Memory Lapse - Pasadena eatery on Colorado

[missmodular818]

I've always wanted to try this eatery on Colorado Blvd, I think it's Italian. Very large modern restaurant with long large glass windows and a large patio. It's on the same side and not too far down from "Thai Italian". Does anyone know of the place? It escapes me. It's always crowded and the food always looks and smells good when I walk by.

[khh1138]

Oh, both Mi Piace and Sorriso are lousy. Well, just disappointing, really, given the price and the scene you have to deal with. If you *want* the scene, that's another story! I suspect they are pumping out scented air a la Main Street in Disneyland, because I've never had anything taste as good as the aroma on the street as you walk by.

I rather like Il Fornaio. But my favourite neighborhood simple Italian place is Domenico's on East Washington.

[trolley]

I also find cafe santorini to be uneven. some dishes are ok and some are just lousy. i got a salad there and the greens were slimy and the salmon was overcooked and bland. they seem to do well with other dishes (just looking at other people's ordrers) and perhaps i just strike out when i go there. however, on a nice warm evening sitting on the patio is a very nice way to have dinner. if given that i had to stay in old town i'd go to il fornaio or thai italian. the latter has an excellent pasta pescatore. just don't get the eggplant with spaghetti marinara. it was really a bad combo for me.

[pasadenaerin]

You are thinking of Mi Piace ... not a great place to be sure, but a fun bar! For really good Italian/Mediterranean go just a little further west on Colorado and duck into the alley. Across from the movie theater you will see a door that opens to a stairwell. Go up. The place is Cafe Santorini. Really nice, and a much nicer patio!

[chon76]

i actually prefer mi piace to sorriso but again, i'd normally avoid both. i'd much rather head a few blocks south on fair oaks to gale's for italian..

[WildSwede]

Agreed. Or, if you are looking for your regular old red-sauced Italian, head east on Colorado to Scarantino's.

[bboy]

Is this Scarantino's related to the one that used to be in Glendale? My wife grew up going there with her family, and has mourned its closing for years.

[bboy]

Now that I'm prompted to search for it online, it seems Scarantino's in Glendale is open. Wide open. I swear we went there a few years ago, and it was closed. Must have been temporary. I guess I know where we are eating this weekend!

[trolley]

mipiace. it smells and looks good but it's quite average.

[missmodular818]

yes, that's it! thanks. also, thinking about Sorriso. any thoughts?

[SauceSupreme]

I'd rather go to Sorriso than Mi Piace. The food is more interesting and the decor is nicer with that mini patio they have. They've also got an upstairs area, though I don't know if that's reserved for private parties.

That being said, don't confuse a crowd for quality. Cheesecake Factory in Old Pas routinely has a waitlist, and that's pretty far from Chow-worthy.

[condiment]

Mi Piace is horrid; Sorriso is merely very, very bad. Il Fornaio makes it all the way up to mediocre +, which gives it pride of place in this particular niche.