50 Best Italian Restaurants near South Pasadena

“Always good food. Always a good time.“

“Bravo Chef Bruno makes fabulous food.. Excellent service 🤩“

“BEST PIZZA IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA“

“The food was very tasty, will be back next time“

“The little plates are yummy. I love the pita bread that came with the hummus (Salatim plate). The other plates were good also. I loved the bread pudding (I think it's better than the best cake). What I like the most about Bacari, besides the beautiful ambiance, is the friendliest staff.“

“Fantastic roman style pizza. My new favorite style. Crispy on the bottom and ends, and a great flavor to the crust. Not to thick so it doesnt overload you with bread and the roman pinsa style of fermentation makes it eaiser to digest too! Great creative use of quality toppings and combinations different from many places. Excellent salads and of course nice wines that they can steer you to what may be to. your liking. Chartruitere board for 4 needed more than one type of cheese and would have benefited from one other meat besides mortadella and prosciutto. However all the ingredients were top notch. Inside is quite noisy and the outside patio is nice with it ringed by large plants so you dont see the street. Plus 3rd street here has almost no traffic. Music was a bit loud on the patio to compete with talking but not terrible. Service was very friendly but food came out on the slow side. Restaurant was packed on a saturday night at 6:15 so that may be why as the kitchen is small. But like in Rome, you shouldnt be in a rush when you eat. It's the Italian way. Not a huge menu but many items sounded really good so will need to try again. The tiramisu was great but diffferent. Served in a goblet with the cookies dusted on top it was like more of a pudding with the lady fingers. Other normal versions have more of the cake in layers than this but it was quite good. The pistachio ice cream was also really good too. But really this is one of the best pinsa style pizzas I have had, I have eaten them at many places! So if you come here you need to get the pizza!“

“Amazing Avocado roast poached egg Amazing staff manager follow up to make sure meal was perfect amazing ambiance great location natural light“

“100% recommend. thank you“

“It's delicious. The price is also right.“

“Had to stop by my favorite Italian grubbin in the heart of Old Town Pasadena all the way from Boise. This was my 3rd time and each time just keeps getting better; definitely the bigger the party, the better. We paid $225 for 4 pasta entrees, 3 appetizers, & 2 glasses of wine for a party of 6. I’ve learned to like my pastas al dente after having them here. The meatballs are banging, the wine-pairing was delightful. Our service was attentive and pleasant; the vibe is always vibrant and homey. Highly recommended.“

“Ordered the off-menu Pomodoro pasta and it did not disappoint. The tomato and petit basil sauce was bright, fresh, and perfectly balanced. The wax beans were a standout - snappy and bright with serrano chile, toasted hazelnuts, and a tangy Frenchie vinaigrette. The garden lettuces were crisp and well dressed with radish vinaigrette, fresh dill, walnuts, and shallots. Good vibe, happy staff, great mix of flavors. The orange wine pairing tied it all together. Highly recommend Updated from previous review on 2026-03-29“

“ottimo posto ho portato degli amici ieri sera ed anche loro sono rimasti molto soddisfatti lo consiglio personale molto molto gentile disponibile e le schiacciate favolose riempite Bene e buonissime 🤩“

“Amazing delicious food and love the ambiance. The servers were awesome!!“

“Try to stop by every time we stay in Glendale. Good food and very reasonable prices. Service is beyond excellent.“

“Every single thing is delicious. Trying to hit the whole bingo card 🤩 Also Micheal, best server 🥇“

“My Daughter & I had dinner here tonight… the food was PHENOMENAL!!! Great Friendly Service too!! What a treat to sit at the bar & watch everything looking delicious coming out of the kitchen window!!! Thank you for such a great Saturday night treat for an out of town Momma visiting her daughter!! I’ll beg her to come everytime I’m in town, and be very Jealous that she gets to come whenever she wants!!! EVERYTHING was BEYOND DELICIOUS!! Bravo!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻“

“What a discovery!!! Trattoria Daly is great! In fact it's a real "find" in Lincoln Heights-- just east of downtown but totally convenient. So nice to be in a non-corporate friendly setting in a restaurant run by great people who care about their customers and are proud of what they offer. This neighborhood gem will attract foodies and friends and harkens the beginning of a mini-restaurant row near downtown, Keck Hospital, Dodger Stadium, among other neighborhoods in various directions. The owners were for many years part of the team at Pacific Dining Car-- these guys are well acquainted with high end service and food. What they've established in the past six months, is a friendly local spot with top quality food and service-- for unbelievably reasonable prices. The bill of fare is Italian-- excellent starters, super pastas, and entree's like rib-eye steak, salmon. You can also do a simple pizza night-- or make it a special occasion. I've spent a LOT of time in Italy, and I'm picky about Italian food. This is an excellent kitchen! The general atmosphere is like a "discovery" of that little off the beaten track gem. But word must have gotten out-- when we dined there on a Sunday night, the place was hopping! The visible to the house skilled kitchen was keeping up with the crowd of happy diners. Two decades of Pacific Dining Car (which didn't survive covid) made these guys the pros they are. You shouldn't have to "sell a kidney" to eat well-- and this place is proof. They are in process and waiting for their liquor license -- but you can bring your own vino-- (or pick up something at the Smart & Final down the street.) It's great to see professionals who are really good guys stir up the right ingredients-- warmth, welcome, excellent food, and outstanding service, and ample evidence that the American dream is still alive. Can't wait to go back!“

“This was my first place. The sandwiches are ridiculously delicious. The focaccia bread for the sandwich is the best and the apricot tart was super delicious. Worth the stop.

I'll stop by next time I'm in the area.“

“Are you kidding me it’s always good“

“One of the best pizzas in the area. I’ve tried almost every kind of pizzas on their menu: Margarita, sausage + peppers, white, mushroom, pepperoni all taste amazing. So soft and fluffy. The market salad tastes great too even when getting it as a takeout. So glad to live close by to this place!“

“Great food Great service will visit again“

“I felt right at home here. What a great find in DTLA. Special thanks to Ian for the recommendations and surprises. Excellent from start to finish. The freshest and best ingredients. Especially enjoyed the burrata, freshley baked bread, tomoatoes, and the affogato dessert.“

“Friendly Comfortable neighborhood spot“

“They treat you like family. The food is incredibly great.“

“Excellent restaurant italien authentique au cœur de LA downtown. Délicieux !!!“

“5 rating Vegan Delicious Pizza!! Slices, full pies, caesar salad, garlic knots, all house-made ingredients. cashew-based cheese. loved it!! As of October 2022, opened for 8 mos.“

“Stumbled on this place while I was sucked into the reel vortex in the middle of the night on my 11-year Veganversary. The next day, we drove 40+ miles into LA and had the most amazing vegan meal, from appetizers to dessert. They have a full traditional menu as well as a full vegan menu. Welcoming and energetic vibe. Outstanding fun and friendly service (ask for Aria!) Food was highest quality and INSANELY delicious. Even parking is easy in the lot next door. Can’t wait to go back. It is a pleasure to support these guys. Highly recommended.“

“Amazing experience all around. This was our 2nd time visiting The Cicada and it's truly a hidden Los Angeles gem. The room is spectacular, the band and singers were incredible, and the food and service are top notch. Overall, just a unique step back in time and wonderful evening!“

“One of the best I’ve had “out” in a very long time.“

“I love it when I find little holes in the wall. Let me tell you, this was the best thing I've ever eaten, Spaghetti Aglio Olio and Peperoncino It took all that I had not to lick the plate and then Jonathan my waiter brought me a baked cream with berries desert Panna Cotta with berries that was soo delicious and smooth. They also have a deli next door but its closed on Sundays for now. They need staff. And it's dog friendly.“

“Muy buen servicio Comida deliciosa…“

“Once we were seated, I immediately noticed the incredible atmosphere of the restaurant. People were lively, chatting with each other and enjoying a good time. It was a happy sight to see.

The staff were passionate, and it genuinely seemed like they wanted to be there.

We ordered the lamb ragu, squid ink pasta, a side of broccolini, and the veal dish. Originally, we were only going to order the pasta and veal, but we found ourselves craving more food because of how delicious everything was. Not only did it taste amazing, but it also felt homemade, and the ingredients were extremely fresh.

I loved how both pastas had their own unique tomato flavors. The mashed potatoes served with the veal were incredibly creamy without being overwhelmingly buttery. The veal itself was extremely tender.

Loved the food here, 10/10. The portions were generous as well and well worth the price.“

“Pizza was fantastic!!! Rivaled Chicago!“

“Great Food, Great Service...“

“Excellent customer service and food!“

“GREAT HOMESTYLE ITALIAN FOOD BEEN GOING THERE SINCE ELEMENTARY AND THE FOOD JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER THANK U TONY FOR BEING PART OF 4 GENERATIONS OF FAMILY EATING UR FOOD“

“This place was so good! Service was great, food was super tasty. Quiet and intimate when we were there, but would have felt totally comfortable bringing my family there too. Had the vodka rigatoni with sausage - best I’ve ever had. And was not too expensive at all. Worth every penny & then some. Totally check this place out.“

“Pssing through. Hilton Hotel in Montebello said tgey had the best pizza around. Very true. Loved the New York.“

“Great food at good prices“

“All around great experience! Good food, great service, good music! If only I lived closer…“

“Curbside pickup First time“

“Great customer service , love going there few times a year .Server Adolfo Mares the best person in this restaurant .Amazing customer service he gave us .THE BEST i give him 100thank you adolfo mares“

“Best Italian food I’ve ever had!“

“Love love love this place. We’ve been coming here for 19 years and highly recommend. Great food, wine and ambiance.“

“My daughter took her dad here for father's day. It was a great vibe, we sat outdoors, they had tv so he could watch the word cup. The food and drink orders came out in pretty quickly. I had the wings in hot honey bbq, my husband had the meatball sub which came with fries and our daughter had a 10 inch pizza, which took longer but the freshness, flavor, and quality of the meal was there.“

“4 out of five ★. Love the concept. The ambiance is nice, the service very nice and the food very very good. The concept itself is spectacular. Sadly, it does not work as well in all locations - our visits to the Pasadena location always led to disappointments. Worse: many communications were exchanged, which led nowhere (and we never went again). I highly recommend this particular UOVO. Why "only" four out of five stars then? I do n to like to be bullshitted. They strive that they are a "no-tipping" restaurant as they properly pay their employees - which sounds amazing, in every aspect. Then they charge you an extra 16% "fee". C'mon guys. No one likes to be bullshitted. You offer an excellent deal for Wonderfull food. If you like to keep the "no-tip-strategy" raise food and drinks by a dollar or two. No one would complain.“

“Family-run! Father cooks while daughter is front of house — love to see it! Their focaccia is so good, and the Daviola pizza was awesome too. The dough was airy and light while the meat was super juicy. Service was excellent: they really take care of you there. They really pay attention 💕“

“Food and Service was great!!“

“Excellent Pizza, Great service definitely will come back....100% recommend!!!!!“

“Excellent service, great food, too bad there wasn't extra room in the parking area.😊😊“