I've been to this place many times, and it never disappoints. The service is always excellent, and the rooftop seating offers a nice atmosphere--perfect for a relaxed meal or drinks. The food is consistently good, and they have a solid wine selection. It's become a favorite neighborhood spot for me. If you're looking for a reliable place with good food and a pleasant ambiance, I'd recommend giving it a try. read more

Cafe Santorini - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Super great food and service . European atmosphere . I love their Morrocan Lamb Shank and the Brazini (Sea Bass ) as well as the middle eastern Mesa plates are amazing . You can fine in the outdoor patio ,on a good weather day . Enjoy this gem . read more

okay but how are their salads literally to d*e for? the calamari salad changed my life -- i didn't know putting squid on greens could be so delicious. our server was funny, super hospitable, & quick with service. the outdoor patio on the roof is a nice touch too. will come back when i'm in pasadena! read more

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Everything was perfect except the 2% surcharge on a $500 meal was never disclosed. Shouldn't this be the owner's responsibility to pay their staff a living wage? Since when did the diners are supposed to be responsible for and we needed to tip on top of the 2%. read more

Cafe Santorini - Kitchen Wage Surcharge of 2%. This is the owner's responsibility and we needed to pay tip of that. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Hadnt been in some time. So many other choices. But a buddy wanted to go again and it came through! The balcony is great. Heated and partially covered. It's a very pleasant atmosphere with terrific service and very good food. I ordered the lamb shank, and my buddy ordered the cioppino. Both were outstanding, and we both had a salad to start and a couple of glasses of wine. It was a terrific evening to catch up with an old friend. Recommend it! read more

Cafe Santorini - Lamb shank - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This popular place certainly lived up to the hype! We got a reservation for a birthday lunch. Got sat right away on a nice balcony. The service was excellent. Attentive and accommodating. The food we got was delicious. Every single plate had something special to it. The only disappointments were that they forgot our grape leaves in the appetizer (pictured) and one pair of our utensils was pretty dirty. Otherwise a great place and I recommend it! read more

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First time coming to this restaurant, specifically for my daughters birthday dinner. We were placed in a private room which was nice. Server made our guests feel really uncomfortable, instead of coming to me with concerns. Had a few pescatarian guests who only eat fish as a protein, had no problem paying extra for salmon. I'm sure they have enough salmon in the kitchen to accommodate a busy restaurant. Instead server told my guests since I didn't choose that option for the set menu that they couldn't choose it. Talked to Panos who was very apologetic and sweet! Server apologized for not knowing that I had mentioned the couple guests dietary restrictions ahead of time, but still didn't mean our night wasn't affected. Was nice of him to apologize and his service was excellent the rest of the night. Salad arrived maybe 30-40 mins after we arrived, then main course arrived 1hr 45 mins later.. food arrived, beef was over cooked, guests liked the salmon, lamb shank was good but the couscous on the lamb plate had absolutely no flavor. some of my guests started to leave before dessert because kids had school the next morning. I feel bad leaving this review, wanted to really give this place a try! If the food didn't take forever and I wasn't already overwhelmed with what happened with the fish options maybe this would be different. I appreciate the server not charging for the guests who confirmed but couldn't make it, it was the least they could've done for what had happened. All in all I'm sure the restaurant is good, I wouldn't have chosen this place if my guests hadn't recommended it prior. I think it was just a bad day I guess. I'll be back sometime soon and maybe I'll have a more positive experience to write about. read more

Came here with several colleagues and apparently this restaurant certainly has some history in Pasadena. Service was prompt and upon arrival, we were greeted by the staff and they immediately provided us details from their menu selections, drinks, and desserts. Our group ordered the Fettuccine Con Gamberetti, Salmon, and a beef brochette. Desserts included flourless chocolate cake and ice cream. The beef was flavorful, hearty, but some pieces were a bit hard to chew. The vegetables and tomato were grilled to my liking, with a hint of smokey aroma. I was able to try a bite of the salmon and I have to say, it was spot on. I wasn't able to try the vege option or the fettuccine but I look forward to doing so during the next visit. Parking in Old Pasadena can be challenging at times but there are structures throughout. read more

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Cafe Santorini is our family favorite whenever we're in LA. The restaurant exudes charm, offering incredible food, warm service, and owners who genuinely care about your experience. The new menu is great--don't miss the flavorful cauliflower dish, their signature hummus, and their mom's special dessert. Lovingly run by a multi-generational family, it's truly a Pasadena treasure! Bonus: there's convenient parking just across the street. read more

Dear owner and management, I'm currently writing this as I'm sitting waiting for the food. To start off, the staff and service are absolutely amazing. Dennis is very knowledgeable, kind, friendly, and simply wonderful. He has excellent customer service ethics. I've discovered this wonderful place a little more than a decade ago. Ever since, my family and I have been faithful customers. Great ambiance, too! Now for the actual review: I wish I could give this place 10 stars. And this will make you wonder, "Why the 4 stars then?" Like I said, we've been faithful customers for ages, and I HARDLY rate a place less than 5. However, today, we drove from Temecula, where we live which is close to 3 hours away just for the Moussaka. However, to our unpleasant surprise, it was no longer available. Can you imagine waiting days and looking forward and dreaming of eating our favorite dish that no one else makes as Cafe Santorini, only to discover that it's been remoced from the menu...? The entire table of 5 of us were disheartened by the unpleasant news. Please, please, PLEASE, for the Love of God, bring back the Moussaka. Thank you and God bless. Sincerely, A very sad and upset, me. read more

Their mortadella pizza is incredibleeeeeee & their service?! so so good! And we love Garo who runs the front & his brother

Cafe Santorini is a scam and rip off. Let's start with the audacity: $9.99 for tap water. The waitress did not disclose! Not sparkling imported from a mythical Greek island--just water. That alone should come with a warning label. Then there's the food. I paid $45 for a nasty fish plate that arrived full of bones, bone-dry, overcooked to the point of culinary cruelty, and completely unsupported by sides. No vegetables. No potatoes. No rice. Nothing. Just a sad, desiccated fish lying on a plate like it had been forgotten under a heat lamp and then sent out anyway. At that price point, I expected at least a gesture of generosity--maybe a lemon wedge, a drizzle of olive oil, a whisper of hospitality. Instead, it felt like punishment. Calling this place "Greek" is beyond generous. There is nothing authentically Greek about food this joyless. Greek cuisine is about balance, freshness, olive oil, herbs, shared plates, warmth. This was sterile, flavorless, and aggressively minimalist in the worst way--like someone Googled "Mediterranean vibes" and stopped there. And that's really the issue: Cafe Santorini isn't about food. It's about aesthetic posturing. It's overpriced, under-delivering, and coasting entirely on location and the assumption that diners won't question it because the view is nice. The whole experience screams "you're paying to be seen, not to be fed." The vibe is smug. The prices are insulting. The quality is below average at best. This is not elevated dining--it's a tourist trap dressed up as refinement, where substance has been completely replaced by self-importance. If you enjoy dry fish, no sides, laughable prices, and the feeling that you've been scammed with a smile, this might be your place. If you actually care about good food, value, or authentic cuisine--walk away and don't look back. read more

Honest review: Service was good. Ambience was good as well. Nothing to complain about in that category. I used to come here often - the quality in food has gone downhill. I'm very disappointed. Ordered the grilled calamari salad + steak frites + chicken pesto pasta. The only good thing was the grilled calamari. 5 pieces of calamari though. What's most upsetting is the price. Not even 50% of our total is worth the quality of the food. Beyond overwhelming, disappointing and borderline upsetting. Will never return. read more

Overall: pleasantly surprised by this tucked away upstairs restaurant serving exquisite Mediterranean food. The vibes here are a lot more low key compared to the more glamorous restaurants on Colorado. Still a very good spot for date night and would highly recommend! Ambience/Decor/Service: cute cozy location with an exceptionally well ventilated outdoor patio. The service was quick except there was one thing that bothered our table and is why I only rate 4/5. Since it was a slower weekday there weren't many tables to service. What happened was not the waiter but one of the staff in charge of pouring waters incessantly kept coming around and filling our water even if we didn't drink anything. In fact sometimes he would just walk by and it would feel a bit invasive in a way that made our table uncomfortable and ruined our vibes. Food: their baba ghanouj(?) dip was actually such a good starter as they don't skip on the amount of pita they serve. The thick chunky dip gives it that texture that other locations lack sometimes. The mains were extraordinary from their unique Moussaka to their grilled chicken and their selection of pasta. I would 100% come back for the food as I think their selection, variety, portions, and price are top tier. read more

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We didn't have a reservation but the wait was worth it! We waited for about 45 minutes on a Saturday night for a patio seat. The hostesses were kind and attentive. Wait staff and table bussers were equally as awesome. The food itself was amazing as well! We had the mezze starter and it was everything I love about pan-Mediterranean food. I had the cioppino santorini and my partner had the beef brochette. The beef was actually done nice and medium as requested...a lot of places get that wrong. My cioppino was delicious and the seafood was high-quality and tasty. The prosecco I ordered was tart and crisp and complimented the food well. In the end, we shared the ashta which was light and delightful (my partner's favorite dessert from the homeland,). The ambiance was romantic and medium-lit. The tables were kind of close together though. I'd love to come back anytime. read more

Cute place with large open air patio and amazing food and service with good value. Pluses 1) helpful and friendly staff 2) grilled calamari so good but please ask for dressing on the side 3) grilled octopus amazing and large amount 4) grilled lamb souvlaki -we asked for medium well and it was seared perfectly still juicy and pink on the inside - the humus is so thick and fresh 5) gelatos we got all four flavors and so refreshing and light loved that cinnamon and pistachio 6) nice music jazz and Spanish guitar overhead Areas to improve 1) just plain pita- if it was freshly made pita and warmed would be better 2) more wines by glass would be nice and perhaps a Greek one? 3) cushion for outdoor seats? One patron had a bad back Highly recommended if you are looking for tasty and healthy meal at great price point, good for dates, bromance, and big groups. read more

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Great service and delicious food. The restaurant on a second floor, with outdoor seating. Beautiful. read more

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

Great services and love it. We had non alcoholic mojitos . The food taste great too ~ read more

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This place brings Greece to Pasadena. Sit atop the roof in Old Towns dazzaling plaza overlooking the I-Pic theatre, the square, and the shops on the otherside. You will see red brick buildings and people enjoying themselves as you chow on your meditterreanian dishes, and get served by Pasadenas finest gentleman. Seriously the waiters here are highly respectful and well dressed. The atmosphere with its Greek music, makes you feel like your in Athens. May I say more? read more

An affordable but classy establishment with delicious food and friendly staff and a cute little 2nd story patio so you can get the business casual California experience. I've been going to this restaurant for probably over 15 years and I love it every time. read more

A hidden gem in plain sight. The food was absolutely amazing! I had the lamb shank, and my wife ordered the risotto. Jessica gave us outstanding service as well. The ambiance had us thinking we were in NYC. read more

I have come here a couple of different times in the last month. First time was a brunch with some girlfriends. Got a couple of apps, fried cauliflower and Burrata dish, so good. Shared the lamb dish and my friend got the sea bass fish. Sea bass dish was amazing! The lamb was good but not great. The lamb seemed dry but we didn't give that feedback until the end, so that is on us. Second I went was with my sister who uses a wheelchair. They do have an elevator however if you go at night the door will be locked to access the elevator. So for someone who is in wheelchair and is alone, this would not be the ideal place to go as trying to access the restaurant is difficult. We did the same fried cauliflower which was good but not as great as it was when I had it just a week ago. My sister got the salmon dish and I got the Sea bass dish and both were amazing.! read more

Super cute patio for a date night or going out with friends. I will say, the music is a bit loud, so it can be hard to hear others talking. My first time having moussaka was in Greece and I never see it at any US restaurant, so I was super excited to see it here! Unfortunately my expectations were a little too high. The mousakka here is too tomatoey and it overwhelms the other flavors of the dish. It was still a good dish, but if you've had moussaka in Greece, then this doesn't compare. For dessert I got the ashta cake which is cake soaked in rose water with a pistachio cream on top and it was AMAZING!! I also tried the apple tart which has marzipan inside and comes with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream and it was also AMAZING! The service was incredible, I think our servers name was Dennis and he and the other servers always made sure we had our glasses full and came around to visit often to make sure everyone was good. Parking can be found in the structures nearby or via meter parking which is free after 8pm on weekdays. read more

Cafe Santorini - Ashta cake dessert - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

The Food was flavorful and Drinks were also good. Our server was very friendly and attentive. Love the mezze tasting appetizer and the dessert. read more

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As always delicious food, great service and beautiful location. Really enjoyed curry risotto and Bronzino!

I brought my parents here for Father's Day weekend and let me tell you, they are very picky when it comes to food that's out of their comfort zone. This restaurant is located in the cute promenade area by the iPic theater, located in a alleyway with hidden door front. Follow the signs for Cafe Santorini! The restaurant was a lot bigger than I expected, but definitely very cute cozy vibes here! We came early (almost 6pm) without a reservation and we were seated immediately. The employees here were also very nice and accommodating! Several waiters would check on us so we were able to order quickly. We ordered the red curry seafood risotto, grilled calamari salad, beef kabob plate, and the santorini mezze tasting. Starting with the vegetarian mezze tasting, I was very uncertain about this dish because I did not know how to eat this at all, so I asked the waiter and he said you add everything on the pita bread and wrap it like a taco. He told me the order of steps which was really helpful! My mom and I actually ended up really liking this a lot!! I enjoyed the hummus A LOT too. This dish was definitely very adventurous of us to try. Next was the grilled calamari, the calamari was really soft! I actually enjoyed this one a lot, the salad was simple, but the calamari was definitely very nice to have. It was really chewy and pairs well with the salad and dressing they use. Then we have one of the main entree, beef kabob plate. My dad preferably enjoys his meat to be cooked at medium, but it was still a bit more red than he liked it to be? Honestly the meat was really good though. It was super soft, super chewy, my mom even said she never had meat this soft before. It was seasoned really well and the flavors all around were really tasty. Even the rice itself was delicious! Lastly we have the red curry seafood risotto. I honestly liked this one the least, it was a lot mushier than I liked it to be, but the flavors were really nice. The seafood on the plates were also really nice too, though everything did taste a bit oily with this one. Overall, this was definitely an amazing experience for us when it comes to the ambiance, food, and customer service. My parents even said that this place was really good and they would recommend it to others!! That is honestly high praise from them lol. read more

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Great eatery. Loved the ambiance, the service & the food. Wish it were open a few more hours & days.

Been going there for a few years, the service always been average or above average nothing to brag about. Went there with my family tonight had a reservation at 7:45PM got there by 7:30 PM and by 9:45 we still didn't have our food on our table. ASKED THEM TO CANCEL THE FOOD. THEY SAID IT'S ALMOST READY AND THEY CAN MAKE IT A TO GO FOR US. WE SAID IT'S OK. SURE WHY NOT. Got home the entrée was supposed to be two plates but what we received combined I would say it wasn't even good enough to feed one adult. Basically the size was good enough to feed a toddler or maybe not enough so all they did. They gave us something basically to shut our mouth off definitely not recommended read more

Family owned and operated Pasadena gem! Enjoyed another amazing meal on the lovely roof top deck. Top notch ! Uber ambience:)

Very disappointed, I am Greek and from Santorini. Food is no where near to authentic Greek or Mediterranean cuisine. To add to our disappointment table service is extremely unprofessional,the manager seemed annoyed when we requested food to be cooked properly. read more

Cafe Santorini - A Turnaround That Deserves Recognition After my wife posted her constructive Yelp review, we were genuinely surprised -- and impressed -- when the owner, Panos, reached out. He sent her a kind and thoughtful message apologizing for our previous experience, which had been about a month ago, and invited us to return as his guests. It was a generous offer, and a week before last, we decided to take him up on it. From the moment we arrived, it was clear Panos and his team were determined to create a truly exceptional experience. He greeted us personally, led us to a prime table on the balcony, and ensured every detail was perfect. We started with drinks -- my wife had a glass of white wine, and I enjoyed an old-fashioned. For an appetizer, the pita with hummus, topped with flavorful, seasoned meat, was outstanding. For entrees, my wife had the chicken kebab, and I had the beef kebab, both served with rice and vegetables. Everything was thoughtfully prepared and full of flavor. The service was impeccable -- attentive, professional, and seamless. Panos even brought us a complimentary rosewater cake for dessert, a cherished family recipe. It was light, flavorful, and delicious -- an incredibly thoughtful gesture that capped off the night perfectly. Panos stopped by again to check on us, sharing stories about his 31 years at Cafe Santorini and his pride in creating not just great food but an exceptional dining experience. His passion for his restaurant, his staff, and his guests was undeniable. We thanked him profusely, letting him know how much we appreciated his kindness and generosity. He took what had been a less-than-ideal first experience and turned us into huge fans of him, his restaurant, and his entire team. We left beyond impressed and genuinely grateful for the care he showed us. It's been a week-and-a-half now, and we're still talking about this experience. If you're in Pasadena or the Old Town area and looking for a fantastic evening -- whether it's a romantic dinner or a special night out -- Cafe Santorini is the place to go. The food, the ambiance, and the service are all top-notch. Panos, thank you again for everything. You've turned us into big fans, and we can't wait to visit you again. I highly recommend Cafe Santorini -- this is a dining experience you won't forget! read more

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Food is always delicious and the service caring & responsive! I appreciate the outdoor seating which works any season. It feels like you are in the tree tops, safe & comfortable! read more

Really loved this spot. Very low key and lovely vibes + food. I met with my girlfriends from undergrad and HS and we had a lovely time. It's funny how this place can be so crowded but it's not overwhelming. Our server was amazing as well. read more

Love it here. Love the service and ambiance. The only disappointment was we were looking forward to the Moussaka and was told it wasn't on the menu anymore . We were looking for a more authentic food experience. Food wasn't bad but not the authentic food we were expecting. read more

I really enjoyed the red curry seafood risotto. I tasted the beef brochette and that was tender and delicious as well. Grilled calamari was great, but there's not a lot of it. They have a nice outdoor balcony area that looks like it would be nice at night or on a cool day. Unfortunately it was hot, and we were seated inside right next to the door. So whenever the door opened we could feel the hot air hit directly our skin. And the door never closed all the way whenever a worker would use it. I spent my whole meal pushing the door closed so we wouldn't feel hot. It might be better if you come for dinner instead of lunch. Not really anyone's fault, just happened to be where we were seated. read more

Cafe Santorini - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The outdoor balcony is lovely. I hadn't been here for a while. The menu has greatly improved!! The octopus was perfect, grilled vegetables, calamari salad and grilled vegetable all were delicious! Service is attentive. read more

Cafe Santorini - Steak w fries. Clam risotto. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great service, our food was good I ordered the Toasted Walnut Gorgonzola salad, my bf who has Non-Celiac gluten sensitivity and is allergic to milk protein had the Branzino entree which is GF, DF. He was happy and enjoyed his email it's hard to find places he can eat when out. We also ordered the Grape Leaves appetizer (it's GF, DF,VEG, VEGAN), I loved them, unfortunately my bf also can't have nightshade (tommatoes) we didn't realize it had that until I took a bite the menu didn't include that in description. Overall wonderful spot, we love the upstairs seating. My drink was awesome read more

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

We took my mother here for her birthday, they were very accommodating of our large part of 10 with two babies (needing high chairs) and two small loud children. Polite and attentive (I did make a reservation two days earlier and booked a 5:30 slot - so not the hottest time on a Saturday but it worked out well. That being said we couldn't hang out and do presents as there was a big crowd waiting in the lobby for tables to turn over and we felt rude, I would have preferred if they let us linger, get coffee, desert etc. That being said polite servers and hosts. As for the food it was good ... not amazing but fresh, pleasant and slightly creative. I had the cioppino the soup base was good again sort of a 7/10 - I had to add lemon to lift it up and brighten it ... but the seafood wasn't over cooked which is critical. My sister had the shrimp with linguini which was basically flavorless I'd give it a 3/10, my mother had a massive great lamb shank which she seemed to love, my father had the red curry risotto which I tried and loved 9/10. Spanikopita decent 8/10 calamari (grilled) very good 8/10. Humus bland babaganoush boring - skip it. read more

Cafe Santorini - Half eaten lamb shank, my mother said she loved it. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Love this place! My husband and I have been here before we had our toddler as well as after she was born. The food is delicious, the ambiance is great, and the service is always wonderful! If you want to have a romantic dinner with your loved one or have a nice family dinner please look no further! read more

Cafe Santorini has clean and sophisticated vibe about the restaurant. The patio seating was quite airy and cool when I went in the evening for dinner. To start I had the grilled veggies with cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and shishito peppers. The seasoning on the grilled vegetables gave them a slight Mediterranean kick, and with the dill and yogurt like sauce, it cooled the flavor and offered a slightly more comforting, slightly sour taste. For my main dish, I had the Branzino. The capers, olive oil, and butter sauce truly gave it a melt in your mouth feel. The fish was also flakey and light. Combining this with the potatoes, which were also soft and buttery, it truly was a delicate yet filling meal. For dessert I had the Ashta cake. The Ashta cake had a rose water base with a clotted cream middle and nutty topping. Combining this with a cup of black coffee really upped the lighter sweetness this cake offered. Overall, this place is a very nice and sophisticated. The service was also very helpful and knowledgeable about the food. Definitely recommend. read more

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