I'm just going to say it... This is by far one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Pasadena. The food is creative, the flavor pairing of some experiential items on the menu is phenomenal. The dishes that are NOLA-esque/inspired have deeply rooted cultural flavor. No frills, you get what the chef believes is the right seasoning. This restaurant is the only restaurant that I deem close to what its like to be in New Orleans. While I'm at it, take a look at the low reviews and see for yourself if it makes sense. Food - 5/5 Service - 4/5 Parking - 5/5 Only problem I have with this restaurant is that I know once its popularity skyrockets, getting reservations will be such a hassle. Enjoy the good food while you can. read more

Some hit and misses but LOVED the ambiance and it's an experience more so than food and that's what's more important at times For Bdays read more

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I just had one of the best meals of my life at Henry Parsons Project. The grits alone were like angels singing. And then I bit into the luscious smoked pork chop. Sheer bliss on a rainy evening. My husband's shrimp and grits were equally delectable: juicy and flavorful. And we ended the meal with a to-die for chocolate brownie. The restaurant itself had a great artsy vibe, and the service is attentive but not intrusive. And one more thing: HPP is owned by a great, community-oriented guy who's been busy feeding Eaton Fire survivors, despite losing his own home. We'll be back, and we'll see you there. read more

Another boon for Pasadena, the musically themed Henry Parsons Project is the dream child of members of the band Widespread Panic. Their Georgian (state, not country) sensibilities lends to this cajun spiced restaurant, which has a rotating menu of Southern staples. Tonight, I dined here with my mother. We split a fluffy, freshly baked biscuit - as airy as a cloud! We also shared the chicken liver pâté, which was smooth and creamy decadence, accompanied by blueberry compote, bacon jam, pickles, and caramelized onions. My main was the shrimp and grits and I'd never consider it a shareable portion but filling for one. Mom ordered the crispy cauliflower and adored its generous char and seasoning. Beer and wine and wine based cocktails are for those who imbibe and I am grateful for a wide selection which includes sours and fruit based wheat beers. We're already planning another outing and so should you! read more

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Really good food and service. Tried a new place in Pasadena that was not in the more popular Old Town area. The biscuit is a MUST! So good- order 2! The dessert of sticky toffee pudding and popcorn ice cream will definitely tempt me back! read more

Henry Parsons Project - Dessert- don't be weirded out about the popcorn flavor! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

It's been pretty hard to find good Cajun food in LA ever since Orleans closed a couple of decades ago. I love étouffée so when I saw HPP is serving crawfish étouffée I had to give it a try. HPP is a pop up that has taken over a vacant restaurant next to Quisados. The menu looked quite enticing; but, we can only eat so much for one meal. So I picked just a few for our first order. First the étouffée was delicious. The crawfish was fresh and the sauce was savory and thickened with nutty roux. It definitely satisfied my cravings. The NOLA gumbo was equally tasty. The andouille sausage gave the gumbo a nice smoky flavor and the chicken pretty much melted in our mouths. It had just a little kick to it to make it authentic Cajun. The grilled chicken was good. The chicken was a little overcooked but the flavor was excellent. I particularly liked the masque choux (a quintessential Cajun side dish made with fresh corn, onion, and bell pepper). The Apple citrus slaw was also refreshing. The buttermilk biscuits tasted more like English tea scones, which I very much enjoyed. For those who are looking for super flaky and oily biscuits made with generous amount of lard, these may not be the ones. Be sure to opt for the butter and jam. The strawberry jam tasted like homemade. We are definitely going go back to try other offerings. read more

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Came here because of the photo of the sticky toffee pudding but I was really in the mood for a steak. Thankfully I read a review that said the hanger steak was their favorite dish here so that's what sold me on it. The server also suggested the biscuit and I'm glad that we did because it was one of our favorite things. I kind of wish we would have taken her suggestion on getting the gumbo, but oh well I guess we'll try that next time. I really enjoyed the steak. It was cooked to a nice medium rare and had an excellent char. I also enjoyed the California winter cocktail. I would like to come back here and order their recommended items. read more

Henry Parsons Project - Hangar steak - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

My review is all about the food. Excellent, especially if you are familiar with the dishes offered. If you are not, I suggest you try them.

Still in the mood for creole cooking, we were able to eke out a spot at Henry Parsons thru Open Table. Lots of patrons straining their necks looking for a waiter. They were severely understaffed, so patience was definitely a virtue. Beers, wine and kombucha only. No cocktails. Their lemonade was pleasantly sweet and tart. Ceviche was delicious. A couple of us were tempted to sip the leftover sauce. Duck liver pate was good too, just make sure to order extra crostinis. The oysters were ok, maybe the oil it was fried in wasn't too fresh. But everyone's favorite starter was the gumbo, great flavor with plenty of chunks of chicken and sausage. I got the shrimp and grits. Shrimp were huge and perfectly grilled. Lardon was salty as a few reviewers have mentioned, but balanced easily with the grits... which were practically mashed potatoes. Crawfish étouffée was a bit too spicy for the wifey, but I enjoyed it. The dining room lighting hides the overwhelming amount of black pepper though. Beignets for dessert were pillowy perfection. The meal overall was solid and left us quite satisfied. read more

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WTF ! That was delicious ! That biscuit was fantastic, kale salad, shrimp and grits, mushroom pasta all was just delicious Service was great, outside of no hard alcohol there is nothing but high praise for HPP. We'll be back read more

First, I want to thank the chef, his warm staff, and... Actually let me thank the Yelp reviewer that lead us to the restaurant; I hope you come across this. This person scolded the restaurant for being closed and not bending over backwards to open at their leisure. Having had enough from such a delusional diva, the chef had to reply back. And with that message, my wife and I knew we had to go check out Henry Parsons Project. And now we're hooked! I won't go into detail over the food, just know it's well executed and will be sure to satisfy those cravings for Cajun/Creole/Southern cooking! read more

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We decided to give this place a try for our Anniversary and it DID NOT disappoint! The food is delicious! The service was spot on and friendly. Being a pescatarian, we mentioned that to our server, and they were able to create their offered course meal pescatarian style! Every dish was more and more delicious. The ambiance is really hip and classy. If I had to find anything less than perfect we weren't a huge fan of the cinnamon chocolate cake and the outside high top chairs are not that comfortable. Over all we loved it so much we are going back to celebrate one of our birthdays! read more

I fell in love again tonight. I've been away, so I haven't had the privilege. After eating tonight I'm kicking myself for not going the day I got home!!! I have other reviews to post, but my experience tonight puts them ahead of the line!!! I had no idea what I was going to do for food and something had me check the menu. I did the other day and spotted the pork belly burger. It planted a seed in the back of my head. It's pi day! I'm a sucker for limited edition. Pi's only available today you say? Tell me more. I did the spinach & feta and the savory pi, naturally the pb burger, and the masala ice cream. It was so good to see Kari! She even knew when I arrived/or walked by at the right time and saw me. She told me they knew I loved the me wings and threw some in. Lagniappe. I didn't have my normal mask on and could smell them before she even said it and got hungrier! Omg, omg!!! These pies!!! I ate almost all of the spinach & feta when I went to "taste" it. It's amazing and the crust is buttery and light. The colorful was also amazing but spinach was the winner. The homemade potato chips are better than any I've had anywhere else. I'm just eating them wo the burger they're so good. They threw in a lil cutie pie too!!!! I haven't tried the ice cream yet but it was fabulous in December and I'm sure this will be on par. As always the little extras, icing on an already flavorful and amazing cake. I truly appreciate Kevin & Kari for making my day with their kindness and fabulous food. It's def a MUST!!!! read more

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The food, the decoration and the first class service, I love the idea that the chef comes out to explain his dishes! the mamacita drink 10 points! read more

Henry Parsons Project - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Every single thing we tried was amazing. Still thinking of that delicious plate of asparagus, perfectly seasoned and the slight char. Perfect. The gumbo of the day was duck and pork andouille. Absolutely wonderful. I could go on and on. The beauty of this restaurant is the menu is constantly changing and evolving. So if you love amazing food and willing to try new things, definitely try out Henry Parsons Project. I cannot wait to come back and try the 5 course dinner. Definitely in the top 5 best restaurant meals I've ever had. Every dish felt clean and perfectly balanced. I was too excited to eat, I forgot to take pictures of each dish! Things we ordered AND LOVED THEM ALL: Vietnamese-style sweet & spicy grilled prawns Pate Platter Pecan Pesto Gumbo Asparagus Cherry Hand Pie Chocolate Budino read more

Henry Parsons Project - Chocolate Budino & Cherry Hand Pie - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My girlfriend and I came across this place when we were looking for places for date night. We ended up making reservations for a Friday night at 7pm for the two of us. As soon as we got there we got greeted at the door and were seated. The vibe inside is pretty cute and feels modern chic. They have a bunch of signed artist posters and pictures scattered throughout which creates a cool vibe. It seems like the menu is changing from month to month which is a great way to get people to come back! After ordering a bottle of wine we ended up ordering the crispy potatoes, Brussel sprouts, hanger steak, the gnocchi, and lastly one of their biscuits to share. Let me start off by saying the biscuit alone is worth coming here! It was so fluffy and perfectly balanced, plus the butter they served it with was a great pairing. The Brussel sprouts were our second favorite. They were the right amount of crispy witch flavor that made each bite feel well balanced. The teak was great and perfectly medium rare. The gnocchi was not bad, but the portion was a little too small for what we were expecting, but the enoki mushrooms it came with were amazing! The crispy potatoes were okay, but we would probably skip those next time. All in all this place was a cute date or dinner spot in Pasadena and we will definitely come back to see what else gets added to the menu. read more

If you local, or willing to drive, HPP is great. The offer a great menu of local, and regional favorites. Everything here is made fresh. If you crave made to order food, give HPP a try. You will be a customer for life. The prices, service, and welcoming staff is just another perfect part of this new restaurant. read more

The food was consistently delicious. We stuck primarily to the creole options (gumbo, ettoufee, biscuit, pork chop, shirmp po boy bites) and enjoyed everything. The oysters in the shrimp po boy bites were fresh, with a tasty contrast of juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The pork chop was absolutely delectable. If I wanted to be picky, I could mention the cheese grits were only good, while everything else was exceptional. But that is really splitting hairs. My husband had a tequila mixed drink called the Mamachita, which was spicy and complex. I had an apple mocktail that was equally interesting, it's always nice to see non-alcoholic options that have as much going on as the alcoholic ones. The staff was friendly and attentive. Overall a great experience. read more

Phenomenal food! They really mean it when they said "a little bit of everything". A bit of southern creole influence with some Asian cooking techniques and ingredients. It's. Just. Phenomenally interesting. Flavors were well balanced and interesting. Go and experience this right now! Service was great and so was the ambiance. Would come back. read more

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We were looking forward to dining here after reading all the 5-star reviews, and unfortunately, it did not meet our expectations. We ordered several items to share since there were 5 of us. The biscuits, the shrimp appetizer & the rhubarb dessert were fantastic. I would definitely order those again. But I don't think there's anything else we ordered that I would want to order again. They weren't bad. They were just okay. read more

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Across most of L. A. nowadays the terms Creole and Cajun when applied to food variably conjures up images of charred, blackened fish and meat, overbearing, fiery seasonings, and a ubiquitous red sauce not unlike the kind you buy in a can. At HPP, Indochina meets Louisiana and delivers Cajun cuisine, complementing it with Asian dishes and spices in a way that relates to both cultures. With such rich seafood traditions, it's no surprise that Cajun and Asian cuisines are the perfect pairing. Their Vietnamese-Cajun Prawns are the food of the future, the fried oysters are surrounded in light tempura style batter, add legit grits, and fried chicken that sits on a bed of Okonomiyaki and transport yourself the Saigon of the American south. If you like things that rhyme, Asian/ Cajun, trust me, HPP is worth your time. The few drawbacks (-1star) include, no bar (beer and wine) outdoor seating only, and crostini that gives diamonds a run for the money. read more

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Love the interior design and the ambiance, beautiful space. Also great that they have their own parking lot. Service staff was knowledgeable about story behind the restaurant and the dishes. The veranda has a different menu which I would want to try next time. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The desserts was the highlight of the show read more

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What an awesome Southern-lean food in Pasadena!!! We have been meaning to come to this warm and friendly place for a while. The owners were super friendly, at the end of the meal, they came out to shoot-the-breeze with everyone. The food is surprisingly light and not as spiced up and dense as the typical Southern inspired dishes. I supposed you can call it Cali-inspired Southern-lean food. Well whatever you call it, it was fantastic and we will come back again. The chef said the menu is Farmer market inspired...no big major changes, but they do keep up with the in-season changes. read more

Henry Parsons Project - Delicious dinner - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Thai was our first time to this restaurant, the food and service were great! The menu had an interesting New Orleans flair. The Vietnamese crepe was tasty! We enjoyed sharing several dishes. We went for Valentine's Day dinner. Staff, Chef and Manager were all very friendly. We'll be back! read more

Our second visit to Henry Parsons Project in Pasadena did not disappoint. Loved the fried oyster Po Boy bite, gumbo, shrimp and grits, grilled cauliflower and Brussels Sprouts. Also be sure to get the biscuit with butter. Friendly and courteous staff! Free parking in their lot. This is a Pasadena secret for sure. read more

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Been here twice and fell in love with this restaurant. Amazing food. Unique food that you can't really find it elsewhere. Service is a bit slow. Reservation required. It's worth the wait but not on a hungry day -- order appetizers - they come out faster :) Service- wise, they need more training for the service staff. We were waiting for plates and utensils for good 5-10 min after we had two of our appetizers delivered to our table. Good thing we already washed our hands as these fried oysters don't wait for us! The table next to us already got plates and utensils from their server. The young girl brought it to us. They delivered the wrong check to us. No biggie. After we paid with my credit card they delivered my card and check to the table next to us. LOL read more

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Although I forgot my phone, hence no pics, here's my redundant rendition of last night's meal.....Dynamite every time my hubby and I dine here ~ nothing boring with consistently delicious and most kind hearted staff you could ever ask for. I'm always blown away with the level of preciseness and artistic nature of their dishes; the head chef/owner takes pride in every detail and tastiness of his food and he absolutely achieves this every time! Started with their amazing roasted beets, chèvre creama, and beet green pesto - $13, hubby had a fried oyster po'bite and loved it- $5, brined & roasted chicken with mace choux & Alabama white sauce (wow was this good) - $22, hubby had crawfish étouffée and cajon rice (he was devouring it down to the last drop) - $24, sticky toffee pudding topped with popcorn ice cream and actual popcorn (delectable and their signature dessert) - $12, 2 glasses of Tacher Chenin Blanc (absolutely delicious) - $13 ea. Total bill with tax but before tip was $119.07. Always check their schedule as they are not here full time with their booming catering business as well. You'll be in for such a treat by choosing one of Pasadena's hidden treasures here at Henry Parsons Project! read more

Henry Parsons Project - Changes monthly and sometimes more frequently- see their website to check! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Henry Parsons Project is very good in many areas, which makes it excellent overall. The most outstanding attribute of this restaurant is novel factor. It's definitely different. The layout, the food, the service. What to eat? Anything. Just be sure to finish it off with..... Funnel Cake! Mmmmm so good. read more

Henry Parsons Project - Funnel Cake - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Incredible food! Really enjoyed the chefs tasting menu. Will be back with friends and was a perfect date night. read more

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Walking in we were a little confused that the decor didn't really match the food on the menu. The service was great! Friendly staff! The menu was also a little confusing. It seemed like an Asian, southern, Creole small plates menu. The food was very good but a bit overpriced for what was served. read more

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BEST SHRIMP AND GRITS EVER.  BEST BISCUIT EVER. First time here. Definitely not last. New Orleans-theme (Cajun) restaurant (Arroyo Pkwy & California across street from Arroyo Chop House). Husband and wife owners, Kevin is the chef, Kari the hostess, both are personality plus. GO!!! Incredible food. read more

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Went here Saturday for dinner. We just happened to drive by it and noticed it was a new restaurant at this location. So looked them up on YELP and the pictures (and 77 - 5 star reviews) made me want to try it. We were the first to be seated at 5p and when we left about an hour later and it was full. The food is fantastic with a Southern flare. They change it seasonally so look forward to new items in the future. I had the biscuit which is the best I've ever had. Fresh out of the over, large size, fluffy with a warm side of butter. Had the gumbo which was excellent. It comes with brown rice on the side which I've never seen before. Usually the rice goes in first and the gumbo is poured over it. This is a lot easier to portion how much rice and how much gumbo you get with each bite. Also had the duck chili which I loved. Came in a green sauce which had a little kick but not mouth numbing spicy (which I hate). For dessert I had Beignets surrounding coffee flavored ice cream made from the local roaster Unincorporated Coffee. This was delicious and a perfect ending to my meal. The beignets were different than all the ones I had tried in New Orleans. They were small and square sized, fluffy and melted in your mouth. Tasted fantastic with the ice cream in the same bite. I'll be back and recommend!! Maybe they can add frog legs to the menu some time?? If you're in Pasadena or on your way to a Dodgers game be sure to try. Nice beer and wine selection, no hard stuff. Also have a full tasting menu paired with wines selected by the chef. Something I may be up for next time! read more

I've (generously) given 3 stars, but this place could have been 4 were it not for one major flaw: both the crawfish etouffee and shrimp & grits were *exceptionally* salty. The etouffee had a rich, peppery roux like you'd want, but it was hard to focus on anything other than the overwhelming salt content. The shrimp & grits were very slightly less salty, allowing us to appreciate the nicely charred, meaty shrimp, but yeah, I'd hate to check a Blood Pressure Monitor after this meal. Given the speed with which the food was ready (~10 mins), I suspect sauces may be pre-made and therefore not customizable, otherwise I would come back. But, hey, at least parking was easy and that's no small feat in Pasadena. read more

This was our first visit and I have to say that it was one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long while. The service was amazing, the atmosphere was super cool and the food was outstanding. We will definitely be coming back! read more

As a person who has been really careful with Covid, I truly appreciated the care they took to make sure everything was as safe and contactless as possible. Now to the yummy part of it all. I had their Pork Belly Burger and let me tell you, you need to order it. The sauce in that thing was everything! I also ordered their ice cream and silly me thought I was only going to have a bit of it, and save the rest for another day. Yeah, who was I kidding? I ate it all with no shame whatsoever. I will definitely be returning soon. read more

Henry Parsons Project - Miss Lee's Pork Belly Burger - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

There were four of us in our party so we were able to sample several items. All were great especially the Jumbalaya. Had just right hint of heat to make the dish very enjoyable. Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes Creole food. read more

What a nice place. The service was excellent and the atmosphere is very romantic. Good spot for couples. We started with the gumbo. It has mushrooms in it but it was very well done. I was pleasantly surprised. The halibut was grilled and looked amazing but didn't have much seasoning. The shrimp and grits were a hit as well. Seasoned well and lots of flavor. The shrimp were grilled which was different but still very good. All in all it was a great spot and I recommend it. read more

Though I know good food when I see and taste it, I'm not one to swoon over food. The biscuit at this place is the exception. Eating that damn thing was like religious experience. Wtf just happened? That's not to say the other food on the menu wasn't remarkable, it was. Everything we ordered was so tasty, well prepared, well seasoned and fresh! We tried the kale salad, the shrimp and grits, and the pasta. All four dishes were excellent. We will be back, and you should go too! Friendly service, fair prices. I'm surprised it's not harder to get a res. This place hasn't been hyped up to the point of being impossible to get in. So go before the word gets out. read more

Absolutely delicious food! Fantastic service! Great ambiance. I highly recommended the tasting menu for the first visit to be able to try many of their dishes, that way when you go back again you have a good jumping off point. We do not live in Pasadena or surrounding cities but we have told all our friends who do about this place and will be making trips back just for this place. I cannot recommend just one item because everything we ate was so delicious but splurge when you go and make sure to order double the amount of biscuits....trust me you'll thank me after for this suggestion. read more

Absolutely loved this place. Food, service ambiance all terrific. The desserts just a B- but else wacky good. Ox tails amazing as was the fish. We will be back soon read more