A trip to Howie’s is a trip back to a happier time, when grocers were grocers and service was always with a smile. This compact, all-purpose market is justly famed for three things: Alexander’s Meats, a terrific butcher with Harris Ranch beef, dry-aged prime cuts, excellent marinated poultry and meat (great asada); Lisa’s Bakery, a [...]
The red flocked wallpaper, crystal light fixtures and low velvet couches pay tribute to the speakeasy (Pasadena’s first) that purportedly thrived here during Prohibition. In this more licentious age, patrons freely enter the candlelit walkway that leads from the South Lake storefronts to the hidden world behind: an outdoor bar arranged around a massive old [...]
Tiny Rosso doesn’t try to compete with the big guys; instead, owner Jeff Zimmitti focuses on France, Spain, Italy and California, selecting the best-value wines that go well with food. The result is a user-friendly shop that’s a great addition to north Glendale’s burgeoning “gourmet gulch” on Verdugo Road. Pick up a bottle to enjoy [...]
What was just another good strip-mall noodle joint has become a food-lover’s destination in recent months, ever since Jonathan Gold discovered that it had a new chef who is quite serious about his cooking. It’s still a little strip-mall joint, but it’s now more attractive and comfortable than most, with booth seating and friendly service. [...]
From a sidewalk table in front of Buster’s, with a scoop of mint chip ice cream or a blended mocha in front of you and the South Pas street scene passing by, life is mighty fine. This colorful, funky neighborhood hub also showcases local musicians on weekend nights. 1006 Mission St., South Pasadena, 626.441.0744, Café. Daily from [...]
Established in 1949, Billy’s is an institution that runs on homemade pickles, towers of lox and pastrami, and lots of rye bread. A deli case, bakery case and sandwiches to go complement a dining room hung with huge sepia photos of a Glendale with Red Cars (and without high-rises or smog). The bill will be [...]
Is Eagle Rock hotter, foodwise, than Pasadena? That’s a good topic for debate, and a point in Eagle Rock’s favor is the new Four Café on Colorado, on the same block as the excellent Colorado Wine Company and the as-close-to-New-York-as-we-get-around-here Brownstone Pizza. Four is an ideal addition to the neighborhood mix, an informal, order-at-the-counter café [...]
The cornflake-coated French toast is tasty and the omelets are generous, but we don’t get why people wait on the sidewalk for hour or more on weekends to have breakfast in this fetching old Pasadena bungalow. We come on Tuesdays instead, and go to Dish, Pie ‘n Burger or Café Atlantic on weekends. 151 E. [...]
Perhaps the best to-go chicken in the region—okay, in the world—is found at this Peruvian café. The birds are marinated in citrus juice, garlic and chiles and spit-roasted over a wood fire until crisp-skinned and incredibly juicy. Pair them with the homemade French fries (the Peruvians know their potatoes), and you will be deliriously happy. [...]
The Gelsons of Asian supermarkets, except instead of having 60 kinds of breakfast cereal, it has 60 kinds of fish sauce. An absolute must-visit, with a dazzling array of Asian produce, sauces, noodles, kitchenware and ingredients, as well as terrific (and terrifically cheap) live seafood. It also stocks most of the American basics (milk, Cheerios, [...]
