Smokin’ Italian, Cool Jazz

 

 

Colombo’s Italian Steak House in Eagle Rock is a home-away-for-home for many of its patrons. “When our customers come in – and they’re really not customers, they’re guests and in most cases friends – this is like their second home,” says general manager Vic Parrino.

Colombo’s cuisine is prepared the old-fashioned Italian way with recipes handed down from the original owner, Parrino’s Uncle Sam. His aunt, who will be 96 in May, is still involved in the business and still can be seen at her favorite spot in the restaurant.

Colombo’s is quite a landmark really; Parrino’s uncle opened the place in 1954 as a pub, in Los Angeles.

“All the Italian recipes that we have on our set menu are his recipes. We changed the presentation a little bit to give people a more modern feel, so to speak. But the recipes are his,” Parrino says.

 

Parrino started working at Colombo’s when he was 15, cleaning tables, washing dishes and learning how to make pizzas. He has worked from the bottom up. “When my uncle passed away 11 years ago, my aunt asked me to help her with the restaurant for six months … you do the math!” he adds, laughing.

Parrino points to three features which make Colombo’s so special and different: “our nightly entertainment, it’s a little different, and being a very value-oriented menu, and our drinks, which are quite notorious.”  (By “notorious” he means generous with alcohol, and boy are they!)

For entertainment Colombo’s offers The Eric Eckstrand Trio, on Sundays and Monday nights, The Fiumara Arbruster Jazz Quartet on Thursday nights, Jimmie Spencer and Karen Hernandez on Wednesday nights, and Tuesday nights brings Sonji Kimmons in.

 

On Friday and Saturday nights a changing line-up of jazz bands performs. Colombo’s never charges a cover like many restaurants. “Yes, we expect you to eat and drink, but we don’t force it on you. We just ask you to please support the artists and support us,” explains Parrino.

Colombo’s Italian Steak House is located minutes from Pasadena at 1833 Colorado Boulevard, Eagle Rock. They are open seven days a week; breakfast is served starting at 8:00 a.m., lunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For dinners the restaurant serves until 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and until 11:30 p.m. on Monday, Friday and Saturday. For reservations and more information call (323) 254-9138.