Outstanding solid consistently delicious food and service! One of the best Italian restaurants in Southern California I brought many friends there, and everyone is always remarking how fantastic the food is won't be disappointed if you go there!
March 2024
Wonderful food, good ambience, excellent service. Really enjoyed our first visit there. We will definitely be back!
February 2024
Food & service was very good & met expectations - this is a "go-to" choice for us. The only negative was being charged for 2 bres ($1.50/person) as a new service charge. Especially as we are gluten-free & did not have bread,
Feast on traditional Italian food in an elegant setting! Whether seated in the dining room or on the picturesque patio, our guests enjoy the best of Italy’s regional cuisine, with a focus on fresh seafood and game. An award-winning wine list boasts a meticulous collection of Italian wines.
Other Information
Parking: Lot, Private
Attire: Casual
Alcohol: Full Bar
Price Range: Average
About the restaurant: Celestino, located in Pasadena's South Lake Avenue shopping district, is beloved by regulars for its warm service and consistently well executed versions of classic Sicilian and other regional Italian dishes. Calogero Drago, one of the younger brothers of celebrated chef Celestino Drago, hustles through the venue, greeting guests and relaying orders to staff in Italian.Food & Drinks: The strong suit here is the selection of pastas (e.g. tagliolini with scallops in saffron cream, penne with minced prosciutto in a vodka-infused pink sauce) and a dramatically presented beet risotto topped with molten goat cheese. Worthy starters include creamy fresh burrata, and swordfish carpaccio with a refreshing orange-fennel salad. You can find a good, reasonably priced Sicilian wine --- as well as more prestigious Barolos --- on the list, but the meager selection by the glass is disappointing for a restaurant of this quality. Desserts range from the requisite tiramisu and flourless chocolate cake to a standout lemon meringue tart. The dining room, a collection of linen-clad tables amid traditional art and an open kitchen, is inviting, and the staff graciously accommodates special requests.
