As a native New Yorker it's giving solid diner vibes. Food and service were top notch. I almost feel like I wasn't hung over enough to be here. Also great for families lol read more

Russell's - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

First time here and it was excellent! For context, arrived at around 9:00 AM on a Saturday in June. Parking was easy in the paid structure that is essentially connected to the restaurant. For the time I went (9:00 AM/Sat.), my party of 2 waited about 25 minutes to get seated, which wasn't so bad. I thought it would be longer since there were a lot of people sitting outside, but the wait went by quick. The service was excellent, pretty much immediately greeted as soon as we sat down. We ordered the Belgium Waffle Breakfast (waffle + 1 egg + sausage or bacon) and the Denver Omelet (w/ egg whites, cooked easy). The food came out within 10-min of placing the order. The food was very good and a decent portion for the price. I've heard great things about the waffle, and it was really good. I live about 40-min away, so I am not in the area regularly, but if I am, I would definitely come back to Russell's. read more

We waited quite some time after being seated for our server to come to take our order. Another waiter saw that we were waiting at the very least got our drink order started. When our server did arrive he seemed indifferent with no mention of an apology (sorry for the wait). As I type this, we are still waiting for our food, I WON'T be leaving a tip, and I won't be back. I had previously dined here as a single but this time thought to bring my family which has been very disappointing. As a reference, I only write reviews when things are very well and or disappointing. read more

Wonderful breakfast today at Russell's. While visiting Pasadena, I wanted to check out this diner that has been open since 1930. I love the vibe of the place, professional, but still a diner so not too fancy. Nice artwork on the walls. I had the breakfast burrito with bacon sausage and cheese served with hashbrowns. It's a large serving so I took half home and was still full. Great place and I would highly recommend and return. read more

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Russell's has been serving hearty breakfasts in Old Town Pasadena since 1930. My brother loved to come here but I've never been until recently. The décor is a little more upscale than your typical diner, and the menu features American-French cuisine. My friend and I were seated in a booth in the back. I was happy to see a variety of Champagne cocktails on the menu instead of just the standard mimosa. We opted for the Kir Royale and each ordered a side of fruit because we didn't want anything heavy. The Kir Royale was perfect and the fruit was fresh and sweet. Our server was a very nice lady. My friend and I enjoyed our light breakfast and our conversation since we hadn't seen each other in a while. Side note: This place is very popular so a 90-minute dining limit is enforced. *Adjacent parking garage. read more

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Back after many years and it did not disappoint, great breakfast, I had Cheese Omelette with English muffins so delicious. Service by Ryan was outstanding and promised to be back. Theres issues line so be prepared but its worth it! Parking structure can validate the tickets for 90 minutes read more

Russell's - Mushroom, Spinach & Cheese Omelet - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Such an amazing, cozy breakfast spot! The staff was incredibly welcoming, and the service was outstanding. We came in with a group of six during the busy morning rush, and our waiter handled everything with professionalism and a great attitude. The food was fresh, delicious, and arrived promptly despite how busy they were. We had a wonderful experience and will definitely be coming back. read more

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You really can't go wrong with a classic American breakfast and Russell's be serving up all the classics. To cut to the chase we got their "The Big Breakfast" which came with french toast, sausage, hash browns, toast and eggs. One the side we got their belgian waffle as well. I would say everything was really good and very solid. My favorite part of the meal was their sausage though. It was super flavorful, juicy and one of the best I've had in a while that was memorable. I would most definitely go back in the mood for a reliable breakfast in Pasadena but nothing here wowed me besides the sausage. read more

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The BEST pancakes I've had in a LONG time. We came for a super late brunch. We had a 30-min wait on a busy Saturday but totally worth it. The inside has a great atmosphere with the decor, paintings and music. We were waited on quite a bit, and everyone was super nice and fast. The food was delicious; those pancakes are perfect. Eat them hot and fresh!! read more

Russell's - Pancake - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Russell's is a classic. Old bones, old stories, old menus, and old flavors. I find this recurring theme at all the well loved restaurants from the last century who have somehow survived it all. They just exist in their mediocrity for all of time and leverage the fact that they haven't changed as a selling point. To me, that's all I taste. It's not nostalgic, it's just stagnancy. Dry eggs, under seasoned, nothing noteworthy or exceptional. Not hating, I love the oldies. I just keep running into this same experience of being underwhelmed. I've had the same at Marston's, Bill's, Buck's, Joanie's, basically any spot with someone's name in the title. Maybe I'm jaded, but I distinctly remember the quality of all of these spots in the 90s. Did my tongue degrade over the years? Or is it that the rigidity of these recipes and menus haven't kept up with the breakfast scene? Who knows. It was still lovely, but took forever because it's so popular, and cost an astronomical amount for basic breakfast options. I'm glad I got to experience it. read more

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Expect a long wait time--but brunch here is worth it. It's located on the main street of Fair Oaks, with paid parking available in the structure right behind it. There's limited seating outside while you wait. To be honest, the space isn't the most accommodating for larger body types, as the tables are bolted to the ground and can feel a bit tight. The restaurant itself is small, but the food makes up for it. You can really taste the freshness in the orange juice, and the overall vibe gives a nostalgic, old-school diner feel with the red seats and classic presentation. It's the kind of place that feels like a step back in time. I ordered the waffles, and my partner got the pancakes--both were great and didn't disappoint. The portions were generous and satisfying. I'd recommend coming with a party of four or fewer, as space is pretty limited. read more

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We loved it! On our way to an appointment at UCLA and exited to find breakfast. Russell's is conveniently located right in front of a public parking lot, and they validated parking! The food was delicious, the service was prompt and friendly. The bathroom was clean, as was the whole restaurant. It felt like we were sitting at Old Pasadena history. We very much enjoyed the experience! read more

Tried Russell's in Old Town Pasadena for Saturday brunch--definitely expect a wait. Got there around 10:15 and waited ~35 mins, so hop on the waitlist ASAP. Service was amazing. Our server was quick, attentive, and genuinely friendly. As for the food, the hash browns were easily the best I've ever had--loaded with bacon, onions, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese. Everything I love all in one dish, cooked perfectly. We also shared a bit of everything, and the French toast really stood out--warm, fluffy, and incredibly aromatic. If 10 is the max, I'd give it an 11 just for the service. read more

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This is basically our ICU's unofficial post night shift breakfast spot. After twelve hours of alarms and no sleep, Russell's just hits the spot. I can't personally speak to the drinks, but my coworkers love them. The croque monsieur and croque madame are really good, and they make a solid veggie and cheese omelette too. Service is always fast and friendly like family, which honestly matters when you're exhausted. They also validate parking for the structure behind the restaurant, which makes it easy. We've come here for birthday breakfasts too and it's always a good time. Cozy diner vibes and strong coffee. We love Russell's read more

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We went with a party of three around 9:20 a.m. on a Tuesday morning and were seated very quickly, which was expected given the time and day. Service was good, nothing exceptional, but solid and what you'd anticipate for a breakfast spot. We ordered the ultimate breakfast burrito, which came with hash browns; a cheese omelet with added bell peppers, onions, and extra cheese, served with toast and hash browns; a cheeseburger with fries and ranch for my niece; and buffalo wings to go. We also had orange juice and water. The restaurant itself was clean, the food came out fairly quickly, and our waiter was professional and attentive. As for the food, it was decent overall but nothing memorable. The buffalo wings were honestly the best-tasting item we ordered, but everything else was just average. Overall, it wasn't bad, but nothing really stood out or impressed me. Because of that, I probably wouldn't return, not because it was disappointing, but because there was nothing noteworthy or particularly good enough to bring me back. My true rating is more like a 3.5 .. 4 too high and 3 too low. read more

Russell's - Ultimate Breakfast Burrito - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Long wait even for a Friday morning. Waited 40 min. ***Free 90 min validation parking.*** make sure you park at the back parking garage behind the restaurant. Our server was awesome!! He was attentive and super nice! The Belgium Waffles were delicious! Esp the syrup! I don't overly sweet things. This was sweet but not too sweet. Definitely shareable if you order a main dish also. I got the Chicken Fried Steak and added Belgium Waffles. The Chicken Fried Steak was ok. Good but nothing stood out. read more

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If you are looking for old time diner this is your place- very positive staff, checked on us regularly and food came very quickly- restrooms were very clean and food was great. I had the traditional famous cheeseburger - had the pickles, onions added - also upgraded the side dish for onion rings - burger was juicy & generous size. Could use a touch more seasoning but left feeling very full and satisfied. Last time I was here I had a great breakfast but that was years ago. read more

Russell's - Cheese burger and onion rings - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great atmosphere, if you're looking for a sort of modern American diner this is definitely the place. I had to wait a little to be seated but they had chairs outside so I didn't mind at all. Once in, the staff was quick to serving us and the food was out before I knew it. And speaking of the food, everything I had except maybe the bacon was wonderful. They deserve the 5 stars. read more

Russell's - The BIG One - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Really cute diner in the heart of downtown Pasadena! The service was really nice and the food came out hot and fresh :) I would not recommend super big parties since the place is a bit on the smaller side but I would recommend getting the special spuds for savory people and blueberry pancakes for people with a sweet tooth! read more

Russell's - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

A great classic diner! I've never been able to get near this place because there's always a line and they close at 2. But I was able to slide in before closing and get a Belgian waffle breakfast. Quite good! read more

Russell's - Belgian waffle breakfast combo - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Worth the wait! This place is worth the hour wait and I will absolutely return! We arrived around 11:30 and were seated about an hour later. The service here is great, everyone is so attentive. The food is so tasty, and pricing is about average with the Ranch Breakfast being about $17.00. I ordered The Ranch breakfast which was 3 pancakes, 1 egg, 1 sausage (or bacon), and it was so good! Our server Dennis was so friendly and asked if it was out first time and let us know that the pancakes and waffles are popular items and since my breakfast came with pancakes at the very end he brought my husband and I a waffle each to try and OMG I am not a waffle person but it was delicious! Also, the fact that it was our first time and he didn't want us to leave without having a waffle to try was so kind of him, thank you Dennis! read more

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Wait time was 45 minutes for a party of 4 on Saturday at 11am. There's a few seats outside for those to wait, and a host will come around to check in on the waitlist every so often. Everyone needs to be present to be seated, but they can wait 5 minutes for your full party. They also validate 90 minutes of parking at the garage next door, which we wished we knew beforehand! Inside, the decor is very cozy, I especially liked the various styles of painting decor! Of course, the main star of the review was the food-- for typical breakfast/brunch diner style, Russell's is a solid choice. I ordered the Vegetable and Cheese Omelet and subbed my toast for a Belgian waffle. The omelet was filling and had a great selection of vegetables, though I do wish it included bell peppers. The Belgian waffle was okay, it was soft and not soggy. Though if you're looking for authentic Belgian waffles I would go somewhere else. The serving of hash browns was not as greasy as I'd expected, and overall was an amazing breakfast/brunch. My group also asked for the Reuben Pastrami to be made to-go when we ordered all our dishes, but when we checked with the server at the end of our meal (about 1.5 hours), the kitchen did not have our sandwich ready and we opted to cancel it. Other than that, the service was adequate and the atmosphere made it a great place to catch up. read more

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delicious breakfast! wait here could get pretty long on the weekends but there's plenty to see and walk around in the area. service here is prompt and our server was very nice. he even noticed we were splitting our food and split it into 2 plates without us even asking ! so attentive!! inside gives diner vibes with a good amount of seating inside. their bacon is sooo good! thick cut sliced and crispy to perfection. i also loved their spuds bowl. the perfect mix of breakfast favs read more

Russell's - French Toast Bacon & 2 Eggs - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

We stopped here after seeing the line of patrons waiting outside and figured it must be pretty good. Glad we did! The food and service are GREAT! This place gives old school diner vibes with a modern twist. I really enjoyed the egg scramble and they give very large portions of hash browns on the side. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because of the wait time. After waiting 35 minutes to get inside, we waited nearly another 30 for our meal, and this was on a Monday at 10:45am. I'd suggest a YELP waitlist if possible read more

Russell's - Russell's Scramble - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It was a long wait time but once seated the service was great and so was the food! No complaints at all. read more

Russell's - Le Croque Monsieur just melt in your mouth yummy goodness! - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Russel's is a legit breakfast spot in Old Town Pasadena. Food is solid, service is on point, parking is easy in the lot a few steps from the restaurant, and if you snag a window seat - the best people watching. They said it would be an hour wait, but we got seated in about 30 minutes so don't get discouraged if the wait seems like it'll be long. I came for the waffle, which definitely lived up to the hype, but the scramble with bacon, mushrooms and tomato also hit the spot in a major way. My husband got the Croquet Madame and said it was really good, also. They have a nice selection of breakfast drinks - mimosa, champagne, blood mary, beer, wine. The vibe is real homey, friendly -- basically, very warm. Food comes out fast and hot. We left very happy (and full) campers. read more

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Good service. Breakfast and lunch served. Good selection on the menu. Service was quick and the food was delicious. Parking in the structure or street parking. read more

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My family, friends and I really haven't gone anywhere else for all-American breakfast or brunch in years since getting hooked on Russell's. They make the best traditional shredded hash browns in town. Everything I've had here has been solid and my usual go-to is the vegetable with cheese omelette (which comes with hash browns... extra crispy, please) with the 1-pancake upgrade for $2 (in place of your choice of toast). You can choose from a variety of cheese options and the vegetables in the omelette are so generous. My order always lasts me 2 meals. Service is always friendly and quick. They validate parking for the structure right behind them. The vibe inside is chill on a weekday and hectic and noisier on the weekend though I'll admit I try hard to convince dining companions to come on weekends because there's a long wait. There's almost always a brief wait on weekday mornings and a longer wait around lunch so imagine the weekends! They validate parking for the structure that's right behind them. I think the largest seating in the restaurant appears to accommodate 5 adults at most and all other booths and tables appear to seat 2-4 maximum. If you come with a larger party, you'll likely have to split up. read more

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Amazing food, quality and prices, but the service was really slow, because they're busy. But definitely we coming back

Im not a breakfast food person, but I dream of going back. The place is small, but gorgeous. French salon meets art museum, along with classical music, good food and attentive service. I absolutely loved this place. read more

Amazing service, great diner vibes in the middle of Pasadena and amazing food! Finally checked out this historic diner and tried their Croque Madame, which turned out to be everything I wanted in a warm savory breakfast sandwich. The creaminess from the melted cheese, paired with the crunchiness of the toasted sourdough, paired with the hearty ham and topped with an egg was bomb dot com. So glad I tried this dish and can't wait to come back! read more

Russell's - Croque Madame - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

For breakfast lovers. Classic omelette dishes and more. In the heart of Old Town. Excellent quality and value! read more

Russell's - Veggie omelette :) - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Really wanted to try this spot as I heard it's been around since 1930. Definitely a popular spot with a wait so plan accordingly. Service was nice and the food was good. read more

Russell's - Bacon & 2 Eggs and Belgian Waffle - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Why didn't anyone tell me about this pasadena treasure! Russell's brings the ruckus! If you're in need of that classic- American-fare-old-school diner, this is that fix! The cinnamon roll was out of control! Breakfast burrito w/ cold brew chaser; delightful! Absolutely worth the wait! If you don't know what I mean, try and just show up! ... that's what 40 minute wait tastes like! All in all, good time! Our server David was hospitable, kind and courteous! The bathrooms were spotless despite the heavy traffic and the price point of the meal was shockingly low! Add Russell's to your top 10 diners in Pasadena! read more

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One of the best breakfast spots in Pasadena. Quality food with quality service. My favorite breakfast items are country fried steak and corned beef hash and they do it amazing. Soo good. read more

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Tasty food and friendly service. Server was attentive and offered to refill coffee. The "special spuds" was a great hearty dish topped with the freshest avocado slices! Would definitely order again. We were seated right next to the entrance and got a strong and lingering whiff of chemicals from the lady cleaning the glass door. I wish she would have waited til we were finished eating...thought about asking to switch tables but we were halfway through the meal already.. read more

Russell's - Special Spuds - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place was good! A bit of a wait on a weekend brunch but glad I waited. I got an omelette and substituted the bread for a cinnamon roll and was pleasantly surprised! The decor was really cute too :) read more

Russell's - Classic Denver Omelet - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Favorite classic brunch spot and they validate parking for the structure in the back. On a Monday around 9:30am we waited 10-15 minutes. Portions are very sharable here in my opinion. Our waitress was amazing she answered all our questions and completed all of our requests. We ordered the big one to share which was more than enough. We chose the waffles with syrup and butter, 2 eggs, sausage + bacon, and lots of hash-browns. We also ordered a jr cheeseburger with a side of fries and lettuce which was a big portion for us. I asked for ranch on the side and it was kind of watery so probably just stick to ketchup. They have a variety of hot sauces and I enjoyed the carolina kill sauce. Definitely not that spicy as a carolina reaper but has a very nice kick! The bread was cold but the butter is whipped and so good so it makes up for it! read more

Russell's - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Russell's is a must visit when in Pasadena. I can only speak for their breakfast but it hits the spot every time. They have an elevated nostalgic diner feel that adds to the dining experience. I've always had a good time at Russell's. read more

This is in the top 3 of breakfast places in Pasadena, and I can see why. It's a small diner on the mail drag. The artwork on the wall is very interesting and classical in nature. We dropped in, and were given a 20 minute wait time - they were pretty accurate. Once we were seated, I ordered a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, and a Croque Monsieur with hash browns. My wife had coffee with a Russell's Scramble with hash browns and an English Muffin. The Croque Monsieur was on sourdough bread, which was covered with cheese and stuffed with a tasty ham. The Russell's Scramble had scrambled eggs mixed with veggies. The food was served hot, and tasted great. Some other notes: They have a row of comfortable chairs sitting out front while you wait so you can be comfortable. What's not to like? read more

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