great service and great food! tried this spot on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. everything we ordered was yummy and i would definitely go back again! good vibes esp the area in the back was nice for my group to take some pictures read more

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Came here this past weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday with my husband and parents, and everything was delicious as always! I've been to Marina several times now and it never disappoints. We started with Lily's Mushrooms and the Lamb Chops Scottadito - the mushrooms had a nice smoky grilled flavor with avocado cream that worked really well together, and the lamb was tasty without being too gamey. For mains we got the House Italian Sausage pizza, the Calabrian Salami pizza, and the Rabbit Bolognese. Both pizzas were great but the Calabrian Salami was definitely our favorite! The honey and spice combo was so good and the crust was perfectly crispy. The Rabbit Bolognese was also incredible, and tasted fresh and light instead of heavy like some bolognese can be. Our waiter gave us the pistachio tiramisu on the house for my mom's birthday, which was such a sweet gesture, and it was delicious! He took great care of us all night and even helped get multiple angles of our group photo haha. Thank you Marina for such a great experience, we will definitely be back :) read more

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My boyfriend and I were so excited to dine at Marina in Pasadena. There are some paid lots, free public parking, and street parking if you are willing to walk. Just be careful because there are some tricky signs that say $1.50 in large font and for each 15 minutes in tiny font. Even with a reservation from Resy, we found that it was still a bit of a wait. Without the reservation, you might be limited to patio parking only. Even their bar area was busy and reserved during our time there. I didn't mind the waiting, but it was stressful waiting in a tight space with their staff coming in and out with huge piles of dishes and you have to be careful if you don't want to be bumped into. This feeling of crowdedness continues to the tables with the spacing between one table to another very tight together. More to this in a bit. The hostess was so sweet, she actually sent us a complimentary Blistered Bread and Ricotta ($14) dish that we both really enjoyed to make up for the wait. The blistered bread was masterfully executed, very thin and went perfectly with the ricotta dip. Once again, I didn't mind the wait at all. That was not the problem with my meal. Anyways... going on... the waiter... the waiter we had was really grumpy. Not sure if it's just his personality or he was having a bad day. For instance, I was ready to get the white wine flight but then he was, very poorly, explaining it to the point where I was talked out of it. Then I was about to get a glass of wine or bubbly... Then once again he basically talks me out of it. Nevermind I'll drink water... I guess you don't need to earn a better tip. In addition to the trouble he gave me while order. When he came to ask me about my experience. I honestly responded that it could be better, due to the table next to us. He basically gaslit me like well it's a big party, what do you expect? Wow this inconsiderate family of kids bumping into my table, making fart sounds on purpose, cursing adults, and loud loud kids and adults... You expect me to feel like this is normal behavior and enjoy it. I straight up told him, well YOU ASKED ME, I'm just answered your question. He begrudgingly moved us but basically ignored us for the rest of the night Anyways, as for the food... I thought the food would be pretty fantastic since the restaurant was so busy. It had all of the signs of a successful restaurant. My boyfriend and I shared the following: Squash Blossoms ($16) - I love squash blossoms. My boyfriend knew I wouldn't be able to resist ordering it. Their preparation of this delicate ingredient was heavy for my liking. The batter on it was thick and oily. The toasted hazelnuts were unnecessary. House Italian Sausage ($26) - They have one of those pizza ovens. The crust was thin and crispy. It was well prepared. However the issue we had with this was the flavor, or rather lacking flavor. The taste of the Italian sausage was overwhelmed by the red onion agrodolce. We both ate a slice and took the rest home. Even as leftovers we weren't excited to eat it. Charred Scallop Risotto ($38) - What really sold me was the baja uni batter that I did not taste much of in this dish. This was a poor execution of a risotto. The texture was off, and the flavor was overwhelmed by whatever cheese they used in this dish. The charred scallop was one single scallop cut in half and overly charred and rubbery in taste. The blue shrimp were shriveled too. We made sure to eat the proteins to prevent waste but you know it's bad when my boyfriend didn't even want to togo this dish. He normally eats anything to prevent waste. Branzino alla Griglia ($38) - Whole grilled branzino topped with eggplant, salsa verde and herb salad. This was the least bad item that we paid for... Although there was a lot of bones to be cautious of. I understand the risk of stumbling on a few bones when ordering a whole fish but this was more than I would have liked. I also didn't like some of the flavors coating the fish. Although from a grilled perspective it was crispy and perfectly cooked. This is a popular business with plenty of patrons to keep them busy. Whatever they like... it isn't what I look for in a business I frequent. I know they don't need my business and I will gladly stay away and save myself all of the trouble. This was way too stressful and there weren't any dishes I need to have again. My experience was so awful I'm being very generous with this 3 star, which is "average". read more

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Paid underground parking is available nearby. I recommend making a reservation, especially if you're planning to come for dinner or on a weekend. The restaurant was clean and had a welcoming atmosphere. I noticed that the restrooms were well maintained, which is always a plus. The food was okay overall. It wasn't bad, but nothing really stood out or made me want to come back just for the food. One thing I was disappointed by was the appetizer, Prosciutto San Daniele & Figs. It only came with one piece of bread, which was not enough. The service was average, not particularly attentive or memorable. Overall, it was an okay dining experience. It may still be worth trying if you're in the area. read more

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I have been here with a few friends on different occasions and the cocktails, food, and service are consistently great! Love the ceasar salad, blistered bread, Bianca pizza, Italian sausage pizza, mushroom tagliatelle, branzino, skirt steak, the list goes on of the great flavors! Looove their espresso martini as well! Recently had dinner the second week of their dineLA offering and it had very generous portions! Pleasantly surprised about that part. One of my favorite spots! read more

Marina - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The Bottom Line 4 stars: Nice vibe and good service, food and drinks. Recommended! Location 3.5 stars: In Pasadena, Northwest corner of Lake and Cordova. There is limited street parking and a few free parking spots on the side of the restaurant (usually taken). Or you can use the paid lot next door down the alley. I parked at the lot and was supposedly validated by our server, but upon exiting I was still charged the full price of $1.50 for every 15 minutes!!! Not sure what happened there... Venue 3.5 stars: New, nicely decorated upscale facility with indoor and seating and a full bar. They do also have patio seating which I did not enjoy. The patio is these narrow strips on the front and side of the restaurant. The front side is literally on the sidewalk and the side patio is cramped and facing a bunch of parked cars. Not esthetically pleasing or comfortable. They do have heaters though which were helpful as it was a chilly evening. They take reservations on Resy which I would recommend as they get very busy. Service 4 stars: Friendly and polite. Food 4 stars: Modern Italian-inspired. We had the Hamachi Crudo and the Lamb Chops as appetizers. Lamb Chops were good. The Crudo was good but a very small portion. We also had the Scaloppine di Pollo, the Charred Scallop Risotto, the Branzino alla Griglia and the Pork Chop Milanese. The Scaloppine di Polo (Breaded chicken Cutlet) was the best. The Pork Chop was a little dry. The Branzino and the Risotto were good but had way too much butter for our taste. The star of the show was the Pistachio Tiramisu which was excellent. Overall a reasonable dining experience. Prices are on par with similar establishments. Drinks 5 stars: Creative specialty cocktails using unique Italian spirits, full bar, beer, wine, soft drinks and espresso drinks. Drinks are reasonably priced. read more

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Found out about this place through Resy (Amex Plat Benefit) and decided to try it. The pizza is very tasty but I wish my Cacio e Pepe pasta has a more crushed pepper instead of whole pepper bcs I tasted a bomb of pepper in my mouth everytime I took a bite, I don't really mind it tho, just preference. Service is great, Nick took a great care of us. There were heat wave during the time of our visit and after it cools down, the temp outside feels the same as inside. I was hoping the AC would be cooler inside. Other than that, we'll definitely come back to try more of the menu items. read more

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Great choice for a Friday night dinner. The house Italian sausage pizza and Pork Chop are good. Not so recommended for their lamb chops, which are not juicy and a bit overcooked. Charred scallop risotto did not surprise me too much though the rice (risotto) was well cooked and done. Service and ambiance are fantastic. Beautiful interior decor and comfortable seatings. I didn't try their alcohol selection or desserts. Maybe next time. read more

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This restaurant is incredible. It has a relaxed, breezy, sunny feel, while being in the absolute driver's seat on excellent cooking and drinks. We started out with Bianco Negronis and the Hamachi Crudo, which was citrusy and perfect. The blistered bread and ricotta was also such an indulgent treat. For Mains, we shared the Truffle Cavatelli and the Charred Scallops Risotto. The truffle and sausage were so rich (in most definitely a good way) and paired so well with the slightly more bracing and magnificent Charred Scallops Risotto. The last dish, with the Calabrian chili and uni butter and mouth-watering scallops, is one of the best things I've eaten in years. To finish, we all shared the Pistachio Tiramisu. Not something I would have ever thought up, but so good. This place is a delight. read more

Marina - The lovely inside. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous interior and romantic ambiance -- dim lighting and chandeliers made it feel really upscale. We were seated right away even without a reservation, and the service was fast and attentive throughout the night. The chicken scaloppine was absolutely delicious, the shrimp alla vodka was also great, and the crudo was good though nothing especially memorable. To top it off, our server brought us a complimentary lemon sorbet that was super refreshing and tasty. Overall, a great dining experience and definitely a spot I'd come back to. read more

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Made dinner reservations for Mother's Day and we were seated promptly upon arrival. Marina is my favorite restaurant if I want to dine in Pasadena. Service is always impeccable and we usually order the same dishes but this time we did venture out a bit since there was also a special menu. The Caesar salad and lamb chops is a must get every time we go. We had also added the charred broccolini this time. The Caesar salad was amazing as always and the charred broccolini was a first for me at Marina and that was also very good. However, my partner and I were extremely disappointed with the lamb chops! We order this every time we come and this time, the seasoning is different. Don't get me wrong, it was still okay but since we already know how it is supposed to taste, based on the last 10 visits, this dish was a thumbs down this time. The seasoning on the lamb chops this time is something I would taste at a Chinese skewer spot. For the main dishes, we had ordered the branzino, the pork chop, dry aged NY strip, and crab tagliatelle. The branzino was not new to us but the rest are. They were all good except we would never order the pork chop again. When the pork chops arrive, my partner looked disappointed but still ate it. He had forced me to try some as well. We discussed it afterwards and the best way to compare it to is like eating Dave's Hot Chicken without the pickles and buns and has the coleslaw looking stuff with arugula mixed in. Well, I hope the lamb chops was a one off thing. My partner said we will have to hold off on going for a while now after this experience. read more

My family and I came here for dinner on a Sunday. The place was pretty full. It was a good thing we had a reservation. The restaurant is not very big but it does have a good lovely vibe. Our waiter was very friendly. He took our order on a tablet. We received our drinks and waited for our food to come. Approximately 15 minutes after we placed our order, the waiter came back to tell us that there was an "internet problem" and our order did not go through. He had to take our order again. He apologized profusely. He offered us complimentary bread as a way of apology. I had a toddler with me and he was starving at that point. I had to give him some cereals (my emergency snack) to keep him quiet. The food finally started arriving. Here are my thoughts for each item. Blistered bread: 3/5 stars. Interesting looking bread. It is served puffed up. Nice presentation. It gets deflated when you cut into it. Taste is average. Nothing spectacular. Charred Broccolini: 3/5 stars. It was too charred for my liking. Taste: average. I don't care too much for the sauce that comes with it either. Fried calamari and artichoke: 5/5 stars. This was the best dish of the night. Excellent calamari and artichoke. It was fried with a light batter and seasoned well. Delicious. House Italian sausage pizza: 4/5 stars. This was a bit spicy but good. Crust not too thick which is the way I like it. Spicy shrimp alla Vodka: 4/5 stars. Spicy but not too spicy. It has a nice flavor. Liver mousse tortellini: 2/5 stars. This is supposed to be filled with chicken liver mousse and crispy chicken skin. I did not taste any crispy chicken skin. Overall taste: meh. I would not order this dish again. Venetian duck ragu: 3/5 stars. I liked the pappardelle pasta but the duck was too salty for my taste. There is supposed to be Maitake mushrooms on this dish. I only tasted one mushroom. It could use more mushrooms. Pork chop Milanese: 3/5 stars. This dish comes with a huge mound of salad on top of the pork chop. The pork chop tasted average. The salad is the best part of this dish. Butter and Pecorino pasta from the kids menu: 4/5 stars. It has a nice buttery taste. It's too bad that my toddler grandson was too full to eat the pasta. He got full eating cereal and bread since it took so long for the meal to arrive. I think the food was okay. Overall value not so good. A bit pricey with small portions. Having had to wait awhile for the food didn't help with the overall experience. read more

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Took my father here for his birthday and absolutely loved most of the dishes we got. The service was pretty good and one food came out fast. Only thing that didn't sit well was that it was known that it was my dad's birthday and we weren't offered any celebratory complementary desserts of any sort, not that that should be expected, but we did over order for our party so gave decent business I would say. The menu prices suggest that it's quite a nice upscale restaurant which it is, but the interior was nothing special, quite casual. I think I would want a little more pizzazz if I were going here for a romantic date - Calabrian salami pizza: amazing flavor profile, the salami gave a good saltines to it while the hot honey gave a tin of sweet. I'm not the biggest fan of when my savory food is too sweet, but I thought this one was really well done - squid ink pasta: really tiny portion, which was the only bummer but it was so delicious. I would probably still get it again not too fishy. If you don't love the Strong seafood flavors that this dish sometimes comes with. - whipped feta and bread: a classic go to appetizer at Italian restaurants, pretty good, but I wouldn't say any better than other restaurants that serve this - calamari: honestly would skip this. They only was nothing special and the calamari itself had standard batter. Nothing crazy. Whipped feta and bread read more

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My second time at this restaurant. Had a good experience the first visit that is why I chose this restaurant for my birthday celebration. The service was not welcoming. I approached hostess to tell her our party is here. No warm welcome. My friend had to go back to hostess and tell her our party is all here. We arrived during happy hour and they would not honor happy hour menu at the seated table so we went to the bar. No warm welcome from bartender and owner told my friend you can only order at the bar. There were no seats and the service was so unwelcoming we really wanted to leave. The server then said we can have 1 round of happy hour but only drinks and not food menu items. The food made up for the bad service. I guess that is why they don't treat customers with hospitality since they have a consistent steady flow of customers and the food, drinks and desserts are delicious. read more

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Everything was amazing, from the service to the food and drinks. We genuinely enjoyed every single dish we ordered, you can tell that a lot of care goes into the food and that they use quality ingredients.The cocktails were equally delicious and perfectly crafted. We sat at the bar, and our server was fantastic, attentive and welcoming without ever being overbearing. Overall, such a wonderful experience from start to finish. We'll definitely be back the next time we're in the area! read more

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Great Italian restaurant with nice vibes. The ambience inside is chic and upscale. The service is attentive as well. We came here in the evening for dinner and ordered two pasta dishes, and the Caesar salad. The Marina's Caesar salad is one of the best I've ever had and is a definite must try. We also ordered the mushroom tagliatelle and a tomato spicy pasta (not sure if it was the spicy vodka pasta or not). Both of the pasta dishes were well made, and well balanced. The mushroom pasta was not too salty with a rich creamy buttery taste. The tomato pasta had just the right amount of kick with chewy fresh pasta. The portions are on the smaller side but were enough to satisfy us. Overall, would recommend visiting! Try the salad and their fresh pasta too. read more

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We were driving around looking for a place to eat and randomly stumbled upon this restaurant, and I'm so glad we did. From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by how beautiful the interior was. The dim lighting created such a cozy, intimate atmosphere -- perfect for a date night in LA. Everyone we interacted with, from the hostess to our server, was incredibly warm and welcoming. We were even seated immediately without a reservation, which honestly felt like a miracle in Los Angeles. The food and drinks were just as impressive as the ambiance. My mezcal cocktail was delicious, and the shrimp alla vodka pasta was outstanding. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was rich and flavorful, and they were very generous with the shrimp. We also ordered the hamachi crudo, which was fresh and delicious. The key is definitely mixing it well with the green sauce before eating because that's where so much of the flavor comes through. To top it all off, our server surprised us with a complimentary lemon sorbet dessert, which was such a thoughtful touch and the perfect ending to the meal. Overall, we had an amazing experience and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try more items on the menu. read more

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Ambience: cozy but tight space. Very little room between tables which caused the person to my right to fall and eat shit when trying to get up. Food: Blistered bread & ricotta: delicious. Best thing I ate all night. Risotto: Shrimp and Scallop Risotto was too salty. I understand that the uni butter would be salty but this was a bit excessive. It kept building. Needs some acidity to cut through some of the salt. Shrimp Alla Vodka: Sauce was bland. Nothing special. Cocktails: okay. read more

Marina - Risotto - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Been here several times & food is always excellent. Loved the blistered bread. The spicy shrimp alla vodka pasta was cooked al dente with a mild kick in the sauce. The lamb chops were tender & not gamey at all. The pizza was good as always. And the skirt steak was tender and cooked just right. My cocktail was so good... I ended up ordering two. The only thing lacking was the service. Our server was so busy, he didn't check on us. I had to wave him down to order my second drink. And nobody bothered to wipe the table down which was wet from all the condensation from our drinks before serving the dessert. read more

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I loved the interior of this restaurant. It was home-y but vibey and a nice place to have a group dinner. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to its looks. We ordered the blistered bread and ricotta as a starter, and the amount of ricotta that was on the plate was skimpy, so we had to ration it. The bread looked better than it tasted. I definitely prefer Èlephante's version of it. As for the pizza, we tried the calabrian salami and bianca, both of which had great crusts, but the flavor was nothing memorable. We also tried the spicy shrimp alla vodka and it had an interesting tangy flavor that I didn't expect, although the pasta was cooked well. It was quick for us to be seated since we had a reservation, which I recommend, since the interior was pretty small. The service was good and the food came out altogether which was nice. read more

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Great food, service, and ambiance. Really loving their lasagna special right now. It has us coming in practically weekly! They have outdoor seating, a great bar, and validated parking in the building. read more

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No complaints about this place. Service was top notch, and the waitress who served us was friendly and attentive. We ordered their Blistered bread, which was a treat. We also got the Grilled Octopus. It was flavorful. We also ordered their Mortadella pizza and a pasta dish (forgot what it was) Overall, we enjoyed the dinner. The restaurant is modernly decorated and we were sat by the wine cellar, which looks great. Had a great time here. Will be back for sure. read more

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People kind and sweet Ragu flavored up so nice Pizza was light yet with amazing flavor It is really loud in here so hard to hear my friends but super cute! Service was so sweet and helpful read more

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One of my favorite Italian restaurants serving scrumptious pizza and pasta along with dishes with Middle Eastern flair. Make a reservation as this happening restaurant with a full bar is popular especially on weekends. Located just around the corner off Lake, this Pasadena gem has validated underground parking in the lot below as well as a handful surface level lot spots. Seating: mix of table and booth seating as well as outdoor seating with heat lamps. My favorites: Bread & Ricotta Grilled octopus Bianca truffle mushroom pizza Margherita pizza Mushroom Tagliatelle Cacio e Pepe Truffle Cavatelli Tiramisu Gianduja Budino hazelnut pudding Friendly attentive service by Daniel and the staff. Support small business! Highly recommend giving this trendy restaurant a try. read more

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We visited Marina for dinner during the week and did not make any reservations as there were plenty of available tables available for indoor and patio. Although we did not make reservations, I think the next time I come I will do so because as we sat there the room started filling up with a lot more people! The restaurant had plenty of available seating fit for large parties which we saw a lot of. Since it was just the two of us we decided to share a few dishes. We shared the: 1. San Daniele Prosciutto & Fig - the dish may seem heavy with the buttered toast and stracciatella, overall it was a perfect starter. The figs were perfectly riped and sweet and complimented the salty prosciutto. The portion was also very generous for two individuals. We actually ended up with leftover cheese and prosciutto that we munch on while waiting for our other dishes. 2. Bianca pizza - if you love the taste of truffle oil you will definitely love this pizza. We could smell the truffle as the waiter was bringing the dish over to us. It is definitely on the richer and saltier and but I felt it was a nice follow up to the dish we had previously. 3. Cacio e Pepe - the pasta was cooked perfectly and was not soggy. It was the right amount of saltines and creaminess. The dish overall was tasty, but I wish I would have gotten a marinara based pasta dish to add some acidity to our dish choices. The dish was topped with fried artichokes that were a little salty. If you get this dish, make sure to mix the artichoke in to decrease the saltines. 4. Gianduja Budino - lastly we got a dessert and decided to go with a caramel hazelnut crumble. If you are a chocolate lover, this is the dish for you! The base like a caramel pudding topped with hazelnut crumbles that add a nice texture to the creamy pudding. There are Korova cookies to accompany the dish that are very chocolatey. It was a little bit too much for me, but my friend loved it. Overall we enjoyed the dessert because it wasn't too sweet and helped to wrap the whole meal. Overall, our experience at Marina was great! The staff members were wonderful and kind, and the food was delicious. I would definitely come back to try a few other items off of their menu. As a word of note, parking is available close to the restaurant in the underground parking lot. It is a pricier lot compared to other parking lot around the location, but Marina does provide parking validation that subtracts four dollars from the overall cost. If you don't want to park in the parking lot, there are a few other lots close to the area that you can walk to or you can also do street parking which may be limited, depending on when you go. read more

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We had a reservation for 5:00 pm and had high hopes considering the reviews. Service is great and the people are all very nice. There was a nice ambiance inside with dimmer lighting and would be a nice place for a night out. However, the food was all-in-all underwhelming. We ordered a variety of appetizers, including the truffle fries, broccolini, bread & dip, and calamari. The fries were fine with nothing special about them. The truffle was a topping so it was also isolated to some fries, with most just being regular fries (so I would just purchase the normal fries personally). The bread/pita was cool, but again nothing special as the dip was a blend of olive oil&butter -- again nothing spectacular. The calamari was my favorite dish as the lemon aioli dip was flavorful. In the entire dish though, considering it was calamari & artichoke, there were only two pieces of artichoke on that entire plate. For the pasta dishes they are known for, we ordered the shrimp vodka and duck ragu. The shrimp vodka had sparse pieces of shrimp and was just average. The duck in the ragu tasted gamey and the pasta felt extremely overcooked. We also ordered the salami pizza, which was the best of our mains. It was salty from the salami but had a nice sweetness from the honey on top of it. The crust is thin and has a nice crunch. However, everything was again still just okay. I probably will not be visiting again. read more

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Came here on a rainy Thursday evening to celebrate a birthday dinner for four people. The restaurant was easy to find and parking underground was convenient and easy. The parking fee is reduced if you're dining at Marina. We ordered several items to compose our meal: Starters: Grilled octopus and persimmon salad -Excellently prepared. -Portions relatively small, especially the octopus. Would have liked a bit more, or should have been told by the server to consider ordering two portions. Pasta/Pizza: squid ink Fagottini, rabbit bolognese, Marguerita pizza, prosciutto pizza -Delicious. Well prepared. -Squid ink pasta was not as pronounced in flavor. Looked like more of a visual standout. But flavor was just okay. -Rabbit bolognese was well crafted and the sauce was rich and flavorful. -Pizzas were my favorite! Perfectly cooked crust and balance of sauce and toppings were amazing. Main: Dry Aged NY Steak -Was okay. I would have expected better for their signature protein on their menu. -Bone marrow bone was a nice touch but not needed. -Steak lacked "beefy" flavor, despite being labeled as "40 day dry aged". Service: excellent and attentive server and support staff. read more

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We came on a Friday night and they were able to seat us at the bar right away. We ordered the salami pizza and the spicy vodka pasta with shrimp. Food came out fresh and everything was delicious. Our server was great and super attentive. Really cute Italian restaurant in Pasadena with great food! read more

Marina - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Beautiful restaurant and delicious food (at a reasonable price)! My girl friend and i came as a walk-in on Saturday evening and got seated pretty quickly. Loved that the calamari had artichoke too. Can't wait to be back. read more

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This was a very cute small chic restaurant in Pasadena. Definitely a nice restaurant for a date night/ birthday dinner. Out of the dishes I tried, the octopus was my favorite dish as it was tender, paired well with the tomatoes and crispy potatoes, and it had a delicious sauce. My least favorite was the squid ink fagottini, very underwhelming in flavor and texture. The spicy alla vodka wasn't spicy, it was good but wasn't anything special. Pizza and branzino we cooked well too. Overall, loved the service and the octopus appetizer. Rest of the food, was just okay. Nothing stood out, and it's not an Italian restaurant that I would crave dishes to come back in the future. read more

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Another Pasadena dinner meetup with friend for a belated birthday meal. Even though it wasn't too packed, reservations are recommended if you can! It was a cool early evening so we sat outside in the patio area. We split the Mushroom Linguini ($27), Carbonara ($24), and dessert. Both pastas were rich and perfect for sharing to get the different flavors from each one. Dessert was slightly tangy from the lemon, but yummy. Metered street parking or parking in nearby structures. read more

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Looking for a relaxing spot to enjoy Italian food? This place delivers! SERVICE: 5/5 Melissa was absolutely fantastic! She checked in often without being intrusive and even brought us wine samples to help us decide. Since we weren't sure which would pair best, she thoughtfully offered a couple of options. Sweet, attentive, and professional, she made the experience even better. FOOD: 4.5/5 We started with the lamb chops, which leaned a bit dry since we ordered them medium-well. I'd definitely recommend going medium-rare for a juicier bite. The bucatini pasta was outstanding, with a rich tomato flavor that really hit the spot. But the standout for me was the Bianca pizza with its earthy mushrooms and truffle. PARKING: 4/5 Parking is pretty convenient. You'll find spots in the plaza next to the restaurant as well as nearby street parking. read more

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Dinner at Marina was an absolute treat. Our server Abby deserves her own shoutout, she guided us through the menu with spot-on recommendations while also running the bar and espresso station. She was attentive without ever hovering, which made the experience feel seamless. We started with the Truffle Fries and the Lamb Chops "Scottadito." The fries were addicting, but the lamb chops stole the show: tender, flavorful, and easily the standout of the night for me. The Calabrian Salami Pizza had great flavor balance, though I found myself wanting just a bit more salami and a touch more crisp on the undercarriage. Still, it was a solid pie. For pasta, we sampled three: the Truffle Cavatelli, Spicy Shrimp alla Vodka, and Cacio e Pepe. The truffle cavatelli was on another level, the richness of the truffle paired with the sausage was just magic. The vodka pasta came in second for me, with the dill bringing a surprisingly fresh lift to the dish. The cacio e pepe, while enjoyable, leaned a little too buttery with an undercooked bite to the pasta; not bad, but it fell behind the other two. Dessert was where Marina really showed some range. The Blue Cheesecake was a bold choice that absolutely worked, tangy, creamy, and unlike anything I've had elsewhere. Easily my favorite of the desserts. The Tiramisu was well-executed and satisfying, while the Hazelnut Gelato offered a smooth, nutty finish to the night. Ambiance at Marina feels chic yet comfortable. The room buzzes with energy without being overwhelming, and there's a polished warmth to the space that makes it feel both modern and inviting. It strikes that sweet spot between elevated dining and neighborhood comfort. read more

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The food did not disappoint. We had the lamb chops and the pasta dish. It was so good that I took the rest for leftovers. The drinks were amazing. I will definitely come back!!!! read more

Marina - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food here is amazing. This is the first Italian place where the pasta didn't make me feel stuffed. All of their pastas are freshly made, and their portions are perfect. The service was outstanding. Our waitress was Melissa and she was very attentive and gave the best recommendations. The location is a little small, but it's very intimate. They have a small bar at the entrance. I came on a Monday evening and it wasn't too crowded. I definitely recommend this place. Note: parking could be a little tricky it's underground behind the restaurant. The restaurant does validate. read more

Marina in South Pasadena, a little trendy Italian spot. This restaurant had not been on my radar, but saw their menu for DineLA and decided it was worth trying, So grabbed a few friends, made a reservation and off we went. The restaurant was decently busy for a Sunday evening, and we waited a little bit for our table to be ready, but once we were seated, water was brought. We had glanced at the menus and started with cocktails. The Salvavita is a bourbon based drink with pineapple, citrus and sage. Very refreshing with the acidity from the pineapple and citrus playing with the oak and spice of the bourbon. The tangerine smash was also nice, tequila forward but a nice tangerine flavor coming through, Dinner started with an amuse of red beets and tomato gaspacho with a bread crisp. Not as beet heavy flavor-wise, as you might think, something refreshing to start the meal. For appetizers, we tried the squash blossoms and hamachi crudo. The squash blossoms were actually good, as I feel a lot tend to hold on to the oil they're fried in. These felt a little lighter while stuffed with ricotta and a toasted hazelnut. Added something different that most squash blossoms don't have. The hamachi crudo had an avocado mousse and ponzu sauce, a nice bite, not overly acidic. Entrees consisted of shrimp a la vodka and seared striped bass. The shrimp a la vodka was decent with nice chunks of shrimp. There were other elements in the dish I was looking for, particularly the mascarpone and ill, which did not come through for me. Ended up feeling like a generic vodka pasta dish to me. The striped bass had a great presentation, but the piquillo crema was a little underwhelming, and the skin of the fish could have been crispier to give it better texture contrast, But the fish was cooked well, overall. Desserts, everyone tried something different from the options, so tiramisu, blue cheesecake and hazelnut gelato. The tiramisu was tiramisu, nothing that stood out. The blue cheesecake was different. Good crust and macerated gooseberries on top, and the cheesecake was nice, but that blue cheese flavor does come through in the end, and you question whether this is the flavor you want with your dessert item. I still can't say whether I really liked it or I didn't, feel I'm indifferent on it, but don't think I would order it again necessarily. The hazelnut gelato was good, chunks of chocolate shavings inside, giving little pops of texture and crunch. Probably the better dessert we all felt. Overall, friendly staff, nice ambiance, some decent appetizers, entrees didn't necessarily hit for us, and desserts were up and down. I'd say go for the drinks and some appetizers, skip the shrimp a la vodka and bass and maybe grab dessert elsewhere. read more

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This was my first and definitely my last visit to this restaurant. We made a reservation for 12 people at 7:00 PM. My wife and I arrived at 6:50 PM and checked in with the staff. We were informed that there was no large table available, and our party would be split between two tables near the entrance. We had absolutely no issue with that. What was shocking was being told that we could not be seated until all 12 guests had arrived. Despite having a reservation and despite the tables being available, we were forced to wait. I have dined at countless restaurants in this area with large groups, and I have never experienced such an unreasonable policy. The service was unfriendly, inflexible, and completely lacking in basic hospitality. Instead of making guests feel welcome, the staff made us feel like an inconvenience. To make matters worse, the food was nothing special. The quality was average at best, yet the prices were significantly higher than many better restaurants nearby. A restaurant can survive average food, but it cannot survive poor customer service. Unfortunately, this place failed in both areas. Overall, this was one of the worst dining experiences I have had in recent years. I would give this restaurant 0 out of 10 for customer service and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a pleasant dining experience. read more

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I've dined here twice now - once indoors and once outdoors. Both experiences were great! I came today for their Dine LA menu which I chose the: Squash Blossoms, Shrimp alla Vodka, and Tiramisu. I have never had Squash Blossoms before and let me tell you the way they prepared them did not disappoint! I really enjoyed the combo of the ricotta cheese and honey with them. The Shrimp alla Vodka was cooked well - it wasn't anything mind blowing but I would order it again. I ended the meal with their Tiramisu which I've had before and I really enjoy it! The last time I came here I had their Grilled Octopus and my husband and I really enjoyed it to the point that I've told multiple people about it! Our service we receive has been great here. I made reservations online and for some reason they couldn't find it in their system, but it wasn't a huge problem. The waiters are always super attentive and check on us throughout our meal. 10/10 recommend Marina and will definitely come here again! read more

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Was greeted with a very warm welcome from their host. This gave a great first impression which was quickly followed by the best pizza I've had in Los Angeles/Pasadena area! Heavily recommend their simple margherita pizza and the mushroom tagliatelle pasta. The space is warm and inviting for drinks and girl nights! read more

Collectively speaking, it is above average but not remarkable. If you LOVE Bestia in downtown or Bello by Sandra Nardone (Newport Beach/Irvine), you may like Marina. Tonight "sniffed in" at a 3.75-star affair... PRO: -- above average dishes in general with good pasta and a nice variety of interesting dishes -- ambiance is modern casual and not stuffy -- the location is great for a walk after dinner (if evening cool enough) and you can find FREE street parking or live nearby; nostalgic architecture from homes to apartments in the area -- staff are efficient -- regular updates or reminders on your reservations (could be a pro or a con depending on your memory or personality) CON: -- you can only book online (welcome to the Tech Age), but it is easy to modify if your party size or time needs to change -- they pay about 1/3 of your parking fee which stinks for a normally affordable city for parking (if you're dropping this level of coin I shouldn't have to pay $10 or more for self-parking in Pasadena) -- look for legal street parking (especially on weekdays if you are not scared of a walk) -- prices a bit high for the overall palate effect and portion sizes -- pasta is not on a Bestia level, yet the pricing is nearly there -- the TIME CLOCK is ticking as soon as you sit down and since they are not a large dining space, they are truly on top of their reservations so you will "barely barely" have time to finish your dessert and after- dinner drink (you "may" be advised in a fashion that is neither rude nor polite) -- a bad spot for seeing friends you have not seen in a long time due to the "time clock" so find a secondary spot in advance for hanging out afterwards The REVIEW (I forgot to take a photo of the menu so I will go off memory): COCKTAILS -- my bro had a Rye whiskey cocktail (as I recall) and was a fan and an after-dinner drink; he's fairly picky for someone who finds quality bargain whiskeys as well as drinks the higher end stuff PARMESAN TRUFFLE FRIES: -- ample truffle shrapnel on top -- light on parmesan -- thicker fries and NOT crisp on the exterior -- softer interior -- light on salt -- pretty ordinary beyond the truffle shrapnel which was more of a nuisance to even try to eat since it just falls off anyway RATING = B- TRUFFLE CAVATELLI PASTA: -- thinner almost translucent sauce -- appropriate use of sauce, not overdone -- pasta texture and taste are fine but not a standout, does have al dente "chew" to it -- the clumps of Italian sausage make the dish RATING = A- BLACK SQUID INK PAPARADELLE PASTA: -- creamy -- similar pasta quality and taste RATING = B+ GRILLED OCTOPUS w/CALABRIAN CREAMY SAUCE: -- the sauce is delectable and a great companion -- very tender thicker octopus -- nice portion -- thankfully not too spicy for this GERD sufferer -- finger potatoes perfectly cooked -- colorful tomatoes -- best dish of the night for me RATING = A PROSCIUTTO PIZZA: -- legit Neapolitan pizza crust -- not over charred -- nice prosciutto taste and portion -- cheese underneath good -- I removed the greens to be safe given recent news RATING = A OLIVE OIL CAKE w/CREMA ON TOP: -- I created my own EVOO cornbread recipe, and I love olive oil cake, so I had to "sniff in". Additionally, I am a multi-decade amateur recipe creator and baker. -- exceptional visuals -- you can tell it's moist from the eye and I despise dry cake -- above average moistness -- you can taste the olive oil -- lightly sweet -- crema has a spice to it, but my palate cannot place it tonight (too much conversation with family and friends) RATING = A I do not think I could justify returning since I can find a similar level of food and menu closer to home with less issues. read more