Our friends treated us to dinner here on a Thursday evening. The ambiance is more of an intimate setting. The lights are dimmed and the service was great. Enjoyed the new york steak and grilled mushrooms. The calamari and shrimp appetizer was scrumptious. Also, you will get to enjoy a certain photo on the wall in the women's restroom. Overall great experience. Convenience of valet parking and would recommend. read more

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The service was exceptional. Loved our waiter. The ambience was welcoming. The tables are located in different rooms so you don't get overwhelmed with noise. The steaks and chicken piccata were great. I loved how the chicken breast was sliced into thin slivers and sautéed so the chicken was still moist. The sauce was creamy without being heavy. The spinach was delicious. And don't miss their corn bread that comes with butter and a bottle of honey. Personally, I thought the bread was sweet enough. read more

The food, the ambiance, the service, everything was just awesome! Had Friday night reservations, easy to park and seated as soon as we arrived. I hadn't been in over 10 years so I wanted suggestions. My waitress basically picked my meal. I was not disappointed. I had the fried chicken with creamed spinach. So tasty. Not greasy but super crispy! Our tables favorite was the cornbread though, it's a must. So warm with the perfect sweetness, with butter and honey. You can't go wrong. read more

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Always great food and service, only area to improve is the bartending and quality of drinks

Decent food with a nice atmosphere. There is an outside dining area that is beautifully decorated with plants and fairy lights. The inside gives you a old-fashioned feel with framed black and white photos. There are booths on the side and a sports bar near the entrance. They have valet parking behind the restaurant for $5 which is not bad or you can park at the 90min free lot across the street. The service was good too. We ordered the chef's special appetizer that came with yellowtail and it was good although I've had better. They only give you three pieces so I don't think it was worth $22. The chicken piccata was not bad either. I was expecting a little more chicken but since I was not super hungry, it sufficed. It would be nice to have a more carb-y side tho like mashed potatoes since the sauteed spinach was a little much. But I guess that's why they have a separate section for you to order more sides. The trout was delicious and my dad was a fan of their filet mignon. It was his first time ordering it rare and we were honestly a little skeptical about it but it did not disappoint! Overall good service, standard food with a nice atmosphere. read more

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The food was good. The ambience perfect. The service was good. I would go back again, but knowing that the food is not outstanding.

My cousin asked me to host and plan her milestone 40th birthday dinner. I called and visited no less than 20 locations throughout SoCal trying to find the right place for her and decided to host in the back patio area of Smitty's Grill for Veterans Day Weekend 2023. We had a guest list of 16, and the back patio area with the twinkling lights, easy access to valet ($10) was stunning. The guests were seated in a rectangle allowing for guests to sit directly across from each other allowing for conversation to flow well. Many of the guests came as far away as Norco and Hesperia to dine here and all gave raving reviews of the dinner options. The gumbo was a popular appetizer of choice for the guests, along with the sand dabs and chicken pot pie. One of my guests is gluten free and two weeks later she was still raving about the grilled salmon and potatoes. As my cousin walked in we all started singing and hyping her up, and the other patrons on the patio joined in on the fun. We brought a few table decor to add to the table scape and it went well with the already established patio area. Our waiter was very attentive and even brought out a side table so that her custom birthday cake could be displayed for her dinner guests and photos. Everytime I have dined at Smitty's the service is always impeccable. read more

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The steak is good here. The chicken is really good as well. However, the skillet cornbread is the best.

It was the day after Christmas and we were looking for somewhere that we were able to be seated immediately at 5PM, which thankfully this place had many open seats at this time, even for tables of 10 people! So we were seated outside (their extended "patio" in the parking lot) and we were afraid that it would be cold, but surprisingly, it wasn't too cold at all with the outdoor heaters and tent. We really enjoyed how spacious everything was, so definitely very social distance friendly. We ordered many things for our feast and I liked how the table was also very widespread and roomy for all the entrees we ordered. My sister really liked their cornbread the most here. We then ordered some salads, ribs, pasta, lamb, etc. Out of all, I think the lamb stood out to me the most since it was very well seasoned and cooked. Everything else tasted a bit just average to me, which I was pretty disappointed in the pasta and ribs. The pasta was a lackluster cause the sauce had this sour taste to it, and the there wasn't a lot of meat on the ribs either. It was a bit on the "overcooked" side, which the ribs were more crispy than meaty. The salads were just pretty standard. Honestly, my dad also compared the food here to Cheesecake Factory, which I kinda see, but I would say it's a more upscale Cheesecake Factory here haha. The servers here were nice. There is also parking in their own lot, which I heard was $7? Though, you can park across the street in the next plaza for 90 minutes free and just walk a bit :) read more

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

I wanted to like Smitty's because I love American comfort food and Yelp showed it had 4 stars so how bad could it be? Not to mention, they always seem to have availability when my absolute favorite spot, Houston's, is booked up. (Well, now I know why). You can't even compare those two places as Houston's is far superior in quality/service/food and the two restaurants simply don't even fall into the same class. Houston's is so buttoned up and consistently high quality and delicious - compared to Smitty's which seems like a hot mess service-wise and serves food that tastes like a step up from Chili's. The past few times I've been there has been such a disappointment but last night was the worst and we vowed to never go back. 1. Each time I've gone, for some reason the servers never know which servers are serving which tables. It's the most bizarre thing and, because of the confusion, we're left just sitting there for a while. (Not to mention that last night we went at 515pm and there were only a couple occupied tables so what's there to get confused about?!). 2. As a result of said "confusion", we are never brought MENUS. The first time I was ever went to Smitty's, we sat there for 25 minutes without anyone speaking to us or even bringing us a menu - that time, since it was my first visit, I didn't know if they had a diff way of doing things so I was patient at first, but literally had to flag someone down....and this has happened the two subsequent times including last night. I don't get it, don't you normally get handed a menu when you get seated at a restaurant? 15 minutes in, we had to flag down a random gentleman (who ultimately didn't end up being our actual server), and he asked if we'd had our drink orders taken and we said that we never even got a menu to look at. And he was all flustered and confused. So he finally brought us one. Meanwhile, the couple seated directly in front of us (who had actually arrived later than us) were already eating their appetizer. 3. Server never told us they had any specials when she took our order. Only after we put in our orders, we overheard a different server telling our neighboring table about the specials for the evening - and we were so disappointed as all the specials were items that we normally love and would've wanted to order (last night they were salmon and flat iron steak - which happen to be our two fave items). 4. The same specials-withholding server told us all side dishes were swappable for any sides listed on the menu. My partners dish came with two sides so he swapped them for two different items, and we ended up getting charged $12 for his second side. I asked the server why and she said his "two sides were actually equivalent to one side". And she couldn't have maybe told us that? Plus his "farmers market vegetables" that he got charged $12 for ended up being broccoli (we were expecting a medley based on the name) that was seriously overcooked and mushy. 4. The food is mediocre at best. Like I said, "stepped up" Chilis (and I say stepped up only because they claim to use ingredients like Mary's Chicken etc). But otherwise it's salty, overdressed. I had their famous "meatloaf" which was super salty and crumbly. And my partner had the ribs which were dry (some parts were as dry and chewy as jerky) - which prob explains why 50% of it was made up of bbq sauce. 5. Majority of the items are à la carte so even if the prices initially "appear" reasonable, they're not, b/c you have to order separate sides unlike Houston's where all entrees come with sides. Bottom line, SKIP SMITTYS AND GO TO HOUSTONS. Just make sure you book a ressie at Houston's at least a few days in advance as they fill up quickly (for good reason). read more

iest piece of food I've ever eaten. Off the dinner menu at smittys. Over the phone order was great but when we got the food no dip was in the bag. Called for replacement for my surprise my of horrible. This hot cup of salt water was so bad and hot. The bread was so dry and boring. $25 sandwich making me disgusting. As if I asked for au ju and they said ok here take some salty lol dip. The Cajun chicken sandwich was basic and lacking effort. For $23 each got salty shoestring fries. Disappointed we have gone to restaurant many times. read more

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My dad loves their ribs! I order him some pretty often lol and highly recommend. I've tried other items from their menu and it's all just as tasty very well made and high quality ingredients . Delivers very well too just as well as dining in :) it warms my heart to give my dad a meal that makes him very happy and Smitty's does just that every time, thank you dearly ! read more

Smitty's is a real treat; from the old school elite treatment- no matter who you are- surely makes you feel like the queen or king that you actually are! Food is impeccably and consistently scrumptious and cooked to perfection. Waiter tonight was Reuben and he was outstanding in every way- really wanted to make our night special, which it definitely was!! read more

Smitty's Grill - Gratis birthday sundae!! So delicious! - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food was delicious! We had a special appetizer that was a tempura shrimp with a chili sauce so yummy. Our server was Johnny and he had Daniel shadowing him. They were both great , very attentive and consistent. Ambiance was very intimate and cozy, great music playing and the low lighting is very nice. We had a great time celebrating a friend's birthday ! Thank you Smitty's for the hospitality and our drinks and appetizers, everything was delicious. read more

Party of ONE here. The bartender is slaying it and his "Tito's martini straight-up, two blue cheese olives", the very best. The Smitty salad is meh. Get the wedge or ribs. The 'homemade' potato chips are not worth the $7 and should be gratis, especially at the bar. I shared them with everyone around me. The hostess tonight (12/6/24) is a straight-up fool. "We don't have any tables tonight except the bar, cook bar or outside" inside an empty restaurant. I sit at the bar, enjoy the service, take a gander at OpenTable and there is full availability ALL night long for 2 - 4 tops. Hire a liar with some panache. read more

Update to my previous review in 2017. Enjoyed a dinner with friends to celebrate Thanksgiving. The food and service were really good. My chicken pot pie was warm and soothing. Loved the crab cakes appetizer. My wife enjoyed her seafood chioppino dinner. We also enjoyed some good wine. read more

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I keep coming back but today BLEW me away. We wanted to do something special for my moms birthday. They wrote us the longest most heartfelt birthday card for my mom. It was a true start to the evening that she read out loud for the table. Can I just say how unbelievable the chicken piccata is and the pot pie and the corn bread presentation !!!!!!! ALL because of Anthony's passion for the menu and his dedication to the brand !!!!!! Not only that I asked him to surprise me with ANY dish on the entire menu! Chicken pot pie would be my last choice but it was the table winner tied with the chicken piccata !!!!!!! I am over the moon with how beautiful he surprised my mom with every moment! Customer service is so important to us and he not only made us all feel so warm but also like family! He knew the menu inside and out and we couldn't be more thrilled to only request Anthony every time we come!!! In this economy ... Someone give this man a raise... as this man will raise the economy !!!! read more

I usually don't write updated reviews unless I have a drastically different experience; however, Smitty's absolutely exceeded my expectations in all ways. Celebrating a friend's birthday here was perfection - from the personal hand written card to the complimentary birthday ice cream, all these extra touches made her feel so special! First of all, the outdoor seating set-up is absolutely STUNNING! With al fresco dining now the new norm, the tables were properly social distanced with beautiful light decorations perfect for celebrating any occasion. There were heat lamps scattered to keep patrons warm and the staff were all wearing masks and face shields. For my entree, I ordered the regular prime rib ($39) with a side of baked potatoes with all the loaded toppings ($10). The steak was cooked a perfect medium rare and the classic aus jus and horseradish paired well with the prime rib. The loaded baked potato was ginormous! Would 100% recommend as they were both delicious. Last but not least, the staff here are the sweetest! Our waiter Johnny and EVERYONE we interacted with were so attentive, the service provided was seriously impeccable. We were consistently checked on, our waters constantly refilled, and they quickly brought us everything we requested. I honestly don't think I've had better service before at any restaurant. I cannot rave more about my experience here and I will most definitely be back for any occasion. Thank you so much Smitty's - the new standard for dining has been set for me! read more

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I've been dining here for years now, amazing flavors and great service. This last visit probably wasn't their best look. We were seated, but then wasn't greeted by our waiter for about 5-8 minutes. Then, after that i observed that it was taking above normal delays for our waiter to make his rounds to check on us, which made me realize they were most likely short staffed that nite, for this is not how Smitty's flows normally. My Prime Rib (which is my go-to dish here) was extremely overcooked. This is not what disappointed me, but that it took 10 minutes for them to check on me to address the issue. The manager did come by to acknowledge the situation and offered a salad or soup, but i had already had both, so i passed on the offer. By now my wife was almost done with her meal. They finally corrected it but now timing is off and my wife is now just waiting for me to finish. Then, we always look forward to the hot fudge sundae. When we received it, it was served 60% melted. We still ate it despite it being not at its best. This tells me the dish was probably sitting for some time before being served, thus the short staffing issue. Finally, we received the bill and I was charged 100% in full for everything, including the melted ice cream. I'm a customer that will always pay above and beyond with generous tipping, and never complain about price. I just find it a little disturbing they feel the overcooked meal with extended downtime to address, melted ice cream and delayed service justified the full price bill. I'll still be back, I'll continue to support and enjoy Smitty's as well as the sister properties. But this caliber establishment like this shouldn't produce below-par experiences like this. read more

Good food, great service, great atmosphere. I recommend the place. It reminds me of restaurants from my youth.

We hosted a family celebration in the Grill Room. I cannot say enough about the event from the initial planning to the end of the event. The manager, Jared, was a pleasure to work with and promptly responded to all of my emails. The room was beautifully set up and ready on time. Our server, Luis, provided impeccable service. As always, the food and cocktails were outstanding. I highly recommend Smitty's for private events. read more

We were able to get in last minute on an early Saturday evening. We had a great table and our server, Daniel was amazing. He was super attentive, down to earth and very knowledgeable about the menu and the wine choices. The food was very good and it was well priced. I wholeheartedly recommend Smitty's Grill to anyone looking for a delightful experience! read more

Went there for dinner on 4/20. Ordered a French Dip sandwich. The next day I had chills, high fever, diarrhea, etc due to food poisoning. Am in bed right now and about 60%. read more

Came to Smitty's Grill for the first time as a craving for chicken pot pie was in order. I yelped "chicken pot pie" and got a lot of hits for pie places among others. As I scrolled down I came onto Smitty's Grill. I checked out the pics and noticed their chicken pot pie looked massive and reviews were good. I made reservations via yelp. Arriving at Smitty's it was mid rush-hour for dinner and the main dining room was packed. Took our seats at what was a secondary, smaller dinning room good for a couple big groups and one table (my table). Was warmly greeted with water requests once seated. Anthony, our server then welcomed and introduced us to Smitty's Grill. I took from him that Smitty's was a "Comfort Food" place. I proceeded to tell him we came because of the chicken pot pie and he said it was a staple on the menu which we tried and thoroughly enjoyed w/leftovers. Also tried the crab cakes, small but almost pure crab meat with just the right ingredients binding it all together (YUMMY). Also ordered the bowl of chilli which was simply divine. To accompany the chilli I ordered their corn bread . Let me tell you, the corn bread was the star of the dinner. It is served in an individual cast iron skillet and topped with almost a coffee cake layer on top (WOW), it's served with butter and honey! On the side! I later learned the corn bread was compliments of the house it being my first time at Smitty's!!! They gained another customer as their food was delicious, the service was spot on, and the ambience was elevated casual. Will be back to try the rest of the staples and for the corn bread!!!! read more

Smitty's Grill - Bowl of chilli w/onion n cheddar on the side, corn bread in the middle and chicken pot pie at end. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Always solid old school Passdena. Great cocktails and fresh potato chips. Love the chicken picata. read more

Great food and service. A bit loud inside but outside on the Lake st side is lovely. Valet parking which is quite convenient.

Smittys in Pasadena is a real nice spot. In the center of all the action surrounded by many other restaurants and stores. Tons of people everywhere, lots of dogs which makes me happy. Tough to find an opening on a Friday night so reservations are a good idea. Lots of central parking lots. I guess you would call it a steak and seafood restaurant. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Really nice patio with a fire place and a larger Covid patio. Seemed like great quality and everyone loved their choices. To start we got the crab cakes which were so light, with great flavor and d served with the most amazing cranberry slaw. I ordered the prime rib French dip with fries, a very good Sammy. My nephew ordered the Cajun fried chicken sandwich and it was delicious, judging by his empty plate. My brother ordered the special, King Salmon with risotto . Don't believe I've ever had a lighter more flavorful piece of salmon. Excellent .. I'd definitely go back. Great experience. Prices are as to be expected. read more

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

We just moved to So Cal and Smitty's was recommended to us. We were looking for a nice place for my husband's birthday and also taking someone whom we hadn't dined with before and wanted a wide array of items for her to choose from. Our server, Luciano, was helpful in letting us know fav dishes at Smitty's and when we said we wanted to split the pear salad between the three of us his recommendation of getting an order and a half was the perfect amount. He also helped us with wine pairing for my prime rib and husband's rack of lamb. Both dishes were cooked to our liking, nice presentation and delicious. For dessert their speciality right now is strawberry shortcake and it is not to be missed--so good. We were seated at a booth which gave us a beautiful view of the restaurant and a great introduction to a place we will dine at again. read more

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The food service and the restaurants ambience has been fabulous tonight! I ordered the wedge salad and the trout and both are delicious!

Unfortunately we dd not have a good experience at Smitty's. My wife and I decided to spend a special evening at Smitty's. I received my meal timely, but my wife never received her meal. The server kept saying it was coming out but it never did. After asking for the manager, the meal finally came out, approximately 20-30 minutes after mine. The manager tried to remedy by comping the drinks but the damage was done and our evening was ruined. Truly disappointed after hearing so many good thing about the restaurant. read more

We had a great experience last night for dinner at Smitty's. The ambiance is nice but the service and food were the real stars. Johnny was our waiter and he deserves more stars than yelp allows. Same goes for the food. We had sandwiches. A cheeseburger and their prime rob french dip. Both sandwiches were amazingly tasty and fulfilling. The our waiter mentioned the key lime pie. It was a huge piece and better than zny of the key lime pies that I've eaton before. The Smith brothers have continued to provide great food and service at all of their restaurants. It is always a treat to eat here. I wish that we didnt live so far away but will certainly return. The menu is smaller than in the past ( no more liver n onions) but worth the drive. read more

Let me start with the cornbread.... Get the corn bread and put butter and honey on it. We ordered the cornbread as an appetizer and for dessert. I got the prime rib. It's probably one of the best pieces of prime rib I've ever had in my life and I've been living on this planet for over five decades. My wife ordered the ribs in the mac & cheese with ham. It's was delicious. All the food was excellent! I'm looking forward to our next visit! read more

Great for cocktails if you sit at the bar, the food never disappoints and it's got a very nice ambience! Bartenders know how to make great drinks here read more

No pictures :( The food taste better than they look anyway. The non-edible part: 3/5 overall Access 3/5- Ok amount of parking around the block. Service 5/5 - Very attentive and friendly front of house staff. Nice detailed explanations and recommendations. Food is ready rather quickly for the quality. 3-5 minutes between order and appetizer, 1-3 minutes between first course and main course, 1-3 minutes between ordering and desert. They clear your table very quickly. Visuals 3/5 - dim lighting, cozy setting, good decoration. Overall nice and simple vibes. Subtly lets you focus on the food Audio 3/5- Not much music, lots of chatters. You can talk with some privacy. Smell 4/5- Surprisingly not a lot of food smell. Good ventilation. The edible part: 4/5 overall nice and clean presentation. No fancy decorations, but that's what makes it fancy. Generous portions that match the pricing. Hot plate for main course, ice cold plate for dessert. It's not life-changing delicious, but very enjoyable nonetheless. Clam chowder (bowl) $11: 4/5 Large portion, fresh clams with no fishy aftertaste. Good blend of spices that aren't as common in other restaurants in SGV. Roasted Prime Rib (large. Roughly 14oz) $51: 4/5 My cut was on the leaner side, but still very enjoyable. I ordered medium-rare and I got exactly what I wanted. The au jus and creamy horse raddish are mild and do not overpower the meat even if you completely cover the meat with them. The texture is more "roasted beef" than "steak." The tendons and the lean parts are not tough, and the fat is not overwhelming. Even the edges are tasty. It is very tender. No sides by default but that's ok. Creme Brulee $12: 4/5 I thought it was going to be a cute little cup, but it was more like a soup bowl. The berry flavored syrup goes very well with the custard. The sugar is crystalized very evenly, so there is no overly burnt bitter parts. Virgin Margarita $7: 3/5. SWEET. VERY SWEET. Decent flavor otherwise. Conclusion: If you have $100+ to spare, treat yourself to a nice 3 course dinner expreience here. Smitty's is not a place for cheap value meals or legendary Michelin star experience; it is a great place to indulge yourself or have a fine moment with friends and family while enjoying Le Cordon Bleu graduates levels of good cooking. read more

Thanks Yelpers! Comfortable but classy Restaurant with in and outdoor seating. Semi open kitchen where you can witness the chefs busily creating your dishes. Real bartender who mashes a lot of drinks, like an Old Fashioned! It is a value in that the dish sizes are HUGE, labor intensive and fresh. Even the wine servings were HUGE!! Professional service and our food was served piping hot! Enjoyed the outdoor seating with the seasonal street tree lights. read more

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(+) Iron Skillet Corn Bread (+) Ribeye I made reservations for a Sunday night for three. The restaurant called me a day before to confirm the reservation. Upon entering, I didn't have any expectations and Smitty's grill did deliver great service and food. Food: To start our dinner, I ordered the iron skillet corn bread, which was a great start! The corn bread arrived at the table and i loved how crumbly and tasty it was. Our waitress brought some butter and honey to complement our bread, but honestly the corn bread tasted better without the additions. For my entree, I ordered the ribeye steak. The steak was so tender and juicy! I loved the outer fatty layers that added flavor. The ribeye comes with two sides so I selected the french fried potatoes and seasonal vegetables. The french fried potatoes are shoe string french fries and were excellent . The seasonal vegetables (zucchini) were good, but a little too much butter for my liking. Ambiance: The ambiance was my only downfall during my visit to Smitty's grill. The restaurant is compact and very loud. I don't know if it was just loud because of the holidays. Service: The service was excellent. From when we entered to when we left, we were thoroughly taken care of. Our waitress went over the daily specials and gave us ample time to order and enjoy our food. If it's your first time going, I'd recommend to order the same items I did. It is safe and the options you should be ordering at a grill place like this. I will probably be back, but definitely a treat. read more

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Celebrated my husband's birthday here. Having a handwritten birthday card waiting for him was a nice little touch. Food is always great, never had a bad meal or experience here. read more

We have been going to Smitty's for about 10 years. We stopped going because it lost its personality and charm. You used to be welcomed and taken care of in a personalized way, and the last 5 visits, we felt like the caring atmosphere was lacking. The valet is great. He is a wonderful man and works hard. The food is good when prepared correctly to the order. The service has been lacking attention and the host stand feels like they are bothered by guests. The FOH needs attention paid to it. There are many other restaurants around Pasadena and Altadena that have wonderful food, drink, and service; so why give up quality service for a fond memory of Smitty's? The consistency of service issues has given us enough reason to move on. read more

Literally the worst bar service ever! I cancelled our dinner reservation, This is a nusring home and I was so embarassed to have taken my date here. We waited 14 minutes to get a glass of wine. The other bar patrons were not happy as well. This place is so out of touch and old. Cannot ever step inside again. It smells like death. Try it. Barf. read more

Always good.food great ambiance great prices pretty good. Would absolutely go back again