Pasadena has a few local holiday seasons, in addition to the traditional. There’s the week before the Rose Parade, and of course, there’s Cheeseburger Week.
And Cheeseburger Week begets dineL.A. Week, or is it the other way around?
Whichever way it is, dineL.A. Restaurant Week and its discount deals will be served up Monday, March 1 through Sunday, March 14. Hungry Pasadenans can enjoy special lunch and dinner menus at nearly 200 restaurants throughout the region with a healthy handful of those spots right in our hood.
In addition to on-site dining, there‘s also some special menu options for take-out and delivery. And there are no tickets or coupons, nothing to click. Simply dine out at a participating restaurant, and ask for the dineL.A. menu.
We’ll be visiting a number of these restaurants as the week kicks off, and reporting back to you.
The tough part will be choosing where to go. Here are just a few of the participating eateries in the Rose City. Who knows what you might discover? Every great restaurant leads to the next one.
Father Nature Lavash Bistro
Born in a mystical era known as the ‘80s, Father Nature Lavash Bistro specializes in Mediterranean specialties like lavash wraps, pressed wraps/baguettes, and a menu filled with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Party platters and flexible catering options for corporate and private events, are also available. Whether you grab something quickly or bring someone special, Father Nature might be a good, quick, easy choice to ease into DineLA week with.
The Crack Shack
The Crack Shack is located in historic Old Pasadena. Barely two years old, The Crack Shack provides a gourmet menu based around their famous “hot chicken” in a fun and welcoming environment with lots of comfort food with a unique twist and a fun, cool vibe.
La Grande Orange
Trains still stop at the former Santa Fe Railway depot, now the home of La Grande Orange Café, The Luggage Room Pizzeria, and Otis Bar. But these days, the trains are arriving from East LA and Chinatown, and not Chicago or St. Louis. The restaurant is an active stop on Metro’s Gold Line.
The Luggage room which actually once served as the depot’s luggage room, features a traditional wood-fired pizza, now serving some serious visions of Napoli with cheese and tomato.
Alexander’s Steakhouse
This “special occasion” spot showcases its own interpretation of the classic American steakhouse, features traditional steak offerings, including an impressive selection of wagyu beef and dry aged steaks.
Sommelier and Wine Director Frédéric Hémon curates a dynamic list of old and new world wines, with a 2017 “Best Of” Wine Spectator nod, while the cocktail menus pays homage to both classic and modern options, made with fresh seasonal ingredients.
Malbec
Argentina is known for Gauchos, and its beef and cattle culture, and Malbec Argentinean Bistro brings it all, prepared on a genuine Argentinean grill.
Homemade salads, pastas and fish as well as a vast selection of signature grilled meats, Malbec offers a wide range of exotic dishes for lunch and dinner, ranging from a healthy spinach salad to a grilled New York steak.
Malbec is also available for private events in their private dining room.
Bone Kettle
Want to eat flowers with your dinner? You’ve come to the right spot.
Bone Kettle brings a new dimension to the Pasadena culinary community by introducing their culturally-inspired dishes.
Bone Kettle’s broth is boiled for 36 hours using fresh, ethnic ingredients from the Asian culture. The restaurant is also inspired by the flavors and ethnic diversity of Los Angeles street food and Southeast Asia.
This is one of the most unique dining experiences Pasadena has to offer. And that’s saying a lot.
To check out more local restaurants participating in DineL.A., click here.
