Dinner rec needed - Pasadena area - anyone have a great experience lately?

[The Oracle]

'hounds - need your help figuring out a dinner spot for Friday night.

Need to keep it in the Pasadena area (give or take 10 minutes).
It's a b'day celebration and will be a group of 6 in our mid-30's.

My two favorites lately have been Siena and La Grande Orange - but I've been to both recently, and would like to try something new. I'm a Pasadena native and none of the usual suspects sound appealing to me (ie: parkway, ACH, Santorini, etc.)

My ideas...
Palate Food + Wine - they did not have a reservation available until quite late.
3 Drunken Goats in Montrose - didn't necessarily want to do the small plate thing, but it's the only option I can think of right now.

Anyone have any ideas? Perhaps something similar to Siena and La Grande - in price point and setting? (no more than $20's for entrees).

TIA!

[The Oracle]

UPDATE: Thanks for all your suggestions. While I wanted to try Malbec, I opted not to because of the vegetarians. I decided to just go back to Siena and introduce my friends to the little gem. The second visit did not prove to be as enjoyable as the first. Portions sizes seemed to have been reduced and our waiter was off-putting- which really put a damper on the experience as a whole. The food was still wonderful and the gnocchi I ordered was delicious - but, with the portion sizes and service, can't say I'll go back anytime soon. On a side note - POP was opened next door, and looked darling - and they have a lunch and dinner menu - FYI.

The next night, had another b'day dinner task - and picked Daisy Mint - which I'd been wanting to try for some time. I was SO glad I did. They were so nice and very accommodating to our party. Everything we ordered was creative and full of flavor. I was wishing I went there the night before!

[exilekiss]

Hi The Oracle,

Thanks for your report back; it's always nice to hear how the experience turned out. Like you, I had a mixed night at Siena on my first visit, with our waiter / service being rather sub-par - slow, hard to get his attention for anything, and a blase attitude towards our party (we noticed he had the same attitude with 2 other tables at the time).

[astrobabe]

Hmm Siena seems to have a waiter issue then. We went last week and had a waiter that ignored us and then problems getting food. We ordered a cheese plate and one bus boy came out with two. He tried to give one to a table that hadn't ordered it and then got one plate off to the right table. He then stood there right next to our table saying "I don't know if I should give this to you, I should go check" and then disappeared for five min because he couldn't find a waiter who could tell him anything.

Then later one waiter just plopped two beat salads at our table and didn't realize anything was wrong until 2 minutes later when he came to retrieve them from us as we just looked at each other wondering what the heck was wrong with the front of the house as they weren't even full.

[mocro]

Went to Siena last Friday for the first time thanks to the recs on this board. Overall I loved it - thought the food was very refined although I'll agree the portions were small for the price. My daughter had the parpadelle w/wild boar which was delish, but it was an appetizer-sized serving I thought. Ditto my first glass of wine - a nice Kim Crawford sauvignon blanc. My glass was one-third filled which I thought was a little skimpy but I couldn't find it in my heart to say "more please" as it would sound like I had a problem! LOL The second pour (from the bottle at the table which I thought was fine) filled my glass half full - what I'd expect.

On the plus side I thought the menu was very inventive but not overly precious and all our food was wonderful. The service was uneven; rushing us to order, asking if I wanted more wine before I'd finished my first glass, presenting the check a bit too promptly, but then never offering more bread/water. And I thought the decor was a bit cold and the restaurant overly lit. But I'll definitely be back as the food was fantastic.

[maxzook]

I have always been partial to Yujean Kang's. If you're the kind of Chinese foodie who worships at the shrine of authenticity you may be disappointed, but I have always found the food to be fresh and interesting.

-----
Yujean Kang's Gourmet Chinese
67 N Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103

[swimfin]

What about Bistro 45 or Smitty's? Or Bistro Provence on Pass in Burbank? Or Marston's on Walnut in Pasadena? Or a Tiki experience at Damon's on Brand in Glendale? Or...

[A5 KOBE]

Not really a Palate Food + Wine but definitely a good place.

Yang Chow on Colorado and Rosemead is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in that area. The Slippery Shrimp and Deep Fried Pork Chop is excellent.

[ipsedixit]

Sure, I'd just as soon recommend Yang Chow to The Oracle for Chinese as I would recommend Taco Bell to The Oracle for a Mexican feast while traveling through Acapulco.

And, what in the world do you mean by "Chinese restaurants in that area" ... by "that area" do you mean that very limited 1000 ft stretch of Colorado between Rosemead Blvd. and Quigley Ave? For your sake, I certainly hope so ...

[A5 KOBE]

Oh, so you are saying you want to have him celebrate his b-day at a place like JnJ.

I am Chinese and I'll be the first to tell you that it is watered-down but it still tastes very good.

[JAB]

LOL at a Chinese recing Yang Chow but dissing Los Jarritos as "watered down" Mexican, apparently that didn't taste very good because "watered down" is apparently ok if it tastes very good?

[creepazoid]

If you haven't been to Gale's on Fair Oaks, you are in for a treat. Gale has a great Italian Bistro with the freshest ingredients and a great wine/spirits selection. Gale and her husband Rene are not stuffy people and they are usually there. She has monthly art shows for local artists too with wine and cheese tasting etc.

[ipsedixit]

How about Malbec for Argentinean? Not at the same level as Palate, but it's definitely in Pasadena.

http://www.malbeccuisine.com/

[Jack Flash]

Ah, yes. This is a good recommendation, and it fits squarely in the desired price range.

[The Oracle]

Excellent! I'm intrigued! Any thoughts on ambiance?

[Jack Flash]

I would describe Malbec as "cool and smartly casual." The interior is kinda sleek and modern, dark enough to border on romantic, but with enough hard edges to give it a bit more energy than that. If that makes any sense at all. More sedate than Grande Orange, for example, but hipper than the nearby Central Park.

[The Oracle]

Thanks for the description! ...was just checking out the menu - and am realizing I might have a problem... forgot about the 2 vegetarians in the group. :(

[crystaw]

What about Azeen's Afghani Restaurant in Old Town? Malbec isn't a shabby choice either but I do remember a lack of vegetarian options. Is the other tapas place (La Luna Negra) any good because maybe that could be an alternative to Barcelona?

[Jack Flash]

I tried Luna Negra once, and was a bit underwhelmed. 3 Drunken Goats and Bar Celona are both far superior.

[exilekiss]

Hi The Oracle,

You might consider Red, White + Bluezz in Pasadena. I had some good dishes there recently and they have Live Jazz 7 days a week. :)

[Jack Flash]

If you are considering small plates, I'd go with Bar Celona over 3 Drunken Goats.

Did you consider the Pasadena Roy's?

[The Oracle]

No - hadn't considered Roy's after visiting the Downtown location this past year and discovered I wasn't crazy about fusion cooking. Thanks for the idea, though!

Thanks also for the Bar Celona nod - I haven't tried it since it's been in new hands and will consider that a possibility... although, would prefer not to do the small plate thing.

[dreamprfct]

I just got on to ask the same thing! thanks for the post, Im anxiously waiting for responses.

[Clyde]

I was going to suggest Siena until I read that you'd been there. I LOVE 3 Drunken Goats. Went there xmas eve. The plates aren't that small, for a small plate place. Two of us got 4 items and could barely finish.