I was so excited to see Bulgarini was open again after the fires!! My partner and I came back for…read moredinner and gelato - both continue to be incredibly good. To this day: hands down the best gelato I've had, and some of the best hand-crafted pasta in Los Angeles. The Gnudi Toscani and focaccia were our favorites over dinner. I highly recommend the yellow peach gelato! Very strongly looking forward to going back again!

He's BACK and with great food and new stories. This restaurant is truly a hidden gem and a unique…read morerestaurant. What makes the evening so special every time is you come away always remembering the delicious authentic Italian food, and the great interactions with Leo. He's genuine, interesting, a talented chef, and storyteller. He has created a great casual, comfortable, and intimate outdoor So Cal dining experience. After your meal, it's nice to order a coffee or get up and go inside to select gelato that is fresh and seasonal. Last comment: I've been to Italy a few times and still think his focaccia is the best I've ever had!!! You MUST order it as an appetizer. Your loss if you don't. Bulgarini is the Phoenix that has risen again and we are so happy to be back for the delicious and warm experience.

Came here for the first time and Phillip made us feel welcomed and suggested the best dishes for…read moreus. Everything from the food to the ambiance was nothing short of perfection and I would recommend this place to anyone enjoying authentic pasta and dessert! Hats off to the management team for the excellent service and the epic dining experience. Will be back for more!

Always a great meal every time I have been, the staff are awesome, and prices are fair…read more Terrific restaurant!

Cute, authentic Italian restaurant located on a sidewalk corner off Lake Ave in Pasadena…read more Sat at the bar top. It took a few moments for someone to check on me, but once I was spotted, it was attentive service thereafter. Food: 1.best grilled octopus Ive had in a LONG time. Perfectly grilled on outside but tender and fresh on the inside. The confit potatoes were crisped just right and the watercress balanced the dish well. There was a bit too much Calabrian sauce/ aioli underneath for my taste, but I like to eat on a separate small plate anyway, so it was still perfect. I liked the bit of kick from the Calabrian chili. 2. Olive oil cake was perfectly light and dense in all the right ways at the same time. Paired beautifully with deep chilled limoncello for a satisfying finish. After dining at Marina, I felt like I had been transported to the Mediterranean Sea. This place is a family owned, authentic, understated restaurant and a must of you're in Pasadena.

Stopped by here on a Friday night on a whim, and was pleasantly surprised they were able to seat me…read moreright away. Shout-out to our server, Tina, who was fantastic and had some great recommendations. We started with the Caesar salad, which was fresh and delicious, but definitely anchovy-forward. If you're not a fan of anchovies, I'd skip this one. The chicken was delicious, although slightly overcooked. The white wine and caper sauce tied everything together perfectly. The pork chop was my personal favorite. I loved the whipped feta underneath. I just wish there had been a little more of it. For dessert, we went with the seasonal peach cobbler since I was afraid it might disappear from the menu. Unfortunately, it wasn't my favorite. I found it slightly bitter. The server did mention that they used whiskey in the dish so that might be why. My husband, however, loved it, so I think this one comes down to personal preference. They also have a fantastic wine selection. I opted for the red wine flight, which was a great way to sample a few different wines. I would have easily given this place five stars, but I took off one because it was pretty warm inside. Apparently, they've been having issues with the A/C but a staff member did mention that they'll be installing fans soon. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later, because I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

1/2 We stopped by…read morePinocchio's Pizza in Pasadena for lunch and tried their lunch specials. It's a good option if you're looking for an affordable and filling Italian lunch. The lunch specials range from $8.99 to $14.99 and are available 7 days a week from 11 AM to 4 PM, which is a nice bonus. Options include soup and salad with garlic bread, pasta with your choice of sauce, or a 10" pizza with one topping, plus a side and a soft drink. We went with the lunch pasta special. The portion was a good size, and having soup or salad and garlic bread included makes the price feel reasonable. The restaurant has a casual, neighborhood feel with plenty of seating. Overall, a solid place for a reasonably priced lunch, especially if you're in the Pasadena area. Rating: 4.5/5

You know, I've been eating at Pinocchio's for a minute! We had my dad's memorable celebration here…read morein 2016. The servers and food have always been good. Today? It was nasty and the servers had the most unfriendly, attitudinal demeanor... I started to pull owner Armen , over to ask him what the hell is with your staff? yet opted to go to yelp. When I walked in, I sat at bar as I was ordering a small pizza to go. Mind you the place was pretty empty. I sit at bar, 2 servers at the bar, never acknowledged me, never looked up looked right through me... I waited yet got nothing- so I finally lean over and tell one of em " when you decide to look up I need to place a to go order". Fast fwd- I ordered a pizza. It took way too long for the place to be empty . Maybe many to go orders? It didn't make sense..., had to ask was I forgotten? When pizza came, I get home ( which is 6 min) it was cold and crunchy- over cooked . A frozen pizza from the store would taste better. The server added to my annoyance by her unfriendly demeanor- didn't catch her name as again/ initially I was never acknowledge. That was like pulling teeth. Armen needs to groom and school his servers better- they're all young and lack inter personal skills... guess it's time I start eating pizza elsewhere!

The staff was great here, super attentive and friendly! We ordered the-…read moreLocal Wild Mushrooms, Charred Octopus, Roasted Market Carrots, Beets, Spaghetti, Squid Ink Lumache Every dish was full of flavor! The truffle in the mushroom dish, the zesty lemon in roasted carrots (we ordered a 2nd one!) Overall, the restaurant has a nice ambiance. I highly recommend Union and I can't wait to come back!

Really feels like Union is taking a bit of a slide. I've eaten here twice in the last few months…read more The server makes sure to prod you into ordering multiple dishes so you can share but when the dishes arrive the portions are not particularly sharing size. They also make sure to stress that dishes don't arrive together. It's mainly a pasta restaurant, why can't the kitchen push out pasta orders together? The first time we were there one of our three pasta dishes was literally ten minutes behind the other two. The most recent visit the restaurant was not full so the dishes largely came together but the pastas were sent before al dente. The soppresini wasn't al dente, it just wasn't fully cooked. The flavors of the dishes are really good but the execution is sub par. One of the folks at our table mentioned it was their birthday so without us asking they brought a scoop of ice cream with a candle which we thought was really nice of them. Then the bill came and we saw that they proceeded to put it on the bill for $6. Didn't want to make a scene but this is beyond tacky and overall I can say we won't be returning here anytime soon.

Once again, we had a wonderful dining experience here. We were a party of four, and we decided to…read moreorder family style. We shared the 18-inch Death Star pizza that comes with pepperoni, sausage, ham, and bacon, all delicious, including a great crust. We also shared fettuccine alfredo with chicken and the baked ziti. Our server Jackie, and also Kevin, welcomed us, provided smiling, great service, and were very attentive. We love coming here. We ate outdoors, which is in a covered patio area. It has misters and fans on the table because currently the weather is ugly, hot, and humid. We had just a wonderful time, all four of us, and we love coming back here.

This is a small mom and pop's restaurant located on Mentor Ave, close to the comedy club and down…read morethe street from the Social Security office. There is street parking (metered) and depending on when you go, it can be plenty of parking. Now that I got all the boring stuff out the way... Omgggggggg I love this place! It was my first time there and it was pretty obvious. I think the manager or owner was working at a table and even offered to give me her space. (I had a tote with me). Like what? How nice! But I chose a table in the middle. It's a small space so not a lot of room. They do offer patio seating but it was feeling like Hades in Pasadena so I opted to eat inside. It very much feels like you're eating in someone's kitchen and I think that was the feel. I got the antipasto salad. OMG. It's extremely generous with everything on it (see pics) and though it would be enough for two people, you're not going to want to share. They gave me little bread crackers and bruschetta to start. The service was amazing and honestly, I think I found a new favorite spot. Highly recommend!

There is a massive pressure felt by all Los Angel-inos when we host guests from different parts of…read morethe country. Not only do we have to chaperone the visiting friends to tourist hot spots that we generally avoid in everyday life; but even the restaurants we choose as dining options need to be positioned on a perfect pedestal that impresses but is still comfortable. A very close friend of mine from Nashville visits the City of Angels once a year; and I always feel the stress to impress in regards to dining. In 2026, we decided on a more casual dinner than our usual upscale entertainments and opted for Pasadena. Of course, I turned to Yelp and that is how I discovered Café Santorini. Café Santorini has been a favorite dining option in the Old Pasadena neighborhood of Pasadena since 1993 on the intersection of West Union and De Lacey (a block from Colorado Blvd) nestled in one of the famous historic red-brick buildings with alley alcoves that makes Old Pasadena so beloved. Café Santorini encapsulates European love that is as warm as its bricks uniting the culinary richness of Italy, Greece and Morocco in semi-upscale/trendy real estate with iron railings, high ceilings, exposed brickwork, duct beams and glossy wood surfaces that is both inviting and will absolutely entice tourists and residents, alike. Whether seeking indoor dining bar-adjacent with tables or booths or the lovely outdoor second-floor patio alcove overlooking the plant-filled alleys below; Café Santorini is quite pleasant on the eyes. My Nashville-based friend and I made a reservation for an early dinner at 4pm on a Saturday and Café Santorini was already filled to the gills and bustling with activity (granted, there was a Guns n Roses concert at the nearby Rose Bowl in the evening). Opting to sit outdoors due to the loud volume in the dining room; we had a perfect ratio of casual and date-worthy. Café Santorini is seamless with its 'vibe'. To begin the evening, we opted for some cocktails with a Smoke and Citrus Paloma (grapefruit and lime juice, smoked sea salt agave syrup and soda water, alcohol free at $12 but I made it alcoholic with mezcal) for me while my friend ordered a traditional margarita on the rocks (no salt) as we gazed the menu and also decided on sharing a Grape Leaves appetizer (rice, herbs, tomato paste - $16). If you are Celiac like myself and need gluten-free options, Café Santorini is AMAZING in its GF options (also dairy free and vegan dishes) with more choices than usual competitor restaurants which that alone makes it stand out from the crowd. Our drinks arrived in classy and colorful derivations with my paloma holding a seducing orange hue akin to a setting California sun with dried rosemary and dried fruit with the margarita being perfectly yellow-ish green with a dried lime. My paloma was delicious with an ideal combination of sweet to alcohol and smoke with the margarita being refreshing and tangy. I am quite picky with grape leaves having friends from the Middle East living in the US but Café Santorini's grape leaves (5 pieces) are delicious both in texture and flavor without being too bitter which is sometimes the case. For dinner I chose the Branzino (Grilled Mediterranean sea bass, lemon Greek potatoes, dill, capers- $42) while my friend wasn't super famished and decided on Greek Salad Horiatiki (Valdivia Farms tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, Anaheim peppers, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, lemon juice - $17). One of my favorite details of Café Santorini is their capacity to present elegant dishes that are still simple and not pretentious on plateware that encompasses Greece itself with colorful mosaic prints and painted motifs. The ingredients are fresh, colorful and artfully displayed. My Branzino was faultless: grilled perfectly with charred grill marks and crispy skin (large filet) with capers and fresh dill with fingerling potatoes based under the fish soaking up the lemon juices. Delightful! The Greek Salad Horiatiki allowed the garden-fresh veggies to truly shine even with the lemon juice/oil and large piece of feta making it a perfect summer option. Service at Café Santorini is friendly and a family-like atmosphere with every staff member acknowledging you as you saunter by, answering all questions and constantly smiling. Café Santorini is an overall pleasant joy of an experience. Whether you need to impress out-of-state friends or simply seeking Mediterranean fare in Old Pasadena; Café Santorini is a musty-try for a casual meets elegance dining experience.

Enjoyed a family birthday dinner at Cafe Santorini. The food was excellent. Everyone in our party…read morehad a breadth of the menu. We had one anomaly on one plate, and the staff and manager quickly fixed. The restaurant has plenty of seats with a visible kitchen, and a full bar. They did a great job to keep waters topped and drinks coming if we want it.

A DREAM shop. Unassuming, piccolino mio--but don't be fooled. Behind that modest exterior lies a…read morewonderland of the most delightful, high-quality ingredients, specialty goods, and handmade fresh pasta sold by the pound like it's no big deal. And a personal breakthrough: I used to schlep all the way to Larchmont Cheese & Wine or Bay Cities before beach days for a proper sandwich. Not anymore. I have sandwich geniuses living right down the street. The bread? Exceptional. The cheeses? Dangerous. The meats? I may never recover. And then there's the lemon Italian ice. My daughter and I have been here three times in the last week, shamelessly returning like two neighborhood raccoons with excellent taste. It is the perfect antidote to a scorching Altadena afternoon. This place is an absolute gem. Go for the pasta, stay for the sandwich, leave with three things you didn't know you needed and a strong desire to become Italian.

The sandwiches were awful. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea but they're overpriced and taste major…read moremeh. Service was great and the girl at the counter was lovely but the price of everything was way too steep and it didn't deliver at all. We ordered the mortadella and the artichoke. We didn't even finish our sandwiches. Ended up going to a different restaurant for food.

Always a great time at Settebello! Their food is amazing and the service is wonderful. It's a good…read moresized restaurant with tables that can host multiple people. My favorite is always their margherita and arancini! The dough is so light and airy, and the sauce and the chili oil just make the combination so savory. For dessert, I recommend their tiramisu! This has been one of the most delicious tiramisu I've tasted!

This was a great pizza experience. Big open area when you walk in, and I sat at the bar. They have…read morea couple draft beer options and some cocktails that are $3 off during happy hour. I got the diavola pizza. Neapolitan style is my favorite, and when it came out it was amazing. The tomato sauce had the perfect level of acidity, and the dough complemented it really well. They have a small lot plus some free and paid street parking nearby. Service was great. Definitely would come again.