Don’t Wait For a Special Occasion to Visit Roy’s

Since it’s been about four years since I reviewed Roy’s Pasadena I decided it was high-time for a return visit.

The blessing that the Hawaiian Priest bestowed on Roy’s Pasadena on its opening night seems to have worked because it’s flourishing while other restaurants in the area are floundering.

Still at the helm of the restaurant are chef partner: Christopher George and managing partner Chris Kadohiro. “With all of its new promotions and the Prix Fixe menu now is a good time to come to Roy’s,” said Chef George. “We’ve also got a great Happy Hour we call it the Aloha Hour. Every night, Saturday and Sunday too, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. a selection of appetizers, wines, Roy’s specialty cocktails and well cocktails are $5.00 each,” he continued.

Sliced pork belly kissed with Mongolian Barbecue Sauce and drizzled with red curry was its first appetizer. I’ve had pork belly done many ways but there was something about the blend of sweet Barbecue Sauce with the spice of the red curry sauce that gave this dish a little something extra. It is very rich so I would recommend sharing even though you won’t want to.

Perfectly cooked slices of Wagyu beef prepared simply with a red wine reduction was its next dish. The beef was so tender it could be cut with a spoon and simply melted in my mouth.

Perfect globes of red and yellow beets roasted to bring out their sweetness made up the salad portion of its meal. As lovely to look at as it was to eat, it made for a light-simple salad course.

If you’ve never heard of Opah (and I hadn’t) if you ever see it on the menu order it! It is the most delectable of fish, white-fleshed, firm and mild. Opah I am told is a gift. No one fishes for it; it just appears in the nets of tuna fisherman from time to time. I was the lucky recipient of this delicious fish which was accompanied by a delicate butter sauce.

We also tried a staple of Roy’s the Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi. Rich with the Macadamia nuts Roy’s takes it one step further by adding a lobster sauce.

For dessert we were served two of Roy’s popular desserts, the melting chocolate cake and pineapple upside down cake but we also got to watch Sous Chef David Woodall have some fun with liquid nitrogen. He took what amounted to melted ice cream and flash froze it into a concoction that was meringue like on the outside and soft and oozing on the inside. What a fun way to play with your food.

Roy’s Pasadena is located at 641 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. Their hours are Monday – Thursday: 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday: 5:00 – 10:30 p.m. Call (626) 356-4066 for more information or reservations. Or visit their website at www.roysrestaurant.com/locations/CA/pasadena.asp.

FYI: For a limited time Roy’s is offering My Prix Fixe Mondays. You choose your appetizer, entrée, and dessert for the all-inclusive price of $36.95. With a few exceptions the sky’s the limit on how many combinations you can come up with.