It's great! The atmosphere is nice, too--quite different from a typical Chinese restaurant. It's worth a try. read more

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Everything was absolutely delicious from beginning to end! We started with the Basil Mojito and Watermelon Drop, and both cocktails were excellent. The potato croquettes and chili with beef fat were superb and definitely set the tone for the meal. For supper, we had the smoked duck and pork chop entrées, and both were outstanding. And because apparently we believe in thorough research when dessert is involved, we sampled all of them. Not really; that was my one regret. The baked apple with ice cream and the fresh berry dessert was delicious! Our server was wonderful as well, attentive, personable, and added to an already fantastic dining experience. Excellent food, creative cocktails, wonderful service, and a meal worth talking about afterward. We will absolutely be back! read more

Ambiance is good Food not exciting, maybe average Service was not anything I would come here for Walked in the door last week to try again. Then turned around and left, Did not want to waste money and time on something that was not good read more

Lovely interior and huge pasta portions. We went on a Thursday evening and it was very easy to get in and the staff were friendly. Definitely come hungry and you'll have leftovers with the pasta. read more

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I returned to The Arbour in Pasadena for a Friday night dinner and had an even better experience than the last time. I got the sea bass and the the fish was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The sides including the polenta cake and the baby bok-choy hit all the marks in terms of flavor, texture and presentation. I realized they had changed their dessert menu since the last time I was here in February. To my pleasant surprise and relief, their new dessert options were really good too! We got 2 desserts and the chocolate mousse cake was to die for. My girfriends and I were fighting for it. The warm apple pie was good too. I got the margarita mocktail and it was incorrectly made the first time but then they fixed it and it was delicious. Service was good. The ambiance is always modern, intimate and not too noisy. I am glad my gfs chose to come here after I recommended and I had another great experience. read more

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The Arbour is a fantastic restaurant in Pasadena. I came with a reservation for a weekend dinner. The atmosphere inside is classy and almost romantic, the perfect place for a nice dinner. Although there's no dress code, most folks dressed in business casual or nicer. The food was delicious. Because it was shared family style, they split it across two plates, which kept the presentation nice and clean. The corn agnolotti is a must - the brown butter sauce, roasted corn, shallot, and ricotta cheese combination was perfection. The shrimp penne was also excellently executed. I also ordered the sea bass. The fish was good, but the sauce and vegetables lacked flavor depth. The drinks were also great. I got the berry mojito mocktail - it was one of the best mocktails I had. The service was above and beyond in all aspects. Think of the most ideal type of service at a restaurant - that's what I received. Overall, I had an incredible meal and dining experience at The Arbour. I'd come back for a special occasion and I recommend others to visit. read more

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The parking lot is located behind the restaurant on Hudson and it's free. The entrance would be then through the back alley and kitchen and you'd need to go all the way to the front of the restaurant to check in with host. We got the tagliatelle for appetizer and it was yummy. Got the lobster risotto and sea bass for Maine which were both good. The cocktails were a little hit on the sweeter side. It was my husband's birthday they didn't comp anything but just put a candle on the apple strudel that we ordered. We liked the decor and the ambience. However, we felt that the servers were not as attentive although there were plenty walking around the restaurant which was a little disappointing. read more

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There's quite a bit of New American cuisine restaurants in Pasadena to choose from. I heard some good things about The Arbour a few years ago but like anything else, new places open up and later ones get a bit forgotten. I came were for a business event that served up a multi course dinner. I'd say this place has a cool vibe that appears to have more local patrons than anyone outside the city. I was starving and the 1st course was a baby kale Caesar salad.. Sprinkled with with a crispy quinoa, and topped with shaved parmesan, this made for a well balanced salad. Caesar salad can sometime be too creamy, too salty or both. This was on point. 2nd course was the jumbo lump crab cake. Came with a shave cabbage slaw and dallop of tartar sauce. Not bad but would of preferred a lighter batter. Batter reminded me of frozen fish stick batter consistency. 3rd course, I was a bit impressed with the braised short rib. It was sizable. Came with artichoke heart, potato puree, rapini and a horseradish cream. Very good, super tender, flavorful, not too salty, and memorable. 4th and last course was dessert. Olvie oil cake with a chocolate ganache icing and passion fruit cream. Cake itself could of been a bit more moist. A bit more olive oil would of done it. Passion fruit cream didn't really go well with the chocolate ganache. A less tart flavor would of done the trick. I'd suggest raspberry! Overall, I was impressed with the food but what was even better was the service. The servers came around to make sure we were taken care of and on point with drinks. I'd come back again. read more

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Went here with a group from work on a Wednesday night. Was mostly full. Great service. Ordered the seared yellowfin tuna which comes on a garlic risotto cake. It is kind of a spin on crispy tuna which you might get in a. Sushi restaurant. Rare tuna with a crispy cake below it which is kind of like hash browns on the outside in terms of texture but has creamy risotto inside. So delicious!! The sauce was also outsitanding. Everyone at the table liked their food. They serve complimentary bread (rolls) before the food. Parking is on the street - no too hard to come by. Recommend! read more

The Arbour - Half eaten seared yellowfin tuna dish! Once I ate the first rectangle, had to capture the second to share with y'all! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Location 4 stars: On the West side of S Lake Ave in Pasadena, California, slightly North of E California Blvd. Parking on the street and a private lot on the back. You can also use the mall parking structure for a fee. Venue 4 stars: Nicely appointed tables and booths. Full bar. No outdoor seating but they do have a well lit atrium-like area in the front. Service 4.5 stars: Polite and professional. Food 5 stars: Modern American fare in a comfortable upscale setting. And the food is great! We had the Fried Dates, the Crab Toast, the Shrimp Penne, the Filet Mignon, and the Black Pepper Crusted Chicken. All were excellent and highly recommended. Drinks 4.5 stars: Full Bar. They have a few specialty cocktails, spirits, beer, wine and soft drinks. The Bottom Line 5 stars: Great option for some wonderful food and drinks in an upscale yet not stuffy setting. Easy parking (specially in Pasadena) is the icing on the cake. Highly recommended! read more

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Came for my bday dinner and it was delicious! Had the tagliatelle appetizer which was flavorful. The fennel flavor came through boldly- like on a pizza. Then had the lobster risotto and sea bass. Seabass comes with bok Choy. Oftentimes the bok Choy is mushy but I was pleasantly surprised that it was firm and crunchy. read more

This is a fabulous restaurant. The décor is elegant and soothing. And the highlight is their flavorful and delicious preparations! We tried their happy hour for the first time tonight, getting a range of items, including a very spicy and tasty jalapeno margarita, an amazing cheesy eggplant risotto, a fresh healthy yellowtail crudo, and a velvety divine butternut squash soup! The flavors were all spot on. Kudos to the kitchen! The only low-point was when our server, C, repeated our order and asked if it was correct, and I said yes, but then asked her to add one more soup, and she audibly let out a big irritated sigh and turned away back to the kitchen. I have no idea why that was such a big hassle for her. Maybe she was unhappy we were ordering off the HH menu? The irony was I had ordered two separate things prior that were not available: one that was listed on the online menu, that was not on the current menu, and the other that was on the table menu (mushroom soup), that they just didn't have anymore (so it was changed to butternut squash soup). I was completely friendly about the news, as I should be. At the time I wasn't sure I wanted the new soup so passed, but had decided after a few minutes when she came back to go for it. You'd think she would understand in that case, why I might take a moment to think about it. Anyway, people have tough days. We enjoyed our time out none-the-less and will visit again soon. read more

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I've been wanting to come here! Why haven't I?! Really tasteful dishes, even the salads are top notch. Our waiter Thomas was nice and genuine. Wish I ordered more, but I was so full I was about to ask the staff if they can roll me out. Nice layout. read more

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Oh, this one's a family favorite! The ambiance was pleasant, and the service was attentive. Most importantly, the food was delicious; everything we tried was flavorful and well-prepared. I heard the chefs trained at a culinary school, and I can definitely believe it based on the quality of the dishes. All in all, a solid choice in the area and definitely worth trying! read more

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The Arbour has to be one of my favorite restaurants in Pasadena. It is a fun (not too loud) an intimate restaurant for all occasions! We came here on a Wednesday night for my stepmom's birthday (she's never tried this restaurant before) and she was pleasantly surprised. We had a party of four and we had ordered for appetizers (some included the potato croquettes, and the beef salad), along with a personal pasta entrée for each of us. Their appetizers are great starters and very light. The Buccatini pasta is always my go to - the sauce is absolute heaven on earth and I never go for anything else. My stepmom and father are vegetarian so they had the mushroom risotto and another pasta dish - both were amazing according to them as well! When it came to her birthday and having excellent service, our server - Cessalie was amazing! She was so sweet and patient with us. Her service really added to our experience. read more

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I had an absolute incredible meal last Saturday! Maine Lobster Salad was the standout! The lobster is incredibly fresh and tender, cooked perfectly. The crushed edamame and soy sauce perfectly complimented the freshness of the lobster so well. Every bite was light, edamame provided texture and it's packed with flavor. We had a very nice and attentive server. The ambiance is truly elegant, making is a great choice for a special night out. We had a party of twelve, and while the food was the highlight, we were unfortunately seated right by the kitchen, which felt less private than we'd hoped for such a large group. The high-traffic feel, is the main issue and not the noise level. It was a very busy dinner hour on a Saturday. I feel that the server was a bit short and seemed to be rushing us. Didn't really offer suggestions nor ready for any questions about the menu. The 4-stars is mainly for the lobster salad. The star of the menu. read more

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i sit at the bar and order the same things always. the New York steak is always cooked to perfection, fresh oysters make my eyes and mouth happy simultaneously. and i enjoy the ambience with a nice glass of sauvignon blanc. the service is friendly that i never notice that i am alone there! definitely, the Arbour is my go to restaurant! read more

The Arbour - their presentation of fresh oysters is always a piece of art. at another time, it was with grapefruit bits instead of cucumber pearls. - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Seriously good food. Been too long since I've been here and Dang it I deleted the photos in error. So you know what that means. . . " I will be back " And that will certainly be my pleasure as I always love the food and atmosphere here. I Miss the " Baked California " dessert Yeah I know I've mentioned it before but I do miss it . A little tip for you newbies . . . They have ample parking in the back. So you don't have to think that Lake Avenue is the only option. Sea Bass and Risotto are due fir my review, but alas no photo so I will have to simply say. Both well prepared and proper review to come (When I return and take the pix) read more

Unfortunately, a pretty disappointing experience. :( Came in with a reservation, but wasn't acknowledged by anyone at the front of house for probably five minutes (it wasn't particularly busy either being a Tuesday night). To make things stranger, every other customer was seated in the back while we were placed alone up front. Not sure why we were exiled there, but it felt a bit lonely and odd. The servers were certainly kind, but not attentive. We didn't receive napkins until after our entrees arrived, and even then, only after asking. Food was alright, nothing outstanding, which is disappointing if you're paying a minimum of $30 per dish. Overall the experience was just okay. Nothing awful but nothing spectacular. read more

This place has its appeals, but unfortunately it's a miss for me. I understand why people enjoy the array of foods and drinks, and the dim setting for intimate occasions, but I don't think it's great to celebrate a birthday. The quality of food, relative to price, seems below average compared to other restaurants in the area. Although I enjoyed the duck and beef tartare dishes, and didn't care for the other dishes, the prices seemed higher than I would expect. According to my parents, the service can be a hit or miss, and my visit would constitute a visit. I don't imagine coming back here anytime soon, but respectfully, to each their own. read more

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Service is above expectations! Ambiance is beautiful (until an alarm went off and they couldn't shut it off) Food was mostly over-salted. I had the bucatini and my father had the sea bass. We both were not happy with the salt level. The shrimp pasta was a bit over also but at least more manageable. My husband had the Yellowfin Tuna which he said was perfect for him so he was the only one to pretty much finish his dinner. I cannot say that this was the best first experience I've had for what I thought would be an upscale restaurant. I gave a generous tip because of the service but I don't think I will return for the food. I will add that it was my father's birthday and the chef's special dessert (not featured on the menu) was the highlight of the entire evening!! By far one of the best desserts I've ever experienced and should definitely be a signature dessert of this chef! Standing ovation! read more

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Came for dinner the other night as a family of four. They were very welcoming and nice to offer us a seat at a table while still letting us order off their happy hour menu. We ordered a Caesar salad, raw oysters, garlic fries, their hamburger, a pasta, and their cheese toast. I did see other tables with complimentary bread but we weren't offered any. Food came pretty quickly and everything was delicious. My favorite was the pasta. It was steaming hot and was very flavorful. Definitely will be back again! read more

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Can't believe it took us this long to try The Arbour especially after hearing so many people rave about the food. There is usually a few open parking spots up and down Lake but we parked in the structure behind. Our waitress was super friendly and suggested we start with both pasta appetizers (tagliatelle w/ pork sausage and the agnolotti) and boy were they good. Both pastas reminded me of similar pastas we've had at Osteria Mozza. Would head back just for these 2 pasta dishes. I love when restaurants serve you hot bread, just warming it up before serving makes a huge difference in my opinion. For our entrees we ordered the mushroom risotto, duck duo and the new york steak. All were exceptional and my favorite was the mushroom risotto. Ended the meal with the milk chocolate mousse and warm bread pudding. I preferred the chocolate mousse as there was a peanut butter crunch like cookie at the bottom. We will definitely be back as the food and service were exceptional! read more

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I've been eyeing this place for a while because it always looks so fancy when I walk by. They describe themselves as a farm-to-table restaurant, so I decided to stop in for dinner on a Wednesday night. I didn't have a reservation but got seated right away. The service and ambiance were great, and it's definitely a nice spot for a date or a relaxed dinner. We ordered the beef tartare, shaved brussels sprout salad, shrimp penne, and Mediterranean seabass. The tartare was light but didn't have much flavor, and the brussels sprout salad was heavy on the goat cheese, which might be a hit or miss depending on your taste. The seabass was amazing. Perfectly cooked, super moist with crispy skin, and the sides that came with it were delicious. The shrimp penne was also really good, with a flavorful sauce and a generous portion that was enough for leftovers the next day. I also appreciated the complimentary bread and homemade butter, which were both delicious. Everything was plated beautifully and looked elegant. Overall, I'd definitely come back for the seabass and maybe try different appetizers next time. The setting, service, and presentation make it a really pleasant dining experience. read more

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The Arbour continues to be our go to restaurant. The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff attentive, and yes the food is still absolutely delicious. I'd recommend the bucatini spaghetti, it's one of my favorite dishes! You certainly won't go wrong with the braised short ribs... read more

Friends were visiting us, and we had no issues booking a big table pretty last minute. Food was decent. Service was good. We got a big party, and Everything worked great. My kid was picky on food, but he had a very good time there with his pasta, fries and juice. We will definitely will go back. And, they got free parking in the back. read more

The Arbour - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I'm gonna go against the grain here, there are several bar and grills on Lake that are comparable to the Arbour, not so much esthetically, as the Arbour is a tavern style, modern steakhouse theme, rather the menu itself - A 1:1 comparison would be the sea bass entree at the Arbour vs Nick's , just down the street. The catch is (no pun intended) that both entrees are priced similar, but the sea bass entree at Nick's is vastly, blow out superior than the Arbour's. Moreover (unless intended) there seems to have been a miscommunication between the bartending staff and the barmaster regarding the dilution of the simple syrup recipe, as their variation of the old fashioned (forgot the name) was syrupy sweet, almost undrinkable. Without these two issues it would of been a 4-5 star experience for me - The restaurant itself is simply gorgeous, reminds me of the Grammercy Tavern in NYC, not exactly but in the sense of how the place made me feel. 3.5 stars. read more

The Arbour - Sea bass below, short rib on top - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Happy Hour review: Amazing! Come and enjoy yourself with great specials such as an old fashioned for $10 or a glass of wine for $9. The winner is obvious the great staff and the food: hamburger, risotto and shepherd's pie was amazing. Definitely coming back again! read more

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We came for a quick snack during happy hour and I must say, I am amazed at the The Arbour Burger! Now that's a burger alright! Homemade patty, thick and juicy. Perfect blend of meat to fat. Garlic aioli sauce. Hardy. This gourmet burger for $11?! Get outta here. Will be back just for this! read more

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This was our first time visiting this restaurant. We chose it to celebrate our anniversary, mainly because of its high online ratings and its convenient location near our home. When we arrived, the restaurant was packed, which initially made us think we had made a great choice. Unfortunately, the experience that followed was quite the opposite. We started with a couple of alcoholic drinks and asked our server to recommend two sweeter options. What arrived was disappointing. One drink came in a glass coated with an excessive amount of salt--not just around the rim, but all over the side of the glass. Simply picking it up left my hands covered in salt. The other drink was described as sweet, but it wasn't sweet at all and had a strong bitterness from orange peel. To her credit, our server did take it back and add some syrup, which made it more drinkable. We also ordered a half dozen oysters. When they arrived, they were served with only lemon wedges and a chili-based sauce. Most oyster restaurants offer a variety of accompaniments and condiments, so this was somewhat surprising. For our entrées, we ordered the beef short ribs and the sea bass. The food arrived promptly, but the flavors were confusing and difficult to understand. My beef short ribs were served with Chinese mustard greens (xuelihong), and not the traditional pickled version--these were fresh and retained their sharp, pungent flavor. The beef itself was seasoned primarily with soy sauce and sugar, and unfortunately it was somewhat dry rather than tender and succulent. The sea bass was even more puzzling. The fish itself was cooked properly, but it was paired with bok choy, a relatively inexpensive vegetable. While the choice of vegetable on a $40+ entrée already felt somewhat odd, the real issue was the seasoning. The chef heavily flavored the bok choy with star anise. The flavor was so overpowering that every bite tasted as though I had accidentally bitten directly into a whole star anise pod. As someone who is very familiar with these spices, it felt less like creative fusion cooking and more like experimentation for the sake of being different. The result was not innovative or exciting--it was simply unpleasant. Rather than elevating the dish, the unusual combination distracted from it. At one point, we even asked our server for some hot sauce because the seasoning was so difficult to enjoy. She seemed somewhat surprised by the request, but the hot sauce never arrived. We're honestly not sure why this restaurant has such high ratings. From our perspective, the food lacked a clear culinary identity. It wasn't a successful blend of different cuisines that captured the strengths of each; instead, it felt like a collection of mismatched ideas that never came together. The ingredients themselves felt inexpensive, and the overall dining experience did not justify the price. We ended up packing most of the food and went to another restaurant afterward. Our server mentioned that they change the menu every week, which may explain why the dishes felt underdeveloped and lacking refinement. Regardless of the reason, this was not an experience we would repeat, and unfortunately we will not be returning. read more

The Arbour - Drink - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Booked a Reservation for about 15-20 people to celebrate my dad's 55th Birthday. It was all out first time here and my first words when I entered this place was "wow!" I myself work at Massage Envy in South Lake Pasadena and every time I walk around South Lake, I always see this place called 'The Arbour.' I have always wanted to book a reservation here and thankfully it happened after many months. The services here were great, fast and efficient and each member working there really loved what they do. I would definitely come back here for that and of course, especially the food. The food here was made to perfection and cooked with love every second of it. That's why each dish we ordered was very delicious and served well. Compliments to the Chef! The ambiance here was a little bit dark but that's okay. It sets the mood right because it was a nice restaurant to dine into. I would definitely come back here for another birthday soon. Usually I would check off my "Restaurant Places to Try" list. But this place, I won't check it off yet, just cause I would be coming back... that's for sure. Thank you ever much for this awesome dining experience. Thanks to the Owner and Chefs and all the staff working there. read more

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I recently had an outstanding dining experience at The Arbour. The food was superb, and the service was exceptional. The cowboy ribeye was amazing, paired with a fresh side of veggies and a bean and mushroom dish that complemented it perfectly. My fiancé ordered the seabass, which came with a lemon foam-covered cake that was both delicate and flavorful. Every bite was delicious. The staff kept all finished dishes cleared and the table tidy, and our water never ran empty. Our server, Edward, was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and attentive without being intrusive. He really added to the overall experience.I usually don't go for dessert, but after such a fantastic meal, I had to try. It was to die for--I ordered the Raspberry Tiramisu, lady fingers, mascarpone cream, coffee macaron absolutely worth saving room for. Overall it was A flawless dining experience from start to finish. The ambiance was perfect for a date night The Arbour is a must-visit for those seeking great food, outstanding service, and a memorable evening. **They refresh the menu every three Months ** read more

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The Shrimp Penne, looks eh but it was delicious - ate it all! Anytime there's a bread pudding on the menu I must try - their bread pudding was phenomenal. Crispy and soft, selfishly could always have more ice cream but it's perfect. Beet salad and the fried date appetizer were amazing. Service was great, checked in on us and was sweet. Ambiance, was beautiful you forget you're on a main street. Perfect for a date night or a corporate dinner. read more

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Came here for Easter dinner. Early reservation since we had the baby. The restaurant is lovely and the service is top notch. We started with the "spicy beef"chili appetizer. The presentation was really cool- the beef tallow candle was a nice touch. The dish missed for me. I was reminiscent of the "sloppy Joe's" or manwich my mom would make. We had (3) dinners - the duck - superb. The shrimp penne. I'm married to an Italian and live in New Jersey so I cannot critique this but my son enjoyed it. And the seared yellowfin tuna. (The star of the show). We shared the bread pudding dessert and agreed (as did my little granddaughter) that it was a home run. It's a beautiful restaurant and well worth a visit. read more

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The ambiance here is very much like a date night or a nice quiet-ish dinner. Our server was very attentive and recommended some good options, as well as engaged in a little small talk with us which was nice. They have really good food and drink options and change their menu often, according to our server. I enjoyed everything we ordered but there were a few things I'd change next time. To start, we were brought bread and our drinks, which were both pretty good. We then ordered a few appetizers. We had the Caesar salad (hard to eat, almost might be easier to scoop with a spoon), cauliflower carbonara (no bacon/pancetta) and potato croquettes (loaded potato flavors but odd to eat as when you cut into them they kind of smash down since the inside is like a mashed potato, maybe also scoop one at a time and eat with a spoon instead of cutting it in half). For our entrees, we ordered the bucatini spaghettini and the shrimp penne to share. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the bucatini pasta shape, as it's like a straw, so that is personal preference but the dish itself had really good flavor. The shrimp penne was also good and smelled really nice but it's in a white wine sauce so kind of thin and doesn't quite stick to the noodle. Overall I'd go back to try other dishes and maybe see if they'd do substitutions to the ones we previously ordered. read more

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Our company had our holiday party here and everything is perfect. The staff are very accommodating and went above and beyond. The food was flavorful and delicious. We got the salmon and beef for our protein which were very moist and tender. The rest of the food was good. All the food was cooked and made to perfection. The space is also great. Very classy and intimate. They have limited parking at the back or there's plenty of parking space around the restaurant (public parking structure). I highly recommend this place. read more

The Arbour - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food was tasty and portions were a good size. The service was attentive and they helped celebrate a birthday for us. The restaurant is pretty and there were quite a few tables full on a Tuesday evening after the holidays. I liked the mushroom risotto and the bread was delicious. The blackberry drink was also nice. read more

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Gladly returned to the Arbour on at least 2 separate occasions and really enjoyed their food in the nice interior ambiance while given full attention by the friendly and proactive staff members. I cannot list the items I/we ordered but everything was splendid. PREVIOUS REVIEW: Very pleasant experience in a chic, classy and modern ambience. The staff was extremely friendly and attentive. It was not a problem to already sit down despite not all the members of the party arriving on time (nowadays an exception!). The food was excellent, the choices numerous and certainly a reason to come back and try out others. Yellowtail Crudo and Peach Salad were colorful and fresh starters; the Seabass with Crispy Polenta and the Heirloom Tomato Risotto were delicious and to the point. read more

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The Arbour is located on Lake, nearby a number of shops- making it a great location after a day of shopping. The menu is pretty diverse with a bar; and many American flavors/tastings. The ambiance internally is modern with a flare of nature. Servers were friendly, and managing multiple tables with the same timeline which meant that some of our ordering of drinks/meals was slightly delayed but nothing too extravagant. The food itself was delightful. I had the duck dish, while my partner had the shrimp penne. Our dishes were plentiful, and we even had leftovers for our lunch the next day. read more

The Arbour - Shrimp Penne - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The Arbour -- I Found the One. The Restaurant, I Mean. Anniversary dinners are high-stakes. You're not just picking a place to eat -- you're telling your wife how well you know her, how much thought you put in, and whether you've been paying attention. No pressure. I knew she didn't want the predictable Old Town Pasadena scene. She deserved something that felt elevated -- modern without being cold, romantic without being cliché. When I found The Arbour, I just knew. This was it. The moment we walked in, a hostess greeted us right at the door. No awkward hovering, no figuring it out ourselves -- just a warm welcome. Then the manager stepped over and greeted me by name without even looking at the reservation list. I appreciated that more than he knows, because it set the tone for exactly the kind of evening I wanted her to have. And then she sat down. Her eyes lit up. Big smile. That look -- the one that tells you you got it right. After a long week, a rough workday, and the kids running on fumes of pure weekend energy, I needed this to be her reset. The Arbour gave her that. The food matched the moment. Generous portions, which I was relieved about -- because she deserved to leave full and happy, not paying LA prices to eat like a bird. The price was more than fair. And the servers were exactly what the evening called for: professional, warm, attentive when needed, invisible when we just wanted to be us. If you're trying to give someone a night that says I thought of you in every detail -- this is the place. It's a little tucked away (look for the Berkshire Hathaway office across the street), but honestly, the hidden gem factor only adds to it. read more