Malbec (Pasadena) - Review

[The Oracle]

Had the opportunity to dine at Malbec last evening. It's off the beaten path from Old Town madness (on Green Street, a few blocks east of Lake) . I found easy, free street parking right out front... so far, so good!

We did not have a reservation and were promptly seated. For a Wednesday evening, the place was about 1/2-2/3rds full. The room is very pleasant and has great, dim lighting. Lovely warm tones throughout with mini cactus plants and candles on the tables. I would guess the place could get a bit loud at capacity, but reasonably so. There are a couple half-circle booths on one side, and a wall lined with booth-bench style seating at the other end of the room. We sat at one of the tables in the center of the restaurant; as an after-thought, I would have preferred the booth (from a comfort perspective).

On to the chow....

A small basket of sliced bread and chimichurri-style olive oil spread was brought out. The bread was delicious as was the accompanying spread. I could eat that all night and be perfectly happy... but I'm glad I didn't - as my taste buds had no idea the treat they were in for!

Appetizers: From their 'specials' menu, we selected an appetizer of mussels and clams. It was in a divine broth that complemented the dish very well. They were very fresh. My only qualm was we out of bread and had nothing to 'sop' up the broth. My dining companion ended up drinking a few spoonfuls of it.

For mains: I selected the skirt steak with chimichurri and oven roasted vegetables. My dining companion ordered the salmon which arrived with a side of vegetables and on top of a bed of mashed potatoes.

*Side note - does anyone know how they make their mashed potatoes?? They were SO very good. A silky smooth texture with a hint of SOMETHING. I couldn't put my finger on the addition (perhaps cheese blended in?) I refrained from eating more potatoes to figure it out - but I sure plan to order my own on the next visit!

I tried a bite of the salmon - it was very nicely done - although, my bite tasted a bit on the charred side. My normally picky dining companion did not think it was, and ate every bite with much satisfaction. My dish was delicious. The skirt steak (ordered medium) was full of flavor and wonderfully prepared. At first I thought the chimichurri was understated, but as I ate, I realized it allowed the meat to really shine and it complemented the meat without taking over. The bites were blissfully succulent. The accompanying vegetables were equally amazing. A collection of zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers and tomatoes - roasted in olive oil - wonderful seasonings and flavors throughout!

Dessert: Poached Pears with Chantilly cream.... holy moly this were good. One pear, split in half and sliced, served with it's rich purple sauce and a perfect amount of decadent cream. It was perfect ending.

We also had two different glasses of malbec - (the one we both liked better was the one from Mendoza). The pours were VERY generous and well priced.

The damage: 1 app, 2 mains, 1 dessert, 2 glasses of wine - pre tip: $74

Portion sizes were great (no going home hungry!) and presentation was lovely. I thought the food came out very quickly (notably so - but with ample time between courses). The server we had was pleasant, however we had to ask for things at times vs. them being noticed (like refills on water or forks when the mains came out) - but that's hardly a negative on the experience. Everyone was very nice and helpful and seemed genuine about making sure we were having a good experience.

I will DEFINITELY be back and think this is Pasadena's newest gem. It's great quality and interesting flavors - all at a reasonable price point. They've been there for a little over a year, and I hope they remain for a long time to come. If last night's experience is indicative of the norm, they'll have no problem doing so.

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Malbec New Argentinian Cuisine
1001 E Green St, Pasadena, CA 91106

[ipsedixit]

Try Malbec's gnocchi next time -- very very good. Not chewy or dense like some versions.

Re: mashed potatoes. I believe it is a touch of garlic and thyme.

[misseatalot]

This is a nice place for a romantic night out. The meats are cooked nicely so that they are delicious and tender also the servers are very knowledgeable.

[bournsa125]

I had to find a place to share my experience... and I'm sorry to say that it was a bad experience! I had the rib-eye but it was so fatty I couldn't finish it. The worst part about the meal is that the service was poor. They were slow, and they did not bring out all the dishes. When I pointed it out on the bill, they didn't even apologize. We basically felt ignored. I'm sure it's hit or miss, but unfortunately, we missed.

[The Oracle]

bournsa125 - I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience and there was not better quality control. I've gone several times for dinner since my post, and the food has remained consistently excellent for everyone in the group. The service has been slow at times (especially when sitting outside), and the last time I was there our waiter could have been much better, but I've never experienced anything so offensive it would prevent a return visit.