Great restaurant but couple things:1) the food, pastas in particular, are very heavy flavored, we went in large group and all of us had digestive upset that night.2) the server pushed us to order way too much. She had us order 12 dishes (not including bread) for our party of 6 adults and asserted it would be a light meal. We ordered at least three dishes too many. And we are not light eaters. We were not happy with her guidance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Cathleen Mraz
Cozy, great service, and food. Because of an intimate setting, it is hard to talk over the noise of conversations.Kid-friendliness: No children's menu. We ordered several different options and shared.Wheelchair accessibility: It would be difficult to get a wheelchair in there, but I'm sure they could accommodate, and there is outside seating.
The food at Union is just divine. Started out with the ciccioli & Tamai beet salad. Every bite was utterly flavorful. Then had the rich & creamy fettuccine carbonara with lamb belly for the main entree which was deliciously scrumptious! For dessert we had the chocolate mousse crisp that was absolute perfection. I have to say this has to be the best fine dining I have had thus far with a charming ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angelina
The plates are way too small for the price.
Heather M.
Wonderful meal and service! This farm to table restaurant features an array of homemade Italian pasta dishes and other creative starters. Located in Old Town Pasadena, the quaint and casual eatery is a great place to enjoy a good meal with friends or family. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The beet salad starter was creatively paired well with herbs and labneh, pistachios to bring out the best flavors. We also enjoyed homemade pasta dishes including the delicious squid ink pasta with just the right mix of lobster, truffle butter, lemon and fennel. The torchetti and stracciatella were other great options. Our meal left us comfortable and with enough room to enjoy a chocolate budino for dessert! Highly recommend Union whether you are visiting the Pasadena area or live in the area.
Nicole C.
Yum yum yum - Union brought it last night. The food was on another level than I remember it a few years ago. Take out does not do its full justice. Eat at the restaurant. I was with 2 other friends dining. For starters: we had the winter salad and arugula salad both with the cheese on the side. Delicious and refreshing - I'd order them both again. Main entrees - we each ordered a different pasta for ourselves. I had the squid ink (lobster and truffle butter) yum yum yum my friends also loved their pastas. I forget the name of what they ordered. We shared the hazelnut dessert - I would also order that again. The presentation for each dish was beautiful. The flavor, quality and texture were on point. Loved it all. Thank you. We had reservations booked in advance. Parking across the street in a structure - flat rate $11
Jailuk P.
The service was A+! The staff were all very nice and accommodating. Our server was super friendly and fun and gave great recommendations for dishes/food. The pasta dishes were delicious as the pasta were freshly made from scratch. The food was beautifully presented. Highly recommend for a special dinner or just to enjoy a great meal!
Victoria Y.
Came here with my friend and his coworker last weekend after being on a quest to try all the food pasta places in LA. We had reservations for an early dinner at 4pm and we were around the corner at a wine bar hungrily waiting prior to coming here. We ordered the charred octopus and pork meatballs as appetizers, and we ordered three pasta dishes. Everything was pretty amazing and we finished every last bite of food. We also ordered the spiced plum cake and tres leches for dessert. Would definitely recommend!
Sam A.
Quaint little gem in the Pasadena area. You can tell the quality is there, the pork was impeccable as was the olive oil cake. My partner and I enjoyed the combination of textures between the creaminess of the wild mushrooms and the freshness of the charred octopus. I do wish the pastas we got were served a bit hotter (the cacio e pepe especially?) but overall, it was a lovely evening and would recommend to others.
Superb food. Charming and cozy space. Pork chop main course was absolutely wonderful and easily fed two. Octopus salad was well seasoned. We had been very remiss in not returning to this local place. Monday night is a bit barren of choices so we saw this place listed as open, called to be sure, made reservations and went to Union in Old Town. Professional staff. Moderate prices. We will try to return more often!!
John S.
We arrived for our reservation, only to then wait 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, half of our appetizer course was forgotten about, two mains arrived 15 minutes before the remaining dishes, and tragedy struck due to their poor outdoor seating arrangement. The experience was really unfortunate, and it made for a poor evening at a restaurant that should have done far better. I would encourage you to look elsewhere for a meal that you need to rely on.
Sarah Y.
I have had many people tell me that union is the best restaurant in Pasadena, so I had to try it out for myself. I booked a reservation on Resy a few hours before and they had multiple time slots available. Most of them were out door only since the restaurant itself is tiny. There's about 15 tables and bar seating available. So I booked the outdoor table on a rainy day with the hopes that I would be moved inside anyways. I'm always a wishful thinker! And good thing too! I arrived at my reservation right on time. I believe it was right when they were opening so the host was a tad busy ushering people to their tables and answering the phone. We were greeted warmly and to my delight asked if we wanted a table inside ! So of course I said yes. We sat down and knew we wanted to start off with a cocktail. Their cocktail selection is very very small. As we looked over the menu I asked the server what were must try's since it was my first time and she did not disappoint! We started the table off with their house bread which was good but in my opinion kinda plain. It comes with pickled veggies which is a nice touch that I have never had before. For our pasta dishes we chose the bucatini which was tossed in pesto and pistachios topped with burrata, I think it was my favorite of the night. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce was light but super flavorful. Our second pasta of the night was the fettuccine carbonara topped with lamb. It was rich and decadent . I think I was hoping for a more traditional style carbonara with an egg on top but I wasn't disappointed by the flavors. For an entree we heard the chicken was a must! To our surprise it was huge ! I thought to myself there was no way we could finish it but we did ! The highlight of the chicken was the crispy potato and onion pancake at the bottom! My lord it was amazing I would go back just for that . But it didn't even there, we ended the night with their olive oil cake which was beautifully moist! Served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream ! Union has this cute date night vibe. It's small and romantic. Service is exceptional. I don't know why it took me so long to have dinner here. I definitely recommend and I'll be back to try the rest of the menu.
Randy S.
We dined at Union on 2/15 around 7pm, requested and received a table inside. Our server was Raul, very nice but seemed overwhelmed and distracted. First the restaurant itself, since Covid they erected a lovely outdoor seating area with heaters on Union Avenue, great for the restaurant, horrible for indoor diners. The front doors open and close every minute or so and cold air blasts in. The doors don't often close so if you are unlucky enough to be seated in the 1st 3 or 4 tables and it's chilly outside then prepare to be cold and eat cold food. Fix the hinges on your doors so they close without our server having to constantly go over and close them. Next service & Food,we followed the guide of our server, order family style and we did. 1. Pork Meatballs, great dish, very tasty, but we were given 3 little pieces of bread for 4 people, odd to decide who didn't get bread for the great tasting sauce. 2. Charred octopus, it was chewy at best and not really enjoyable. 3. Torchetti, it was delivered to our table without a serving spoon or fork, tasted good, the pasta looked like it had been butchered, plus it came with odd service. Somewhere between the octopus and torchetti our server asked if we had been brought clean plates since each dish had a different taste, we said "no". A few moments later a server came over with 2 clean plates, not 4, but 2, set them down and left. Again this is like the 3 pieces of bread, odd. 4. Squid Ink Lumache, good dish, good flavor. 5. Fish of the day, was probably the best of all dishes. 6. Pork Chop, also good, 2nd place to the fish. These were our courses, both pasta dishes were luke warm when they arrived and after the 1st few bites were cold due to the front door issue. Dessert was a pear cake which was dry and chocolate crisp which was good. Bottom line, no one in our group was pleased, the food was okay at best, service was okay and ambiance was okay. If this is a Michelin Star restaurant I would encourage the chef to have someone sit and dine and go through the things we went through to pay almost $100 per person for an average meal, if you put the star out I expect more from start to finish, service to food to the restaurant itself. This was our 3rd experience at Union and our last, look elsewhere in Pasadena for fine dining this isn't it anymore.
Sarah Zavoral
The service was amazing, and the food absolutely some of the best I have ever had. Will definitely return next time I’m in town.
we waited 100minute for a 2min meal.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Great restaurant but couple things:1) the food, pastas in particular, are very heavy flavored, we went in large group and all of us had digestive upset that night.2) the server pushed us to order way too much. She had us order 12 dishes (not including bread) for our party of 6 adults and asserted it would be a light meal. We ordered at least three dishes too many. And we are not light eaters. We were not happy with her guidance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Cozy, great service, and food. Because of an intimate setting, it is hard to talk over the noise of conversations.Kid-friendliness: No children's menu. We ordered several different options and shared.Wheelchair accessibility: It would be difficult to get a wheelchair in there, but I'm sure they could accommodate, and there is outside seating.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Meatballs, Ravioli, Torchetti, Arugula Salad, Spaghetti & Meatballs
The food at Union is just divine. Started out with the ciccioli & Tamai beet salad. Every bite was utterly flavorful. Then had the rich & creamy fettuccine carbonara with lamb belly for the main entree which was deliciously scrumptious! For dessert we had the chocolate mousse crisp that was absolute perfection. I have to say this has to be the best fine dining I have had thus far with a charming ambience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The plates are way too small for the price.
Wonderful meal and service! This farm to table restaurant features an array of homemade Italian pasta dishes and other creative starters. Located in Old Town Pasadena, the quaint and casual eatery is a great place to enjoy a good meal with friends or family. Our server was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu and wine list. The beet salad starter was creatively paired well with herbs and labneh, pistachios to bring out the best flavors. We also enjoyed homemade pasta dishes including the delicious squid ink pasta with just the right mix of lobster, truffle butter, lemon and fennel. The torchetti and stracciatella were other great options. Our meal left us comfortable and with enough room to enjoy a chocolate budino for dessert! Highly recommend Union whether you are visiting the Pasadena area or live in the area.
Yum yum yum - Union brought it last night. The food was on another level than I remember it a few years ago. Take out does not do its full justice. Eat at the restaurant. I was with 2 other friends dining. For starters: we had the winter salad and arugula salad both with the cheese on the side. Delicious and refreshing - I'd order them both again. Main entrees - we each ordered a different pasta for ourselves. I had the squid ink (lobster and truffle butter) yum yum yum my friends also loved their pastas. I forget the name of what they ordered. We shared the hazelnut dessert - I would also order that again. The presentation for each dish was beautiful. The flavor, quality and texture were on point. Loved it all. Thank you. We had reservations booked in advance. Parking across the street in a structure - flat rate $11
The service was A+! The staff were all very nice and accommodating. Our server was super friendly and fun and gave great recommendations for dishes/food. The pasta dishes were delicious as the pasta were freshly made from scratch. The food was beautifully presented. Highly recommend for a special dinner or just to enjoy a great meal!
Came here with my friend and his coworker last weekend after being on a quest to try all the food pasta places in LA. We had reservations for an early dinner at 4pm and we were around the corner at a wine bar hungrily waiting prior to coming here. We ordered the charred octopus and pork meatballs as appetizers, and we ordered three pasta dishes. Everything was pretty amazing and we finished every last bite of food. We also ordered the spiced plum cake and tres leches for dessert. Would definitely recommend!
Quaint little gem in the Pasadena area. You can tell the quality is there, the pork was impeccable as was the olive oil cake. My partner and I enjoyed the combination of textures between the creaminess of the wild mushrooms and the freshness of the charred octopus. I do wish the pastas we got were served a bit hotter (the cacio e pepe especially?) but overall, it was a lovely evening and would recommend to others.
Restaurantji Recommends
Superb food. Charming and cozy space. Pork chop main course was absolutely wonderful and easily fed two. Octopus salad was well seasoned. We had been very remiss in not returning to this local place. Monday night is a bit barren of choices so we saw this place listed as open, called to be sure, made reservations and went to Union in Old Town. Professional staff. Moderate prices. We will try to return more often!!
We arrived for our reservation, only to then wait 30 minutes to be seated. Once seated, half of our appetizer course was forgotten about, two mains arrived 15 minutes before the remaining dishes, and tragedy struck due to their poor outdoor seating arrangement. The experience was really unfortunate, and it made for a poor evening at a restaurant that should have done far better. I would encourage you to look elsewhere for a meal that you need to rely on.
I have had many people tell me that union is the best restaurant in Pasadena, so I had to try it out for myself. I booked a reservation on Resy a few hours before and they had multiple time slots available. Most of them were out door only since the restaurant itself is tiny. There's about 15 tables and bar seating available. So I booked the outdoor table on a rainy day with the hopes that I would be moved inside anyways. I'm always a wishful thinker! And good thing too! I arrived at my reservation right on time. I believe it was right when they were opening so the host was a tad busy ushering people to their tables and answering the phone. We were greeted warmly and to my delight asked if we wanted a table inside ! So of course I said yes. We sat down and knew we wanted to start off with a cocktail. Their cocktail selection is very very small. As we looked over the menu I asked the server what were must try's since it was my first time and she did not disappoint! We started the table off with their house bread which was good but in my opinion kinda plain. It comes with pickled veggies which is a nice touch that I have never had before. For our pasta dishes we chose the bucatini which was tossed in pesto and pistachios topped with burrata, I think it was my favorite of the night. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the sauce was light but super flavorful. Our second pasta of the night was the fettuccine carbonara topped with lamb. It was rich and decadent . I think I was hoping for a more traditional style carbonara with an egg on top but I wasn't disappointed by the flavors. For an entree we heard the chicken was a must! To our surprise it was huge ! I thought to myself there was no way we could finish it but we did ! The highlight of the chicken was the crispy potato and onion pancake at the bottom! My lord it was amazing I would go back just for that . But it didn't even there, we ended the night with their olive oil cake which was beautifully moist! Served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream ! Union has this cute date night vibe. It's small and romantic. Service is exceptional. I don't know why it took me so long to have dinner here. I definitely recommend and I'll be back to try the rest of the menu.
We dined at Union on 2/15 around 7pm, requested and received a table inside. Our server was Raul, very nice but seemed overwhelmed and distracted. First the restaurant itself, since Covid they erected a lovely outdoor seating area with heaters on Union Avenue, great for the restaurant, horrible for indoor diners. The front doors open and close every minute or so and cold air blasts in. The doors don't often close so if you are unlucky enough to be seated in the 1st 3 or 4 tables and it's chilly outside then prepare to be cold and eat cold food. Fix the hinges on your doors so they close without our server having to constantly go over and close them. Next service & Food,we followed the guide of our server, order family style and we did. 1. Pork Meatballs, great dish, very tasty, but we were given 3 little pieces of bread for 4 people, odd to decide who didn't get bread for the great tasting sauce. 2. Charred octopus, it was chewy at best and not really enjoyable. 3. Torchetti, it was delivered to our table without a serving spoon or fork, tasted good, the pasta looked like it had been butchered, plus it came with odd service. Somewhere between the octopus and torchetti our server asked if we had been brought clean plates since each dish had a different taste, we said "no". A few moments later a server came over with 2 clean plates, not 4, but 2, set them down and left. Again this is like the 3 pieces of bread, odd. 4. Squid Ink Lumache, good dish, good flavor. 5. Fish of the day, was probably the best of all dishes. 6. Pork Chop, also good, 2nd place to the fish. These were our courses, both pasta dishes were luke warm when they arrived and after the 1st few bites were cold due to the front door issue. Dessert was a pear cake which was dry and chocolate crisp which was good. Bottom line, no one in our group was pleased, the food was okay at best, service was okay and ambiance was okay. If this is a Michelin Star restaurant I would encourage the chef to have someone sit and dine and go through the things we went through to pay almost $100 per person for an average meal, if you put the star out I expect more from start to finish, service to food to the restaurant itself. This was our 3rd experience at Union and our last, look elsewhere in Pasadena for fine dining this isn't it anymore.
The service was amazing, and the food absolutely some of the best I have ever had. Will definitely return next time I’m in town.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5