Pasadena Restaurant Tips by Dabs Top 5 Page for this destination

Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room: Afternoon tea

I was going to take Grandma to the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena but when I found out that the Huntington Gardens had it's own tea room, I decided to go there instead to make it easier. I made the reservation when I arrived at the Huntington on Tuesday morning at the information desk, it was busy but not full when we sat down to have tea. They recommend reservations at least two weeks in advance.

I don't believe you can eat here unless you pay the admission for the Huntington Gardens, currently $15. Afternoon tea without champagne was $19.95 per person.

Favorite Dish: The server brings you tea, there was a choice of just a few including Earl Grey and a special fruit tea. The sandwiches, pastries, fruit and cheeses are self serve, as much as you want which actually might be a little better than the prearranged trays as you can pass over items that you don't care for or have a second helping of something that is particularly good.

My dad didn't want to join us for tea but he sat with us and had a beer and that was fine with the staff.

Address: Huntington Gardens near the rose garden

Comparison: about average

Phone: (626) 683-8131

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Other

SolyAzul: Mexican in Old Town Pasadena

Walking into this beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant right on the main stretch of Old Town, I had high hopes of getting a good Mexican meal but I have to say that I was very disappointed in the food.

The reviews on this place are mixed, people seem to either love it or hate it, perhaps the kitchen is a bit inconsistent? Or maybe because we were there at an odd time, late Sunday afternoon, the best kitchen staff is not working then.

Favorite Dish: I ordered the crab enchiladas and had to ask the waiter if he brought me the right dish because it didn't seem to contain any crab. It was covered in a very strong red sauce, so strong that I couldn't finish the meager portion they brought. I probably should have sent it back.

Address: 20 E. Colorado Blvd.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Old Town Pasadena, right on the main stretch

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 1

Theme: Mexican

Donut Man: Seasonal donuts

2nd visit April 2008

My husband saw this place written up by LA Weekly food critic Jonathan Gold and said I just had to go try one of their strawberry donuts that was featured in his article on donuts, spring is after all strawberry season. So when I was able to get an early start and arrived in Pasadena before the Bungalow Heaven tour started, I kept going on highway 210 to the nearby suburb of Glendora until I found the modest shack that housed Donut Man. It's a bit of a drive even from Pasadena, so only make the trek if you are a real donut lover!

Favorite Dish: The spread of donuts all looked really tasty but I was here for one reason, the seasonal strawberry donut, a light glazed donut, sliced in two and loaded with sweet strawberries coated with a sweet gooey glaze. No way you could attempt eating this by picking it up, forks are served with the donut. It was worth the drive, just wish I could have brought some home with me but I suspect they have a short shelf life.

I also tried a buttermilk donut and it was dry so I ended up chucking most of it, I'm starting to think that LA just doesn't do buttermilk donuts the way we do here in Chicago which are always moist and heavy. On my 2nd visit I asked the cashier what other donut I should try and she said the apple fritters are very popular so I tried one of those. That was one delicious and weighed about a pound, I was so full after eating those two donuts that I didn't need to eat again until dinner!!!

Address: 915 E. Route 66, Glendora

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Glendora is about 20 minutes past Pasadena

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Bakery

Bar Celona: Spanish tapas

Pasadena restaurants seem to have a rather short life span, several of the places I was looking for were closed and already reopened as something else. After walking up and down Raymond and Colorado several times I finally settled on having Spanish tapas for dinner. Bar Celona has indoor dining, a bar area and several tables set up on the sidewalk where I sat.

You can park for free for 90 minutes around the corner on Raymond Street but the garage fills up on Friday and Saturday nights.

Favorite Dish: I ordered two tapas which was plenty for me, Calamar ala Romana (fried calamari) and Empanadas de Cordero, a puff pastry with lamb and an alioli sauce. Both were OK but nothing that would make me revisit this restaurant.

Address: 46 E. Colorado, Old Pasadena

Comparison: about average

Phone: 626-405-1000

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 3

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.barcelonapasadena.com/

Tutti Gelati: Gelato

The 1st time I tried to find this place I just assumed it was closed since I couldn't locate it but it was still listed when I returned in October 2007 so I had another look and found it just off Union Street in a building marked "Cafe Santorini".

Favorite Dish: The menu is pretty simple, gelato and sorbet. I tried two flavors in a cup, the cinnamon was excellent, the zabaglione (egg custard with port) didn't have a strong enough flavor. You can ask for a taste first to make sure you like it.

I'm sure most of you have tried gelato but if you haven't, you really should, it's denser, richer and creamier than traditional ice cream but oddly has less fat than ice cream. It's more expensive than ice cream but well worth it, this location imports a lot of their ingredients from Italy. Gelato originated in Italy and indeed one of the pleasures of visiting Italy are the gelato stands on every corner.

Address: 62 W. Union Street #1, Old Pasadena

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Union is one block from Colorado which is the heart of Old Pasadena. If you are on Colorado, turn left onto Miller Alley after the Gap and it will be on your left side before you hit Union Street

Phone: 626.440.9800

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Ice Cream

Website: http://www.tuttigelati.com/

Zankou Chicken: Spit roasted chicken

I had read about Zankou Chicken's location in Los Angeles so when I spotted the location in Pasadena by accident I decided to stop here and get lunch before heading to Old Town Pasadena. It's on the same street as Old Town but not close enough to walk.

You can take out or dine in, there's a large very casual dining area.

Favorite Dish: Apparently the thing to order here is the spit roasted chicken which comes with pita bread and garlic sauce but it was too much food for me so I ordered a Chicken tarna wrap, delicious marinated, spiced chicken grilled like gyro meat, topped with garlic sauce and tomatoes in a pita. It was very good but I wish I had tried that famous chicken!

Address: 1296 E. Colorado Blvd

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Corner of Colorado and Hill, NOT within walking distance of Old Pasadena. There's a free parking lot in back of the restaurant

Phone: (626) 405-1502

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Website: http://www.zankouchicken.com/

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop: Ice cream parlour

After my disappointing meal at SolyAzul, I was looking for a little something else to eat and thought Ghirardelli would be a good place to stop. I love Ghirardelli chocolate, while we waited in line they handed out samples of their caramel filled chocolate and it was delicious.

I didn't want to eat a regular sundae, they are around $6 and absolutely huge, so I settled on a mini sundae which was only about 1/4 the size but hardly budget priced at $3.75. The fudge was like nothing I've ever had on a sundae, it became chewy after making contact with the ice cream. I'm sure I've tried a hot fudge sundae at the Chicago location and I don't remember it having chewy fudge so maybe it was just a bad batch?

I guess I just had bad food karma while in Pasadena :-(

Address: 108 W. Colorado

Comparison: least expensive

Directions: Old Town Pasadena

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 2

Theme: Ice Cream

Website: http://www.ghirardelli.com/