I had dinner here the other night and thought it was very okay. For three people, we shared the following: -ceviche ($14): shrimp, octopus, chile manzano, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes -molote ($10): organic blue corn masa, huitlacoche, black bean puree, quesillo + raw tomatillo salsa -duck ($25): pan seared breast, pipian sauce, tamarind demi + roasted romanesco Of the three dishes, I thought the duck had the most flavor. It was perfectly seared, with a nice crisp skin and I enjoyed it with dabs of the tamarind demi. Ceviche was very okay - heirloom tomatoes were not yet ripe so they were a little on the hard in texture. Nothing particularly memorable about this dish. Molote was also very okay. Although it was filled with huitlacoche and gave it a good, hearty texture, the black bean puree + tomatillo salsa did little to enhance the flavor. The bar was adorable. If I ever find myself in this neck of the woods again, I would stop by for a drink and skip the food. read more

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What can I say about Maestro? I love this place. Everything I've tried here is delicious and not too heavy. From the appetizers to the mezcal cocktails, it's all on point. Anything that uses their blue corn masa, get it. I like to start with the ceviche, oyster aguachile, and/or grilled octopus. Then maybe some shrimp tacos, tamal poblano, and/or scallops. Finish with the tres leches carrot cake. *chef's kiss* The waitstaff is always so friendly and helpful. The ambiance is nice too since it's off a quieter street and better kept up alley. read more

Solid spot for upscale Mexican food. Cocktails are excellent with the house margarita pretty irresistible. Tequila selection is top shelf with many excellent and rare bottles on offer. Service was attentive. Atmosphere is attractive and charming. Seating very comfortable. Would definitely return. read more

honestly thought it was going to be a hipster place with a washed down version of Mexican food BUT it was not at all it was delicious and so flavorful. Perfect spot for a birthday dinner or date night the outside seating area had heaters and the service was great. Their Jamaica alcohol drink (forgot the name) was great as well. The chicken mole plate *chef's kiss* read more

Maestro Restaurant - Chicken mole - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've been to Maestro several time, primarily for dinner/happy hour. It is super nice to sit out on the patio/alleyway, especially for Thursday night Mariachi. The cocktails and food are superb. Prices are a little high, of course, but everything is always fantastic and worth it. What I really appreciate is the excellent service from the staff and servers - they are always so attentive and helpful, but not pushy or overbearing. read more

Absolutely recommend! Did not take photos of the appetizer but we had the grilled octopus and it was absolute perfection. The cocktails are also well crafted. read more

Maestro Restaurant - Chicken Mole - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Really good modern Mexican food. A great bar with many mezcal and tequila to choose from.

The drinks were delicious! We probably tried everyone between the four of us. We came here for my birthday. We had a reservation for four. We were seated right away as well as had a drink order taken. The appetizers were cooked perfectly we had octopus and calamari. Our server was funny efficient and knowledgeable. The scallops were to die for! Super flavorful and again perfectly cooked. We will definitely be back! The outside seating area was so cute! Thank you Maestro team for doing it right!! read more

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Cesar was amazing in his service. The food and the Mariachis were worth it. Everyone around was enjoying the atmosphere. Great ambiance and service all around. read more

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We loved it here! Rigo and John provided the best service we could ask for, especially for our 4 year old who John made a kid friendly strawberry lemonade "cocktail" for. Our old fashion and margaritas were delicious as well! The guacamole was to die for, and the main course was delicious. The tres leches carrot cake was interesting and delicious. We will definitely be back! read more

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Dont come here if you are hungry. I was inticed by the live music. We ordered a few dishes. Staff was friendly and courteous. However, portions were tiny. Im talking xxxs. I will post the "salad" i ordered. The dish its served in is not deep, its a flat plate so dont be misguided. As you can see, its sauce with 5 leaves and a very small amount of everything else. 4 grape tomatoes ( i counted ). Ive gone to restaurants where the dishes are tiny such as bacari or redbird , at both establishments the staff always informed us to order about (2-3) plates per person. I will post a picture of my dish . I paid $20 for this! Fortunately king taco saved the day, as its around the corner. Never again read more

Maestro Restaurant - Seasonal Beet Salad - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Honestly I can't really say much but that I'm upset I usually lose my cool but it started off with a phone call ... I set reservations for 8:30 they call me at like 8:15 asking if I'm still coming ... mind you I'm driving not only that I was literally 5 second away from the restaurant... I tell them yes I'm parking they said "oh okay we're kinda backed up a little" and begin to Mumble more stuff , well I get here I check in on my reservations and the lady says "oh we actually got room one space just opened up" like in all reality you were calling not because you were backed up just wanted to give my spot up it seemed like , now let's start with the ordering .. We asked for bottled water she brings out a different type of water that's was opened and served us I automatically knew it was Tap water my fiancé takes a drink and yup exactly what it was .. we ordered a bottled water why would you come back out with a bottle refilled with tap water ? I automatically felt the server didn't even want to serve us we almost felt unwelcomed here ... they brought our meals out they forgot my fiancé's side of avocado and the lady literally took 5 minutes to bring back some slices my fiancé was already midway through her enchiladas , I can keep going with a lot more , nonetheless overall the service here was POOR , & 11$ for that small side order of Guacamole was definitely not worth it ... & even though she forgot the side of avocado she still managed to Tack on the 4$ charge ..... Nonetheless I usually am rude won't leave even a 1$ for a tip but the server obviously needs a better night ima still leave a 33$ tip on a 77$ order ..... have a good night I hope the next guest to get treated or the type of vibes we got from our server or also the service pace from Natalie ... whom was our server ... read more

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Good food all around, my ny strip was slightly on the tough side. The sides were great. The value proposition was just ok for me. My wife had the filet minion and she loved it. read more

Food is amazing at great prices , customer service is great and the ambiance is perfect. The drinks are delicious as well. You can't go wrong in this place. read more

This is a family favorite. It's kid-friendly, grandparents friendly, in-laws friendly, and date night friendly. The service, food, and drinks are great. It's upscale Mexican food, inspired by Mexico City and Oaxaca regions...and just delicious. Our go tos are shrimp tacos in broth, the scallops, kids chick quesadilla, rice, beans, campfire, and Cadillac margarita. Pro tip: ask for the house salsa. read more

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This is a beautiful restaurant and I cant believe I waiting so long to try it. I would say the service was so lovely. Kind and friendly from start to finish. We tried many of their dishes and all were so tasty, fresh and beautifully presented. Highly recommend: 1) Birria Plate 2) Carnitas Plate 3) Citrus Salad 4) Tacos Ahogados (Taquitos) 5) Mole Confit 6) Guava Cheesecake 7) Watermelon Margarita It has such a lovely little bar inside, patio seating and live music on weekends. read more

Presentation alone deserves 5 stars! Will be coming back over and over again. Food always exceeds expectations and staff is very friendly. read more

Maestro Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Pretty good food, service was good, however portions were so small for the price point. Did not seem to be worth it. I don't think we will coming back here! read more

Hidden gem in old town Pasadena! One of my favorite modern Mexican restaurants serving high quality upscale fare. Service is good, the staff are all so friendly, and of course, the food is always impressively delicious! My friends and i have dined here many times. my favorites are the tetela, chicken mole, lamb shank, their homemade tortillas (beyond delicious!), the tamal, and both the tres leches and cheesecake for desserts! Here is the lengthy list (or short?) of items I've had at Maestro's: lamb shank: braised bone in barbacoa / roasted chili sauce / pickled cabbage / nixtamal tortillas / mexican rice tamal free range chicken tinga / queso panela / crema / micro greens mole free range chicken / avocado puree / queso fresco / jocoque / jasmine rice scallops seared scallops / huitlacoche rice / epazote foam / greens arrachera grass fed citrus marinated skirt steak / cilantro & chickpea rice / house chorizo chimichurri tetela masa stuff with huitlacoche & corn / queso oaxaca / tomatillo green citrus salad kale & green mix / orange / beets / quinoa / queso fresco pork chop spiced butternut squash puree / white bean salad / hibiscus mustard gastrique tacos ahogados free range chicken in natural chicken broth / cream / cabbage / queso fresco special off menu item (when available): tendebeef short ribs tres leches carrot cake three milk / walnuts / pepitas / carrot purèe / mint Each one of their custom dishes is always polished, carefully crafted, and presented so that when the food reaches your table, you're just ready and hurried to devour every morsel. hands down, i kid you not, this place serves the most amazing mexican food!! Parking - we always park in the structure next door - the cost is $10 max, but if you're lucky, you can find metered parking or a cheaper structure elsewhere around the area. read more

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Sorry for this delayed posting providing well deserved recognition to Maestro, Chef Elena and our expert bartender (Shoot me, I forgot his name, but he is prominently displayed in posted photos!). Wife & I stay in Pasadena whenever we visit LA for an event. We stay at a wonderful Air BnB rental near Sierra Madre Villa Metro stop. Our proprietor and husband highly recommended we have happy hour and dinner at Maestro, which wife & I were not familiar. We respect opinions of local foodies and excitedly visited Maestro. Wife & I arrived Maestro Saturday Sept 21st around 5pm while happy hour choices were still active. Although the restaurant had many open tables, staff informed us tables were reserved and that we were welcome to dine at the bar which offered full menu. Actually, we were thrilled to dine at the bar because this is where the action is, and also fun for people watching. Wife & I love Mezcal and were thrilled happy hour included an Agave Old Fashion at $8 which had both Tequila and Mezcal. We both ordered the Agave Old Fashion and both loved, loved it!! How much did we love it, we both ordered a second! From starter menu we ordered Octopus. Zowee, wife & I were stunned at this dish. We've traveled and dined on seafood up and down the West Coast and in Europe. Maestro's Octopus starter is among best seafood dishes we have experienced! While sitting at bar and mulling over choices for a second dish, we were touched that Chef Elena introduced herself and provided us some off-menu specials. We ordered a special which is pictured in attached photo. Although I do not recall name of special, I do recall wife & I wrangling over who could take each bite - it was delicious! All in all, a wonderful lifetime memory at Maestro! Many thanks to Chef Elena and wonderful bartender (feel free to post your name and take me out of my misery!). read more

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The food at Maestro is generally very good. I've eaten here a few times and the food has really never disappointed. Even when a dish misses the mark, the attempt is worth the gamble and presents a great opportunity for discussion. And if this review were based on the food alone, it would be four stars. But running a restaurant is much more than just cooking. The service is more than half the experience for a diner. In fact, lackluster cuisine can be overlooked if the service is exemplary and the experience as a whole is memorable and worth repeating. That means the opposite is also possible. Good food can be ruined by bad service. The service at Maestro is not on par with the food. On prior visits I've experienced poor scheduling issues which led to long wait times beyond scheduled reservations, but nothing to earn more than maybe half a point penalty. Today is Cinco de Mayo, which would be a busy day for any Mexican restaurant under normal circumstances and while current coronavirus safer-at-home orders have impacted all restaurants, I'm sure (as a business owner myself) that in the current economic climate any of them would be grateful to have a busy day. And while it is probable that Maestro is running a smaller crew, since all orders are currently pick-up only, their kitchen staff should be able to function at the level necessary to fulfill orders and the front of house employees should be able to reasonably predict the prep time to accurately schedule pick-ups -especially now, since nobody wants to be spending unnecessary time in an enclosed space with strangers during a health crisis. I placed my order from their prix fixe menu around 2pm and was given a pick up time of 7:15pm. I confirmed the pick-up time twice to be sure I didn't need to wait around. The restaurant had my name, my phone number and ran my credit card over the phone so I could get curbside pick-up, but when I arrived at the appointed time there were many people waiting outside the restaurant (presumably also for pick-up). So I called, but all of my calls went directly to the restaurant voicemail. I opted to put on my face mask and rubber gloves and head into Maestro to pick up my order. It was not ready. I was told that they were packing orders and mine would be ready in a couple minutes. I left the restaurant 50 minutes later with a bag containing my order. While inside, I saw patrons touch their noses and mouths and then touch surfaces and even other people's bagged orders which were left unsupervised on a table near the entrance. I saw a bartender making margaritas (to go) without his face mask on, also touching his face in between touching bottles and not washing his hands. When I got home, I unpacked my order, which was an uncomplicated bundle pack from their special Cinco de Mayo menu: carnitas, beans, rice, tortillas. This was not what I was given. There were two orders of rice and no beans so I had to drive back to the restaurant to get the beans. No offer of restitution was made and I have to admit that surprised me. It would have been very easy for the restaurant to contact me to let me know that my order wouldn't be ready at the appointed time. But they did not. They weren't answering their business line, either, so when I called before leaving the house to ask if my order would be ready, I got their voicemail. And then after making me wait almost an hour, they couldn't even get my order correct. Basically this entire experience was an epic fail. Most restaurants if running nearly an hour past a reservation will offer a drink or an appetizer as an apology. That didn't happen. And then after packing the order incorrectly, again, no form of restitution was offered. Even the apology was weak, as though it was an afterthought when I was a step away from the exit. I understand that it isn't business as usual, but everything that went wrong today could have easily been avoided. Even after things went wrong it would have been easy to offer something, a coupon, a dessert, a cocktail to go, anything, really. So that compounds multiple failures: failure of planning, of management, and of service. And that's a shame because the food is good. read more

Maestro Restaurant - The two orders of rice instead of rice and beans. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wonderful local restaurant that specializes in the finest Mexican cuisine. Absolutely love their cocktails, and their dishes are always delicious and gorgeous to look at too. :) My favorite is their scallop dish with mushrooms and huitlacoche rice. I'm also a huge fan of their grilled octopus. They have taken many precautions to make sure diners feel safe - the servers are wearing masks and face shields, and tables are spaced apart. Great ambience. We really appreciated the live music too! So happy they are in Old Town, Pasadena! read more

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I've been eating at Maestro for roughly 3 years now and idk why it's taken me this long to leave a review but here it goes.... I recently became allergic to gluten and it's been difficult to eat out at my favorite restaurants, however the owner was told about my allergy by our server. The owner then personally went into the kitchen to asked his chef on ways they could accommodate my allergy sensitivity. Pleased to say they personalize my entire meals. That's how costumer service is done folks! Oh and the food is EXCEPTIONAL! My favorite cocktail is... all of them hehe! You can't go wrong with one! read more

Overall, the food, atomesphere and service are good. We had a 4 dinning table which is a little bit small for bigger people.

I was definitely WOW'd by this place. Live guitarist was a nice touch. The food was fantastic! I had the Carne en su Jugo. A classic peasant dish transformed into something more than a substantial dish. It was a poetic display of tradition and art. The flavors couldn't be more legitimate. As if I was eating at my abuelitas house. Presented in a modern simple fashion that is not overwhelming nor pretentious. Beautiful. Savory is not what is EVER used in Mexican cuisine. When you eat this dish the combo of the mirepoix, Mexican ingredients, and the consumé that this meat creates when cooked is something to be experienced. I can't wait to come back for more. Service was good. Attentive. We sat outside on a nice warm evening. Cheers! Two thumbs up! read more

Was looking for a trendy place for Taco Tuesday and found Maestro on Yelp. We were lucky to be seated right away with no reservations, it was packed as we arrived at 8pm. Their special is $1 discount if you order two tacos. Unfortunately they had ran out of beef that day, but our server did recommended Lamb Barbacoa and we enjoyed that very much, and their drink special Maestro Margarita was bomb. Service was great, venue was cute, food was amazing. We ended up finishing everything, with no left overs. Ceviche-Great starter, actually used the plantain chips to dip and tasted even better lol. Ive had many ceviches, and I must say they have the freshest ingredients. Guacamole- those plantain chips went well with the fresh guacamole, and also heavily addicting. Lamb Barbacoa- this is a must try, wasn't too gamey and extremely delicious. Comes out deep fried so its a little heavy. Fish Tacos- comes in 3 pieces, very delicious, super filling. I would definitely will come back to try their other exotic Mexican food on the menu, and hopefully next time they will have beef. read more

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I loved this place. So good. The food was so delicious I couldn't believe it. Really a flavor sensation. And Mariachi!!! Fantastic service, phenomenal tequila, and just an all around memorable meal. read more

I finally had a chance to try out Maestro for Dinner. We were received and seated by a courteous hostess. Our waiter was polite and took the time to explain the menu. We started our meal off with some cocktails. We got the drink of the day which was gin based drink with Kumquat. We also tried the Picosita Margarita which was a spicy margarita with Jalapeño. We preferred the Drink of the day over the margarita. For the appetizer we got the Empanadas made of prawn and octopus.The empanada came with a spicy cilantro sauce which was 8 out of 10 on the spicy scale. The Empanada was perfect with a crisp exterior and the interior was sufficiently packed with prawns and octopus. So yummy! For our entrees we got the Mole and the Pork Belly. The chicken with the mole was presented with avocado purée. The Mole wasn't too sweet and it came with a side of jasmine rice. The Pork belly was roasted on the outside and tender on the inside. The Celeriac purée on the Pork belly was delicious. Both entrees came with lovely salads which were unique and made with fresh ingredients. We enjoyed our meal thoroughly! This is the best Mexican restaurant I have been to in Pasadena. From the presentation to the service - excellent all around! I will definitely be coming back. read more

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If you haven't eaten here - you need to. Let's start with the basics: drinks. You might be challenged in this category if you don't like mezcal, but if your willing to step out on that limb, you will love the balance of smoke from the mezcal, tart from lime, and sweet from unfamiliar ingredients like hibiscus or Jamaica. Be adventurous and jump in - the waters fine. Remember the lyrics: the devil's water ain't so sweet; don't have to drink right now; but you can dip your feet; every once in a little while! Go for it - you will be handsomely rewarded. My I suggest the La Morita! The drops of chili oil really make this work. Service: ask for Carlo - he is the man. Wealth of information from his up bringing in Mexico. He'll explain everything. Food: killer blend of savory, spice, and crunch. Do not pass up Tacos Ahogados. You will find yourself with with a spoon slurping the broth that the tacos float in. Go ahead - lick the bowl - it's encouraged. Also had the Carne En Su Jugo (braised short rib floating in another glorious broth). Bring your duckettes - this place is not cheap but you will surely leave with a smile, full tummy, and greater appreciation for a more authentic (ya right - Mexican on steroids) appreciation for grub from the central - Mexico City areas. read more

Maestro Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

Steaks cooked to perfection! If I'm hungry when cruising pch and get hungry and can't think of anything else to eat a proper steak is what I get! Bombbb!! read more

The food was amazing I had the vegan enchiladas w mole We also ordered guacamole and chips!! So delicious The staff is attentive and very friendly. all in all the experience was great !! and the maestro margarita hits the spot thank u for opening up and giving us an awesome dinning experience once again !! read more

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The food is good and the drinks are tasty. Portions are just right. Service is also good and the outdoor heaters take the edge off in the winter. read more

Came here upon the recommendation of a friend and my inkling for fancy Mexican food. Unfortunately, this place certainly didn't live up to the hype. We ordered margaritas, ceviche, carne, two tacos and two deserts and guacamole to start. The ceviche was pretty bland with mainly vegetables cubed too big a size with very little seafood. Our carne wasn't cooked well though the accompanying rice was delicious. The pulpo taco was good but not great and we both loved the potato taco the best out of all our options. Their deserts were off in flavor with combinations that just didn't work. Their ice cream was yucky and cornbread too dry despite their cream topping. As for margaritas, it felt like I was drinking water with a salt rim as they put way to much ice in their drinks so don't bother. The place is a bit too dark as well which can work if you are on a date with someone you'd rather not look at but don't expect to be able to read the menu with candlelight. I won't be returning to this place which is disappointing. read more

WARNING: Things may appear worst the second time around! Maestro went from a 4.5 stars down to a flat 2! After experiencing the trifecta of bad restaurants, I decided I need to go back to something a bit safer like a previous 4 star restaurant. Maestro might still have something to teach me or would I end up dropping the class? I was surprised to see that this time the lights were on and I could actually see my food. Our waitress Hilda was Amazing, she was helpful, honest, Smokey and down to earth organic. We ordered the same appetizers from our previous visit and they arrived before our drink order which was a bit strange/odd and maybe a shadow of things to come. Someone in the restaurant decided to turn down the lights back to back alley dark, I'm assuming for the make out crowd or just to get a kick back from SCE. Not smart because in my first review I dinged them a whole star because I had to eat my dinner while flash lighting my plate. We did however try the Mezcal and this experience was in fact pure Mexican magic! We had just lifted off and Maestro was on track for a 5 star new review. I reordered the Pork Chops and my wifey had the Carne en su Jugo. My kids had the mole after being advised that the Enchiladas might not meet our Mexican expectations. The pork chops were tasty but incredibly salty so they had to go, the carne en su jugo was more like carne in a Smokey Lemon Juice, not very appealing . The Mole however was well received and enjoyed tremendously by my kids. Our waitress took back the chops and the lemon juice soup back to the kitchen and put in a new order for some new pork chops and another order of Mole for my wife. Our once beautiful takeoff that was soaring high turned into a flight aboard an unstable Boeing 737 Max jet. We waited and waited and waited and slowly watched our enthusiasm melt away like the wicked witch in OZ. The plates finally arrived but by then we just wanted to move on to dessert. My new pork chop was saltier than the first one and my wife decided just to take her Mole home. There was still one last glimmer of hope in the tres leches carrot cake and the French press coffee or was there? The desserts arrived and we Slowly chipped away at it while we waited for the coffee to arrive and after waiting and waiting we gave up and just asked for the check. Maestro is no longer a teacher but a student that has flunked out. This place has many lessons to learn, too many to list but let's just say that if it takes a restaurant 20 min to get you your drinks maybe it should just go back to school. If you're looking for a RESTaurant that will provide you with some quality rest experiences just keep moving, maybe next door to King Taco. At least it's Mexican and they are on point! Here is my old review: Growing up my food choices were limited to eggs, rice, beans and potatoes, with a bit of organ meat (liver, gizzards, cow tongue, etc.) on the weekends. It's interesting to me now how those food choices I absolutely hated growing up are now comfort food, especially in the fast paced life we live now. Reading some of the reviews about this restaurant made me extra curious to try this place, to find out the truth about some of the praises and criticisms. The location is next to King Taco so that's a good/bad sign of what's about to happen. The interior of the restaurant is clean, cozy but a bit cramped for my liking but I was there for the food! We were seated at one of the best tables in the house next to the street window, on full culinary display. We were definitely hungry and were ready to rumble with the grumble from our stomachs! Our waitress ED (Pronounced EeeeDeee) was pleasant, helpful and enthusiastic about this being our maiden voyage into the menu of Maestro. I ordered a Negra Modelo and four appetizers, because I could: Calamari, Tamales (both Chicken & Cheese), Green Citrus Salad, and the Tetela (not to be confused with slang word tetera). ALL of the appeteezers hit our palettes and our gut hard, all were a direct HIT! Crunchy, savory, smokey, tangy, earthy, salty, familiar yet new and surprising. For my main course I decided on the pork chops that EeeeDee recommend quite convincingly (can never get enough pig). They were smoky, tangy and satisfying (please see photos provided) with the right amount of fattiness. I was also encouraged to some helpings of the Bronzino, the scallops and the arrachera meat! Which were all equally Amazingly great! At this point of the meal it was to legit to quit - so we didn't. We pushed on to the finish line by ordering some Tres Leches Carrot cake and some corn cake. The end result was oinkalicious! The only reason I didn't award the 5 stars is simple: turn on some lights, it is way too dark in there. I not only want to taste my food but I also want to see it! If you turn on some lights, I would definitely come back and see what the Maestro is cooking ne! So let there be light please! read more

Maestro Restaurant - This is what my pork chops looked like, while I ate in the dark. - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Pasadena, California

This restaurant's food is DELICIOUS. We visited Maestro for the first time to celebrate my mother's birthday here and she loved it. The decor is wonderful, the service was excellent and the food was exceptional. I had the flautas ahogadas - they were delicious. We'll definitely come back here. read more

This place was pretty amazing! I came for brunch with the girls. I got the chorizo hash, it was so yummy, maybe just order an extra side egg or a side of beans :) My friend also got the chilaquiles which were amazing, and I will def get next time I go. The margarita are all awesome, just saying! read more

Oysters - very good, not too strong tasting or slimy Calamari - very good. very lightly battered and fried Chicken mole confit - very good, small portion Green enchiladas - okay Carne en su jugo - had to order it twice. First was well done. Portion also small Deserts were all ok read more

My friends and I had a wonderful experience when we ate at Maestro's Sunday night. As we sat outside, the ambience could not have been more perfect, with a live band playing mellow music, a comfortable table near a heater, and string lights overhead. The service and food were exceptional. We ordered the ceviche and guacmole with plantains for appetizers and I ordered the birria dish (spicy shredded beef). Items were filled with a full range of flavors --- sweet, tangy, spicy. The beef was extremely tender and juicy. The prices are not cheap, but the experience is memorable as a "perfect evening" in Old Town Pasadena. read more

Every time I drive/walk by this restaurant it's always packed. I finally tried it and it was delicious! The food was tasty, drinks were good, server was friendly, and they had a gentleman playing acoustic guitar (mix of classic rock, Spanish music, special requests), his voice and guitar were on point, they weren't just songs, they were compositions! The ambiance was lovely. read more

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Wonderful date night. I couldn't have asked for a better evening. Made a reservation on Sunday night at 6. Was sat right away outside in the patio area. Amazing music was flowing from the live performance and ambiance was on point. Our waiter Jonathan was honestly the best we have had in a long time. He was so welcoming and helpful with the menu and gave his recommendations. Always managed to check in and stay so cheerful and friendly through it all. An absolute gem. We started the evening with some cocktails. Tequila and mezcal is always a yes. Guayabita was strong, Smokey with guava and citrus notes. Perfectly balanced. Watermelon margarita was very fresh. We wanted to try the Tetela starter because it was nothing I had heard of and was totally worth it. Bean purée was silky smooth and so yummy, I could eat a bowl of it. The Tetela was a moist triangular blue corn masa that was topped with cheese and tomatillo. Very fresh, not greasy, filling and delicious. Hubby had the mole, recommended my Jonathan (thank you) and I had the enchiladas. I'm usually not a mole kind of girl, but my hat off to the chef because I really enjoyed all the different flavors in the sauce without it being too sweet. Enchiladas we're on point. Chicken tinga was really good. They were not covered in processed cheese like most are, but naturally simple and tasteful with a little cotija and red sauce. Side salad was surprisingly really good. Perfectly dressed and topped with apple and radishes. Dessert was a must but we couldn't decide so we went with the guava cheesecake and the chocolate torte that Jonathan recommended. That torte was my favorite! Luscious and delectable with deep dark chocolate and a hint of spice that tickles the back of your throat. The crust! Was heavenly. Guava cheesecake was creamy and refreshing. The crust and the diced guava took it up a notch. It was the ideal palate cleanser. Wonderful time, definitely recommend. Did I mention the entertainment? Just the best. What a voice. We'll be back, soon. read more

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