Surprisingly good place. We loved the whole experience! The…read moreCarbonara for sure the best we ever had in 20 years in LA and the Crema di Parmiggiano was a delicious surprise. Highly recommend!

Loved this restaurant!…read more Loved the decor, and the vibe - very low-key. Enjoyed the music playing in the background (not too loud), too. The waitstaff was very attentive, and did a great job of helping us know what we could consider ordering. I had the Cacio e Pepe, and it was very flavorful, not overdone, though definitely salt-forward. My lunch date and I also shared the broccolini which was good, though a little too crunchy in spots. I will definitely plan to come back to try their other dishes!

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. Also one thing to note is that they do have a 3% service charge on the bill but you can ask to have it removed. 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.

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.

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.

Service was extremely good. I highly recommend the pizza, the shrimp appetizer and the zucchini…read moreblossoms. The lasagna could be served warmer. We had both the Bolognese and the spinach. Desserts were average. The best entrée at our table was definitely the lamb chops. The chicken Milanese is with pasta was good but nothing I need to recommend.

Went here for an early dinner. Great service and food. Bread was immediately placed on our table -…read morenice crust with soft interior. Served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. We started with melon and prosciutto - the melon was so sweet! Then we shared a Cesar salad - good portion size for 3 people. Our waiter offered us a taste of two wines - we ended up choosing the Chianti which was delicious! My friend had scampi linguini with sun-dried tomatoes and rapini. Husband had My Brothers Jerry's Tortelloni -veal and chicken tortellini. I had pasta carbonara - the noodles were amazingly tender and the taste was spot on. Probably the best pasta that we've ever had! Finished up with a coconut cake with a drizzle of raspberry sauce. Plenty of parking in the lot. Outdoor tables were shaded. It was a pretty warm day so we opted to sit indoors. Really old school ambiance. Service was very efficient. Pricing was fair and portion sizes are excellent and could be easily shared between 2 people. We each had leftovers. Highly recommend dining here!

Long overdue review :,)…read more 05/31/25- It was our first time here, and the staff introduced us to several options, including the Habibi and the Tikka masala. We went with the tikka masala and the fungi lama. The wait wasnt very long, and we did ask for a water, which they have in water bottles and the staff offered a bottle on the house. Our pizzas ended up tasting amazing, and they accidentally sent a Habibis, which they gave on the house as well. The vibe was super chill and friendly, and i would come back again.

I went here twice in the last week after not going since 2022. I'm glad I started coming back…read moreagain. I forgot how special this place is. Carlos is kind and precise with the pizzas he is whipping up. The Habibi pie is amazing. The crust is one of a kind and should be experienced once at least in your lifetime. Unlike some other pizza shops, The pies are filling but won't leave feeling bloated. Id recommend going with the option of letting the chef choose for you. You'll get some unique mixes that work surprisingly well together. I will be back there tomorrow

Every time that my wife and I have been to Nick's, we have had a great experience and great food…read more Solid all the way around. Great for just chilling at the bar solo, and great for getting a table for more intimate dinners. Have even brought family from out of town here and they rave about it too. Love Nick's!

Pros -parking lot nearby…read more-seafood stew broth was good Cons -the shrimp was super overcooked in the seafood stew -very pricey Rating 5/10

Great pasta, great service Tiramisu was yummy, not too…read morethick after the pasta Will be back again :)

We've been here for both dinner and brunch. Both meals have been consistent and delicious, not to…read moremention the great portion sizes! The croque madame is by far one of the best I've tried, and this has become a go-to spot for us on the weekends. The environment and service is top tier as well: great music, relaxing atmosphere, and attentive staff.

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.

Amazing food and service! I would definitely go back…read moreAmbiance was perfect for the occasion

Came in excited to try the food, but unfortunately, the service was extremely disappointing. We…read morewere seated right away but waited over 10 minutes without being acknowledged or even offered water. The waitress then served a table that was seated after us while we continued to wait. We even asked the hostess if we could order with her, but still no one came over. At that point, we decided to walk out and go to another restaurant. We understand restaurants get busy, but acknowledging your guests is the bare minimum. Unfortunately, we never even got the chance to try the food.