We had dinner with friends ans I must say it was a very disappointing experience. The food was ok. Not too many choices. They kept cleaning the table. Rush rush rush. Didn't like the service at all. read more

Nice ambience but we were disappointed with the food particularly with the price point.

I've search high and low for a comprable bar and I have been unable to do so. The drinks here are life changing. Their menu is always changing with new and exciting beverages. The bartenders are so attentive and they can seriously make ANYTHING! I hate negronis with a passssion but of course the bartenders here decided to take my dislike of a cocktail as a challenge and now I love negronis ... but only the ones that make. This place will ruin other bars for you because you will constantly be thinking about how the other bar does not stack up! read more

Won't be coming back here any time soon Service was slow never pickup derty dishes and food had no flavor but they were quick to bring bill read more

This place is beautiful and the staff was so professional and amazing!! From the moment I got there till I left I had a great time. Joseph at front was so friendly and witty, I'm so glad people still have a great sense of humor. Our waiter Leo was so sweet and quite attentive. The food came out quick and sooo delicious! I highly recommend trying their crispy potatoes! They're incredible delicious! I'd def come back just to chat with Joseph at the front and Leo. Try this place it's food and decor is excellent!! read more

It was out first time at the Raymond, based on a recommendation. We were a little bit disappointed by the bad service and not so friendly waiter. The menu was also limited. Except for the Brussels sprouts, everything else that we ordered wasn't that great! Prices are super high for what you get. read more

After waiting about 15/20 minutes I flagged down a server to see if we could order. She politely took our order. About 40 minutes later they asked if we needed anything else. We asked for our check. My date's drink was virtually untouched. No one ever asked how the food was or if there was anything wrong with her drink since it was untouched. 20 minutes later we are still waiting for our check..., I might come back on a Tuesday or Wednesday but never a Friday.... hope we get our check soon read more

The ambiance of the Raymond is wonderful. The outside patio is great for lunch, or a drink after work. I really want to love this place considering it's walking distance from my house, but their food is just okay and the service is hit or miss. read more

San Gabriel Valley! Step it up and visit this place ! One of a kind!! Amazing ambiance , spectacular dishes, from the clams, to the beautiful scallops, A CREME BRÛLÉE to tell all your friends about !! Trendy with a "home feel" definitely returning ! I hear the "1886 Saladito Jesus" cocktail was one for the books ! Try it ! read more

The Raymond 1886 - The creamy sauce was everything ! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came here again because I loved it so much. Their menu has changed again. As a vegan I am kind of sad. Previously My favorite order was the wild northwest mushroom and I DEMAND THEY BRING IT BACK!! Lol. This time I ordered a polenta dish which was beautiful, yet very boring in flavor. Almost like unflavored oatmeal or something. It was topped with onion and eggplant. It didn't exactly feel like a meal, more of a snack. There was no sustenance it felt like. I went home pretty hungry. Vegan food is difficult so I know not every meal will be a total win like my favorite mushroom dish! My mama ordered a fish in a pea purée which she has been raving about all night. It was a great birthday experience for her and she was so happy to be there. Service was great. They even brought her out ice cream with a candle and left out the embarrassing birthday song! Lol. Overall we left happy! I probably wouldn't waste your time on the polenta dish, though. Sorry! read more

The Raymond 1886 - Hummus starter - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I use to love this place but i am so sad i went there saturday night 8/3 and we sat on the front patio and there were rats and they wouldnt leave and were not afraid of humans so just hanging around on the patio. It looked like one was dying and just searching for food. I debated writing this because i hate to talk bad about a business but im sorry im so grossed out and am concerned about my food quality and what i ate now. I did speak to the manager and she was great however made it seem like this is an ongoing problem which is also alarming. I won't be dining there anymore and am posting this because i would want to know if someone saw a rat so that i could save myself and not got. ugh read more

Great experience. Coming back again this weekend for a birthday celebration to enjoy the food and cocktails

This eclectic and cozy spot has a great ambience. I've been here with co-workers for lunch and friends for happy hour. They serve some of the best craft cocktails I've ever had. Not only are they strong, they are delicious. Their food is high quality and healthy as well. A little too pricey though, and as the other reviewers have said, the service a a little slow. read more

The service was ok, it takes awhile to get condiments and drink refills. The atmosphere was upscale and lively. Limited menu, small portions and high prices. read more

Bloody Mary was weak, couldn't figure out if they forgot to pour any vodka in there. Had the Salmon Benedict. It was not good, the asparagus was over cooked mushy. The pancakes with lemon ricotta was okay. I did like the location, cute "house" with a great outdoor space. read more

The Raymond 1886 - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Our bartender: Casey, very helpful and explained the drinks well. Great spicy peppery flavor from the Bloody Mary. Def worth the time to drive out here and try it out. I got the Hamilton duel read more

Great food, and cocktails, for brunch ask to sit on the patio it's quaint and quiet and a nice sunshine escape!

What a lovely lovely evening I had last night at The Raymond! From the moment I walked in to wait for my date I was given such a warm welcome. All the staff were attentive but Lainie our server was stellar. Personable, knowledgeable, and so much fun! She made us both feel like VIP's. Then the food! Salad, entrees, and dessert were all so well prepared, seasonal, fresh, and well presented. I had not been to The Raymond in years but now I want to go again soon! read more

I love the 1886 Bar! We've been here twice and both times were amazing! Tuesday through Friday between 4pm and 7pm they have happy hour, where their whole bar menu is half off. I'd highly recommend going between those times, since it can be a bit pricey otherwise. They also have a happy hour drink menu, with a list of quality craft cocktails at only $7 (originally $14). Craft cocktails are about $13 or $14 no matter where you go, but they don't always taste as good as they do at The Raymond. Even the drinks that aren't on the happy hour menu (which are always $14) are well worth the price if you want to treat yourself once in awhile. From the happy hour menu, we got the Medacina Latina, which is a tequila and mezcal drink with lemon and ginger. It's made very simply, but is full of complexity. You could argue that's what the 1886 Bar does so well. They put a lot of love into every cocktail--making even the simple ones stand out. They know that you don't have to throw a bunch of fruity syrups and mixes in a drink to make it enjoyable. Of the $14 cocktails, I had the Enigma, which is a variation of a martini (don't you dare ask if it's made with gin or vodka). This was an excellently crafted drink. Each flavor perfectly complimented one another and I couldn't get enough (though I had to, otherwise I would've gotten sloshed). Each season, the bar has guest mixologists come up with a menu full of craft drinks related to that time of year. The Enigma was a great fall/early winter drink that any gin enthusiast can appreciate. Now, if the drinks weren't good enough for you, you'll still enjoy the food. The tacos al pastor were very very good. My only complaint is that they originally cost $14--which is extremely steep for just 2 small tacos. But they're made with in-house tortillas and the sauce they come with brings out the flavor of the already-tender meat. And for $7 (during happy hour), it's not terribly bad. But if you're going to spend $7 on one dish during happy hour, I'd get the mac n cheese. Once again, the full price is a little much due to the petite serving size, but it's made with gruyere cheese, and who doesn't love that?? However, if you wanna get filled up by something on the happy hour menu, I HIGHLY suggest getting the All American Cheeseburger (sub Swiss cheese) for $8.50 ($17 full price). It might be the best backyard-style burger I've ever had, and it comes with perhaps the best tater tots on the planet! They give you their house ketchup, which is amazing, but the tots are so good you won't need it! This place is a great spot if you're wanting to splurge a little. You save on the bar food during happy hour, which makes paying $7-$14 on a drink not hurt so bad. The bar has integrity in its drinks. We'd love to make a weekly trip to The Raymond if we had a bigger budget, but we'll get there as often as we can. read more

Had a reservation and were seated within 5 min of arriving. Our server did not come to our table until 40 min after our reservation, the hostess and manager had to grab our drinks, 15 min after being seated we finally got a chance to order drinks, not even a water was brought out when we were seated .... servers seem not happy. Then two older lady's were seated and were helped right away and server did not check on us. Will not return, their customer service needs to improve. Food was great though but service was bad. read more

I love place. Feeling place But food's o.k I like lame sandwich French fry is ???? Ones time is o.k I don't order coffee read more

I had the lobster Mac and cheese and it was like eating creamy gold, the service was amazing and the history behind the establishment is very interesting. I quite enjoyed the atmosphere, perfect date spot. read more

My boyfriend and I came here for Valentine's Day to do the set menu and we thought it was so worth it (4 course meal for $120 each, I got halibut and he got duck). Besides the food being very tasty, their outdoor spaces are beautiful and the service was super attentive (as it should be for such a pricy place). Their Paloma is also refreshing and not too sweet. read more

This evening was spectacular. The first interaction I've had since COVID-19 crisis and I felt safe. The safety precautions are amazing, each waiter is wearing a face shield and mask and gloves. Also the tables are now spread apart to maintain social distancing. Also the food was great. I started off with Brussel sprouts and octopus, both perfectly cooked tasteful. For my entrée I had the beef cheek which came with mashed potatoes, again both of these were the perfect texture and taste. The meat was tender and cut easily with a great taste. Meanwhile a soft, half fluid texture is a perfect description for the mashed potatoes. We finished it off with probably the best desert I've ever had. It had a fruity taste in the butter cake. This was a perfect dinner...wouldn't change anything. Highly recommend read more

The Raymond Restaurant saved our 29 year wedding anniversary dinner! We had a bad experience at another high end restaurant where we had reservations. We called The Raymond at the last minute, and not only could they accommodate us, but they treated us to complimentary champagne upon our arrival. I would like to commend our waitress, Carmyn, who was gracious and very sweet. We had a lovely meal which included the kale salad, primavera pasta, the sea bass, and of course dessert. Everything was delicious. Thank you to the manager who made it all possible, and to the staff who made us feel welcome and special. read more

We haven't gone out during Covid and this was the first place my mom and I went. Robert made us feel like we were at home and the food had so much attention to detail. We agreed it was the best meal we've had in 2 years. Keep up the great job. read more

Brand new menu, lots of new things to try... But no more Taro Bread pudding? That's a crime! Thank

came here a few weeks ago and was told they no longer have happy hour.... what.. the.. heck.. not gonna come back until they reinstate happy hour read more

Felt taken advantage of... A huge disappointment due to their lack of communication and value for price paid. I have enjoyed this restaurant for over 30 years and decided to celebrate my birthday on Christmas Eve. Big mistake! When I made the reservation I commented on how much we enjoy their menu, that it was my birthday, and I wanted a cozy romantic table for two when my reservation was taken. I was up sold on how lovely the patio would be with a waterfall and we could be seated right next to it. When we arrived it was a set menu (which I was never told about that nor were we told the cost, and I had hoped to order off the menu.) Worse, there was no price on the fixed dinner printed menu. Our table was supposed to be next to a waterfall which we never saw because of the heavy screen that had been placed... I guess to block out the cold & the wind. The traffic noise was loud from the street. Not very romantic at all, but I will concede that on rare occasions I could hear what I thought was the water running from behind screen. The room was very dimly lit except for one Christmas tree. It certainly was not what I had hoped for by far. But we thought we would make the best of it. After dinner, when the bill came I was shocked at $120 per person for soup, small salad, tiny 2pc appetizer, entrée, and dessert ... no beverages included. The warm rice pudding was runny. The quality and portion size was typical... nothing special that would warrant that sort of a price tag. We arrived very early to make sure that we were seated at one of the nicest tables and sitting on the patio was not what it was promised to be... especially at the price of $120 per person! A price of $75 maybe $85 at the most would've been more appropriate. Absolutely not the birthday celebration I had been hoping for. A huge disappointment on so many levels. I'm not sure if we will return. read more

Food was sub par and the service on a semi busy week night was non existent. I had to hand my check to bus boys... drinks finally showed up after ordering from someone other than our server. For the price they charge I would pass on this for a full dinner. The menu is limited. For drinks it's a great place to go. read more

I arrived and the Host/greeter told me to wait on the patio in somewhat of a dismissive manner. I don't know if it was because my dinner partner had not arrived or they were setting up a table...he didn't share his thoughts on the matter. I had ask where was this patio he spoke of? He waived his arm to the left of the door. Only able to assume what he meant i waited outside. My companion arrived. We were directed to the table. The surroundings and the outdoor dining were very inviting. The waiter Gilberto was very efficient yet argumentative. That was a shame he was so close to being professional...yet so far. The food was good. The Pear Salad appetizer was delish...the Tobiko Carbonara was flavorful however could have been more al dente but, good. The Sea Bass got high praise from my companion. There was a very friendly chap (probably the manager) circulating who seemed very eager to please. A big plus! I would definitely go back but, avoid the waiter with a chip on his shoulder. The hard part was the "food" which was successful. The easy part "hospitality" which alluded some of the staff. read more

I waited so long to eat at the Raymond, and now I'm sorry I did. Every mouth tantalizing morsel consumed echoed of both delight and lament for the erstwhile time spent not bathing my tongue in such ephemeral delight. My Jidori chicken was out of this world, bursting with complex savory flavor. My wife had the hanger steak, which nestled comfortably in a light smear of mashed hominy. Such inspiring flavors! The Manhattan was perfect to the last sip, as was my wife's extra dirty Martini. Don't even get me started on the amazing desserts. Both the creme brulee and the chocolate dessert were culinary triumphs. Fantastic atmosphere, and quick service. Can't wait to go back. read more

Sorely disappointed after hearing so many great things about this place. My uncle is a regular here and decided to invite me and my father for our first time. We arrived a few minutes late to our 8:30 reservation; we were promptly seated and presented with our menus. That was the only thing prompt about this place. I counted a full 9 minutes before someone showed up and asked if our wine needed to be decanted. It took another 14 minutes for our server to arrive and take our order, and that was only after we asked another section's server to find ours. No recommendations, just "I'm ready to order" and "okay, I'm ready to write that down for you". I only counted these minutes because like any other millennial, I'm glued to my phone at most fine dining establishments. Our meal was prepared with a borderline fantastic presentation; no surprise given the background of the chef. Unfortunately, I have 2 credible complaints out of the 8 dishes that we ordered that are credible enough that I feel I need to talk about on this very site, because I am the entitled millennial that I am. The mussels - out of 14 mussels, 5 were completely shut and thus dead. I told another server (ours was nowhere to be seen) to notify the kitchen, but unfortunately we did not receive a response. I never notify the chef of anything; they have an incredibly tough job that I can't even begin to comprehend because I sit on my ass all day and work in Excel, and so in the worst scenario, I usually just never go back. It's not my job to tell the chef anything. I even have a nice enough haircut that doesn't immediately scream "let me speak to your manager". But dead shellfish carry a huge risk of adenovirus; I know this because I spend an inordinate amount of time reading Wikipedia when I'm drunk. When 30% of your dish may or may not carry a risk of extreme vomiting and diarrhea, I think it's best to notify the kitchen. The bone marrow from the bone marrow dish was presented upside down and had about a grand total of .5 grams of clear marrow goop in it. I know this because I do procure certain illicit goods that are measured in grams from time to time. Not going to say what kind, but rest assured I'm good with grams. Aside from the absolutely lackluster marrow, the calamari and radishes were overcooked and the olives were a complete afterthought. The rest of the dishes were fine - beautifully presented, but the taste just wasn't there. So "fine" is actually the appropriate word. Our server finally appeared again when I spent another 15 minutes asking for the check. Anyways, this is the worst review I've ever written, but I will be giving Raymond a second chance, and I'm hoping Raymond will surprise me enough that I'll edit this review in the near future. That's all I have to say for now. Also, our bread never came. read more

Birthday dinner for my mother-in-law. Seated promptly, nice ambiance. Service was slow-- they mentioned that there was a large party in the patio. Long delay to take orders, and for the first courses to arrive. Even longer delay on the entrees. Salmon was overcooked, dry and bland. Chicken was under-seasoned, overcooked. Pasta was unremarkable. Of the four entrees, the duck is the only one that was prepared well, and worthy of a fine dining restaurant. Waiter never came by to ask how everything was. When he came by to clear the less than half-eaten plates, we told him about the problems with the food. He simply said "oh" -- no "I'm very sorry" or "I'll speak with the manager" or "I'll tell the chef." The waiter (Robert) did take one of the entrees off the bill, and comped the dessert. All in all, very disappointing for a restaurant of this reputation. read more

We went in for their happy hour and the place wasn't crowded when we arrived we sat at the closest table to the bar. The drinks and food were fantastic! However, It appeared there was one waitress covering our area and she was quite busy and working hard. Our frustration was with the two bartenders and apparent off duty waiter chatting at the bar while we waited for service. None of whom offered to take a drink order or acknowledge we were there. We even saw another patron walk up to the bar to place her order directly, she even felt it was essential to say "Sorry to interrupt...." as she tried to get a drink. After approximately 15 minutes our friendly and hard working waitress had a moment to help us. On the bright side we did observe that later in the evening the bartenders did move around and help cover the growing crowd. read more

The food and drinks are decent but not amazing. It's a higher end feel in a tucked away corner of Pasadena that flaunts a chef driven menu and craft cocktails but they come in around a C+ compared to the stiff competition in Pasadena and LA area. I had a decent experience here but I'm not dying to go back anytime soon. No stand out dishes or drinks I can think of. read more

I'm a huge fan of The Raymond Restaurant - not so much of the bar since like most things in South Pasadena (yeah, I know it's tech not SP but right outside it's borders) - it closed at 10PM - which was more heartbreaking since I lived right above it for 3 years. It's brought to us by the people who were involved with the Varnish and Edison - and it's very close to Varnish - small space, limited tables, "hidden" inside another restaurant, and really interesting cocktails. Being that I've been to the bar pre-1886 and frequent Varnish, and the fact (and this is an important one) THAT IT'S THE FIRST WEEKEND(Friday) TO BE OPEN - I already knew what to expect. Was it slow? Yeah. Was it good? Oh yeah. It also gets extra points for being the only bar in Pasadena (I'll throw in South Pasadena) to carry Yamazaki 12 and Hibiki 12. I wasn't going to write a review because I think it somewhat silly to review a place on opening night and not give it a 4/5 star review for it's effort of opening a new place (unless something horrible happens - like food poisoning, serving you whale, spilling a drink on your face) but this place does deserve a 5 star. As I've mentioned many times in reviews of other new businesses - If you're one of those people who have a hissy fit because a new place isn't up to speed - DON'T GO ON OPENING NIGHT/WEEKEND! Wait a month while they figure out how to deal with the influx of people. In closing - in my effort to weed out cranky yelpers who will post 1-3 star reviews: This place is small, hard to find, and expensive. If you have an issue with any of those - please head down the street to Carmine's - where you can get a few drinks for the price of 1 here. PS the Grand Opening is in 2 weeks PSS Valet is $3 If you want to be cheap and park on the street, you probably don't want to eat/drink here read more

I went on a weekend. Food was great. The place was an old inn and I stayed in indoor seating. Only feeling issue is that it feels a bit cramped and old inside for me, but the food is excellent and I heard outdoor seating is great. They have valet, but if you're lucky there is parking on the street. read more

We just showed up for Saturday brunch without a reservation, and we're seated quickly. We had the lobster Benedict and a dutch baby with our mimosa and greyhound. Everything was prepared perfectly. The service was attentive and polite. The historic setting is beautiful. read more

The Raymond 1886 - Mimosa & Greyhound - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Thank you, my fellow Yelpers, for steering me towards one of the nicest brunches I've had in a long while! Ben and I went here on Saturday for some post-holiday catching up and hanging out. Parking wasn't intuitive and didn't seem great, but we parked on the little hill close by and walked over. I immediately fell in love with the Craftsman architecture and decor. It's the kind of place that I'd definitely want to visit again for dinner, though I'm thinking brunch again soon would be nice. We were seated at a booth and almost immediately brought ice water and warm rolls. The rolls seemed a little odd for brunch, but I never turn down carbohydrates. They were really good! Ben only finished half of his, but sadly, I didn't notice until the meal was over so I didn't get the chance to snarf down his leftover roll. We both ordered coffee, which was good; Ben ordered the French toast and I ordered the two eggs with sausage (I can never resist sausage), along with a mimosa. Ben's French toast was amazingly yummy, with a macadamia crust and sauteed bananas. It was seriously some of the best I've tasted, and surprisingly soft considering it was a thick-cut sourdough-ish bread. The scrambled eggs I had were perfect in every way, so fluffy and yummy - why can't I make eggs like that? I wish I could say the sausage was as delicious, but the grilled English bangers were almost flavorless. (So...many...dirty...jokes...must restrain self.) My dish also came with tasty potatoes, a giant hunk of pineapple, and toast. Aside from the not-so-stellar sausage, my only disappointment was that the toast was a raisin/walnut bread, but next time I'll ask for wheat instead. I'm so glad I finally had a chance to try this place. While it's not cheap ($60, tax/tip included), it's certainly a worthwhile choice for brunch. read more