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Recommended Reviews - Marina
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Beautiful restaurant with a gorgeous interior and romantic ambiance -- dim lighting and chandeliers made it feel really upscale. We were seated right away even without a reservation, and the service was fast and attentive throughout the night. The chicken scaloppine was absolutely delicious, the shrimp alla vodka was also great, and the crudo was good though nothing especially memorable. To top it off, our server brought us a complimentary lemon sorbet that was super refreshing and tasty. Overall, a great dining experience and definitely a spot I'd come back to.
I've been here several times, and my experience has been different each time. Unfortunately, tonight wasn't great. Our drinks didn't arrive until after we received our main course, even though we ordered them right when we sat down. Our waiter didn't check in, and we had to ask twice about our drinks. Instead of apologizing, she suggested we order ahead next time to avoid waiting. As you can imagine, we were very disappointed with the service. Overall for the food - Grilled Octopus- Simply amazing. Lamb Chops Scottadito- Once again it was amazing. Calamari- Basic calamari (sauce was amazing). Mushroom Tagliatelle- Extremely salty. Bianca Pizza- Wasn't it. Branzino alla Griglia- Amazing only if you could handle picking the bones out. Spicy Shrimp alla Vodka- The shrimp doesn't go well with the vodka sauce and the bread crumbs are literally breaking your teeth as you're eating. 8oz Wagyu Flat Iron Steak- Good, would get it again. Overall - While the food was good, it wasn't enough to make up for the overall experience we had. The vibe was just off :(
Great Italian restaurant with nice vibes. The ambience inside is chic and upscale. The service is attentive as well. We came here in the evening for dinner and ordered two pasta dishes, and the Caesar salad. The Marina's Caesar salad is one of the best I've ever had and is a definite must try. We also ordered the mushroom tagliatelle and a tomato spicy pasta (not sure if it was the spicy vodka pasta or not). Both of the pasta dishes were well made, and well balanced. The mushroom pasta was not too salty with a rich creamy buttery taste. The tomato pasta had just the right amount of kick with chewy fresh pasta. The portions are on the smaller side but were enough to satisfy us. Overall, would recommend visiting! Try the salad and their fresh pasta too.
My second time at this restaurant. Had a good experience the first visit that is why I chose this restaurant for my birthday celebration. The service was not welcoming. I approached hostess to tell her our party is here. No warm welcome. My friend had to go back to hostess and tell her our party is all here. We arrived during happy hour and they would not honor happy hour menu at the seated table so we went to the bar. No warm welcome from bartender and owner told my friend you can only order at the bar. There were no seats and the service was so unwelcoming we really wanted to leave. The server then said we can have 1 round of happy hour but only drinks and not food menu items. The food made up for the bad service. I guess that is why they don't treat customers with hospitality since they have a consistent steady flow of customers and the food, drinks and desserts are delicious.
We came on a Friday night and they were able to seat us at the bar right away. We ordered the salami pizza and the spicy vodka pasta with shrimp. Food came out fresh and everything was delicious. Our server was great and super attentive. Really cute Italian restaurant in Pasadena with great food!
I loved the interior of this restaurant. It was home-y but vibey and a nice place to have a group dinner. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to its looks. We ordered the blistered bread and ricotta as a starter, and the amount of ricotta that was on the plate was skimpy, so we had to ration it. The bread looked better than it tasted. I definitely prefer Èlephante's version of it. As for the pizza, we tried the calabrian salami and bianca, both of which had great crusts, but the flavor was nothing memorable. We also tried the spicy shrimp alla vodka and it had an interesting tangy flavor that I didn't expect, although the pasta was cooked well. It was quick for us to be seated since we had a reservation, which I recommend, since the interior was pretty small. The service was good and the food came out altogether which was nice.
We visited Marina for dinner during the week and did not make any reservations as there were plenty of available tables available for indoor and patio. Although we did not make reservations, I think the next time I come I will do so because as we sat there the room started filling up with a lot more people! The restaurant had plenty of available seating fit for large parties which we saw a lot of. Since it was just the two of us we decided to share a few dishes. We shared the: 1. San Daniele Prosciutto & Fig - the dish may seem heavy with the buttered toast and stracciatella, overall it was a perfect starter. The figs were perfectly riped and sweet and complimented the salty prosciutto. The portion was also very generous for two individuals. We actually ended up with leftover cheese and prosciutto that we munch on while waiting for our other dishes. 2. Bianca pizza - if you love the taste of truffle oil you will definitely love this pizza. We could smell the truffle as the waiter was bringing the dish over to us. It is definitely on the richer and saltier and but I felt it was a nice follow up to the dish we had previously. 3. Cacio e Pepe - the pasta was cooked perfectly and was not soggy. It was the right amount of saltines and creaminess. The dish overall was tasty, but I wish I would have gotten a marinara based pasta dish to add some acidity to our dish choices. The dish was topped with fried artichokes that were a little salty. If you get this dish, make sure to mix the artichoke in to decrease the saltines. 4. Gianduja Budino - lastly we got a dessert and decided to go with a caramel hazelnut crumble. If you are a chocolate lover, this is the dish for you! The base like a caramel pudding topped with hazelnut crumbles that add a nice texture to the creamy pudding. There are Korova cookies to accompany the dish that are very chocolatey. It was a little bit too much for me, but my friend loved it. Overall we enjoyed the dessert because it wasn't too sweet and helped to wrap the whole meal. Overall, our experience at Marina was great! The staff members were wonderful and kind, and the food was delicious. I would definitely come back to try a few other items off of their menu. As a word of note, parking is available close to the restaurant in the underground parking lot. It is a pricier lot compared to other parking lot around the location, but Marina does provide parking validation that subtracts four dollars from the overall cost. If you don't want to park in the parking lot, there are a few other lots close to the area that you can walk to or you can also do street parking which may be limited, depending on when you go.
We had a reservation for 5:00 pm and had high hopes considering the reviews. Service is great and the people are all very nice. There was a nice ambiance inside with dimmer lighting and would be a nice place for a night out. However, the food was all-in-all underwhelming. We ordered a variety of appetizers, including the truffle fries, broccolini, bread & dip, and calamari. The fries were fine with nothing special about them. The truffle was a topping so it was also isolated to some fries, with most just being regular fries (so I would just purchase the normal fries personally). The bread/pita was cool, but again nothing special as the dip was a blend of olive oil&butter -- again nothing spectacular. The calamari was my favorite dish as the lemon aioli dip was flavorful. In the entire dish though, considering it was calamari & artichoke, there were only two pieces of artichoke on that entire plate. For the pasta dishes they are known for, we ordered the shrimp vodka and duck ragu. The shrimp vodka had sparse pieces of shrimp and was just average. The duck in the ragu tasted gamey and the pasta felt extremely overcooked. We also ordered the salami pizza, which was the best of our mains. It was salty from the salami but had a nice sweetness from the honey on top of it. The crust is thin and has a nice crunch. However, everything was again still just okay. I probably will not be visiting again.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants serving scrumptious pizza and pasta along with dishes with Middle Eastern flair. Make a reservation as this happening restaurant with a full bar is popular especially on weekends. Located just around the corner off Lake, this Pasadena gem has validated underground parking in the lot below as well as a handful surface level lot spots. Seating: mix of table and booth seating as well as outdoor seating with heat lamps. My favorites: Bread & Ricotta Grilled octopus Bianca truffle mushroom pizza Margherita pizza Mushroom Tagliatelle Cacio e Pepe Truffle Cavatelli Tiramisu Gianduja Budino hazelnut pudding Friendly attentive service by Daniel and the staff. Support small business! Highly recommend giving this trendy restaurant a try.
Came here on a rainy Thursday evening to celebrate a birthday dinner for four people. The restaurant was easy to find and parking underground was convenient and easy. The parking fee is reduced if you're dining at Marina. We ordered several items to compose our meal: Starters: Grilled octopus and persimmon salad -Excellently prepared. -Portions relatively small, especially the octopus. Would have liked a bit more, or should have been told by the server to consider ordering two portions. Pasta/Pizza: squid ink Fagottini, rabbit bolognese, Marguerita pizza, prosciutto pizza -Delicious. Well prepared. -Squid ink pasta was not as pronounced in flavor. Looked like more of a visual standout. But flavor was just okay. -Rabbit bolognese was well crafted and the sauce was rich and flavorful. -Pizzas were my favorite! Perfectly cooked crust and balance of sauce and toppings were amazing. Main: Dry Aged NY Steak -Was okay. I would have expected better for their signature protein on their menu. -Bone marrow bone was a nice touch but not needed. -Steak lacked "beefy" flavor, despite being labeled as "40 day dry aged". Service: excellent and attentive server and support staff.
This was a very cute small chic restaurant in Pasadena. Definitely a nice restaurant for a date night/ birthday dinner. Out of the dishes I tried, the octopus was my favorite dish as it was tender, paired well with the tomatoes and crispy potatoes, and it had a delicious sauce. My least favorite was the squid ink fagottini, very underwhelming in flavor and texture. The spicy alla vodka wasn't spicy, it was good but wasn't anything special. Pizza and branzino we cooked well too. Overall, loved the service and the octopus appetizer. Rest of the food, was just okay. Nothing stood out, and it's not an Italian restaurant that I would crave dishes to come back in the future.
10 months ago
Overall not a bad place, but I was a little disappointed. It's small and not good for a big group. We were party of 6 and got seated at a booth which was a little uncomfortable. The food was good and drinks were okay, but we did feel really rushed. It took the server some time to get our orders and after because it was close to closing time we felt extremely rushed. They even dimmed the lights at one point and like really?! read more
5 months ago
6 months ago
Business owner information
Xiomara D.
Hi Magnum , Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re glad…
2 years ago
The food was delicious! Friend and I sat at the bar, which was a lot of fun interacting with the bartender and owner. Great service, chill vibe, great for a girl's night out. read more
6 months ago
Business owner information
Xiomara D.
Hi Suzy, Thank you for sharing your experience and for highlighting…
1 year ago
Got everything in the pics and grilled octopus. Octopus was very tender, dessert was a solid 4/5, steak and pasta were both excellent. Parking is bad, only one lot next to it that was $8 for over 1 hour. read more
11 months ago
Everything about this place is PERFECTION! I have lived in Altadena/Pasadena for many years and have somehow missed this spot. The food/service/layout/ambiance can't be beat! Huge shoutout to Tony and Victor behind the bar for making my experience unforgettable! Sit at the bar and request them when you come in! read more
2 years ago
Marina shows timeless elegance. I like the interior as it is inviting and captivating. Especially the refined minimalism vibe Service is friendly and welcoming. The dishes all have nice presentation. Although the dishes do not wow me in flavors, i enjoy the meal. It does not dazzle with complexity but the whole package delivers a enjoyable dining experience. We tried: - blood orange salad - refreshing. Blood oranges are under the greens. Speck tastes real good. I would mix up the ingredients a bit more before digging in. - grilled oysters mushrooms - good to try - Calabrian salami pizza - note that this is spicy - uni & prawns risotto - three prawns and one is not fresh with meat mushy. - Branzino- good to try - chocolate tart - so so read more
Came by on a Wednesday night to try this place out and it felt like a Friday bc it was packed! I was still able to get seated pretty quickly in their patio section which is still nice and warm in the wintertime. Overall, the service was pretty good since the waiters were very friendly and brought out our food at a good pace. Between two people, we split the burrata and grilled octopus for appetizers and the butternut squash agnolotti and shrimp & calamari arrabiata for our main courses. Everything we ordered was so good and decently portioned we even had leftovers to take home. I really liked the agnolotti because of the subtle, tasty flavors of the dish. It is slightly sweet because of the butternut squash filling, so if you prefer more savory flavors this might not be for you. Both pastas were cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. The appetizers tasted amazing too and were great for sharing. I was too full to try for myself, but I did see a lot of people ordering their desserts. I would love to come back again and try some of their other dishes along with their tiramisu! read more
2 years ago
Nice spot that's really quite easy to find at the corner and quaint. It has a great romantic feel at night and also a business type lunch spot during day time. It speaks of class and culture here. The service is attentive and formal but not stuffy. It's a good place to dress up if you'd like, and you likely will give the nice decor inside. We were sat outside with fireplace, but our legs were freezing! Tables and chairs set up on sidewalk likely from pandemic era. Wish the spice it up more with greeneries and lights, but we cannot ask for much given the spot was likely used since outdoor eating was the norm in past. Most items were big enough to be shared and we thus went for pasta pizza and calamari down to the dessert. The options were very heavily laden with cream and cheese especially the pasta so they are definitely shareable as you will get stuffed easily. The carbonara was way too salty and creamy to my liking. Cheese on top, bacon inside, likely cream used for sauce. It was a very heavy and salty dish. The mushroom pizza was very good and light. The crust perfectly cooked and thin enough to fold in half to eat daintily. Protect those nails! The cheese was not too stringy that we'd look so silly. The blue cheese cheesecake had hint of blue cheese without it being overwhelming. Wish it had more red sauce as the sour punch highlights the cheesecake more. Maybe even drizzle on cake! We did not do drinks but with all the shareables, expect to spend about $60-$70/person here. It is a classy sexy spot so the $ was spent into that too! Bon Appetito! read more
9 months ago
Only bad thing I can say about this place is that they agreed to cook well-done steak for my dumbass friend Lorenzo. That aside, this place is phenomenal. Got piss drunk off their gin and tonic, which was just about the best g&t I've ever had in my life, and paired that intoxicating boon to the senses with a delicious grilled octopus and a perfectly-cooked 8oz wagyu steak. The taste, the texture, the consistency--it was all there. But that's not enough to win over a man of high-brow criticism such as myself. See, I'm a guy that wants to see presentation, mise-en-scène if you will. And let me tell you, these plates looked like stills from a Roger Deakins film: absolutely stunning. These guys know their color wheel like the back of their hands. 5/5. read more
I initially made a reservation for two. I needed to change my reservation from two guests to five, and it was very last minute! Surprisingly, Marina was able to accommodate and update the reservation. Parking can be difficult in the area. Tried to park where Randy's Donuts was, but the parking lot was so jam packed. There was a parking lot next to Marina where it was $1.50 for every 15 minutes... so I wasn't too happy about that. The restaurant was so lively when we walked in. We sat in the back area and it was really noisy. I didn't have too much of an issue listening to friends sitting across, but some did. There were so many food items to try. I recommend ordering family style so you and friends can try a bit of everything. We ordered two pizzas (Margherita and Calabrian Salami), three pastas (Cavatelli & Italian Sausage, Shrimp & Calamari Arrabiata, and Mushroom Linguini), and several Firsts (Fried Calamari & Artichoke, Grilled Octopus, Blood Orange Salad, and Burrata & Kumquat). The Calabrian Salami pizza was my favorite between the two. The hot honey surprisingly worked really well with the tomato sauce. It was sweet, savory, and tart. I loved it! I love Margherita pizzas, so I had to order one from Marina. It was an interesting take on the Margherita pizza because there were different types of cheeses on it. It was a like a bougie Margherita pizza. The bread was light, airy, crunchy, and filling. Tip: dip the crust in the parsley aioli sauce that came with the Calamari and Artichoke. It was delicious. Of the three pastas, I recommend the Cavatelli & Italian Sausage, and Shrimp & Calamari Arrabiata. The Shrimp & Calamari Arrabiata pasta was flavorful and a little spicy. The Cavatelli & Italian Sausage pasta was intriguing because of the goat cheese and the ricotta, but also delicious nonetheless. I say try the Cavatelli & Italian Sausage pasta with the tomato sauce before mixing the cheese. It was like two different pastas into one. Once you mix in the cheese, it becomes this pink sauce like mixing marinara sauce and white Alfredo sauce. The Mushroom Linguini was mediocre. It was bland tasting. The Fried Calamari & Artichoke, and Blood Orange Salad were my favorite of the Firsts. Grilled Octopus, and Burrata & Kumquat were whatever. The grilled octopus was minuscule. It was definitely not worth it, especially for the price. By the end, we were so full, we didn't have room for dessert. All foods were rich and heavy. Marina also validates their parking but only $2 off. read more
I stopped by on a weekday and the place was very packed. I was lucky enough to be able to get a seat without a reservation. I think next time, I would try to get a reservation so I could actually dine inside the restaurant. Food: The food was just okay. I don't think it was the best thing I've ever had, but I also wouldn't describe it as bad. I ordered their Truffle Cavatelli and Calabrian Salami Pizza. I think there are definitely other restaurants in the area who has better pasta. In addition, I personally didn't like how the cheese on the pizza was able to just get ripped off instead of it being nicely melted. Overall, if I come back, I might choose to try something else. Service: Our server Kelly was amazing. She was very nice and attentive. She did forget to put in our wine order in the system, but it honestly wasn't a big deal. I have no complains about the service. It was great. Ambiance: Unfortunately, because I didn't make a reservation, I didn't think the outside seating was the best. However, if you get to sit inside the restaurant, its very nicely decorated and feels very lively. read more
2 years ago
Service was inconsistent, food too was a bit disappointing- the bread had no salt and too little of the (delicious) ricotta to make up for the lack of salt. The bread had a terrific texture, though. The chicken scaloppine was by far the hit of the evening! The sausage pasta lacked umami - somehow?! And the mushroom dish was extremely mushroomy. I thought the environment was comfortable and the vibe was good. read more
1 year ago
The food was good, the service was good. Gluten free pasta available. The shrimp with tomato-vodka sauce was very good. It's oppressively loud in the dining room. read more
High ceiling modern interior. Servers are luck warm, not really paying attention to greet while it's not so busy. 1) Carbonara: 2-star Bucatini. smoked guanciale (similar to bacon), creamy egg sauce. Greasy salty rich sauce. Guanciale (thick diced bacon) is tough to chew on. Not much of flavor but grease n salt. Pasta is hard chewy, not blended much of flavor into the rest of the ingredients in this pasta dish. 2) Sautéed Kale: 4-star Garnished w/fresh red chili pepper, giving it a kick of spiciness. Kale is sautéed heavily oily but fresh. Its well balanced out to my Carbonara. 3). Latte: 3-star Rather bitter other than flavor. 4) Tiramisu: 2-star In comparing to Pasta Sisters, this one is heavy thick on milk foam over powering. Cocoa powder is rather garnishing w/o a touch of the soul of Tiramisu. Disappointed. read more
3 months ago
Business owner information
Xiomara D.
Hi Diana , Wow, what an incredible way to celebrate a birthday — we…
We came here on a Friday evening in August for a party of eight to celebrate a birthday. We made reservations a few days beforehand and had a table in the back reserved for Our waiter was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about the menu and went above and beyond to make sure we had a good birthday celebration. We ordered a variety of food and some of the highlights were the meatballs, prosciutto pizza, rabbit bolognese pasta, mushroom risotto, and the porterhouse steak. The meatballs were a nice appetizer. The pizza was delicious and the thinly sliced prosciutto was the perfect topping. The porterhouse steak was tender and they sliced it up for us, making it easy to share amongst the table. The cocktail menu showed that the drinks were made with soju. Although we all love soju, we were in luck that this was the first day that they received their liquor license and they were able to make our cocktails with the stronger stuff. We all enjoyed our drinks and food and had a great birthday celebration! read more
3 years ago
New spot in Pasadena that was definitely good with upscale vibes. The food was made very fresh and culinary skills were phenomenal! For my food I ordered the Caesar salad off the happy hour menu, and for my entree I ordered the Scaloppine di Pollo, which was very good and tender it melted in my mouth. So delicious and flavored on point! Also, the happy hour blistered bread was very tasty as well! For my drinks I just ordered the wine that's was on the happy hour! Further, to be explained, the service was amazing! We sat at the bar since it's was happy hour and really enjoyed ourselves. Our server Aniko was very attentive and made sure we were satisfied with the wine selection. The owner Gustavo is very amicable and hardworking to fulfill his goals of the establishment. They were very chill and personable, which made me know for sure I'll be back! The decor was very nice inside and I adored how modern everything is inside, clean, and good ambiance. The restrooms were clean which definitely made me want to come back! Overall, this fairly new gem is Pasadena will get you right for date night, happy hour, and a night out with family or friends. They do take reservations, but walk -ins are welcomed too . It's easy to find, right across the street from LA Fitness. They also have a good happy hour, which is Monday-Tuesday all day, and Tuesday- Friday is from 5-6pm. I will definitely come back asap. Side:note it's limited parking but you can park in the parking spaces right next to the establishment. It's only $1.00. read more
9 months ago
Service is ok, but the food tastes bad, no taste at all. I will not come back again. Only photos look nice. read more
I went here today to try this new restaurant in Pasadena. This restaurant used to be Sharkey's. We went for happy hour and the menu was proper with great prices. I ordered the lamb chops, Caesar salad, blistered bread, a glass of red wine, and a glass of Prosecco. Everything was pleasing and delicious. The owner, Gustavo, and our waiter Aniko were delightful. They made sure we had a great experience for our first time. They were very accommodating and gave us great service. The decor is very nice and trendy with nice lighting. Indoor/and outdoor seating with heat lamps. They have a few free parking spots in front of the restaurant and the parking structure for $10 Happy Hour is all day Monday through Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 pm to 6 pm for one hour only. They are open for lunch only on Friday-Sunday from 1130am to 2:30/3:00 pm They are open daily from 5 pm to 9:00 pm I will return to try additional items on the regular menu and their lunch menu. Note: Hapoy hour is only at the bar. read more
11 months ago
Wow. Honestly my top favorite italian food in LA. Super authentic, the chef makes everything from scratch. On the expensive side but super worth it for the price. The owner is super sweet and welcoming, service was outstanding, and the restaurant all in all is super aesthetic clean and beautiful. I'd say if you're looking for good italian food, definitely come here!! The owner also also owns a coffee shop next door called REPUBLIK. Lastly their hazelnut ice cream WAS TO DIE FOR. read more
2 years ago
Fantastic service, excellent food and aesthetically pleasing decors! We greatly appreciated Nick's attentiveness as well! As for the amazing food, we ordered the following: Fried calamari and artichoke: delish and the sauce was a good combo Tuna carpaccio: one of my faves, that lemon yuzu sauce was delightful Scaloppine di Pollo: juicy chicken with lemon-white wine sauce, chef's kiss Carbonara: savory and rich Steak frites: perfectly cooked medium rare steak Mushroom linguini: rich and bold, so tasty I'd come back to try out the other dishes read more
Came here for brunch on a Sunday. We ordered 3 dishes: 1. Persimmon salad - Decent. Persimmon was very fresh. 2. Margherita pizza - okay too. 3. French toast - honestly my fav out of everything we ordered but wasn't the best I had. All the ingredients they used were fresh but I wasn't wowed by the food; it was just one of those places you try once and will never go back. Parking - not so great; I opted for street parking which was $1/hr. My friend parked at macys for free parking and walked over. ambiance - love the interior. Good spot to catch up with friends. read more
I researched diligently for a nice restaurant to take my host daughters to for Christmas Eve dinner. After a long day of sightseeing and mass at a nearby church, we arrived at Marina so tired and hungry. I loved how warm the restaurant was and how friendly and kind the waitress and staff were. I wouldn't have been as gracious if I had to work on Christmas Eve so their presence was even more so appreciated. The pizza was probably one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten outside of Italy. Chewy, crispy crust, perfect amount of sauce, fresh basil and mozzarella. The girls had never had mussels before and loved them. The carbonara was hearty and delicious. There wasn't anything not to like so we'll be visiting again the next time we're in the area. read more
Food: - Bianca + truffle: 10/10, flavors are good - blasted bread: 10/10 with the dip was good - carbonara: 2/10, could be better if it wasn't just a glob - kiwi energy: 8/10, similar to whisky sour Service: - terrible terrible terrible service: our wait staff was never around, waters not refilled once - we waited 30 minutes to even place our order, after asking for waters, the wait staff never came back - waited 30 minutes for our pastas and the pastas came out cold, the sauce basically glued the pasta together - the fastest thing that came out was the check - it was my partner's birthday all other tables got a cake except for my party - another table that came in after us got all of their food before us Ambiance: - good indoor ambiance - notice that outside patio is just a strip next to the parking lot and the sidewalk - due to service will not return, the whole meal took 2 hours because of poor service read more
What a hidden gem on lake Ave! As a lactose intolerant, I usually shy away from heavily dairy filled Italian food, but Marina is well worth any consequences. The contemporary beach vibe is romantic and cozy. The food is phenomenal, and the service is friendly. I've been here for both regular dinner and happy hour. The best items on the happy hour menu in my opinion are the salami pizza and lamb chop. The pizza crust is nice and thin with strong cheese and savory salami. It's a party of flavors! The lamb chop was well cooked, not gamey tasting at all, and the spiced oil plus sauce were perfectly balanced. The lamb sauce was so good that I ended up dipping the pizza crust. Another standout item is the rabbit pasta. The pasta style holds onto the meat sauce so well and was cooked al dente. The sauce was rich and unctuous without being too heavy. I would recommend making reservations in advance as they do fill up quickly, no matter the day. read more
/)/) ( . .) ( づ we had high hopes coming into this...it's a really nice date spot, very chic interior and amazing atmosphere. We got the salami pizza with chili honey sauce. Barely any toppings just few thin slices salami. Wished it had more toppings. The chili honey sauce was way too sweet. It was not enjoyable at all which was unfortunate because we loved the dough. It was chewy, doughy and on the thinner side. If it had more toppings and just a hint of sweetness of the sauce it would have been perfect! We also got the rabbit bolognese which was solid. Nothing outstanding but still good. Also got the calamari's for appetizer. More on the oily size but good seasoning. Wished it was bigger calamari's instead of baby small ones. read more
We choose this place for my mom's birthday and i think it was one of the best pick! We had reservations and we were promptly seated in no time. Host was amazing - she pointed out some best dishes to try while we were getting seated. Server came in no time and greeted us, explained the menu, and gave us enough time to order food and drinks. We ordered: Panzanella: I am a big fan of burrata! It was served with heirloom tomatoes with croutons. It was simply WOW. This appetizer was perfectly balanced. Squash Blossoms: Another great appetizer- stuffed with Ricotta and citrus hint to it. Highly recommend this dish. Bianca Pizza: If you like mushrooms on your pizza, this is a must! Aged cheese and right proportion of mushrooms with perfectly baked dough made it very authentic! Steak Frites: This skirt steak was made to its perfection tender and juicy. Topped with peppers and the sauce was made this whole plate absolutely delicious. Carbonara: One of the most authentic Carbonara I have tried in LA area. Absolutely delicious and al dente. Highly recommend this dish. Rigatoni Alla Norma: Great vegetarian pasta dish which was very well balanced with tomato and eggplant. Of course al dente and they got the flavors to the spot! Tiramisu: of course you cannot go wrong with this dessert! Love this place and I will definitely be coming back to try other dishes. Highly recommend this place! read more
1 year ago
DO NOT DO NOT DO NOT SIT INSIDE THIS PLACE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT. THE NOISE LEVEL WILL WANT YOU TO PUT IN EAR PLUGS. **Sit outside! Hostess and service was good for a busy night. Food was mixed. Lamb chops good. Sausage pizza was tasty, but 2/3 of crusts was "soggy" unfortunately. Crisp your crust up and you would have a great pizza. Bronzino fish was cooked good and tasty, but I think our fish was on Ozempic since it was very thin and full of bones. Great fries. Came out crispy how we asked. 2 wine pours for $34 dollars and each pour here was "very" small. Not a fan of the wine pours. Not rushing back on a Saturday night. read more
Our waitress Kelly was so sweet & friendly. The pastas looked better than it tasted, and lacked flavor. the Caesar salad was super fishy (Had actual lots of pieces of anchovies), we love a Caesar salad so it was disappointing that we didn't eat much of it and left it mostly uneaten. The Margherita pizza and nectarine salad was good. The dessert we tried were delicious and the best thing we had there!! I think there's definitely room for improvement with the pasta but still be back to give it another try. Not sure if they were just having an off day! read more
3 years ago
I'm quite disappointed :( I was really excited to come here because of the reviews but the pasta and food was overall very MEDIOCRE. I ordered the mushroom linguine and it was creamy but it lacked flavor and seasoning in my opinion. The food was very fresh but i'm not sure if it's worth the wait time. I understand the food is handmade but we waited 30+ minutes to get our pastas. My friend got the rigatoni alla norma and rated it a 6/10. Despite the nice presentation, it was bland and dry. We got the Margherita pizza and it was alright, we rated it a 7.5. The pizza itself was pretty basic, the crust was good but the sauce layer was quite thin. The interior is nice and the ambiance is great but note that it's quite loud. The servers and waiters were really friendly. Overall: I wouldn't come back, i feel like my own pasta tastes better To be clear, this is just my experience! I would recommend dinning inside instead of the patio. read more
3 years ago
4.25/5 Service is good and so it's the ambiance of the space. Only 2 things I would not get again is the carbonara (too salty & kinda cold) and steak (ordered medium rare and came out medium and burnt & you can really taste the burnt part w/ every single cut). The butternut agnolotti is a must get and oh how creamy the squash is! And the prosciutto pizza was amazing. I would get these two if I come here again. Octopus is nice and tender. My brother was surprised by how much he enjoyed it and so was I since I don't typically get octopus dishes. Calamari is as expected of a fried calamari dish. Rabbit Bolognese was also good; the rabbit obviously tasted lean. Didn't taste gamy for me but it was for my brother. One common thing with all the dishes including pizza was. I wish they were all a little more warmer. read more
Good restaurant and lots of potential, but not super impressed. To start, it seems to be a popular restaurant. Although going at 5:30pm right after it opens at 5pm, my party of 3 was able to get a patio seat within 5 minutes, so very happy about that. If you want to go later during peak time, make a reservation beforehand, safer to reserve prob 1-2wks ahead I would guess. The restaurant is comfortably located on Cordova st in Pasadena, across from the LA fitness, so parking is easy. You can park in the LA fitness structure (free on Sunday but otherwise would have to pay), or I usually park in the lot behind Veggie Grill and Jamba Juice, free. The interior gives a fancy upscale vibe, but they are cool with casual dress and feels welcoming. Outdoor seating on patio was sufficiently warm with lots of heaters, but still bring a jacket just in case. Started out with some drinks and Blistered bread & ricotta. The bread was good, but I would say average: while I liked the presentation, the flavors were nothing to be ecstatic about. I had the Dolcessa gin cocktail and that was actually fantastic. One of my friends go the "I Don't Give A Fig" mezcal cocktail and that was definitely a delicious drink without being overly smoky. The Kiwi Energy drink that I got later on was also spectacular, with strong kiwi flavor and good balance of acidity, probably got most of my vitamin C from that drink. When the main dishes presented, I wasn't impressed with the carbonara, it was average at best. Perhaps sitting outside on the patio cooled it down faster than it could've been, but the flavor was lack-luster although it was al dente, which gave a good chewing texture. The Bianca pizza was reasonable, but way too oily, it was dripping down my chin on the first bite....I think more subtle amount would be classier, unless you want extra oil to treat your dry skin. The steak frites was solid though, got it medium rare as requested, and the fries were crisp and well fried, with delicious seasoning. Overall, not impressed with the Bianca pizza nor the carbonara. But the steak frites was a great choice. The tiramisu was fairly good, more creamy than I usually like it, but the flavor profile was as expected, and went well with my oatmilk cappuccino. I do have to mention that our waiter Nick was fantastic and always present when we wanted to order sometimes extra. Excellent service. So overall, 5 stars for convenience, parking, service, steak frites, and drinks. 2 stars for the bread, carbonara, Bianca pizza. Overall 3 stars. May go back again to try other food options, maybe I can change my mind more. read more
6 months ago
Business owner information
Xiomara D.
Hi Sue, We appreciate your honest feedback and will share notes with…
2 years ago
Background On Visitation: Wanted to go to a new restaurant and the rabbit bolognese pic on Marina's yelp page made me want to crave it. I'm a sucker food items that have the word "bolognese" in it. Restrooms: They're available. Credit Cards: They're accepted. Reservations: Seems like you're better off making reservations. If you don't make a rsvp, you'll probably be stuck on the bar area or in the outdoor patio. Location/Parking: Located Ambiance/Decor: Ambiance was really nice in the main dining area, but not so much in the outdoor patio. We were situated at a table near plants and during the whole dining experience.....I felt bugs biting/bugging me. I probably think they were just targeting me only. The plates was kind of off putting also. The eating plates we received had some ceramic chipped off of them. Entertainment: Must check out the pizza chef in action with the beautiful pizza oven in the background. Service: Service was slow and the waitress was friendly, but wasn't attentive. She shorted the change by $0.24. Food came out at a snail pace and received the rabbit bolognese an hour and half later after we were done with our calamari artichoke appetizer and margarita pizza. -Please note that there is a 3% surcharge to help supportive kitchen wages and healthcare. You can ask them to take it off if you don't want to be charged that fee. Food Of Choice: 1) Calamari and Artichoke: It was quite salty. The parsley aioli was good, but was salty also. 2) Marguerita Pizza: Loved everything about the pizza. The star of the pizza was the CRUST! The only negative was that they were less generous with the basil. 3) Rabbit Bolognese: Pasta dish was very good even though we waited an hour and a half for. I guess great things come to those who wait. Rabbit was good and didn't have any gamey smell. It tasted like sausage! The bolognese sauce was flavorful, and texture of the malfadine pasta was great! Marina For Thought: Food was excellent, but the service was not. Maybe next time it'll be a better experience. read more
More info about Marina
841 Cordova St
Pasadena, CA 91101
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(626) 714-7228
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http://marinapasadena.com
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Ask the Community - Marina
What is the price range per person?
It really depends on what you get. I want to say entrees run from $25-$30. We ordered 5 appetizers, everyone got entrees and drinks. Everything was great.
Could they accommodate a reservation for 16 people?
Yes, but for sure you need to schedule it days in advance. Don't leave to do it the day before your desired date.
Do you have parking?
They have a smaller free lot right behind, and there is a lot of paid parking underneath!
Do you have vegan options?
Yes. The owner is great. He will find ways to make accommodations for you.
Is there a gluten free/peanut free options for pasta or mains?
They have gluten free pasta ONLY, And it's really good. Hope this helps.
Is there a cake cutting fee for birthdays?
I believe it's five dollars per person if I'm not mistaken
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
55 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
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Marina - italian - Updated May 2026
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