Agree totally with reviewer Doohee L. comments about the mushroom omelette. The fresh salmon on the salad is prepared to your choice. The server can have the kitchen also replace the vinaigrette dressing with another dressing. The hot tea choices are only a few but are from a quality tea company. Just be aware there is a charge for paying the bill with a credit card. read more

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Visted yesterday for lunch for the first time. Service was great. I ordered the grilled fish tacos and my friend ordered the same. I asked for the "salsa" on the side. (Looked and tasted like Chipotle aioli). Tacos were in corn tortillas just FYI. The plate came with 3 tacos... wish it had 4. I didn't care for the dressing the salad was tossed in. I can't remember what it was but I remember asking the waiter while I was ordering and he responded. I'm really curious to come during brunch hours and try other items. It was raining when I came and parking was full in the lot so I parked on Colorado. read more

Plate 38 - Fish tacos - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Absolutely worst service waited 30 minutes after putting our order in and the manager comes up to use and says the waiter for got to drop off the order it will be another hour ! we were like what?! we are leaving never again! read more

I'll start off with the positive... food was/is good. Now the staff is where this place needs to course correct. This coming from a business owner my self, and understanding how demanding and overwhelming customers can be. The 3 times I've been here I've had the same experience. There's 4 waiters and only 2 are actually working. Staff seems like they been working there so long, that they are over their job and don't seem to care to have any customer service. In particular, a short waiter, Alberto, in the 45 minutes that I was there, he literally did absolutely NOTHING, besides taking one order. Customers had to wait to be acknowledged or seated (mind you, place was not busy) Seems like this place is standing thanks to the loyal regulars. read more

AMAZING FOOD & AMAZING SERVICE! It was pretty pricey, but totally worth it! The artichoke is to dieeee for, the oysters are okay (they only had three options available), & the chicken pesto sandwich is KILLER. Also the inside is cute, has a rustic vibe going & there's plenty of seating! Will be coming back for that artichoke! read more

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I believe that three stars is being generous. I took my elderly father and ordered him the pancakes. It was black on the bottom of each. So burnt that I couldn't even cut through them for him. Shame on them for serving them and trying to hide them. Service our waiter was so sweet when he took our order, but never saw him again until we received our bill. Never received refills My family and I don't believe it was worth the price read more

I have not been to Plate 38 in about a year and wow! The food and drinks were fantastic! Sat at the bar and the staff was very attentive and friendly. read more

After a leisurely two-hour tour of the Norton Simon Museum, we were hangry and en route to Los Angeles via the I-210 W when my brother-in-law suggested eating at Plate 38 Kitchen and Bar. Yay! I had bookmarked Plate 38 Kitchen and Bar three years ago since LA Yelp Elite Friend Crystal L and finally got to take another bookmarked place off the list. My brother-in-law said he had brought our other cousins from Hawai'i to eat at Plate 38 last year after an event. Luckily, when we pulled into the shared parking lot, we found a stall within feet of the restaurant's entrance. We wilted in the hot 95° F temperature upon exiting from the excellent air-conditioned comfort of my brother-in-law's car. Dashing into the casual restaurant, the friendly host/server, Jose, greeted and seated us. As we passed along the full bar, I glanced at their West Coast draught beer selections and decided on a thirst-quenching pint of Orderville Hazy IPA, and my husband's choice was the Family Pilsner. As soon as Jose seated our foursome, he informed us about the kitchen's daily special, took our beverage orders, and left us to peruse the menu. My taste buds were piqued by the Duck Confit Buffalo Chicken Wings appetizer while my husband and brother-in-law eyed the shoestring fries. When Jose returned with our beverages, we were ready to place our appetizer orders but needed a few more minutes to decide on our meals. After Jose described the Duck Confit Buffalo Chicken Wings to our group, we all agreed that this unique appetizer would be worth a try with our beverages. FOOD: -Duck Confit Buffalo Chicken Wings: 6 chicken wings were slow and low baked in duck fat à la confit-style, then drenched in Buffalo wing sauce made with Frank's hot sauce. The wings were moist, tender, and "fall-off-the-bone," but I couldn't tell if the chicken skin was crispy with the sauce drowning. The apple-celeriac slaw was a refreshing flavor with crisp textures, while the Bleu cheese mousse helped to mellow out or neutralize the spicy hot sauce. I'd order this again. .$17 French Fries: Jose delivered a huge and generous serving of crisp exterior and fluffy interior shoestring fries. The plain fries were hot and fresh from the fryer. We seasoned the fries ourselves and waited a few minutes before digging in because we could see the steam rising from the fries in the bowl before using the mayonnaise and ketchup condiments. My husband said this was one of the best fries he's ever eaten. -Braised BBQ Short Rib Sandwich: tasty and tender thick slices of braised short rib were garnished with pepper jack cheese, crispy poblano chili, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, BBQ sauce, and chipotle aioli were sandwiched in between crisp and crusty ciabatta bread. I had to squeeze or press the sandwich to bite into it. The sandwich was so tasty that I greedily wolfed down half when I suddenly chose to save the other half for later. Haha. My brother-in-law asked if I was sick because I usually finish the meal in one go. $21 -Slow Roasted Pork Sandwich: the slow-roasted pork sandwich was a behemoth! The brioche bun barely held the pile of thinly sliced slow-roasted pork that was garnished with apple, jicama, coleslaw, caramelized onions, roasted poblano pepper, bourbon barbecue sauce, and garlic herb aioli. My husband deconstructed the sandwich before the brioche bun could get soggy and ate it using a fork to avoid a potential mess. He enjoyed the flavors but thought this sandwich had too much going on in it. $15 Jose provided us with friendly and efficient service. He frequently checked on our beverage requests, water refills, and eating progress without being obtrusive. He profusely apologized for the delivery delay of his husband's sandwich, which was caused by his mistyping error. However, the error was quickly corrected, so there wasn't an issue. We liked the ambiance of this casual restaurant and would happily return. read more

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My husband and I came here "on the fly" for breakfast. The food was exceptional. I ordered the smoked trout avocado toast which was packed with a variety of flavors. My husband ordered eggs, bacon and potatoes. All of it was delicious. They came with samples of fruit which was ripe and sweet! The service was timely. The ambiance quiet with background music. A couple of people quietly worked in their lap tops. A side note: There is patio seating and an outdoor enclosed seating for overflow for groups (looked like up to 80 people. The bar looked extensive. read more

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My sister, a mutual friend, and I had lunch today at Plate 38. The roasted tomato soup was excellent, as always. The Panini that you can order with the soup was rather skimpy on the ham, unlike my previous experiences. I ordered the prime rib dip sandwich, and I was completely disappointed. There were more mushrooms and onions than prime rib, and the prime rib really did not have much flavor. this sandwich needs to be served with horseradish sauce, rather than the bland dipping sauce they provided. It was a rather uneven lunch, to save the least. read more

One of the tastiest happy hours around and they have bone marrow on their menu! Love coming here! Great service and nice patio seating!

The food is hit and miss. No consistency in food or serving. The bus staff is absolutely horrible and rude. The only area where any consistency is shown is behind the bar where they can't make a decent tasting drink to save their lives. WARNING: Do not order any standard well drinks! They can't make them and we have given the multiple opportunities to do so. If you have a spare $15 and want a good laugh order a Mai Tai. read more

Plate 38 - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is one of my favorite places to go to in Pasadena. Great prices, great atmosphere and they try to make any kind of drink that you like. I appreciate the hospitality on all of that. read more

Every now and then you get to be surprised when you come to a restaurant. Plate 38 is one of those surprise events that happens when you come here to eat. And do you know how it starts, it starts with a grilled artichoke, and may I recommend that you get one individually instead of sharing. So the artichoke is the beginning, but what takes you to full joy and you're gonna find this really strange, but it's the hamburger, with guacamole and chilies on it, I've never had a burger that tasted quite like this! And if that wasn't the top it off of all events, way to tick out these french fries, talk about the perfect shoe string, french fry with just the right amount of seasoning, how did they do it? Plate 38 is a true LA gem! read more

The staff was attentive and charismatic. We walked in around 9:30 am without a reservation and got seated quickly. I think they prefer reservations. Mojito was amazing. Strong but very flavorful. Crushed ice and minty. The peach bellini was tasty as well. The food was delicious and sat well in our stomachs. The tomato soup tasted clean and did not give heartburn. The waffle was crispy and the whipped cream had depth. The croquet madame was amazing. my first time having the dish. They put a lot of ham in between two thick bread that tastes like brioche but I'm not sure. The eggs on top were cooked perfectly and the bechamel sauce wasn't too rich. The only negative I have is I was not a fan of the salad dressing. Would definitely come back for drinks and to explore more of the menu. read more

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Had an early dinner with my boyfriend today. My goodness, the food is absolutely delicious. I could not decide which dish was my favorite. We had the arancini, mushroom bruschetta, prime rib sandwich, calamari, braised short rib and mushroom burger. I must say, heart(back) of the house seriously know what they're doing. Our server, Dennis was great. Service was great. My boyfriend had a cocktail, an airplane. The mixologist did an amazing job. The cocktail was very refreshing with a citrusy flavor. We had a great experience and will definitely be coming back. read more

We decided to try a new place while my husband and I visited his daughter in Pasadena. First I have to admit the staff was VERY nice. The staff can get a 5 star rating easily. However, I was a bit disappointed that we paid $200 for 4 burgers and fries. Unfortunately I had a mini cheese burger and although I requested well done when I bit into it, was medium rare and very pink! I could not eat it. I showed the server and he was very nice and offered to make another one but I declined. When we received our bill the server did remove my mini burger, but the bill is something I have never seen before at a restaurant. I had the charge for the food we ordered, they added their own gratuity. Then they charge a tax for the food and a separate tax for the gratuity that they put on the bill. Also there are two totals. One total for cash and a total that was more expensive if you paid with card! I have never seen this! The kids had barbecue and classic burgers, everything was a la carte. I think some things were over priced such as $4 can sodas and $7 root beer. The family felt the food was okay. Unfortunately I can't say the same for mine. Probably won't dine here again but having drinks and saying hello to the great staff would be nice!! read more

Plate 38 - Mini cheeseburger - It looked good but unfortunately it was undercooked! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Wow, Robert, you nailed it with your Thrifty Thursday 3-course dinner last night. That salad was a work of art and the branzino with clams in that broth was superb. Price may have been thrifty but the food was totally opulent! Can hardly wait for next Thursday's menu. read more

I think it may be time to wrap up future visits to Plate 38. This place has the potential to be an awesome restaurant; however, my third review all at three stars. If you look at my reviews and many others, there is one consistent theme. The theme from most is pretty good food with pretty lousy service. We visited on Sunday 03/24/2024 with a party of four. I had the truffle mushroom burger. It was a really excellent burger; however, for $21 I was disappointed it didn't come with fries or any other side. I shared a side of garlic fries with my Husband. So, the service though...come on guys...the same complaint from everyone for years and years. You just don't have enough servers, in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024 -- whatever year you want to use. I am guessing it is not the labor force at this point; however, it is the restaurant. On this particular visit, there were plenty of food runners/bussers; however, I believe there was only two servers on duty -- if it was more, I apologize; however, whatever the number, it was one or two short of where it needed to be. The restaurant was at full capacity during our visit. I even saw the hostess and the bartender take on the role of server during our visit. Overall, I'm just sad they can't improve this one aspect. read more

Food - 3.5 Service - 4.0 Ambiance - 3.5 1st visit to Plate 38, went there for brunch. Reason for my food rating: - portion size good for one person if you are a big eater than might have to order an appetizer or dessert. - food taste is good - oysters: so so -drink taste: so so For the service rating: We sat at the bar top and the first impression our server made was great then he was just socialize with everyone else down at the other end of the bar. I had to flag down a different guy (the guy who posted for me). He made up for the service. He was very attentive by refilling my bottomless mimosas were the glass was empty. For the ambiance rating: The indoor dining is kinda cozy, tables were pretty close from one another. Their outside dining was much roomier. If you want to be a little more intimate than pick outdoor patio seating, and go in the evening. ^*^ read more

Plate 38 - One of the staff who assisted us - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Plate 38 is our favorite local restaurant. It is our own "cheers" with great food. They have a very talented and adventurous chef who will create specials one usually does not see on menus, such as duck confit. There are fresh oysters daily. my Personal favorite is the tuna tartare taco. The burgers and pastas are delicious and the drinks are stiff and good. It is a cross between a sports bar and a trendy bistro. (Stephanie even speaks French). Love this place! read more

My experiences for years. My family is very particular about food when dining out. As we rarely eat at home, we try different restaurants frequently. Plate 38 is our go to place where we can count on the food, atmosphere and friendly staff being consistently excellent. Consequently, we end up there 3 nights out of the week. I have highly recommended this restaurant to many of my patients and they all have been very happy with their experience. read more

Stopped by on a Monday after a long day at work. The happy hour special is definitely a must, especially if you like oysters. We ordered four types of oysters, two on the brinier side and two on the creamier. Our favorites were the tuna crudo tacos which were light, crispy, and flavorful. The shishito peppers were also quite good; I like the soy sauce/butter sauce (?) it came with. The wings were a nice surprise; we got them breaded and the blue cheese and sauce on the side was decent accompaniment. Also appreciated that it was on the side--it made for less soggy wings. Crab cakes were also quite flavorful though they didn't really seem "jumbo." We also enjoyed the grilled octopus. It was well-grilled and was the perfect texture and toughness. The mushroom bruschetta was nothing special; it tasted like something you can very easily make at home. Cutesy vibe, service very kind if at times delayed. read more

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Our server Stefany was the vibe. Her welcoming presence and upbeat demeanor made this a perfect Friday night dine out. Outdoor patio well heated so even in low 50's we kept warm. Food was up to par. As a vegetarian there were plenty of options for me. Will definitely be back!! read more

We came here for Saturday brunch, which did not disappoint! I was super impressed by the two dishes that I tried: the ricotta lemon blueberry pancakes and the croque madame sandwich. Plate 38 honestly created my favorite versions of these dishes, and I will be dreaming about them for a long time. The lemon glaze on the pancakes was amazing, not to mention that the pancakes had a great texture and were decently fluffy/thick. The cheese on the croque madame sandwich was incredible, paired with a great sunny side-up egg. Everyone at the table was equally satisfied with their respective dishes, and the price was pretty reasonable for the large portion size. They get one star off because their service is honestly pretty slow. I think we waited at least half an hour for the first dish to come out. To their credit, almost all the dishes came out together, but we then had to wait another 15 minutes for the last dish (which was an entree like everything else). We came at a busy time around the holidays, so I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and say it's possible we had an abnormal day. I still thought the food was stellar, and our server was very kind by offering to cancel the last dish if we didn't want to wait any longer and get us a free drink. read more

Plate 38 - Croque Madame Sandwich - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food here was pretty good despite the fact that we waited almost an hour for it(and it was not busy at all). Our server made it feel like it was such a chore to serve us, and when we were trying to get our bill he was no where to be seen so we had the bartender(I think?) close us out. Even during our meal he didn't come check in to see how everything was at. I was really looking forward to a great experience here but I probably won't be coming back anytime soon. read more

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So far my meals here have been consistently good. By that, I mean presented well - the plates are arranged beautifully and the chefs take time to make a quality meal so it tastes likes it's worth the $25-35 for an entree. We were told that meals take about 20-30 mins to prepare as we were deciding. We decided to split the wedge salad (to have something while we waited) and also split the Dijon chicken. Portions were large, so it was definitely enough for two people. We were able to be seated without a reservation and service was frequent- with our drinks always kept full and requests responded to quickly. I vaguely recall ordering a burger here the last time and that it was super good. I'll have to try their breakfast some time. The ambiance is elevated enough where it felt like casual upscale dining - plus I appreciated the heat lamps outside. Place had consistent arrivals - locals know and frequent Plate 38! read more

Plate 38 - Dijon Pan-Roasted Herb Dijon Marinated Half Chicken (split to share!) - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came to Plate 38 to meet with colleagues over a quick brunch. To my surprise, it was relatively packed for a random Thursday afternoon. We sat in their patio and their service was spectacular. They even offered the pup in our group water, and a doggie menu! The food was alright, nothing crazy or amazing, but was clean and tasted good. read more

Very underwhelming chilaquiles-I always look for restaurants that serve them as I love trying different variations but I ended up just picking at these when I passed through town. Luckily my sister enjoyed her American breakfast much more. I also appreciated their parking lot and we had pretty good service. read more

Plate 38 - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food is always great. Wide variety of delicious entrées! They have a good happy hour. Restaurant is small which makes it difficult to get around with a walker/wheelchair or stroller. read more

After several years from my last review and many visits, I decided it was time to update the review because it no longer represents the experience you will have at the restaurant. Since COVID, we've made a concentrated effort to support our local restaurants and during that time, Plate 38 has become one of our favorite go-to restaurants. We tend to stroll in for happy hour and we're never disappointed. Everyone is always very friendly and it's a great atmosphere. Some of our favorite happy hour items are the fresh oysters, steak quesadilla (my husband orders multiple), the rueben sandwich and the chicken wings--we never make it through the visit without the chicken wings---they're seriously the best. We are also guilty of buying a bottle of their happy hour chardonnay from Loire. It's fantastic and very reasonably priced. We even get it when it's not happy hour and we're still happy. Everyone there is very friendly and fantastic, but Dennis, Stephanie and Celestino definitely shine the brightest. They're awesome and a big reason we keep coming back. If you're not in the mood for happy hour, we love their beet salad, the truffle burger and roasted bone marrow...mmmmmmmm....bone marrow. If you've never tried it, order it. Prices are reasonable, service is fantastic and everyone there is super friendly. Definitely stop by if you're in the area. I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do! Cheers! read more

Excellent food, service, reasonable prices. Varied menu. Good wine. Perfect for all occasions.

Food was good and Mario provided great service. Unfortunately, we were uncomfortable seeing three other employees pet a customer's dog and then continue serving and waiting on guests without washing their hands. That took away from what was otherwise a nice brunch. read more

It was mother daughter date, we wanted bottomless mimosas, and did we get bottomless mimosas 90 min worth !! The menu was a bit different but amazing food !! Never heated of a "Crab Cake eggs Benedict !! Which is what I ordered, my daughter got the French Toast!! It was also amazing!!! The staff was super friendly. We sat in the patio it was nice!! Parking was hard It's inside a minimal location, but found parking on the street, short walk. Definitely will be back !! read more

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The food and the atmosphere were great! Our server was great, very attentive and polite. Definitely coming back to try the French toast.

We were greeted in a friendly manner and were seated on their patio. Chill place. There were some guys at the bar. The waiter came after a few minutes and spoke to us without making eye contact. We ordered two cocktails and some fries. He brought the drinks and asked if we were ready to order. We hadn't decided yet and wanted to sip on our drinks first. My old fashioned was very sweet but okay. My wife's margarita was quite balanced and very good. We received our fries from another worker who was very friendly and cool. Our waiter came over and asked if we were ready and we asked for two more minutes. Twenty some minutes later, he still hadn't come and we got up to leave. He was chatting with other workers at the bar. Didn't seem surprised. He gave us our check. I worked in restaurants as a server and bartender for over ten years. I am very generous tipper. It's disturbing to me to not leave one, but a tip was not warranted. Disappointing to say the least. read more

This was my first time trying Plate 38. The parking was easy as it is located at the corner inside a shopping strip. It wasn't crowded when we were seated around 1:30 on a Sunday. The service was prompt as we waited for our parties to arrive. The interior is cozy and not too overwhelming. We sat outside with a covered balcony. Slow-cooked rib pork sandwich - the taste is good overall. However, the meat was a bit cold and hard (maybe due to the coldness), as I expected it to be softer. The portion is of good size. Garlic french fries - this is the thinner type of french fries. It is a must-order in my opinion, tasted very good and with a good portion. 1 order was enough for 3 people to share. Overall my experience was good and this place is good for hangouts. read more

Plate 38 - slow cooked pork - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Food and service was great! We did have reservations and waited 25 minutes before being seated, but that was expected being Mother's Day. We ordered the yellow tail, espresso martinis, chicken club, chicken pesto, crab salad and garlic fries. All were delicious. Our waitress was very apologetic for the delays and I am glad she acknowledged that. Overall a good experience and will return. read more

PLATE 38 HAS always been my fav place for dinner and Happy hour with friends down the block. The HH menu has been the same and I still enjoy it since the very first time I discovered this place. The truffle fries are to die for... well dont die. But I love it so damn much. The HH oysters are amazing no matter... and there are not many restaurants that serve oysters and charcuterie board. You know this restaurant is legit when you see many locals here. Ask for Dennis... he is super friendly and the best. This is seriously a GEM of Pasadena read more

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The food was good and the service was good until it wasn't. At the end of our meal our server asked if we wanted dessert. He told us what desserts were and we all ordered what we wanted. As we were eating what we ordered we noticed that underneath the ice cream were walnuts. One of us is highly allergic to walnuts. Her throat started itching. She and my daughter went across the street to get some allergy medication and the server came to the table and quietly said "it's on the menu". My daughter came back and asked for a menu and saw that the item in question did not mention that there were nuts in it. Our friend started having trouble breathing. At that point he should've comped the entire bill. Had it been a white customer I absolutely think he would've. It was a terrible situation and he was insulting by suggesting we were negligent by missing that it had nuts. It wasn't on the menu that the dish had nuts. read more