I always enjoy the food and the service in the past . However my Husband and I had reservations for 7:45pm and still waited for over 10mins, another couple came in without reservation and got sited before us. Had to bring it to the host attention why is a couple that just came in got sited before us! When we finally got a table the service from our server was also awful waited to long to get our order from the drinks to the food the starters took forever it was so bad we decided just to call it a night very disappointing. read more

We have been coming to this place over the last 8 years from time to time, and we like the food here. The place is also pleasant to sit in, and the service has always been good. We liked the appetizers especially the Bruschetta, we liked the Caprese salad, the pizza and pasta. This time we had the crab ravioli and the branzino. Both are very good. The vegetables in the branzino were very tasty --- they must have been cooked in some kind of animal fat. The only complaint I have is the price --- $48 is a little too much for the branzino. read more

Gale's - Seafood ravioli - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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As an Italian I'm always hesitant to go to Italian restaurants. This one hit the mark in the food. Stuffed squash flowers was the first surprise. And although branzino was not in the menu we asked if they had any. It was delicious light and delicate as it should be. I've very sensitive to fishy taste and this was so fresh. Also had the pasta stuffed with brisket. Also a delicious choice. Definitely worth a return visit. Gave a 4 because when we first got there the server really made us feel rushed to order. Not the atmosphere for that but also there was no wait for a table. I am always respectful of that. There's a lot behind the restaurant. Got the last spot, but there is some street parking. read more

Casual dress in an elegant ambiance. Excellent food quality and service. Pricey but worth it. A place to go to celebrate or treat yourself.

It's one of my favorite restaurants. I went there after a long time. It's still full of luxury, but it's a great restaurant that even various customers can easily visit. I went there relatively early this time, but it was immediately full of customers and it was crowded. Maybe it was because it was an outside patio, I was worried about the noise. Also, the server was too busy and there was a sense of pressure. However, the taste was exceptionally delicious, and it was delicious no matter which one I ate. It was good to have a wonderful time with my husband this time. Thank you. read more

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The service and staff are the best part of the dining experience. The food was fresh, but the vegetables were overcooked. Overall, I would say the meal was lackluster. I ate less than a half of my plate and took the rest to go so I could doctor it up at home. The dessert menu was antiquated along with the plating of the main dishes. The food was soaked in butter/oil. This restaurant has a high price point, so one would expect a higher level of refinement. I would definitely say it's not worth it.. read more

I love this restaWonderfully fresh and very creative ideas. Great pastas! Favorite Saled, gales simple saled. read more

Beautiful scenery and atmosphere. The servers are all so sweet, attentive, and fun to chat with. The food is delicious, and the portions are solid. Incredible drinks!!! read more

Had a fantastic experience - food and service- here over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. I was visiting family that lived nearby. I had 'my brother Jerry's tortellini bolognese' and my dining partner had the clams linguine. The bolognese was amazing and my dining partner said the clam linguine was the best in the area- second time he'd had it in the last few months. We enjoyed pre-dinner dirty martinis - along with bread and dipping oil- and had a house red wine with dinner. Saved room for the coconut crème cake- I love coconut and it was one of the best I've ever had. Our server was friendly and professional. Free parking in the back lot. read more

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I was here for dinner tonight. The restaurant was very nice looking. We had the stuffed blossoms, I had the tomato and fennel soup and the manicotti, it was all very good and I enjoyed it all and the service was excellent. read more

Good food such as pasta, pizza. Great service. Great ambiance. It was a good dining experience!

Excellent service from start to finish. Every dish was prepared to perfection. The appetizers set a wonderful tone for the meal, and the Pepe pasta was absolutely outstanding--rich, flavorful, and perfectly executed. The soft Pinot Noir paired beautifully with the pasta, enhancing the flavors of the dish. On top of the incredible food and wine, the ambiance made the experience even more enjoyable. A fantastic place for a memorable dining experience. read more

Haven't been to Gale's in a while...forgot how delicious their pastas are. We came here for lunch today and my boyfriend got a mule and he said it was on point. We also got their antipasto salad that was delicious, but I forgot to get a picture of that. The BF order their Pasta Al Forno with Meatball and I ordered their Tagliatelle Bolognese. Both were very hearty and delicious. Next time, we'll be back for their dinner menu. read more

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Go. Immediately. The food is divine. The pasta is heavenly and we ordered so much just to try it all. read more

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Went to get a piece of the coconut cake to take home. I'd read such positive reviews but it was dry, had a long hair in it, and cost $15.00. What a waste of money and disappointment. read more

Big party, reservation in advance, got seated right away, and that's about the only thing they didn't manage to goof up on. Per our server's recommendation and with high anticipation, more than one order of Flat Iron Steak Tagliata, medium rare, was ordered. It saddens me to report that each and every one the steaks came out damn near well done looking and tasting like dogshit (see photos), and the bulls from which the cuts were brutally extracted from had to die for nothing. A $9.99 steak at Norm's would've put this $50 garbage to shame. Secondly, we ordered a shit ton of wine throughout the evening, specific bottles/labels on the menu being meticulously picked out by our seated undercover/never-off-duty wine expert friend (level 3 sommelier) in attendance. Our server had brought out the wrong bottle like half the freakin time, each incident was usually an incorrect label of the same vineyard but it's the cheaper shit on the menu. I won't go as far as accusing our server of doing this intentionally to charge us more for some of the cheaper shit on hand, like we didn't know any better, but we did and sent that shit right back each time. Please brush up on what you've got in your cellar, what's ordered, what's pulled from the cellar and what you present to guests. So unprofessional. Gale's was my baby, but it isn't what it used to be. read more

Great experience highly recommend recommended when here to celebrate a birthday. I will come back again read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

The environment was very cozy outside with heaters and plenty of room to sit down and have a nice meal. The food server was wonderful and very attentive. The food that we all ordered was so fresh, delicious and seasoned to perfection I would highly recommend coming in if you love true Italian food. I definitely will be back for the coconut cake. read more

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This review makes me very sad to post as Gale's has been a favorite for many, many years but has lost its luster. We recently visited and had the lasagna and chicken parm. They were dry with virtually no sauce, unseasoned and lacking in flavor. They also count pasta as a side dish for the chicken parm which is ridiculous since it's included at other Italian restaurants. Our server was wonderful so kudos to him but the food was so underwhelming that we won't be returning. read more

My niece and I came to Gale's to try a new local Italian eatery and our experience wasn't the best. Yes, still 4 stars. After walking through the front door and checking in with the host, my niece and I waited in the car right out front. It was cold and we didn't bring jackets. After over 30 minutes of waiting, I came in to check on our wait time. As I walk back in, two guests that had just arrived were getting seated. There were multiple tables open inside and out. The hosts forgot to seat us. It happens and I understand. Rather than acknowledge it, the hosts brushed it off and I stayed quiet. As we look over the menu, we notice Gale's doesn't include fettuccini alfredo, and that's all my niece orders at Italian restaurants. I should have checked Yelp beforehand. I'm familiar that Chicken fettuccini Alfredo is not Italian lol but this is the first Italian restaurant that recognizes that. The Carbonara was the next best option. We had plenty of leftovers. The food looked beautifully plated but we don't feel we ordered the right pastas. The food was pricey and unfortunately we both didn't enjoy what we ordered enough to come back. The salad and calamari was good and shareable. Ample street parking. The ambience is nice for date night, I love the open kitchen layout, and I believe the pasta is made in house. read more

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We had an excellent birthday lunch! The food was amazing, my lasagna was very memorable and honestly really incredible. The drinks were super tasty. I really loved our experience and can't wait to go back. read more

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Gales is Gales meaning it is our fav per the service and hospitality are way above par starting with Kimberly who made sure we were taken care of and super friendly along with the service or our main man Javier who is pros pro with his knowledge of the menu and wine selection. Gales is aces in our book and we will always be back for all occasions including just to say hi. read more

Gale's - Branzino & Risotto with sausage with Duckhorn and a hibiscus margarita - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Super great Italian spot! I can't believe I've never heard of this place. The food is great and it has really nice ambiance. We ordered the carpaccio, beet salad, and rotini bolognese, all of which were delicious. I enjoyed every bite I had and would definitely come back again to try more from their large menu. It is on the pricier side, but definitely worth it! read more

Gale's - Roasted Beet Salad with shrimp - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We four met for lunch, salmon club, corn chowder, ice tea, salads, clams and pasta. Very nice , but we were seated under a tent , like during COVID. read more

A buddy took me here for lunch and had glowing reviews about Gale's. I was skeptical at first since the interior is oddly decored and a bit gloomy. Boy was I wrong! So good and tasty. The waiter came and we asked him for some pasta recommendations. We went with the clams linguini and fettuccine carbonara. I had the fettuccine since that's my go to dish and my friend had the clams linguini. We sampled each others dishes and man, the flavors and taste was so authentic and tasty! We had a few Peronis and some cocktails but I'd probably stick to food and order some wine next time. Overall a wonderful experience and the staff is very friendly. It is a rather pricey place though as dishes were priced at about $20-30. I would come here with a small group and share away! read more

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Clams linguine was way too salty and the cake was dry. Couldn't eat it. The owner, Gale, is one of the nastiest women I've ever met. I would think she would be more gracious. Maybe she was having a bad day but probably not. She was aggressive/MEAN and " A LOT.". Horrible experience. Would not recommend and Never going back. Gale, if you're reading this, the ultimate sign of intelligence is kindness, always. You were anything but kind other day. People who behave like you (power trip, egomaniac, like to humiliate others), are usually miserable and/or insecure. Mean people have issues! Hope you get some help and learn appropriate social skills. Btw, you absolutely dont know anything about me either. Nothing. Also, no one cares about how many boards you're on. Not one bit impressive. You may contact me through Julia if you would like to apologize for your unbelievably rude behavior. Otherwise, karma baby. read more

Had a woderful birthday experience. The service at gaz was excellent, and everyone went above and beyond for our special day.

Recently ate at Gales for the first time in a few years. I had always loved eating here, and I wasn't disappointed at all when I returned. I started with the original simple salad. The serving is generous and very fresh. For the main course, I had the chicken piccata 2 large pieces of chicken with plenty of sauce. You can choose 2 sides; I chose spinach and pasta and the servings were generous and delicious. My friend started with the steamed artichoke which she said was delicious. For her main course she had the herb roasted chicken with pasta as her side. We both enjoyed our food and took some home. Dessert - had to split a slice of coconut cake which is always delicious there. Service was excellent. read more

We really enjoyed heading to this local Italian joint. The restaurant feels tucked away, with a busy inside area and a big marquee. It was cold when we went and we were happy that the staff allowed us (we had reserved a table) to decide whether we wanted to sit inside or outside. That was a nice touch. There were loads of staff serving so we always felt we could order. We had wine, which was served in large goblets, bruschetta, lasagne and the aubergine Siciliana. I would note that the portions are really large so we didn't need this much food for two people. The lasagne, in particular, was really large and filling. My husband didn't feel great after and I think that was due to the excess meat sauce. He did say it was delicious though. I think the aubergine was the nicest I've had so far in the US. One thing I would say for neurodiverse people is that this restaurant is very loud. There is a lot of cutlery and plateware noise which I found really difficult with noise sensitivities. I am sure this can be avoided when sitting out in the marquee when the weather is nicer. read more

My oh my, that Bolognese is just soooo good!!! Thinking about it makes me want to make my way back to Gale's. When I arrived (called in for reservations - would recommend if you can), I was not sure what I wanted but pasta was def on my mind. The nice server we had informed us that within his 30+ years of working there, their Bolognese has been the best in town. With that comment, I knew I had to order something with their Bolognese! Being the first image to pop up on Yelp, I went with the Pasta Al Forno and it was simply amazing. The cheese was so fresh and so good. My gosh, the amount of meat in that sauce was also very generous. (If you don't like meat that much, it might not be for you bc that sauce had lots of it. I'm not complaining though..) Would highly recommend! Now for the deduction of a star: the pizza was decent, I don't think it was bad but also nothing I'd rave about either. They were good with the amount of mushroom on the pizza and there were bits of garlic too. I don't think I'd order it again though. The chicken dish was the most underwhelming. It was more expensive than the pasta dish and significantly less satisfying. Oh and complimentary bread at the beginning is nice and warm, so that's always a plus! Give Gale's a try and hopefully you'll like it as much as I did. read more

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Gale's Mission Statement: "It's all about Family, Fine Dining, and Fun. Local vendors, the freshest ingredients, and the best customers in the world." --Gale Kohl, OWNER Location/Parking: Located between Del Mar Blvd. and California Blvd., Free parking can be found along South Fair Oaks Ave. or in a shared lot in the back. Restrooms: They're available Credit Cards: They're accepted. Ambiance/Decor: Pretty neat ambiance with modern furnishings. They also have an outdoor patio if you don't wish to eat inside. Wait Time/Reservation: Can be long. Would recommend to make a reservation through Opentable. Service: All the staffers that we interacted with were very friendly and attentive. Food also came out at a decent time. Food Of Choice: 1) Rustic Caesar: Consisted of romaine, lettuce, parmesan, tomato, bruschetta, caesar dressing. We ordered the large and when it was brought to the table, it was already split into to two plates. The caesar was delicious and refreshing. 2) Everything Pizza: Consisted of pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, olives, mozzarella, and tomato sauce. Decided to order the small size which came with 8 pizza slices. Absolutly liked the pizza. 3) Bolognese Linguine: Loved the meat sauce. I would recommend to put it on top of the complimentary bread and just eat it all up. It was nice that this entree wasn't really salty Gale's For Thought: Would love to come back and try other food items that they offer. read more

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First visit to Gale's and had a lovely dining experience. Everything we ordered was very good and fresh. Service attentive and there's a small parking lot behind the restaurant. read more

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A little hidden gem of Italian restaurant in Pasadena. A pretty popular place for Friday nights and weekends, reservation is definitely recommended. It's actually not actually situated in old town Pasadena, which also means, they got their own parking lot. Parking is exactly adjacent to the restaurant. But they also use part of the parking place for the patio outdoor dining. So parking places are cut down, but you can always find parking on side street. Even though we are seated at the outdoor patio, they still give you a semi formal dining experience. The service is excellent, server very attentive. The food is a little different from regular Italian restaurant, it's a bit on the lighter side, which is a lot healthier. Ordered the scampi linguini pasta, I was expecting the generic garlic, olive oil, cheese with shrimp. But I was pleasantly surprise when it was served with a very light but extremely tasteful sauce, with a lot of tomatoes, olives, and greens, almost like a broth like with the pasta. The shrimps are huge, fresh and very tasty. And they are very generous and give me whole bunch of shrimp. Steak was ordered and cook perfectly. The coconut cake is a must try. Moist and not overtly sweet. It's a great restaurant for gathering, will come back and try some more. read more

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Staff was amazing, food was amazing. service was amazing and im not one to leave reviews, very quiet but quite nice for dinner date read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The service was fast and great. The food was amazing. Everyone was so nice and attentive. A hidden gem for sure. read more

Gale's - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Making online reservations through their website was easy. Visited during a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. Two out of the three entrees were delicious. The Pappardelle pasta with Braised Beef Brisket, was tasty due to the freshness of the ingredients, but lacked a bit in overall flavor. The brisket was chopped into such small pieces, kept falling off the fork making the meal annoying to eat, savor and enjoy. Brisket should have just been shredded to easily combine with the pasta and light sauce. The deserts were delicious. Customer service was excellent. read more

It does seem nice on the outside. Unfortunately, we opted for outside seating because the weather permitted, unbeknownst to us the sound of traffic is so overwhelming it ruins the ambience. A few quick tricks like a water fountain, extra shrubbery, and/or some ambient music would've made the difference. In addition, the food honestly was subpar at best. The spaghetti tasted like Chef Boyardee- which is just embarrassing, considering this is an Italian restaurant. The clam chowder was like straight out of a can. I had ordered a salad off of the specials menu, which I never received, and wasn't charged for. However, I know that it was the first thing that was stated when giving our order. While they did give us water and bread quite immediately, the water did not stay topped off. And I think bear bones your drinks should be full when eating at a restaurant, particularly one that's about $40 a plate. The staff was nice, but they were slow. And I don't believe that they were super busy because when I did go inside to use the restroom- sidenote, they have three restrooms which are all single person and are clean- I saw a lot of staff not working. For me to believe that they were super busy I would have to see every single employee hustling, and that was not the case. While I appreciate the opportunity to dine out, and all that goes with dining out, I definitely do not feel like I got bang for my buck. In fact, I kind of feel taken advantage of. Had I made the food at my house instead of going out and eating it, not only would it have tasted better, but I would've spent significantly less. Moral of the story: it was a good restaurant once upon a time. It is no longer that time. read more

Gale and Joshua created a wonderful experience for us from start to finish. We asked for a set menu for a group of 20, and they accommodated us to the max. A lovely setting under the lights in a corner of the patio, wonderful food (omg, the lasagna Bolognese) (double omg, the dessert sampler) and the staff was warm and efficient. They were very careful with an order for a gluten-intolerant guest, which was much appreciated. We can't wait to go back! read more

Ordered takeout, the branzino was salty and swimming in oil. The bruschetta had 4 tiny pieces of greasy toast and very little bruschetta. The MOST disturbing was finding a piece of METAL in the branzino. Pls see photo. Upon calling the restaurant I was told " we will comp the branzino"- my response was - no you will comp the entire meal. No one wanted to eat another bite after finding a large piece of metal in the food. The coconut cake was dry. Step it up Gale. read more

Gale's - Metal found in the Branzino dish. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

We have always loved Gales but last night was an exception. We had a 7:45 reservation. When we arrived and before we were seated we were tersely advised we must order by 8pm. No problem but not exactly a warm welcome. It's not like we showed up minutes before closing, we had a reservation. I ordered "rigatoni bolognese" one of my favorite dishes and apparently had misread the menu. The waitress didn't correct me she simply wrote down our orders. When our meals arrived and I saw the rotini I said oh I ordered rigatoni. I was tersely advised, we don't have rigatoni. Ok. Surprised an Italian restaurant doesn't serve or have rigatoni but whatever. The kicker was the extremely loud slamming of silverware which went on for several minutes. Ok we get the message, you want to get out of here! As I said we've always loved Gale's and probably will return despite the inhospitable service we received this evening. read more