Came here for dinner with another fish-loving friend, and neither of us had ever been. We had an…read moreexcellent meal here, and I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu... I'd been sleeping on this place! I really liked the open, airy, diner-like atmosphere here, with comfy, clean booths but still a bit of an upscale feel. We started with the House Pickles and some fresh oysters. Our server was great at recommending some oysters in different flavor profiles, since we liked the milkier, less briny-tasting varieties. His recs were spot on too, and I loved that they provided house-prepared mignontette and horseradish. Then, we shared the Maryland blue crab cake (one cake that was big enough for its own meal) and the U10 Diver Scallops that came in a sauce of cream, spinach and bacon, and a side of buttery, soft bread. I make scallops all the time at home and never would have thought of a sauce like this... it was dreamy! We used the bread to just about clean the plate (since it isn't really socially acceptable to lick a plate in a restaurant), and I'm still thinking about the scallops and that sauce today. The crab cake and pickles were excellent too. We paired everything with some crisp New Zealand sauv blanc. I really enjoyed this place and I'd love to go back to try to hand rolls, soups, and everything else!

I've had this place bookmarked for a while and I finally got around to trying it. I liked it so…read moremuch I returned the following week to try other dishes. My favorite are the Pervuian scallops. I could eat them literally all day. The are perfectly dressed and the scallops are so sweet. They also have a variety of oysters to choose from their raw bar. The specials were the miso cod and octopus. Both were delicious! On my most recent visit, I had the dungeness crab roll which I think might be my new favorite. The food was consistent and the service was great. I would definitely make a return visit. Make reservations by visiting their website if you planning on going on a Friday night or weekend.

I had a lovely dinner with friends at Pez Coastal Kitchen in Pasadena. They live in the area and…read morego to this place a lot. There is street parking nearby, and we walked from our hotel the Hyatt Place. They have a good drinks menu. I ordered the Lady Bug which was a tequila based drink that was really good. They also have a bunch of non-alcoholic blended drinks. For food, we ordered a bunch of stuff to share including the ceviche, the lamb meatballs, the octopus, the jumbo scallops, Brussels sprouts, and the yams. Everything was unique and excellent. We were too full to try a dessert. Service was very gracious. I did find it interesting that they close the kitchen around 8 pm on a weeknight, but also the restaurant was not that busy.

We came here on a Tuesday evening and there was no wait for a table. The restaurant is warm, cozy…read moreand quiet-perfect for a nice dinner outing. There is some street parking and some parking structures nearby. We ordered: Beet Salad-5/5 Endive Salad-5/5 Yam Skins-5/5 Chiopino-3/5 All the appetizers were delicious! Lots of textures and flavors in every bite! The cioppino was a disappointment. I think we only got 4 clams in the entire dish and they were all closed/inedible. Even after informing the wait staff that all the clams were not edible, nothing was done to make amends. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate cake-I thought it was a bit dry. We only wound up eating half. The restaurant was kind to throw in a free Strawberry Panna Cotta birthday dessert. That was a winner!

I went to Nick's over the weekend and once again the experience was fantastic! Once again I had the…read moremeatloaf because its one of my favorites! I have also had other dishes from the menue that were also great like the salmon, and the ribs! However that meatloaf is a standout and what's truly amazing is that it taste the same every time I go which is an incredible feat! As for the staff and service once again it was impeccable! Shout out to the manager Daniel and Gary my server for another great experience at Nick's. As far as the ambiance goes it is also a great experience no matter where you sit. Me personally like to sit in view of the cooks to watch them work their magic. Thanks again Nick's for another fantastic visit! Please go check them out if you haven't been and trust me when I say you won't be disappointed! Pics on the next visit I promise. Soon as the food hit the table it was a wrap!

My family and I have been frequenting this restaurant for a while now. They leave their mark on the…read moreLake ave. Food scene in Pasadena. A solid all round semi-classy modern American diner style spot. Very solid food and ambiance. Servers are always great and attentive. Baby back ribs, 8.7/10: Sweet tangy glaze on the ribs. Usually a very tender and great cook on the slab. Couple times when the ribs were overcooked and dry especially on the top/ends. So some improvements could be made for consistency. Burger: 8.9/10: almost a perfect thick cut diner style burger with all the toppings. Juicy and fatty patty. Everything you're probably looking for.

Went here with a party of 5 and was immediately seated on a Wednesday night at 630. The decor is…read morecute, semi dimly lit with a good amount of seating available. We ordered family style and was really happy that we got to try so many things! Ceviche de pescado Lomo saltado Arroz con pollo** Bistec con tallarin verde *** Aji de gallina Everything was delicious but the best bite had to be the bistec con tallarin verde. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce was seasoned well, and the steak was medium rare and so tender. They have quite an extensive menu so I will definitely be back some time to get my favorites and try some more of their food!

Amazing food and service! I would definitely go back…read moreAmbiance was perfect for the occasion

I had visited their sister restaurant Lobster and Beer numerous times during my studies at UCLA and…read morewas happy to find out this place opened up. I ordered a Connecticut style crab roll. The food arrived within 10 minutes of ordering. The crab roll was packed full of crab meat inside the toasted bun. I love whatever sauce they put on top + the lemon which made the crab meat ridiculously refreshing. The side of salad helped me feel better about eating healthy too and was a nice textural break from the crab roll. Overall, the crab roll tastes relatively similar to what I had at Lobster and Beer. It was very satisfying and I can't wait to come back for the lobster roll. Until I find out they switched to a poke shop instead. What a loss.

Another 5-star update to my previous two reviews. Guys, it's my birthday! I'm part of their reward…read moreprogram, and received a $5 off coupon. Perfect timing, as I was craving to come back! I got my usual Cali Truffle Roll (which was delicious, as always) and also got a side of lobster bisque soup. The store associate says that it gets made fresh daily, and that there's chunks of lobster in the bisque, so I had to give it a try. Guys. It's worth making a trip for! This is the BEST lobster bisque I've had (and I used to live in east coast!). You can truly taste the freshness and yes, there were chunks of lobster in it! They also have a clam chowder which I need to try again. Whatever you come here for, get a side of soup to complete your meal :)

My first ever seafood boil and definitely not my last! Parking in the back was super easy and the…read morerestaurant had such a cozy, family vibe. The owner even came out to say hi, which was really nice! The staff was so friendly and extra helpful once they found out it was my first time. I also have a shrimp allergy, and they made sure to clearly point out which tray was shrimp-free so there was no confusion, which I really appreciated. The medium spice level was NO joke but everything was so flavorful and seasoned really well. Such a fun first seafood boil experience and I'd definitely come back!

Such a hidden gem in Pasadena! We loved the Combo A with shrimp and snow crab legs -- the mixed…read moresauce was so flavorful. The spicy grilled fish and green pepper chicken were also really good. Big bonus: they have 20+ freshly made Chinese braised dishes and sides that are complimentary with dine-in. Save room for the iced liangfen too -- perfect after all the spicy food. Great spot for sharing with friends, especially if you like trying a little bit of everything. Definitely coming back!

This was my first time coming here, and I think it's a great place for a family meal. The…read morerestaurant is clean, elegant and nicely decorated. The food tastes delicious, and there are many choices for everyone. We really enjoyed the main dishes, especially Madame Noi's Pork Collar, Lime Steamed Chilean Sea Bass, and Royal Crown Fried Rice. The Royal Crown Fried Rice is definitely a must order dish! The Mango Sticky Rice was also a great dessert. The staff were friendly. We had a relaxing and happy time here with our family. I think this is a great choice for a holiday meal, family gathering, or casual dinner. They also have long tables for large parties.

Star Leaf is a high end restaurant located at the Trio Apartments in Pasadena. They specialize in…read moreSoutheast Asian fusion foods such as signature dishes royal curry and gourmet fried rice. They also offer happy hour and great cocktails. Private dining rooms are available. My dear friend and I came here for lunch in celebration of her 42nd work anniversary. Restaurant exterior has a big elephant statue in front of it... great photo op! Inside space had dark wood appeal to it... very clean and well kept. Upon entry, we were greeted and seated right away. It was still early so not too busy at the time. Staff was friendly and cordial. Service was decent. Lunch special menu had limited items. Their prices start from $19 and up. Just one tiny gripe, portions were small for the price. My friend ordered the Crispy Duck Salad. It came with crispy tempura-battered duck, fresh mixed sprouts and grapefruit, pine nuts and tahini topped with drizzles of blended hoisin sauce, chu hou sauce, and plum sauce. Greens were great, but duck was a tad salty for my taste. I got the Truffle Wok Seared Noodles with Scallops (lunch portion). It was recommended by our server, Cameron. Thank you for the delicious recommend! Dish came with a small bowl of intensely sour, spicy, salty, and aromatic Tom Yum soup... very good! Overall dish was amazing served with tasty wok-flavor handmade egg noodles and perfectly cooked scallops complemented with yummy mushrooms, brussels sprout leaves, and Thai basil all tossed in a dark black truffle sauce. YUM! I slurped up the noodles in a jiffy. Unfortunately, it only came with 3 medium sized scallops. I would get this again if it came with 3 more scallops and more noodles. Overall dining experience was pleasant, cozy, and delicious. Thanks Star Leaf!

I had a business dinner here the other night so could not take photos of the delicious food. From…read morethe outside this place might be mistaken for a generic chain but the care and attention to the food and service dispel that impression immediately. We enjoyed the corn agnolotti, edamame humus, and the melon with prosciutto as appetizers. I especially liked the sea bass entree. It was beautifully seasoned and cooked perfectly. The salmon was also tasty (we shared plates). The apple strudel was yummy as was the dessert with lemons curd, blackberries and melt-in-your -mouth shortbread cookies. Almost forgot to mention the watermelon drop cocktail. What a perfect refreshing summer drink. Definitely worth trying. Well done, Arbour! I'll be back.

Was meeting up with people for dinner, and was looking for something in Pasadena to check out, and…read morecame across the Arbour. After a quick glance at the menu, made a reservation and we all met up. We were able to get seated right away at a booth, and water was brought out for the table immediately. We started with drinks and I honestly don't remember what everyone had. The Mai Tai was a little lackluster, though, but the other cocktails were decent. For food, we started with the oysters, potatoes croquettes and agnolotti. The oysters were fine, can't complain about oysters, but they really didn't stand out necessarily. The croquettes were tasty, nice and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with smoked bacon and cheddar cheese. And the agnolotti came topped with a truffle foam and filled with ricotta cheese. Also a nice bite! For entrees we tried the pork chop, rigatoni, shrimp penne and the bucatini spaghetti. The shrimp penne has a good amount of shrimp in it, which is always nice, but there seemed to be a missing flavor profile to make the dish pop. The same with the rigatoni with basil pesto, it just tasted like something was missing to elevate it into a great dish. The rigatoni did have that nice pesto green color which stands out though. The bucatini was a little better with the spiciness from the vodka sauce giving it a little punch, but the stand out was the boneless pork chop with broccoli and cheddar covered potato gnocchi. Pork chop was cooked perfectly, great flavor on the pork and the gnocchi hit as well. Overall, Italian spot in Pasadena seeing up didn't nice looking dishes. The agnolotti, croquettes and pork chop were definitely stars of the meal, while the pasta dishes didn't hit like we all hoped they would. I'd stick with the proteins and maybe skip the pastas.

The best chinese vietnamese restaurant. We used to go to Tan Cang Newport Seafood. But now we only…read morego to Boston Lobster. Better food, atmosphere, and most importantly people serving you! The cook and staff are from Tan Cang, but not my business to share. Some dishes that are fantastic and worth trying! Bo Luc Lac - so good if you dip with their salt pepper lime. I have not had better shaken beef Vegetable Deluxe - it comes with ching gong choi, gan lan, shitake mushroom, straw mushroom, carrots, bamboo. Any vegetable dish they make is good garlic stir fried Steamed Tilapia - This is my favorite. Just something about their soy sauce with fish over rice. I loved it so much that I recreated this dish at home. We ate this dish going up my mom would steam this often but she actually prefers the way I make it! I want to say their soy sauce is amazing but the fish is not always perfectly steamed. The last fish we had were a little tough. But that's not their standard. Usually very good! Clams with Basil - underrated dish, same with the fish this sauce is so tasty over rice! My mom can also make this dish at home but obviously minus the msg Lobster with yee meen - they are known for their lobster and if you love nooodles sauce coated you might want to add yee meen. My family LOVES this dish. No one makes it like they do. Kung Pao Chicken/Cashew Chicken - both amazingly made if you like a little more sweet and texture crunch I'd say KPC and if you want a lighter flavor go for CC

Not sure why this place is called Boston Lobster, but this outstanding restaurant in the San…read moreGabriel Valley focuses on Cantonese and Vietnamese flavors. Their signature dish - their "house special lobster"- is the most flavorful preparation of lobster that one can have. The lobster is fried and the juicy bites of meat is layered with garlic, green onions, and sweetness. If you're lucky, you might get some roe, which gives extra salinity. An order of lobster presently costs $34/lb and a "small lobster" will weigh 3-4 lbs; therefore, I only order this signature dish for special occasions. Even if you don't want lobster, don't fret as the rest of the menu is equally delicious. Their "yang chow fried rice", crab and fish maw soup, beef loc lac, and clams with basil sauce are all personal favorites. I love their lunch specials as their entrees come with rice, but at a slightly lower price. The food is top notch, and it brings amazing Vietnamese and Cantonese flavors to this location in the San Gabriel Valley. For a special occasion with my wife or with a group, this is always a winning pick.

I've eaten here countless times with friends and family over the years. I can't believe I haven't…read morereviewed you guys! Always consistent in service and quality. They are known for: Special Lobster (A+) Beef Loc Lac (A) Clams with spicy sauce (A+) Chinese broccoli (B+) - depends on how thick or thin it is Pea shoots with garlic (A) Eggplant (A) Yang Chow fried rice (A) Reservations are highly recommended either by calling or thru Yelp. There are private rooms in the back on request if you have a larger party and seafood is always fresh as they have an aquarium with lobsters, crab, geoduck, and fish. The decor is charming with vintage trinkets along the side of the wall. There is a waiting area by the lobby and restrooms in the back of the restaurant. Since it gets so crowded and busy the restrooms could be tended better. Parking is available on the street otherwise you have to valet on the lot.

Honestly, what's great about coming here is their set menu, which is very helpful if you have…read moredecision paralysis and come with a big group. But as for the food itself, the standouts would be the fried shrimp and the lobster. The shrimp is perfectly fried and I enjoy how soft the shell is. I like the lobster alot too. I personally prefer the way it's prepared at Henry's, but Newport's is still pretty decent. For the most part, the food is overloaded with MSG. Each time I've gone or taken food to go, I feel massively dehydrated after that I get a headache if I don't drink enough water. Luckily the staff was pretty on top of refilling our waters, and they often switched out our plates for clean ones. We've been going for years, and they used to allow substitutions for the set menu. But on a recent visit, this didn't seem like it was a thing anymore.