Cafe Santorini

I went on a friend's recommendation and I was very happy with the results as far as the service of our waiter and the entrees we received. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helped me make a choice between two entrees I couldn't decide on. I went with his suggestion and it was an excellent choice. I got the pesto farfalle with grilled chicken and my companion got a brochette dish. We went at night during a weekday so it was quite empty and we immediately got seated outdoors and it was a wonderful spot. However, the hostess tried to seat us by the wall even though there were three empty tables by the railing where you can oversee the plaza. I requested for us to be seated by the railing but she refused saying they were saving those for bigger parties. I was a party of two, yet I saw at least one of those tables were set up for two people so her reason made no sense. Since we arrived nearly a half hour before our reservation, I told her we'll come back at our reserved time and maybe then seats will be ""available"". I guess to make us stay and not risk losing customers, she agreed to seat us by the railing. About halfway into our meal, she seated a party of 3 right next to us, despite 6 other (yes I counted) tables that were empty. My dinner companion was a Black man and he made a joking comment to me that perhaps it was because he's Black that these things happened to us. Although it was a joke, it was disheartening in face of what happened to us. Pros: Cool ambience, tasty food, knowledgeable waiters Cons: Possible discriminatory service more

Cafe Santorini is located upstairs of the alley way in Old Town Pasadena. The ambience is really nice (especially if you're sitting outside on a summer evening). I've been to Cafe Santorini multiple times and though the service could be a little better, the food is delish! If you like Mediterranian food, this is a place that you should try. Pros: Ambience, Food Cons: Service is slow more

I used to get dragged to this totally mediocre restaurant whenever\r friends insisted on sitting out on their 'fabulous patio', which in\r reality is an exposed, crowded, ambience-free holding pen for saps who\r wouldn't know good Mediterranean food if it were handed to them on a plate. \r Never mind the bad meals, the rude waiters, the food you were\r served that you never ordered, or the food you ordered but were never\r served. That was, until the day the maitre d' (if such a low-class\r joint can indeed be said to have such a position) refused to seat\r three of us until the fourth member of our party arrived. Call me\r crazy, but adding insult to the injury of their food and service was\r the last straw for me, and I vowed never to go back.\r \r Fast forward 10 years, when I stupidly agreed to try it again, just a\r few weeks ago, thinking that it must have changed hands, or at least\r learned something about restauranteur-ism in the intervening decade,\r if only by osmosis from the many superior restaurants within spitting\r distance. Well, as the adage goes, you can't teach an old dog new\r tricks, and apparently it was business as usual -- that is to say, bad\r -- in this doghouse. After seating us on the 'fabulous patio', we were\r told that if we were only going to order dessert, we'd have to sit\r somewhere else! In disbelief, we took it up with the management, who\r told us helpfully that if we didn't like it, we could always leave!\r \r Which we were only too pleased to do. A short walk down the stairs and\r across the plaza brought us to Il Fornaio, where we were seated not\r only promptly and courteously, but on their lovely landscaped outdoor\r patio, a veritable oasis compared to Santorini's swill-pen. And when\r the desserts arrived -- without mistakes or delays -- they were\r transcendent. Something Santorini's owners wouldn't know the meaning\r of. Pros: what can I say? Cons: food, service more

The outdoor patio is great and you can eat right in the heart of all the shopping. The food is pretty good and for very good prices. The sizes are fair and the platting is very nice. The service was not so good as they over charged me by 10 bucks, and when I brought it to there attention they did not want to change it. However, beside that mix up the experience was very good. Pros: The food and the setting Cons: the service more

I attended a private party at the Rococo Room at Cafe Santorini - and the space was very quaint and cozy (dark wood bar, crystal chandeliers, lush velvety draperies) and the service was very attentive and friendly. While it's always difficult to prepare food for a large group, the restaurant did relatively well (except some hors d'eouvres were already cold when served - curried shrimp was still pretty good though). The highlights were the steak with peppercorn sauce,the chocolate mousse cake (just sweet and rich enough; a great end to the meal) and the coffee. I'm not sure I would trek all the way out to pasadena just to dine there, but I'll keep it in mind for group events, etc. Pros: Good space for parties; Friendly waitstaff Cons: Location is a bit far for westsiders more

Santorini has an excellent patio and a nice, festive atmosphere (loud). Had a reservation, they lost it, waited a half hour. After spending over $300 I left feeling like I should have just went somewhere else. Service ok, food fine - but ""ok"" and ""fine"" is not worth $300. Pros: Location, Outside patio Cons: Value, Inexperienced hostess more

We had great service, a nice table on the edge of the balcony, and everyone in my party enjoyed their meal (large portions). My friend's meal came a little later than everyone else's and the waiter gave him a bunch of stuff for free -- a big house salad, a soda, and a hummus and pita appetizer. I would go back again. Pros: Romantic balcony at night Cons: Wait might be long more

if you have ever eaten in a real Middleeastern/Mediterranean restaurant you will never come back to cafe Santorini again. the food is a very pale imitation of the middle eastern cooking.\r simply avoid. Pros: non Cons: cooking more

I had my wedding reception here last year and I will never forget it. Intimate and romantic, Cafe Santorini is the best restaurant in Pasadena. Book a table on the balcony and you'll feel like you're in Europe. I stick with the mediterranean dishes, like the chicken kabob and rice. It seems like that is what they do best. I'm going tonight for my one year anniversary. Pros: Ambiance, Food, Location more

Went on Sat night with 4 people and no reservations. We got seated right away and the place had nice ambiance. The food was not out of this world but for $125 got tasty meal and drinks for 4 people. Service was good and we were not hurried out. Pros: Price, Location more

I finally went to this place to eat for a company lunch. We had a private room, which was nice, but only one waiter for a large party (20 or so), who was slow, rude and incompetent. A party our size should have had 2 waiters only serving us. When it came time to pay the bill, it took him at least 20 minutes just to figure out how to do it. I made a reservation for 5 people for a Saturday night. I get there and they say I have to wait for people to finish eating, but that I do have ""more priority."" After 15 minutes, I ask them again, and am told I have to wait for up to an hour. It's packed in both the bar and ""waiting area"" and there's nowhere for my party to wait. So I just took my business elsewhere. Pros: Inexpensive Cons: Crowded more

Cafe Santorini in Old Town Pasadena is a raging success for two reasons. The food is sublime and the restaurant is beautiful. The atmosphere is a big part of the dining experience, no? The wood floors, esposed brick walls, the coveting seating on the ouside patio two stories above One Colorado Square. The fish is sooo good, the garlic mashed potatoes are the best in town. They are famous for their lamb but I don't eat lamb. I'm toldit's fab. The seafood ""stew"" is amazing- delicious clams galore. You can not miss dessert, so go slow on the Hummus and warm pita bread as difficult as that will be. The chocolate flourless tart is unbelievable- as good as Smitty's- and that is really the tart to judge all others against. Fun. lively restaurant. Have been there a 100 times, will be back 100 more. Pros: Food is Delicious, Beautiful Interior, Good for dates & pals Cons: service can be slow more

We went in the middle of the week and I took the advice of the prior writers and made reservations. It was pretty busy, so I recommend potential clients do the same. The food was some of the best Mediterranean food I have ever had! Everyone ordered something different, so we were able to sample each other's meal. The food was fresh, not greasy or too heavy, and very satisfying. The service was excellent, too. Pros: great food, good serive Cons: a little crowded, a little pricey more

Cafe Santorini is a cute restaurant situated above the gelato store in an alley in Old Town Pasadena. My friends and I were seated outside, which can be quite romantic. We were given the usual bread before our orders came out. It was not ordinary French/sourdough bread. It was like garlic bread made out of soft delicous Pita bread. Two of my friends and I ordered pasta, but we were all unsatisfied. I do not blame the chef though since I am more accustomed to the Italian-American influence on pasta. My other friends ordered meaty entrees which were all wonderful. The prices are not as expensive as I thought they would be. I would visit this Santorini again! Pros: Moderately priced, Good meat dishes Cons: Service more

We went here with a larger group and the place was perfect. Try and sit upstairs as the ambience is nicer. Pasta dishes are very good and there is a hint of mediterranean influences in everything. more

We sat ""outside"" during a cold and rainy night... but the heaters were perfectly tuned and kept us toasty without frying us completely. The Grilled ""Halloumi"" Cheese is very interesting and worth trying. The Bruschetta con Pomodore is wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend ordering the Kubbe and Hummus!! WOW, is it GOOD! Pros: menu, setting Cons: parking more

The food was pretty good, although I think that the dishes could be left a little bit shorter on the counter before being served. The lamb shank that my friend ordered was just not hot enough to be ""good."" The place is a bit crowded, but if you are into a ""happening"" place, you may like it. My recommendation would be to try this place out during the week, when you are not inches away from the next table, and your waiters can be a bit more attentive. Pros: martinis Cons: , crowdedness more

After reading the review here, I thought I should call ahead and try to reserve a spot on the patio. When I called the woman she said I can not request the patio, no big deal. When we showed up the hostess placed us next to be seated, so i thought calling ahead paid off. We waited near the hostess booth since the bar was packed, the waiting area (chairs) were taken, and there was somone every inch in between. Meanwhile, the hostess keeps seating who had no reservations. We are standing waiting for a place at the full bar while the owner/manegar rudely asks us to step away to the bar. Then a waiter grabs some menus and just seats two random people without checking with the hostess. Seating at a place like this should not be handled my two high schoolers on a busy saturday night. Cons: , Noisy, Corwded more

Been here a couple times and it's worth it. Mediterranean food is very rare especially on this part of town. The balcony was the best dining experience. Overall, the (Greek) food is very authentic! Pros: Set up, Food more

Good food, but really bad aggressive service. Maybe I just got a really aggressive waiter , whose main interests wasn't ""Is your food prepared well?"",but it's more like ""what else can I sell you?"" more