Diners' Choice: Best Service restaurants in Pasadena

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best service in Pasadena? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Shiro Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1600)

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Open for indoor and outdoor dining and curbside takeout. Outdoors dining is subject to the weather. We have heaters but not for all tables. Please dress warmly. If there is a chance of rain we will have to cancel.

Shiro has been named the Zagat Guide's number one restaurant and is consistently one of the highest rated establishments in the guide (#5 in 2011; #2 for service in 2013). Shiro is summed up by it's ingredients. Menu items are driven by the best available, nothing less is acceptable. For over 35 years, diners have enjoyed our French and Pacific Rim inspired menu. A tradition of fine dining with excellent, friendly service. We may supplement our menu with a special Taste of Shiro (soup or salad, meat or fish, dessert). Wed/Th. The evening's menu is posted around 3pm.

As much as we love them, we must ask that your dogs and other pets stay home. Service dogs, of course, are welcome.

Top review

Diana

Dined 1 day ago

The wonton ravioli and loup de mer were excellent, as was the service. So lucky to have this gem in South Pasadena. We celebrated a birthday and all truly enjoyed our dining experience. My son also enjoyed the grilled octopus appetizer - unique.

Altaeats

4.9

4.9 (774)

$31 to $50

American

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Tucked away on the Altadena/Pasadena border,
Chef Paul Ragan brings a feast of flavors to the dinner table.
Join us in our dining room or order the Roastie to go!

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Always a great place that has the best lamb chops in the LA area. We dine out at Ulta eats often and have never been disappointed. Dick and Mary

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Popular dish

Beef Wellington

Popular dish

Buffalo Brussels Sprouts

Nick's South Lake Ave

4.8

4.8 (3133)

$30 and under

American

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Classic American comfort food, crave-able bar snacks, plus unique cocktails, an extensive wine list in an upscale yet casual environment. Our exhibition kitchen highlights the talents of our passionate culinary team.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Nick's Pasadena will reopen on April 12, 2021 for dinner starting at 4pm. We look forward to serving you!

Top review

LisaVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Nick's of South Lake is always a great dining experience. Good food and good service.

Sugarbird Cafe

4.7

4.7 (59)

$31 to $50

Afternoon Tea

Montrose

About the restaurant

Welcome to Sugarbird Cafe, Montrose, CA's unique scone and tea cafe.
Nestled in a cozy, shaded outdoor courtyard, it's the perfect spot for casual tea under the Cali sun, with limited indoor seating for a more intimate vibe. Variety of scones, from classic strawberry buttermilk to unique Cali-inspired flavors like fig rosemary, all perfectly crunchy outside and moist inside. Elevate your tea experience with our handcrafted teas, delightful tea sandwiches, and house-made jams. Please note, we need 36 hours advance notice for special dietary requests for wheat-free, vegan, or kids menu, 10 & under. 18% gratuity is auto-included on the bill & parties of 6 or more will have a 20% charge.

Join our community for a taste of global afternoon tea menu at our outdoor garden.
To ensure your spot, BOOK 36 hours in advance—text 818-282-7299 to CONFIRM your reservation for same-day reservations. Don't miss out; we're featured in [LA Times]. Sip, savor, and make tea time your daily retreat!

Top review

Bette

Dined 7 days ago

My three great friends and I met a Sugarbird to celebrate a Christmas tea, and it couldn’t have been nicer. The outdoor seating area feels like a little room with the umbrellas and the pretty tables. We were lucky to have cool but not cold weather, and were prepared to sit outside, so being in the sun added to the feeling of enjoying a backyard tea. The scones were outstanding, particularly the blueberry lemon, and the feta chive. All the sandwiches were beautifully prepared and the sweets were fantastic as well. Our servers took such good care of us and gave us plenty time and space to enjoy each other without rushing at all. This is a yearly tradition for us and we all agreed it was one the loveliest times we’ve had together. Keep it up, Sugarbird! P.S, they have scones to go, and you can also get frozen ones to take home and bake. Certainly did that!!

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Experience

*Wheat Free Casual Tea - Scones + Tea Only

Experience

*Orginal Casual Tea - Scones + Tea Only

Experience

Afternoon Tea ( 6 or more) w/ tea sandwiches*

Parkway Grill

4.9

4.9 (2467)

$50 and over

Californian

Pasadena

About the restaurant

The Smith Brothers trend-setter in regional American cuisine, Parkway Grill continues to define dining in the city and beyond. Parkway Grill specializes in a seasonal, market-driven approach to cooking that incorporates diverse influences and classic French technique. Throughout its over 30 years, Parkway’s innovative chefs have showcased an intriguing array of dishes using locally sourced ingredients.

Demonstrating the ultimate commitment to fresh produce, Parkway Grill planted its own organic vegetable and herb garden behind the restaurant, which continues to thrive for over 25 years on a piece of prime real estate in the heart of Pasadena.

Top review

GwenVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Been coming here for 40 yrs. Still as good as it ever was

Dunsmoor

4.8

4.8 (954)

$50 and over

American

Eagle Rock

About the restaurant

Brian Dunsmoor’s namesake restaurant, Dunsmoor, is the latest iteration of his ongoing exploration of American heritage cooking. It is, first and foremost, a restaurant for the community that surrounds it, and a loving expression of the relentless research that has informed his cooking for the last ten years.

We offer the full menu at tables in our dining room and at the chef's counter, as well as at our outdoor tables. Reservations are recommended but we make every effort to accommodate walk-ins when possible.

Dunsmoor's wine bar, accessible either through the restaurant or via its own door on Ave 35, does not accept reservations and serves a limited menu of our raw and larder items.

Top review

Alex

Dined 1 day ago

Great first experience. Would highly recommend the “chef’s counter” seating for date night. Will definitely be back soon.

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4.8

4.8 (2204)

$31 to $50

Comfort Food

Pasadena

About the restaurant

The Smith Brothers bring you American comfort food at its best. Our menu features iron skillet cornbread, homemade chicken pot pie, BBQ baby back ribs, and more. Smitty's has always been defined by comfort, from the cozy booths and inviting bar, to the helpful staff who welcome each of our guests home.

Top review

Denise

Dined 3 days ago

Warm and cozy ambience. Excellent service. Friendly waiters. Absolutely delicious food. A joy to dine there.

Alexander's Steakhouse - Pasadena

4.8

4.8 (2262)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Pasadena

About the restaurant

You will enjoy the beautiful patio setup we have in Pasadena. We have instituted all health and safety precautions to ensure all of our guests and employees feel safe and can enjoy themselves. If you have any questions, please contact us and our team will take the pleasure of assisting you.

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Alexander's Steakhouse offers a fine dining interpretation of a Modern American Steakhouse with hints of global influences throughout the menu. Featuring classic cuts such as Ribeye, Bone-In New York and Filet Mignon, to sustainable seafood, our signature Hamachi Shot and a large selection of Wagyu. We also highlight dry-aged steaks and offer the finest and most luxurious products available including two tasting menus and a Extensive Wine List. A full bar featuring some of the most unique specialty cocktails is a great way to begin your evening here at Alexander's Steakhouse.

Top review

DawnVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Great cocktails with knowledgeable bartenders. And then, of course, the restaurant is exquisite. On a cool evening it is just beautiful to sit near in the smaller side room near the fireplace. The petit filet mignon was absolutely perfect. And don’t miss the mushrooms. Excellent service from start to finish as well.

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4.8

4.8 (446)

$50 and over

Contemporary French

Pasadena

About the restaurant

Bar Chelou is a neo-bistro that is both a distillation of Chef Doug Rankin's broad gastronomic interests and a deeply personal expression of his individualistic style.

'Chelou' (French slang for ‘strange’ or ‘unexpected’) is both the name and unifying theme of the restaurant, which draws from a range of culinary traditions and service styles to create something personal, novel, and fun.

The restaurant is located within the Pasadena Playhouse complex. If you plan to visit the Playhouse after dinner, please book a 5:30p reservation to ensure ample timing for your dinner. We also offer concession cocktails before a showing and during intermission.

NEED TO KNOW
Wine corkage is $30 per 750ml bottle with no limit; we do not offer corkage for wines featured on our wine list.

Ample parking is available on surrounding streets and at several paid lots within a one-block radius.

Gift cards are available for purchase on our website.

Top review

Jasmine

Dined 4 days ago

I love Bar Chelou! The shelling beans will stay with me forever!

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The Proper Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (596)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

La Canada

About the restaurant

Where our passion is simple: an approachable menu using the highest quality, best tasting ingredients in a comfortable and elegant neighborhood bar and grill. Our owners, Rick and Lisa Anderson and David and Cater Yost are committed to bringing the best customer experience to La Canada Flintridge. Whether it’s our signature Proper martini, a perfectly seasoned ribeye with Cajun butter, or crispy truffled Brussels that make the mouth water, you’ll savor the quality that our chefs and bartenders bring to every meal.

Come bring your friends and family to an unforgettable dining experience in an elegant and contemporary atmosphere designed to invite and excite.

Top review

CindyVIP

Dined 3 days ago

The restaurant was excellent. Loved the food, decor and service was great!!

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