Pasadena - Family Place with Character for Baptismal Celebration?

[HerbyN]

Hello fellow Chowhounders....

I posted a similar request and got a few very helpful responses, but i thought i'd repost in order to see if we could get any additional options to consider....

My wife and I will be baptizing our son in April at a church in Pasadena. We have some friends and family coming into town for the big event and wanted some suggestions for a good multi-generational place for a celebratory early supper after the event.

any suggestions? i'm guessing our party will be between 10 and 12 people (including the 8-month old, so the place should be relatively baby-friendly). We want a nice-ish place, though... no "family dining" chains, please...

FYI... the suggestions we have gotten so far are: Smitty’s, Mike & Anne’s, Celestino, El Portal, and Dish

Looking forward to other thoughts/suggestions.

thanks in advance.

[Dutchvanobvious]

Red White and Bluezz
Briganti in South Pasadena-resh house made pasta and the gnocchi is awesome
Firefly is family friendly but the food can be hit or miss

[Densible]

I asked a similar question 2 weeks ago for a early graduation dinner. I think ipsedexit rec'd Malbec . We had a 5PM reservation for 10 including teenagers and a 4 yr old. I reviewed it on the original thread. It was fabulous-we had wonderful service, the atmosphere was relaxed but attentive. Well paced courses. We all had dessert and many had coffee-4 starters and 8 entrees, 2 bottles of wine (excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Argentina) and a bill that was less than 400 dollars! Excellent food-just great. A few weeks before we had a good dinner at Red White & Bluezz-more expensive and less fun. It was good but I'd go back to Malbec in a heart beat and we live in Hermosa.

[Jack Flash]

Oh, good call. Yes, I'd add Malbec to my earlier suggestions as well.

[Jack Flash]

I'll add Central Park and La Grande Orange to the list of suggestions.

[The Oracle]

What's your budget and how early of a dinner?

[condiment]

Saladang is reasonably festive, good for groups, busy enough to be kid friendly yet easy to talk in, and has lightened Thai food that is fresh enough to be appealing to the snobs yet won't alienate the uninitiated. Robin's always feels like a place for large family groups to fall into - a license-plates-on-the-walls midwestern feel, decent barbecue and burgers and big salads and such. And Marston's has a really nice family feel, in an old house a few steps from old town, with good, moderately priced American cooking.

[dunnbates]

Saladang is a good idea. I was just there yesterday. It is nice enough but baby-friendly, and the food is consistently good. Robin's might be a little too downscale, but Marston's is a nice place, and it doesn't get too crowded. My first choice would be Celestino, but if you want to spend less, Saladang will give the most bang for the buck.

[1demi]

I would strongly say "NO" to Marston's Especially if your event is on a weekend. They get crazy crowded and they "DO NOT" take reservations EVER!!! so unless u like standing on the sidewalk or in the parking lot for atleast 1 hr or more..I wouldn't even consider Marston's

[condiment]

The waits are for breakfast. Lunches and especially dinners are more relaxed.

[ipsedixit]

Maybe also consider The Raymond and The Dining Room at the Langham Hotel.

And if you know an alum, the The Athenaeum at Caltech might work as well.

[sbritchky]

The Athenaeum would certainly be an interesting place for the meal. I've eaten there a few times and stayed at the gorgeous club and would never have thought of that for a baptismal celebration. But you do have to have a connection with Cal Tech.

I like Celestino a lot, by the way. Very good food from the Drago people with a nice neighborhood, sophisticated-family-oriented setting. If you do go there, be sure to let them know the occasion, because it can only make their very friendly service that much better.

In all this, I'm assuming that your baby will either sleep or read throughout the evening but, in any case, not argue, fuss, or fight. ;-)