Oh my gosh the food was amazing I started off with a corn bread it was the best corn bread I have ever had then. I had the Filet Mignon which was again the best steak I have ever had every bite was so good perfectly seasoned and had a nice firm outside and a smooth tender inside it it was one of the juiciest pieces of meat I ever had. I finished off with some ice cream. The service there was incredible professional and they were all so kind. When you walked through the restaurant it felt as if you had just walked back in time. read more

13 years later I'm here again to celebrate my birthday again. We started off with the Asian pear salad and that was refreshing and solid to share with the table. Second up we ordered the grilled artichokes w/ aioli and butter and that was another excellent dish as it's a favorite pastime to make myself at home. Today I ordered the beef ribs off menu and it was mouth watering. The meat was so yummy and it almost fell off the bone. It was so enjoyable with a side of onion rings instead of fries. Other friends had the sand dab fish and loved that fish as it wasn't fishy tasting but more light and sweet. Another friend ordered the meatloaf and devoured that dish. As for the chicken piccata those that ordered that seemed disappointed so I had to share my dish with them. I wanted a smile from them as I was enjoying my dish. The restaurant has outdoor seating in the back of the building but overall it was too hot to be outside even in the shade. Inside the restaurant was much more comfortable and since we arrived right when they opened we were pretty much the only diners for the first 30 minutes. Our server was helpful and allowed us to choose what we wanted to eat. We were not rushed at all and we enjoyed our time indulging in our food. I highly recommend you come out and pamper yourself in excellent food. Parking is located in the back for $6 or valet for $7 or street parking is limited to 2 hours. read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The 6 of us arrived for a group dinner. We shared many items including appetizers, drinks, salad and a few entrees. Some of my favorite: Fresh Cornbread - It was warm and delicious! Spread on the soft butter and honey. Love the crumbles on top. Definitely sharable. Smitty's Salad - White Shrimp, Smoked Bacon, English Peas, Green Beans, Bleu Cheese dressing with cornbread croutons. I normally don't care for blue cheese, but this was tasty! Calamari and Shrimps - this was good, except we didn't see any shrimps. Maybe one or 2 only? Crab Cakes - only 2 small pieces, so we needed 2 orders for 6 people. A bit pricey for this appetizer at $25. We were actually pretty stuffed at this point, but we also added a few entrees. I got the chicken piccata which I didn't care for because it had way too many capers and it was so sour. Hubby got the daily sea bass and he enjoyed it . The other guys at the table got a rib eye steak and also a steak sandwich. Drinks were pretty strong and our friend also added a bottle of wine. Overall we had a good dinner with friendly service, I would come back for my few favorites. read more

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Really enjoyed our dinner. Food was delicious and well done. Meat properly cooked. San Dabs were great fun. read more

Beverage service standards not met here tonite. Bartender scooped ice with bare hands for my drink after touching everything behind the bar. He never washed his hands prior to placing ice in my drink with bare hands. I mentioned it to staff. Was told this is standard practice. Smith Bros....take heed. I love your establishments and will continue to dine here. But, please train bar staff on retail food standards for cleanliness. Horrible optics and sanitary standards were not met. Everyone should understand the importance of strict sanitation practices in the bar. Use plastic or metal scoops or tongs to get  ice.  Do not use bare hands to scoop ice.  Ice is considered a food substance and should be treated so. I had to insist the bartender use tongs for my second round. Lead behind bar excused the bare hands but I insisted. Food 5 stars Poor hygiene at bar -3 stars. Step up your bar game Smitty's. read more

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I liked it. I quite dig the ambiance. It felt very retro yet classy and very art-deco. Almost feels like you're in a noir film. I don't recall if it was in the menu or it was a special but the lobster ravioli was the best thing on the menu. Shared it for the table as like an appetizer. I had the prime rib. It was great and the wife ordered the seafood cioppino. Both solid dishes. I'd come back again. read more

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Smitty's is my favorite restaurant in Pasadena. We've been going here for a long time and often. There've only been a few times I've been disappointed and those times were bad. But that's bound to happen. Some nights are just off. Last night we returned for my birthday. It was perfect. The food was delicious as usual, the drinks cold and tasty, the service kind, conscientious and efficient. The complimentary candled cake and hand written birthday card was a nice touch. The prices have crept up, but not egregiously. You pay for quality after all. Smitty's is an adult restaurant. It has a classic ambiance and a comfortable vibe. It can get noisy, but it's lively and happening. I love you Smitty's. read more

Smitty's has been popular with the affluent Pasadena and San Marino residents for decades. I too used to enjoy this place. But, unfortunately as with so many dining establishments since Covid, the quality has deteriorated so badly that it was sad. On this particular Sunday evening, nothing went right with what we ordered. First of all, it took more 30 minutes after ordering to get our first dish. The artichoke had some little eatable part (much less than normal) that at least 90 percent was inedible. The plating of our entrees were amateurishly messy and unimaginative. The filet mignon was dry and full of tendons. The cioppino tasted like canned tomato soup with some chunks of frozen shellfish tossed in. How disappointing that the Smith brothers would let such an iconic place deteriorate to this extent. read more

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Great customer service delicious food accommodating staff with last minute reservations. My son loved the restaurant and excited to go back next time we are in the area. Lovely ambiance. read more

Smitty's Grill - Meatloaf with mashed potatoes - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Hadn't been here in a few years and disappointed that the quality of the red meat was subpar. Prime rib cooked to right temperature but it was so stringy and meat was pretty flavorless, except for the outer seasoned crust. I wish manager would taste and give feedback to management. We are good eaters and nobody who ordered it finished eating more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the meat just out of sheer hunger. So unappetizing to chew stringy meat! The potato chips were not fresh but still okay. Lobster ravioli was average and not seasoned well. Ice cream sundae was pathetic wimpy single scoop of ice cream with chocolate sauce ( not fudge) and tons of whipped cream ( no nuts or cherry on top)! Corn bread was good, and Mac n cheese was pretty good. The sides overall were great ( spinach and mashed potatoes). Barramundi was pretty tasty. Cocktails were perfect. Creme brûlée was fantastic. Best part was the service-- actually impeccable, such a shame the quality of the food does not match the service and has gone down so much. Prob will not be back to try again for a few years again. I assume other Smith restaurants have same meat supplier so I'm not interested in Arroyo Chophouse or Parkway Grill at this time. read more

Smitty's is classy -- not too expensive, but still upscale dining. This is a place where you can come with a group of friends, or on a date. You can come in jeans, or you can come in a cocktail dress. You can get bar bites like calamari, or you could get a beautiful seafood or pasta dinner. You can get a beer, or you can get a cocktail. Smitty's is the kind of place that works for everyone. read more

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Smitty's has always been a very good classic Pasadena restaurant. The variety smitty's have you always want to come back! I like the ambiance and the setup for outdoor dining and indoor. It's very classy vibe with a romantic touch. I always come and try to try different things when I can. Last night, I tried the chicken pot pie, shrimp salad, salmon, and baked potato. It was very delicious with a very good glass of Pinot noir that Was top tier, $22.00 for a glass. Everything was fresh and taste so yummy!! The customer service was absolutely phenomenal. We had two great servers: Luciano and Anthony. They had top notch service and was very easy going and super accommodating. Luciano told us recommendations from specials, wine, and deserts. Everything was no problem of what we asked. No complaints whatsoever on the service, this makes you want to come back for sure. It is valet parking, which is good or else you can park in the parking structure next to the counter, it is not free parking but if parking on street or lots for handicap parking it's ok. I will definitely come back again per usual. I will try the chicken piccata next time, and key lime pie for desert on my cheat day :) read more

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Though we were a bit young for the Smitty's crowd, we loved our dinner here. The service was excellent- available for every need, but not intrusive. The wine list was well-curated. The filet mignon was perfectly cooked and the artichoke appetizer was a highlight. I recommend the key lime pie! read more

The service at this place is excellent! We chose this restaurant to catch up with old friends. Ordered several appetizers, they split our entrée, they even split a beverage for us from the bar, no questions asked even our friend who was an hour late didn't hold us up from being seated and enjoying a slow meal at this delightful, old world charm, iconic restaurant. The grilled artichoke was a perfect starter to graze on... smoky and savory. My friend and I split the salmon salad, perfect for a lighter meal and if you're saving room for dessert. You can specify the doneness of the salmon... we asked for it cook, medium, and it was perfect! And for dessert, we split the chocolate mousse cake among three of us. As a Chocolate fan, it was a perfect finish! read more

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Excellent food Terrific service Pleasant setting great valet service Will be returning soon read more

This is a nice restaurant with great food. The atmosphere is very comfortable and relatively quiet compared to similar size restaurants.

Yes. I ordered the sautéed spinach with shallots and sourdough bread with butter. I believe I ordered it on 2/13 around 5:30 pm. read more

Smitty's Grill - Undercooked cheeseburger patty - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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There are almost 700 restaurants in Pasadena and we've been to probably half. However we consistently hit Smitty's not only for dinner, (try the ribs, the skillet cornbread and the chicken picatta) but our favorite thing is to hit them up for dessert. They have the best key lime pie I've ever had (think key lime whipped cheesecake on a graham cracker crust with a perfect strawberry purée). Oh and have Andrew make you an espresso martini. read more

Smitty's Grill - Key lime pie - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I celebrated my birthday at Smitty's tonight. I ordered the Halibut and my husband the Ribeye steak specials. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and delicious! My daughter loved her chicken burger with avocado. Staff were very professional and ambience was wonderful. I would definitely come back. read more

4.5 stars if I could! Service was excellent. I was celebrating an anniversary and as soon as our server Johnny found out, he had the hostess come give us a handwritten anniversary card. So sweet! We haven't been in almost a decade, but the memory of their cornbread was still at the forefront of our minds. And they absolutely delivered. Delicious!! A must!!! It's good for taking home or even as a dessert. More than enough for a party of 2. Docking the star because while the cornbread was a standout, the rest of the meal was just okay. Clam chowder had a very very mild flavor. Steak was kind of rubbery and pretty bland. I had to sprinkle some salt over it. Mashed potato was fine and very smooth, but came out lukewarm. Overall would definitely come to get the cornbread, even if it's just to-go. Make sure to spread the salted butter and drizzle some honey over the pieces. Literal heaven!! I literally can't stop talking about the cornbread lol! read more

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Nice restaurant very classy The food was good and the service was great ! There is a paid parking lot towards the back of the restaurant or street parking in the front side. read more

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Service with Luis was phenomenal Serene Classic old Hollywood dinning ambiance Stiff cocktails Lobster roll sandwich light read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Smittys is ALWAYS a great choice to enjoy a lovely dinner. I was out with my girlfriends last night, celebrating our birthday and Dan Herman was our waiter. He was patient and very knowledgeable. Dan recommended the tuna tartare as an appetizer and it was delish! He also retype specials, steak and lobster and a Branzino fish....which my girlfriends raved! I happen to love their chicken piccata...lemony, chicken is tender and moist. The side of mashed potatoes were a great accompaniment. Thank Dan! We had a most enjoyable evening. read more

We've lived in Pasadena a long time and I'm sorry we just experienced Smitty's this week. What a gem! Our friends kept talking about it so my husband decided he wanted to go for his birthday dinner. Food was delicious (we had Sand Dabs, Barramundi, creamed spinach, Manhattan clam chowder), and my husband received a slice of chocolate cake for dessert on the house. We still ordered the Key Lime pie and it was amazing. Service was flawless. Drinks were memorable. A birthday card for my husband was a classy touch. We will be back. read more

The food is always spot on. Great staff, very pro . The ambience is great. I love the chicken pot pie at Smitty's! I highly recommend this restaurant read more

This review is long overdue. As I got older I started spending less time on Colorado and more time on Lake for dining. And I like it. About two years ago I finally went inside Smittys for the first time. What a hidden gem in Pasadena. The atmosphere is loud and lively but at the same time comfortable. It's hard to explain. The servers are professional and attentive. Hostesses seat you promptly. The seating outdoors is nice during summer evenings. I probably been there over a dozen times since the first time I walked in. The people at the bar are incredibly friendly, customers and bartenders alike. Andrew is an amazing bartender and a genuinely good person. Onto the food, it's like upscale American comfort food. My favorites are any fish of the day, chicken pot pie, prime rib, and meatloaf. They even have some dishes you don't see anymore like beef stroganoff and sand dabs. All amazing. The cocktails are poured with a heavy hand. The wine list is great. And the desserts are sublime. This a great place for any occasion. Highly recommend. read more

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I know that Smitty's is an institution in Pasadena but other than that, I wasn't too impressed. The ambiance is great with all of the old pictures surrounding the restaurant, but let's face it, 90% of these reviews are about the food so here we go... The cornbread for starters looks great but dry and crumbled with just a few swipes of butter. And for a high end restaurant to provide honey from a plastic bear that you find at Vons was a joke...especially for the prices. I forgot to take pictures of the grilled artichoke but it was actually pretty good. Usually the artichoke is boiled or steamed but the grill added a new dimension to the flavor. Next came the appetizers. The bacon wrapped scallops were also very good, but 2 pieces for $26...brought me back to reality that we were on Lake in Pasadena. The Smitty salad was good and I shared it with my wife. There was a lot of shrimps and the dressing wasn't overpowering. The lobster bisque was not good at all. If I had a bowl of tomato soup next to it, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. The entrees were coming up and looks can be deceiving. The lobster ravioli was really something that could have been bought at a Whole Foods Market. Plus the fact that they placed them in a sauce which was EXACTLY like the "lobster bisque". Lastly, the lobster roll...I will say that there was a lot of lobster and the accompanying sauce and butter was a treat. This dish was actually very good and finished it all. I didn't even get to our friends orders of $30 for the fried chicken and $55 for sea bass. If you want to go to Smitty's just to say you went there, then by all means... Cleanliness: 8/10 Ambiance: 8/10 Service: 8/10 Food: 3/10 Bathrooms: 7/10 Value: 1/10 Will I Return? Not anytime soon. read more

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We dropped into this restaurant at the spur of the moment. We were in the area and decided to finally try Smitty's Grill. It is the holiday season and knew they would probably be busy. They gave us a reservation and we waited about 1.5 hours. The service was friendly. The food was outstanding. We tried the beef stroganoff (special of day) , the Smitty's salad and the lobster ravioli (another special of the day). We were very impressed with the food. The tomato sauce in the ravioli was DELICIOUS! The house bread - sourdough was brought to the table pipping hot and crispy ! We learned that the pastas are made in house. We will certainly be back to try more food items. They have a decent wine list and a full bar. We were thrilled to see that they have our favorite Chardonnay by the glass and beer on tap. read more

Smitty's Grill - Smitty's salad - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I really hate to do this, but disappointed doesn't even cover it. We came last night for a family birthday dinner for 6ppl. They gave us the round table by the bar which normally I would love. Initially, it was set for 5. We asked for another chair and the host looked dumbfounded at us. He did bring the chair and the we said we were short one set-up. This was ignored. 3 tries with 3 different employees later, we had the set-up. Normally, a table like this is great, but here it is on top of your bar pick up for your wait staff. It was too crammed for them to get by and uncomfortable for us. Particularly, every time one of them approached the pick up area the grumbled and made a face. It's not like we asked to b e seated there. We were made to feel in the way the entire time of our $400.00 dinner. The entrees were very mediocre. The chicken picata was ridiculously small and way over lemoned for what you charge and an additional $12.00 for a small serving of pasta was a crime. I had the liver and onions and was so excited to have it since you only do one a month. I had to ask for a knife to cut through the very sinewy piece. Definitely not like my mom's. The rest of our party had hamburgers and a French dip. I was just shocked at $400.00. We won't be back anytime soon. read more

Smitty's is one of about five Pasadena restaurants that are our go-to places - the food/service is always very good. But this last time was a little disconcerting - is it a classy place or a loud sports bar? It was the latter, and not even full. If we can't get a quieter patio table out back so we can converse (they were booked w/large parties) we'll go elsewhere. read more

Just went here for my father-in-laws bday dinner. He's always telling us to try something new, so we booked smitty's. Arroyo chop house is always a solid choice so we assumed the same for Smitty's as they're the same group. The good: My wife and I had the pasta specials. Lobster ravioli and beef stroganoff. Both were delicious. Nice pesto cream on the ravioli, which wasn't too heavy, and a rich brown butter cream sauce on the stroganoff. Tender beef and Al dente noodles. Brother got the steak special which was cooked to his liking and had good sides. The Caesar salad was tasty and fresh, and the drinks came promptly. Service from our waiter was impeccable. The not great: calamari was fried too long. It wasn't brown, but it was like eating a squid chip. My FIL's ribs were dry-"like jerky" in his words. It wasn't worth mentioning in the restaurant; I'm never looking for a comped dish or handout. All in all, a fun evening out. Wife and I will be back to try out some of their other offerings, just probably not the ribs or calamari Update: extra star for great customer service. read more

I used to absolutely adore Smitty's and frequented the establishment for any and all occasions. The in-person dining has always been spot on. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, we have had to order to-go the last four or five times and the food has been subpar and disappointing. If you aren't dining in, I would not recommend Smitty's at all. The occasions we have ordered to go, our steaks/prime ribs have been over cooked and gross. Honestly it tasted like it had been sitting out on a warmer all day. read more

Smitty's Grill - Our "medium rare" prime rib - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Clean restaurant, great service, one of the best in the area! Too American cuisine right here

Great service always with a smile, food is good and it's really cute around Christmas as it's decorated for the holidays.

We started with salads-- a wedge salad, and the Caesar salad. The Caesar salad is delicious. They had a lobster ravioli special with a pesto cream sauce, which gets a 10. The service has been marvelous and very attentive, and the ambience of the restaurant is inviting I highly recommend coming to Smitty's ! read more

By far one of my favorite restaurants! It's a weekly stop for us and the staff is so amazing to our 3 kiddos. Special shout out to Jared who always goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect, greeting us by name and even accommodating last minute parties of more than 10 people. Patrick makes the best drinks in town. You won't be disappointed! read more

Everything went well at Smitty's last night. The way we were greeted, the food, even the thank you as we left. The fried chicken at Smitty's is some of the best around and last night was no exception, it was fantastic. Our last experience over a year ago was less than stellar so we were reluctant to return. So glad we did and will return many times more. Change in management? Unsure but whatever they did worked! read more

We came here one night to try something new and fresh, and that's exactly what we got. The food was great and the overall atmosphere was phenomenal, the two host at the time Emersen and Esteban were very accommodating and welcoming. Will definitely be back read more

Smitty's Grill - Main Lobster Roll - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Excellent Ambiance, Excellent dinner, amazing service. Highly recommend this Gem on Lake Ave. in Pasadena. If you are into dim lighting, moody ambiance with flowing drinks this spot is for you. Iconic location in Pasadena with an old school feel. Had the Flat Iron Steak special with mashed potato's and asparagus with a peppercorn sauce 10/10! Amazing salmon salad, Crispy Fried Chicken sandwich and chefs choice dessert raspberry chocolate truffle cake 10/10. I'm drooling writing this review. So great, thank you Smittys. :-) read more

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Great ambience, Great place to dine in and have a good evening dinner. I had my daughter's dinner at Smitty's for her high school graduation with twenty five family guest. Smitty's servers did not disappoint, they attended to us in every way! The waiters professionalism made our dinner evening special. read more