Mike & Anne's Awards

Mike & Anne's Restaurant Review:

This unpretentious American bistro occupies a Spanish Mission-style building in the heart of South Pasadena. Candlelit tables are squeezed into the intimate space, and others occupy a garden patio in front. Like the décor, the cooking is unfussy but hardly boring --- especially at such reasonable prices. Breakfast dishes include challah bread french toast, lemon-ricotta pancakes and steel-cut oatmeal. The short dinner menu might feature starters like roasted beet and goat cheese salad with walnut vinaigrette, fried Brussels sprouts with apple cider, or slow-roasted pork belly. Entrées range from a big-league burger topped with onion relish and Roquefort to a massive pork loin chop with root vegetables, and grilled ocean trout with herbed crème fraîche. Sweet potato fries with aïoli and mac ‘n’ cheese make good side dishes. Finish with a cheese plate or warm banana bread with peanut butter cream. Seasonal cocktails are on offer, or consider a selection from the succinct wine list.