Plate 38 Restaurant Review: Owner Robert Humphreys, a talented young chef, was open just a week before a serious fire closed him down. But now his casual eatery has become an established hit in restaurant-poor East Pasadena. For breakfast, he offers truffled wild mushroom and cheese omelets, and brioche french toast with amaretto-flavored Chantilly cream, while sandwiches, chili and salads dominate the lunch fare. At dinner, you might begin with crostini slathered with duck rillettes accompanied by plum relish, or a beet salad with Humboldt Fog goat cheese and a splash of blood orange vinaigrette. The burgers are among the best in Pasadena, particularly a third-pound truffle-scented version with wild mushrooms, caramelized onions and chive aïoli. Entrées range from buttermilk-fried Cornish game hen to skirt steak with brandy-peppercorn sauce, followed by apple-chocolate bread pudding. Despite its brevity, the global wine list offers some intriguing options, and more than a dozen artisan beers are available. For this kind of quality fare, we wish the environment was a bit less austere, but it’s hard to complain too much given the reasonable prices.
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Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area.
