I always find myself with minimal options for breakfast and weekend brunch in Old Town Pasadena. There’s a new option in town that I look forward to checking out at the new KTCHN. Formerly Via Soriso, then more recently 168, the property has been facing an identity crisis recently. I think they’ve finally figured out a good solution; a high end food court-like setting for multiple restaurants to offer a variety of foods to patrons. The courtyard also now includes Zona Rosa Coffee, Bulagrini Gelato and Picnik.
ZAGAT recently wrote about KTCHEN, here’s the article:
Joining Eduardo Ruiz’s new Picnik complex in Pasadena – where sausage and pork is king – Felix Barron is now serving his popular KTCHN brunch daily in Old Town. What started as an underground pop-up out of his Downtown LA loft, Barron has been serving things like carnitas hash and apple fritters in The Gorbals every Sunday since 2011. Taking a corner of the Picnik complex (that’s what we’re calling it for lack of a better word), he’s bringing his unique twists on breakfast staples to the ‘Dena. The current menu features creamy brie grits with berry compote and hazelnut crunch; eggs scrambled with pickled jalapenos, caramelized onion and goat cheese; scrambled organic eggs with pea harissa, aged cheddar and potato hash; duck confit hash; pork belly and eggs; and tres leches French toast. There’s a full bar in the complex and out of the KTCHN corner come things like the Heminguey (tequila, watermelon, lime and mint simple syrup) and a Spring Collins (vodka, fresh cucumber, elderflower and rosemary seltzer). There are also fresh juices that go beyond the orange and cranberry norm, like elixirs made with Asian pear, carrot, parsley, fennel and beet.
One beautiful thing is that there are a ton of tables outside with umbrellas to shade the sun, plus a cute little dining room. Unlike Picnick, where you order at the counter and the food is brought to you, KTCHN is full-service. There’s even free WiFi. Once the other businesses get rolling, there will be space for Zona Rosa Coffee and Bulagrini Gelato, too, both of which are serving from carts now, making this a one-stop shop for everything you could possibly want to eat in one day. KTCHN serves daily from 8 AM-2 PM.
Hours:
Mondays thru Friday 8a.m to 2p.m
Saturday & Sundays 9a.m to 2p.m
Let us know what you think!