50 Best American Restaurants near Sierra Madre

“Hello This is a good news/bad news review. We frequent Only Place quite often. We probably average about 3 times a month. But it's not unusual to go a couple times in a week. Your food and serving staff are excellent. Among our favorites are Whitney, Bronwyn, Hanna, Jose to name a few. Whitney is especially great! Now the bad news. We were in last Friday and were shocked with the unexpected bright lighting. It was uncomfortably bright. Nobody needs that much light!! And considering the average age of your customers it's even more important to keep the lighting flattering. We had to move from our booth because it was so disconcerting. Please please please change the bulbs in the overhead lights. If you have to squint to see the bulb it's TOO bright. We loved the family atmosphere of Only Place. The new lighting level ruins the atmosphere. We're begging you please return to the previous pleasing level. Thank you“

“Nice atmosphere, and good service . Food was okay . Not sure what else to write in order for this to post 🤷🏻‍♀️“

“We have dined here a couple of times when we come back to visit family. We are never disappointed. The food is quite good. Portions are on the larger size, so expect to have leftovers to bring home (or just go nuts and indulge).

However, the dinning room is comparatively small and not intimate. That isn't that big of a deal, but you should be aware of it going in. I would recommend a reservation if dining later in the evening. If you arrive earlier, they can usually seat you.

Parking is on the street (but that is par for the course in Sierra Madre), but be prepared to have to drive around a little to find a spot.

The only negative was on our last visit. The front of house was clearly understaffed. The one waiter was doing double duty as the bar tender. So, speed of service was not on the menu.

A solid choice for dining and will we will undoubtedly visit again.“

“Fabulous chicken Sando!!! Absolutely delicious. Everyone is ALWAYS SO FRIENDLY. I try and go as often as I can. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰“

“Popular spot in Pasadena for plentiful breakfast plates. A long narrow layout makes all the seating feel close to the long narrow kitchen. Colorful walls covered with lusciously colored art reproductions makes the place warm and welcoming. We enjoyed such things as omelettes, hash browns, standard wheat toast, fruit bowls, bacon etc- all quickly delivered and piping hot. Highly recommend as a comfortable spot serving American classics.“

“Valentine’s Day dinner is typically one of the busiest and most chaotic nights for any restaurant but I was genuinely impressed by how hard the staff worked to accommodate everyone. I’ll definitely be returning on a less hectic night to fully enjoy the experience.“

“The food has to be experienced!! It’s high-end in taste and presentation, and the staff are professional but so fun that you feel like you’re with family. They are attentive to detail and will bend over backwards to make sure you have what you need. Service with a smile; this company is pure joy!“

“The asparagus fries. Crispy & not greasy. You can appreciate the asparagus flavor. We split the Thai spicy salad. It was spicy, but the Thai basil & the peanut dressing were the stars. It didn't need the chicken. The best was the ribeye melt. The meat was cooked perfectly.The sourdough was crusted with parmesan. With a side of horseradish that was perfectly paired for this sandwich.“

“Always an amazing time here. Been coming to this location for years now. Service is second to none and food is delicious.“

“took a date there on a weeknight they let me get to my table early to put flowers on the table for m date. the food was great and the drinks were perfect would recommend this place“

“The food is amazing. I highly recommend this bistro.“

“Arcadia location... we went for the Monday pizza deal, it was delicious, Marco provided great professional service, would definitely recommend!“

“Customer service is paramount not only for me, but specially when I am around family. Our server Schaeffer is not only superv to Customer Service but has great personality that makes me feel truly welcome!“

“Great food and service. Loved the the rooftop dining!“

“How did this quirky gem evade my notice for five years?! I guess because they're only open Friday and Saturday. This may be the best restaurant in Pasadena. Inventive creole-inspired food. Everyone raved. Only thing I would change is to have it a little quieter. But our four-top could still converse well.“

“I Love the food. But I hate it. When my foods delayed i ordered a colossus burger, which is a pastrami hamburger. That's what the older taker told me it was. Then they made the food and they only gave me a hamburger. I only paid for a hamburger. As I sat there and waited about 8 minutes for them to make the food.They expected me to wait an additional eight minutes and pay them a 2 75 3 75. For their miss up and wait, you think I wanted to wait my food was hot in my hand what's wrong with the order taker? He spoke perfectly good English. I know he understood me.I also speak Spanish, so there's no reason for him to miss up my order.I was disappointed and it wasn't a nice day to be disappointed“

“The restaurant is elegantly decorated and has a comfortable atmosphere“

“Salad was tasty . I’ll be back to try burgers they looked amazing .“

“Fantastic service. The specialties and house signature food and drink are fabulous. I had the braised short rib and the house dirty martini. Delicious. Also please try the truffle deviled eggs, Brussels sprouts and truffle fries. Love this place.“

“Delicious food and great service! Not sure if I should feel bad or not for leaving zero tip, only because they added a tip to our bill and there was only 4 in our party. We were going to leave a generous tip because service was excellent, until we noticed the tip was already already added.. I've always known there's an automatic tip on a party of 6 or more. Has that now changed to party of 4?“

“Their Corned Beef sandwich and their Pastrami Sandwich...both DELICIOUS!!!!!“

“I’ve been 3 times in the past 3 weeks. Service and food is fantastic! Highly recommend Smitty’s Grill.“

“Love the food love the place always delicious 🥘“

“First time trying Cafe Et Cetera and it did not disappoint! I ordered the California omelette that has bacon, ham, cheese, and avocado. Omelette is also served with a salad and tater tots. Food was delicious and good portions. The lady that served me was very friendly. She even went out of her way to look for me in the seating area to give me the salsa that came with my food. I wish I took a picture of the food but I was too hungry. I will definitely go back!“

“One of the best pastrami sandwiches I've ever had. The pastrami, the bun is all amazing. I unfortunately don't live near one so I have to grab it when I'm driving by. Unfortunately I have no pictures because I immediately started eating it the moment I brought it to the table. 🤣“

“Had such an amazing experience last nigh ! The food so fresh and delicious prepared to perfection. Everyone was friendly and attentive even the chefs are super cool ! And definitely save room for that cheesecake yummmy ! I'll definitely be back. Thank you all at Colette's 😋😋👌🏼“

“What a hidden gem! This small quaint restaurant delivered some of the best food we had while visiting Pasadena. The flavors in the sauce (basil, olive oil and something else yummy) that surrounded the burrata were absolutely delicious! The lamb/beef/pork bolognese sauce on the spaghetti as well as the duck was excellent. Portions are definitely generous and shareable. Our only regret is we didn’t save room for dessert! Despite being there during the Rose Bowl with lots of people, the service was excellent! So glad we stumbled upon this restaurant via Resy, we’ve saved it in case we come to Pasadena again!! Bravo!!!“

“Dog, burgers, drinks and a Tuesday run club, what more do you need!“

“Some unique flavors and some familiar. Customer service at the bar is unparalleled, like the all-day happy hour pricing. I’m very happy when I come to this place, regardless of what I order.“

“Terrific staff and innovative cuisine. Small local restaurant who worked hard to keep staff through the pandemic closures with delicious creative take out and who are keeping everyone safe by requiring proof of vaccination for indoor dining. Fresh creative food.“

“I’ve been going to Towhey’s for over 20 years. I love their breakfast. I love their cheeseburgers. My daughter Micaela used to be a hostess in Alhambra. It’s one of my favorite go to restaurants. I love sitting at the bar. Also when they’re busy it’s a fun place to have dinner.“

“Was super happy with our dinner at Hippo. Every dish was delicious. The brussel sprouts and cauliflower starters had excellent flavors. All the pastas we tried had incredible depth of flavor without being overly heavy or greasy. The hippo rolls and table focaccia were excellent and the chicken thighs were to die for. Only thing that was lackluster was the passion fruit gelato. Fun vibe, lots of seating, and great service!“

“Great food and service! It always felt like home when dining here.“

“The staff is great and friendly. The food is delicious!“

“Excellent food, great service and environment. Feels homey with gourmet cuisine. Consistently great, we come here about once a month. Drinks are excellent too. Thank you.“

“Honest opinion Everything was so good! We did have to wait about 10 minutes for the server to take are order, but she was so nice! It was so busy!! But delicious! Honest a little pricey! But what ya going to do? It's 2026! I recommend coming out to Denny's if you like a tasty meal and people watching! It was nice! Thank you and God bless 🙏“

“Bobby was the man. First time being there, and Bobby happened to be manning the cashier spot. Walked me through the menu and order. Top notch customer service and atmosphere.

Burger and fries was great. Breakfast tacos are the item I want to try.“

“We came in on a Sunday afternoon and were greeted by our host and seated right away. Our servers Albert and Francis were very helpful and kind. They attended us very well and checked in on us thru out our meal, which was great. Been coming here for years and will continue to because how great both Albert and Francis attended us.“

“my best... PATTY MELT WITH FRIES OR THE RIB EYE STEAK MEAL!! GREAT SERVICE! and the boys like it too !“

“always great food. today a problem with the fish and chips. over cooked and dry“

“Very good food, and great cocktails. Wait staff was friendly and accommodating. We enjoyed our experience.“

“The North Course is one of those courses that is good for a novice to practice off the course, conditon medium level, no big obstacles, a ball can be played the whole way.“

“We’ve always been big Dog Haus fans. This location was always a bummer though with one infamous staff member who consistently had zero customer service skills. I left some poor feedback after a particularly awful experience earlier this year. Months later, I got a message that that individual was no longer with DH, taking accountability for the situation, and offering us a free meal for our trouble. And they came through on the promise! Really impressive customer service and appreciated by our family. The Hill location is officially back in the rotation!“

“IYKYK. Chronis hot dogs are always a treat.“

“Amazing food, cozy atmosphere, and excellent service! Highly recommend for a memorable dining experience! 😛“

“Wonderful customer service! Friendly employees! I will definitely return.“

“It was a great experience. They had so many food options and a good number of things that just triggered your nostalgia. Makes me not want any of the frozen stuff anymore, it tastes so much better when it's fresh. Especially the chicken pot pie, a fresh one is significantly better fresh than the frozen stuff.“

“If you’re reading this review it’s most likely because you haven’t been here. Otherwise you already know what an incredible experience you’re in for. Our brunch was amazing, only to be outdone by Javier who was extremely, friendly, attentive and spot on with every recommendation! Can’t wait to come back and try the multitude of mouthwatering dishes we saw on the tables next to us. Hope you have the time to give yourself this tantalizing treat.“

“I see far too many people eating their experiences down to a parking lot. HELLO PEOPLE YOU ARE EATING THE PARKING LOT. The kind people in this restaurant put many hours into finding fresh ingredients and creating not only healthy but delicious food. Matter of fact I'm on my way there now.“

“Hawaiian theme atmosphere, reminds you of being in the Hawaiian islands. Burgers are fantastic, especially the teriyaki burger with pineapple. Very tasty!! And their nachos are great, as well with chicken. They add a side of sour cream guacamole and salsa upon request. The crew are friendly and gave top service!! Not too long of wait for take out orders.“