Stop by here to have a quick dinner after my appointment in Pasadena. I basically googled the place and checked it on open table then booked it. It was on a second level which I wasn't expecting, but not a problem at all, and I was received well by the receptionist. She offered if I wanted the Patio, but since I was alone, I opted for the inside table, which was fine because it was more quiet. Steffi, the table server was super nice in spite of being very busy serving the patio area as well. I had the grilled octopus for my starter, and I'm so glad it was one of the best octopus I've ever had. For Dr the portion was pretty generous so I ended up just ordering the Mediterranean salad. It was really good. But I needed some kind of bread to eat those lemony tangy flavors of both the octopus and the salad, and so I asked Steffi for some bread I guess just to lessen the acidity. She responded sure you can have some, but we charge for it. And at that point, I didn't care cause my food was too tangy to be eaten by itself. I figured for three bucks I can pay for bread that used to be a gratis in most restaurants I go to. And I'm not a person that would nickel and dime everything but because it kind of is weird to be paying for bread in a restaurant like this place. I made sure I checked how much they charged the bread that they served me. Much to my surprise I was charged six dollars for the bread. You'll be the judge if it's truly worth the six dollars. I took a picture of the bread in here. Ambience was good and quiet because I was inside there was only one other table with a couple eating next to me. I looked outside on the patio. It was almost full, and the ambience was really nice also as well. There is paid public parking across the street which was $10 for me for the whole time I ate. Would I go back there? Probably not in the nearest future but will do but not by myself. Wasted too much of the bread and the Pellegrino that I didn't finish. read more

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There's a parking structure across the street. You may be lucky to find parking on the street with a 2 hour limit. Free street parking after 8pm. Restaurant was upstairs. The wait staff were alright. The Cafe Greek Salad had too much sauce. Ironically the Faroe Island Salmon didn't have enough sauce, but the sauce was good with the salmon. The lentils that came with the salmon were alright. The Tiramisu was absolutely amazing. Probably the best tiramisu we ever had. Would come back for the tiramisu. read more

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A perfect dinner spot. The ambiance is perfect for date night or family dinner night. The service was amazing. Our server Alex is probably one of the best servers I have ever had. He was very friendly, gave great recommendations and took care of all of our needs. The food was great. My pesto chicken and pasta was so good. It was nicely seasoned and the pesto sauce wasn't overpowering. Genuinely, had a great experience and will definitely be back. PS: There is a parking structure right next to the restaurant so don't waste time looking for street parking. read more

The worst restaurant that I have ever been to. Whatever you order, it's very spicy and has no flavor. They should mention on their menus that the foods are super spicy. Also, Prices are extremely high compared to the quality. And lastly, no pet-friendly restaurants. Even though my very small dog was a service dog, two waiters ran to us and said, "You can't have your dog next to you; you should put it on the floor." I hate these kinds of restaurants. My dog was in her bag and wouldn't let me sit next to her. Never come back, and not recommended to anyone. read more

I been coming here for almost 30 years. Can't believe how time has flown by. The place is still nice and good to seat on the outside patio. Old town Pasadena has always been a nice spot. Food quality was good as usual. Except no more complementary bread and some surcharge on the bill, which kinda didn't make me feel happy as all the prior times I been coming to this establishment. We are past the pandemic really not a good business practice to use surcharge. Especially for 2 dollar's. I was not happy with it. Probably will not be coming back to this place. read more

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Great customer service. A lot of the servers were very attentive. The food was absolutely delicious. I couldn't get over the mussels and that broth that came along with it! Very flavorful. Rigatoni had my heart! So good! Layout was nice and fancy. read more

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Still one of my favorite restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area. Grew up on Cafe Santorini and came back a few weeks back for the first time in over 5 years. The ambiance is lively, service friendly, and food impeccable. For two, we shared the mezze platter, steak frites, and Greek salad. We probably over ordered but every dish was delicious. Service is punctual and friendly. Must get the ashta for dessert (the owners mother makes it). For parking, I'd recommend the structure across the street. Can't wait to come back more frequently. Wish I lived closer. read more

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Such a wonderful dinner. The servers were all so kind and amazing. The food was so delicious. Pita and humus was very delicious. read more

Cafe Santorini - CHICKEN KEBAB & Lamb - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is our go to place especially these past 2-3 years. You will never get disappointed with the quality of their food. Service is always excellent. We have tried almost every item on the menu and everything has been amazing. Their fried smelt is one thing that we always get. Appetizers are so good you can literally get full off the appetizers. And if you have a big party or an event you can book it in advance and they set up the corner for your event. read more

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We went to Café Santorini in Pasadena for our wedding anniversary dinner and really enjoyed the evening overall. The service and ambiance were nice. The rooftop patio with string lights and a warm vibe made it feel special for our celebration. I ordered the Risotto Seafood, which was yummy and flavorful with perfectly cooked seafood and creamy rice. My husband had the lamb shank, which was tender but unfortunately came with grains that were a bit dry for some reason. We still enjoyed our meal because the drinks made up for it. My red sangria was refreshing and delicious. We took our time, soaking in the beautiful night and architecture from the neighboring building. We ended with their pistachio ashta cake, which was nutty, light, and just sweet enough, paired with yummy Lavazza Black coffee/Americano. Despite the minor issue, we'd definitely come back for another date night to enjoy the ambiance, drinks, and dessert! @jhennybventures (ig/tiktok) read more

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I would say this is the best restaurant in Pasadena. The chef food is amazing. Every dish We order tasted 10 out of 10. Thank you Alex our server provided such a good service. His so humerous and kind love chat with him such a good time! read more

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Amazing service and great food! Amazing atmosphere and Alex is a great server! Adorable eating area as well! read more

Cafe Santorini - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Everything we ordered was excellent except for the lamb shank- it was hot on the outside but cold on the inside. I think perhaps they microwaved it. My favorite was the Paccheri Al Pesto E Polo, the grilled octopus and the salads but everything was really very good. I also enjoyed the red curry seafood risotto and the chicken kebab. Samuel was very patient, made great recommendations. Coming back again, but not ordering the lamb shank. =) read more

Cafe Santorini - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Delicious food! Definitely try the Ashta cake, made by hand by the mother. Service was excellent, very accommodating to our requests read more

This is the place I go when I'm craving sangria. Great food, great drinks, and a nice atmosphere. read more

Cafe Santorini - Sangria - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food and service was ok the drinks were really good! The ambiance very Romantic and elegant

Located in Old Town Pasadena on Union across from a paid parking structure. There is a sign and the restaurant is on the second floor. There's a bar inside and a few tables with more in a covered outdoor patio. The outdoor patio can be cold on a cool night, so bring a sweater/jacket. They have heaters that are fixed to the building wall, but they are only on one side of the patio. So if your table is on the street side, it's a bit chilly. Service was quick. Recommendations given if asked. They seemed busy and distracted, not overly friendly. We ordered the mezze tasting which was perfect for 6 of us. Has a little bit of everything. My linguini clams was good but not the best I've ever had. Wish I had a bit more of it to fill me up. The apple crisp wasn't my favorite. Presentation is great, place is great for a date night and even big groups. read more

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I have returned to Santorini now a few times lately after a more than 15 year hiatus. Santorini continues to shine. We had a very nice light meal to celebrate my wife's birthday. The Santorini Mediterranean Mezze plate is is amongst the best middle eastern apps I have had, ever. And it is very substantial, more like a meal than an app (caveat: the pita bread was just adequate.) We also had the cauliflower dish and the pear and walnut salad which were both very good. The cocktails were delicious! (Though a bit pricey...) The service is spectacular. Amongst the best service I have received at any restaurant in Pasadena! Love the intimate and cozy ambiance, the patio, and the out of the way location in Old Town Pasadena. We really enjoyed the fresh electronic music sound track. Lastly, despite the name, Santorini is more of a bistro vibe than a cafe. Highly recommended! read more

Ever since I moved to San Gabriel Valley I have been a regular at Cafe Santorini with my family. My previous post speaks volumes of the food quality, service and ambiance. We go there to celebrate all of our special ocasions and every time we visit Old Town Pasadena we have lunch there with friends and family. Their waiting staff is especially nice. I have nothing but good things to say. The food is of course amazing but the owner or the manager is also a really nice person. I once came there on a Monday as it was a 3 day weekend and completely didnt realize that the hours are different. I walked in with my daughter as she needed to use the restroom urgently and the bar staff looked at me funny when I said I wanted to use the restroom and dine there. The owner or the manager said please go ahead. Needless to say I was a bit embarrassed that I forgot it wasnt the weekend but I really appreciated they let my daughter use their restroom even though they were already clearly closed for business. Gestures of kindness like that make me respect this establishment even more. read more

The location is perfect for a date or close friends. The food is amazing! Proportion wise can improve a little in linguini but it was delicious. My friend's meat was amazing. I would go back and recommend it, plus they sit next to a theatre which perfect for some food and a movie. The service was exceptional as well read more

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Café Santorini is an excellent place located in the heart of old town Pasadena in a beautiful historic brick building. They offer indoor outdoor dining and it's very romantic. It is noisy, but the service is excellent and the food is as well. They also have a great selection of wine. read more

This restaurant is five star all around from taste of food to presentation to service and ambience. I usually go here for birthdays because it is a lovely celebration and view from the second floor. I know it's been around for more than 30 years and it will probably be for Many more to come. It is a bit expensive so prepare for that, but you will have a good time. read more

Cafe Santorini - HUMMUS, BOREK, GRILLED CALAMARI salad - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food and service was really great! Loved the outdoor seating! The food was great and highly recommend! read more

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We were celebrating my daughters birthday and I can't say enough good things about the restaurant. From the service which was super. The food was amazing from their house made pita bread, wonderful hummus and the best grilled octopus I've ever had! The chicken kabobs were so tasty as was the maraghrita pizza, the spice shrimp pasta. The outside patio was nice size and great ambiance! They were very accommodating! We'll be back! read more

I used to truly love coming here, but after last night I'm not sure I'll return. The service used to be exceptional, and something has definitely changed. I had a reservation and checked in with the host. I'm not sure if she was new, but she seemed overwhelmed and unsure of what to do. She asked if we preferred inside or outside seating and mentioned there would be a wait for outside. I told her we wanted to sit inside. Another employee, possibly a server, came over and the two of them talked for about five to seven minutes while I stood there waiting. After that, the host told me she needed to "get a table set." There were several two-person tables that were already set and available, so I'm not sure why that took additional time. We waited another five minutes before finally being seated. Once we sat down, the server came by right away and asked what we wanted to drink. We only wanted water. Instead of the usual carafes the staff pours for you, they brought over a glass bottle of water and two much smaller glasses. It was a strange change from what they normally do, and now it was completely self-serve. The server then disappeared for about thirty minutes before returning to take our order. We ordered the same dishes we usually get, but what we received was nothing like what we are used to. The pasta was completely different and the flavors were off. I also noticed that the TV at the bar has been removed. I'm not sure if they are trying to position themselves as more upscale with Javier's opening soon nearby, but whatever the intention is, this no longer feels like the Cafe Santorini I've always enjoyed. I left feeling very disappointed. read more

Greece is at the top of my list to visit. And Santorini is one of the coolest places there. So when I heard we'd be having a family dinner at Cafe Santorini prior to my sister's wedding, it was an easy sell for me. We had a reservation at 6:30 p.m. on a Friday evening. Located in downtown Glendale, they don't have a parking lot so your best bet is street parking or a parking garage. Keep in mind, if you're going to park on the street like I did, there's a two-hour limit. Ambiance (4/5): Nice restaurant. We sat on the rooftop patio which is awesome when the weather's nice (it was a bit toasty for us). They have lights on the railings so it's especially picturesque after the sun sets. Service (4.5/5): Taking care of a group of 21 people is no easy task. Our main waiter did a fantastic job. He checked in regularly, was attentive, and didn't make any mistakes. Which is easy to do when you're taking care of such a large group. A job well done. Drinks (4/5): I started with a Oaxacan old fashioned before transitioning to a bottle of cabernet sauvignon. The old fashioned had mezcal as its base. I love that I'm seeing more and more spots do different versions of an old fashioned. Cafe Santorini has a nice cocktail list, wine list, and beer list. Full bar with quite a few interesting cocktails which I always appreciate. Food (4.5/5): Coming in, I was expecting Greek food. While there are Greek influences, the owner is Lebanese so you see a lot more of a Middle Eastern influence. And it's more than that. A fusion of sorts. With Indian and Moroccan dishes mixed in, too. A little deceiving but an interesting menu nonetheless. I had the beef brochette which consisted of tender large cubes of beef tenderloin (cooked medium rare to my liking), rice, a grilled tomato and pepper, and a side of pita bread and hummus. The portion size was generous and everything was delicious. The meat was succulent, the rice flavorful, and the hummus delivered. I also tried some fries and they were well seasoned and delicious, too. A great meal all-around. The dessert, on the other hand, left something to be desired. I had the warm apple tart which is served a la mode with a side of vanilla gelato. Usually a big winner in my book, the thin tart sprinkled with cinnamon was a bit lifeless. Don't come to Cafe Santorini expecting a Greek meal. Come expecting a great fusion meal. read more

This is by far the worst food I've had in a long time. The service was good but the food itself it's so bad. The lamb was so hard and not edible, the steak and frites was so salty. I'm so sorry but to be honest we are were so confused how is this expensive place still even operating read more

I had a recommendation to try this place from over 10 years ago but never got around to it until recently and I'm glad I did! Just a heads up this is a place that seats you when your whole party is present. Also there are stairs to the venue so if you need an elevator there is another entrance from the alley just call the place and ask them about it! The mezze plate was so delicious. The hummus was creamy and the babaganoush too. And the grape leaves were juicy and not try. I tried the baby gem salad and it could have used a bit more vinegrette in my opinion but was still delicious! Will most likely return to try some of their other goodies but the mezze plate is a must! read more

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Finally got around to dining at Santorini. We started off with hummus, pita bread, and icy cold Mythos; great combo! Shout out to Samuel who was very attentive and helpful with our request for a side of spicy sauce. We ordered the Branzino with capers over house potatoes, delicious! The seasoning was perfectly balanced and did not need any additional flavoring. Also, ordered the Pesto e Pollo and wow, the pasta sauce was perfectly creamy with a hint of fresh cilantro garnish that elevated the pesto flavor. Finished the evening with their delicate and sweet pistachio and rose water cake. Surprisingly, a very good duo of flavors. All worth splurging! read more

We frequently meet friends at this restaurant because it is a nice half-way point. We love sitting on the patio because it is usually quieter than the restaurant. We are always happy with the food. However, the wait staff leaves much to be desired. We met some friends there who we hadn't seen in a long time and sat at the table and talked after drinks, dinner and dessert. We were just getting ready to wrap things up when the waiter came and asked if we wanted anything else, and when we said "no" he asked us to leave because other people were waiting. Granted, we were there for a long time, but we have never been asked to leave by a waiter. I assume it was so he could wait another table and get another tip. I just thought this was rude, and we will think twice before we go there again. read more

Celebrating my daughter's graduation, Reserverved a table one month before. We had reservations and still had to wait over an hour. The owner or manager , not sure who he was , but he was so rude. Sould of took my $700. dinning bill else ware. But our friends would of been inconvenienced last minute. FYI, food was sub par for the price. read more

Food is fresh and outstanding! The appetizer sampler platter with all the traditional starters is a must. Everything was bursting with flavor. The service was friendly and on point. The manager Pano went out of his way to make us feel welcome. Will be back! read more

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The branzino at Cafe Santorini was outstanding -- simply prepared, beautifully cooked. Alex, our server, added a thoughtful touch by finishing the dish with ladolemono and olive oil the way it's done in Greece. He did so with great discernment and tact, reading the moment perfectly and making the gesture feel natural rather than performative. It added a quiet sense of authenticity and care that made the experience especially memorable. Wonderful food and genuinely attentive service. read more

Cafe Santorini - BRANZINO - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great place, great food, really nice customer service! Always consistent, reliable, Nice cozy ambiance. Give them a shot you'll be happy you did! read more

We came here for our friends birthday and I absolutely loved the atmosphere that the restaurant had. We were able to get a long table outside so we had our own little space. While it was a great place to host an event/birthday, the food was just okay to me. I ordered the chicken kebab. I didn't find that the food super flavorful and the chicken felt a bit dry. I don't know if this was a one-off. I would come again, but would probably try some other dishes next time! read more

Like a VIRGIN, it was our first time eating here and it was worth a try! My dear monster, I mean mother in law wanted to eat here for EASTER dinner... We reserved a table for 10 people. My niece and nephews ordered the lamb brochette. My mother in law ordered the branzino and we got the shrimp with angel hair pasta. I didn't have a chance to try the other dishes but, we LOVED our pasta dish! It reminded me of a rich marinara sauce with shrimp pasta... Parking is conveniently located across the street and it is $2 for every 15 minutes! Good food, service and ambience check! Cheers everybody!! read more

Great ambience and drinks. Food was well prepared.. didn't know I liked octopus until I tried it here. Beautiful patio area.

My girlfriend and I spent a few weeks traveling in Greece last summer (including Santorini). We found the food here to be pretty authentic and solid. Everything we had was good, but my absolute favorite was the fried smelts followed by the halloumi cheese. The waiter could be a bit more helpful, but the service was nice and quick. We walked in without a reservation on a Thursday evening, but we were seated without waiting. I would not call the ambience romantic or upscale, but it's a nice restaurant a couple, a group of friends, or a family can have a good meal here. If you happen to be in Pasadena and are hungry for Greek food, you should give them a try. read more

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Been here almost 10 times since I live pretty close by. Food is very expensive for what you get. It used to taste better and prices weren't terrible. But a lot has changed in the last year or so. Pasta is over cooked, over seasoned. They charge you 2.50 for Parmesan... which honestly was like little clumps of Kraft cheese stuff. I expect some fresh Parmesan for that. The meat (ordered med rare) was rubbery and overcooked. Fish dry and over seasoned. The only thing that was good was the fried smelt and the shared large appetizer with Dolma, hummus, olives etc. The wait staff was very nice and appropriate. The host (Garro or garo? Younger guy ) was incredibly rude. This is actually the second encounter with this particular person. I'm not sure why I tried this restaurant again. He's so unpleasant and acts like this is some Michelin star restaurant and you're in his way. He was so rude speaking to me and my kids and they weren't behaving badly in any way. It's really just ruins the evening. I also saw him get into it with a differnt couple and the wife left upset I could hear them talking in the hallway about their experience. It's been a pattern with this person. Thankfully the female host was nice and helpful so we decided to stay and try to enjoy our evening. Unfortunately, will not be returning to the restaurant anymore. I'd probably be ok paying expensive prices for food that was better but the that one younger guys host always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Lots of other new places around the area with better host manners and better food. read more

It is my favorite Mediterranean infused restaurant I go to at the moment. The food, people and experience is unique every time I am there. Whether I am there for a Sunday lunch or a Friday date night it is perfect. Chef's Kiss read more

Cafe Santorini - Cheesecake with Strawberries - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California