WAY overpriced! 3 sandwiches and 4 drinks were over $70... in an outdoor patio setup?! Oh, well. It was like what you'd expect if at a professional sports event.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Valentina Boghoskhan
Descanso used to have a pretty good menu, albeit overpriced. Since the new remodel, they no longer offer cooked meals, instead have pre-cooked burgers, chicken fingers, etc under heat lamps and a lot of snacks. There are 6-8 large refrigerators with more beverages than you can imagine and an eye sore of a trailer that serves coffee near the entrance of the gardens. I don't understand the reason for the poor planning. Why not a little bit of everything and less refrigerators and a cute built in coffee corner? The gardens are beautiful, but these changes have take from its ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
Katayoun Ghotb
Fancy food but taste very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
Gregory Pawlik
It seems this place has come under new ownership and the service is not great. Food is overpriced, lemonade is $5 with no refills, just a bummer because it used to be a great part of the Descanso experience. Everything else about this place is wonderful, too bad.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Blondie54
The atmosphere is great. Nice environment. We each had a hot dog, chips,and their yummy pink lemonade. The hot dog was delicious with a nice presentation. More like a designer dog. Pink lemonade is a must here. The only reason I gave 4stars is because of their high prices, otherwise excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brownies, Hot Dog, Sandwich
Shantelle S.
June 2023: After attending an event & walking through the beautiful Descanso Gardens, my friend and I had walked up an appetite! We decided to take a break and eat at The Kitchen at Descanco! What a healthy & tasty surprise in La Cañada Flintridge! Vegan Potatoes Tacos: Delicious! If it's one thing on the menu to order, it's definitely the tacos! Olive oil creamy potatoes, including pickled red onions, tajin spiced tahini, plenty of fresh greens...! Fresh, flavorful & you can't have just one, trust me, you'll want at least one more!! The yellow corn tortilla was grilled & delicious as well! Brownie: A must-try, perfectly moist & hit the spot for my sweet tooth! Cheers to chocolate! House-made Hibiscus Lemonade: Loved! Refreshing & perfect on an incredibly hot day, alongside my water bottle w/crystals! Seating: Plenty of tables with umbrellas and shaded areas! Overall: Friendly customer service & tasty tacos. I would get the tacos again in a heartbeat! What a healthy & refreshing meal, which added even more pep in our step to continue walking through the gorgeous Descanso Gardens! Excellent!
Michelle M.
The food was so fresh and delicious and the location is simply wonderful. Peaceful and you can take in the scenery and the food is all very good and fresh! I ordered the black bean hummus and had the pasta salad with asparagus as well as a wonderful chicken salad with delicious plums. Would do it again, soon!
Jane T.
Bait and switch! First let me say this the food was definitely over priced but the sandwich I bought was very well made toasted on thick bread and absolutely tasty. My daughter ordered the tuna sandwich and loved it as well. Now the menu reads FROM THE GARDEN/PURPLE HAZE GOAT CHEESE PLATE hints of lavender and fennel pollen oat cheese, Coachella Valley dates, seasonal jam, grapes, dried fruit and nuts, rosemary crackers, served on a bed of arugula V, N | 16 $8.00 more for the salmon of which I order but was shocked to receive a bowl! Not a large bowl but an average cereal size bowl then to top it off I ordered MIXED COCKTAILS the TROPICAL PUNCH Malibu Rum, pineapple juice, muddled kiwi, sparkling wine | 18 and the FIRST BLOOM Skyy Vodka, lemon juice, homemade simple syrup, muddled raspberries and blackberries | 18 AND let me just warn you it is NOT muddled! No fresh kiwi nor raspberries or blackberries it is more like a well drink from which may be pre made in large batch the only fresh thing I recieved in both our drinks were flowers and an unripe pineapple! So much for a refreshing, natural "muddled" fruit drink! I left there knowing it would be the last time I visit! It was a crowded seating area not wheelchair or stroller friendly as the tables where very close together and hard to maneuver, you had to find a table, order your food around the corner from the seating area then pick your food up when the buzzer they gave me vibrated. Plastic cutlery and napkins from a dispenser. Not the best more like a fast food mark up because if the location. The staff confused my order with another person , staff was a little on the short side they could have been more friendly since I spent a whooping $70. Plus on lunch! Take heed your better off having a picnic which now I see why so many people did. I did leave my name with the manager but it's been two weeks with no return call. Did I mention this was the Saturday before Mother's Day....we didn't get spoiled here no fancy lunch, no fancy drinks!
Mila I.
I had the pleasure of stopping by at the Kitchen at Descanso on multiple occasions, and every time I was thoroughly impressed with the experience! The atmosphere was lovely, with a warm and welcoming ambiance that immediately put me at ease. The food is impeccable, featuring fresh ingredients and expertly prepared dishes that were bursting with flavor. However, the service is truly outstanding, with attentive and friendly staff. I highly recommend this place, especially for the exceptional service they provide!
Grace N.
I came here on a Free Tuesday at 9am and wanted to get some breakfast and coffee before taking a stroll in the gardens. They only have bakeries, bagels, and ready made cold food (in the cold section outside). Their cook does not come until after 10am so if you want to order other breakfast items on the menu, you will have to do it after 10. Coffee was good, service was super slow, but my 4 stars are for the croissant! It's' strange to rate croissant in a random place like this BUT, their croissant might be one of the best I've had, and I've been to Spain and France! Actually, the best croissant is still in Spain for me. BUT, the Kitchen at Descanso came very close!! Their croissant is huge, fluffy, crispy, flaky, also a bit soft on the outside and chewy and hot on the inside! It was so so good!!!! If I find myself at Descanso again I will definitely get a bunch of their croissant to take out! Yum!!
On a visit from UK, have been before when they had a Restraunt, not there no only a Cafe.Food ok but overpriced, cold welcome, cold atmosphere.Felt uncomfortable, a female member of staff at ordering hatch unhelpful, I felt I was inconvenienceing her.Gardens lovely, well worth a visit.A haven in the middle of LA madness x
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Roasted Chicken
Nicholas P.
Get the hot mushroom sub! It's absolutely DELICIOUS! There's so many mushrooms and the cheese is so melty, which goes so well with the dough bread. And there's enough marinara on each bite but not to the point of being a messy sandwich.
Ryan O.
There are some bad reviews for this place, and I don't disagree with some of the reasons why. Yes, the prices are outrageous and the portions aren't going to completely fill you up. However, I think if you put this place in **CONTEXT** it's good for what it is. And that context is -- you're at Descanso Gardens, you're hungry now, where else are you going to eat? You want to leave Descanso Gardens, drive away and go restaurant hunting? Sure, you can do that. Or do you want instant gratification and to eat RIGHT NOW. Well, that's why this place is here. And in that context, this place isn't that bad. But you will pay for that convenience. You will also likely put a dent in your health because there aren't a lot of healthy options here. So why still the good rating? As I mentioned earlier, context -- I was hungry and didn't want to wait and this place was the only option available immediately. That said, the gentleman working the cashier was extremely friendly and made some good suggestions about the menu. I went with the $10 cup of tomato bisque and the $14 polish sausage bagel sandwich. The seating area was large and spacious. We had our pick of inside our outside and it's self seating. And you're at Descanso Gardens, so naturally it's a pretty environment. The food was ready fairly quickly after ordering. It also comes "to-go" style, which means it's served in a box instead of on a plate. Maybe I was just hungry, but my food was not too bad. I wouldn't say I'd normally eat this kind of food since I try to eat healthy when possible, but the quality of the ingredients all seemed pretty good and everything was tasty. It hit the spot after spending a couple hours at Descanso Gardens. TIP: Try dipping your fries into the tomato bisque. Overall, for a convenient bite to eat while at Descanso Gardens, I was glad this place was available. Would I be a regular here if it was a normal restaurant in my neighborhood? Highly unlikely. But for a quick, pricey, not super healthy but quality bite to eat while visiting Descanso Gardens, it serves it's purpose well and I'd probably eat here again if I ever work up an appetite again while visiting Descanso Gardens.
Elisabeth Richard
Revised menu- no snacks. Disappointing
Mary S.
Should have read the reviews or at least looked at the rating on Yelp. Food is bad, way too overpriced and service is very poor.
WAY overpriced! 3 sandwiches and 4 drinks were over $70... in an outdoor patio setup?! Oh, well. It was like what you'd expect if at a professional sports event.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Descanso used to have a pretty good menu, albeit overpriced. Since the new remodel, they no longer offer cooked meals, instead have pre-cooked burgers, chicken fingers, etc under heat lamps and a lot of snacks. There are 6-8 large refrigerators with more beverages than you can imagine and an eye sore of a trailer that serves coffee near the entrance of the gardens. I don't understand the reason for the poor planning. Why not a little bit of everything and less refrigerators and a cute built in coffee corner? The gardens are beautiful, but these changes have take from its ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
Fancy food but taste very
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 2
It seems this place has come under new ownership and the service is not great. Food is overpriced, lemonade is $5 with no refills, just a bummer because it used to be a great part of the Descanso experience. Everything else about this place is wonderful, too bad.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
The atmosphere is great. Nice environment. We each had a hot dog, chips,and their yummy pink lemonade. The hot dog was delicious with a nice presentation. More like a designer dog. Pink lemonade is a must here. The only reason I gave 4stars is because of their high prices, otherwise excellent food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brownies, Hot Dog, Sandwich
June 2023: After attending an event & walking through the beautiful Descanso Gardens, my friend and I had walked up an appetite! We decided to take a break and eat at The Kitchen at Descanco! What a healthy & tasty surprise in La Cañada Flintridge! Vegan Potatoes Tacos: Delicious! If it's one thing on the menu to order, it's definitely the tacos! Olive oil creamy potatoes, including pickled red onions, tajin spiced tahini, plenty of fresh greens...! Fresh, flavorful & you can't have just one, trust me, you'll want at least one more!! The yellow corn tortilla was grilled & delicious as well! Brownie: A must-try, perfectly moist & hit the spot for my sweet tooth! Cheers to chocolate! House-made Hibiscus Lemonade: Loved! Refreshing & perfect on an incredibly hot day, alongside my water bottle w/crystals! Seating: Plenty of tables with umbrellas and shaded areas! Overall: Friendly customer service & tasty tacos. I would get the tacos again in a heartbeat! What a healthy & refreshing meal, which added even more pep in our step to continue walking through the gorgeous Descanso Gardens! Excellent!
The food was so fresh and delicious and the location is simply wonderful. Peaceful and you can take in the scenery and the food is all very good and fresh! I ordered the black bean hummus and had the pasta salad with asparagus as well as a wonderful chicken salad with delicious plums. Would do it again, soon!
Bait and switch! First let me say this the food was definitely over priced but the sandwich I bought was very well made toasted on thick bread and absolutely tasty. My daughter ordered the tuna sandwich and loved it as well. Now the menu reads FROM THE GARDEN/PURPLE HAZE GOAT CHEESE PLATE hints of lavender and fennel pollen oat cheese, Coachella Valley dates, seasonal jam, grapes, dried fruit and nuts, rosemary crackers, served on a bed of arugula V, N | 16 $8.00 more for the salmon of which I order but was shocked to receive a bowl! Not a large bowl but an average cereal size bowl then to top it off I ordered MIXED COCKTAILS the TROPICAL PUNCH Malibu Rum, pineapple juice, muddled kiwi, sparkling wine | 18 and the FIRST BLOOM Skyy Vodka, lemon juice, homemade simple syrup, muddled raspberries and blackberries | 18 AND let me just warn you it is NOT muddled! No fresh kiwi nor raspberries or blackberries it is more like a well drink from which may be pre made in large batch the only fresh thing I recieved in both our drinks were flowers and an unripe pineapple! So much for a refreshing, natural "muddled" fruit drink! I left there knowing it would be the last time I visit! It was a crowded seating area not wheelchair or stroller friendly as the tables where very close together and hard to maneuver, you had to find a table, order your food around the corner from the seating area then pick your food up when the buzzer they gave me vibrated. Plastic cutlery and napkins from a dispenser. Not the best more like a fast food mark up because if the location. The staff confused my order with another person , staff was a little on the short side they could have been more friendly since I spent a whooping $70. Plus on lunch! Take heed your better off having a picnic which now I see why so many people did. I did leave my name with the manager but it's been two weeks with no return call. Did I mention this was the Saturday before Mother's Day....we didn't get spoiled here no fancy lunch, no fancy drinks!
I had the pleasure of stopping by at the Kitchen at Descanso on multiple occasions, and every time I was thoroughly impressed with the experience! The atmosphere was lovely, with a warm and welcoming ambiance that immediately put me at ease. The food is impeccable, featuring fresh ingredients and expertly prepared dishes that were bursting with flavor. However, the service is truly outstanding, with attentive and friendly staff. I highly recommend this place, especially for the exceptional service they provide!
I came here on a Free Tuesday at 9am and wanted to get some breakfast and coffee before taking a stroll in the gardens. They only have bakeries, bagels, and ready made cold food (in the cold section outside). Their cook does not come until after 10am so if you want to order other breakfast items on the menu, you will have to do it after 10. Coffee was good, service was super slow, but my 4 stars are for the croissant! It's' strange to rate croissant in a random place like this BUT, their croissant might be one of the best I've had, and I've been to Spain and France! Actually, the best croissant is still in Spain for me. BUT, the Kitchen at Descanso came very close!! Their croissant is huge, fluffy, crispy, flaky, also a bit soft on the outside and chewy and hot on the inside! It was so so good!!!! If I find myself at Descanso again I will definitely get a bunch of their croissant to take out! Yum!!
Restaurantji Recommends
On a visit from UK, have been before when they had a Restraunt, not there no only a Cafe.Food ok but overpriced, cold welcome, cold atmosphere.Felt uncomfortable, a female member of staff at ordering hatch unhelpful, I felt I was inconvenienceing her.Gardens lovely, well worth a visit.A haven in the middle of LA madness x
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Roasted Chicken
Get the hot mushroom sub! It's absolutely DELICIOUS! There's so many mushrooms and the cheese is so melty, which goes so well with the dough bread. And there's enough marinara on each bite but not to the point of being a messy sandwich.
There are some bad reviews for this place, and I don't disagree with some of the reasons why. Yes, the prices are outrageous and the portions aren't going to completely fill you up. However, I think if you put this place in **CONTEXT** it's good for what it is. And that context is -- you're at Descanso Gardens, you're hungry now, where else are you going to eat? You want to leave Descanso Gardens, drive away and go restaurant hunting? Sure, you can do that. Or do you want instant gratification and to eat RIGHT NOW. Well, that's why this place is here. And in that context, this place isn't that bad. But you will pay for that convenience. You will also likely put a dent in your health because there aren't a lot of healthy options here. So why still the good rating? As I mentioned earlier, context -- I was hungry and didn't want to wait and this place was the only option available immediately. That said, the gentleman working the cashier was extremely friendly and made some good suggestions about the menu. I went with the $10 cup of tomato bisque and the $14 polish sausage bagel sandwich. The seating area was large and spacious. We had our pick of inside our outside and it's self seating. And you're at Descanso Gardens, so naturally it's a pretty environment. The food was ready fairly quickly after ordering. It also comes "to-go" style, which means it's served in a box instead of on a plate. Maybe I was just hungry, but my food was not too bad. I wouldn't say I'd normally eat this kind of food since I try to eat healthy when possible, but the quality of the ingredients all seemed pretty good and everything was tasty. It hit the spot after spending a couple hours at Descanso Gardens. TIP: Try dipping your fries into the tomato bisque. Overall, for a convenient bite to eat while at Descanso Gardens, I was glad this place was available. Would I be a regular here if it was a normal restaurant in my neighborhood? Highly unlikely. But for a quick, pricey, not super healthy but quality bite to eat while visiting Descanso Gardens, it serves it's purpose well and I'd probably eat here again if I ever work up an appetite again while visiting Descanso Gardens.
Revised menu- no snacks. Disappointing
Should have read the reviews or at least looked at the rating on Yelp. Food is bad, way too overpriced and service is very poor.