This place is excellent. If you live in Pasadena/Altadena area, you have to go to this neighborhood spot. The other reviews cover that it is pretty hot inside but it is so cool to see the cooking directly. The food is excellent. The vibe here is relaxed. I am really happy this is right near my house when we really need it the most. This is a very nice part of the Altadena community. read more

Definitely sit inside if you can. It gets pretty warm, but I think the experience is 10x better when you can actually see them cooking everything over the open fire. We ordered a few different plates and overall I thought the food was good. Probably around a 7.5/10 for me. Nothing was bad at all, but I think I went in expecting to be a little more blown away than I was. That said, I'd definitely give it another shot. The atmosphere and open-fire cooking make it worth checking out, and there were enough good things that I'd want to come back and try a few different dishes. read more

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My girlfriend and I finally had a chance to have dinner last night at Betsy in Altadena, and it definitely did not disappoint! Everything is cooked over a wood fire, which gives the food such incredible flavor. We started with the burrata and focaccia--the focaccia is baked in a skillet and was absolutely delicious. We also tried the cheese with grilled bread, which was amazing. The salmon was cooked to perfection with the most wonderful buttery flavor, served with organic butter beans and seasonal vegetables. And we finished with the berry cobbler--a very different take on a traditional cobbler and absolutely delicious. The food, the wood-fired cooking, and the ambiance all make Betsy such a special experience. I highly recommend it! One tip: plan ahead. Reservations can be very difficult to get. And if you want to keep the evening going, they also have a bar just two doors down. Such a fantastic addition to Altadena! read more

Betsy - The salmon was cooked. Perfect perfection I highly recommend this dish. - Steakhouses Near Me - Altadena, California

Betsy has been on my radar since they opened up a couple months ago. I knew from the start that I had to save this restaurant for a special night out so I planned on taking my gf here for our one year anniversary. We had reservations at 5 PM which is when the restaurant opens so we were first in line and seated right away. Here's what we ordered: **Melon Salad: This was an off-the-menu item recommended by our server for a refreshing little appetizer. It's an interesting combination with cucumbers, mint leaves, melon, and a tart citrusy vinaigrette. Basic ingredients but an elevated feel with the overall balance of flavors. (3.5/5) **Ricotta Gnocchi: This is not your ordinary Italian style gnocchi. The gnocchi had a nice balance between soft and crispy. It had a strong lemon flavor with a ton of cheese sprinkled on top. It tasted like a savory lemon pound cake and it was quite weird for me. (3.5/5) **30 Day Dry Aged Ribeye: The ribeye itself was above average but the chimichurri was definitely the star of this dish. It was one of the best tasting chimichurri I've ever had in my life. (4/5) **Wood Oven Brussels Sprouts: The seasoning was spot on and not too overwhelming in any particular flavor profile. The sprouts itself were not too soft and not too charred. It had a good crunch to it and wasn't too bitter. Excellent dish! (5/5) **Outward Montana De Oro: Very refreshing white wine to pair with our meal. (5/5) Overall, pretty good food as far as presentation and flavor goes but personally a little overpriced for what you get. Our server, Emily G was great. She checked up on us throughout the evening and recommended great dishes for us. She also answered every question that we had and had a very friendly personality. Emily went above and beyond to make sure we had a great dining experience at Betsy. Just a side note: This restaurant does not have a phone number listed. Reservations are made through Resy and you can make reservations within 2 weeks from the current date. The interior is quite small and accommodates smaller parties of 1 to 4. Most tables seat 2 but there are a few that seat 4. There's one booth available in the back where you can possibly squeeze in 5 average sized people. There are a few outdoor table options as well. As a 6'7" man, this restaurant was way too small so keep that in mind. There's barely enough room for people to get around and the interior gets really hot because of the open kitchen and ongoing flames from the wood fire. Do I recommend Betsy? Yes and no. Prices are fairly high in my opinion but the food is good. If the restaurant was a little larger and the ventilation was better then I would definitely recommend this place 100%. Would I go again? Probably not. However, I believe that Betsy will flourish so I wish the best of luck to them and whatever the future holds for them. read more

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Such an amazing experience!! Food was delicious, service was top notch and the whole experience was wonderful! Top 5 for me in LA. read more

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When you live in Venice and make the trek to Altadena for a 7 pm res, you can only wish for immaculate vibes like these. The energy in the restaurant was amazing and the staff was super accommodating when we needed to reschedule from Wednesday to Thursday. Email is best since they don't have a phone number. The staff really contributed to the vibes. Tyler was a great host and helped w some suggestions. Joseph our server was top and such a sweetie, he even brought us an extra dessert on him. Since I had been wanting to try this place for some time, I rallied my bestie boys; Jason and Justin who live on that side of town and we shared 4 dishes which was more than enough! Shared photos below of the steak, gnocchi, snap pea salad, & crudo. It was all honestly a 3 star vibe but I would go back 100p. Next time I'd probably only reorder the snap pea salad tho. Things on the menu that I still want to try include; the grilled veggie plate, burger next door, little gem Caesar and all the greens! Worth mentioning their awesome assortment of wines. There's only one bathroom which wasn't ideal given you need to wait in the hallway near other people's tables but it was super cute - peep the pic :) read more

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What a little gem this place is! Lovely greeting from our hostess and we were seated immediately. The room is a little tight, and at points it got a lttle hot from the wood burning in the kitchen, but what a super fun vibe! Servers navigate the crowded room flawlessly and everyone was accommodating, especially our main guy, Joseph, who was able to help with the menu. Food was outstanding! Pork was maybe the best Ive ever had, Salmon was beautiful and the Gnocchi was great, too. Snap Peas might have been my favorite dish, with unexpected texture and flavors. Potatoes were the only real pedestrian dish, good but nothing special. Crudo starter was very good, but a tad overly seasoned. Still liked it. Cheese Selection was top notch! For dessert we tried Raspberry/Blackberry Cobbler and everyone loved it. So fresh and tasty. To be fair, it's more like a bread pudding than a cobbler, but pretty excellent. I also had to try the cheesecake and OMG! In my top 2, now, for something I am not always into. Super light and crustless, the trick is the char on the top. So. Freaking. Good! Nice selection of bottled wine, limited, but excellent glasses offered. Only one beer, a plisner. No bar. This was our only disappointment of the night as one of the four doesn't drink wine and really was bummed by lack of beer options. Hopefully that can change. Love this spot and will be back! read more

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From the beginning, we had a pleasant experience with the service. The staff made sure our water was filled, explained the menu to us, and gave recommendations on what to order based on some of our choices/questions. When they got busier, we saw the service decline a little. We asked a staff member to add the Gnocchi and it wasn't added and then later asked to add a cheesecake and it was also missed. I loved that not every plate setting was the same. One of the things that stood out to me the most was the cheesecake. It had a very interesting flavor as it was salty, it melted in our mouths. One complaint we did have is that there is no coffee to go with the desserts. We asked the staff if they had any non-alcoholic drink to go with the dessert and the first thing they answered was "dessert wine" All of the food was very delicious and I would love to visit again another time. read more

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What a darling little restaurant nestled in Altadena! I came for dinner on a Friday night and ordered the tomato summer salad and daily crudo for our appetizers, the NY strip and gnocchi for mains, and cobbler for dessert. I absolutely loved the NY strip, it was the perfect medium rare and the herb butter really complemented the dish. We were stuffed and had some leftover gnocchi for the next day. The actual space itself feels intimate and there is an open kitchen fire if you dine indoors. Their service is also great and everyone was really attentive and thoughtful. Would definitely dine here again! read more

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Solid 4.5 I've been meaning to try this restaurant forever. We made a reservation for the dining room seating since I wanted to see the kitchen/oven while the food is being made. The place is cozy, intimate, and lively. Our table was ready at our reservation time, we actually came a little early and was given a choice to grab a drink at the next door Bar Betsy. Service there was a little slow and so was the main restaurant. We actually had to flag down the hostess to see if anyone would be serving our table after being seated and ignored for the first 15 minutes. Food wise it was great! We had an appetizer before our main course (NY steak) which was phenomenal. The wagyu beef tallow roasted potatoes were so good and smoky, we couldn't stop eating! The dessert cobbler was just ok, delicious but will try something else next time. Overall it was a good dining experience once we got settled in. read more

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Came for our Anniversary. Cute, intimate restaurant. If eating inside dress for warm weather. The fire wood oven blazes. We had a very kind server who directed us in ordering. The melon salad was AMAZING! Crudo mmmmmm We had the ribeye, a bottle of wine and the savory potatoes. Dessert and a huge smile. Highly recommend. Reservations a must. read more

Betsy Restaurant is a hidden gem in Altadena. One thing to know before you go: make reservations in advance, otherwise you're probably going to be waiting for a while. There's plenty of street parking in the area, but even with reservations on a Tuesday at 5:15 p.m., I only found one spot available. The place is small but mighty -- it feels like a cozy local bar/lounge tucked away in a little town on the other side of the world. The staff gave great recommendations and kept checking in on us throughout the evening. And the food? OMG IS Incredible. I had a delicious glass of wine, and we ordered the crudo, gnocchi, and charred cabbage. I honestly wasn't sure about the charred cabbage at first, but it was pretty good. Everything we tried was so good that I'm already planning another visit to take a friend. Highly recommend checking it out -- and don't forget to make reservations ahead of time. read more

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Tyler, Lola, Kristen were all friendly helpful and kind! Love The Dena local vibe that is all about caring. It is evident in the care they use in preparing yummy food and in the warmth the owner, hosts and servers radiate from the moment you enter. I was craving a wood fired steak. Betsy was at the top of my list. The New York steak with hotel butter was perfectly cooked. It was tender and flavorful. My side dish of chubby carrots with pistachio chimichurri sauce complimented the steak well. Betsy Crumble was my dessert which was unique and scrumptious. I have another full meal to enjoy as portions are large and definitely shareable. Tomorrow Bar Betsy will debut burgers! They are also having a Piedmont Winery event. Betsy and Bar Betsy will be my regular spots. Two thumbs up, way up! read more

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Excellent service, delicious food, beauty decor, and a fun experience sitting at the bar to enjoy the fire and food being prepared. My favorite was the salad and the wine, yet the pickles, meat, bread and dessert were great as well. We came here for a special occasion, and I would both come here again and recommend it. read more

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Genuinely my new favorite spot! Altadena deserves a beautiful restaurant like this. All of the staff were so sweet and helpful. The ambiance at Betsy is out of this world, just so charming and cozy. Gorgeous warm lighting and an insane view from the top of Lake Ave! Highly recommend booking dinner and sitting outside. Food was amazing as well, can't wait to come back and try more on the menu! read more

Betsy - Steakhouses Near Me - Altadena, California

I took my best friend to Betsy for her birthday and requested bar seating -- which I highly recommend. The bar sits right next to the pass, facing an open-fire kitchen where everything gets grilled. As someone with a restaurant background, I absolutely loved it. Watching tickets come in and hearing dishes get called while everything cooks over live fire... it's such a fun, immersive experience. We started with the Caesar salad -- a huge portion, super fresh, and really well balanced. It came with whole anchovies as a garnish, which I appreciated. We paired it with the "cheese that we like" and their wood-fired bread, which was perfect for sharing. For mains, we ordered the salmon, roasted potatoes, and the grilled cabbage (a friend's recommendation). I'll admit, I was skeptical about the cabbage at first -- but it completely won me over. It was flavorful, slightly smoky, and paired so well with the salmon, cherry tomatoes, and potatoes. Everything together just worked. It was a fantastic meal. For dessert, we had the cobbler and the chocolate pot de crème. The cobbler was delicious, topped with a generous scoop of freshly whipped cream. But the pot de crème was the standout for me -- rich, smooth, and something I could honestly eat every day. Service was excellent -- our server was attentive and helpful, and the wine we ordered was great as well. Overall, this was a 10/10 experience. I would absolutely come back. And now that Betsy Bar just opened next door, that's next on my list. read more

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We unfortunately didn't get a chance to sit inside but the vibe outside was great; lots of tables so you don't feel alone. Staff was very friendly, knowledgeable of their food and drink menu. Highlights food wise were the daily crudo, the pork and the cheesecake. Other items we tried were great but not a must. Glad to see this place thrive in all the chaos that happened in Altadena. read more

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Celebrated my fiancé's 30th birthday with a low-key Wednesday night dinner at Betsy! We're just getting into wine and definitely don't consider ourselves connoisseurs, but both of us absolutely loved what we ordered. He got the Pinot Noir, I got the Chenin Blanc, and both were fabulous. So smooth and easy to drink. We went all in on the menu: -Daily crudo (hamachi that night): my weakness, and it delivered. -Dinner rolls in a skillet with melty butter--perfection, truly. -The chicory caesar was on the bitter side for our taste...first time having chicory! But the portion was incredibly generous. -The 30-day aged ribeye with chimichurri was the star of the night, absolutely excellent. -We also ordered the wood oven cabbage. Look at us ordering two vegetables!! And we were genuinely so glad we did. -Rounded everything out with Betsy's Cobbler, which was such a satisfying end to a great meal. Service was friendly and perfectly attentive throughout. It's such a chic spot-- great for a date night when you want something a little special without being stuffy. Come support! read more

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Honestly some of the better elevated American dining I've had in a while in LA. I'm picky about elevated dining in LA as often it pails in comparison to the other places I've been like NYC, Chicago, and even Minneapolis. I generally think LA does good with grab and go/ and ethnic food but many elevated places have just been mid to me- BUT Betsy delivered and clears many of those restaurants in the area significantly. I've had some of the other establishments that have been trending in the area, but they pail in comparison to Betsy in terms of execution and craft. While other places have star dishes, almost all the dishes we ordered were executed with precision and flavor and didn't seem like an after thought. The Parker rolls were moist, fluffy , and the butter made the bread stand out even more. The Caesar salad was a great size, the greens used were so fresh, it had the perfect dressing ratio, amazing acidity , and the anchovies were a nice touch. NY strip was tasty, but wow the pork chops were the star of the show! The sauce/jus and onions paired with the porkchop was the perfect acidity and really brought out the flavor. Service was attentive and of course this side of LA has great and easy parking. Ambient lighting outside made it so chic and like a scene of a romcom. The dessert cobbler was super fresh, great texture, and high quality ingredients but it could have been a tad sweeter for us- and my only other comment is I wish they asked about if we are celebrating something because we came for our anniversary. But all in all, this is a MUST try! And what a beautiful thing this establishment is doing bringing life and healing back to a town that went through so much just a little over a year ago. read more

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We ordered the special salad of the night which was melon with lemon cucumber with a shallott lime dressing. Amazing, no notes. We also had the gnocchi, pork chop and cobbler. I had no expectation for this spot and just assumed it was another New American restaurant with hype around its' story, and was expecting the wood fired grill to be kind of gimmicky but every dish was so well executed. I haven't been this excited about dining in LA in years, and this restaurant took me out of Yelp review writing retirement. The cobbler could've used some crunch? Everything else left nothing to be desired. Even the prices are reasonable. I can't wait to go back lol. Easy parking lot. They have a high chair available. read more

Betsy - cobbler - Steakhouses Near Me - Altadena, California

This was a long way to go to check out this spot. Good news is they are apparently enlarging the restaurant to next door. I could really go on and on about how much I hate this tiny restaurant without a lot of seating business model that seems to be rampant in Los Angeles right now. That said, our service was great once we got seated. They were late seating us for our reservation, but like I said, the thing is just crowded. I like that the restaurant really sources everything locally so the menu can change up depending on what they get, I think this is what they're going for and this particular night their salad we didn't much care for. For starters it was way too big for two people they could've warned us about that, but they saw that we didn't finish it and took it off the bill, which is always a good sign of good service. The bread in the beginning was good but also just tasted like store bought Parker rolls. The dessert was forgettable. We asked for mint tea at the end and were told they did not have access to hot water currently. (!) And then there's the entrees. My pork chops, probably the best pork chops I've had. My friend's salmon she said was the best salmon she's had. So they knock it out of the park on that. There's not much to say after that. It was a good dinner, but would I go all the way out there again? Probably not when I'm closer to All Time which we love. But if you're in the area, definitely a nice date restaurant. read more

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Betsy is a rare restaurant in post fire Altadena that is not only surviving but thriving. If I had any complaints it's that getting a reservation is a challenge. But let's talk about Betsy. Seating is cozy including outside tables. They have opened Bar Betsy next door, a coffee and wine bar with a curated menu. Betsy the main restaurant hosts an impressive hearth that serves to grill the proteins served by Betsy. The wine list has several interesting options. I took my friend who hasn't been back to Altadena since the fires. We sat outside. Service was friendly and helpful. My had the salmon (best ever) and I had their mushrooms with white beans. And gotta say I love treating vegetables with respect and bringing out their flavors. So good. Of course we split the chocolate pot a crème (just yes!!!). I'm so glad Altadena can boast a restaurant like Betsy. read more

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Betsy for dinner and NOW Coffee and Brunch right next door - Bar Betsy - with an added bonus: wine and snacks at the end of the evening! Love this concept! The sticky bun, coffee and staff were all top notch. Love the casual vibes at the coffee shop in the morning and the dark, moody and stone oven feel next door for dinner. read more

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I loved it! It was a great bustling atmosphere with pretty wood interior. Everything we had was so good. Highly recommend the pork chop!

Great service, good ambience, the food was exceptional! I can't wait to come back and try so many other things on the menu. It's busy so make reservation! The items I tried were the pork chop, the berry cobbler, and the house special, which was grilled peaches on sourdough with goat cheese and an onion balsamic glaze. read more

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Cozy neighborhood cafe / restaurant that recently opened (/reopened) in the Altadena area. They specialize in live/wood-fire cooking from their central hearth. I see this spot being wildly popular among locals and more than worthy of making that trek across town or from anywhere really. The space isn't too large (which gives some of its charm), but there's some seating outside with heat lamps if it gets too cold. The reasonably priced menu has a good amount of choices without being overwhelming and the dishes are all really family style friendly. The service is warm, friendly, and very attentive. The folks that work there and the people dining around you just have this amazing communal vibe. We struck up a little conversation with the couple sitting next to our group and talked a little about the neighborhood and how they lost their home in the Eaton fire and that they lived really close to the friends I was dining with in Glendale. We came in on a Sunday without a reservation (I recommend you make a reservation - I underestimated how busy they were going to be on a Sunday evening, but luckily since we were only a party of three we were able to get a table within 45 mins of walking up) We ordered: In general, we got a lot of veggies. With this style of cooking and access to arguably the best produce in the world, I like to take advantage. - Mixed farm lettuces w/ payne walnuts and shallot vinaigrette - great way to start the meal. Light dressing with great flavor. Wonderful fresh produce. - Snap peas - Heritage pork chop - well prepared and served with seasonal sides - Ricotta gnocchi - I'm a pretty big fan of gnocchi. I liked how they caramelize or crisp the outside here. More texture and heightened flavors. - Sprouting cauliflower - Tallow roasted potatoes Dessert: got both the wood oven cheesecake and chocolate pot de creme. Both very delicous. I'm not too knowledgeable with the distinction, but the cheesecake seemed like a basque cheesecake to me with the burnt top. On a Sunday evening, there was plenty of street parking in the area. read more

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The Betsy was such an incredible dining experience...from the quality of the food to the staff and the wine, everything was on point. You can really feel the care that goes into every dish, and the wine selection (and cheese!!) is thoughtfully curated and seriously impressive. The open kitchen was especially fun to watch and added to the whole experience, it made the space feel lively and connected. The staff was welcoming and made the night feel relaxed yet special! Reservations are definitely a must and parking on the street was fairly easy. Most of all, it's just amazing to have a place like this that brings the community together right in Altadena. A true neighborhood gem. read more

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Have had Betsy on the list for a while and had high expectations. We arrived 5min before our reservation, we were told that it would be a few minutes (understandable they were slammed). A few minutes turned into 30min plus. We got sat and I will give them credit, they did give us a complimentary app (bread, cheese, meat, and olives) as well as rosé. I appreciate the effort to makeup for the delayed seating. The inside is dope, I like watching the chefs get down. The crudo was meh, the bread was also meh. The steak was solid, we weren't wow'd. The lemon in the gnocchi was a bit overpowering. For the hype and expectations I had, I left with underwhelming results. read more

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I definitely know why they got BEST NEW AMERICAN RESTAURANT! Hot tip ... make reservations. Everything we had was fantastic. I love going out with friends that know that dessert must happen, but we must try along the way. Garlic bread roll --- garlicky and buttery that had the texture of the middle of cinnamon rolls. Gnocchi - perfect fluffiness and crisp to accompany with the meat. Carrots - roasted veggies are always a hit. The pièce de résistance ... the TOMAHAWK. It was perfectly cooked and tender and juicy and just pure awesome. I loved adding both steak sauce and chimichurri. Please please have their amazing dessert COBBLER. Not too sweet and with a great creaminess of the whipped cream. Though it looked cozy and welcoming inside, it was a perfect night outside. This will be a repeat. read more

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I first heard about Betsy when my husband and mother‑in‑law went for her birthday. They sat at the bar and came home raving about it, especially the unique way the kitchen prepares food over an open fire. My husband is now convinced we need a Santa Maria firepit in our backyard because he is sure it creates the best preparation for meats. I finally had the chance to visit over Mother's Day weekend. We were on the waitlist, and the team got us in last minute, which made me even more excited. When we arrived, my husband ordered a sparkling red he had loved on his last visit. He chose the sparkling cab franc, thinking it was the same one. When our waiter, Tom, returned, he opened a bottle that looked more like a pink sparkling wine. It turned out the original sparkling red had sold out. Tom was very understanding and immediately reassured us that we did not need to purchase the bottle if it was not what we wanted. We decided to enjoy a few glasses of that wine along with a chilled red, which was fantastic. We ordered the crudo, spring peas, cheese we are liking, pork chop, cabbage, New York strip, potatoes, and carrots. The meal was incredible. Every flavor blended beautifully, and my husband pointed out that each dish had a different preparation style than the last time they had dined here. It is fun to know you can return to a refreshed menu and a new approach each time, although it is probably best not to get too attached to one dish unless you plan on coming back again soon. The spring peas were fresh with a great kick, the pork chop was moist and delicious, and truly everything we had was excellent. We ended the meal with the Betsy cobbler. It is more of a cake‑style cobbler, but it was fantastic. We are not dessert people, yet we devoured it. Tom also recommended a delicious pinot from France to pair with our dinner. It was light and paired perfectly with the variety of dishes we ordered. I cannot wait to return and enjoy Betsy many more times. I am also excited to try their new Bar Betsy next door, which is a bit more casual and offers bites and a great wine menu. read more

This restaurant opened in our neighborhood after the horrible Eaton Canyon fires of 2025. I think it is a true tribute to their excellent food and extraordinary vision that a restaurant that cooks everything on open wood fires is so successful. It took us a long time to get a reservation inside, at a good time for us (meaning not 5:30 or 9:00pm!) We reserved seats at the bar, which was so much fun. Watched all the cooking, spoke with one of the prep guys who was awesome and answered our many questions. Luckily it was sort of a cool evening, because it does get warm by the fire. Our seats weren't available at our reservation time, and it actually took about 40 minutes but they comped us the hamachi crudo, which was delicious and very appreciated. Everything is recommended to be shared, which we love. We had the cabbage which was highly recommended by all my friends who have been to Betsy, and it was delicious!! The charred wood smoke flavor was incredible. We also had the tallow roasted potatoes which were exceptional. And for our main we had the grilled pork chop which was cooked perfectly! And the accompanying pickled fennel (I think) was just the thing. We also ordered the dinner rolls, which were a little heavy but tasty. We weren't going to get them but our server said the pork chop would be cooked to order so it might take a while, so we probably should. So a little upsell, but that's okay. We loved our first, but not last, Betsy experience. Next time we might sit outside, which looked lovely and (unfortunately because of the fires) now has a beautiful view. read more

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Visited with my husband last weekend on a spontaneous date night. We got seated at an outside table in about 5 minutes. We each got a glass of some red wines our server recommended and started off with the tomatoes and burrata. The tomatoes were incredibly juicy and flavorful, and the burrata and focaccia were great complements. We also got the "cheese we are liking" which was a Humboldt Fog that night. It was a very simple dish - just cheese and bread. I've had that cheese before and knew I enjoyed it, and the focaccia was amazing. It tasted different and better than what they gave us with the tomatoes. For the main, we shared the pork chop and got a side of Jimmy Nardello peppers (which were a special that evening). The peppers were tasty, roasted with salt and oil. The pork chop was a touch salty, but was cooked to perfection and so tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The veggies and lettuces served alongside it were incredibly flavorful and arguably even better than the pork! We finished off the evening with a slice of their cheesecake, which was basque-style and charred on top. Super creamy and indulgent, and perfect end to the meal, which left us stuffed. We sat outside, which was nice, but I definitely would try to sit inside if possible because it's super cozy in there with a lot of wood accents and low lighting - totally different than sitting outside. Overall, I'd recommend Betsy. It's very vibey in a Silverlake way (if you know what I mean). The prices are pretty high for it to be a regular night out, but it's nice for a special occasion. read more

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Total drive to Altadena from mid city LA but so worth it. Not only for the warm ambiance, delicious food and excellent service. But also for what the community went through January 2025. read more

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We wanted so much to like this place but it fell short of our expectations. But please don't get me wrong...likely it just didn't suit our taste and considering how they are always busy and it was packed, there are plenty of people who must feel it is amazing. The evening started poorly...our reservation was at 8:00pm, we arrived at 7:50pm, but we didn't get seated until 8:30pm. The hostess was very sweet and apologized and even offered us some sparkling wine as we waited. When we were seated, we were presented with a complimentary appetizer - the crudo. It was good and we were very appreciative. It was very busy and the waitress was obviously scrambling to accommodate tables so she didn't return to take our order until 10 minutes after we had finished the appetizer. We ordered the caesar salad, seasonal tomatoes with burrata, the NY strip, and the roasted carrots. We liked the tomatoes and the carrots, but we did not like the endives in the Caesar salad as it overpowered the salad because of the bitterness. As for the steak, it was perfectly cooked to medium rare but we felt it was much too salty. We felt the extra salt on the plate was just overkill. The compound butter didn't seem to add much and since the steak was salty we felt we really couldn't taste much of the butter. Overall, it was an up and down meal. We liked the bustling environment and I'm sure a counter seat would have added more to the experience. The music was quite loud, and not our taste and almost not appropriate for the dim lighting and close quarters seating. We had to raise our voices quite a bit to hear each other. Would we come back? Maybe. But we wanted so much to say most definitely. read more

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Although I lived in Altadena for the first 7 years of my life and still live about 5 miles away, I have not often frequented the area recently. We were reconnected by the Eaton fire, which started in Altadena and quickly spread to our neighbourhood and beyond via fickle and fateful wind-blown embers. Uncontrolled fire is horrific, but controlled fire can be wonderful, providing warmth and/or delicious flame-kissed food. Such is the case with Betsy. Betsy's owner Tyler Wells opened this restaurant space, first called Bernee, just one month before the devastating fire. The building, which houses 4 businesses, was miraculously spared, but those immediately north, west and south were not. The faint scent of ashes still lingers. In the few months following, Mr. Wells went on a peripatetic personal journey of grief, healing and growth, as documented in print (LA TImes) and online (Eater). Mr. Wells ultimately decided to reopen the restaurant, renaming it Betsy after his late mother. Most of the original staff returned, including head chef Paul Downer. Betsy has been open almost a month. It just recently got its Yelp listing; Bernee is still Yelp-listed as "temporarily closed". Betsy is, like Bernee was, a "live-fire" restaurant. It has no stove; all cooked dishes are prepared in a massive oak-wood-burning hearth or an almond-wood-burning oven. It's a narrow smallish space with a front dining area, the open kitchen with a few toasty bar seats and some high two-tops, and a cute booth for larger parties in the rear. There are sidewalk tables in front. The menu is farm/ranch-to-table, with relationship-based sourcing, so it will most likely change often in the future. I started with the tomato salad, a version of a Caprese with "best of season" tomatoes, burrata, basil, West Virginia (Mr. Wells' home state) salt and a slice of cast iron focaccia. Beautiful and delicious; the tomatoes truly were the best. For my main I chose the carnitas-esque Iberico pork coppa, very tender and flavourful, served over a corn and pepper succotash with blue corn tortillas alongside. I got the grilled summer green beans as a side, very simple and delish, with a charred onion vinaigrette. My dessert of choice was Betsy's cobbler, which I think really is mom Betsy's recipe. It's more like a light cake, filled with berries and flame-kissed, with salted whipped cream on the side. I love me a fruit-based dessert! Sitting at the bar (again, a toasty experience that will be lovely in the colder months ahead), I was able to see all of the dishes coming out. What caught my eye: the enormous Caesar salad, the snap peas, the gnocchi, the fish with blistered tomatoes, the NY strip steak with herb butter, the enormous porterhouse, the broccolini and the burnt Basque-style cheesecake. The only niggle with the menu was the lack of non-alcoholic beverage choices; I got the last glass of house-made lemonade. Betsy is a neighbourhood spot with leanings towards a destination restaurant. It's already very popular. Apparently there may eventually be a sister all-day dining spot next door. Visitors to Christmas Tree Lane a few blocks away could bring in more diners. Betsy and the Lane are encouraging signs of Altadena's resilience, strength and hope for the future. read more

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My partner read the poignant Eater profile about Betsy and made a reservation for our anniversary. The restaurant is (re)building community through food cooked in live fire. Warning that it may be triggering for people to drive through the neighborhood, with empty lots where homes once stood. Even the buildings just across the street did not survive. The restaurant was bustling when we arrived. We regret not getting seating by the fire to observe the cooking. We had: - ceviche (special of the day) - so good and fresh, came with blue corn tortilla. The fish chunks were large - broccolini - my partner loved this so much, so roasted and delicious - tallow roasted potatoes - the tallow added a nice taste - ricotta gnocchi - the gnocchi were huge bites, and a nice texture - New York strip - standard - cobbler - I really recommend if you like crusts. It had an interesting texture since it was baked in their oven Overall a lovely fine dining experience. The atmosphere was lovely and the service was great. read more

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Dear Betsy, First and foremost, Altadena welcomes you with open arms and empty belly's ready to enjoy your delicious food. We sat down it what felt like the chicest restaurant I've been to in a while. Great music, dim lighting and such a great vibe. We were greeted and chatted up by the kindest person Tyler who so happens to be the owner and he really brings his passion to the kitchen. He decided I'm just going to order for you and honestly I couldn't have asked for a better set of plates to enjoy. We started with the snap peas, which were citrusy and refreshing and my husband's favorite dish to start, we also ordered the Caesar salad which is note was the biggest salad I've ever been served. Massive, perfect for 4! I love the fresh anchovies on top. So so good. We then continued with the New York steak that was perfectly cooked over an open fire, the whole kitchen was like a beautiful open fire. I didn't even ask how the steak would be cooked, it was cooked perfectly. Rare+ ish medium rare. But the biggest eye opener for the New York was the actual flavor, the flavor was phenomenal. It was a citrusy, salty, buttery steak that we devoured. We had it with charred broccolini which was salty, spicy and nutty as well as the beef tallow potatoes. The potatoes were simple, yet perfectly cooked. We licked the plates clean. But of course, we were so lucky to sit near the bar area that we watched the chef prepare the desserts, so we felt it was only necessary to order one...just one! But the sweet server decided to pick the dessert for us and chose 2. The oven baked cheesecake and the cobbler. WOW. The cheesecake, perfect, creamy. Exactly what a cheesecake should taste like. It was the cobbler that took us over the edge. It was a mixed boysenberry, blackberry, berry berry cobbler with a salty cream. The crust on that cobbler was out of this world. They threw it in the open fire to get it nice and warm and the crust was crispy on the outside but a soft almond like texture in the inside, like the flavor of an almond horn. It was literally incredible. Honestly, to see a place like this in my hometown just brings me so much joy. warm hearts, and full bellies is exactly what we needed. Thank you Tyler for the warmest welcome and the full bellies. We will be seeing you again! read more

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My husband and I made a Sunday night reservation at Betsy to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. This restaurant has been on our radar since before the fires, but timing just didn't work out and we hadn't made it until now. Sam, our server is an absolute gem and was so helpful in helping us decide what to order. To be honest, we wanted it all! We decided on splitting three entrées between the two of us and went with the New York strip, the lemon ricotta gnocchi, and the halibut. You can absolutely taste the freshness of the ingredients and the thought and care that went into every dish. For dessert, we shared the burnt cheesecake and the berry cobbler. Chef Paul outdid himself on this cheesecake! I don't usually order the cheesecake for dessert only because I feel like cheesecake is just a cheesecake but this one had an interesting twist and I'm not mad about it. The interior is absolutely lovely and inviting. The fire from the kitchen offers a lovely ambience ! We had seats out on the patio. Keep in mind for those later reservations, Altadena can get a little chilly on the patio and I didn't notice if they had any heaters outside. Maybe heaters will come as we get further into Fall. I had the foresight to don a sweater. Tyler has really done himself and given Altadena something that is really quite special. 100% we will absolutely be back to dine at Betsy! read more

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Boy, the food was phenomenal!!! I'm not a pork lover but that was surprisingly my favorite dish! The meat was glistening, juicy with a crispy top slightly soaked with vinegarette, pickled onion, and mustard seeds, covered with raw choy sum. The steak was also cooked just right, medium rare, tender, juicy, well marinated. Gnocchi was soft and pillowy, a little too much oil in there. The yellowtail carpaccio though, not a fan, slightly fishy, maybe switch it to beef carpaccio. The chocolate mousse dessert was simply yet addictive. Not usually a a cobbler fan but Betsy's cobbler was die for!!! Not too sweet, slightly warm, just the right amount of sweetness and tartness, another item we couldn't get enough of. Service was mediocre, utensils and plates were missing for desserts, no hooks for purses. Since the tables are small, maybe bring out a dish or two and not all the entrees. Love the cozy, quiet, warm ambiance. The wine choices were excellent, personal favorite was the Riesling. read more

Betsy is probably one of the hottest reservations in town right now, and that's a statement to its cooking, as this part of Altadena can definitely be a trek for some. Betsy occupies a quaint and intimate space, near the main street of Altadena and right next to a burnt-down building. I haven't been back in this area since the fires, but it's hard not to be reminded of the devastation that occurred only about a year ago. There's some irony in that Betsy specializes in live fire cooking, but in this kitchen, it is so expertly used. We ordered a variety of dishes, including the dinner rolls, the caesar, the pork chop, the gnocchi, the carrots, and the cobbler. I always appreciate some housemade bread; these dinner rolls were baked to buttery perfection, perfect for dipping and soaking up some juices/sauces. The caesar was huge; yeah it's a lot to pay for a salad but the portion was enormous. It was indeed as bitter as the description indicates, but it has the umami with the anchovies and the parmesan. It's a great caesar salad, what more is there to say. I really enjoyed the pork chop. It was wonderfully tender and smoky; arguably the best pork chop I've had. The salad on the side provided a nice acidity to cut through the richness of the pork itself. The gnocchi was arguably our least favorite dish, but it was still quite good. Great lemon flavor along with a healthy shaving of Parmesan on top, all seared to nice golden brown. It was a bit heartier than I was imagining. The cobbler was a solid way to finish the meal. The berry compote was nicely layered into the cake, with a tart sweetness that wasn't too overpowering. I think the cake itself was a bit tougher and drier than I was expecting; my wife commented that she would've loved a scoop of ice cream to go with it, which I agree with. Betsy is about more than just the food, though. We went on a Wednesday night and it was jammed full. It felt like a community gathering spot for locals and foodies alike. In a town recovering from tragedy, Betsy felt like a reminder of what things were like before the fire and what things can still be. I will definitely be back to Betsy to enjoy the seasonal menu, and to support one of the best restaurants I've ate at in SoCal. read more