My boyfriend was craving pasta so we decided to try Maria's Italian kitchen. We ordered their - Calamari Fritti with Marinara - Zucchini Fritti with Ranch - Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken Breast - Medium Boulevard Pizza The food was delicious. We really enjoyed the Zucchini Fritti and the Boulevard Pizza. The calamari and the chicken Alfredo was good as well. Although I would like to have a little bit more sauce with the chicken Alfredo. The only thing that bothered us was that we put in half orders for calamari and zucchini and repeated it multiple times but when we picked up the food, they charge us for the whole. Also, we're not sure what the surcharge of $2.31 was for, so be aware of that. Other than that, we would like to come back to try other items as well. read more

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We have been supporting them forever! Going in, ordering to go and catering soo many parties. But they started charging me their BS charges. Last order was a month ago maybe for a small party at the house. They charged me a fee because I paid with my credit card they said. No one told me otherwise or I could've paid cash when they delivered. I moved on. Last night, we took friends to dinner there and they slapped us with 3% service charge and wouldn't take it off. Which is ridiculous! I will not be giving them business again, and I have definitely been there and ordered over 100 times. Trying to help local businesses is not even in my vocabulary anymore! I will definitely go to Celestino's on Lake vs Maria's down the street from us. Shame on you guys for your petty charges that go in the owners pocket and employees don't even get it. I own a retail shop and i can't even imagine charging my customers a BS fee and sleep at night! I don't even take tip when offered, I make sure they give it to the person working for me. GOODBYE!!!!! Food can be good but if service lacks, I am done!!! read more

My new favorite Italian place! We discovered this place by accident when we got off the packed 210 fwy to eat lunch--- and walked into this beautiful, classy but comfortable eatery.... looked like we had just ducked into an NYC cafe after walking in Central Park! And the food was spectacular! Expertly prepared rosemary bread for dipping and the light but fully flavorful " Chicken Marsala Bowl" was a perfect lunch. Staff friendly and caring about service. (Server Alex aimed to please and even laughed at my husband's jokes!) Absolutely delicious food. Beautiful, warm ambience. It is our new "little italian place" we will now always drive 30 mins to relax there! read more

The restaurant is always clean and welcoming. The servers are friendly and attentive. The eggplant parm and spinach & cheese calzone are my favorites. Just know that baked dishes will take longer to prepare, but they are worth the wait. The spinach & cheese calzone is packed with lots of spinach, mozzarella and garlic! On occasion I'll top off the meal with the molten chocolate cake à la mode. Although it's a small dessert, it is dense! Definitely shareable. read more

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This Maria's is in a medium to large sized strip mall. Although they have several locations, this is a family owned business and not a big corporate franchise outfit. There is a small lot with limited parking out front and a much larger lot in back and some parking on the east side. Despite the numerous spaces, there are many popular restaurants and businesses in this mall so parking can be challenging during peak hours, holidays, and weekends. Nevertheless, you can usually get a spot in back and walk further even when it is pretty crowded. Maria's has indoor and outdoor seating. They are casual dining, but with a more upscale feeling with white table cloths, nice wood furniture, and upscale decor. The outdoor covered patio probably has almost as much seating as indoor. The menu has all the typical Italian items most similar restaurants have: chicken and egg plant parm, pizza, various kinds of pasta including lasagna, spaghetti and heat balks or sauce, Alfredo with the option to add a protein, and cannoli and tiramisu desserts, etc. On our visit we got the Rosemary bread (4 pieces for $1), side Caesar salad, linguine with clams, and carbonara pasta with added chicken. The Rosemary bread came with oil and vinegar premixed in a small bowl like Maggiano's used to do and was a great value at $1. The side Caesar salad was very good and had a ton of cheese in it for a small salad. The carbonara is a white sauce pasta and paired perfectly with the chicken--it was the best dish and we would definitely get it again. The linguine (really spaghetti here) with clams was not bad but could use some improvement. The white wine sauce was good, but had way too much lemon in it for our taste. We asked our waiter and he said we can order it without lemon, which we recommend trying. The clams were a mix of west appeared to be from a can and several small clams. While this is disappointing, it is typical for many Italian restaurants now days and even the most upscale places do not have the large sized clams they used to 2-3 decades ago. If you just ask for no or very light lemon sauce then this would be an enjoyable dish. Our order was a lot of good for two people and we took some home. Consequently, we would have liked to try their cannoli and tiramisu, but did not have room. Our waiter was very nice and did a good job checking up on us. Maria's is definitely a better experience than eating at Olive Garden, probably not as good as Maggiano's, and comparable to Bucca. The Yelp 3.8 star average is a little low and should be at least 4 stars. We had a 5 star experience despite the lemon in the linguini and clams. We would definitely come back here and recommend you give them a try. read more

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My theatre group and I have been going here for years after attending plays at A Noise With In. We usually have 10-15 people in our party. Our favorite waiter is Wayland and we have not had him as a waiter the last few times we have eaten here. Tonight we were happy to have him as our waiter. We love the food, we never have a complaint. Wayland's service was and always is incredible from start to finish. He is attentive, friendly, professional, and genuinely makes us feel welcomed and well taken care of. He anticipates our needs, makes great recommendations, and goes above and beyond to make sure everything is perfect. It's rare to receive this level of outstanding service, and he truly always makes our dining experience memorable. He is a fantastic asset to the restaurant, and we hope he is our waiter every time we dine here! read more

Definitely a very popular place in Pasadena. we went in on a Friday at 615p and had a short wait because we had called ahead. But the walk ins had about a 40 min wait. The servers are all very friendly. To start, we got glasses of cabernet sauvignon and lambrusco which were both light and delicious. The flavors paired well with our food. To start, we got calamari, fried zucchini and rosemary bread. The fried zucchini was a little oily. The rosemary bread was fresh and warm. However, next time, will probably skip the starters. For entrees, I got the eggplant parm and it was delicious. My husband got the chicken parm with noodles and seasoned veggies. The veggies were seasoned so well. He enjoyed his entree. My mom in law got the meat lasagna and enjoyed it. My dad in law got the meat ravioli and liked his dish too. The entrees were definitely more of a hit for us. Their entree sizes are incredibly generous, we took home a lot of leftovers. To end, we got the tiramisu and apple crumble. The tiramisu was very coffee forward which i love and not too sweet. The apple crumbl was nice and warm, paired well with vanilla ice cream. We definitely went home with a food coma. Worth checking out if you're in the area, definitely worth for the entrees and dessert. I forgot to take photos of the entrees. But will post the ones I got! read more

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Last night, my husband and I were too tired to cook dinner at home, so we headed to Maria's. Their summer specials are back, and I ordered the pesto bruschetta. It was absolutely delicious! I love this restaurant because the servers are always attentive and the food is consistently amazing. The summer specials are especially great because they are fun, seasonal dishes served in slightly smaller portions, which are perfect for hot summer evenings. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for delicious food, great service, and a calm place to unwind from the chaos of everyday life! read more

Great food and service , Mr.Alfredo our server very attentive and friendly , Gabriel the server attendant as always very friendly and helpful!!! Thank you , Maria's Team!!! read more

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I love Maria's! I usually dine at the one on Pico in Westwood however, I decided to order in from home tonight, from Maria's in Pasadena. Service is always stellar at Maria's and it goes to show their excellent service stems restaurant wide. I called to request Fettucine sauce on my fettucuine noodles as a substitute for the marinara and spaghetti with the Sesame Chicken. The gentlemen Christian who answered the phone was so kind, professional and accommodating to my request. There was no option on Postmates to substitute which is why I had to call and Christian provided excellent service, even after I called him 3 times. Excellent service is rare nowadays so when I come across such kind professional service, it is greatly appreciated. Let's not forget my meal was perfect, my requested noted and delivered and OH SO DELICIOUS!!!!! Well done, Christian and the Manager, for accommodating my request with care. This is why I will always return to Maria's. The food is always delicious, plentiful and the service is on point. Thank you! read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Sesame chicken with fettuccine instead of spaghetti marinara. - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I lived near Maria's Italian Kitchen in Pasadena for nearly 6 years but it was my first visit there just last week. The service was excellent- greeted upon arrival, seated quickly, and our server was cheerful and friendly. The restaurant was nicely decorated with photos of Maria's family and it just gave me a homely, welcoming vibe. The food was excellent! We ordered their signature bread (they charge $0.50 for butter), half portion of the calamari (love how there's 1/2 size portions for their appetizers), a bowl of minestrone soup, Chicken Marsala, and Spaghetti with Meatballs. I really liked the flavor of the marinara sauce! I was super full by the time I was done with my entrees so I didn't have the chance to try their gelato. I will be sure to save room for dessert at my next visit! Highly recommend! Thank you, Maria's for a great evening! read more

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Maria's is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes we've received great service and food, and other times, not so much. The same goes for takeout. We always get there at the pick up time - sometimes the food is sitting getting cold, other times we end up waiting an additional 20-30 minutes. They do have one gluten-free pasta (Penne), but it isn't very good. If you're desperate it will get the job done, but there are much better options out there. The food is okay - pretty standard fare for a chain restaurant, but with limited Italian options in the area, this is often a go to since it is a step up from Olive Garden. read more

The foods were always amazing. Shyly has great attitude and amazing customer service-!! Been coming here for years and nothing's changed. Not sure if everything made in the house but they tasted so fresh and can't be compared to other Italian restaurants I've been. read more

We have been coming here for the last couple of years, and it's a huge favorite for the kiddo. He absolutely loves their lasagna, and orders it almost religiously. We've had their other items that are just as great that include their antipasto salad, the caprese salad, spaghetti carbonara, pappardelle with Italian sausage, mushroom risotto and their Blvd Pizza. Everything is top rate, but the stand outs would be the carbonara, pappardelle and risotto. Service is really hit or miss: we've had some great ones, and then not so great ones. We don't come enough to have the same one twice. Sometimes there's a wait, but it's never too long. At least they have a bar that you can sit at while you wait. Have a Chianti! Parking is super convenient with a large parking lot, so that's a plus! read more

Marias is a Pasadena GEM! I came with my family which is perfect. We ordered a bunch of dishes and shared them amongst ourselves. All the pasta dishes were phenomenal. We tried the Chicken Piccata, pappardelle and sausage, Shrimp Scampi, Spaghetti and Clams. The Christmas Salad was also perfection with the perfect tang and toppings. In addition to that, we loved the appetizers (fried zucchini, calamari, Christmas cauliflower) which I forgot to take pictures of because they were delicious!!!!! Overall, I suggest people try Marias for that homey Italian meal! The servers were super hospitable and helpful and the interior really takes you to that classic Italian feel. read more

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Hi, I went there with my wife. They place is busy and the waiters are very nice. However the food is very greasy and oily. Flavor is okay and the environment is good. read more

So my go to meal here is: Pappardelle sausage pasta, rosemary bread, calamari, bruschetta....almost done hang on. Blood orange pellegrino, tiramisu and some coffee. That's it. read more

My lady been wanting to try this spot I have not been here over ten years the one in Pasadena. The young lady Shaunte was very professional and really nice. We took advantage of the $40 that include salad, cheese garlic bread, and main course Chicken Alfredo fettuccine. My lady was blown away how much food which they are known for, plus we got huge Sunday omg was ridiculous. Overall was great choice and will come again. read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Huge Sunday for like 4 people - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Maria's Italian Kitchen is one of my fave chains that feel like a mom and pop shop. Located in a small strip mall, this Italian restaurant is always busy. I came between lunch and dinner at around 430 pm on a Sun and it was already buzzing! This place serves up one of my favorite carbonaras. I think it's because of the smokey flavor of the sauce. I love the pancetta and peas that accompany the noodles. Yum! I also love their bread with olive oil and balsamic. Used to be free but they now charge $1 for the basket of bread. We also got the calamari. It's light and airy, just like it's supposed to be. The hostess was really nice. Our server was also. Overall a great experience, as usual, at Maria's. Will be back for more! read more

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Rigatoni 4/5 elevated it by requesting a side of basil, Basil 3/5 basil was cut chiffonade quite nicely but a bit dry, it was close to closing... Rosemary Bread 4/5 can't beat a tray staked with rosemary bread for $1 Olive Oil and Balsamic 4/5 tasty and yummy Come enjoy a nice Italian meal whenever the thought crosses your mind read more

I have wanted to try out Maria's for about a decade. I drive by it on my way home, often. I finally got to try it out, because my friend sent some of their food to me. I chose the fusili and broccoli with pesto, and added chicken. I also got a small salad. My mom happened to be visiting the same day, so I ended up ordering her the fusilli with arrabbiata sauce, and a small salad. We were both extremely pleased! I thought the pesto dish was very flavorful, and the chicken was a good addition. My mom's dish was really spicy, just the way we like it! She let me try some. I personally am not a fan of garbanzo beans, or tomatoes, so I could have skipped those in a salad, but my mom really liked them. Overall, we had a really good experience with their food. And we even got it delivered! Great service! I asked the delivery guy not to knock on my screen door, because I have a new baby who was sleeping, and he totally followed the directions! I cannot speak to the ambiance, because we did not go to the physical location. read more

I absolutely love this place! My daughter, brother, and husband took me here for brunch on Mother's Day and we had such a great time. The food is really tasty, and the prices are quite reasonable for what you get. I have to say, my favorite dish is definitely the cheese ravioli! read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Celebrating Mother's Day - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came to this location for dinner with my family due to the gluten-free menu options. I was shocked and pleased that they had appetizers, meals, and even a dessert that I could eat. Between us, we ordered the kids ravioli, gluten-free pomodoro, gluten-free flatbread, a kids Caesar, and a cup of the vegan minestrone. We all enjoyed the flatbread, but it was a little tough - still tasty. The kids loved the ravioli and the salad. The minestrone was absolute lava and it took until the end of our pasta to even try some. The gluten-free pasta was a strange shape, something I've never seen before. However, it was filling. The pomodoro sauce was a little too acidic without much balance. The guy who took our order was a little hard to pin down at times. He was nice enough, but wasn't really around too often. We had to wait quite a while for the check, which threw off our evening plans. The ambiance was basically a classic Italian kitchen experience. It was homey, a little loud, and everyone looked like they were welcome. When I had come in, I saw these huge portion sizes around me, so I figured that we didn't have to order a lot, but they weren't quite enough for 2 adults and two kids who are enthusiastic eaters. Still, we left mostly satisfied (as much as my kids are at anything). We may return, since it was still a fairly pleasant experience, we would just go when we have more time to wait. read more

The restaurant has a warm and cozy atmosphere that immediately makes you feel welcome. Mariana, our server, guided us through both the wine and food selections with excellent recommendations and attention to detail. We decided on the Chicken Marsala, served with risotto and pasta, as well as the rigatoni with meatballs. From start to finish, the entire experience felt effortless, comfortable, and inviting. While waiting for our meals, we enjoyed a glass of wine along with fresh focaccia bread, which was a great way to begin the evening. Once the dishes arrived, everything exceeded expectations. The portions were perfectly balanced, the presentation was elegant and well-executed, and every dish was outstanding. The bolognese sauce was rich, balanced, and full of flavor, while the risotto was cooked perfectly. What truly stood out, however, was Mariana's exceptional customer service. Her professionalism, warmth, and attentiveness elevated the entire dining experience. The restaurant also offers plenty of parking and very clean restrooms. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Bar area - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Absolutely DELICIOUS! We're from the Bay Area & are in town for just a couple of days - we happened upon this place while looking for a place to eat....oh my gosh. The food is EXCELLENT & the service is great! We had the lasagna (hub always tests Italian restaurants by their lasagna) and I had the Chicken Picatta - both were phenomenal! We couldn't bring leftovers with us, so made sure we finished everything...had to roll us out the door.... Seriously though - if you're a fan of authentic FRESH MADE Italian food, this is your place!!! read more

Absolutely delicious. Ordered the vegan pizza, spaghetti and meatballs, and vegan risotto. All dishes were made with intention and care. Service was also exceptional read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Spaghetti & MeatballsSpaghetti - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

We love their pizza, rosemary bread and itslian chopped salad. We having been going there for 15 years.

Great food, good service! One of my favorite restaurants Always a good choice for Italian food, many choices to choose from Smooth soft music while enjoy lunch or dinner Try Maria's today... highly recommend Easy parking too! read more

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Maria's Italian Kitchen in Pasadena is located in the hasting ranch plaza. They are continently located in a shopping center with plenty of parking spaces and next to a market and bowling alley if there is a long wait. The food is okay, I went with my family and nothing stood out but nothing was disappointing as well. It's your average Italian joint that has a lot of options on their menu. The service was great and the prices are average. They were quick to seat us and keep checking in for refills. read more

We drove all the way from Anaheim to to try this and it was just like i remember. Great people great food . Lots of tables and booths and clean restrooms. There's nice music playing. I love their water. Our waiter was Alfredo very nice guy. read more

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Great service! Even though it was getting crowded, the server took our orders in a timely manner. The food came out quick enough, and was fresh with large portions. And my family has always the nostalgic interior with many of the owner's family history and photos! read more

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Perfect date Day! Great servers and delicious food!! This is our second time here and so far it's all been delightful read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and shrimp - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Now I know why Maria's Italian Kitchen has been here at this location for years! The quality of the food and the service is really what makes this restaurant incredible. I recently coordinated a holiday work dinner last month and I have to say, it was an amazing experience. They had the different "Party at Maria's" online already so it was easy to look at the different options. Making reservations for our party of 40 was easy, I called their phone number and was directed to Sergio, the Assistant Manager. We didn't have to put down a deposit for the reservation, but I called back a few weeks before our holiday dinner date to finalize the menu. It was helpful that Sergio and Martin provided a breakdown of the cost of the food, plus the 20% automatic gratuity, plus the tax, plus the 3% credit card processing fee. I wonder if they charge a 3% credit card processing fee to all checks, even if you are not a large party... The restaurant has a warm and inviting atmosphere, with charming decor and a very friendly and helpful waiter, Alfredo. Alfredo was the best, we were so lucky to have him take care of our party that evening. He was very patient and very kind. They blocked off the outside patio area for our party. For a Tuesday night, it was pretty busy at the restaurant. Our Family Style Dinner was quite a feast. We ordered Calamari Fritti, Bruschetta, Caesar Salad, and Chopped Italian Salad as the first course. Then for the second course, we ordered Spaghetti with Meatballs, Baked Rigatoni, Chicken Parmigiana, and Beef Braciole with Ragu. For dessert, we had cannoli and tiramisu. Out of the items that we ordered, the Spaghetti with Meatballs was my favorite. The Chicken Parmigiana and the Beef Braciole was a little dry, so I would try something else next time. The Chopped Italian salad was delicious, not sure if it was the freshness of the vegetables and/or the dressing they used, but I had two or three servings of that salad! The tiramisu was so good, but the cannoli was disappointing. The cream that they used for the cannoli was a little off. The portions overall were large and satisfying. I would highly recommend Maria's Italian Kitchen to anyone looking for a delicious Italian meal in a lovely setting. read more

My main complaint is a restaurant that doesn't clearly let you know they will be adding a service charge to your meal. Restaurants should price their food to cover costs of taking care of their employees. It hits me the wrong way that the owners are 'virtue-signaling' that they charge you this fee for their workers. The service was better than at my last visit a few years ago, but it was still so-so. Food is good. read more

Parking is hard because of small parking lot. I brought a bottle of alcohol for my cousin as a gift for his bday. And the worker kept staring at us when our waitress already told us we can't open it. We were never gonna open it anyway but a little annoying that he kept staring at our table. I like the half and half pasta they do because you can get 2 flavors. read more

Waiters are nice but really hard to get attention. Place is beautiful to dine outside or inside. No complementary bread or anything so don't expect they would serve anything. Food was okay since we were disappointed with our last dish. We order one of their famous most highly recommended dishes and when it was served we noticed the sausage or meat they used was burnt and covered up with sauce they served to us on top of pasta. The whole time when we took a bite every sausages was burnt. Left the dish there and paid. Didn't complain since our waiter was hustling the whole time. The other waiters were talking and laughing while our waitress was running in and out. read more

Italian food is so good on a chilly day, so dinner was especially good this evening. Our server was so wonderful and attentive by keeping our drinks fresh and a friendly nature to her. I want to always order the seafood here, as it's fresh and plentiful. read more

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They charged surcharge of 3% when I used my credit card. The reason they stated was that I didn't spend enough to cover the credit card processing cost to them. The bill before the surcharge was $26. It seems like a desperate move to stay afloat. However, I don't like this deceptive practice so not coming back again. read more

Sergio the manager, and Nancy the server was so good to us at the restaurant. The food was delicious too. I had mushroom risotto with chicken masala and passion fruit ice tea. My mom had a sandwich and ice water our family friends had a salad and watermy other family friend had Michelangelo angel hair pasta with passion fruit ice tea read more

Maria's Italian Kitchen - Pasadena - Us enjoying a great day with family and friends today - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is seriously legit! Food and service are excellent and I love the specials. So many places have the same tired menu, but not here. I tried the chicken Marsala and it was so full of flavor. Here's a tip you need to dine in. Do not judge the food by take out as everyone should realize that the flavor is not the same. Also tried the Eggplant Parmesan and yes another winner. read more

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