Came here for a few company dinners. People sometimes refer to this as a french restaurant (even Yelp) but I think that's a misconception. Their selling point seems to be quality based on fresh and local ingredients. I've had their pork chop and Omaha steak before. Both are really good although the steak was a little salty and overcooked at times. You also can't go wrong with their desserts (the berry trifle, apple tart, and I tried the butterscotch pot de creme, which I think is new). Ambience is really nice. You can find parking on Green St. read more

I don't usually review after a single visit but Bistro 45 was just that good. The atmosphere is very nice. Intimate feeling with good space between the tables. We sat in the patio. We started off with a beautiful Spanish red wine and the Ravioli of the day, monkfish mousse in some sort of amazing sauce. For entrees, I got the pork chop and, I kid you not, this was the best piece of pork I have ever eaten with amazing flavor in every bite. I literally picked the bone up from the plate to get every last morsel. My husband got the pasta special with house-made pork sausage and my friend got the steak special with an 11oz ribeye, which she said was one of the best steaks she's ever had. The sides, the presentation, all of it was fantastic. We did have desert sharing the Chocolate Peanut Butter Terrine, the Butterscotch Pot de Creme (which came with a delicious butter cookie), and the Peach Tarte Tatin was unreal. All in all, one of my top 10 restaurant meals. The service was excellent and the owner is a character. We will be back! read more

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Fantastic restaurant. Everything I had here was delicious. I'm going to highlight some of the food we had. We ordered some starters to share around the table. - Cast Iron Monterey Calamari: Delicious. It is recommended that you eat this before it cools down, so dig in once it lands on the table. - Carlsbad Mussels & Littleneck Clams: The clams themselves were alright. The real star here is the sauce/soup at the bottom. Take some of the bread from the bread basket and mop that stuff up. It's *really* good sauce to pair with the bread. - Composed Heirloom Beet Salad: It was good. Doesn't really stand out in particular but it was solid. - Soup of the Day: When I came, it was a Seafood Chowder. I think it was clam based? Well, it was really dang good. I recommend it if that's on the menu. Then there are the main dishes. I ordered the Grilled Niman Ranch Pork Chop. It was beautifully cooked and tasted amazing. The garlic/pear sauce on top was an excellent pairing with the pork. The polenta that comes with the dish is really flavorful and the spinach was tasty. I got to try a piece of the Rib Eye steak (this might have been a seasonal meat, not typically on the menu) and it was a really tender cut. It was also really delicious and I can tell I would also have been pretty happy if I got that instead. (I think I liked the Pork Chop more though) Dessert was pretty decent. - Chocolate Soup: This is sort of like a molten chocolate cake but with additional chocolate you pour into it. Has a scoop of ice cream on the side. - San Marino Cheesecake Crepe: Small little crepes about the size of your palm. I think the crepes were all right, but the scoop of graham cracker ice cream that comes with it is what really stood out for me. Yum. Final note: So, they have "Bistro 45 Fries" on the menu. Visually, they're basically just steak fries. However, it's perfectly fried and salted/seasoned just right. Each fry was absolutely delicious. I swear it must be a basic fry, but maybe there's something else to it, because it was just so good. (The fries can be added to the mussels and clams as well. Recommended.) Service was also excellent. Servers (and maybe the manager?) came by to check from time to time and water refills were timely. I personally can't really think of anything that rubbed me the wrong way. I would recommend this place if you're looking for a higher-end French style restaurant. read more

This was our first time here and we really enjoyed the pizza. Food and service were both great. Our server always made sure we had what we needed and was very friendly. Will definitely be coming back here. read more

I was walking about Pasadena and noticed what to me is a gorgeous building that just happened to house Bistro 45. Whilst standing in front of this restaurant's beautiful facade I sorted through the many Yelp! reviews - skipping reviews by wallies, wankers and what nots - and noted this as a must-try restaurant. We were richly rewarded when 3 days later we celebrated my birthday at Bistro 45. When asked by our professional waiter, Mehta (sp?) if we'd like to start with a cocktail we accepted without hesitation as it was, after all, my birthday. My better half reveled in her Lemon Drop whilst I enjoyed my very cold, up, dry martini with 3 olives and I cared not if it was shaken or stirred. It was shaken. Bistro 45 does feature a tantalizing wine list offering wonderful bottles priced from $188 to $388. Thank the Utterly Indifferent we found lovely and much more modestly priced wines to opposite side of menu. The white burgundy was well received and enjoyed by each of us. The meal choice was given much thought as the menu offered no dish we would not enthusiastically order. In the end, we decided to order all but one dish from the impressive list of starters and salads. We started with calamari that was sautéed in a sublime tomato sauce plated atop bean medley ragout, shallot & crushed herbed tomatoes...truffled butter, lemon and parsley, and garnished with sprigs of cilantro. Wow! The tomato sauce reminded me of tomato sauce served at San Francisco's Delfina Restaurant, sauce that this writer believes the best I've tasted in Americashire. Mehta then served a plate of delicious burrata accompanied by sliced Heirloom tomatoes, pears, fig glaze, olive oil, and an ode to prosciutto. Yummy. Beet salad was next up. We love beets and this dish featuring crumbled Farmstead goat cheese, crispy baby artichokes & red wine vinegar was banging elbows with burrata for our 'best salad' vote. Both were winners and earned a draw in our voting. Our one ode to a main course took the form of Provencale Bouillabaisse and, oh my, were we richly rewarded by this selection and Bistro 45's version of broth this diner had never before experienced. Upon first taste my head tilted in my effort to ascertain which ingredient provided such a delightful twist to broth featuring salmon, oysters, little neck clams and bay scallops. It was none other than coconut milk. Delightful. What birthday would be complete without sweets? First off I'll own my preference for lemons and that drove one of our two selections, Meyer Lemon Trio. Allow me to pull out my rarely offered observation that Trio is sublime. I'm unable to identify our other option on menu but can identify a chocolate ganache cake with a raspberry sorbet side car. Our two sweet choices could not be more different and yet equally delicious. Give either a go and you'll not be let down. A very smooth and much welcomed Tawny Port brought us across the finish line and concluded a thoroughly enjoyable birthday dining experience. Remarkable food served up by professional wait staff and all in gorgeous building conceived by a very personable and attentive owner, Andrew. We will return. read more

The food was great, mussel and clams were so fresh. The chocolate soup was kind of a soufflé/fudge situation. read more

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We went there yesterday (11-26-2021) to celebrate my birthday. From the time we entered the restaurant we were treated well. The owner took us to our table, he greeted me with happy birthday. Our server was Caitlyn and she was super friendly and attentive (two thumbs up). Food and drinks were superb. The owner I believe his name was Robert came to our table few times and talked to us about food and our dining experience (two thumbs up) . We will go again. read more

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beautiful restaurant and atmosphere. our server cass was very nice and the food was delicious!

This review is for 6.26.2021 3 stars all for the service and romantic restaurant decor, my friends had fun taking photos. If you want to take a date to a cute place just relax and no one cares about what's on the table and here is a great choice but I didn't go there for the glam I am serious when it comes to food I ordered soup, beets salad and duck breast medium rare. Soup and salad taste like it's from $ American restaurant / Whole Foods hot bar. I didn't really care much. But when the duck came to our table it was my last straw. Dry over cooked chunky duck meat covered with thick sloppy fat skin, stir fried garlic spinach and fried rice on the side. For a second I thought it was a Cantonese bbq plate. I asked for different sides and the server kindly offered what they have.. duck meat was so dry and not much flavor, I was so hungry I ate them anyways but it was not enjoyable my friend ordered steak and it didn't look good either. Obviously the restaurant is over 30 years old and has all the great reviews. But I get a feeling that it is too arrogant to stick to the standard they used to have, or they just never try to grow and catch up with other competitors. I attached a photo of duck breast dish from République in LA vs what we ordered here. Photos speak for themselves. I don't usually write bad reviews but I regret taking my friends here so much because how disappointing the food quality is and hope that the restaurant can improve or no other people get the same experience.. Bon appetit somewhere else read more

Bistro 45 - Duck breast, dry meat, no crispy skin with little sauce - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This place is absolute perfection in every aspect: the ambiance is lovely, the food is exceptional, and their staff are professional and kind. We have come here so many times and the quality of food, drinks, and service consistently amaze us. This little piece of heaven has quickly become my favorite restaurant in the area. The steak is Always perfectly cooked. Their duck dish is probably the only duck dish I've ever liked. Honestly, whatever we've tried has been great. Kudos to the owner (Robert) for carrying the family torch so well. Ps: My teenager niece declared that this is the BEST steak she's ever had. And trust me, her highness is picky! read more

Oh my what an incredible find... "Bistro 45" your restaurant last night was absolutely outstanding. From the minute we all walked through the doors you greeted us and made us feel like we were in your home.. you're amazing waiters and waitresses especially Tara and your fabulous server Meddie made the dining experience absolutely wonderful. Robert thank you for explaining each and every entrée with such love and passion The choices on the menu were delicious.. The wine's last night complemented every entrée.. 5 stars to a really a wonderful dining experience.. read more

Bistro 45 - Vegetable Risotto - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

We've been wanting to dine at Bistro 45 for 10 years, but couldn't get in on short notice except for one time they sat us in the entry (which was fine but not the full experience). This time, we were able to make a reservation same day even on a Friday. The service was excellent and the food was well prepared and delicious. I had the paella, my wife had the duck and we also had the asparagus soup and a salad on the side. all were good. we then had the apple tart for desert and as it was Kim's birthday, they brought it out with a sparkly candle and fancy presentation. The room is upscale with a timeless, classic feeling. The lighting and music were just right to complement the dining room and menu. An all around classy experience! I recommend Bistro 45! read more

The service the food the wine the drinks all above anyone's expectations!!! I cannot recommend it enough read more

Very good food ! Very good service! Robert and staff are always on top of things. Great place to come and unwind and enjoy a wonderful meal

Came here for my husbands birthday and we had a very enjoyable dinner. Our dinner: -Bread (Pretty good when it's warm, turned kinda hard when it got cold) -Muscles and Clams (Not the typical muscles and clams dish, the sauce was special and went well with the Bread) -French Fries (The thickest fries I've ever seen and served extremely hot. Comes with a side sauce of ketchup and garlic aioli sauce which went really well with the hot fries) -Scallops (Unique Sauce Flavor and went well with the scallops) -Pork Chop (Cooked to perfection and the sauce was amazing. Refreshing to enjoy as opposed to steak) -Chocolate Soup (A no flour soufflé made to perfection. A traditional chocolate and vanilla combo) Parking was $5.50 for valet. Overall experience: A true hidden gem of Pasadena. The staff was very friendly and personable. The atmosphere was traditional and cozy. Would love to come back to try the rack of lamb, beet salad, and other desserts. read more

Bistro 45 - Grilled Niman Ranch Berkshire Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We came a while back for a birthday celebration and had a great time. Started with the beef carpaccio and the prosciutto burrata pear salad, and for entrees had the seafood bouillabaisse and the duck. Very classic clean flavors on the duck, and the bouillabaisse soup had a subtle smokey taste that was quite nice. They also substituted one seafood protein with a salmon collar that was really good. Great choice for a special occasion in the neighborhood. read more

Always a culinary delight at Bistro 45!! Service is amazing and the ambiance is so pleasing to relax and enjoy your favorite wine or spirit and delicious food! read more

Our first time dining here, other reviewers were spot on recommending the calamari and mussels & clams for starters. Must dip the bread in the garlicky cream sauce! Among our party we shared the following entrees and wine: Cesar salad (love the dressing), duck breast (a little tough and only 3 pieces but the sauce was amazing), special fish of the night (fresh but not a fan of the sauce), hangar steak (a little tough but loved the wine reduction sauce and mash potatoes), pork chop (well done and executed). We were full after the meal so shared two desserts. Definitely the portion size of the desserts does not warrant the price and it came out a bit sloppy. Overall, it was a dinner that impressed our out of state guests, the ingredients were fresh, I'll skip the desserts and skip on over to the numerous ice cream shops in old town. I like how the waiters were older and not pretentious, very friendly. Lovely decor like sitting in an elegant dining room, but the restrooms could do a bit of updating. read more

The food is amazing here!! The restaurant is very cozy and beautiful. The staff is very professional and we had a great time here. We had a Christmas party here, and while the venue was beautiful, I don't think it was a great place to host a party as big as ours (60+). It was cramped and got hot very easily. I think I would return for a one-on-one hangout but I can't say this is the right place for a big event. Here is what we got: 1) Seasonal Organic Vegetable Salad - This is not for everyone. It was a bit "too healthy" for some people at my table. I thought it tasted good but I am not used to eating vegetables like cauliflower cold. It was an okay dish. 2) All Natural Creekstone Filet - The seasoning on the outside was perfection but how it was cooked was so-so. They said that unless requested otherwise, they would cook it medium rare. But for us, the filets were all rare. 3) Pan Roasted MSC Certified Chilean Sea Bass - So delicious! The spinach puree gave the dish lots of color and was very unique! I enjoyed this dish a lot. 4) Chocolate Peanut Butter Terrine - It was a mousse with ice cream next to it. I didn't think this was anything special, and I didn't taste any Peanut Butter in it. It was an okay dessert. 5) Apple Tartin Tatin - This is the best dessert I have ever had!! I loved the pastry's texture and the caramelized apples on it. It is hard to describe but it was both sour and sweet, and with the ice cream and caramel on top, I didn't mind all that flavor! I would love to come back just to get this again!! read more

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Cute ambiance with decadent flavors to boot! Came for a girls night dinner and food was exquisite! We ordered the Hawaiian Kampachi (Yellowtail), Duck Breast, and steak (ribeye) special. All were cooked to perfection, not too raw and not too done. I especially liked the Kampachi as it came with soba noodles and a delicious broth which was unique. Duck breast and steak were delicious although admittedly something that's relatively common. For dessert we went with the apple tarte tatin which was paired with a sorbet and perfectly crispy. They managed to squeeze us in at the end of a busy Friday evening. Would certainly recommend as wait staff was friendly and fantastic all around! read more

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Overrated. Sub mediocre food. Poor wine selection. Slow service. Stay away. read more

My second time here as business event. Everyone loves it!!! Food, drink and atmosphere. The owner personally came out to introduce the place and food. The service team were great. Best business dinner ever for everyone. For sure, we will come back soon!!! read more

Bistro 45 - Roasted Rack of Australian Lamb - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

One of my favorite places to eat in the Pasadena area, it has a quietly upscale ambiance combined, with great food, great service, and thoughtful and delightful entries which make for a fine dining experience. The food is always superb, well prepared and presented, and as always a pleasure to the palate. Robert is a very involved and caring host who provides wonderful dining experiences to his clientele. Keep up the great job. read more

Food and wine were both superlative at this charming French Bistro. We had the best time and they took care of us so well! Only slight problem was with getting our checks. Multiple errors and overcharges which it took a long time to fix. Server basically blamed us, the customers, because we asked for a separate checks. (We did ask at the beginning of the meal so it was not a surprise.) Despite this one aspect of service failure the rest of the meal was outstanding and I would definitely go again! read more

I wish I could take back the four stars I gave this restaurant as part of my previous review; it was because of the waiter, not the food. Last evening, the experience was outstanding, in terms of both the food and the service. I was excited for my friend to try the food here and we were not disappointed. We both had the Caesar salad with pesto and one of the specials, the 11-ounce "grass fed ribeye from Nebraska" -- that last bit of information provided by our host, who I believe was also the owner. I love the fact that he took pride in the food he was serving. The Caesar salad was delicious with the addition of pesto. (My friend said that he would've wanted a little more cheese because he loves cheese, but it was not a complaint.) The ribeye was very juicy and tender, served with a bone marrow demi-glace, purple potatoes and broccolini. For dessert we had the Tart Tatin and the Meyer Lemon Trio. We both loved our desserts. So now, even though I can't undo the previous review, I can add this review to it. In addition to the food, the service was gracious, our server was amazing, and the ambience of the restaurant --white tablecloths, soft lighting but casual enough for a polo shirt -- was exactly what I wanted. Finally, this review may seem over-the-top, but remember, I'm compensating for the last one! Besides, this restaurant really does deserve a good review and I will keep going back. read more

Fantastic dinner experience! This place was a real find for us. The food was quite good and the service was outstanding! Love the simple elegant ambiance! Whenever we come back to Pasadena Bistro 45 will definitely be on our "go to" list. read more

Great steak, delicious and well presented. A very small restaurant, pricey, wine list is very good

Food and service was amazing - will be back! Easy to get a reservation... make sure to get the burrata!

A wonderful restaurant that never fails to please. The food is always delicious. There is a bar which you can visit before dining.

Service was outstanding. Food was well plated, tempting and delicious. Ambiance is nice for anyone and everyone read more

Sad was my supper to much my surprise, Yelp; four stars, but me, I apprise: Three was my number after several complaints, the food was sad, as if it had taint. "Spot on" said our server, but what could he do? The kitchen had made sure our food tasted like poo. Our server felt their stars starting to fall, and made sure to cover some drinks for us all. The extras, of course, were totally rad, but why bring us food that made us sad? If it weren't for the staff smoking pot in the back, I may have wanted to give them a second call back. After so many issues that came to bear, I have to admit, I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. If you want a dish that isn't so bad, try the side of spinach and you will be glad! read more

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Came here for the first time recently, the food was top notch. The drinks were well made. The personal attention from both the staff and the manager made us feel like VIPs. Coming back soon! read more

Another great moment at Bistro 45! 22 of us celebrated my wife Madelyn's birthday there on Saturday and it was a great experience. Robert Simon and his crew know how to take good care of their clients! Anna coordinated our group with exceptional ability. She has great interpersonal skills and a fantastic understanding of service. Food was awesome as were the drinks, but the service made the difference. My wife is very discriminating at events like this which was mostly family and hosted by us. She was not disappointed. Thanks to Robert and his wife and his entire team of happiess providers!!!!!! read more

Outstanding. Wonderful food. Great Bar and drinks. Service 5 star always. Recommend highly. read more

Robert and Deborah were extremely helpful and accommodating in helping me plan a dear friends birthday party for 20 ppl. Robert is always on the move and ensuring every table and every customer is getting the best experience possible. Our server was Brooke and she was amazing as well and so attentive to our table. I highly recommend as their service is on point and food is amazing. Duck breast, lamb, steak, scallops. All delicious. Beet salad and burrata both excellent to start. And leave room for dessert! read more

Attended the Tribaut champagne dinner here this week and it was one of the best Pasadena restaurant experiences we've had in a long time. The five-course meal was paired with a range of Tribaut champagnes, all of them memorable, but our favorites were the Sockeye salmon sourced from Canada with a Brut Rose and an amazing roast beef served with Cuvee Rene. Service was flawless despite the fact it was a sold out event. This was a splurge and a month-early birthday dinner for me but totally worth it. read more

Still super solid after all these years. Loved the halibut and desserts, of course.

When the restaurant scene was not yet exploding so much, the Bistro45 was one of the top spots to go. Classy style in menu, wine, and service in a reasonable noise level. We recently went there - after a long time - again, this time as part of a group. Mid week (true, got it), but the place was nearly empty. Service pristine. Food still very good, nicely arranged and tasty. In that sense, there was no decline. But it is hard to keep up with a substantially more creative competition. And therefore the decline from 5 to 4 stars (is that where the 45 came from?) is more the result of not getting better... Thanks to the undercrowding, though, the noise level allowed for easy conversation. read more

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I've always loved this place. I even got married here! We divorced but man, the memory of the food and the house made wedding cake were worth it! ;) read more

This is one of the nicest restaurants in town with some of the best food. The place itself is quaint, clean, romantic, and relaxing. The service is top notch and the food expertly prepared. I particularly like the braised Spanish octopus, the seared maple leaf duck breast, and the grilled Niman ranch pork chop. read more