Pasta is amazing! The vibe here is so cute Staff was friendly and the waitress that helped us made excellent recommendations There was bread here I didn't get a picture of, but that's also a must have! You can't go wrong with any of the pastas Parking around here wasn't easy, but found a parking structure a block away Definitely recommend a reservation read more

Union - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Union Restaurant is one of my favorite spots in Pasadena, love their pastas! In addition. I orderedthe grilled octopus. Since it's usually one of my favorite dishes, I had high expectations, but it came out a little chewy and didn't quite hit the mark. Overall experience is still great. The staff is incredibly friendly, the location right on Union Street is ideal, and there's plenty of parking across the street on a parking structure. Staff is super friendly and it's a cute place. Loved their pastas so much that I ordered a second portion of pasta to take home. Definitely will be back. read more

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Good pasta but expensive for what it is. They go tapas-style, encouraging you to order multiple small dishes to share. Two people will easily run over $100 and you'll still leave hungry. The space is nice and the pasta is unique and tasty. I loved the ragu; the squid ink pasta was good but not quite as memorable. Bluefin tuna was nice too, though nothing special. Portion sizes are tiny across the board, and the wine bar, which looked appealing, lost its charm once I saw the menu prices. If you're looking to splurge on a date night, this could be your spot. But I do believe there is better pasta around Pasadena where you won't leave starving. read more

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And we finally tried this restaurant after all the hypes but oh so disappointing! Food is terrible, it comes out quick, cold and tasteless. It's more like a fast food restaurant rather enjoyable Italian restaurant. I understand people complain in reviews here about food takes time to come out but hey folks if you want fast food go to fast food restaurant. Union charges circa $40 each dish and yet delivers like fast food restaurant. Winter Citrus Salad, half orange cut with no pomegranate utterly flavorless, ordered two dish different pasta both were lacking flavor. Who is the chef here? I make better pasta at home than this chef. How is a so called Italian restaurant doesn't bring a small basket of bread and butter to table as you sit, and charges $15 for that wooow chocking! So after reading review I guess the owner/chef has changed here and the taste of dishes has become dull. Such a shame! I don't like to leave bad reviews but utterly disappointing. Not sure if we dare to give another try and spend another two hundred dollar to get disappointed! I have to think about it. read more

Union - Winter Citrus Salad - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is ok. The service was mid and many things took a long time to come out. I wouldn't say the workers were particularly friendly. We were also served the wrong dish once. Also, my party had a reservation, but the table wasn't ready when we got there. Had to wait ~15 min. Strangely enough, they skipped our party and tried phone cling another party who was walk in before seating us. Not sure if it's because we're Asian. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Food wise, I'd say it's above average. Not the best Italian food I've had, but definitely a step above Bucca and Olive Garden. Doesn't compare at all to what I've had in Italy though. In the Pasadena area, I think Mi Piacce is a better Italian choice imo (although I'm not the biggest fan of them either). The only dish that stood out to me was the citrus salad, because of its unique composition and refreshing flavor. Ambience was a bit strange too. If you sit in the rear section, you have to walk through the kitchen and toilet. Not really a fan of that, although that more of a building issue than the restaurant's issue. read more

Union - Just some of the dishes - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

High quality ingredients & amazingly curated dishes - simply delicious, including starters and entrees. The service is good. The ambiance is good as well. The star of the show is most certainly the food and quality ingredients. Truly a place to experience for a culinary treat and what brings me back, time and time again. read more

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Michelin recognized, I was excited to try this high-rated/reviewed restaurant in Old Town. I easily secured a 4pm reservation for a party of 5 around a week in advance. We were quickly seated, even though everyone was not present. The host and server were both very patient. When all of us were finally seated and reviewing the menu, the server came to share about the restaurant. She shared that it was a place that recommended family-style ordering and that, for a party of our size, she recommended 6-7 dishes. My group and I don't often see each other, and 4/5 of us happened to want the same dish. For that reason, we "broke the news" that we would be ordering 3 drinks, 1 appetizer, 4 of the same pasta dishes each, and another pasta dish for person #5. The second we shared that it was an immediate and palpable energy shift. I thought I was imagining it at first, but then my friends confirmed it after we left the restaurant. Our server's face seemingly fell to a frown. For the rest of our time there, service was quick and short. There was also a feeling of friction when we needed to split the bill amongst us. I understand that if an actual family or couple came to the restaurant it would not only be the sensible but alluring choice to try a few of the dishes together. However, it simply didn't make sense for us. These dishes didn't end up being large portions. The pastas came out to be perfect for one person and potentially impossible to share amongst more than two folks. Furthermore, it's not like we ordered less than the recommended amount; it ended up being the 6 total! There was no loss of income, no shortchanging on the tip, etc. It was simply confusing. In terms of the food, it was honestly tasty. The Lemon Soda was refreshing, focaccia flavorful, burrata fresh, and Cacio e Pepe decadent. The thick noodles and creamy sauce were honestly very delicious. As a layperson, I think this is a lesson for restaurants to consider that their average patron may not want to feel stifled by arbitrary rules that don't negatively impact the kitchen or staff. Especially if there isn't an explicit message that it's a pre-fixed menu or omakase, we all just didn't understand what the deal was about. read more

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Cute restaurant with cool vibes. Name of restaurant was very discreet, almost missed it. There are both outdoor and indoor seating. I was surprised how far back the restaurant goes. It's larger than it looks. The staff was friendly and our server was helpful and help made some recommendations. The pasta dishes were delicious and flavorful. They are shareable. I really enjoyed the Squid Ink Lumache. It was different and unique to what I'm used to. The bread & giardinere were yummy. It was a great combination. Reservations highly recommended. read more

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Was searching for "Squid Ink Pasta", this is the closest restaurant that pops out. I called in to place a take-out order, the service told me will be ready in 30 mins, I asked if it could be sooner, and he changed it to 15 mins. We arrived at the store a little bit after 20 mins since I called, but the front server told me it's not ready yet. The store sign was not very obvious; we couldn't tell if it was the restaurant unless we didn't confirm with the staff. The staffs are friendly. But OMG, this squid in pasta is not worth nearly $40. First the portion, when I opened the box, only 1/4 of the box was filled. Did some eat most of the order before giving it to me? Second why is there a service charge on the bill for a take-out order? Because you are Michelin 2025 restaurant, so you are by law required to charge that? Thrid the pasta itself is so SALTY. There are at least 10 oz of salt in there. This pasta is not comparable in any way to the ones I had in NY(which is truly authentic and GOOD) If I was you, skip this place. read more

Union - Receipt - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Dining at Union was supposed to be a simple, yet fun and delicious anniversary meal. Unfortunately, it ending up being a drawn out and disappointing one. Of the six dishes we ordered, only one of them impressed us. The Bib Gourmand distinction led me to believe our experience would be better than this, but the worst offense was the wait between courses. There was more than a ten minute wait between each dish with the longest being 25 minutes between our last entree and dessert. The Local Wild Mushrooms appetizer was the dish that WOWed us. After our first bite, the gloves were off and it was a race to the last bite. Neither, my girlfriend nor I have had a dish like this. It was delicious. As I'm adding photos to my review I realized there was a hair in our Cacio E Pepe. I have a buzz cut and my gf's hair is past her shoulders. The hair in the dish is not ours. This was an unforgettable anniversary dinner, but for all the wrong reasons. read more

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What We Ordered - Pork Meatballs - Charred Octopus - Brussels Sprouts Salad - Squid Ink Lumache - Rigatoni Timballo - Spaghetti - Olive Oil Cake This is my sister's favorite pasta place. We went for her birthday and left very surprised. Everything tasted great (maybe except for the Brussel Sprouts Salad, I was not a fan). My husband and sister's favorite pasta was the squid ink! It was light lemon cream sauce. I thought it was a bit too light for me. My favorite was the spaghetti and the charred octopus. The olive oil cake was super moist. I'm not sure if I went on an off day my first time but, this most recent visit was delicious!! read more

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10/10. can taste the freshness in the pasta. delicious. service was great as well. we were 30 minutes late to our reservation and they still sat us. read more

Union - Pork Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Solid Italian place in Pasadena. All dishes excellent. Best to share items. Staff tend to move you along so it's not a place for a relaxing "at your pace" dinner...the one annoying thing about this place and causes us to go to Hippo read more

- dimly lit settings are always so nice but i can't take photos not trying to flash the entire restaurant - now the meatballs...top tier i love that they make the seasoning of the meatball a tad spicy i think it pairs well with the light tomato sauce. they give bread on the side but it's always too hard for me - i will forever come just to order the squid ink lumache !! very yum dish, handmade squid ink pasta in a lemon fennel kind of sauce with big chunks of lobster which for the price i would say is well worth it :) - the cacio e pepe was just okay to me the sauce didn't seem well emulsified so it felt a bit watery to me - the torchetti was okay as well, i felt like it was missing a bang to it - in terms of consistency, the pastas are fairly al dente if anything to some could be a bit too hard, but for me it was perfect! however the torchetti i find is always really soft/mushy and maybe texturally doesn't resonate with me as much given there's ricotta - service here has always been friendly, the food does take some time to come especially on a packed dinner night. however if you are sat in the corner it is really hard to get the waiters attention read more

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Came here with my friend for a birthday dinner and we were soooo disappointed. Literally one of the worst restaurant experiences ever. First off, the service was incredibly rude and did not make us feel welcomed. (Our specific server, not representative of everyone else). We asked her simple questions about the menu and she responded with so much attitude. The food was terrible-- we got the arugula salad first, it was not fresh at all and damp. There was barely any lemon or cheese on it. Then we got the meatballs, fettuccini & torchetti. Every dish was so COLD. Literally took a bite and it was rock hard, including the pasta noodles, and just stale and cold. We were really shocked at the quality of the food. We brought it up to the server and they offered to re-make it for us, which we did appreciate, but they acted like we were asking for a really huge favor and was being moody about it. I normally don't complain too much to the actual restaurant but it was ridiculous. We tried the re-make of the food, and the meatballs were pretty decent as well as the torchetti. Everything else was still just okay. Overall such a below mid experience and would not recommend or come back . read more

Union - COLD - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

I always enjoy Union because their pastas are my favorite, served al dente. The squid ink is always my go to. You truly can't go wrong with any choice as they're all delicious. There are still may more menu items I need to try. This last time I went, I sat in the back area which was cute and comfortable. It's nice that they have expanded! Our server was incredibly kind, especially when our pasta came out later than expected, although my friend and I didn't mind at all since we were catching up. I would recommend making a reservation as it can get busy at times. Parking is plentiful around as there are street and structure options, but prices will vary. read more

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Parking is easy since there's different parking garages nearby. You can make reservations online. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I arrived a little early and they were able to seat me. The server is nice and gave great recommendations. Pork meatballs: you get 2 giant meatballs. They were delicious. It came with bread that was so soft and warm. Would get this again. Definitely don't eat too much or you'll be full before your entrees arrive. Torchetti - pork ragu pasta: the texture of the pasta was perfect. The shape picks up lost of sauce. This was very comforting and flavorful. Squid ink: overall this tastes good, but a little salty. I wouldn't get this dish again. There's not much lobster in the dish. I would come again and try more items on the menu. read more

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Downtown pasadena so parking kinda ehh. There is like 3 spots of meter parking on the same road and parking garage across the street. Black tent. Go early and no wait, the staff is friendly and chill LA vibes. Very surprised that they had a back darker area thats more intimate and dim vibey, seems like they put couples there. I get why this place was awarded a michelin, the experience is very curated. For example, they notify of some seasonal changes, recommend sharing the entrees and they time the plates coming out one by one ( which I most appreciate as a customer of places with small tables). Their menus actually great, I feel like sometimes italian is a hit or miss with the balance of sauce emulsion, flavors, and how much the pasta soaks up the sauce but the chef did a great job. Pork meatballs- huge portion, very pork ham flavored, more stuck together than a granular meatball everything paired well together, comes with small portion of grilled breadmaking filling entree. Torchetti- creamy sauce, the pasta soaked up the sauce well. There was adequate size meat bits. But the highlight was the topping of fried rosemary that added the extra touch. Squid ink- most surprising one. First off, the pasta is very unique even for its shape its bigger than normal almost like stuffed shells. The lobster had good bits (not overcooked, but with some chew). The sauce is crazy- citrus forward first taste and blends into a soft cream aftertaste with a hint of truffle. As someone that doesn't like truffle, it was a great balance of it. There is also a distinct seafoody taste. Very very unique. The pastas are overall not too heavy and a little more on the bright side of flavor. They dont really offer typical pasta options as limited menu. Nosing around, If I were to go back, id recommend the foccacia too (it was quite a big plate and came with a plate of some dip/cheese). The crudo looked fresh to photos, octopus seems more sauce heavy. Olive oil cake- the leaf is basil haha which pairs well. The berries they chose were actually great quality. But I think a slightly tart raspberry jam/puree would've worked well layered underneath to contrast the rich tasting ( kind of crumbly fluffy) cake. Overall, unique italian place. I mostly appreciated the service of a course menu especially with how separated different areas of the restaraunts were. It would help to have some bag hooks. Chill ambiance. read more

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My experience for union is what I'd consider a strong 4 for an Italian restaurant, but there wasn't much to bring it out to a 5 star for me. The service was good, not the greatest, but that's fine considering that they had plenty of other tables. It just doesn't reach the max score to me as the price for dining at this establishment is something I'd factor into their service. The ambiance is bustling and busy, even on a Wednesday night, so make sure to make your reservations prior to arrival. The food itself was good. There isn't much complaint as the ingredients, the cooking, the dish had great flavors and combinations. I need to come back in the future to try their other menu items, but I just can't see myself justifying it for the price read more

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I'm going back ASAP. Food was great - but it was actually the service that blew me away. (And that almost never happens, let's be real.) The carrot dish and arugula salad were my favorite. Pastas were good and I enjoyed the herb crusted lamb. The waitress was very accommodating to a toddler we had with us and was very attuned to our experience- was very impressed by her and appreciative that we got to have her. They don't have hard alcohol - only beer and wine. Cute dining space and the outdoor seating also seems cute. read more

Union - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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It's packed, it's Italian, it's Michelin featured, and some of the menu tastes worth it. Ordered the following: 1. Torchetti ***** YES 2. Cacio Pepe *** 3. Dorade **** YES 4. Meatballs **** YES 5. Broccolini Appetizer *** Thoroughly enjoyed the Torchetti. The meat sauce was chef's kiss. The Meatballs were a table favorite as well as the fish dish. Go figure! Everything else was just alright :D Real talk, the portions are individual but the dish is shareable. They have a waiting area in the back, be prepared to wait unless you have a reservations. Came for a reservation at 7:30 PM and got seated at 7:42 PM. The kitchen was definitely backed up. The waitresses were overwhelmed, but did manage to check up on us. When we sat down, we promptly placed our order ASAP. read more

Union - Broccolini Appetizers - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Great food! I've been coming since they opened and love the food. Highly recommend the rigatoni, squid ink pasta. Polenta and fresh baked bread. The back seating area is even better than the front dining section. Parking lot on Union is conveniently across the street in Union street. I knocked 2 points off because of the service the last few times. We asked the bread be served with the pasta and polenta so we could dip the fresh baked bread into the sauces. Salad came first. No problem. The mains arrived but not the bread. Asked a server since ours was no where to be found. Nothing. Finally got the attention of our waitress and let her know we had not received the bread. No apologies but just annoyance from the server. We wait. We stop eating wanting to eat them with the bread. Mains get cold. If we had continued to eat the bread would have arrived as dessert. Finally war bread arrives so we have it with our cold pasta and mains. Again no acknowledgment or even smile. We were celebrating a birthday and it killed the experience. I'll still come back but never for a celebration or when service if important. Very disappointed with the past few visits so I'm being generous with a 3 star rating. read more

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Me and my girl had a birthday celebration, so I thought of bringing her to this Italian place as Pasadena has been my favorite to go in town. The two of us got in a very small chair in the corner outdoor near the waiting area. We took that time to enjoy the authentic pasta and the drink. My girl and I got the lamb flavored spaghetti, which has so much flavors and a bit gamey, but I love it because that's how authentic flavored dish tastes like. I got a squid ink one, which comes with a couple pieces of truffles, and the apaga is a bit chewy, but that's how authentic Italian pasta is, it's just "authente" so I took my time to savor it. I personally feel that this is a cute place to come back for big group next time, as I still wanna try, added dishes that are on their menu . also, they have paid parking structure right across the stress. But you can also park at a public oarking 1.5 block away $1 for 2 hours. read more

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Food: Cacio e pepe is a must try Service: Everyone was very welcoming and nice. I did reschedule a few times and I thank the hostess for accommodating. Ambiance: Very controlled crowd. Was going to bring a baby here but NOT a good idea. This is a place where friends and family (no kids) yap. The restaurant is accommodating with kids, just not a good idea to bring bcs it's not a big space. Please rsvp before coming here. read more

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You can tell the menu is very seasonal from salad ingredients like persimmon and pear. So we ordered the pear salad. But that sadly became a mistake, since I'm pretty sure I can make better salad without the bitter leaves, stingy cheese and bland sauce. Absolutely loved the duck pasta. Rich but not overwhelming tomato sauce with loads of duck meat tucked between layers of noodles with pickled onions adding both the flavor and the presentation. But the back room is pretty fishy... maybe because everyone is ordering lobster pasta? Worth trying the lobster pasta if you are really into lobster...ultimately, I won't get it again. read more

I just stopped in for a quick appetizer and I can't wait to come back. I ordered just the meatball appetizer and it was fantastic! There is a truffle pasta dish I'm drying to come back for. Maybe this week while I'm staying here in Pasadena. Service was friendly and on point. Highly recommend! read more

Union - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fantastic dinner. My partner surprised me with a date night here and it was delicious. I would've like to know that the pork meatballs came with bread when we ordered bread as well, seemed redundant. But good bread. Other than that everything was perfect, the Porchetti is so so so good! We will be back for that alone. read more

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Hadn't been back in a bit and glad we did. We have their mushroom starter which as perfection. None of us were fans of the scallop crudo has a weird grape on it. The Arugula salad was tasty with the perfect amount of dressing. They beets were also tasty but were missing something to give it texture. The spaghetti was absolutely incredible, it's impossible to share one as it's so good so make sure to get your own. The eggplant rigatoni is very unique and worth a try we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Drinks were ok, they don't have a full bar. The place was packed on a Sunday night. Our server was hilarious and made great recommendations. read more

Union definitely lives up to the hype. My go-to spot if I'm craving Italian food! Everything is always super fresh and you can taste the quality in each dish. I've only ate in the outdoor seating area, but it's never been a problem for my husband and I. I recommend making reservations if you're wanting to dine inside! We usually always order the Charred Octopus and Wild Mushrooms for appetizers. The octopus is always cooked perfect and the salad that comes with it is a nice refreshing pairing. The mushrooms are more of a rich and dense dish that's super savory. For pasta dishes we usually order the Spaghetti and then last time we ordered the Rigatoni Timballo for the first time and we both enjoyed it a lot! You'll love the Rigatoni Timballo if you're a fan of eggplant. If you're wanting great Italian food and you're in the area I highly recommend Union! read more

Union - Charred Octopus - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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We ate at Union for the first time on 04/11/2025 with a reservation for 2 at 7pm. We had an absolutely wonderful experience. There is a pretty large outdoor dining area and about an equal size indoor dining area. We were sitting inside this evening. At the servers recommendation, we decided to share all dishes between the two of us. We started with cocktails, including mine which was the Capri. Yum! We then moved on to the charred octopus, which we definitely felt was a great choice. It had an awesome taste, texture and just as the name implies, it was charred just the right amount. We then shared the Cacio E Pepe. Oh my gosh, one of our favorite pasta dishes and this one was no exception. Salty, buttery, delicious! Just as it is supposed to be. We also shared the lamb, which was also delicious. I wish that dish would have come with just slightly more meat, as it was a lot of fat; however, it was divine. We also shared two desserts. One was the Coconut Cheesecake, which was wonderful. The second one was the Crostata Di Nocciole. Oh my gosh. That one was out of this world. Overall, an excellent meal with quick and friendly service. I would most definitely return to Union again in the future. read more

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First time and loved their red pasta and their mushroom appetizer! Their pasta is truly the star of the show. Prepared with a noticeable care and precision, each dish is a masterclass in balance and flavor. Whether you're a fan of rich, classic sauces or more inventive, contemporary pairings, Union consistently delivers a plate that feels both deeply comforting and elevated. The texture of the fresh pasta alone is enough to justify the visit, proving that sometimes, the simplest things are done the very best. read more

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My wife and I met up with friends at Union last night, and it ended up being one of those dinners where the food, the conversation, and the atmosphere all clicked perfectly. We were seated in the back, in the second room, which turned out to be a great spot, quiet enough to talk, cozy, and a nice change from the main dining area. I ordered the squid ink garganelli, and my wife had the tonnarelli cacio e pepe. We also shared the meatballs to start. Everything was genuinely delicious. The pasta stood out the most, the texture, the bite, the seasoning, just spot on. You can tell they take the craft seriously here. The service matched the food: attentive without hovering, friendly, and on top of everything all night. If I had one critique, it would be the bathroom. It felt a bit old and rundown compared to the rest of the restaurant. Not a dealbreaker by any means, just something that stood out. I get that upgrades are expensive, and honestly, we were there for the food, which absolutely delivered. Overall, we had a fantastic experience, and I'm already eyeing the duck for my next visit. Union is definitely a Pasadena gem, and we'll be back soon. read more

Union - Squid ink - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The food was flavorful and we appreciated that everything was made from scratch! I would come for bread and butter every day if I could! The pasta dishes were great. The olive oil cake was yummy and moist. The service staff was attentive. We were seated outside and it was comfortable enough with heat lamps. read more

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TLDR: my go-to in SGV for handmade pasta, good service. Parking street/meter, or garage on Union st. Highlights were the charred octopus and squid ink lumache, though some dishes were too salty, and desserts fell flat Our second visit to Union did not disappoint when it came to fresh, perfectly al dente pasta. The menu has changed since our last visit, but we found plenty to enjoy. We shared two appetizers, a salad, and two pastas, which were enough to leave us comfortably full. Javier, our waiter, was friendly, knowledgeable, and even reassured us that all cheeses were pasteurized. We were seated in the back of the restaurant where it was a bit dim at first, but we eventually adjusted to the cozy, intimate lighting. The charred octopus was a standout! Beautifully cooked with smoky eggplant and a hint of tartness and spice. As for the pastas, the ragu remains a classic favorite, rich, hearty, and balanced with a creamy ricotta that ties it all together. The squid ink lumache was another favorite, rich with seafood flavor and balanced by bright lemon. The wild mushrooms, usually a favorite, were unfortunately too salty this time, even after we asked for less salt. The Treviso salad was just okay; my husband didn't enjoy the bitterness from the endive, though the candied pecans were a nice touch. We also tried the pistachio gelato and strawberry hibiscus sorbet for dessert, but both were underwhelming. The gelato barely tasted like pistachio, more like a very muted vanilla, and the sorbet was just alright. Both melted quickly, making them not as enjoyable. Union remains a solid choice for pasta, but I'd skip dessert next time. read more

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Such a yummy night out! Definitely book a reservation for Friday and Weekend meals as this place can get pretty packed. The service was warm and relaxing, we never felt rushed during our meal. There's al fresco dining available in the converted street parking area that's covered, some high top bar counter seating, and tables throughout. It was recommended to share family style, so we started with the Charred Octopus - perfectly grilled, not dry or chewing - which comes with a medley of Mediterranean inspired fresh veggies (chickpeas, fennel, red onion, tomatoes, squash, and corn) that balanced the charred octopus well. For the first plate, we chose a house made Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe that had a generous amount of pecorino romano (though not too salty) and a silky egg. The pasta had a great chew as well and perfectly al dente. The second/meat plate, we enjoyed the absolutely lovely and must-try Herb Crusted Lamb. Cooked medium rare and sliced in half, the chop was exquisite and not too gamey. The roasted cauliflower in a charred green garlic jus added levity to the dish. We finished our meal with two desserts, though one would have been plenty for the two of us. The Coconut Cheesecake is topped with a season sorbet and tart passion fruit, which balances the rich and creamy cheesecake (though the passion fruit overpowered the coconut). OMG, the Crostata di Nocciole will have me coming back! The bittersweet chocolate is accented with the raspberry sauce, and the hazelnut is present throughout each bite. We enjoyed the prosecco-based cocktails, but they also have a nice selection of wines that will complement your meal. I look forward to my next meal at Union! read more

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Came in on a Thursday evening and it wasn't busy at all, which made the experience even more surprising. Let me start with the food -- 5/5. Absolutely delicious. The meatballs were a standout and full of flavor. The torchetti was easily my favorite dish of the night. We also ordered the tonnarelli cacio e pepe -- it was solid, but not as impressive as the other two dishes. Unfortunately, the service was a 1/5. Our server, Raul, wasn't very friendly and didn't really explain the menu or engage with us at all. He took our order without writing anything down, and about 15 minutes later came back asking what we had ordered -- and we hadn't received a single item yet. That was already concerning. He stopped by once to ask how the food was and then disappeared. We had to flag him down just to get the bill and a container to pack our leftovers. After paying, we waited around wondering where our leftovers were. Ten minutes later we flagged him down again, and he said he would check on it. Another ten minutes passed before we finally got our food and were able to leave. It's disappointing because the food truly deserves recognition. If service matched the kitchen, this would easily be a top-tier spot. As it stands, I'd come back for the food -- but hopefully with a different server. read more

Was invited to a birthday dinner at Union tonight. I do not make it to Pasadena that often so a chance at a new spot is always welcome. The location is easy to get to and there are many parking options around from street meter to garage. The restaurant has outdoor seating which is great for those beautiful California nights. I arrived a little later than the rest of the party and they had already ordered appetizers. There was a mushroom dish that everyone loved so much they ordered two. I don't like mushrooms but the polenta base was very good. We also had the octopus that I can say is one of the best I've had. The smoked pepper flavor on the octopus was stellar. And I have to say it was even on the cold side when I got to it and it was not rubbery at all, which can happen when you get to cold octopus. We also knocked off the arugula salad. There were give of us in our party. I didn't order any alcohol because they do not really have cocktails that I could tell. It seemed more of a wine And spritz type of cocktail menu. But my Arnold Palmer was pretty good. No true cocktails and my next thing are the reason for only four stars. The service was actually very good. They changed the plates and silverware between courses, which I love. Attentive throughout which is a must. The music was just loud enough to hear but not too loud to make you shout. My issue was that we all ordered separate dishes and NONE of the food came out at the same time. They literally came out one at a time and minutes after the first. So it was either eat by yourself or eat cold food. That was very confusing to me. The food was phenomenal. I had the Ragu that was so good. So flavorful and so filling. I didn't get to taste anyone else's dish. Largely because by the time things came there wasn't anything around to sample. We finished with a nice birthday presentation of the olive oil cake, that was lighter than I'm used to but good. And the chocolate Bonet. That I didn't try because I don't like chocolate. All in all, I would 100% go back to Union. I would just ask for our food to come out at the same time. read more

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tl;dr the farm-to-table Italian fare is elegant yet approachable and deliciously well-executed As a whole, I've found the Pasadena dining scene to be more superficial than substantial. But Union has remained an Old Town Pasadena darling since opening in 2014. And the Mediterranean cucina isn't just locally recognized; Union has even earned Bib Gourmand recognition from the Michelin Guide. Everything, from pickles to pasta, is prepared in-house, featuring locally sourced ingredients, and the menu rotates seasonally with a few year-round fan favorites. The brick storefront would be easy to miss if not for the lit-up streetery. Originally occupying a single space, the ground floor of a small townhome, Union recently expanded its dining area to include an airy yet intimate back room. Hanging globes cast a warm glow upon the exposed brick ceilings and exposed bronzed ductwork. Black-and-white Italian neorealism films play with subtitles, and moody instrumental tunes fit the dimly lit space. My partner and I made a reservation for an early weekend dinner, and the front dining room was already packed. We began our meal with the Bread & Giardinere. The warm, thickly sliced bread sported an extra-crispy crust, and it was served beside a generous portion of soft, salted butter. The mason jar of giardinere (assorted Italian pickles) felt out of place, but it functioned as a refreshing, palate-cleansing accompaniment. The thinly sliced Local Wild Mushrooms (one of Union's signature dishes) were an earthy delight, but they were outdone by the dish's melt-in-your-mouth polenta and the zingy sherry-based sauce. Meanwhile, the whole Charred Octopus tentacle had an excellent texture and even better flavor (charcoal-y smokiness met a light brininess); admittedly, the basil-forward fennel salad felt like an afterthought. The pasta dishes both featured thick noodles to accentuate their al dente texture. The Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe was my favorite plate of the night. The poached egg mixed at tableside enhanced the already rich sauce. Meanwhile, the signature Torchetti (paired with a slightly thin pork ragu) was surprisingly light, with a mild heat; the best component was the crispy fried rosemary. Throughout the night, service was attentive, and the staff worked like clockwork to bring food, clear plates, and bring the check. We were in and out in just over an hour, but we never felt rushed. Our bill totaled $150 (after tax and tip), and we felt appropriately full. In short, the relatively simple dishes were expertly executed. Similarly, the ambiance was sophisticated without feeling stuffy. If you're looking for an intimate date night or a celebratory occasion, Union will fit the bill. read more

Union - Charred Octopus - Italian Near Me - Pasadena, California

I visited Union with high expectations, but unfortunately the evening landed squarely in the "mid-at best" category. We ordered several items across starters, pasta, and mains, hoping to be pleasantly surprised. The first dish, the panzanella from the "Start" section of the menu, arrived and looked promising, but we found it underwhelming. As we moved on, the pastas and other plates followed a similar pattern: competent, but far from exciting. The spaghetti with San Marzano tomato and Fresno chili, the tonnarelli cacio e pepe, and even a more ambitious squid ink lumache dish all landed in the "okay" zone rather than shining. Union's menu clearly gives the impression of elevated Italian/Cal-Cal fare, but the execution felt uninspired this night. Service added to the let-down. Our server singled out our uneaten bread and cheese starter and made us feel awkward for not finishing it. That kind of comment, especially when you're already feeling lukewarm about the food experience, was unnecessary and left a sour note. In summary: Union is not the worst meal I've had, but it's also not great. With its price point, location, and expectation set by its presentation and menu, it simply should have been better. I would not return based on this experience. read more

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Located in old town Pasadena, on Union street. It was smaller than I was expecting but they do have both indoor and outdoor seating. The vibes inside reminded my friends of NYC. If you're ever craving Italian pasta - this is the place to go. Absolutely loved every single dish we ordered. I don't think you can go wrong with anything you order from here. Here is everything we ordered and loved. No bad thing to say about any of it. They were alll super delicious and flavorful. - pork meat balls - local wild mushrooms - one of the best dishes ever. - arugula salad - eggplant rigatoni - Campanelle (pork ragu) - squid ink lumache - fettuccine (duck ragu) Service was good. We came during dinner rush so it was a little busy but the servers did their best. read more

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