Kathleen's has been our family standby for years. It's a great place to take friends we really want to talk to, because it's quiet enough for conversation. I always get the Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad. It's not on the menu unless it's on special, but ask for it! It's reliably the best salmon I've ever had, and I've been to a lot of fish restaurants across the country. Other favorites are the scrambled eggs and salsa at breakfast and the strawberry crepes for dessert in season. read more

Kathleen's has an inviting and quaint front that faces North Lake Avenue in Pasadena. Very cottage like with overgrown ivy and a welcoming sign. Parking is easy in the back. But the best part - Kathleen herself is there daily. Inside the dcore is not as warm and almost cafeteria like. My sister & I went for lunch and Kathleen was a warm host who greeted us in a summer dress, escorted us to our table and checked on us later in our meal. The menu is American/California basics with fluffy croissant sandwiches, burgers, classic salads and a page of Mexican entrees. My sister, Cherie & I started with an appetizer each of Quiche and French Onion Soup. Cherie had the Mexican Special that day and I had the Patty melt. Both were fine. Not bad, not great but good. I would give the service the same rating. No smile nor personality from the server, but we received our food and requests and didn't have to ask twice. The place was busy with local lunch business crowd and seniors but it wasn't too loud so we were still able to have a nice conversation. I can't appreciate restaurant whose acoustics do not allow for conversation, no matter how good the food or how much media buzz the restaurant has. Over all Kathleen's is a nice eating spot to drop in on if you are in the area, but don't go out of your way. Enjoy! read more

First time had an excellent experience. The food and service were great will definitely be back soon.

I wish I could give this place 50 stars! This place is AMAZING! The food was absolutely amazing. The French dip was so delicious! The vibe was so welcoming and Kathy our waitress she was so awesome! She made us feel at home. I will definitely be back! read more

Service is phenomenal both the hostess and our waitress where great, attentive, and friendly. Menu has a lot of delicious options and they offer daily specials. There banana muffins are by far the best ones I've every had. DOLLAR MIMOSAS on the weekend (2 dollars for the second round). The food had fresh ingredients, wonderful flavor, and perfect sized portions. I loved the atmosphere, the friendly staff, and the cozy appeal. I don't know why it gets a bad rep but it was one of my better breakfasts in Pasadena. We got there ten minutes after it opened and we got a fresh banana muffin.... ****DRROOOOOLLLLL*** so yummy... I'll be back with all my friends that's for sure! LOVE YOU KATHLEEN'S RESTAURANT! read more

kathleens is an all american restaurant. the owners are amazing people. they always greet everyone as they come in. the waiters and the bus boys are attentative to anything you need. i disagree with anyone who thinks the prices are outrageous because the quality of the food and the srevice makes up for anything. been going for the past 15 years and it keeps getting better and better!!!! read more

Two words: I am stunned. I have been a Pasadena Native since the '30s. Kathleens brings the heat. From their $1 mimosas to their eggies, a lot of people say "Kathleen's? Isn't that the place where Tony Spimoni threw his first pitch?" Well: yes. But it's so much more. The vibes! The women! It's the latest of fashion. Eggs are ok. 5/6 read more

We went to Kathleen's for dinner for the first time this past week. We loved it and will certainly return. There is a wide variety of dinner items on the menu (Mexican food, fish, salads, pasta, etc.) The food was great and the service was exceptional. Thanks, Iris, for taking such great care of us. The chocolate cake was amazing - as was the bread they make daily on site! read more

I am visiting from the Midwest. I had a very, very delicious dinner. All of the vegetables were fresh and not frozen. The garlic mashed potatoes were made in house. The charbroiled salmon was great as was the wedge salad. I think the prices were reasonable considering all of the food was fresh. The service was excellent. I'd highly recommend this place. read more

Very nice family breakfast spot. My in-laws love the place!! They enjoy having all their grandchildren and us together for a breakfast treat. We enjoy being invited there. The food and service is above average. It is a traditional breakfast restaurant. The menu is more adventurous than some places. Omelettes, eggs, benedicts, pancakes, breakfast burritos, and good bread/muffin choices all above average. All in all, Kathleen's is deserving of four stars!! read more

There is a bit of a story to this, but one main reason for the low review, which I will get to in the second paragraph. I went to Kathleen's with my family for breakfast before their flight out. We were a total of 6 people and includes my disabled brother. They staff was pretty helpful at the beginning, and sat us at a large table where we had room to transfer my brother from his electric wheelchair to the table. The waitress was nice and helpful the entire time. The decor is boring and the restaurant was wide open which isn't an issue; the place was really quiet, everybody in the restaurant could have joined our conversations if they wanted (it was one of those places where you whisper your conversations which isn't good for a table of 6); the food was a little pricey for breakfast (cheapest breakfast plate was $10 or $11) but nothing insane so it's not a big deal, probably comparable to the house of whatever. The food was pretty good overall, but based on the prices alone, I wouldn't go back too often. Other than people constantly staring at us, either because of my brother (which doesn't bug me because it is pretty normal) or because we were the only ones not whispering, it was okay overall. Now for the kicker... At the end of the meal, after getting the bill and giving the waitress our credit card, the owner (not our normal waitress, the owner) comes up and slips a bill on the table and runs away without saying anything. We all thought it was a bit weird, and then we looked at the bill and found out that she was apparently kind enough to fill in a 18% tip and total for us on the credit card receipt. She didn't say anything to us, and nothing was ever mentioned to us about a mandatory tip by anybody who works there, and it clearly was not visible on the menu because nobody out of the 6 adults noticed anything. I guess the waitress thought it was a bit of a slimy move, because the owner was the one who had to deliver it; keep in mind, the owner had not dealt with us at all to that point, so it was definitely weird to see her quickly approach us and then run away. All I have to say is... Really?! Did you think you were going to get so shorted on the tip that you had to do a slimy move like that? It was a single bill paid for on one credit card; we didn't split the bill in twelve different ways, we didn't complain, we didn't cause any issues. I didn't realize that it was even legal to just hand-write in the tip and total for your customers... might as well just sign it for us. That isn't good business in any way. Not to play the sympathy or pity card (I am not looking for handouts at all), but when you see somebody who is severely disabled that 2-3 of us had to physically transfer him to the table, we had to cut his food, we had to lift his drink, you still decided that these were the people you should try to sneak in a bill with a filled in 18% tip? That was absolutely necessary? Pretty disgusting. Maybe that's why the waitress didn't do it, and the owner had to do the dirty work which actually makes the whole thing worse. If you have a policy for a mandatory tip for large groups just print it in large letters on your menu. No matter how stupid and ridiculous the policy is, print it large so everybody knows so you don't have to run up and slip it in there on us. Do you not have enough faith in your food and staff that you don't think you'll get a tip? the elderly customers may not tip well, but they will be repeat customers; your younger clients aren't that young, cheap, or naive, so you probably won't have too much of an issue with tips; and you aren't an all-you-can-eat establishment where you typically see this kind of policy. Better yet, just pay your staff a better wage and then you don't have to rely on slimy techniques to get tips. Needless to say, that one stupid, slimy move will prevent me from ever going back there. All to get a couple bucks which you would have gotten anyway. It will be a good story to tell people prefaced by "We tried Kathleen's on Lake. Ya... make sure you don't go there." Being ignorant and rude doesn't pay, especially when it's the owner doing it. read more

I love this restaurant! This place is a class act! an amazing owner who oversees the daily operations, delicious homemade food, vinyl booths and a very professional staff- and dollar mimosas on Sunday! I strongly recommend. read more

I really like this restaurant. The interior is not great, but the food is very good. Everything is fresh and delicious. My favorite is their burger and fries. It is a quaint mom and pop restaurant where the owner, Kathleen knows and remembers your name after one visit. read more

This place is so wonderful and comforting. Anything you order is great, the salads fresh and loaded with delicious ingredients. I like the interior it is calming and quiet or you just hear folks having a good meal. I have been here at least 20 times and when I move closer it will be once a week. The salmon I had tonight was as good as any I have eaten anywhere. I also love the zuchinni bread and any other house made bakery. The steak tacos are muy delicious. Love the fact that the owner is always there. This is a gem of a place. Miracle , there is a large parking lot. What more could you want! read more

Our family have visited this restaurant the past 7 years. Recently weekly. We have always found the food fresh and the waitress service very good. However last evening we had a very rude experience. Kathleen has never been a warm person to us when we have visited however last evening she was downright rude. It was obvious it was busy but she she told us in an angry and impatient voice to sit in the waiting area and someone would be with us. While you may be busy it is still a service industry and a little more consideration and follow up and certainly a nicer tone could have been used. It is time for a new weekly dinner experience. read more

I eat here a couple of times per year because my senior citizen friend likes it. The decor is rather dark and depressing and the menu is full of artery-jamming offerings. I once ordered black bean soup and it came with a huge dollop of sour cream on it. Thanks but no thanks. I've finally found the right menu item: spinach salad with _dressing on the side!_ They give you about 3x more dressing than you really need, so being able to sprinkle it sparingly on the salad is the way to go. Pumpkin bread is ok too. But in general this is way too retro, and if not for my senior citizen friend I would never go there. There are so many good restaurants in Pasadena, why would you want a 50's style restaurant. read more

After 34 years, it is still the ugliest restaurant in Pasadena. Service was prompt and friendly. The menu is as dull as the decor, so I settled for a burger. Ordered rare, It was hammered to nearly well done, typical for this type of joint. Garnishes were fresh and high quality. Salad was fresh and crisp with house made dressing, very tasty. Fries were cooked well and were a treat. It feels like the lunch counter in the basement of Grandma's favorite department store. It is a great place to go if you just want a quick quiet bite, a quick, quiet, forgettable bite. read more

I've been coming here for nearly 10 years (my Grandmother introduced me to the place when I was in high school) and my sister and I always joke that we are the youngest ones in there. This place definitely has an "older crowd" vibe. That being said, the food is always good and the service is excellent. We come primarily when we are craving a Cobb Salad. It is seriously the best Cobb that I've ever eaten. I've tried other things as well and they have always been satisfactory. read more

Kathleen's is one of our favorite places-- whether for a great Sunday brunch or a special occasion, we are always treated so well and the food is made with care and is just so delicious. read more

Was looking to try something different than IHOP for breakfast for once and go to a more local place in Pasadena. I read good reviews for Kathleen's real quick and took the family there. The outside facade looked nice, homey, but the inside did not match. The inside reminded me of a hospital cafeteria with its walls and floor designs. The service was not friendly. I wanna say our server was not feeling well perhaps, to give her the benefit of the doubt, but she didn't seem friendly and would not smile. That was kind of the same for some of the other servers I noticed. Perhaps they're not happy with management. Who knows. The guy refilling the coffee was more friendly and attentive. The food was okay. Nothing to brag about. Good portions. The prices were high I thought given the service and food quality. I was complaining to my wife afterwards we could have splurged at least twice at IHOP for the same amount we paid here. I had notice this place before while driving. I had hoped I would like it to give business to a more local place. Now I can say at least I've been there, but don't think I would go back. read more

It's impossible for a restaurant to stay in business for 33 years if they don't have good food. This was my first visit to Kathleen's and when I entered I wondered if it was the right place for a good meal. It looks tired, a dark, and out of date. Being from the East Coast, it reminded me of an old diner you might find in a little town. But the menu was an entirely different matter. The food sounded great and the sight of house made loaves of bread, coffee cakes, biscotti, and muffins for sale gave me confidence that this would prove to be a good choice, I had a special -- chicken fruit salad accompanied by 3 slices of their pumpkin walnut bread. This was a leafy green salad with roasted chicken, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bits of blue cheese, and candied walnuts. It was yummy and a huge portion (I took nearly half home). I had a hard time spotting the blue cheese but it was still very good. The house made bread was also a good choice (included with the salad). My experience with service was excellent. Not only our waitress but also a courteous bus boy came by often to refresh beverages and see if we needed anything. There is plenty of free parking in the lot adjacent to the building. read more

This is one of the finest restaurants in Pasadena. I have been a customer for over 10 years and have never been disappointed. The food is of the highest quality and the menu offers a great variety designed to please all ages. The owner, Kathleen, is at the restaurant working everyday. The waitresses are excellent and more than happy to accommodate any menu request you might have. There is also an excellent brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The restaurant is very clean and there is a large parking lot in the back that offers free parking. Kathleen's has been open for 30 years and continues to offer excellent food and service. read more

This is the place. The service is just great. Th food is outstanding. I have been going there for years and always great.The price for what you get its great. The dinners are huge, fresh and outstanding. Who cares what it looks like it if the food is great.( I like it). Efren And Kathy with your staff you make it great. read more

If a Mexican breakfast is what you want do not be fooled by the review of this restaurant in the Pasadena Weekly. They only offer 3 dishes and are skimpy on its contents. I came in today with my Mother and the waitress had terrible customer service skills and had a busser tell us that she was too busy to accomadate us. But she ws not too busy to stop at other tables and have one on one conversations. By the time she brought out the rest of the order our food was cold. We were ignored throughout our visit except from the bussers whose job is to bus the tables not wait on us. After speaking with the owner i became more infuriated because all he said was I'm sorry in a low tone with the waitress at his side. then we were basically rushed out the door! do not eat here if you want customer service. read more