Gales is a Pasadena institution. Every dish makes you feel good inside. Love their pastas and their coconut cake is to die for.

The service here is excellent -- the staff are attentive and make sure everyone at the table feels taken care of. Food comes out at a great pace, never too fast or too slow. Our go-to is the shrimp scampi linguine with olives and broccolini, which is fantastic, and the pizza is also highly recommended. The one downside keeping this from a 5-star review: gnats. It's a bit off-putting to swat away little gnats hovering around your food at a nice restaurant. Something as simple as bug traps would go a long way. Hopefully management addresses this, because everything else about this place is great. read more

Our family always enjoys gathering at Gale's for dinner and must admit that we were a bit disappointed by the quality of our meals this past Saturday evening. As can be expected the portions are smaller and more expensive but that is to be unfortunately expected these days. But check this out, our usually small bowl of marinara sauce that I love to dip my bread in that usually is an add on for $2.50 was $7 - holy cow! We may have start exploring other family dinner options. read more

Came in to celebrate our anniversary since we haven't had Italian for a while. Bread is served complimentary which is always nice. We started off with the mussels cooked in white wine with some bread and let me tell you, it was delicious.I had to drink the soup! So satisfying and so flavorful. We also got the fried zucchini flower which was okay. I must have missed reading the fried aspect of it. I should have tried the peaches with burrito instead. For the entree ,I got the pasta al forno which was my favorite . I highly v recommend it as it is full of flavor from the different types of cheese. It just hits the spot. We also got the clam pasta which was okay. Service was very good. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. The only reason I gave 4 star instead of 5 is that I wanted a more romantic ambiance but I felt like we were more by the traffic area by the stairs and it was partly louder than expected despite mentioning request upon reservation. Overall, food is great will definitely come back. read more

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If you're under 40, you might want to approach this restaurant with some caution. While the food and service here are outstanding, the atmosphere can feel a bit dominated by an older crowd. We noticed that many other reviewers on Yelp and Google echoed this sentiment, and we experienced it firsthand during our visit. It's worth considering if you do not want diverse ambiance while dining. read more

First time here, never going back. Found a THICK black hair in my pasta, mind you it's $50. Called to let them know and they assured me they would remake my order and give me a complementary coconut cake. went back just to have them think I was lying and demanded that I showed them the photo AND THEY DID NOT GIVE ANY COMPLEMENTARY ITEM. Would give them 0 stars if possible. AVOID AT ALL COST. read more

Gale's - Found a thick black hair in my pasta - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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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It was good as usual, good services, yummy pizza and linguine with scampi also very good

My favorite place to grab lunch. They have an excellent half sandwich, soup with small salad that is perfect and just hits the spot. My husband loves their portabella ravioli - they put in a ton of mushrooms which he appreciates. Many of their seafood specials for dinner are also excellent. Finish up with a cup of coffee and biscotti. Or a piece of their coconut cake. All their desserts are delicious. read more

Gail's Italian restaurant has an unimposing exterior however, when you walk in you feel like you're in an Italian Parisian restaurant. Very nice with clean lines and a bit airy. The food was amazing. Very Mediterranean Italian cuisine.. we ordered family style a fresh tomato, and fennel salad topped with grilled shrimp, we then ordered the delicious steamed clams in the shell over perfectly cooked al dente pasta, and a clear wibe sauce with a delicate lemon and garlic in each bite. And our main course was a lovely serving of Seabass with a buttery lemon lspaghetti. They give you fresh bread with olive oil, which has a very nice light fruity taste and to top it off. We had a gorgeous bottle of chilled champagne and they're delicious coconut cake. Our server Kevin was attentive and charming. Will be back read more

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

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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Very disappointing. I went there for a family birthday and was excited to go there, because I had a couple of business lunches there and it was pretty good. I had the chicken piccata and it was just a couple of chicken breasts that were doused with some lousy lemon sauce. Very disappointing. And the side of pasta was totally tasteless. My daughter had arrabiata pasta and it was too spicy for her to eat. read more

I love this restaWonderfully fresh and very creative ideas. Great pastas! Favorite Saled, gales simple saled. 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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Delicious food. Outstanding service. Love the simple salad and spaghetti with blistered tomatoes and burrata most. The Fettuccini arrabbiata and vegetable lasagna are excellent. Save room for dessert! Obsessed with the homemade coconut cake and cheesecake. Yummmmmmmmmy stuff 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

This was our first time here, and we were really impressed. The food, service, ambience, and location were all spot‑on. If you're into good Italian food, this place is a must. Highly recommend. 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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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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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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Good food but service is just ok. First hostess couldn't make up her mind where to seat us, there's many waiters running around but never focus on us. They are friendly enough but just not that attentive. 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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Good food such as pasta, pizza. Great service. Great ambiance. It was a good dining experience!

We had branzino, fettuccine Alfredo, and meat balls and pasta. The branzino was good and the pastas were also good. But would not say that they were best I have ever had. Salad's arugula and fresh fruits with various lettuces were also above average. Would recommend Gale's but my preference for Italian is Celestino's. 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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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

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

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

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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Food is average, service and atmosphere was great. I wouldn't eat here again, chicken was very dry.

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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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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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

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