Bar Celona

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46 E Colorado Blvd (at Fair Oaks Ave & Raymond Ave)
Pasadena, CA 91105

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(626) 405-1000
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Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Bar Celona - Pasadena, CA
Reviews
( 14 )
( 16 )
( 18 )
( 6 )
( 10 )

Best

So I decided to go here with my husband for dinner tonight, just for something different. Having been to Spain and loving the food in Barcelona, I thought this would be fun to try...

Worst

Rude service, bad food. The only thing this place has going for them is the look of the place. Hopefully they do some improvments soon!! Pros: ambience, trendy scene Cons: ...

VERY UNFRESH PLACE 6/4/2007

Mussel tapas & seafood entree smelled stale. I tasted about 5 mussels and everything I had to spew them out, EVERYTHING, and I ran to bathroom and rinsed my mouth.\r \r No appology has been heard from chef or manager or waitor. Waitor even made fun of my accent and just said ""ok. I will let chef know."" After that,only I got was immediate check I had to pay in full.\r \r Very unpleasant and disappointed and disgusting experience.\r \r If anyone need to have food in this restaurant, please check every food before you put them into your mouth. Don't even try one, otherwise you have to pay in full. Pros: Bad Service, Bad seafood Cons: N/A more
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FOOOD IS BAD 5/17/2007

I don't know what i was thinking. I have read descent reviews and thought I should try it. The bad reviews are very accurate, Bad Rude Service, Tasteless food, Loud Music (can't even have a conversation), and the food took too long for the quality. I am a fan of spanish food, but Bar Celona doesn't have a clue of the concept. The only good thing is the drinks. It's truly BAR celona. Pros: good drinks Cons: bad food, service more
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FOOOD IS BAD 5/17/2007

I don't know what i was thinking. I have read descent reviews and thought I should try it. The bad reviews are very accurate, Bad Rude Service, Tasteless food, Loud Music (can't even have a conversation), and the food took too long for the quality. I am a fan of spanish food, but Bar Celona doesn't have a clue of the concept. The only good thing is the drinks. It's truly BAR celona. Pros: good drinks Cons: bad food, service more
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OKAY only 5/15/2007

We went here last December 2006. The ambiance is good but the food is mediocre only..and we got a lousy server. more
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OKAY only 5/15/2007

We went here last December 2006. The ambiance is good but the food is mediocre only..and we got a lousy server. more
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""Best olive pesto-FOR FREE"" 4/16/2007

So my first time at a Tapas place, and as soon as we got there, they gave us this olive pesto with bread, which was delicious, I think we had at least 3 orders. The service was great. The prices were reasonable, we had a chicken sandwhich nd palata bravas (potatoes with garlic) and both were great, but they had soo many options, I'm def going to have to go back and try all their tapas. Go sit outside on a nice sunny day, it's def worth it. Pros: Food and Service Cons: Price more
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"Best olive pesto-FOR FREE" 4/16/2007

So my first time at a Tapas place, and as soon as we got there, they gave us this olive pesto with bread, which was delicious, I think we had at least 3 orders. The service was great. The prices were reasonable, we had a chicken sandwhich nd palata bravas (potatoes with garlic) and both were great, but they had soo many options, I'm def going to have to go back and try all their tapas. Go sit outside on a nice sunny day, it's def worth it. Pros: Food and Service Cons: Price more
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A really enjoyable experience 4/5/2007

I have been wanting to go to Bar Celona for while but it took a while to convince my husband to go. We finally went to Bar Celona for the first time last night and I have to say that I am so glad I did. First off, the decor and ambiance is lively, festive and yet modern. Since tapas are for sharing, there were a lot of big groups but there were also an equal number of couples there also, so a nice place for a date. Our waiter was fairly prompt with our order. I had a red sangria to drink and it was so delicious! The tapas we had were lamb empanadas, crab croquettes, albondigas (to die for!) and a tapas sampler, which came with two empanadas, grilled shrimp, a torta and mushrooms. I can't say anything bad about any of the tapas we had - they were all good! Plus, the olive tapanade they give you to start off with was the best tapanade I've ever had anywhere. To finish it off, we both had dessert. I had the flan, which was so dense and caramelly - really superb! My husband had the chocolate and banana crepe, which he liked a lot. Overall, I had a really nice time there. The only complaint might be that my husband didn't get particularly full by the food that we had, although we spent close to $100 there. more
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A really enjoyable experience 4/5/2007

I have been wanting to go to Bar Celona for while but it took a while to convince my husband to go. We finally went to Bar Celona for the first time last night and I have to say that I am so glad I did. First off, the decor and ambiance is lively, festive and yet modern. Since tapas are for sharing, there were a lot of big groups but there were also an equal number of couples there also, so a nice place for a date. Our waiter was fairly prompt with our order. I had a red sangria to drink and it was so delicious! The tapas we had were lamb empanadas, crab croquettes, albondigas (to die for!) and a tapas sampler, which came with two empanadas, grilled shrimp, a torta and mushrooms. I can't say anything bad about any of the tapas we had - they were all good! Plus, the olive tapanade they give you to start off with was the best tapanade I've ever had anywhere. To finish it off, we both had dessert. I had the flan, which was so dense and caramelly - really superb! My husband had the chocolate and banana crepe, which he liked a lot. Overall, I had a really nice time there. The only complaint might be that my husband didn't get particularly full by the food that we had, although we spent close to $100 there. more
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Good Drinks, Tasteless Paella 3/27/2007

We were seated immediately. Our order (Drink & Food) was taken right away. The drinks came quick. However, the food took more than 30 minutes. The appetizers were pretty good but the portions were too small. The pricey paella was so tasteless and the rice wasn't cooked well too. Pros: Great Drinks Cons: Tasteless Paella more
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Good Drinks, Tasteless Paella 3/27/2007

We were seated immediately. Our order (Drink & Food) was taken right away. The drinks came quick. However, the food took more than 30 minutes. The appetizers were pretty good but the portions were too small. The pricey paella was so tasteless and the rice wasn't cooked well too. Pros: Great Drinks Cons: Tasteless Paella more
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Never Do That Again 2/15/2007

I made reservations in advance but that did no good. I had to wait over 30 minutes on a weeknight to get seated. Once seated the service was simply awful. Our waiter took a drink order came back took a food order then never came back! I had to call anotehr waiter and he helped. The tapas were so so for the price. But the big issue was getting our entree. One of the two came and it was cold. The second one came 40 minutes later. At that point we had them take it all back and left. With so much competition in Pasadena you would think they would try to impress. At some point they will loose business. They have lost mine. Pros: Drinks Cons: Everything else more
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Never Do That Again 2/15/2007

I made reservations in advance but that did no good. I had to wait over 30 minutes on a weeknight to get seated. Once seated the service was simply awful. Our waiter took a drink order came back took a food order then never came back! I had to call anotehr waiter and he helped. The tapas were so so for the price. But the big issue was getting our entree. One of the two came and it was cold. The second one came 40 minutes later. At that point we had them take it all back and left. With so much competition in Pasadena you would think they would try to impress. At some point they will loose business. They have lost mine. Pros: Drinks Cons: Everything else more
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So so 8/28/2006

Went here w/a friend for tapas. Considering it was still early and the restaurant was hardly full, it took a while to get seated. Our waitress was nice, but it wasn't easy to get a hold of her. The tapas were ok, nothing great, especially for the price. Don't know that I would go again -- there's much better food available around Colorado. Pros: Good location (close to shopping) Cons: Slow service, mediocre tapas more
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So so 8/28/2006

Went here w/a friend for tapas. Considering it was still early and the restaurant was hardly full, it took a while to get seated. Our waitress was nice, but it wasn't easy to get a hold of her. The tapas were ok, nothing great, especially for the price. Don't know that I would go again -- there's much better food available around Colorado. Pros: Good location (close to shopping) Cons: Slow service, mediocre tapas more
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Great drinks! 6/28/2006

Recently had dinner here. The food is pretty good, and the place is place is cute. I don't think I'd go out of my way to have a meal here again, but if you have dinner here please do yourself a favor and try a "flamenco kiss". It is a yummy mixture of vanilla vodka and frsh sqeezed strawberry juice,s erved in a martini with a strawberry as a garnish. Oh, and pray that the a/c is working!! Pros: Drinks Cons: Nice waitors, but super slow on their toes! more
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Great drinks! 6/28/2006

Recently had dinner here. The food is pretty good, and the place is place is cute. \r \r I don't think I'd go out of my way to have a meal here again, but if you have dinner here please do yourself a favor and try a ""flamenco kiss"". It is a yummy mixture of vanilla vodka and frsh sqeezed strawberry juice,s erved in a martini with a strawberry as a garnish.\r \r Oh, and pray that the a/c is working!! Pros: Drinks Cons: Nice waitors, but super slow on their toes! more
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Nice ambience and good location 6/4/2006

If you are roaming around old town pasadena, and want a bit to eat, this would be the place. I don't think I would make a special trip just to eat there, since the food is average and you can probably find plenty of better places in hollywood or the westside if you are looking for the trendy scene. more
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Nice ambience and good location 6/4/2006

If you are roaming around old town pasadena, and want a bit to eat, this would be the place. I don't think I would make a special trip just to eat there, since the food is average and you can probably find plenty of better places in hollywood or the westside if you are looking for the trendy scene. more
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User review by jeanstrr 5/19/2006

biggest compaint is the rude staff. i called in advance and was told by TWO people that the lounge is STRICTLY first come first serve - NO RESERVATIONS. we came around 9pm...the place was pretty dead. we ordered the sangria which was relatively good, but did not live up to all the hype about it. the place didn't start to get crowded until after 11pm. even though we had a big group and staked out our spot early on, some idiot rudely said there was a "reservation" coming through and that "we'd have to make room for them"...even though their policy is first come first serve. no please or thank yous, btw. if you want a place to hang out with your friends with comfy seats and don't care much about anything else, go to bar celona. Pros: nice decor Cons: strict dress code, rude staff, overhyped everything more
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Menu for Bar Celona


Summer SALE!!!:
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Great happy hour at this modern Spanish tapas restaurant & late-night lounge in historic Colorado Boulevard retail district of Old Pasadena!

Owner Message

  • Here at Bar Celona, we offer modern Spanish dining with a unique twist . Our menu feature not only the popular tapas offerings, but also a full lunch time menu of salads and sandwiches, and several entree selections, including a variety of paella, for those arriving with a more substantial appetite. Bar Celona's wine list includes a wonderful and reasonably priced selection of popular wines. There is no experience quite like entering Bar Celona- the music that instantly relaxes you, the aroma of fine food and wine that stirs your appetite. Award winning sangria, both red & white...the clink of glasses at the Martini Bar. The glow of candles throughout the beautiful room...the hustle and bustle of the patio tables along busy Colorado Boulevard where the parade never ends. Call about our live Flamenco band nights! This is Bar Celona. Eat. Drink. Play. Have Fun

Editorial

  • This lively small plates restaurant in the middle of Old Town Pasadena uses indigenous Spanish ingredients to prepare modern renditions of hot and cold tapas, three kinds of paella and both red and...

  • 3/31/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun-Thu 11:30am - 12am Fri-Sat 11:30am - 1am
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express, Cash, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: South Pasadena
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