Smitty's Grill Restaurant Review: A venture of veteran Pasadena restaurateurs Bob and Gregg Smith (Parkway Grill, Arroyo Chop House, Crocodile Café), Smitty's is a tribute to all-American comfort cuisine. The dining room is sophisticated yet inviting, with taupe banquettes framed with rich wood and walls lined with archival photos --- the faces of American icons like Liz Taylor and Joe DiMaggio --- from what some believe to be a more innocent era. A quiet bamboo-ribboned patio, a remnant from a previous Asian concept, remains a relatively undiscovered dining area. The menu offers few surprises, but almost everything delivers solidly. For starters, standards (e.g., popcorn shrimp, lettuce wedge, crab cakes) share space on the menu with slightly more contemporary dishes like seared ahi with a tempura crust and a sesame-chile vinaigrette. Steaks and prime rib are available, but it's better to stick with the signatures like chicken potpie and meatloaf. Mac ‘n’ cheese, braised short ribs and grilled salmon are all more than reliable, as is a blue cheese-laden filet mignon burger. Side dishes shine, such as sweet cornbread baked and served in a cast-iron skillet. For dessert, there's a pear almond crisp or a hot fudge sundae made with Fosselman's ice cream. A long granite-topped bar (always crowded) dispenses classic cocktails, and the domestic wine list offers plenty of value.
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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.
