Always a great dinner. Great service, great food, great cocktails, great ambiance. A wonderful place for a special occasion dinner.

What makes you want to consistently patronize a restaurant is, of course, superior food and service, which Smitty's consistently provides, but it's the personal connection you make with staff that makes a great neighborhood restaurant. Manager Jared Nakasone delivers that personal, welcoming touch which makes you feel like a valued guest. There was a reservation conflict involving my party, but Jared handled the situation skillfully, tactfully, and to the complete satisfaction of both parties. It's the good people like Jared at Smitty's that keep us returning. read more

Ranging from 3 to 4 stars depending on different times I've been. Parking can be a pain. They have valet in the back. Food is good, but a bit pricey. Service is usually good. They have a room in the back that can be reserved for a bigger, private party, as well as a patio in the back that can also be reserved. My family has utilized both for private events over the years and it's a great space for that. Food-wise I've tried and really enjoyed: * The cornbread - sooooooo good. My favorite restaurant corn bread. A little sweet, comes out in a skillet with crumbles on top. Yum! * Chicken pot pie * Steak chili - not your typical chili but delicious with big tender pieces of meat * Mac n cheese - nice and cheesy with ham in it Tonight I got the salmon special which came in a delicious, light buttery sauce and the salmon was cooked perfectly with mashed potatoes and well cooked and seasoned broccoli. Dessert wise, I've tried the key lime pie, which is good, but could be but more tart for my tastes (but I think most might disagree with me) and the chocolate mousse cake, which is rich, chocolatey goodness. They carry Fosselmans ice cream too! Yum! The main dining room gets really loud when it's full/busy, and service does seem to slow way down and become less attentive when they are busy. read more

This past week was my third time visiting Smittys and I was somewhat disappointed with my food and overall experience. We sat on the patio since we had our dog and although it was a cold night, the heat lamps kept us very comfortable. Our waiter seemed way too rehearsed and unnatural when describing the menu and going over the specials. She brought out the wrong appetizer as well. Appetizer 1- Crab cakes. Just ok, I like the aioli sauce it came with but overall very mediocre. Appetizer 2- Calamari. Possibly the most bland I've ever had. I added salt and lemon, and i dunked them in the sauces but still didn't enjoy it. Needless to say there was plenty to throw out. Entree- I had the burger with "rattlesnake" sauce and bacon with French fries. I had shared a cheeseburger with a friend here months ago and we enjoyed it, so I thought I'd be happy with this one as well. Unfortunately not the case. The "rattlesnake" sauce that I imagined to be peppery or spicy was actually just plain ol' bbq sauce that tasted as tho it came from a jar. The French fries were very good however. My fiancé had steak with mashed potatoes & creamed corn which he really enjoyed. I ordered a glass of Pinot noir which came in a very large glass and took forever to finish, that was nice. Dessert- apple bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. It was good, but nothing to rave about. I will not be rushing back to Smittys anytime soon. The food here is rather basic. read more

Smitty's Grill - Crab cakes & Pinot noir - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Always a pleasure to dine at this restaurant. Good food, nice ambiance, and good service.

Had a mixed experience. Got there for a reservation, and had to wait a few minutes for the table. No problem. Went to bar, and old bartender seemed like he was going to have a meltdown. He was rude. On to meal. Waiter was pleasant, though also seemed overstretched as far as tables. Still, he was pleasant, friendly, and helpful. When we had a problem with one entree, he informed us that the manager was alerted (though it wasn't that huge a deal). I was a little surprised after that how long it took for the manager to come over and talk to us (a good 10 minutes). Still, manager dealt with the problem very professionally once she got there, and comped some smaller dishes. The food ranged from good to just okay, overall. Cocktails are expensive at 15 bucks a pop, but okay. The appetizers were a bowl of clam chowder for us to share. It was good. Not amazing. But solid enough. The cast iron skillet corn bread was to die for - simply amazing. If you come here, order it! For mains, the kid had the kid's menu chicken strips. He eats chicken strips like every other day and has eaten them at thousands of restaurants already at his early age. There have only been two places he hated the breading so much he wouldn't eat them. This was one of them. He ate a little after we took the breading off. I tried the breading and it tastes like corn bread or potato pancakes. It's sweet, which is not good. They definitely need to look into a new breading for kid's chicken strips. Would not order again. The missus got their chicken pot pie which is ginormous. About a fingertip to mid forearm size diameter. Sure, it's shallow, but it's still huge. You're lucky to finish 1/2 of it. More like 1/4 and take the rest home. It was apparently excellent. So order this. I ordered the prime NY steak well done. It arrived medium. I sent it back and they seared it but the inside was still medium, plus the steak had shrunk and gotten hard as a puck despite still being under. I asked for a refire and they did it. The second steak came out properly cooked and was good. It wasn't a fantastic steak. The prices are higher than the quality by maybe 5 to 10 bucks, but it was okay. It comes with fries, like the kid's meal, and those fries are terrible. They're like those potato sticks you eat out of a can. Seriously bad fries. A steakhouse needs a good signature potato, like a german potato (like Wolfgang's or Peter Luger's or any Steakhouse in NYC). Will I be back? Maybe. If you've ever been to Taylor's Steakhouse, this is roughly the same quality. A good steak, but not a top level steak. Also, not a cheapo steak. Somewhere in the middle. If you come for something else, you might be happier. Maybe it's not really a steakhouse but an American grill. The pot pie was excellent, as was the corn bread. I can't say I'm anxious to get back quickly, as opposed to trying somewhere new. But, it wasn't bad, and it was just fine without being terribly memorable. read more

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Where do I start? The holidays are near so I am understanding of things being busy. We made an early evening dinner reservation for 6:45. We specified a booth as we were celebrating a graduation. Upon arriving on time, we were told our table would be ready shortly, no problem. After waiting roughy 20 minutes, we were taken to the table closest to the kitchen. Maybe one of the worst seats in the house, we kindly asked to be seated somewhere further away from the hustle and bustle. They seated us at a new table, fine. Next, waiter comes, introduces himself and immediately asks me what looks good. Never once, was a drink menu or wine list presented prior or taking our order. Not one mention of specials, soup of the day, etc. We never received bread/butter, had to ask for refills on our water. Food came out very quickly, not even halfway into a glass of wine. Food was okay. I ordered the prime rib with side of creamed spinach. Spinach was warm not hot. Overall, not a great impression at all. I won't be inclined to return to this restaurant when, to be honest, I've had better service, food and experience at Outback! read more

We love Smitty's. Our favorite comfort food restaurant. The pork tenderloin was delicious. As always the service is outstanding. We implore the Smith brothers to bring back the potato chips LOL. read more

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

Love, love, love this spot. My go-to date restaurant. This Is a good combination of being a nice restaurant, without being overly fancy/pretentious or too casual. Menu is great. Drink menu is great (though a little expensive). And the service here is fantastic. Highly recommend coming here if you are in the area read more

Smitty's is our "go to" restaurant for great service and good food. If making reservations online and you let them know it's a a special occasion, upon arrival there will be a lovely note from the team and a beautiful stem of orchid flowers. Parking is tough to find if you're a first timer, but once you know where to go (back of the restaurant), valet is friendly and efficient. read more

Eh, this place seems like it has become very mediocre. The bar stinks, has a sour smell, they put lamps on the bar so you have to look around them at the bartender, the bartender wipes the bar down with a dirty terry cloth towel, they serve potato chips in greasy wooden bowls! Yuck! The service? Nothing special. Just not what it used to be. Nasty. ***Also! You cannot even hear the person you're with anymore so conversation is impossible*** read more

First time here, sat on one of the outside tables. We were a party of four, hostess was on point and the ambiance was very relaxing. We started out with the skillet corn bread, bean and cheddar dip also the calamari and shrimp and had as main course we had a steak, a seafood pasta the salmon and a salad. Everything was delicious but the corn bread has been one of my favorites. The manager came to our table and see if everything was good so far, that was nice. Everything was excellent will be coming back to try the lunch menu. I totally recommend the food. read more

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Great food and service!definitely a place to come back to in the future. Staff from hosts to valet are all attentive

We have been going to this place for 3 years now for our anniversary. Service is amazing! Amazing food for fair prices. Drinks are great they do not skimp on their alcohol. They have Christmas Caroling which I think is fun. read more

One of the best restaurants I've been to in Southern California. Hands down the best fried chicken besides my family's. Get here,,,,, read more

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

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A Pasadena classic! Good food. Good service. Clean. Friendly. Right in the middle of shopping district. Good ambiance. Not in a mall. I visit several times a year. read more

The food was not good, especially the presentation. The service was ok. I ordered a filet minion and it did not taste like it. So disappointed. read more

Don't order the rattlesnake ribs. Burnt to a crisp and drenched in sauce to cover the atrocity. Pot pie was great. Service was not bad. read more

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

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My wife and I have visited this restaurant twice and both times we had an absolute amazing experience. The food was awesome and the service was phenomenal. Our server even gave us there neat light up Smitty's pen, which I literally use regularly. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

Stumbled upon Smitty's on Valentines day after we tried going to Sugarfish and not wanting to wait in the ridiculous line. Smittys had no wait time even though the place was packed with an older crowd but they seated us right away. It was very sweet, looking around and seeing older couples (grandparents) together on the romantic day. Our waiter was great, made alot of wine recommendations. I had the halibut which was delicious! read more

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

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The meatloaf is outstanding! Nice atmosphere. Solid wine list and great service. Prime rib is worth skipping.

I like Smitty's, been going there for many years. Great bar, chicken pot pie and excellent service. But last night was weird for me. Place was packed with diners and revelers, not one wearing a mask. I felt badly for the staff who looked like prisoners - each risking their own well being. Why wouldn't the wealthy owners institute some Covid protocol to protect customers and staff? read more

Outstanding establishment!! I am never disappointed when I dine at Smitty's! The cuisine is delicious and they provide 5 star service. My favorite meal is the Sand Dabs with Spaghetti Squash, it is perfectly cooked and beautifully presented to the customer! read more

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Love this place! Moses is the best server! I request him every time I come here! He has great customer service and is very attentive! I love their calamari and popcorn shrimp appetizer. Their salmon is exceptional blackened, and you must try the key lime pie! Love this place! I can't say it enough! read more

Zero stars. This was one of the worst meals I've ever had. A thin, flat, under seasoned and over priced ribeye, served with overcooked brussel sprouts that taste the way new Jordans smell and mashed under-seasoned potatoes. I'm not sure how this place is still in business but the people who eat here must have no tastebuds. Awful. 0/10 would not recommend to ANYONE. Server was very nice, food was trash. Tynika McC read more

The is a GREAT venue. The food is delicious and the service is great. I've done numerous private dining events here and it's always been great. They have a built in TV in their private dining room, which holds up to about 25 people only. The ambience and location is also good and they offer valet parking. If you visit this place, try the chili and cornbread! read more

Decent first experience at Smitty's, but for the money I expected more. Pros: + The presentation on the chicken pot pie is dramatic with the huge 12" thin crust on top. + Service was generally good, if a little inconsistent toward the end. + Nice patio out back with flowers, interesting lighting and water features. + Robust bar selections. + There are many specials - steak cut of the day, ravioli of the day, seafood of the day + Some interesting choices I have not seen at other restaurants like sand dabs, meatloaf, pot pie. Cons: - Main dishes were both served nuclear hot temperature wise and I could not eat either for several minutes; for a fancy restaurant which definitely has fancy restaurant prices, I generally expect dishes to be at an edible temperature when they hit the table. It's possible getting my tongue seared limited my ability to taste anything else. - The chicken pot pie looked great but the gravy was under-seasoned and not as creamy as we would like. Needed more salt and possibly herbs. - Sauteed mushroom side was OK, but mushrooms were sliced, in a brown gravy which had little flavor and some of them were tiny. Most places serve whole mushrooms in a side like this. - The meatloaf was OK but I couldn't taste the "tomato relish" and there was a thin piece of bacon stuck to the meatloaf possibly unintentionally which somehow had no flavor. I would not get it again. - Clientele was very old for some reason. Not that this is a con necessarily, but as a 1980s' kid I was the noticeably youngest person in the entire restaurant so take that for what you will. - There is no one to greet anyone arriving via the rear entrance/valet, you walk by/through the entire expanded creaky COVID patio, normal patio, special event room, both bathrooms, the wine rack, and finally the full dining room to find your first host. - Considering the prices I expected some free bread/butter as some Yelpers have taken photos of but we were not offered any. - If you make a reservation there may be redundant checks to see if you are actually coming. I was called personally, then texted separately, to ask if I intended to show up. Seems a waste of time to confirm twice. - My chair was loose and wobbly. Attention to detail is important at this price point. We may try Smitty's again sometime to try some of the other entrees, but for the money I expected more. read more

Appetizer (shrimp and calamari) was overcooked, and waiter replaced 2 shrimps that were....obviously not edible. I appreciate that he replaced at least two of those, but the rest of overcooked food tasting bitter and tough to bite. Environmentally friendly to save edible food, but hope they can cook better. Main dishes, NY steak, lobster, ribeye were all good. I guess they tend to cook little more, though. My medium rare steak didn't have any rare part in terms of its color. It was medium to me, but the sauce was delicious and using high quality meats. Desserts were good, too. read more

Amazing food, service, and easy to use valet. I've come here 3 or 4 times and every dish I've ordered has been phenomenal. Corn bread is pretty cheap, tastes amazing, and is generous. All the fish dishes are perfect. The chocolate cake and key lime pie are outstanding. read more

Excellent service and food. So yummy! I do prefer the Chop House, bring on the shrimp salad from the Chop House and I will be here daily. The place is great. read more

Always delicious food and a lovely setting. They have a good menu with small bites and full dinners. And always excellent cocktails.

Wow, what an experience coming here. This place truly has it all. Top quality food which their Lobster sandwich was by far the best I have ever had. The salad was super delicious and had the perfect amount of balsamic dressing. The service was very top notch and all the staff greeted with smile on their face and were so professional. The restaurant was decorated for the holidays which made it look even more classy than what it usually is. Also, loved the classic pictures and frames they had on their walls. I will definitely be back here again and would highly recommend this place. read more

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My husband and 2 sons took me to Smitty's for my mother's day celebration. That was great! Absolutely so awesome food was absolutely delish. Service was excellent! read more

We had not been here in 15 years and I remember why it's not in our rotation for Pasadena. Should have read the reviews about the steak before coming here. They are all true statements. Extremely well done tough piece of meat and poor quality and no flavor at all. Good thing they left a salt shaker at the table. Super disappointing for a $46 piece of meat. Updated to two stars, the service was good. read more

Couple of friends including me decided to come here and it was not a bad idea. I got the smokehouse burger with french fries on the side. Overall everything was good but the sauce they used was bad. The sauce did not go with the burger at all. The meat was well cooked just as what I asked for. It was sort of like a romantic restaurant. Make sure you guys call for reservations couple days before or else they are going to be booked. We called before coming in and thank god they had a seat available for three. Classy restaurant with a lot of outside seating in the back and the front. Will return. read more

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

I have mixed feelings about this place. The food and the ambiance was great but the service was horrible, and not from the server but more so with the manager, The other night we were enjoying a friend's birthday when I believe her name was Erica had stopped by our table and made some very unpleasant remarks while we were enjoying our dinner where we felt rushed and forced to leave sooner than expected and I was looking forward to the special dessert of the night. Sadly we will not be back again and it's such a shame to because I love the old fashions here but she really needs to work on her people skills and get retrained until then I have spread the word to friends and family to beware of management! Very Disappointing, your food can be top notch but it means nothing if you are getting treated poorly! Get it together Smitty's!!! read more

Terrific, food great ambience incredible service with prices to match $$$$ love their martinis!

Have been here a few times. Food was delicious, service was great, and prices were reasonable. Thanks!

Wonderful food! Had beef stroganoff and it was so rich and creamy. The ambiance was nice and our server was ver y good!

I love their corn bread appetizer. Unique. They are really professional - service and food prep top notch. I wish we lived closer so we could work our way through their menu. So many great choices. read more