This unobtrusive restaurant near Huntington Hospital is a locals favorite, and easy to see why. Outstanding Italian dishes with fresh sauces and other ingredients, served attentively in a quiet, pleasant ambiance. Plenty of free parking. The entrance door does not face the principal street or the parking lot. Definitely will return. read more

An early birthday Celebration! My friend, Craig, shares the same birthday with my baby sister, so... how can I forget! However, I currently am unable to be in two places at the same time. Therefore, I asked the birthday boy where he wanted to go for his dinner party... he requested Italian cuisine in Pasadena. I saw other friends dine at Gale's and I read Julie's 5-star review, so we decided to meet here. Our large group of 16 trimmed down to 12, so it was better. The guy who answered the phone seemed hesitant towards a big party. The restaurant did call to confirm, so they were ready for us with a long table against the back wall! How did they know we'd be noisy? A few of us went early to get a good space in their parking lot. Others parked free on the street. There are a couple of "special" parking stalls, so, remember to bring your placard! Inside, the place had dim lighting for an intimate ambiance and I agree with Mimi that the ventilation could be better. When the back door opened, I could feel the cool air rushing in! Ahhh! Our server was efficient and pleasant. He explained how their system was unable to split our bills. Fortunately, most people brought cash and figured out their own tax and tip. I tried fennel for the first time, thanks to Mimi. She held my hand so I wasn't too scared. It was ok even though she said that it was vinegary...I wouldn't know. Then, she gave me some of her mushroom pasta...yum yum! It was better than my crab and shrimp ravioli (Ravioli di Mare)! LOL! I'll have to come back for the fennel salad and Mushroom pasta! Maybe we can celebrate another birthday here because they gave Craig a complimentary piece of cake with a candle! Cool! Thanks to Gale's for a great birthday gathering! read more

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To start, downgrade my review cause I don't love Italian food lol. Inflated stars since I don't like Italian but I actually feel three-ish about this joint. I tried three things and they were all ok but, for me, wasn't worth the price or having to sit in the stuffy, hot room in back. On a cold night, I don't know how they couldn't manage to ventilate it a lil better. The front room was more temperate but good gosh it was loud. Prob couldn't have a convo easily. Still a fun evening overall and friendly service that accommodated our larger group. Also nice that they brought out a piece of comp coconut cake for the bday man. However, when it came time to pay, they weren't really able to help w splitting the bill cause of their system. So, if you come as a large group, you'll need to be able to tally up charges on ur own or figure out some other way to divvy up the bill. Tax and tip was included on our bill so, hopefully, you're coming w ppl that can manage that math. Two of the items came off of their specials menu ::::: Ravioli Di Mare (lobster/shrimp ravioli) ::::: 24$ it came out in a red saucy dish w a total of 5-6 large raviolis. I don't like shellfish and it tasted like a mouth full of flavorful ocean to me. But, I was informed that it wasn't bad hah. :::::fennel salad::::: 13$ was small and far too vinegary which overpowered the flavor of everything else but some kinda veggies is necessary if you order one of their pasta dishes which all seem to be super heavy. ::::: portobello ravioli ::::: 19$ was prob the best of the bunch. Def too creamy but a deliciously robust garlic mushroom flavor. Oddly, I don't think there were any portobellos on my dish. Seems it was made of just wild mushrooms. There's a small lot in back but it def gets packed. Street parking is also available but that seemed somewhat scarce near the restaurant as well. Not crowded enough to deter someone that loves Italian food and wanna try it tho. read more

Gale's - Fennel manchego salad 13$ too vinegary - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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1st time visit. Quaint Italian restorante. Here for a birthday dinner. I ordered the Clams Linguini ($21) & a Side Cesar Salad (+$6 w/dinner). The prices are reasonable for fine dining, so spending $30+ including tip was fine (pun intended). The Clams Linguini was exactly that: a LOT of clams with the Linguini pasta. There was plenty of sautéed garlic in the sauce, but it was very bland (I believe they cooked it in clam juice ONLY). My only wish was for the chef to add salted butter to the already bland clam juice. This would have definitely accentuate the clam taste & made the dish's taste more vibrant. I would not recommend this dish unless you like bland seafood. The Cesar Salad was also bland, very plain. However, it was nicely made with cheese flakes on top. The lettuce leafy greens were very soft (not a good thing) which tells me it was not freshly made, but pre-made. The breads are all bruschetta or sour dough of some sort. Very hard to bite into & chew. NOT recommended for those who have sensitive teeth or gums. Service was great, a true 5-Star experience. Overall, a 3-Star experience for my 1st visit. With such a diverse menu, I will have to give this place another try in the future to see if the other dishes are better. I will also try the other salads as the Cesar was just just OK. Happy Eating and Fight On! read more

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Food is absolutely delicious! Servers are attentive. The dessert is delicious. My fave Italian restaurant. If it wasn't so far I go at least once a week! read more

Gale's is definitely a gem! This place has been on my bookmark for quite some time. We were seated right away even though we didn't have a reservation. Our waiter Raul was very attentive even though it was busy and we got our food in ample time. My mom ordered the Rosemary Lamb Chops and I ordered the Spaghetti Lemon Scampi. For dessert, we ordered the Blackberry Creme Brûlée. The food was super delicious, it had a great balance of Italian flavors. I will definitely be back!! read more

義大利往日情懷！ 已經很久沒有吃到哈蜜瓜火腿了。想當年沒小孩時很羅曼蒂克的日常是走到舊金山小義大利百年老店，買半磅生火腿，帶上帕碼起司又或無花果又或一瓶白酒；有時帶條法棍配上上好義醋橄欖油；就這樣渡過一個個寫意的下午。 孩子，真的磨光了媽媽的耐心，可唯一磨不平的是臉上的歲月呀～ 所以，所以，看到這道哈蜜瓜火腿是一定點的。哈蜜瓜不夠熟成，但算了小姐姐吃的也是情懷，算是一道懐念往日情。配上餐廳Old Fashion 的酒杯，乾了為上。白酒蛤蠣義大利麵中規中矩，在正午吃是淸爽好吃的，吐沙也做足了。很害怕咬到蛤蠣裡面的沙的斷牙感，很恐怖。 飯後送上杏仁餅，想叫上一杯咖啡，但也想著家中的Nespresso,默默的把瓶乾送入嘴中買單。 戶外涼風徐徐～義大利餐果然是家庭的、輕鬆的料理。 read more

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Nice spot with good service! Fresh foods served well. Dessert was a little disappointing but it was still a nice spot for dinner with friends! read more

The food was extremely salty (eggplant parmigiana) and we felt rushed eating our dinner. I would have liked to have talked to my friend uninterrupted but unfortunately, we were interrupted by several waiters asking if we were ready to have our food packed and ready to go. We were interrupted 5x to be exact and it hadn't been an hour since were were seated. read more

This is a covid review with outdoor dining. My friends and I decided to come here for dinner just for four and we made a reservation. The hostess took our temperatures before seating us at our table. They gave us complimentary bread with olive oil and vinegar and oh my goodness it was so good! I couldn't stop munching on it. But had to stop myself since I still had my entree coming out. I ordered the Al Forno with penne it was delicious. At the end of our meal the server gave us homemade biscotti I think it was almond or at least it tasted liked it. It completed my night. The server was friendly and funny too. Especially during all this craziness with the pandemic I am glad there is outdoor dining with friendly staffs. Definitely would recommend this place if you're looking for Italian food. read more

Gale's - Pasta Al Forno - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Excellent all the way around - vegetarian pasta was fabulous, my husband's carbonara was excellent- he said the Caesar was the best! Loved the hot bread and oil and server was fantastic! Highly recommend read more

Absolutely fantastic experience from the food to the staff, everything was wonderful. I will be dreaming about the coconut crème cake forever. read more

We ordered TO GO & won't make that mistake again. The food has never been great, but I love the owner & I keep trying to like the food. My pasta was hideous! I ate a bit & tossed it out. Pasta with Roasted tomatoes, peppers & broccolini. I think the garlic was old, as it all tasted bitter. The broccolini was THE WORST, dreadful undercooked pieces of tasteless dreck. I threw out my food. My husband had Chicken Piccata, that was bland. Hard to make a Piccata bland, but they succeeded. I'm sad, this restaurant doesn't have better food, as I love the owner & the location is good. read more

If you want to go out to eat, but would still want to feel like you are dining with family. This is the place for you. I have been coming here for years. This is not in Old Town Pasadena. It is only maybe 1 mile away from it. This is awesome because parking is breezy. They do have their own private lot, but it is normally pack. However, street parking is plentiful This place stands out from the rest due to the staff are friendly, food are divine and they get all their ingredients from local vendors. Their Italian food are fresh and authentic. They take pride in their creations. Italian food are not known to be healthy, but they do have a healthy menu to make sure you stay on your diet. I love coming here because Gale, the owner is always around. She ensured her guests are happy and she makes you feel welcome. I loved everything I have ordered from here. These dishes are original, generous in portion, satisfying and tantalizing. This is a delightful and classic restaurant with outstanding service. I can't wait to come again. This place is definitely yelp worthy read more

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Pasta was cooked al dente. Perfect. Had the carbonara. The fresh bread is delicious with a nice crust. Our server (he wears glasses, tall..forgot his name) but he did a great job walking us through the menu. It was our first visit. We shall be back read more

Great local spot tucked away on Fair Oaks just south of Colorado Blvd and Pasadena Frwy. Been here many times. Very consistent Northern Italian cuisine. read more

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It was middle of the road at best, chicken was a little dry, my steak was overcooked and just not that great. The server was swapped out mid way through the dinner, not for a break just because. Meh I will not go back read more

my all time favorite! i always come here whenever im in LA.. i brought my siblings here too & they loved it..

This was my first time back to Gale's since the pandemic. We sat outside under the tent. It was a nice day with sunshine so it was quite pleasant with a cool breeze! I love their warm and soft bread! I must have had at least 4 slices! My husband and I both ordered a salad. I liked my husband's antipasto salad better than the chopped chicken, which didn't have much flavor. Overall, it was a pleasant and relaxing experience. I will definitely return to Gale's! read more

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Came here for lunch on a rainy Tuesday afternoon and am so pleased that it's just as good as I remember. The place was absolutely packed but our server was very friendly and helpful. Our food was great and the ambience was lovely. I can't remember the last time I ate at a restaurant with actual tablecloths and linen napkins. It's so nice that establishments like this still exists where you get the whole dining experience and leave completely satisfied. I can't wait to come back with my husband for dinner soon. read more

Over priced over rated, pushy waiters building checks the old fashion way". Hinting salad included but not, desert could be from Ralph's. Food itself nothing special. Really wanted to like it. At their prices Uber to a great spot and have good wine. read more

Good food, efficient service, nice ambience. Highly recommend. Love their Sangria, good desserts too.

Great place for modern Italian food. Fresh ingredients well prepared. I had the linguine with clams and they did not skimp of the clams, there must have been thirty or more. Great flavor overall and the tiramisu was a hit as well. Would definitely come back to try their other pastas. read more

Love this place! Great food, decent price, friendly staff, pretty busy went on a weekday around 1. Inside is clean, good for small groups.. place is pretty small, but they do have outdoor seating still. Would definitely go back! read more

This is our go to Italian restaurant in Pasadena now after a friend introduced us to it. They have great Italian foods. The service is excellent. During the COVID-19, the restaurant offers outdoor dining for lunch and dinner. Even with the hot summer sun, the outdoor dining is pleasant with breeze. We stopped by for lunch today and ordered their nectarine mozzarella cheese salad for appetizer, clam linguine and Penne Marinara, and a hot fruit pie with ice cream for dessert. Although, the nectarine salad was for dinner, Kelly, the waitress, was very accommodating and had the kitchen made dish for us. For the summer this salad is the next to have before the main dishes. The fresh fruit was refreshing that would prepare our palates for the main dishes. The two pasta dishes were very good. The clam linguine had a lot clam and clam meats mixed with the aromatic garlic sauce. This is one of classic Italian pasta dishes and they prepared it perfectly. For my penne marinara, the sauce was a bit bland. I expected a bit more creamy. Nevertheless, I liked it he way it's cooked on the lighter side for a hot day. Finally the hot dessert cake, I have to say it's divine. With the warm pie baked in a small bowl, the ice cream topping elevated this dessert to over the top for the perfect finish of our lunch. Our waitress, Kelly, provided great services. She made very good recommendations and constantly attended to our needs. She refilled our drinks without asking. Her excellent service made our dining experience more pleasant. read more

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Really enjoyed this spot, it was our first time going and they were very busy but still got us a table for 8. Honestly everything we ordered was very tasty love the feeling of heart made food with so much flavor and very presentable. They even brought us dessert on the house it was so nice and honestly service was great too! Highly recommend? read more

Brought the hubby here for his bday, fresh pasta, fresh sauce and delicious food. We will return, everything was above expectations. We will return! read more

Great Bar Service by Kevin, followed by a great meal. Will be back to see Kevin at the bar soon!

An overall great restaurant that has adapted well with COVID times and has an amazing wide variety of food selections! Parking: plenty of parking is available behind the store near the antique store area. Seating: they've set up a nice giant tent on the side of the restaurant with spaced out tables and even plants and lighting for decorations. Service: only downside if any. It was great to see all servers wearing masks and a face shield, however, not sure if it was because the spacing or something but service seemed slow at times. Having said that, they were prompt to always bring new water glasses especially since it was so hot today even with covering overhead. Overall decent with the circumstances. Food: so amazing! We had the eggplant appetizer and that was so delicious to start our meal with. I ended up ordering the rotini pasta and that was so well portioned and filling. The pasta itself was flavored well and you can't go wrong with this. Come here for a good meal, nice staff, and the proper covid precautions to make you and your party feel great to dine there! read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Something is off. We've been coming here for years but today was exceptionally bad. The food just didn't taste right. The chicken parm was "rubbery". The pasta over cooked. My lasagna was lukewarm. Service was ok, not like it's been in the past. Maybe I went too soon after the holiday, don't know if I'll be back. read more

My brother told me about this place and they got it with me again last week. We got a few things on the list: Lasagna, with everything pizza, MY BROTHER JERRYS TORTELLONI BOLOGNESE(copy and paste), and clams linguini + salad. We obviously went for a curb side pick up like you guys all should be doing instead of dining out. I feel like I had to keep advertising to everybody that wear a mask, stay inside, order take out and don't dine out. ANYWAY, they still gave us the complimentary bread which was not very good imo lol. Also took a slice of pizza and that was only okay as well. It's just something they have in the menu because it's an Italian restaurant but it's not what they're known for. Then I took a bite of the clams linguini and it was ok. Nothing special but it was alright and same can be said about that salad. So it started off as a very regular meal and then it went up from there as I took a bite of the Tortelloni Bolognese and the lasagna. I wouldn't say the other stuff were bad in anyway but if I only had those, I wouldn't be coming back to Gale's. After having the Bolognese and Lasagna, Gale's really standed out for me. The sauce for both dishes really stand out for me. I really love the tortelloni's filling and the sauce was excellent. The lasagna was filled with meat but yet it somehow feels a lot lighter than your average lasagna while also standing out and tasting amazing in its own way. After having those two, I decided that I would give Gale's a 4 star. With that said, I thought the other stuff were pretty average but I thought the amount of clams they gave was no joke. So I think the price for most of the stuff is pretty legit. I would highly recommend people to come try what I recommend, I'm sure there are other great stuff in their menu but as of now I would say that the Tortelloni and Lasagna are the stand out for me. I hope Gale's would survive this pandemic(I saw a lot of people dining out in the restaurant so although I don't support those people doing that, it's a good sign to see them doing well at least). Support your local small business! read more

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If I could give zero stars I would, but it won't let me. My sister and I walked here after her tattoo appointment. I'm wearing pajama bottoms and I wasn't aware that it's a fancy restaurant. We didn't see any sign about a dress code and we walked a mile to get there so we went inside. We immediately were met with hostility and nasty stares. The person who sat us wouldn't even look us in the eye. The person who gave us our starter bread and water didn't introduce himself or look us in the eye either. Our waiter didn't say hi or introduce himself either. The whole time we ate he didn't check in once. He was giving the table behind us good service, constantly checking in on them, making jokes, talking. Then , he'd walk past our table without even looking even though we were trying to get his attention for more water. Towards the end once it came time to tip, all of a sudden he was speaking to us. I do no recommend giving this place your business. My sister and I felt insanely discriminated against and spent our whole meal uncomfortable wanting to leave. These people will only like you if you're dressed like you're going to the Met. Worst restaurant I've ever been to!!! Never coming back again. read more

I wanted an Italian lunch; Gale's is a local favorite but I usually go for dinner. We split the melon & prosciutto; a perfect balance of fresh and salty. The lasagna was savory and delicious. Our third course, pizza, was outstanding. The service, a team effort, was friendly and efficient. The restaurant was busy without being crowded or noisy. Overall, a satisfying experience and a great way to end the week. read more

Gales is great! Always love the food no matter what we try. And the coconut cake!!! Yummy!

Delicious food. Great menu. Wonderful atmosphere. Excellent wine list. My favorite place read more

Gale's - And mustn't forget the hot from the oven bread! Mmm - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

we got seated very quickly on a tuesday night. food was amazing ! definitely had to get the mixed berry crumble and passion fruit sorbet. both 10/10 and not very loud. read more

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Gales is always a nice place for dinner. The service is great and the food is delicious. Recommend trying Gales

Gale's has been around for so many years, and it never disappoints. Whether for a special occasion with a large group or date night, always delicious food and beautiful ambiance. But my all-time favorite? Their house made coconut cake is to die for! read more

My girlfriend casually mentioned she wanted to go here when I was looking for a place to eat. WOW! The food was amazing. I had the pasta al forno and my gf had the fettuccine carbonara. The service was both professional and attentive. Definitely recommend. read more

Gale's - Fettuccine Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Wow, the food is fantastic!!! We had the beef carpaccio and literally one of the best we have ever had. The garlic/mushroom pizza was fantastic, thin crust with great flavor. The steak salad was 5!!!! We also had the panini and that was great! We popped in for lunch, we will definitely go back for dinner. We had great service, and even the bartender came by and asked how out drinks were, which were awesome as well. read more