Pasadena - Eats before the Rose Bowl

[duck833]

The Ducks are having a tailgate on the golf course before the RB. The cost however is $90 for alumni members and $110 for non-members. This is a little expensive for lots of folks and larger family groups. Lots of Duckies are looking for alternatives for food from between the parade and the game. These places have been suggested, any other ideas from local hounds?

Crocodile Cafe on Lake, dress casual.

California Skewers on Lake, casual.

Houstons on Arroyo Parkway, dress casual / no hats allowed.

Green Street Cafe on Shoppers lane near Mentor and east Green near Lake, dress casual.

Twin Palms in Old Town, dress casual.

Gordon Biersch in Old Town, dress casual.

Crown City Brewery at 300 S. Raymond, casual.

Mijares on Palmetto and Pasadena ave, casual. Great Margaritas!

Thanks for your ideas, Go Ducks!!!

[JeetJet]

As mentioned above, Pas is packed on the Rose day. With that in mind I would try to stay above the 210 fry and West of Allen. Also, many places will be closed for new years day. Not sure about the places below, they might be closed also.

Big Mama's
http://www.bigmamas-ribshack.com/menu...
A review of Big Mama's by sku
"Bayou Worthy Oyster Po Boys: Big Mama's in Pasadena" http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/662384

Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles
830 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104
[phone]

Connal's
1505 Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
[phone]
http://www.connals.com/

[ocshooter]

Don't even try for a place on Colorado Blvd. You have to understand that every square inch will be packed wth people and/or bleachers, and for anyplace on the parade route, it is all about volume for the day. If it were me, I would tailgate at the Rose Bowl, but bring my own. Julienne's on Mission in San Marino has fantastic take out food, and may have boxed lunches. I go there for lunch whenever I can, and I adore the lamb sandwitch. There is a Bristol Farms in Pasadena which also has good take out.

That said, there is a great Indian place on Fair Oaks 1/2 block south from the Cheescake factory, but I don't know if it will be open.

[Jack Flash]

All India Cafe. I wouldn't call it great, but it's certainly fine if you're in the neighborhood. As it's only a few feet off Colorado itself, it too would be affected by the parade crowd.

D-I-Y tailgating is a good suggestion, but not so much for out-of-towners who might not have the ability to do this. Practically speaking, you'd have to pick up food from a place such as Julienne (or Elements Kitchen, much closer to Old Town) the day before, and have some place to keep it, as they're likely not open on 01/01/10.

[monku]

Bristol Farms is in South Pasadena

606 Fair Oaks Ave
South Pasadena, CA 91030
[phone]

[Jack Flash]

Checking what's available on Open Table, you should consider La Grande Orange (which I previously mentioned). Bar Celona, a good tapas place on Colorado in the heart of Old Town, also has availability, as does Cheval Blanc. But for any of those places, I'd make a reservation and make it now.

[mc michael]

Good point. Without reservations or an "in," you are gonna be scrambling and waiting on New Year's.

[PeterL]

We usually go for dim sum after the parade. Are you driving? If so park your car south of Colorado Blvd., pointing it southwards. After the parade drive to Alhambra. There are a couple of dim sum options.

[PurpleTeeth]

Maybe stop in Eagle Rock. It's right before the rosebowl but won't be as crowded on game day. The Oinkster has good pastrami, burger & beet salad & beer on tap. The Bucket is very casual with excellent burgers and beer on tap. The Coffee table lounge has an extensive beer selection and good enough food. The ahi sand is prob the best thing there. Also if you want pizza Brownstone is one of the best.

The Oinkster
2005 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock, CA‎ - [phone]‎

Coffee Table Lounge
1954 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock, CA‎ - [phone]‎

Brownstone Pizza
2108 Colorado Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90041
[phone]

The Bucket
4541 Eagle Rock Boulevard North, Los Angeles, CA‎ - [phone]‎

[Bradbury]

The OP didn't mention transportation options, but if they have a car available I'd also recommend getting out of the madness that is Old Town and South Lake on New Years. Eagle Rock is a good idea as it's just west of the Rose Bowl, and I'd second the above suggestions.

Other points of the compass that are near enough, yet far enough:
North: Altadena and North Lake Ave (Bulgarini, Bonnie B's, Roscoe's, The Hat, etc.)
South: Alhambra and San Gabriel (too many great Chinese to mention, perhaps someone's doing a special New Years dim sum?)
East: A bit trickier as the parade goes all the way to Victory Park but you should try Din Tai Fung in Arcadia at least once during your SoCal trip...

[mc michael]

I don't know if this is an option, but you should check Brookside Golf Course and see if their restaurant is open that day. It's right by the Rose Bowl. http://www.americangolf.com/ca/pasade...

[Ideefixed]

But the food is dreadful.

[mc michael]

Since this is a tailgate alternative, I surmised it was all about the drinks.

[Jack Flash]

Note: Crocodile Cafe is now Cafe 140 South. Twin Palms is no more. Crown City Brewery no longer exists, either. Ditto Gordon Biersch. It's not Green Street Cafe, it's Green Street Restaurant.

Lots of other businesses close on New Year's Day. I'd call anyplace you're considering well in advance.

If open, consider: Central Park and La Grande Orange Cafe. Both are convenient to Old Town and the stadium shuttle buses.

Green Street Restaurant is an OK choice, if open. Somewhat less convenient, depending on where you're staying, could be Cafe Verde (again, if open).

Skewers is very casual - a takeout place, really.

Houston's is a solid option...if open, it will be mobbed.

Good luck.

[ipsedixit]

Twin Palms is closed (or will be on NYD)

Other than Green Street, most of the choices on your list are rather, um, listless.

Consider these alternatives instead:

Tonny's
Malbec
Quadrupel
Mike and Anne's
Pie N Burger
Casa Bianca

[monku]

Casa Bianca isn't open for lunch. They open at 4pm. Game time is 2pm.
http://casabiancapizza.com/

Twin Palms is definitely closed now.
http://www.twin-palms.com/

[monku]

Inexpensive good filling fast food in Pasadena:
The Hat
Lucky Boy
Tops
L&L Hawaiian BBQ
Teri & Yaki

Crown City Brewery and Twin Palms are closed for good.

[mpken]

Man I miss Crown City, but it helps that BevMo is near by.

[mc michael]

You gotta realize that things get really crazy in Pasadena at Rose Bowl/Parade time. Things will be crowded. Service will be stressed. That said, Crocodile Cafe now has a different name which escapes me. Barneys Beanery on Colorado sounds like what you might be looking for, but it will be jammed. Ditto most Old Town places. Lucky Boy burgers ,etc. on the Arroyo Parkway ain't bad for no atmosphere. Tarantino's is good for pizza etc on Green St (cash only though). Maybe some places on North Lake would be good, e.g., The Hat (burgers, pastrami, etc.), or Tonny's for Mexican on Orange Grove near Lake. Pie N Burger on California just east of Lake for the obvious. Biersch, Crown City and Barneys sound like the closest to tailgating. But if you want good food and drink, Pasadena at this time of year and at this price point is probably not the place to be. If you just wanna get smashed, the places above plus maybe the 35er and Jake's on Colorado.
Other possibilities might be California Pizza Kitchen or McCormick & Schmick on N Los Robles.