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    Kathleen's Restaurant

    4.0 (180 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Kathleen's Restaurant Photos

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    KATHLEEN'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kathleen's Restaurant

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    Enchiladas
    Talmadge M.

    Kathleen's has graciously hosted our Pasadena City College Football Alumni luncheon for a few years now and they always treat us like family. I had a taste for enchiladas and I wasn't disappointed! I asked my waitress about them and they came highly recommended so I ordered them. Kathleen is a queen and they do a wonderful job serving their customers.

    Dave H.

    One of the best kept secrets in Pasadena. Hot and new for the last 40 years! Still managed by the friendly owner Kathleen who still attends to all the guests with her very friendly personality and wonderful hospitality. A true restauranteur at heart which is hard to find these days. Her partner does all the fresh baked items and desserts that range from banana bread, zucchini bread, pies and cakes all made fresh! Amazing staff and service too! You always tell a great restauranteur by their staff and knowing that they have been there a long time and still take pride in the service, food and tending to regulars by name. Open mostly for breakfast and lunch and early dinner. Opens early and closes early always steadily busy with its regular and mixed Pasadena clientele from all walks of life. Wonderful selection on the menu including a bar and breakfast fiesta specials including some Mexican breakfast favorites and a wonderful looking Belgian waffle and French toast. Their blt and avocado sandwich was excellent along with its shoestring fries. Their onion soup is probably one of the best in LA - not so beefy but a good mix of onions, melted cheese and homemade croutons. I'd come back for just the French onion soup and their spinach salad but want to try everything on their menu from their cod tempura fish & chips to their kebabs and steak! Plus plenty of salads, burgers, sandwiches and California cuisine! I think i found a new favorite place to dine! Perfect for breakfast or brunch and they have a dining room off to the side that can accommodate larger parties. Very kid friendly too! I've passed by Kathleen's for so many years and always thought it was an upscale restaurant but was so pleased to see how casual, friendly and great food was hidden behind its wooden front facade. They even have some outdoor patio dining in the back making them pooch and dog friendly. Their casual dining room and menu make it a perfect restaurant for everyone. The zucchini bread loaf was generous and delicious! I wanted to get the banana bread but it was already sold out! PS $1 mimosas for breakfast? What a deal! I will definitely be back many times. What a gem , hole in the wall wonderful dining experience for breakfast or lunch. Just nearby the Reyn restaurant but i think is way better! Prices are just a buck or two more but the quality of Kathleen's food and service is much better than most coffee shops or diners. Plenty of parking in the back.

    Watery coffee. But David will keep it hot and filled for you so that you forget how watery it is.
    Otilla F.

    Believe the reviews about unfriendly energies, sub standard food, and the place being egregiously tired. Needs to be bulldozed down, it is so old and dated. If you are not geriatric and caucasian, please please please save yourself a bewildering headache. I made the most terrible mistake of coming here with my family. I am embarrassed to have celebrated an impromptu event there. Goes to show, Yelp is not always right. Trust your gut people. Never again. The servers are nice but, yes, robotic, as others have said. The one star is for David. He is a gentleman of the highest degree in that decrepit dark cesspool of a restaurant. He needs to resign and set his sights much higher. I wanted to leave 10 minutes in but my party didnt want to be rude. Oh, and if you're wondering: 1. Nothing from the griddle until the weekend. Don't ask for pancakes or waffles. Nothing. I have no idea about the mimosas either. Nothing was offered. 2. In case you forgot, if you're black or brown, turn around. Dont go in. Please.

    Cheeseburger

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    4 months ago

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    1 month ago

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    22 days ago

    I have been going there for years. Staff is extremely friendly and efficient. Everyone who has accompanied me has always loved their food

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Kathleen is always there to warmly welcome you. The comfort food is delicious. Nice, quiet atmosphere.

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    6 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food was great, my friend had a hamburger which he enjoyed. I had an omelet which was quite tasty. Service was ok.

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Basic diner food at reasonable prices. Nothing special about it. Free parking in their lot.

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    3 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Kathleen's Restaurant

    Are they known for their burgers?

    their burgers are thick and juicy. can be ordered the way you like it.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Copa Vida

    Copa Vida

    4.1
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I met with a friend here on Thursday morning and enjoyed the food! Upon arrival, you order and take…read morea seat with an assigned number. The girl taking our order was very sweet, but I must have missed the part when she said the drinks are picked up at the counter. When we received our food, we asked about the beverages - the waiter mentioned those are picked up at the counter. The barista was kind enough to remake the espresso shot for my friend since it had been sitting out for over 10+ minutes :) The food is tasty! We sat outside (perfect weather - overcast) and we shared an order of the avocado toast and the French toast plate. Good coffee, great portions with aligned price points. The inside is quite large, but it felt like something was missing... warmth/ decoration. Aside from that, Definitely recommend stopping by - I'm surprised I hadn't popped in sooner!

    I was so lucky to find this place after searching relentlessly for a coffee shop with Wi-Fi in…read morePasadena. I went to the Starbucks on fair Oaks (only outdoor seating, no outlets), that really fun one on Raymond, and I walked around for about an hour before I found Copa Vida in downtown. They had amazing coffee, outlets, Wi-Fi, and really wonderful personalities. I loved their service and I definitely had to give them a shout out. Their patrons are just as friendly. I would come back here anytime, it's like a family with really good quality, service and food

    Photos
    Copa Vida
    Croque Madame
    Croque Madame
    Copa Vida

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    Nick's South Lake Avenue

    Nick's South Lake Avenue

    4.5
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$

    Nice atmosphere, classy-chill vibes, but not I absolutely have to dress up, but you can I guess…read more Anyway to the most important part, the food, I tried some of my friends Deviled Eggs, which were the best I have ever had, but I am kind of whatever about deviled eggs to be honest, so take that for what's it's worth. However, the Original ribeye melt was to freaking die for soooo good, excellent! This place is a little on the pricey side, but everything is going up fast currently so there's that. But I must say, you owe yourself, treat yourself to something nice every now and then. The service was nice, the atmosphere was superb, and the food was excellent. I hear the drinks are great as well, not really a drinker so I would not know, I normally get a water and unsweetened ice tea everywhere I go. I'm just a Yelper, foodie, explorer, and pop culture enthusiast from Los Angeles making his way in world, all the best to you and yours, enjoy

    My family and I have been coming here for years, which is why this experience was so disappointing…read more We visited on Father's Day and had a reservation for 7:45 PM. Unfortunately, despite having a reservation, we had to wait about 20 minutes because our table was not ready. We had specifically requested a booth and mentioned that we did not want to be seated at the Chef's Table, yet we were seated there anyway. There were four of us, and the space was extremely cramped. We were constantly bumping into each other's feet because there was so little room. We asked if it would be possible to move to another table, but we were told the restaurant was fully booked for the evening. On top of that, being seated directly next to the kitchen meant dealing with nonstop noise throughout our meal, which made it difficult to enjoy the experience. What was especially confusing was the concept of the "Chef's Table." If it's intended to provide a unique dining experience, we certainly didn't receive one. The chef never came out or interacted with guests, so it felt like we were simply seated in an uncomfortable location next to a busy kitchen. To make matters worse, my father ordered his steak well done, but it arrived medium rare. The steak had to be sent back and recooked, which further delayed our meal. Overall, this was the most disappointing experience we've had here. As longtime customers, we never expected the service and accommodations to fall so far below the standard we've come to expect. What was most frustrating was that no effort was made to address our concerns or offer any accommodation after multiple issues throughout the evening. We have always enjoyed dining here, which is why this experience was particularly upsetting. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and works to ensure other guests do not have a similar experience.

    Photos
    Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original
    Asparagus Fries | A Nick's Original
    Nick's South Lake Avenue
    Nick's South Lake Avenue

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    The Reyn

    The Reyn

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Great simple diner! Service is very friendly and fast, solid food all around, and a buzzing…read moreatmosphere. Putting into my rotation of local spots for breakfast. Get a side of banana bread to go.

    As someone with Celiac disease, I try very hard to ask questions kindly and respectfully when…read moredining out because cross contamination can make me seriously ill. Unfortunately, this was a really disappointing experience. The woman taking our order did not seem to know what Celiac disease or gluten even was, and became visibly annoyed when I asked basic questions about food preparation and cross contamination. When I asked about the prep station and whether gloves or utensils could be changed, she refused to ask the cooks. From what I was told, nearly everything shares the same grill. The only item that might potentially be safe would be eggs cooked in a separate pan, but without changing gloves or utensils, even that would not actually be safe for someone with Celiac disease. I ended up not eating at all. I actually left my party and waited in the car because I wanted to cry. It was embarrassing and honestly heartbreaking to feel like asking questions to protect my health was treated like an inconvenience. I completely understand not every restaurant can accommodate Celiac, but kindness, honesty, and basic understanding go a long way. I hope the staff can receive better education about food allergies and cross contamination in the future.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    French toast with the Leo's breakfast
    French toast with the Leo's breakfast
    Sour dough toast

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    Sour dough toast

    Kathleen's Restaurant - tradamerican - Updated June 2026

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