Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Cheesecake Factory

    3.1 (2.1k reviews)
    ModerateDesserts, American
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order The Cheesecake Factory Takeout or Delivery

    The Cheesecake Factory Photos

    Business Info

    THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

    You might also consider

    More like The Cheesecake Factory

    Recommended Reviews - The Cheesecake Factory

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Tammy T.

    My heart will always have a special place for The Cheesecake Factory because I am obsessed with their Godiva Chocolate CheeseCake. The service at the Arcadia location is a hit or miss depending on how busy they are. The pasta is always delicious, but I am not a huge fan of their Brunch menu. The restaurant is beautiful and feels inviting. Parking is usually a huge pain since it is located right at the Santa Anita Mall, however, valet parking is also an option. The Cheesecake Factory is a very nice place to have a casual lunch with friends.

    Kasandra C.

    I did not like the service here at all. The waiter barely came to check on our group. We waited a whole hour for the check because he never came by our table. Ironically cheescake factory is known for their big serving size but my friends portions were pretty small unless it was the pasta. Definitely will try a different location!

    Cajun Jambalaya Pasta
    Karla B.

    Ate here May 1, 2026 (Friday) night and was really excited since it had been a while. I've always loved The Cheesecake Factory--just not the long lines. Luckily, my partner and I only waited about 20 minutes when we arrived around 9:30pm, which honestly surprised me because it was still super busy and lively. Food took about 40 minutes. We were seated and got bread right away, which was great because we were starving. Our server was nice, but it took quite a while for her to come take our order and check on us afterward. Food-wise, the Pasta Da Vinci was decent, but the sauce was watery, it's usually much thicker. The real disappointment was the Jambalaya. The pasta itself was completely unseasoned, and only the chicken and shrimp had any flavor. My partner usually doesn't like to complain, but even he didn't enjoy it. When I tried it, I was honestly shocked. Paying $30 for bland pasta was really disappointing. We also ordered the Parmesan truffle fries, and they were drenched in oil. It tasted like they weren't drained properly, so the oil completely overpowered the flavor and made them hard to enjoy. For a Friday night, I expected them to be on top of their game, but this visit missed the mark. Sadly, I won't be coming back anytime soon.

    Moises C.

    Amazing steak rib-eye ! Cooked well done so delicious! Side of smashed potatoes and French fries . 10/10 With a tasty lemonade. Also the pasta da Vinci , delicious Madeira wine sauce , and tossed penne pasta outstanding meal and most and all the shrimp on top to end it right ! 10/10 Love there white and brown bread one of my favorite breads and side of butter . Great customer service! Very attentive, very polite and welcoming staff are very helpful here . 10/10 Clean environment, very taken care of and always assisting each table . Definitely recommend this location for friends and family 10/10 I will be back soon

    Bread
    Kimmi C.

    Parking can be a challenge at the Arcadia mall but if you're already planning a shopping trip it's more convenient. We went late mid Friday afternoon and only waited about 10 minutes. Our server Tianna made the experience exceptional. She was very friendly and accommodating. She very well versed on the menu and could clearly explain dishes. Great customer service!

    Children's menu
    Alice W.

    For a Cheesecake Factory, this is pretty consistent. (I base this 4/5 review on this premise... lol!) We come here every once in a while when we go to the Santa Anita mall. It's accessible from outside the mall right by the food court. We've never had to wait to be seated. They're very accommodating with children, indoor or outdoor seating. There's also a children's menu. Service is always very kind and attentive. Food... goodness.... The menu at CF always gives me anxiety bc it's basically an encyclopedia of food. The food is pretty much mediocre in my book but (as stated above) for a CF, it's pretty standard. I honestly can't say I have a favorite dish. lol!!! But we did have the stuffed mushroom appetizer and thought that was yummy. Also, we always appreciate the complimentary bread and butter! The children's portions are also huge especially for a toddler. We got the jambalaya and it was just okay.... Overcooked noodles. Food is a bit meh but the environment and service keep us coming back especially bc we have a toddler and he can be loud or make a mess without us worrying too much.

    Peruvian Chicken bowl. Colors are messed up by the outdoor lighting but I promise it looks and tastes delicious in person!
    Dorothy C.

    First off, Alex is a phenomenal server. He fixed our crazy wobbly table issue outside on the patio by helping us with musical tables until we got it right, got someone to get our heater lamp turned on, never missed a request, and kept that delicious factory bread and drinks coming even though he had to always go inside to handle other tables. We haven't been to Cheesecake Factory for anything other than dessert for a long time and was surprised at the quality, portioning, and flavor of what we ordered. We had the classic avocado eggrolls which have not changed. Delicious and fresh with that great tamarind dipping sauce. My husband had some grilled salmon which was cooked perfectly and I tried the Peruvian chicken bowl because I was feeling like plantains and it did not disappoint. For a bowl, I was surprised it had two super tender chicken breasts in it along with black beans, plantains, rice, and salsa. It was perfect for what I was craving at the time and a generous serving of it. Finished everything off with Godiva and lemon raspberry cheesecakes. Godiva is the must for chocolate lovers and the lemon raspberry for something cakes, fruity, and sweet/tart. Looks like Cheesecake Factory finally made it back onto our list of restaurant rotations.

    Ahi Tuna Poke*
    Katelyn K.

    This location is busy most of the time. I stopped by on a weekday for dinner and managed to beat the dinner rush. But it was full house within an hour. For the table I ordered: Grilled rib-eye steak Baja bowl with grilled chicken Ahi tuna poke bowl with rice Avocado eggrolls Warm crab dip Baked brie with truffle-honey butter Farfelle with chicken and roasted garlic Godiva chocolate cheesecake Peach perfect with raspberry drizzle This is the first time I didn't order pasta for myself and got the ahi tuna poke bowl. The bowl is huge but I think it's better to stick with their classics such as pasta. Staffs here are friendly. It's always fun to have a small conversation with them. Our table was going back and forth on how to pronounce Godiva and the our waitress joined in on the fun. If they're busy, you might have to ask for things repeatedly until they bring it. Food quality is always the same. Love the booth tables next to the window.

    Tiramisu cheesecake
    Lupita L.

    4/11/26 So we waited more than an hour. They were going to sit us in a small booth where we did not fit. Trying to sit us at a table for 4 when we were 6. They had the nerve to say we had to wait another 30 minutes!!! What kind of service is this ! Yes we know you are popular but this is ridiculous. I asked why they couldn't sit us k. The next available table Their answer, "Well because we have other guests who have been waiting an hour" WHAT ?!!! And how long have we been waiting? Make or make sense ! Manager came by she also said we had to wait ... Like I was ready to leave ... I was ready to post this when they all of a sudden came by to tell us they had a bigger table. I'll just say thank you for accommodating us after we were clearly upset for trying to make us wait another 30 minutes.

    Shrimp Scampi
    Maggie C.

    LOLOL Cheesecake Factory might've just replaced my old love for CPK. There are so many jokes about how the menu is endless but after watching a video, I so appreciate all the time the workers go through with prep. My family loved their food but I got the shrimp scampi which is supposed to be super popular...it just didn't land with me. The oil they used was super greasy and it wasn't olive oil lol. The key lime cheesecake was good!

    Fish & Chips
    Kara S.

    It was a-ok. At first the service was slow but after they changed our servers multiple times, we ended up getting the best one out of the 3 so that made up for the slow service. Food came out slow too but I think I expected that already. We got the egg roll sampler, fish and chips, and shrimp with rice (forgot the name). I usually get the miso salmon but wanted to try something new. Should have stuck to my usual. Nothing else special about this trip but wanted to share some pics.

    Natalie J.

    Angelina at the bar was incredible! Despite being a busy graduation season in the city, as the wait time was crazy for a table, we are glad that the bar area was surprisingly available. Food was delicious, drinks were beautiful, and staff was friendly and attentive.

    Felicia K.

    I recently visited The Cheesecake Factory and unfortunately, the experience was pretty disappointing. The food itself was mediocre at best. Nothing really stood out, especially considering the price point. For a place with such a big reputation and menu, I expected a lot more in terms of flavor and quality. The biggest issue was the service. We waited a long time just to have our order taken, and the food took forever to come out. Our server was not attentive at all and rarely checked in, which made the whole experience feel frustrating. I understand this place gets busy, and long waits can happen , but the lack of service and overall food quality made it hard to enjoy the visit. Overall, not a great experience and not somewhere I'd be eager to return to.

    Eggroll Sampler

    See all

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Manuk D.
    318
    285
    485

    15 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    24 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    26 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Kaylyn S.
    637
    742
    783

    21 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 3

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C B.
    2
    213
    312

    11 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian H.
    0
    22
    2

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    24 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    22 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tony Y.
    258
    435
    1018

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Guest Services

    Guest Services

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 54

    The Cheesecake Factory Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Cheesecake Factory

    Is the food good here?

    For the most part, yes the food is good here particularly the pasta dishes.

    Is there free wifi?

    Yes, but real slow.

    Do they still have buy one get one free on National cheesecake day 7/30?

    I think so

    What's the seating capacity inside?

    105

    Do they still offer outdoor seating?

    Yessssss

    Do you have Pina colada in this location? The one in Brea has Pina Colada but its kinda far for us to go?

    Yes

    Can I bring in cake from outside ? The birthday boy only like to eat this particular cake.

    Yes you may they'll even hold it for you in a fridge if necessary.

    How can we have reservations need to call? I cannot acccess online reservation. Can you help me?

    Unfortunately Cheesecake Factory does not provide reservations.

    Do they offer happy hour?

    Sorry no they currently don’t.

    Can they accommodate a party of six for lunch?

    Yes I believe they can accommodate up to a party of 6 per table.

    Do they have their full menu now that they reopened?

    Yes

    Do they offer zucchini noodles as an option for pasta?

    I just asked my server and she said no. They do have gluten free pasta though.

    Not really a question. But info says they take reservations. According to "Sienna" who answered the phone at the Arcadia location, they are only on a walk in basis. Who's confused?

    It's walk in only.

    Are dogs allowedin their outside patio?

    yes bring them

    View All 15 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Dive Oyster Bar

    The Dive Oyster Bar

    4.2
    (1.6k reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Happy hour specials

    The Dive in Temple City was a spot I'd written off after a lackluster first visit. Went back…read morerecently and I'm glad I did. We tried a variety of oysters this time. They all sounded pretty similar, but the slightly more expensive ones were better. Looking back, my first visit was for happy hour oysters, so they probably weren't the freshest batch. We also got hot, crispy fish and chips, and steamed clams and mussels. The standout was the Bouillabaisse, recommended by our waiter over the cioppino. Great call, the broth was delightful and well balanced with just the right amount of spice. We went on a Saturday night and the vibe was a pleasant surprise. Live DJ spinning R&B and throwbacks, fun energetic atmosphere, and drinks that were surprisingly affordable compared to a few cities over in Pasadena. Glad we gave it another shot. I'll definitely be back for happy hour, which runs daily, though I might skip the oysters this time around. Then again, who knows.

    Woowowowow!!!! Their happy hours are Monday to Sunday. Very good food and great service!…read more I saw many people came here on a Sunday 5pm. Love their food, our server "a tall caucasian server" he was constantly checking on us and asking us if our foods came or not. I really wish I got his name. When he was not busy with the customer, I saw him sweeping the floor, help keeping the restaurant clean at all time. Very good worker. Thank you for your great service. We will be back very soon.

    Photos
    Freshly Shucked Oysters.
    Freshly Shucked Oysters.
    The Dive Oyster Bar
    Bread Pudding with a mixed berry compote

    See all

    Bread Pudding with a mixed berry compote
    BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

    BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse

    3.5
    (1.3k reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    This BJs is in a large strip mall with several other popular business and restaurants…read more Consequently, even though the lot is large, parking can still be challenging at peak hours at lunch and dinner, holidays, and weekends. All the various BJs locations seem to have different specials that rotate. On our visit this time, there was a three course meal pizookie special. There was a choice of soup or salad, entree from a list, and choice of pizookie. We got the pizza, wedge salad, and triple chocolate and chocolate chunk pizookies. All of the food was just ok. None was bad, but none was exceptional either. The best items were the pizookies. On this visit, two servers helped us as the first one went to a different section when the new one came on shift. Both of them were very nice and attentive and offered a quality of service that far outmatched the quality of the food. The restaurant was pretty full already even at about 4:00-4:30 for an early dinner on a Sat and was quite noisy between the talking and background music. The restaurant seems centered on the bar which has decent TVs to watch games. We also got a standard margarita with a salted rim. The quality was also just ok, but we like the way they make them. It was consistent with other BJs locations. This BJs is a nice place to have a casual family meal or hang out with friends in the bar to see a game or just chat. We did not see a happy hour menu or advertisement like at other BJs locations, but perhaps we were just there on the wrong day and time. Still recommending giving this location a try, but maybe try to go a little early like we did to avoid the crowd or a wait--a number of people were already waiting for tables when we left.

    Pros: accommodated 12 people Server was ok…read moreAppetizers were good-chips and salsa and macaroni balls Drinks were good Cons: Sat us in a corner where the air was blowing full blast Multiple employees let us know we can only be there two hours and our time starts now! Felt that wasn't necessary to be talked to like a child. Maybe state that at time of reservation? No need to keep being told that we had a two hour time limit. Ordered expensive rib eyes and ugh! They were Dry and rubbery! Chicken fettuccine was cold! The best part was the huge fly buzzing around us for the better half of our second hour. I'm sure the fly wasn't given a two hour time limit ‍ Would not recommend coming here

    Photos
    Dining area
    Dining area
    Bacon Guacamole Burger
    Bacon Guacamole Burger
    Bacon-Guacamole Deluxe Burger

    See all

    Bacon-Guacamole Deluxe Burger
    The Derby

    The Derby

    4.4
    (2.8k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$$
    104 years in business
    Happy hour specials

    It's the best restaurant ever! From the host/hostess,…read moreservers or, fantastic menu you won't regret it! The food and specialty drinks are outstanding! The atmosphere is wonderful as well.

    The good: This place has top notch service. Our waiter was highly friendly and attentive and…read morerefilled drinks quickly. He made a few suggestions on ordering which worked out well, it was all delicious. There's also free valet service that saves you the craziness from finding the scarce street parking. The bad: The prime rib was both overcooked and undercooked. It seemed like my portion was sliced off the original roast then cooked in a broiler. When it came out, the outer layer was cooked medium well. However, cutting into the meat revealed that it was still raw on the inside. I asked for medium rare, and I can recognize medium rare, but the meat inside was a dark red. That's raw or rare at best. I flagged down the waiter to send it back and he was very nice about it. The meat came back with the same problem. Outer layer was again cooked medium well since the meat was all light brown color, no pink at all. Cutting into it revealed a dark red meat inside. I took a few more bites but didn't want to send it back again. The chef was off that night and I didn't want to be a difficult customer. I would recommend something else on the menu, stay away from the prime rib.

    Photos
    The Derby
    The Derby
    The Derby
    The Derby
    Baked alaska

    See all

    Baked alaska
    Basin 141

    Basin 141

    4.2
    (612 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    I want to thank David the bartender very pleasant man and great attitude. He was extremely busy…read morethat night and he was in and out of the bar helping out his colleague at bar serving drinks, even though I was not his client at that moment, he went out of his way to help and provide a great service.

    Basin 141 is a bar and restaurant located in Old Town Monrovia. It has a very open layout with high…read moreceilings, good décor, and a nice vibe. We sat at a table by the front window facing the main drag. The area definitely has an old town feel with many restaurants and shops up and down the street. There is also a park right across the street. There is plenty of parking around the corner on the street and in a nearby lot. I started out with the Coughlin's Law cocktail (Aviation gin, house infused vanilla syrup, fresh lemon, egg white, lavender bitters, $16). It was a good light drink with light vanilla and lemon flavor. I always love a good foam top too. She started out with a Basil Paloma (Herradura silver tequila, muddled basil & grapefruit, fresh grapefruit juice, lime, simple syrup, seltzer, $15). It had good grapefruit and basil flavor, and was nicely balanced. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower appetizer ($14). The cauliflower was supposed to be grilled, but it seemed almost raw. The buffalo sauce definitely had a good kick. For my entrée, I had the Black Angus Basin Burger (manchego cheese, carmelized onions, arugula, special sauce, brioche bun, $19). The burger was excellent. The cheese, carmelized onions, and arugula was a great flavor combo. The fries were good, but I'd order them more crispy next time. She had the two taco plate with fish and potato tacos ($15). The taco shells were freshly fried, and it was a filling plate that she enjoyed. We had one more round of drinks and I had the Billionaire cocktail (Old Forrester 100 proof bourbon, lemon, house made grenadine, absinthe, $16). This was excellent. It was very balanced, and not boozy at all with a very light sweetness. Her second was the Smoke and Fire (Peloton de la Muerte mezcal, Ancho Reyes liqueur, muddled jalapeno & orange, fresh lime, agave, chili salt, $15). It was pretty well balanced with a medium smokiness. It definitely had a kick of heat on the finish. Our server Lakyn was friendly and provided good service. The menu prices are cash prices. There is an extra 3.5% surcharge if you pay with a credit card. The buffalo cauliflower appetizer was mostly a miss, but everything else was very good so I'm rounding up to five stars. They have a very good sized cocktail and food menu, as well as many beers on tap. They also have happy hour specials. We would definitely return if we were in the area again.

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Seared Ahi Salad
    Seared Ahi Salad
    Breakfast burrito was delicious.  Ordered it without the beans but so good with that spicy ranch sauce.

    See all

    Breakfast burrito was delicious. Ordered it without the beans but so good with that spicy ranch sauce.
    Benihana

    Benihana

    3.9
    (3.4k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$$
    Kid friendly
    Full bar

    Nathan was hands down the BEST Benihana chef we've had in a very long time! We had a 6:30pm…read morereservation on 8/5 at the Santa Anita location and he absolutely understood the assignment. He didn't hold back on the garlic butter (thank you! ) and everything tasted amazing because of it. Not only was the food incredible, but Nathan also put on the best show we've seen in years. He was funny, engaging, energetic and made the entire experience so much fun for everyone at the table even though it was just 5 of us. A shout-out to Tommy, the chef at the table across from us. He had us watching his show too! He was putting on an awesome performance and it definitely caught our attention. Santa Anita had some seriously entertaining chefs that night! One more thing that really stood out. The restaurant was spotless and the restrooms were incredibly clean. It's always nice to see a place that takes pride in every part of the guest experience. We usually go to the City of Industry location, but decided to switch things up and try Santa Anita. Thanks to Nathan, we're so glad we did! He truly made our dinner memorable. If you're lucky enough to get Nathan as your chef, you're in for an amazing meal and an even better experience. Benihana needs more chefs like Nathan and Tommy too!

    Came in on a Monday night at 8 PM for a double birthday celebration. Our chef was amazing and the…read morefood was delicious, but the service and drinks left a lot to be desired. ​Our waitress rushed us through the entire meal. I stepped away to the restroom and came back to find to-go boxes already at my seat before I even finished eating, followed quickly by the check machine. When asked a basic question about whether our meals included ice cream, she awkwardly replied that she doesn't keep track of that. No one ended up singing happy birthday, either. ​To top it off, we ordered the $58 passion fruit punch bowl after having two regular drinks. It tasted like pure juice with zero alcohol neither my husband nor I could taste a drop. ​Shoutout to the chef for saving the night, but paying nearly $60 for juice and feeling pushed out the door made for a disappointing birthday dinner.

    Photos
    Benihana
    Benihana
    Benihana

    See all

    Magnolia House

    Magnolia House

    3.9
    (1.6k reviews)
    4.6 mi
    $$

    Pasadena is one of my all-time favorite cities and they have some great restaurants. We hadn't been…read morein this side of town in a while, so I asked my son to find us a new spot to try today. We ended up at Magnolia House for a late lunch/early dinner. They also serve breakfast/brunch only on weekends. Walked in around 4:30pm and we were greeted by Brian, one of the managers. Brian was the standout star of the whole experience! His energy was exceptional and he is such a great conversationalist. He checked on us several times throughout our meal and made sure we were doing well. He on his own was HANDS DOWN a five star human being. At first, he wanted to seat us in the back corner but I told him the table was too small and he accommodated us with a bigger table. Our server Kiana came up to the table with a pleasant smile and greeting to take our drink orders. I got a glass of cranberry juice along with some water. My son got the American Dream cocktail along with some water. We skipped on dessert. From 4-6pm, they have a happy hour menu with some of their cocktails and shareable plates. The portions are just a bit smaller and the prices are a little lower. It's a good way to sample different items. I think we got a good variety of food to enjoy. To start, we got the Little Gem Salad. It was such a unique combination of flavors and SUPER delicate/light. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The next starter was the Zucchini and Feta Fritters, which was good but not the best out of everything else we ordered. The zucchini was a bit mushy but the batter it was fried in was crispy. Another starter we shared were the Moroccan Spiced Chicken Wings. These wings are gigantic and very flavorful. They definitely pack some heat, so be careful. I don't think the A/C was NOT working to begin with, so the place was already hot. The wings made us sweat even more. For entrées, we got the burger and the pork belly. Brian said they are known for their burger and after taking the first bite, it's clear as to why. It was absolutely PERFRCTION. So delicious! The bun, the meat, the cheese, the onions, and the crispy bacon...all of it mixed together into the perfect burger. I had wanted to add some mushrooms and avocado to it, but Kiana said they were unable to do it. I also asked for lettuce and she said that would be an extra charge. What extra charge for lettuce? We still got charged for avocado when the bill came, but they took it off once we mentioned it. The pork belly was also very tender, flavorful, and crispy. It's just hard to compete with the burger! We also got an order of the Belgian Fries to share and we were both pleasantly surprised at how good they were. The fries are salty and cut pretty thick. The sauce that came on the side was so yummy. We asked for a small extra cup to-go. All in all, the food was great and we liked everything. The vibe of the restaurant wasn't really all that for me. Brian genuinely made up for anything that was lacking in the atmosphere. He is such a wonderful asset to the restaurant and their company. The restaurant itself has been here for about 15 years now and it used to be a very old house. You can tell when you look around. They did a good job with the renovations, but you can see the different areas/rooms. I think they tried to keep the casual comfort of a home, while making it a slightly elevated experience. It was very clean everywhere, especially the bathrooms. They have one gender neutral bathroom, one for men, and one for women. No private parking, so you'll have to park on the street and put money in the kiosk. They also had an outdoor seating. Pretty BIG, only took picture of one side. They also have 2 small TVs. In the bar area and inside their cute lounge. I normally like to try new places, especially when I'm in Pasadena, so I'm not sure if I'll come back here. Maybe if Brian is working, it would definitely be worth stopping by again! Thank you all..

    Magnolia House was the place to go 10-12 years ago. But the last 3 times I've been here recently,…read moreit just really doesn't have the charm or class it used to have. Service is really really slow. You may see 5 or 6 waiters on staff...but they aren't stopping at tables to check up on guests. Alot of them are just hanging around the bar or front desk chitchatting with friends. The food quality dropped tremendously. It tastes like bland bar food now. $19 for 2 meatballs laying in tomato paste....and they were not even room temperature. Felt like they had these already prepared and sitting somewhere, just waiting for the next guest to order them. Got a mojito that may have been mistaken for a "virgin" drink....cause no one at our table could taste any alcohol in it. They all said it was watered down mint with ice. I wish this place would go back 10 years and make it like "the spot you want to go to"....versus the spot you now avoid.

    Photos
    Now Serving Coffee Monday - Friday at 7:30am
    Now Serving Coffee Monday - Friday at 7:30am
    Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 4 - 6:30PM. Enjoy $5 wine & local draft beers, $6 well drinks & $6 House Sangria, and more
    Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 4 - 6:30PM. Enjoy $5 wine & local draft beers, $6 well drinks & $6 House Sangria, and more
    Private Lounge Area - For event inquiries, send an email to: events@themaghouse.com

    See all

    Private Lounge Area - For event inquiries, send an email to: events@themaghouse.com
    Bess

    Bess

    4.2
    (98 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Private events

    My best friend and I decided to celebrate our birthdays early. We chose Bess because the food and…read moreinterior looked intriguing. We were immediately greeted and they noted we were celebrating a birthday, everyone was kind wishing us a happy birthday. They even gave us a small amount of some prosecco to have with our dinner. They did notice on our IDs that our birthdays were in September, but we celebrated early because my friend was going to move out of the country to care for her grandparents, we wanted to celebrate together before she left. The food was warm and delicious. Great service! Thank you Bess for making us feel welcomed!! Plus they have a photo booth in the back, so cute!!

    Bess is very cute and the restaurant has a lovely ambiance. I believe this is a newer establishment…read moreso I'm sure they will improve over time and I look forward to altering this review if they do indeed deliver in the future. The service: Our server was friendly but inattentive and busy running about which I found odd as the restaurant seemed to be appropriately staffed. We never got our water jug refilled and we had to flag our waitress down for the check. The table next to us had to do the same. This was in stark contrast with the outdoor tables who were well taken care of, I could see this through the glass window front as we were seated at a bar. The wait time for food: I had read through the reviews before coming so I set my timer to see for myself. Our food was served in 45 minutes, not exactly ideal. I understand food takes time, but for such a busy restaurant the turn around was lengthy. I was not the only person to notice this. Many tables were looking around waiting for their food. Towards the end of our meal I heard a woman complaining to the staff about their wait. The food: I enjoyed my lasagna, the lemon ricotta was flavorful, I wish they had topped it with a bit less cheese as that was a bit overpowering but I personally liked it a lot 4.5/5. The chicken parm was decent but my partner was not so impressed, he said it's a 3/5. Parking can be found in the back lot behind the store fronts.

    Photos
    Bess
    Bess
    Steak and Eggs from Brunch at Bess

    See all

    Steak and Eggs from Brunch at Bess

    The Cheesecake Factory - desserts - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...