We've been coming to Smitty's Grill for years, and somehow it still feels like a treat every time. We went last night (still casually celebrating my birthday from a couple weeks ago), and within minutes of sitting down they handed me a handwritten birthday card. Like...who does that anymore? It was such a small thing but honestly set the tone for the whole night. The place has that old-school steakhouse feel but updated enough that it doesn't feel dated--cozy, a little nostalgic, and just a really comfortable place to settle in for a long dinner. We started with drinks--Old Fashioneds, Whispering Angel Rosé, and Arnold Palmers--and everything was made perfectly. Then came the bread with garlic herb butter (which you absolutely have to get), and the cornbread...which is honestly more like a dessert. It comes in a little iron skillet with a crumb topping and just melts in your mouth. I would go back for that alone. The homemade potato chips are also kind of dangerous. Very hard to stop eating. Soup of the night was New England clam chowder and it was excellent--thick, rich, and loaded with clams. Definitely one of the better versions I've had. We also ordered the Smitty's Salad, which I always forget how much I love. It has shrimp, smoked bacon, peas, green beans, blue cheese, and cornbread croutons. Sounds like a lot, but it works and feels both fresh and indulgent at the same time. For mains, we probably ordered more than necessary (no regrets): Buttermilk fried chicken: crispy, juicy, and really flavorful--definitely a must Prime rib: cooked perfectly, exactly what you want from a classic steakhouse Sand dabs: light and nicely done with a buttery caper sauce Pork chop: huge and very well cooked Prime rib French dip with fries: messy but worth it Service was professional and efficient all night. Everything came out at a good pace and the staff really knew what they were doing. Valet is $12 and honestly some of the friendliest valets I've encountered in LA, which somehow adds to the experience. Overall, Smitty's just consistently delivers. Great food, great service, and those little thoughtful touches that make it feel special. Definitely one of our go-to spots in Pasadena. read more

I've always wanted to go here. I know they've been around for years. Nice ambiance . We went just before closing during a weekday and we still got fantastic service.! Melissa was approachable , and gracious with us. Johnathan was delightful. The food was flavorful. The artichoke hearts were scrumptious. I definitely recommend going and I am gonna go back myself soon There is parking on the street and there is parking behind. Price point of restaurant is your typical upscale steak place. read more

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My wife and I were visiting Pasadena and staying at the Hyatt when a neighbor recommended Smitty's and we're so glad they did. From the moment we arrived, the entire staff was excellent, welcoming, and attentive. Our server, Anthony, was outstanding and truly elevated the experience. The restaurant has a warm, cozy, and intimate ambiance that we absolutely loved.....a very inviting and perfect for a relaxed evening. The menu offers a great variety along with rotating daily specials, which is always a plus. Parking on a Friday night was a bit challenging, but they offer valet for just $8, and Venture, the attendant, was fantastic and made it easy. Food Review: Pear Salad: Delicious and a perfect way to start the evening. Cornbread (5/5): WOW. An absolute must-have. Chicken Piccata (5/5): Perfectly prepared and full of flavor. Chicken Pot Pie (5/5): A must have and more then enough for two if you would like. Pecan Pie: (5/5) Beautifully plated and delicous. Between the food, service, and warm ambiance, Smitty's is a place we'll absolutely return to next time we're in Pasadena. read more

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First time absolutely fantastic from atmosphere, food to Brian's amazing service. The Food was outstanding and the corn bread uh-mazing! For the money it was perfect! read more

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Go to Americana fare in Pasadena by the same restaurant group that owns Parkway Grill and the Arroyo Chop House. Smitty always delivers for a great American dining experience for celebrations, business dinners or just have a nice night out. Full bar, steaks, prime rib, seafood, full bar & cocktails and always great Smith Brothers service. Parking in the back available. read more

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We came here for our company holiday dinner. This is the first time I dine here. When I walked in, I love the warm, welcoming and festive vibe of the restaurant. We were seated by the patio area due to our party size. The servers are amazing. They offered various wines and took our drink orders. As soon as we sat down, all the appetizers arrived. We had the ahi tuna, the famous corn bread, chicken and beef skewers. We felt so full after sampled different appetizers. For starter, I had the mixed green salad which was so fresh and delicious. I had the petit filet mignon with broccoli. I asked for medium and I think it came as medium rare, a little too rare for me, nevertheless it was good. For dessert, I tried the chocolate mousse cake and took the key lime pie to go. Such an amazing meal. I'll come back for a date night dinner and try other entrees here. read more

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We were the first couple to be seated and were greeted by a large happy hour scene just ending. Well, we came for the Pasadena Cheeseburger Week, so I ordered the new Wagyu Burger to try it out. The food is good here, but I really wanted to order a steak, medium rare. I'm going to come again and will try some real beef medium rare! read more

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I was in town visiting for a work training and my coworker recommended this place! The restaurant itself is very warm, cozy, and intimate. The service was amazing and all staff were welcoming and attentive. The menu has a lot of variety and daily specials that change! We got lucky with parking right out front, but this area may get a little difficult on weekends. Definitely worth a try if you're in the area. Food review: Bread and garlic&herb butter: (5/5) This was so delicious! The butter was sooo flavorful and paired with the warm sourdough, it was perfect. Hanger steak: (5/5) Yum! It was cooked perfectly medium and had a fantastic chimichurri on top. The potatoes and asparagus that came on the side were also tasty. It was the perfect portion. BBQ ribs: I personally didn't try them, but my colleague said they were delicious!! She's had them before and is never disappointed. read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Smitty's is a smart, little restaurant where I wouldn't be surprised to see Jon Hamm from Mad Men from the corporate world of the 1960's. Of course, the food is updated to New American to include a lot of Italian dishes, but there are the classic steaks, prime ribs, meatloaf, buttermilk fried chicken, chicken pot pie, good representation of seafood, etc. 0) Thick, cut bread is a rustic, yeasty sourdough with rugged crust; soft, moist plush interior. The garlic parsley butter had a pronounced allium funkiness to emphasize its bucolic nature. 1) French Fries are of the finely julienned allumette/match stick potato variety which requires more labour and knife skills. I wanted them crispy, and it was honored maybe a little more than wished for. My bad. Next time, I'll ask for the menu default. Small cup of Heinz ketchup paired well. 2) Buttermilk Fried Mary's Chicken, Cornbread Muffins, Honey Butter: Half of a big chicken is marinated in buttermilk so that even the usually dry breast meat is soft, moist. Batter is lightly herbed and thin to produce a subtle crispiness. Just wish the buttermilk marinade was kissed by garlic, sage, thyme, oregano, etc. so that it would infuse into the chicken meat which was rather bland. Corn Bread has a crunch around the edges while the inside is more moist. Might have touch of flour for a sweet, cake-like feel. The honey infused butter pairs well. This menu item can comfortably feed two people. Take it home to make a chicken sandwich or curry salad. 1-2) I asked for Chandon Brut Rosé Vin Pétillant but I noticed on the check it was a Jeio Prosecco which had an earthy, yeasty, sweet, bitterness along with an overly sun exposed caramelized toastiness. Chandon would have had a brighter, more palate cleansing acidity. This switcheroo by the bar was unexpected. Tracy was right for our table of 8 which was like herding cats. Accommodating, patient, yet understatedly personable. She was good at reading the table and anticipating our needs. At the same time she made sure she didn't disturb our flow of conversation. Casual yet stylish, Smitty's has a varied New American menu that is adequate, trying to find a mean which should satisfy most. 4- stars read more

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Smitty's is a popular local spot and stopped by for an early dinner. . Plenty of parking in back for the half dozen restaurants close-by and some limited street parking on Lake. It was before 6PM so we were to seated right away. The restaurant is spacious with an outdoor seating area at the back patio. The main dining area is very well appointed, modern but with a lot of wood touches, to give it a homier vibe. The staff was very friendly and helpful. They check on you frequently and the service is at a level you would expect from a Smith Brothers restaurant. We started with some bread. It was very good sourdough loaf especially with the softened garlic butter, I was hungry so I made the rookie mistake of filling up on bread. The mixed green salad was okay, but refreshing considering the heat LA was experiencing at the time. We ordered the sand dabs and fried chicken. Sand dabs was in a lemon caper sauce, very good and crazy big portion plus some broccolini. The fried chicken portion was enough for 2 people or 3 if they filled up on bread. The chicken was well fried, super crispy and the white meat portion was still juicy. It was well seasoned but It could have use a little more spice, at crank up the black pepper. It was served with 2 corn bread muffins with honey butter, so good, worth the calories. I wished they served the chicken with some coleslaw to balance it out the richness. Overall Smitty's Grill was a pretty good experience and the food was good. The service was top notch and the portions was big so some value added points for you budget conscious diners. I would give the food alone 4 stars but the service and experience bumps it up to 5. read more

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Well, I came to Smitty's Grill on 12/10/2025 with a 6pm reservation for a party of two. Even though I have lived in Pasadena now for 10 years, this is only my second time at Smitty's. The experience tonight left a lot to be desired. The primary issue tonight was the service. Although our server was friendly, he was very forgetful. And the reason for that, is quite simply --- they had no servers. I am pretty sure that this packed dining room was limited to just two servers. I'm not sure what was going on. Maybe they are having trouble finding people? Maybe some people called out? However, it was truly ashame. I am pretty sure our server had at least 25 tables. I'm not sure what was going on. I had the Smitty's Salad. I found that to be very good. I also had the meatloaf. Wow, I'm not sure what to say about that. It was this tiny little piece of meat -- almost the thickness of a hangar steak. After having had the meatloaf at Nick's down the street many times, it pales in comparison. Overall, I would possibly return again. I would definitely try something different, and I hope they get the server issues worked out. read more

The food is tasty and you get the right amount of flavor. I was not happy with the à la cart but I looked passed that. The service was fast and friendly and they make sure you have everything that you need. The Ambiance is great and a perfect place for a great meal and a date night with your spouse. read more

Great place for a date night! Love the hand towels. The food is rich and exquisite. The staff is very professional and personable.

celebrated a birthday at smitty's with a large group in their private room and i think it's perfect for large groups. they take reservations and are very flexible. the food was all great, i recommend the calamari, the wedge salad, the chicken piccata but i subbed the spinach for mashed potatoes and the lobster roll. the staff was also very attentive and nice! read more

My wife had brought me here for the first time 8 yrs ago when I retired and we've come back several times throughout the years. We love the decor. The booths are comfortable, and the food is great and the service is always second to none! Whether its for a casual dinner or a special occasion, as it was on Wed, Feb 19,2025. Our friend was retiring and we couldn't think of a better place to help her celebrate than Smitty's Grill. Our new retiree loved the' Congratulatory' card and complimentary dessert she received from our waiter/ waitress for her retirement! Thanks for making the night a memorable one! See you soon! read more

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Another lovely local restaurant in the south lake area of Pasadena that I've always passed by and wanted to try. Stopped in for a quick drink at the bar and some dessert and bother were delicious. The restaurant was warm and cozy and was decked out for the holidays. Service was excellent, and the bar tenders were very attentive at making sure everyone was taken care of. Will drop by again to try out the rest of their menu, but highly recommended if you're looking for a tasty martini or other drink at their bar. read more

Smitty's Grill - Double Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Food was delicious and plentiful. Friendly staff only added to the experience. However the real surprise was the phone call I received Alerting me to my forgetting important documents-- above and beyond read more

Awful. If you're under 65 stay away. 50 steak for not even salt and pepper nothing was seasoned and poor cut of meat. Service did not match the price. Service needs elevating. Server should know pairing. A place to take your parents too. It's like a super fancy cafeteria. read more

Really had high hopes for this place but the service was just ok, no energy or anything. But maybe on a slow day I'll come back read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

had very high expectations for Smitty's, and unfortunately the experience was a complete letdown. The filet mignon was shockingly bad--bland, unseasoned, and with the unmistakable taste and texture of boiled meat. No sear, no flavor, no seasoning whatsoever. It was easily one of the worst filets I've ever been served and something I would not expect from a restaurant charging premium prices. The off-menu burger with bacon and barbecue sauce wasn't any better. The barbecue sauce was overwhelmingly sweet and tasted like a cheap, generic store-bought sauce slapped onto the burger without thought or balance. It completely overpowered everything and made the dish unpleasant. What made the experience even more disappointing was the lack of response when I politely shared my feedback. I wasn't looking for a refund or compensation--just some acknowledgment or accountability. There was none. For a place with this reputation, the food quality and overall experience fell far below expectations. Based on this visit, I can't recommend Smitty's and won't be returning. read more

I want to really like this because overall nice restaurant but there were some things lacking. 1. We ordered the sourdough bread and garlic butter. Before our main entrees were to come out, our waitress let us know it would take another 15 minutes because they were baking fresh bread and asked if we wanted another bread instead, which we replied no, because we particularly were interested in having sourdough before our meal. We unfortunately did not get our "fresh baked" bread until halfway through our meal. The bread was brought out already cut up in to small slices, so if it was fresh bread, we couldn't tell because all the steam from a fresh baked loaf was gone. Additionally the garlic butter wasn't that tasty. So overall, disappointing. 2. Service was a little lack luster. Sweet nice lady, but knowing our meals had already arrived and our bread had still not arrived, she didn't really communicate when that would arrive. When the manager had come to check up on us on and asked how things were, we did let him know we were still waiting on bread, which then prompted him to go check on it for us. Additionally, I've been a waitress before so I do know that when you are slammed with tables it is hard to check in on all your tables a lot. Also, noting, for a Thursday night, it was quite busy. However, I will say she didn't check on us for a good long while after our meal arrived. She stopped by to finally bring our bread when the manager was bringing it out and she took it from him to give it to us and that is when she checked in on us. Sweet lady, but she seemed way too busy to give us much attention. 3. Lastly, the was the initial vibe that kind of ruined it for me. We made reservations and while we were seated promptly, we were seated in line of a corner near the Xmas tree but right next to the bar area where the waiters pick up drinks. So the walkways around our table was pretty congested and kind of distracting and just felt like people were constantly in your space. Getting seated there set the mood and it just made me feel unenthusiastic about our experience. I will however note, I did order a glass of wine and they gave me a very generous poor. Additionally, the food was decent, but I would pass on the sourdough bread and butter. read more

Very dissappointed with my to-go order last night. I should preface this by saying, my family and I order from Smitty's a lot; however, this is the first time the pickup and food haven't met expectations. I ordered the beef rib special and set my pickup time for 5:30pm. I arrived slightly early and notified them I was outside. A young lady answered the phone and put me on hold. The next person who answered was a young man who said he'd be out with my order. I waited fifteen minutes and then called again, where I spoke to the young lady who originally had put me on hold. She brought my order out almost eight minutes later. When I got home, the ribs were incredibly dry, as if they had been sitting in a warmer for an extended period of time. Also, when I previous ordered the ribs, I received french fries. For some reason, there were no fries this time, which means the ribs were $60 without any side--a little much given the slab size. read more

Omg I just had cataract surgery and mg dear friends brought me food from smitty's!!! What a wonderful surprise. The ribs just fell off the bone and the coke slaw was so fresh and refreshing. The chicken pot pie looked delicious but I will save it for lunch tomorrow! The shrimp salad looks yummy and it goes for lunch tomorrow too!! I think it is a Cobb with shrimp? I got ketchup which I think it was suppose to be bbq sauce. I didn't get anything that would need ketchup. read more

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I've waited awhile to post this because this has truly been one of my favorite restaurants for years. I've been coming here at least once a month since 2010. The staff has always been great, and I've only had one bad experience with a server in all that time. The food is amazing, and I always come for the liver and onions. But the cleanliness lately has been absolutely disgusting. The last few times I've come in the floors are filthy, covered in old French fries, stains, and debris like they haven't been cleaned at all. When I'm seated, the booths have crumbs everywhere, and the tables are sticky, greasy, and feel grimy to the touch. It honestly makes you not even want to put your arms on the table. The cocktail books and dessert menus are even worse. They're covered in grease, sticky residue, and fingerprints. They look and feel like they haven't been wiped down in ages. It's genuinely revolting to handle them. The bar area is the most disturbing part. There's a strong, sour, rotten smell that hits you immediately. It smells like old garbage or something decaying. It's one of the most unpleasant smells I've ever experienced in a restaurant. It's honestly heartbreaking because I love this place so much and have been loyal for years. But the lack of cleanliness is unacceptable and completely ruins the experience. If the Smith brothers see this, please, please take cleanliness seriously again. Everything else is amazing, but the filth makes it hard to even sit down and enjoy the meal. read more

My husband and I bought ourselves a Smitty's gift certificate for the holidays for several hundred dollars that we could use for weekends out. This is our second year to do this. Last year we loved it but this year the service has noticeably declined. We've visited 3 times in 2025 and all three times the service has been off. We've been going to Smitty's for at least 2 decades since my parents took us as a young couple. Disappointing. read more

The food, staff and old world ambiance make this a special place. It's on my must return when I am in Pasadena and when you come you'll understand why. read more

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About a week ago I treated my family to dinner at Smitty's to celebrate my son's birthday as well as my own. It had been a while since I dined there. We sat in the patio area out back. I was surprised at the height of the table and mentioned to the waitress that I needed a booster seat. My guests ordered four appetizers/ sides and four non-alcoholic drinks. I asked the waitress if there was complimentary bread and she told me that while there used to be, there is no longer. Soon we ordered our dinner. I ordered the pear salad and asked for salmon to be added. Since the salad doesn't come with bread, I asked for extra croutons. The salmon was on the small size, about the width of two of my fingers, but a little longer than my fingers. It was cooked perfectly. We didn't have dessert. The service was excellent. Now here is the problem. I was handed a bill for $270. With tip, my total was $330. Okay, I wasn't surprised. What was surprising was that Smitty's couldn't give out a $3 bit of complimentary bread and I'm forking over $330 in cash. My guests were scarfing down fries and mac and cheese. The bread would have been for me. read more

We ordered a few different items to share. First up was the French dip and French fries. The fries were too salty to eat (they had to be really over salted for me not to eat them). The French dip was tough and fatty. My first 2 bites were nothing but fat. Disgusting!!! Next the Chili. Pretty good flavor. However, once again my first bite was.... Fat!!!! The Mac n cheese was too greasy. The mashed potatoes tasted like instant and very dry. The Potato chips were good, but salty. $100 and we can't eat it. I can't speak of the service. We had it delivered. The food was hot and packaged well. read more

I wanted to live this place so much - the restaurant is quaint and cozy- full bar- private room available for a large party- back patio seating- fireplace, soothing water feature. Valet parking available as well as nearby public parking lot. The service was exceptional. Attentive, polite and friendly. It was the food that was disappointing- the corn bread appetizer was delicious and the best thing served. I ordered the meatloaf- I found it lacking seasoning - the mashed potatoes were good though. My friends husband had a fish dish that had a variety of fish which he felt was overcooked - my husband said the salmon was good but felt the portion was small and didn't care for the creamed spinach. My friend had the chicken pot pie- it was enormous - she said it was good. The place is so nice and the service so good that we're willing to try it another time and order something different. read more

First time there. Nice setting but very noisy. Service is good. Ordered a chicken pot pie. It was huge. Enough to feed three or four people. It was so hot I had difficulty trying to eat it. It was full of chicken and vegetables however lacked flavor. Also had cornbread however it was not done on the inside read more

I hosted a birthday dinner party for my husband on Sunday. The staff, food and ambiance was fantastic! I am so glad that we had a wonderful time! My husband was most pleased with the event. Thanks Smitty's! read more

Came here for dinner to celebrate a birthday and was pleasantly surprised with how great the dining experience was here! When I made the dinner reservations, I put down a note that it was for a birthday. Immediately upon arriving, the staff welcomed and took us to our table and handled us a sweet handwritten birthday card. We were then greeted by our waiter (Gustavo) who was spectacular! The food was delicious! My favorite was the Penne Arrabbiata! I highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

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After a great afternoon at the Pasadena Playhouse, I had made reservations for Smitty's months ago. We all LOVED this restuarant!!! Casey our server couldn't have been more attentive, informative about the various dishes and terrific. We all had glasses of wine that were wonderful. Each one of us ordered the perfect dinners, and were amazed that athere was no issues whatsoever and my Chicken Piccata was exceptional. Smitty's was decorated for the holidays with garland and it felt so festive as we had a raised booth and all of us were able to see the full dining room. I picked the best restaurant to enjoy a wonderful dinner with my friends before heading back home to OC. Highly recommend Smitty's! read more

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I came here for my anniversary and it was an amazing experience! The food was great, the customer service was exceptional, and the ambiance was perfect. I had the bread with garlic butter also fried chicken. My wife has the steak and that also was amazing. We plan on returning. read more

Oh my gosh the food was amazing I started off with a corn bread it was the best corn bread I have ever had then. I had the Filet Mignon which was again the best steak I have ever had every bite was so good perfectly seasoned and had a nice firm outside and a smooth tender inside it it was one of the juiciest pieces of meat I ever had. I finished off with some ice cream. The service there was incredible professional and they were all so kind. When you walked through the restaurant it felt as if you had just walked back in time. read more

What can I say? My wife and I are smitten with Smitty's! We have been looking for an upscale but not stuffy place and we found it! We had excellent service, thank you Brian! The food was delicious. We had the chili, which was meaty, barramundi fish and the surf and turf. All excellent! The Negronis are good too! We will be back! Worth every penny . Brian was an excellent waiter! read more

This place was amazing. Lobster ravioli, chicken piccata, Mac & cheese with ham. Our server Christopher was excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

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The 6 of us arrived for a group dinner. We shared many items including appetizers, drinks, salad and a few entrees. Some of my favorite: Fresh Cornbread - It was warm and delicious! Spread on the soft butter and honey. Love the crumbles on top. Definitely sharable. Smitty's Salad - White Shrimp, Smoked Bacon, English Peas, Green Beans, Bleu Cheese dressing with cornbread croutons. I normally don't care for blue cheese, but this was tasty! Calamari and Shrimps - this was good, except we didn't see any shrimps. Maybe one or 2 only? Crab Cakes - only 2 small pieces, so we needed 2 orders for 6 people. A bit pricey for this appetizer at $25. We were actually pretty stuffed at this point, but we also added a few entrees. I got the chicken piccata which I didn't care for because it had way too many capers and it was so sour. Hubby got the daily sea bass and he enjoyed it . The other guys at the table got a rib eye steak and also a steak sandwich. Drinks were pretty strong and our friend also added a bottle of wine. Overall we had a good dinner with friendly service, I would come back for my few favorites. read more

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13 years later I'm here again to celebrate my birthday again. We started off with the Asian pear salad and that was refreshing and solid to share with the table. Second up we ordered the grilled artichokes w/ aioli and butter and that was another excellent dish as it's a favorite pastime to make myself at home. Today I ordered the beef ribs off menu and it was mouth watering. The meat was so yummy and it almost fell off the bone. It was so enjoyable with a side of onion rings instead of fries. Other friends had the sand dab fish and loved that fish as it wasn't fishy tasting but more light and sweet. Another friend ordered the meatloaf and devoured that dish. As for the chicken piccata those that ordered that seemed disappointed so I had to share my dish with them. I wanted a smile from them as I was enjoying my dish. The restaurant has outdoor seating in the back of the building but overall it was too hot to be outside even in the shade. Inside the restaurant was much more comfortable and since we arrived right when they opened we were pretty much the only diners for the first 30 minutes. Our server was helpful and allowed us to choose what we wanted to eat. We were not rushed at all and we enjoyed our time indulging in our food. I highly recommend you come out and pamper yourself in excellent food. Parking is located in the back for $6 or valet for $7 or street parking is limited to 2 hours. read more

Smitty's Grill - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Really enjoyed our dinner. Food was delicious and well done. Meat properly cooked. San Dabs were great fun. read more