THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Jake's Burgers & Billiards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Jake's Burgers & Billiards Restaurant Review:

Jake’s, a local institution since 1947, is one of the few charmingly authentic businesses that have survived the dramatic gentrification of Old Pasadena. Looking a bit like the quintessential diner portrayed in artist Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks,” Jake’s is one of the Crown City’s most beloved burger joints. Nearly all seating is at the counter (with either a view of the grill or the busy street scene), but there is also a handful of tables. Downstairs, a billiards room with a jukebox and more than a dozen pool tables draws a mix of college kids and yuppies. Guests create their own burgers from a check-the-box menu---selecting their meat, bun, cheese, sauce and condiments---or simply opt for a pre-composed teriyaki, barbecue or chili cheeseburger. So has Jake’s perfected the hamburger over the past sixty-plus years? Not exactly, but its signature mushroom-Swiss is a delightfully sloppy, flavorful burger on a soft, buttered and grilled bun.