang for my buck. In fact, I kind of feel taken advantage of. Had I made the food at my house instead of going out and eating it, not only would it have tasted better, but I would've spent significantly less. Moral of the story: it was a good restaurant once upon a time. It is no longer that time. read more

Gale and Joshua created a wonderful experience for us from start to finish. We asked for a set menu for a group of 20, and they accommodated us to the max. A lovely setting under the lights in a corner of the patio, wonderful food (omg, the lasagna Bolognese) (double omg, the dessert sampler) and the staff was warm and efficient. They were very careful with an order for a gluten-intolerant guest, which was much appreciated. We can't wait to go back! read more

Ordered takeout, the branzino was salty and swimming in oil. The bruschetta had 4 tiny pieces of greasy toast and very little bruschetta. The MOST disturbing was finding a piece of METAL in the branzino. Pls see photo. Upon calling the restaurant I was told " we will comp the branzino"- my response was - no you will comp the entire meal. No one wanted to eat another bite after finding a large piece of metal in the food. The coconut cake was dry. Step it up Gale. read more

Gale's - Metal found in the Branzino dish. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This review makes me very sad to post as Gale's has been a favorite for many, many years but has lost its luster. We recently visited and had the lasagna and chicken parm. They were dry with virtually no sauce, unseasoned and lacking in flavor. They also count pasta as a side dish for the chicken parm which is ridiculous since it's included at other Italian restaurants. Our server was wonderful so kudos to him but the food was so underwhelming that we won't be returning. read more

A year later and I still love this place! The lasagna is fantastic, I loved it so much that I forgot to take a picture before gobbling it up! The carpaccio appetizer was delicious, and the desserts are amazing and service is phenomenal! You can't go wrong eating here for a special meal. read more

Gale's - Veal & chicken Tortellini bolognese - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

A nice little Italian restaurant in the City of Pasadena. From the outside, it appeared plain and hidden, easily passed by from unsuspecting motorists. Inside, nicely decorated, simple, fresh, airy, and clean. Outdoor seating available. Service by staffers was excellent, especially by our assigned waiter, friendly, attentive, and helpful. The food was pricey but good, above average. The so-called famous coconut cake was just ok, average, a bit on the dryside. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal with great service, would most likely come back. read more

We have always loved Gales but last night was an exception. We had a 7:45 reservation. When we arrived and before we were seated we were tersely advised we must order by 8pm. No problem but not exactly a warm welcome. It's not like we showed up minutes before closing, we had a reservation. I ordered "rigatoni bolognese" one of my favorite dishes and apparently had misread the menu. The waitress didn't correct me she simply wrote down our orders. When our meals arrived and I saw the rotini I said oh I ordered rigatoni. I was tersely advised, we don't have rigatoni. Ok. Surprised an Italian restaurant doesn't serve or have rigatoni but whatever. The kicker was the extremely loud slamming of silverware which went on for several minutes. Ok we get the message, you want to get out of here! As I said we've always loved Gale's and probably will return despite the inhospitable service we received this evening. read more

We enjoyed our dinner at Gales so much that we came back the next day to try their salads for lunch! The food was fresh and portions were very generous. read more

My wife and I decided to have dinner at Gale's for our date night, and we were left disappointed. Reading the reviews, and checking the pictures, our expectations were high! But shortly after taking our first bite, we were left wondering what all the hype was about. Service - First and foremost, the service was great. We were seated right away with no issues. Everyone was kind and courteous. The servers were quick and accommodating. Food: The part that matters the most. I had the Pasta Al Forno and my wife had the Spaghetti Marinara with shrimp. We also had a small Caesar Salad on the side (as basic as it gets). - Pasta Al Forno: It was mediocre. We were told the pasta was in a creamy sauce, but when the plate arrived, it was thin and watery. The melted cheese on top also had an unpleasant taste, almost like frozen cheese that was microwaved, which I suspect is how my plate was prepared. The dish was bland in general, and not very enjoyable. - Spaghetti Marinara with Shrimp: The dish my wife had was also very bland. The sauce was a bit better than the creamy sauce that the Pasta Al Forno had, however, it was still thin and reminiscent of canned tomato sauce you'd get at a grocery store. The shrimp was overcooked and rubbery, very disappointing. With how basic the sauce tasted, and the lack of seasonings, this dish seemed like it was inspired by the spaghetti you'd find at the Ikea cafeteria. With the prices they're charging for a plate of pasta, you'd think the quality of the ingredients would be exceptional. Let me tell you, my friends, what we received was far from the "Fine Italian Food" their restaurant proudly proclaims. Following a YouTube recipe yourself will yield better results. read more

See all

Went for a family dinner on a weekday. We made a reservation but still waited for about 20 minutes before we got seated. Gale's has been around for a while and you can tell many people are returning patrons who love this place. I loved the ambiance. The dining room had a lowkey, no-frills, homey feeling. The tables were spaced out nicely and it wasn't loud even with a full dining room. They also had a large tent outside for outdoor seatings. The service was welcoming and friendly. There was free parking behind the restaurant. Very good Italian food! It feels like home cooking. The portion was very generous. You probably will bring home some leftovers. You can't really go wrong with the menu. I loved the portobello raviolis. Hands down one of the best raviolis I have ever had. If you want to try the pizza, I recommend sharing a small pizza as an appetizer. We tried the prosciutto and arugula pizza and it was delicious. For desserts, we tried the tiramisu and the crème brûlée. Both were good but nothing special. Overall I had a lovely evening dining at this hidden gem in Pasadena. Highly recommend! read more

See all

The food was delicious. Great service from very attentive server. The Ambiance was ok because we got sat outside with no reservations, party of 6 at 4:30pm . read more

See all

What a great family-friendly restaurant that truly values its customers! Another mom in my neighborhood parents group had recommended Gales as a kid-friendly spot that also served elevated Italian cuisine and I was a little suspect at first. It's rare to be both fancy AND friendly, but Gale's fit the bill perfectly. All three of my little kiddos have ventured beyond the pizza and pasta portions of the menu and found new favorites that you wouldn't think their young palates would love, like the fried stuffed Castelvetrano olives or the squash blossoms. They look forward to trying something new from the ever-changing specials menu each visit, and the staff joyfully encourages them. read more

I've driven by this restaurant well over a thousand times over the years and never ate here until last week. The restaurant looks tiny from the front on Fair Oaks, but it's actually quite large. The restaurant is L shaped and most of the dining area is on the backside in a hidden large parking lot. The service was wonderful. All the staff were polite and responsive. The restaurant was clean. The ambiance was upscale, but not pompous. The food tasted great. The preparation and presentation were lovely. My only negative is that the prices are on the high side. The cost for some of the meat dishes is justified, but a small chicken salad for $28 is excessive. read more

This place is such a hidden gem! I never knew of this place until we had a family dinner there the other day. The food was so amazing! We had the braised beef and steak. Drinks are also very delicious and strong. I highly recommend this place for big groups, it is such a comfortable restaurant for any occasion! Don't forgot to get the dessert sampler at the end. I was so full but I definitely made room for all the deliciousness! I also love that they have a lot of parking in the back, and it's free! read more

See all

Hadn't been to Gale's in a while, so we decided to revisit. Made a reservation for 8:30 on a Friday night and arrived right on time--the place was lively and full of energy. We were surprised to learn the kitchen closes at 9:00, but our server Raul was friendly, attentive, and kept things moving smoothly. We weren't all that hungry, so we ordered a spread of starters, salads, and their minestrone soup. The zucchini florets, one of my longtime favorites, were as amazing as ever--crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned. The eggplant starter had great flavor potential, but unfortunately it was undercooked--both the eggplant and the sliced garlic could've used more time. Temperature-wise, the food came out fast but wasn't quite hot--more warm than it should've been. That said, the house salad and arugula salad were spot-on: served cold, fresh, and dressed with a light lemon vinaigrette that was perfectly balanced. The minestrone soup looked a bit pale--missing that rich tomato color--but I didn't try it myself. My friend didn't mention any issues, so I'll assume it was fine. The roasted olives were exactly what you'd expect--simple, satisfying, no surprises. We kept it light with iced teas sweetened with stevia--a little boring, I know, but we'd had wine the night before and figured we'd skip a night. Overall, a good experience as usual. We sat outside, and the ambiance was perfect--relaxed, comfortable, and ideal for catching up. read more

This was so delicious :) our server was Javier and he was also super attentive and friendly so service was awesome as well ! Me and my girlfriend ordered the mussels, burrata and prosciutto, portobello ravioli, tomato and fennel soup, the scampi fritti shrimp, mixed greens salad and they were all so good ! Will love to come back here again for the wonderful service and yummy food :) read more

Celebrated my birthday here last night! Everything was delicious and we saw our favorite staff member, Javier who took good care of us. read more

See all

Kelly the nicest and prettiest server here got a complimentary dessert for my birthday and my linguini and clams excellent Dat outside under the tent she so nice to split out check read more

Dear Gale Kohl, we love the delicious food and first class service...never a disappointment. Could you PLEASE start providing proper red wine glasses and upgrade the wine menu? I have noticed that many patrons arrive with their own wine and wine glasses too. read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

I frequently dined at Gale's over 10 years ago and it is still as good as I remembered it to be. Service was attentive but not overly zealous; food was tasty and generous in portion; setting was intimate and dimly lit; and parking was plentiful in the back lot. Now that I live walking distance, Gale's will definitely be a staple in our date night rotation. read more

See all

We used to eat here all the time even for my wedding but this time is our last. My wife's pasta al forno had a pool of oil grease below and my cacio e pepe was a smaller portion than before. I had added chicken and it was quite dry and tasted like it's been sitting. The previous times were good but now not so much. On top of that one of the waiters dropped a cup of ice water hitting my wifes feet. Sad to see this place decline. read more

1st of all, service was horrible. Our waiter was rude and service was extremely slow (I believe his name was Esteban). Seemed he did not know how to multitask. We had to ask for our own water refills, and even when we did, he seemed annoyed. Food was 1 star. Bland bland bland!!! We ordered calamari, 2 pastas, and a pizza. The best thing was the calamari. But it was such a tiny portion for the price point. Will not be coming back! read more