390298 Tue Apr 10 12:31:52 -0700 2007 17 2 Los Angeles Area 0 2467568 I am visiting Pasadena for Saturday night. Looking for a great Italian or Mexican restaurant. Nothing crazy or exotic- reasonably priced. Tue Apr 10 12:31:52 -0700 2007 90322 krisT 1 2467582 For Italian, get yourself to Briganti in South Pas. www.brigantirestaurant.com Tue Apr 10 12:35:01 -0700 2007 2467568 11583 ipsedixit 2 2467597 LOL ...can't help it...it appears that one of your apparent fave restaurants is now sporting a new name... Briganit? Tue Apr 10 12:38:49 -0700 2007 2467582 15170 Local 3 2468491 (good job - we love the "edit" feature...;-) ) Tue Apr 10 16:33:09 -0700 2007 2467597 15170 Local 2 2468455 I wholeheartedly second Briganti, but make reservations asap. Tue Apr 10 16:19:41 -0700 2007 2467582 17675 Clare K 2 2468471 wow...when I went to culinary school 9 years ago...this restaurant was my first lab...cool! The menu looks great! Tue Apr 10 16:25:45 -0700 2007 2467582 23252 chefthisguy 3 2468611 I thought this restaurant was only a couple of years old? Tue Apr 10 17:10:03 -0700 2007 2468471 17675 Clare K 4 2471016 "couple of years"?? More like since summer of 2006. Maybe "chefthisguy" is talking about La Buca, whose owners also operate Briganti?? Wed Apr 11 11:33:39 -0700 2007 2468611 11583 ipsedixit 5 2471048 IS this true?? Are Briganti and La Buca related? This is the first I have heard of this. How do you know? Wed Apr 11 11:42:11 -0700 2007 2471016 19980 kellydeez 6 2471097 Well, if Jonathon Gold says it, then it must be true ... http://www.laweekly.com/eat+drink/first-bite/the-italian-job/14442/ Wed Apr 11 11:56:01 -0700 2007 2471048 11583 ipsedixit 4 2472411 He means that this location used to house one of the kitchens of the Culinary institute that is now in Pasadena. They had a little bakery there that used to sell student-baked items (like the current Cafe up on El Molino). Wed Apr 11 17:48:18 -0700 2007 2468611 71286 ruddy 1 2467626 Briganti is really good. Another really good Italian place is Celestino on South Lake. Tue Apr 10 12:45:51 -0700 2007 2467568 13957 slacker 2 2470143 Sorry, S - gotta disagree on Celestino - have had some OK meals there, but last time the pasta was way beyond al dente - it actually had a crunchy center. Not to mention that it was oversalted. Sent it back which is something I rarely do, because I just don't like raw, crunchy pasta. The waiter did not even suggest a replacement. I didn't want to make a fuss, because the other people I was with were in the middle of their meals, but.....Will never go back! Briganti on the other hand is a delight! Wed Apr 11 08:14:16 -0700 2007 2467626 71183 jazzlover 3 2470998 Sounds like we've had very different experiences there. I've only been to Celestino once, but it was quite fabulous. The pasta I had was perfectly cooked and sauced, the dining experience relaxed, the waiters accomodating. Based on that, I would definitely go back and also recommend the place. I've been to Briganti many times and love it. Wed Apr 11 11:29:20 -0700 2007 2470143 13957 slacker 1 2468189 Gale's (Fair Oaks, between Del Mar & California) would also be a good pick for Italian - more of a 'bustling bistro' feel in comparison to the more refined Briganti. Tue Apr 10 14:55:14 -0700 2007 2467568 12842 The Oracle 2 2468660 I second Gale's. Great food and good service. http://www.galesrestaurant.com/ Also, if you use the "Search" feature of this site you'll come up with thousands of Pasadena options. Pasadena questions come up almost weekly. Tue Apr 10 17:20:07 -0700 2007 2468189 13197 spankbot 3 2471180 I third it! Great food! Reasonably priced as well. For Mexican, there are several options: for your basic, cheesy enchilada Mex: Mijares (the Pasadena Avenue location) or La Fiesta Grande (best margaritas!!) - LFG offers an all you can eat taco bar which is very popular and their grilled fish dishes are really good. Also good is their LFG Enchiladas. For your Mexican (where you can also get good Yucatecan food) #1 El Portal (go with the conchinita pibil) or Margaritas (they have cheesy enchiladas and Yucatecan offerings - huge menu and good margaritas!). http://www.elportalrestaurant.com/default.htm http://www.mijaresrestaurant.com/ http://www.galesrestaurant.com/ You should be able to find at least one of the others here (below), but the site seems to be down: http://www.sangabrielvalleymenus.com/ Wed Apr 11 12:19:41 -0700 2007 2468660 12400 WildSwede 4 2480943 I love Gale's. You will eat your weight in pasta! If you go for dinner I recommend the Burratta. I may have spelled it wrong. Soft mozzeralla cheese on a fresh tomato with basil and procutto. Oh heaven. Sat Apr 14 13:18:10 -0700 2007 2471180 91275 mmarnell