The phone # doesn't work and my request for reservations email has gone unanswered. Crazy system

It was my first time here and I'll never come back after what my friends and I experienced tonight. We ordered our drinks and closed the tab after we received them. I wrote $0.00 in the tip section because I was actually going to give a cash tip when I was going to leave. However, the bald bartender had the audacity to ask me if I was really going to tip zero with an attitude, which was very disrespectful. We left the bar section to go to a table and the bartender continued to stare at us. We felt unwelcome and uncomfortable. read more

I decided to meet up with my girl friend. She was there 10mins early and waited for me but no one person approached her about a seating. When I got there, it seemed to be pretty busy and everyone who work there ignored us. Okay, I get that you guys were busy, but it doesn't mean that you guys can just ignore us! We just left and never go back.. read more

Came here for some drinks after stopping by a couple of places in Old Town. The place was packed with nowhere to sit but luckily their mini shuffle board was open so we just played and held our drinks. I got an Old Fashioned which was delicious and very aromatic. Good stuff. read more

This is a whiskey bar that serves burgers, fries, and a chicken sandwich. This is not a restaurant. This is a cool, laid back, casual place to get some good mixed drinks, some good whiskey and a decent selection of draft beers, while enjoying the company of friends. I would not come here to just to eat, but I would eat here if I were hungry. I hope that makes sense, because I've seen many reviews stating otherwise. Like anyplace nowadays, the service depends on how competent the server, and how busy the bar. My experience has been positive but I can see how things could get slow, very quickly on busy nights. read more

Poor quality in service. My friend and I, waited at the bar for 20 minutes. Bartenders/waitress never greeted or offered assistance. I made eye contact several times with two Bartenders. However, both bartenders only catered to a loud group (maybe regulars) that were aggressive in getting they're drinks first. Bartenders saw us and never acknowledged or served us. After waiting for a long period of time, we left. I guess you need to shout at someone to get a drink ?! LOL -- no thank you. Will not return or recommend. read more

Stopped by for a quick drink on a Saturday afternoon just because we were in the area. We were able to find a table w/no problem and once settled noticed the placed smelled terribly, not sure what it was... HH was going on (great for a weekend), which is a few dollars off well drinks. We tried classic Moscow mule, not the worst I've had, but certainly not second round worthy. Will not come back during the day, perhaps drinks and air ventilation are better in the evenings. read more

I'd say this is your "standard bar" Nothing bad to say Nothing special to say There's always seats available--even on weekends--and staff seem friendly Wouldn't go out of my way to come here but definitely will grab a drink if in the area. read more

this is a cool little dive bar in Pasadena. They have a great selection of whiskeys and very delicious cocktails. I had a surprise party here for my boyfriends 31st birthday party earlier this year and everyone loved it. read more

Great spot!! Went on a Friday and had a blast! The bar tenders are super friendly and the drink are good.. highly recommend this place! I will be returning soon. read more

My boyfriend has always wanted to check this place out, so it was fortunate we were able to do this with my boyfriend, his coworker and her significant other while waiting to get seated at Slater's 50/50 next door. We ended up walking here so I could not say much about parking except that there are a couple of parking structures nearby and one of them offers free parking for 90 minutes. The Blind Donkey is just what the title of the place suggests. It has several donkey statues that are covered with a blindfold. It also has a mellow ambiance, a large selection of whiskey, a shuffleboard to play with, and several tables that can be used as a chessboard or checkers board. What a great idea to pass the time and enjoy your drinks even further by playing these games! The cocktail that I had was the Nick of Thyme, which was refreshing and delicious. There is a menu for delicious British food, but I did not try the food and will come back to check that out next time. For a night of drinking in Pasadena, definitely check out the Blind Donkey as one of your places to go to. read more

Me and my bf decided to come to this place on a Friday night, and the atmosphere is good to just relax chat with people, plus their drinks are good which I did enjoyed. However there was this one worker with long brunette hair, and I kept seeing her hair touching the drinks and where all of the alcohol is. Plus on the job she kept drinking, which I thought was kind of unprofessional read more

This is one of our fav drinking spots. Happy hour has great drink deals and the food is nice and greasy (if you like that kind of thing). What I like best about Blind Donkey is that the cocktails are strong and well mixed. Nicely done, folks, nicely done! read more

Good for whiskey (they got ALL types). Don't expect soft and charming, but do expect competent staff and a wide selection of whiskeys! Sunday funday is also good - and you can play various table games including chess at this joint. A little gem in old town Pasadena. Gets sad on the weekend with too many drunk crying people. But it's not the bar's fault ! read more

- Not crowded on a Sunday night, but not empty either. Good place to have a conversation. - GREAT old-fashioned. What you would want from a bar like this. - Bathrooms in good condition. - Bartender was nice, patrons were diverse. - Plenty of parking if you're willing to pay for one of the structures down the street on Union. read more

I have walked past this place countless times without even thinking of it. We finally stopped in for some drinks and food. It was a late lunch so it was quiet. We chose to sit at the bar. Our server was friendly and helpful through out our visit. They have a great assortment of whiskeys, bourbons and ryes. On top of that their prices are very good. If you are a fan of any of these you will be happy with the options and what you will pay for them. We decided to split an order of the Buffalo Chicken Fries. It is a good sized order of fries topped with buffalo chicken, mozzarella & red onion. The one order was enough to fill both of us up. We also were both quite happy with the tastes. You get a lot of chicken on your fries. The buffalo sauce is on point and the mozzarella completes the package. We will be coming back for more. There are a couple other fry options I need to try. Just as important, I need to go back to try some more of their booze options. read more

We showed up late and I was starving so we couldn't stay long. We got 1 drink and a free shot (unfortunately I do not remember what I had) for being my first time out drinking the drinks were good the service was great. Will definitely be going back but before they stop serving food. Oh and I don't know if it matters to anyone else but their restrooms were very clean. Oh yes, they have outside seating and the last call was at 12 on a Saturday night. I would also give the server's name but I also didn't get that. I know I'm awful at remembering the important stuff. read more

Some day I need to make it here for HH or for grub... as it is, I always seem to be here near the end of the night. It is always a fun joint though... They have a very helpful menu and on it they list a number of Whiskeys, Bourbons, Scotches, etc. Definitely a packed joint and a fun time. If you can get a table, I suggest that you do it. They have a single roving waitress but it always seems faster to walk up to the bar and get served that way. I find myself gravitating to a few new items here as I can see what all is on the list. I Know they have beer as well if your not into the hard stuff, but I prefer the hard stuff that they have here. Be careful though, they will run out of bourbon balls and need to substitute rocks sometimes. I hate that part, but none the less this place is rocken... Some of the good stuff is a bit pricier than I would like. But the bartenders are helpful and they have multiple options for what you order. They are also paying attention to the crowd and will help you even if you are a row or two back. That is some great service compared to many of the places around. Overall i enjoy this venue quite a bit and it is one of the better whiskey bars that I have found in Pasadena and it is the best in Old Town that I have been to. Hit it up for a good time. I would be shocked if you left here unhappy with your night... read more

Customer service :3/5 Quality of drink:4/5 Price: $20-100+ /per This place was so cute!! Good quality of pizza but big portions!We were 6 of us on Thursday night. Every thing was good but just table and bath room was dirty. read more

Ugh. Should be called the Blind Douchey. The Bro's and Bro'ettes are in full force in this otherwise exceptional watering hole. No, that's not beer pong, that's shuffleboard, but really, what's the difference, except the players are now in law school instead of undergraduate. I literally overheard two guys talking about their screenplays. Worse yet, the bartender was trying to out douche them by talking about Jean Luc Goddard. Kill me now. EXCEPT, they have such an AMAZING selection of hard to find whiskeys, scotches, ryes, bourbons, etc., that it's worth the insufferable clientele. Bring your I-Pod, turn up the volume, and drink quickly. read more

Whiskey selection is pretty good. The place gets packed like any other bar in Pasadena, but there's nothing all that special about this place. Prices are reasonable, but not great. read more

When I first heard the name I felt bad for the donkey. But I felt better after I found out how good their whiskey was! I don't really get the reference to their name, so if anybody 'gets it', let me know! Anyway, the Blind Donkey is a fantastic whiskey bar in Old Town Pasadena. They have quite the whiskey collection but of course, they serve more than just that. They have a large selection of craft beers, and also offer flights for those that like to sample different types of whiskey. Aside from their drinks, I was surprised at how good their food was. Being right next door to Slaters 50/50, I would guess not many people come here to try their burgers; but I did a few times, and its pretty good! They have a relaxing atmosphere and the bartenders here rock. They have some game tables around, as well as an arcade system with a ton of games on it. The area is pretty decently sized so you don't feel too cramped even if the place gets packed. I always love a good Old Fashioned so I'm glad this place is around. For those that are looking for The Blind Donkey, its right next door to Slaters 50/50, and across from one of the parking structures. read more

Great bar with a wide selection of whiskey. The menu is like a book separated in in sections from American, Canadians, Ryes, Scotches, and many more. I always take a first look at their special/limited batch. The bartenders are pretty knowledgeable about what they have and could give a good personal recommendation. They're actually required to sample new whiskies and take notes on them. They have a few local craft beer on tap. Happy hour only includes maybe 2 of the beers. The fries here are definitely something to try and more than enough to fill two hungry stomachs. I tried the CHILI CHEESE fries but they fell short on the flavors. It was more on the bland side and needed some heat. Coin machine is next to the arcade machine if you need it for parking. Wish DT Pasadena meters took phone or CC payments. read more

I'm not a Pasadena expert by any means so I don't really know what 'type' of bar this is. All I know is that I stopped in for a Moscow Mule or two with some friends on a Saturday night (though I didn't drink whiskey, the cocktail I chose seemed at least to fall within the same animal category), and I had a perfectly pleasant time! As the night got later the place definitely got a bit squished, with an accidental elbow flying to the back of my head a couple of times from people having animated conversations behind me. But I have to say that the crowd seemed fairly divers... OK, there were one or two overly drunk just out of college types, but there were also older patrons who weren't as obnoxious. It seems like a casual spot where you can get some fine whiskey, a few food selections, and enjoy a well-styled atmosphere that you don't see all that much of in this part of town. One complaint I had was that there was just one bathroom for girls and one for guys and I spent a LOT of time waiting outside that one bathroom! It's not a bar I'd go way out of my way for, but definitely something I'd suggest if I was meeting someone in Pasadena... especially if it was early enough in the evening to avoid the elbows! read more

this is seriously my new favorite bar in Pasadena, quiet small and intimate it's exactly what I want from a local bar... no long lines no nonsense just strong drinks and good vibes. If you can look past the hipsters that frequently inhabit this place it's an extremely good spot to grab a drink or take a date. After trying a few of their speciality cocktails they've definitely won me over. The southern tartan is AMAZING and the Nick of Tyme also delicious... They also have a kitchen but I haven't ordered food from there yet so these 5 stars are based solely on service, booze and ambience read more

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Finally got the nerve to ask out a girl i've had my eye on for a few months now....and....she said yes!! Needless to say, I took my female companion to the Blind Donkey so I could show off my knowledge of fine whiskies while bantering with the typically friendly staff. Having been to the Blind Donkey a few times before, I knew it was going to be a hit but OH BOY I did NOT see it going as well as it did! First of all, my date was impressed with the overall decor of the place and told me several times throughout the night how cool I am for choosing this trendy/hip/fun spot. Secondly, the bartender was the perfect amount of attentive and friendly, and seemed to intuitively know what I needed in order to appear cool but also assist in my selecting of the perfect whiskey. My date isn't a huge whiskey drinker, but the bartender with the shaved head (that I thought was going to be tough but ended up being a total wing man haha, thanks buddy!) helped her select a whiskey that suited her taste buds while giving her a new appreciation of my favorite beverage! He chatted with us enough to make us feel welcomed, but knew exactly when to give us space so I could get closer to my date. He was friendly and funny and helped us relax into a great conversation. Maybe it was the two glasses of fine whiskey or perhaps it was my charming personality but the date ended with a very romantic kiss and we are set to go out again next weekend! Thanks Blind Donkey! Definitely the best bar in Pasadena! read more

We have been coming to this bar for years and always loved it, but on our last visit we were threatened by one of their employees. The fire alarm had gone off (apparently because someone had pulled it) and after a few minutes of waiting for it to stop, we decided to leave since we had already finished our drinks & paid. When we were about a block away two of their employees chased us down and accused us of pulling the alarm. When we explained it wasn't us they insisted another customer had reportedly seen us do it. We were shocked and caught off-guard by their tone, so we reaffirmed they must have been mistaken but told them we would not be coming back to their bar because of this interaction. One of the employees replied "Good! Stay the (expletive) away from our bar! We never want to (expletive) see you again! If you try to come around here again, we're gonna mess you up." Definitely do not recommend this bar anymore, unless you're looking for a dodgy place where the employees threaten their customers lives. read more

a casual, dimly lit bar that serves up cocktails & beer, although from yelp i got the impression that they were a whiskey bar it's small inside so i'm glad we were able to snag a table to enjoy our drinks ---moscow mule: love a good moscow mule made with good ginger beer! ---nick of thyme: also a ginger beer cocktail but this ones got bourbon in it they play movies in the background, interestingly enough they were playing mean girls when i was there read more

After drinking some premium brews next door at 50/50, we needed a bit of a palate cleanser, so The Blind Donkey was suggested. A friend of mine had asked me if I was a fan of Mad Men, because if I was, The Blind Donkey makes some great "Old Fashioned" whiskey beverages that Don Draper partakes of. Since I rarely ever mix my whiskey's and scotches, I followed his lead and ordered an Old Fashioned with Buffalo. I would have gone for the Makers Old Fashioned, but will have to get that next time. I think the price is still the same. The female bartender is a libation artisan and she turned out an exquisite old fashioned that would make Don Draper blush. It was awesome. I think it was $11, so not too bad for what you get. It was really loud in there and I had an interesting conversation with an Irish chap as we reminisced about World Cup 94 where Brazil beat Italy in penalties. We proceeded to make fun of Baggio and his lame air ball kick that cost them that game. Yeah, that was completely random. You know what else is completely random? The chess tables that they have here. Bring your chess pieces and on a more quiet night have yourself a game, a drink, and a bite. read more

The drinks are strong and good and creative, and the music is LOUD. But snootiness is a deal breaker for me. Again, I'd rather frequent places that enjoy having customers. How annoying that it's attempting to be a dive bar, when the prices and snooty staff clearly indicate otherwise. I'll take a pass. read more

I am not cool. I'm not. And I hate being reminded of that fact when I go...well, anywhere. My clothes are not new. My hair"style" might be deemed "covers head and is usually clean." My shoes are about comfort not shine. Places such as The Blind Donkey typically make me feel like I don't belong: "I'm just a caveman...I don't understand your chichi drink menu. I am frightened by your fancy muddler machines." But this is not the case at the Blind Donkey. The drinks, they are not cheap. The area, far from my house. But the two times I have been, my obscure whiskey drinking desires were met, and the bartenders were happy to provide suggestions no matter how busy they were. AND...they have GINORMOUS ROUND ICE CUBES. Caveman like round ice cube. Caveman drink whiskey. Caveman drink whiskey with round ice cube. Caveman go back soon. Ugh. read more

Terrible attitude on the Bartenders, I am new and enjoying Whiskey in Southern California, decided to give this bar a try. Bartenders are rude, if they can even be called Bartenders, they seem to have attitudes all the time, Alexis and Michael. Been to that bar over 8 times before I gave this review, and even hesitated to write it, I even definitely agree with the other reviewer that there is nothing special to this bar, its small and there is nothing to boast about. Small TV's if you care about that, and its got that Old Pasadena charm. Definitely some good Bourbons and liquors. But the main issue here is not the price, food, bar, or selection is literally the staff itself. Bartenders with attitude every single night I was there, I am not even sure they enjoy their work, or they just don't like customers/the bar. Bartenders at the YardHouse have more personality and customer disposition than the guys here. Shoutout to Mischa and Andy (Sunday Bartenders) - which are the only reason to go to this bar. read more

Chill bar with a huge selection of whiskey. Wish they had more Japanese selections but it was still impressive. Interior is a little darker but not overly dim. Bartenders were nice and attentive as well. Good spot to pop in for a few drinks. I'll be back when I'm nearby! read more

Q: What does it take to drag a girl out from her hidey-hole after a nearly year-long hiatus from the Yelp world? A: An absolutely kick-ass love story, that's what... Shall I begin? It was a chilly Tuesday night, and AP and I were on a Very Important Mission: to warm our bellies with a hefty dose of whiskey. And AP knew just the place. After parking in a public lot somewhere, I buttoned up my coat while AP zipped up his Osh Kosh B'Gosh hoodie, and off we went, trotting down the streets of Old Town, hop-skipping right past Slater's, and moseying through an inconspicuous set of double doors into the dark, moody interior of a rather simply decorated bar. We had arrived...at The Blind Donkey. AP and I tuned out the music, turned a blind eye to the handful of people hanging around, and made a beeline for the bar. Comfortably perched on the barstools, AP dove right into the ridiculously extensive whiskey list (it's a page-turner, literally) while I do what I do best: hone in on the food menu. I was already stuffed silly from an incredibly filling dinner. But - there's always a BUT - my eyes locked in on the "Grilled Cheese on a Stick." My stomach screamed, "No!! No more!" but my taste buds screamed, "Yes! We must taste this!" Taste buds won. They usually do. With that decision made, I moved on to the drink menu, too...and found myself absolutely overwhelmed by the pages-long menu with a crazy array of drinks priced at the $10 to $20 range (for 1 oz). So I did the most sensible thing: I picked what sounded the prettiest and had the least alcohol content. Meanwhile, AP, a more experienced alcoholic, opted for a different drink. Not a minute after our orders were placed, two tumblers appeared before us, complete with giant ice balls - not ice cubes, but ice BALLS, I say - keeping our whiskeys nice and chilly. We were still nursing Round One when the GRILLED CHEESE ON A STICK came out, complete with a wee little bowl of tomato soup for dipping. Despite the fact that my arteries had already shut down on me, I had to take a teeny tiny bite - and my taste buds were pleased. I didn't eat much more of it, but judging by how AP eventually scarfed down every last morsel, I think I can safely assume that his taste buds were in a happy place, too. So, with Round One complete, we moved on to Round Two...and right back to the exhaustive selection. This time, I decided to try a different route: pick something with the highest proof for AP and something reasonable for myself. Pointedly ignoring AP's protests, I tried to order him a glass of something that was 130+ proof. But much to my disappointment, they were out. Turns out, they only carry limited quantities of all the whiskeys denoted with ***, and that happened to be one that they were fresh out of. Poop. But the bartender swooped in to make a recommendation of a 120+ proof whiskey, and I was all smiles once more. And as the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight, as the few remaining customers filtered out, as the alcohol slowly crept up and gave me a very pleasant buzz....we completely ditched the drink list and perked up our ears to the recommendations - and explanations - of the mind-bogglingly informative bartender. Turns out, John - that's his name - wasn't just a mere bartender; he is one of the owners...and a really, really friendly, knowledgeable one, at that! John's my age, but the man is a whiskey SAGE. Every recommendation came with extensive background on smell, flavor, type of cask, comparable drinks, origin, how it's made, etc. We tried cheaper; we tried pricier. We tried stronger; we tried lighter. We tried American; we tried Scotch. We tried cocktails; we tried flights. And after each round, as he became more familiar with what we each liked and disliked, his recommendations became more and more spot-on. If he said, "You'll like this," sure enough, we did. If he said, "You'll like this, but you won't," sure enough, one of us did and the other didn't. If he said, "This has higher alcohol content but is much smoother than this one," sure enough, he was right! THE MAN IS ALWAYS RIGHT! When I first walked into the bar, I had no intention of drinking so much. But faced with a miles-long drinks list and a bartender/owner that knows everything on top of everything about every last bottle in the house...hell, what's a girl to do? TRY AS MANY AS POSSIBLE, of course! And that, my friends, is how I came to fall in love with a not-so-average, totally-so-awesome whiskey bar by the name of The Blind Donkey. There are still a gabillion drinks on the menu I haven't tried yet...and I intend to get through as many as possible every chance I get. You can be sure that this review is only the first chapter in what is bound to be a love saga. A girl in love is a force to be reckoned with, and this OC girl isn't going to let 40 miles of highway get in the way of pure, unadulterated romance! Oh, and did I mention that the restrooms are super clean? ;D read more

Cheers to John, Tim, Michael and the rest of the gang at the Blind Donkey for bringing a Legitimate Whisky bar to Pasadena! First things first: Metered Street Parking and structure parking ($6 late night). The Restaurant doesn't have a sign, just look for the big Red Door. If you get there before 10 the kitchen is open. They have a great American Whiskey selection. They are off to a great start on their Scotch Whisky selection (they take suggestions too if you've got a fav). They make pretty good Old-Fashioneds and they have great whiskey+beer pairing specials. Something smart that they do... A typical shot is 1.5 oz. When you order whiskey here, you can choose to have a 1 oz or a 2 oz pour. This enables you to get a little of something new for a little less OR get a lot of something you want for a little more. This also lowers the barriers to more pricy Scotch Whiskies. At Seven Grand, a 15 or 16 year Scotch would be $14 or $15 for a 1.5 oz. shot, but a 1 oz. pour at the Blind Donkey would be $9 to $11 for the same Scotch. So, without gouging their prices to stay competitive they just change the means of serving and it works! I came with two friends last night. One friend ordered a 15 year Dalwhinnie, I ordered a Glenrothes Alba, and the other friend tried the IPA and Rye special. We were all very pleased. Shortly after we played some shuffleboard. They have a very nice shuffleboard table right by the window and out of the way. They have a nice TV set up with all the Sports Games. Nothing over-the-top. Nothing pretentious. Nothing showy. They are what they are and they're happy to serve and engage in good conversation. This place has already become my new favorite bar and I've only been here twice. I can't wait to see them grow. I wish them all the best. read more

The bartenders created their own confusion about our tab, because when I took the open tab off of my credit card, they failed to take my friend's credit card. The woman bartender who was basically just wearing a bra as her top, took out her frustration on us. She got angry because the previous bartender forgot to take my friend's credit card, and she decided to take out her rage on us, the customers. Glasses dude bartender who created the confusion, thought I was invisible, even though I was sitting right in front of him and the place was not busy. Couldn't be bothered to provide any greeting, couldn't be bothered to get me a menu. Couldn't be bothered to take my order without me flagging him down (recall that I was sitting right in front of him). Couldn't be bothered to take my friend's order when she arrived (it was still not busy). Dark hair dude bartender couldn't possibly help us because glasses dude apparently was assigned to us, or something. The place has a we're too cool for school vibe. Lmao. Only in your own small minds. Get out into the world a little. The place is just a bad dive bar. This place is a joke. This place would not make it in DTLA. Pasadena, don't be so easily fooled. read more

Came here with a friend after dinner at Maestro's... Drinks were decent and the bartenders were friendly. Cozy, dim, nice ambiance. Minus a couple rowdy single customers going around bothering every one else. Okay but nothing more. read more

Only downside - kitchen closes early so no food to absorb the copious amounts of booze you've consumed. Nevertheless - good tunes, good vibe, stiff drinks, and great time. read more

B- oys, this is definitely a Gentlemen's bar L- ooking for a place to watch baseball? I- would suggest you & your buddies try here N- ot impressed with the "Hot Nuts" we ordered. D- idn't come hot at all. D- idn't even come luke warm O- rder the 3x fried fries if you're not watching your figure N- ice décor, lots of wood. K- eep in mind, it is predominantly a whiskey bar E- xpected at least one vegetarian option, but fries were it Y- ou should go if you're a guy and like cold nuts. lol read more

Classy classy place! Very impressed with the extinsive amount of knowledge the bartenders had. I tried 9 different whiskeys from the 3 samplers on the menu. It was quite enlightening . Sorry I forgot all the names of the brands, but after tasting the array of scotch/irish/bourbon whiskey, I found out that I'm a fan of bourbon. 'MERICA! Of course I already knew that my pallet would like more of the top shelf stuff like Glenfiddich 15 or Johnnie Walker black, so I finished with those. They 12/each for 1 ounce. This place makes me feel hella old though. They make me realize I like drinking whiskey and didn't even card me(I usually get carded). Not sure if that's a good thing or bad. Being old town Pasadena that it is. Parking is quite expensive. I just toughed it out by finding street parking. Paid like $2 to the meter. Way cheaper than those parking lots that cost $6-$7. Money saved is more money that you can use to buy more alcohol! read more