Del Frisco’s Grille Pasadena – A Wonderful Addition to Lake Ave.

bar_web-ready-gallery

Del Frisco’s Grille in Pasadena an exciting new Pasadena restaurant that offers quality fine dining worthy foods in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere! They serve up a vast menu of very tasty eats that take classic American comforts food and give them a modern foodie-worthy twist. The large bar is hip and swanky, offering a perfect environment for catching up with friends over a tasty cocktail and delicious appetizers. The restaurant itself is very warm and inviting, with comfortable and roomy seating and enough space between patrons so that you don’t feel crammed in. If you’re into wine, their selection is vast and impressive.

The Grille uses local ingredients to make delicious favorites such as their Ahi Tacos and Cheesesteak Egg Rolls (pictured below) which were perfect appetizers for sharing! 

 tacos

Ahi Tacos ($17.50) 
Tuna Tartare, Avocado, Spicy Citrus Mayo

eggrolls

Cheesesteak Eggrolls ($13.00)
Sweet & Spicy Chili Sauce, Honey Mustard

The menu also includes a selection of prime steaks, hearty salads, formidable sandwiches and chef-inspired entrees. We selected the Sole Francese & The Filet Mignon trio (the Filet trio is not a regular menu item) as our main courses. The sole was one of the best I’ve had, rich with lump crab meat and a tangy lemon-butter sauce on top. To accompany our main course, we chose the Pan-Seared Wild Mushrooms, and of course who could resist the hearty Truffled Mac and Cheese (all pictured below)! The portions are generous, and everything we ordered was perfect for sharing, even with a few people.

 sole

Sole Francese ($28.50)
Lump Crab, Arugula-Cherry Tomato Salad, Chive-Lemon Butter

 

filetrio

Filet Mignon Trio ($market price)

 

maccheese     mushrooms

Truffled Mac & Cheese ($8.00) & Pan-Braised Wild Mushrooms ($9.00) 

Finally, to add fire to the already roaring flame, we ordered the Coconut Cream Pie for dessert!! We had no room left whatsoever in our stomachs to eat dessert – or so we thought.  Rich with real whipped cream, shaved white chocolate and coconut flakes it was truly irresistible and a perfect ending to a perfect dining experience.

cocout

Coconut Cream Pie ($10.50)
White Chocolate Shavings

The service was amongst the friendliest, and the ambiance is a refreshing fun addition to the classic staple restaurants on Lake Avenue. Once you experience the fresh ingredients and generous portions, you’ll see the pricing is fair as well! We certainly can’t wait to return, and are looking forward to trying Del Frisco’s Grille’s Sunday Brunch – sooner than later! Do yourself a favor and get over to try this wonderful new restaurant in Pasadena!

Check them out on YELP.

55 S. Lake Ave., Suite 150

Pasadena, CA 91101

(626) 765-9913

 

The Royce at Langham Pasadena

The Royce Steakhouse at the Langham Pasadena provided a stellar cuisine that was mouth-watering!!! Don’t judge the Royce by the 3.5 stars you see on Yelp, if the rating were just for food I’d give them 5 stars. I will say that service is a little lacking, so I think that’s why the reviews are lower than they should be.

As you walk into the reception, you’ll notice their beautiful wine rooms. One cold for white wine and champagnes, and the other cellar room temperature for reds.

roycewineroom

I personally ordered the Rib Eye, but I did have a chance to try my friends dishes, which were the Swordfish, Venison, and Lamb Chops, and all of them were outstanding and cooked to perfection.

brandtribeye

Brandt Beef, 100% all natural, grass-fed Rib Eye, 12oz. $65

spinnach

Truffled Spinnach $9

All of their steaks are prepared on an Aztec wood-fired grill over White Oak and seasonal wood to sear in the maximum flavor and juiciness of each cut.

The seafood consists of the freshest local and global selections available, and all produce is sourced from the local farmer’s market and the hotel’s organic garden on property.

Appetizers, vegetables and comforting side dishes will change regularly with the season. A vegetarian menu is available upon request.

Definitely a place to enjoy a special occasion dinner! Two thumbs up!

1401 South Oak Knoll Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106 | 626.585.6410

Arroyo Chop House: One of LA’s Last Classic Steakhouses

Arroyo Chop House is the quintessential, classic, upscale, all American steak house. The Chop House opened in 1997, and has gained a very loyal following since then, sinking its roots deep within the city of Pasadena. I honestly think that this establishment is the best, if not one of the very best steakhouses in all of Southern California. The versatility of the restaurant is wonderful, whether you’re looking to have an important business dinner, a special occasion, or cocktails after work, Arroyo is the perfect place to do so. The dining room affords privacy in an intimate setting. If you’re looking to have a cocktail with some entertaining chatter you can always start out at the bar. The service of the staff is the best in Pasadena. Every single time I’ve dined here, the bartenders have been friendly, the kitchen immpecable, and the wait staff were helpful and spot on. I can’t think of enough great things to say about this Pasadena staple.

When I eat something I love, I become a creature of habit. The last 4-5 times I’ve dined at arroyo, my beau and I have ordered the same things. We start with a loaf of fresh bread, ordered half garlic and half plain ($5), and always order a dozen Hama Hama oysters (when in season, September-January, market price). Whoever is sourcing Arroyo with their oysters has the best damn oysters we’ve ever had — and we have had them all around the world. The oysters are the perfect texture, meaty, and have no sand whatsoever or any kind of unpleasant sea smell. Even in the fanciest of restaurants, we’ve frequently had these issues with raw oysters.

 

          

Next, we enjoy the Table Side Cesar Salad for two ($24). When your waiter rolls out his work station, you’ll see him make the entire salad table side; chopped romaine, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, home-made croutons, and a wonderful tangy Cesar dressing made from scratch right before your eyes. If you enjoy Cesar salads, this will be one of the best you’ve ever had.

After a bottle of champagne, fresh bread, oysters and our Cesar salad, we barely have any room to spare. But by this time we’ve already ordered the Porterhouse Steak ($48) to share. We opt to get the ‘regular’ Porterhouse, not the one for 2, it’s surely enough. The Chop House hand cuts their steaks fresh everyday, they are rubbed just perfect and cooked to perfection. I can’t emphasize enough how delicious the steaks are, if you haven’t already, you’lll have to see for yourself. You’re not going to get a steak soaked in butter and oozing on a buttery hot plate — I mean that in a good way. You’ll get a steak perfectly seasoned, juicy and broiled to perfection. You’ll probably even have enough left over, as we always do, for gourmet steak and eggs the next morning.

If you haven’t eaten here, do yourself a huge favor and do so. Whether it’s a special occasion or you’re just in the mood for an amazing steak — you won’t regret it.

Two thumbs up in every single way!

Check them out on Yelp.

536 South Arroyo Pkwy
Pasadena, CA 91105
Neighborhood: Pasadena

(626) 577-7463