True Food Kitchen in Old Town Pasadena is exactly, and I do mean exactly, what this city has been needing! Prior to TFK’s arrival, Old Town Pasadena was in desperate need of a few things: An awesome spot for weekend brunch, delicious hand-crafted cocktails, hip but comfortable spots to get together with friends and family, an ambiance with the wow factor of the West side, and some flavorful and fun eats … all of these voids have been filled and so much more with its arrival! Welcome True Food Kitchen, we are so excited to have you in town!

The entire menu looks amazing, and everything is perfect for sharing! Here’s what we tried on our last visit (there’s soooo much more to try, everything looks so finger-licking good).

Let’s start with the cocktail menu. Every single drink is hand-crafted to perfection with tiny bits and pieces of muddled fruits, veggies and herbs. We tried the Skinny Margarita and the Grapefruit Martini. Both were delicious, not overly sweet, and just mixed to perfection! Be sure to check out some of these refreshing cocktails while the weather’s still scorching, they’re definitely a cooling treat (I’m sure I’ll be enjoying them throughout the So Cal ‘winter’ as well)! They’re priced pretty fairly at $10-$12 per cocktail. The same thing on the West side will easily run you $15+.

Citrus Skinny Margarita (left, $11) muddled citrus, torn mint, cucumber, ixá organic tequila

Thai Grapefruit Martini (right, $12) thai basil, grapefruit, organic vodka

Next up, let’s talk about the starters. We had the Charred Cauliflower and Squash Pizza. First things first, Vegan Almond Ricotta?? OMG quite possibly the best tasting ‘cheese’ I’ve ever had – but without any guilt! Next time I’m definitely asking for extra drops of it! The crust was perfectly crispy in all the right places, and thin enough if you’re not into all those doughy carbs. The Charred Cauliflower was just as delicious. The tahini makes it creamy (without the mayo which is which most places use) and the dates naturally sweeten it up. It’s seasoned just perfectly and feels like a guilty creamy treat, but without the guilt. TFK does a fantastic job of satisfying all of our guilty eating pleasures by making healthy versions of those bad dishes we crave.

Butternut Squash Pizza ($13.50) smoked onion, organic kale, vegan almond ricotta, dried cranberry (Vegan)

Charred Cauliflower ($8) harissa tahini, medjool date, dill, mint, pistachio (Vegan, Gluten Free)

On to the mains … I guess we were feeling a little Italian that night cause we ended up ordering the Lasagna Bolognese and the Spaghetti Casserole (made with spaghetti squash … get the reoccurring theme here folks? All the good tastes, without the guilt)! Both were good portions with a unique twist to somewhat traditional dishes. I added the house-made chicken sausage ($4) to the casserole for some extra protein, I think you should too!

Lasagna Bolognese (left, $16) house-made chicken sausage, mushroom, spinach, lemon ricotta, herbs (Gluten Free)

Spaghetti Squash Casserole (right, $14) organic tomato, caramelized onion, zucchini, fresh mozzarella (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

And for the grande finale (we couldn’t resist), we shared the Flourless Cake. I simply can’t think of a single improvement I’d make to it, but I did add some Coconut Whipped Cream that I saw listed on another dessert item because I love anything and everything coconut. With just the right amount of bittersweet chocolate, a light crunch and some vanilla ice cream you just can’t go wrong. I don’t generally like caramel, but this one was homemade and I had no issue scooping it straight to my mouth.

Flourless Chocolate Cake ($7) caramel, vanilla ice cream, cocoa nibs (Vegetarian, Gluten-Free)

TFK was definitely love at first sight. We’ve been back 4 times, and they’ve only been open a few weeks. I keep telling myself to slow down because I’ll get sick of it, but I really don’t think that is possible.

Check them out on Yelp, they already have hundreds of folks bragging about how amazing it is. Warning: the food pics are going to make your mouth water!

What’s even more wonderful is that they take reservations! They’ve been really busy every night of the week, so click here to reserve through Open Table.

If there’s a perfect place for the Paleo, Atkins, Carnivorous, my favorite animal is steak kind of person – I’m pretty sure the meat Gods would deem it to be located at  Meat District Co., in Old Town Pasadena. I visited the new diggs (on Raymond & Union) over the weekend, and I must say I was very impressed. I ordered the burger & 1/2 rack combo (pictured above). The Truffle Burger ($15) was exceptional!!! With the surge of burger establishments in the area, I’ve definitely had my fair share recently. This 1/2 lb. burger was surely by far the best in town! The pork ribs were also delicious and tender!

All their beef is ‘ALL NATURAL, NEVER EVER BEEF (hormone, steroid & antibiotic free).’ They work in partnership with America’s most sustainable producers, to make sure quality and taste are always on par.

As for the menu, Meat District offers something for everyone, from five spice chicken wings and baby back ribs to nearly a dozen burgers on deck.

BURGER & RIB COMBO

Any 1/2 lb burger & 1/2 a rack of beef or 1/2 jumbo pork ribs

TRUFFLE BURGER

1/2 lb patty with truffle parmasen, argulua, roasted peppers, tomato & truffle aioli

JUMBO PORK RIBS

25oz Half Rack                                    45oz Full Rack

Definitely two thumbs up! Give them a try and see for yourself!

Pasadena

Check them out on Yelp.

While the vibe at Kings Row is casual, upbeat and inviting, the folks in the kitchen offer diners some serious pub nosh. You’ll find varieties of creative reinterpretations of British classics, like their Shepherd’s Stack and Cheeky Bastard Poutine or conscientious food, sourced almost exclusively from California, is served on small plates or share plates, along with a charcuterie carte menu, blackboard specials, and an ever-changing array of delectable dishes made from the freshest ingredients from the farm and sea. Kings Row’s full bar offers more than 60 beers, specializing in small-craft and local brewers and Belgian ales and styles, as well as handcrafted cocktails, and quaint, unique wine selections.

The Duck Sliders are back folks! The first time I had these small little bites of heaven was over a year ago — because Kings Row changes their menu often, unfortunately, they flew away for a bit. The duck sliders have a Pekin style marinade, with hoisin, ginger and sesame, and are topped with a Shiitake mushroom relish and home made Chinese mustard ($11.00). Served with a side of kennebec fries (garlic, herbs & white cheese) — how could you go wrong?

We also tried the Proper Fish & Chips ($14.00), served with a side of kennebec fries — not as delectable as the duck sliders, but I appreciated the quality of the Alaskan white cod, and the fact that the IPA beer batter was thin and crispy, without that weird rubbery film that usually lies between the fish and breading. Only thing I’d add here is a little seasoning — maybe some Cajun, or even some fresh salt & pepper and I think I’d be a happy camper. The home-made tartar sauce accompanying the dish was the best I’ve ever had! It was lemony, tangy and mixed just perfectly.

The serving style of this gastropub is quite unique. You seat yourself, either in the bar, inside restaurant area, or the patio — then you walk over to the bar to order your drinks and Eats. You can cash out, or leave a tab open, but either way you’re on your own to get back to the bar for any refills or additional orders. A waiter will bring your food to you when it’s ready. Service is pretty much do it yourself – there’s a bucket of silverware and napkins on the table and jugs of water around the pub that you help yourself to.

An added treat is the incredible live music you’ll hear Thurs-Sun. My favorite is the Reggae on Sundays! The bands are always really talented, and for a moment, while you’re sipping on your hops or mimosa, you really feel like you’ve escaped on a tropical getaway!

Happy Hour – $4 well drinks, $2 off all beers, and a handful of good ‘Eats’ at discounted prices.

Everyday from 4pm-7pm

All day on Tuesday

Late Night Sun-Wed 10pm-12pm