Celestino Ristorante & Bar

Overview: a genuine Italian experience that's lacking in a few major areas. Coming from the East Coast, this pales in comparison to 'Italian'. Food: - overall, it's alright. It'll hit the spot of 'I'm craving Italian', but you won't leave feeling like you just had a traditional true Italian meal. - I got the special of a swordfish steak, and added in a dish of penne, extra. The steak was great but the meal lacked a proper amount of vegetables and carbs. In fact there was no carb (why I had to order penne). I was expecting a meal, not just a single meal item. - we got asked if we wanted bread and butter, something every single restaurant offers and provides for free (at least every single one I've been to, up until now), we said yes and and up getting charged!! What?!? - the penne was mediocre, literally something you can throw together yourself in 15 minutes at home. Nothing special here. - the imported Italian beer they have is surprisingly good, the blond is better than the red! - tiramisu was above average, if I'm being honest I can barely remember it . Service: - our waiter was an authentic Italian guy, almost stereotypically Italian, it was amazing. The accent, the vibe, and the energy he gave was spectacular, and was the most redeeming quality of the restaurant. He recalled the entire specials' menu from heart with every single ingredient it came with, incredible talent. He was very into our opinion of the food, how everything was, etc. Other: - stop charging customers for bread and provide it free, like normal restaurants. - if you're making an entree, make it a legit entree. Protein, carb, vegetable/fruit, this is basic cooking. - these little money saving tactics they do hurt their review. The fact that the transparency wasn't there is what makes this point hit hard.

Celestino has been our favorite Pasadena Italian restaurant for decades. The food is always top and the staff so friendly and efficient. We have also hosted and attended multiple family parties at Celestino and they are always great. If you live in Pasadena you already know Celestino is a landmark. If you don't be sure and visit them the next time you are nearby. See you soon Celestino!

A nice place to have dinner with. The service could be a bit slow when it's crowded and there's no dedicated server for the table. However, the servers are very kind and are willing to answer any of your questions. The food is tasty and I enjoyed the dessert the most. The recommended white wine was also a plus to the pasta I ordered.

This place serves a good selection of Italian dishes! The ambiance is great and they have patio seating in the front and in the rear of the restaurant. The food tastes great and I have had really nice servers, the last 4-5 times I have gone here! I highly recommend getting the tiramisu at the end. Overall, a great italian restaurant to go with your family and friends.

We were here for a corporate dinner. The drinks were excellent. Best straight Martini I have had in a while. The fillet mignon was on point and fork tender. The deserts were perfect and not overly sweet. The capriccio was absolutely amazing.

An amazing Italian restaurant perfect for date night, big celebration, or just enjoying a nice meal. The servers are super nice and absolutely wonderful, the food is delicious and the environment is intimate. There are a lot more tables than I thought, the restaurant is quite big.

Our friends are celebrating our 33rd Anniversary in Celestino! What an honor! We are blessed with wonderful loving friends Service was excellent Restaurant was clean Food were delicious What more can we ask! We had a good time!

Wonderful piece of ITALY in the center of Pasadena. Very cozy atmosphere of respect and peace. The staffers are super professionals with the knowledge of Italian language. They have more than 20 kinds of pasta and if you ask them they can add extra 20 hidden kinds of pasta. The more I visit the place the more I become addicted to ITALIAN kitchen and traditions. Must visit place for everyone. Super tasty! Upscale pasta!

Absolutely wonderful! Words can't express how much I love this restaurant. Every time I go the waiters are very friendly and enthusiastic to serve you. The inside of the restaurant gives a cozy and welcoming vibe. And don't get me started on the food. I haven't had much at this restaurant but what I have had has amazing. I highly suggest getting the penne pasta with prosciutto and vodka sauce. Lovely restaurant 5 stars

Came here unexpectedly with my 83yr old friend Bob. It's always tough cause well he's 83 lol. The Hostess-sat us outside as it was perfect SoCal weather, and we arrived just before the lunch rush. Bob really wanted spaghetti and I am glad we came here. Lots of parking behind the building. The waiters were attentive and polite. The drinks were brought out quickly and the service was fantastic. Dining with an elder can be challenging yet the staff were patient and not condescending. The salads were brought out , along with bread and everything was evenly spaced out. The Ravioli was delicious and Bob enjoyed his spaghetti. The restaurant is very nice and I wish I'd taken more photos. Great food and excellent service, what more can you ask for

Had my best friends birthday dinner here about a week ago. Was my 2nd time here and the birthday girl and other guests had never been here before. Service is EXCELLENT! Staff is incredibly attentive and we did not have to ask for anything. The casual ambiance of the restaurant was lively and fun, with bright lighting, upbeat staff, and spread-out seating. The aroma of fresh, quality ingredients is evident as you walk throughout the restaurant. Not sure if the bread and cheese is made on site like their pasta but everything here is delicious. Only regret I have is we did not take pictures of our food. Everyone really enjoyed everything from drinks and appetizers to dessert. We had a Caprese Salad and Calimari Steak for starters, our entrees included Rib eye steak with veggies. The rib eye was covered in pesto and all I have to say is WOW it was a total game changer! We also ordered salmon with veggies, pasta in vodka sauce, and one of the daily specials. I don't remember what it's called but it was pasta with sauce, mozzarella and ricotta wrapped in eggplant. For dessert we had cannolis, lemon meringue tart, and panna cota! Celestino's can get very packed so I do recommend making reservations. Keep in mind the number of people in your party, food prep based on restaurant being busy, and the time they close. I did not and we were the last ones in the restaurant at closing time (10pm on a Friday) and the staff kept peaking into the dining room because they were ready to go. This was the only thing I didn't like but certainly something I'll keep in mind next time.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at this cozy Italian spot for a holiday party and it was a great experience. The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for a holiday party where we were seated in our own room The service was excellent, our waiter was attentive and made sure our glasses were always full and that we had everything we needed throughout the evening. The food was served as a set menu for the event. The carpaccio was amazing. The filet mignon was a bit too peppery for my taste. The restaurant has their own dedicated parking area at the back of the restaurant. This is a huge plus, especially given how challenging parking can be in busy Pasadena.

Celestino is a cute little Italian restaurant on Lake in old town Pasadena with a small private parking lot in the back. It can be hard to find if you're not looking for it, as we have driven up and down Lake for years and never noticed this restaurant until we were referred by a family member to try out our for my husband's birthday tonight. Pros: The menu is inexpensive in comparison to other restaurants of is kind in the area and seems like it's been here for decades. They have a variety of homemade pasta dishes and the staff are very friendly and give you a full rundown of the specials which are not listed on the menu. I actually went with the special ravioli stuffed with beef in a mushroom sauce. My husband LOVED his seafood pasta (linguini mare) Cons: My dish was kind of bland, needed more salt although it had a nice presentation. The parking situation is a little weird where it looks like it's a $6 plus 50 cents service fee to park but then once inside there are many signs that say complimentary parking for Celestino patrons, kind of confusing. The bread that was brought out was $3 and we didn't actually order it, but we did enjoy it. I just wish it was something you have to ask for if you are going to be charged for it. Overall it was a decent dinner and I'm glad my husband chose well for his birthday meal, perhaps I will try something else next time and have better luck.

Background On Visit: Year after year after year, Celestino would participate at the Masters Of Taste Food Festival. Thought to myself that I would finally come into the shop to try out their food at the restaurant. Credit Cards: They're accepted. Restrooms: They have restrooms available. Location/Parking: Free parking on Hudson! There's also meter parking up front along S. Lake Ave.. Ambiance/Decor: Ambiance was okay, but wished the lighting was better. Had to use my cell phone's flashlight to see the menu. It was quite loud inside also. So I had to project my voice higher when I was talking. Service: Service wasn't great. Waiter didn't give a heads up that there was a splitting fee and told us that there is free refills on bread, but in actual reality, it was not. We ordered another order of bread thinking it was free and refillable. Also, it took a while to get our check. After seeing the check, I was fuming. We just paid the check and left without complaining to the staffer. Food For Thought: 1) Fruite De Mari: Thought the dish was good. The seafood was fresh and the sauce was quite addicting. I was having a great time layering the spaghetti on top of the bread that was ordered. 2) Eggplant Parm: No complaints about this dish. Celestino For Thought: Probably won't come back, but hope this review doesn't deter other from trying out the shop.

So I'll start by saying I'm usually a very generous reviewer. We sat in the back as part of a larger group and I quite liked being away from the main room by the kitchen. The table had a couple starters bufallo mozzarella, tomato and arugula, calamari, arugula salad, and a pear, goat cheese and beet salad. Then for main course the table tried so many things I was privy to taste the Osso bucco with saffron risotto which was yummy, along with the pheasant both had a very home like taste, I however, had the whole Bronzino, which was pretty mediocre and unfortunately fairly fishy. The desserts were also subpar. Our server was OK but spoke very fast and we had a hard time catching what all the specials were . I might try the place again, but might is the keyword

Really good Pasta! A little bit of an old school feeling which is nice. pretty straight forward menu Waiter had really good suggestions, we ended up with a duck ravioli and a pappardelle special, both delicious, we were stuffed! Paired with a californian wine we never had but will try again for sure. Wasn't too busy outside so we enjoyed a evening dinner that we could actually conversate. But still good for groups if you want that experience.

A cozy Italian restaurant with friendly staff and good food. It's not mind blowing, but it's good. I've visited a few times over the course of 10 years. My most recent visit was last weekend, and I will say that they are consistent with the quality of their dishes and service. While a reservation never hurts, we've come on a busy Saturday night without one and had no issues being seated. The food comes out in a timely manner and the menu has a wide variety of options to choose from. Menu highlights: Spaghetti with meat sauce - my children loved it. Pumpkin Tortelloni- absolutely delicious. I love having it in the fall. Could do without: The meatballs with red sauce. A little bland, and undersized.

The food was amazing I had LINGUINI AI FRUTTI DI MARE, seafood Linguini it was so good. Our waiter was Antonio he really was great made our experience so enjoyable loved the ambience indoor and outdoor dining I give this a five star Italian restaurant. I really felt that it was amazing. The food was wonderful. The service was incredible when I say incredible Antonio was incredible.PS I got to use my Italian language and that was a plus.

If you are looking for a pretty good Italian restaurant to eat at in Pasadena, this is definitely one of the places you should consider. While not the best in town, it's certainly not the worst. Across the street is Uovo which is, quite frankly, almost impossible to beat in my opinion. But this Italian restaurant has what Uovo does not: more variety. The service is also quite good and very attentive. I think what makes this restaurant stand out is that it is more traditional and Uovo is perhaps more modern Italian. The decor and atmosphere of the restaurant is perhaps showing its age but not to the point where it's a problem. In terms of recommendations, on this particular visit, I had the Lobster Linguine and my girlfriend had the Fettuccini with Duck ragu. Both were very good and I would order wither one again for sure. Can't say for sure either of these will be available in the future since they were specials.

5 stars for service, perfect for private event I went to Celestino for an organized dinner and the service was exceptional! I was so happy with my menu selection and the private room that was available to us. We had a fixed menu and I chose to indulge in the filet mignon, sauteed spinach and potato wedge. I'm so happy with my choice, absolutely delicious option for dinner and particularly conducive if you need a private room for a function or presentation.

So out with our dining friends last nite. Sat at the bar for 5 minutes. Bartender made me an above par dirty martini. Everyone enjoyed their beverage as well. Dined outdoor in front patio. Pleasant temperature actually. I really love the salad/soup/appetizer portion of the menu here. Lots of hard to find options in this section of Celestino's offerings. Standouts: swordfish carpaccio and Hawaiian grilled jumbo prawns. The experiences was spaced out lovely. Just how we like it. 7:30pm start time and we left at 10pm. The pasta (secondi) had a genovese pesto maccarone. Spelling that wrong I'm sure. But used real pesto. So many options here too. Bringing my vegetarian mom here soon. The main dish was a steak. I should have went with the branzino honestly. Steak a bit over salted. Next time. Staff is top notch attentive. Makes the experience so worth trying. Thank you for a perfect evening.

Had a great and amazing time here at Celestino in South Lake, Pasadena with my family. We were celebrating our parents 26th Anniversary and they loved it a lot. The food was so good that we finished every single thing on the plate. The service was amazing and the staff were very welcoming and kind and sweet to us. The ambiance here was a little loud just because it was busy... but hey that's fine with us. It's good business if there are a lot of customers enjoying the delicious food made by the chefs. I would definitely come back here for more Fillet Mignon. To me, it was so juicy and soooooo gooood that I would have gotten seconds or even thirds. But thank you so much Celestino for an unforgettable dining experience.

First time here. Very attentive staff. I had a reservation and was sat right away. I parked on the street but there is parking available in the back. The bread was not complementary. $2 per person. It was served warm with olive oil and balsamic. The red risotto was made with beets. It was good but it could have used more seasoning or salt...but what MADE the dish was the melted goat cheese in the middle. SO YUMMY! The sauce with the tortellini was cheesy and good. Parmesan cheese added on top upon request. Corkage fee is $20.

My family and I, especially my daughter, love this restaurant. We always get a great meal and service here. We celebrated my daughter's 11th birthday here tonight. All of our 16 guests were raving about the food. Also, the restaurant plated the cakes that we brought very beautifully.

Great food , good service , very close to Italian restaurants in Rome , nice ambiance .

Absolute fire. I came with my parents. Great service and very pretty and classy interior without trying too hard. Really authentic vibe all around. And the food tastes like they put in a lot of effort.

Not exactly sure why this restaurant is only getting 3.5 stars but they're dishes are delicious. We come here every year for our friends birthday and its always been a great experience. The Italian service feels like home and the dishes are tasty. I love the linguine seafood and any of their pastas looks good too from our other guests that ordered. They really try their best to make your experience wonderful. I'm giving them more stars!

This place is a traditional Italian restaurant with a large menu. Interior goes back in time with some blurry modern artwork. Most staff are friendly and when we went on a Thursday evening, the place was packed. The have several dining areas and some breakout rooms for larger parties. We started off with a bread basket, oil and vinegar. The bread came out hot and tasted great. Server was attentive and refilled our water glasses throughout the evening. We ordered the mussels and clams in tomato garlic broth for appetizers. My wife ordered the carbonara and added chicken. I had the special for that night which was the swordfish with vegetables. The appetizer was excellent. Seafood was cooked well and the broth was the star of the dish. The fresh garlic cloves with the tomato broth is a treat. We finished this quickly and regretted not saving more bread to dip into the broth at the end. I tasted my wife's dish and the sauce on the pasta was delicious. The piece of chicken I had seemed overcooked, but my wife says the rest of the chicken was fine. She loved her dish but couldn't finish it because it was a large serving. My grilled swordfish was well seasoned and cooked perfectly in my opinion. Tender, not dry, and a decent portion. We had the lemon merengue for dessert which was underwhelming. Perhaps we will try something else next time. Great local place for authentic Italian food.

Excellent lamb leg and some special dish and delicious dessert. Very tasty and I love coming here for lunch or dinner with my family and friends.

I dined there this week. The only thing worse than the food was the service. Getting a waiter's attention took too much time and energy, especially since the restaurant was not busy. So many things we were served had been frozen and then not defrosted properly, like the mozzarella and the tiramisu to name two. Needless to say, we won't be back.

I am giving this place a 5 star review to balance some things out. It's really 4.5 stars. However!! This is an extremely good classic Italian place on the middle of Pasadena. There are no places like this anymore. I have eaten here thrice now and have waited to leave a review because I had such a nice experience the first time I went. Service is amazing. The drinks are strong and delicious. Clientele is older, however this place is excellent for dinner. The place has an endearing feeling. The bar is great. And the food is excellent. Check it out! You will not be disappointed.

If you like small portions of Italian food, with some snooty service, this is the place for you. Food all had good flavor, but the portions were really small. Took forever to be greeted by the waiter and to even get any attention. I've been here twice now, and disappointed both times. Not personal service at all, and nothing recommended besides, "everything is good." What I got was a super small veal. It was about 10 years, since I was here last. However, very much as remembered.

Consistently solid food and service with an authentic Italian vibe. A go to place. Only wish they would make a chicken cacciatore

Went here for a group dinner on a Sunday evening! Overall everyone enjoyed the experience. Bread they give at the start is egg free - nice and soft / fresh. I got the penne as that's the egg free option in Alfredo sauce (they were able to make it egg and allium free). The Cacio e pepe is also egg, onion, and garlic free w penne. Alfredo was pricier which I didn't realize as I didn't see it on the menu. Good service overall.

Service was great, a bit noisy . The only thing was the lobster served with the pasta was very tough, like it was overcooked or reheated. I told our server, and he said he would ask the cook, but did not get back to me. The price $ 48.00 not worth it.

Excellent service. Food is so delicious great selection from the menu and specials. The short rib was tender and fell off the bone. The bourbon sauce with the vegetables really complimented this dish. Parking in the back, the north side of the restaurant or on the street.

We celebrated my future son-in-law's birthday at his favorite restaurant. We had a wonderful family dinner, food and service was absolutely amazing. Excellent service by the whole staff that was very hardworking, friendly and very knowledgeable. Great teamwork

Wonderful Italian restaurant with delicious food and pleasant, quiet atmosphere. I enjoyed our meal of fried calamari, soup and seafood linguini. They were able to make the tomato sauce non spicy for me. Dessert was panda cotta with strawberry sauce, which I found to be light and refreshing. The only part that I found disappointing was they charged me for a cup of hot water. My friend's iced water was free.

First and foremost this place was so good we decided to have our wedding rehearsal dinner here. The overall environment gave me a classic feel at home vibe. Felt very comfortable there. I actually love ambiances like this because a lot of times the restaurant is built on the quality of food rather than the all the bells and whistles of distracting with fancy decor. The service was amazing from start to finish. Bob the general manager is such a professional and his leadership if evident the way his staff speak of him. Our server Oscar was on point and attentive. Really knew his stuff. The food, all of it, was so good. Literally after eating here my fiancée and I looked at each other and said yes we gotta do it here. So many things were delicious, whether it be the salad or the bruschetta. The penne pomodoro was heavenly, and that branzino was as cooked to perfection. Highly recommend this place.

Great place! I really liked the menu and large selection of food. And what a list of specials! Started off with a Cesar salad was not listed on the menu but we asked, super good, linguine with clams was yummy and light and the paradelle w/ phesant is a must try servers recommendation. Finished with the housemade tiramisu. Easy street or garage parking. Also, not over priced and indoor/outdoor seating. Fresh park and cracked pepper. Must try the smoked swordfish carpaccio! Do not recommend the mushroom soup, I ended up sending it back: Also, be aware they charge for bread $3. It's not on the house.

My friend and I got food poisoning from here a while back one night, and when I called them about it to let them know their food might be contaminated, they tried to deflect the blame on me. We came here one night and the food tasted good and staff was friendly. We both shared dishes, so we had the same food. We left thinking it was pretty good. We both woke up around 1AM and spent the rest of the night throwing up everything and had severe stomach cramps. I called the next day telling them what we had, and their reaction was a "so what" and they deflected it by asking what we had for lunch or any other food after being at their restaurant. If it were just me who got sick I would consider what else I ate, but it was BOTH of us who got sick after eating at this establishment. In the end, they did give a half hearted, reluctant apology, but by that point, it felt so forced like a last resort to get me off the phone. So much for their staff being friendly - it was all clearly a facade.

I love this place. Service is amazing. The branzino was delicious. The wine was spectacular. I will definitely be coming back again.

had a great experience at Celestine! We ordered the filet mignon ravioli, which was absolutely delicious. It wasn't on the menu, but luckily, they still had it available. The ravioli was generously stuffed and had a perfect texture--none of that tough, chewy dough you sometimes get elsewhere. We also tried the wild boar ragu with mushrooms, which reminded me of Chinese dishes I've had with minced meat. It was decent, but not my favorite compared to the ravioli. Service was fantastic--our server was super attentive and even brought us extra bread, which was much appreciated. The balsamic vinegar and olive oil they serve with the bread is always a nice touch. Since it was my birthday, they surprised me with a complimentary panna cotta, which was a great way to end the meal. The price was reasonable for the quality of food and service. I'd definitely come back just for the filet mignon ravioli, and I'm excited to try more from their menu next time!

This place serves pretty good authentic Italian food. There are words on the menu that I wouldn't dare pronounce. I ordered in English. Our server Is Italian and was rattling it off like nothing, lol. He must have been working there a long time. He had all the specials memorized and you could just tell that he was very skilled at what he does. First came the complimentary bread. It was served soft and warm. We got to mix our own dipping sauce, which was olive oil and balsamic vinegar. For my entree I ordered the Tortelloni di Zucca al Burro e Salvia (tortellini stuffed with pumpkin cream, butter and sage sauce). I've never seen that offered before and decided to try it. It came with eight pieces and was pretty good. The pasta was just a tad too thick for my liking. I would have preferred more pumpkin cream on the inside. The sauce was on point. It was actually kind of filling. I ate half and took the other half to go.

I like that Celestino is an old school type restaurant in Pasadena because Pasadena is losing all of its old school restaurants. What I didn't like was our waiter who was hurried with his demeanor. This is a white table cloth restaurant and he would divert his eyes from our table when he passed us. Bit once did he refill our water glasses or ask how is your meal and ask us if we would like dessert afterwards. He seemed an older Italian waiter who was clearly not happy being a waiter. The food was just ok.

The food so consistent. I appreciate that as a returning customer I can count on authentic style Italian cuisine. I enjoy classic style cuisine. I had Osso bucco, which is hard to find and was delicious. The different pastas are also interesting and tasty. I recommend highly.

Frankly I'm wondering if all these 4/5 star reviews are even real...? Have lived in Pass for many years but had never eaten at this restaurant. Made the unfortunate mistake of trying it out for the first time while my father-in-law was in town - the man is a foodie so when he's in town I make sure I've eaten at the establishment prior - threw caution to the wind.... The food was fine, not great, but fine, thought the menu is far too big to encourage confidence. Our waiter was friendly, very nice, but here's the rub: My daughter ordered a sparkling water that never came. No big deal. My salmon was off - I eat a great deal of sea food, the fish was dry but more so it was a bad piece of fish. No big deal, it can happen, sent back and got raviolis instead. My father-in-law ordered a second $80 bottle of wine later in the meal, a really decent brunello. He of course wanted to pick up the check as he always does - and saw that we had been charged for the sparkling water... AND the salmon meal I sent back... AND for a 3rd bottle of wine we never ordered. Mistakes on billing happen, but 3 mistakes that drive the bill up by $200+ dolors is, frankly, suspect. Our waiter's response when this was pointed out was, "Ha, ha, it was worth a try!" Honestly, this was way beyond making a joke, he needed to address it far more seriously. We didn't need the meal comped, or a free desert - which frankly, many restaurants would have done - just a genuine acknowledgment so we didn't leave having the feeling we had, which was, maybe that wasn't a mistake? I hesitate to even think it but the clientele was mainly older folks, lots of octogenarians who might not notice such an "adjustment" to their bill. Anyhow, the food is fine to so/so. The interior feels used, old but not in an "old school" way. Has a bit of the early-bird special going.

Dinner in Pasadena, California... Keeping in touch with the best Yelpers in Los Angeles, Angel and I met with Tim C. and Stevo O. and his wife, Jennifer, at one of Stevo's favorite Italian restaurants: Celestino Restaurant on Lake Avenue. There's free parking behind the building. Go around the block, look for the entrance on Hudson Avenue, and park in one of the designated stalls. The convenient restrooms are located near the parking lot entrance of the restaurant. Service was excellent! Mario greeted us immediately when we entered. He explained the menu well and told us about the Specials of the Day. I decided to order the MEZZELUNE D'ANATRA con SALSA di FUNGHI e MIRTILLI (Ravioli Filled with Duck, Mushrooms, and Porcini Blueberry Sauce). I wasn't sure about the blueberry sauce. It turned out that the berries were left whole and not pureed. They added a bit of tartness to the diced mushrooms and duck-filled ravioli. It worked out well! I used the complimentary bread to soak up the delicious sauce. The warm, soft bread had a nice crunchy outer layer that covered each slice. It was addicting as I ate more bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar! Yum! Overall, it was a wonderful, relaxing experience. We got a chance to catch up with each other and enjoy a beautiful atmosphere together! Thanks, Stevo, for the great recommendation!

Food was really good, service was good as well. Sat on the patio was a nice evening, the swordfish and lamb shank were delicious. The bread is an add on and NOT complimentary. Which would have been nice to know ahead of time but it's a little up scale so understandable. The dessert was nice and light. The cocktails we had were good not overly strong or overly sweet. Would come again. Price point for our meal was about $60-75 a person depending on what you order.

Great little Italian place in Old Town Pasadena. First time visiting this restaurant by recommendation. We made reservations for 5:30 pm but came early and they sat us right away. The food came out fast too but we were the second or third table to come in as they opened at 4:30 pm. The server was friendly by Muy overwhelmed me with a long list of specials and recommendations. I wanted to try the lobster ravioli but he suggested the seafood linguini. The recommendation was on point. The only thing was that it was not spicy as advertised, but did not mind that. The sauce had a very home made feel with plenty of flavor. My wife tried the beef ravioli with mushroom sauce, she said she loved the mushroom sauce but could not taste the cheese filling. The place was not too loud, the tables are fairy close to one another so you will over hear other people's conversations. The only interesting part was the parking, there is a self parking in the back but was not sure if free or $6. The signs says complimentary but others give you instructions to pay on your phone. Will def come back and try more items, they gave us a complimentary cheesecake (ricotta) for my bday, but wasn't the flavor I was looking for. It was a very nice gesture. I have heard the panicotta is amazing but will try on another occasion.

Good quality food combined with old school attentive service, provides for a fabulous Italian dinner. The bread is amazing!!

Celestino has been a staple in Pasadena for over 20 years. Serving up authentic Italian cuisine with a Sicilian influence. The menu offers a variety of seasonal dishes prepared with organic ingredients. The pasta is made daily, Truffles are imported from Italy, and the Buffalo Mozzarella is as fresh as can be. When he's not in the kitchen, owner, Calogero Drago can be found greeting customers at their tables. I used to go to Drago Centro when I worked in DTLA. I've been to this location years ago for a special event. My Uncle wanted to go out for dinner and suggested we come here since he knows Calogero and the staff well. We were seated in the front patio and, as luck would have it, representatives from Victorioso were on site offering a tasting of their Artesanal Mezcal. I was impressed with how incredibly smooth it is. (Joseph A you would love this!) They also had drink samples made with the Mezcal - Negroni, Daiquiri, and Strawberry Mojito. They were so delicious! Every good meal begins with cocktails and the Ciao Bella was calling my name. (Absolute Citron, muddled strawberries, Triple Sec, & Lime Juice.) Carlo, our fantastic server, brought us a basket of fresh bread. It came with a decanter of olive oil & Balsamic vinegar. I loved how it separated both. You could pour olive oil from one side and vinegar from the other. The bread was warm and tasty. It was hard to limit myself to one slice. We started with Calamari Fritti ($18.95). It was fresh & tender. Perfectly fried with a crisp exterior. The marinara was particularly good. For entrées we ordered: Ossobucco Alla Milanese ($30.50), Risotto Al Frutti Di Mare (special), Linguini Al Fritti Di Mare ($32) & Insalata Di Lattuga Con Barbabietole E Formaggio ($18.50). The Risotto was fantastic! Obviously, it had been simmering on the stove all day. The Linguini was also scrumptious. You could tell the pasta was made that day. The sauce was light and the seafood was fresh and tender. My salad was a combination of so many tasty ingredients: Organic baby lettuces, apples, caramelized walnuts, goat cheese, red & gold beets. Each bite was bursting with flavor. The portion size of each dish was generous. We all needed boxes for the leftovers. Even though we were stuffed, uncle wanted dessert and another round of cocktails. This time I had the Hendricks Fresca (Hendrick's Gin, Lime Juice, Triple Sec, muddled mint & cucumber). We shared the sampler platter, which consisted of: Panna Cotta, Torta Chocolate, & Tort d' Arangia. This did not disappoint! Each one was delizioso. However, my favorite was the Panna Cotta. I never had it before and I was pleasantly surprised with how light, creamy, & yummy it was! It was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. *Free parking in lot behind restaurant enter on Hudson.

I haven't been to Celestino in over twenty (20) years, and, I have to admit, I really don't know why. . . Maybe it's because we don't live in Pasadena, but that shouldn't matter. My family and I go far and wide -- anywhere in Los Angeles, really -- for excellent food. We did make reservations for this particular occasion (my birthday) on a Tuesday evening, just in case Celestino was busy. Here's the rundown of what we ordered: a. Linguine with clams b. Chicken parmigiana c. Lobster tail with pasta/linguine (one of that night's special) d. Penne a la vodka I also ordered a Ciao Bella which is one of their signature mixed drinks. And I have to say, "WHAT A HIT! WE'RE COMING BACK TO CELESTINO!!!" Antonio was our waiter, and he was marvelous. He was knowledgeable of all the specials, and he was genuinely friendly and jokey -- if there is such a word. Overall, the restaurant's atmosphere was clean, moderately quiet, and classy. If you want to eat great Italian food where it's not "stuffy and staid", and the staff is wonderful, GO! to Celestino now. Don't wait another 20 years like we did.

Made reservations for Friday night dinner with my better half. Very busy when we walked in but were seated immediately, albeit in a remote location. The specials were shared, and we decided to order a baby artichoke and arugula salad with lemon dressing to share as a starter. We then opted to share a penne pasta with tomato vodka sauce followed by swordfish with lemon caper sauce with vegetables. She finished with affogato and I, a slice of lemon meringue tart. Although we were seated in a remote corner, service was attentive. We both loved the dishes we shared. Celestinos has a big menu, but then they have a long list of specials, especially different fresh fish preparations. Hard to go wrong.

I went to this restaurant after I visited Caltech campus tour. It was in Monday early evening so not very clouded, which I was lucky. Inside of the restaurant looks like very traditional Italian style and very elegant. I regret with my jeans style but the staffs welcome me and my family. The wait persons are very friendly and has great knowledge about foods and wines. All of my family ordered pastas. These all tasted very good. If I lived in Pasadena, I would come here often. If I have a chance to go back to Pasadena, I will be back!

I usually have high standards for Italian food because I used to live in Naples every summer and spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking with an Italian mom (not my mom) so I love authentic Italian. My friend brought me here and I really loved the ambience inside! The waiter was a very nice man with cool black rimmed glasses. He was very professional and friendly. The bread that came out was just ok... but could have been worse. We were the last customers of the night though so maybe the bread was just old and getting stale. We ordered the carpaccio, seafood pasta and also the two toned clam pasta. They were all phenomenal and so delicious!! My friend and I shared all of the dishes and I really enjoyed the food here. Overall I loved this place and I would come back next time I visit Pasadena again!

By coincidence I had two remarkable meals at Celestino in a single week. Since we are Italian, it is no surprise that my 45 year old nephew wanted a fix! Our waiter very kindly followed my suggestion of what sort of wine would be enjoyable for my nephew and brought a lovely glass. Our meal of Carbonara was perfectly prepared. The desserts (despite apologies for having only a few choices) were splendid. Two days later, I showed up with my son from Geneva and his best friends from Caltech grad school. We had a splendid time and another delicious meal. Part of the evening's fun was remembering my first meal at Celestino 22 years ago and another guest's memory of a meal 18 years earlier. We have all lived out of town for decades (except me, I just moved to Pasadena). The food is always wonderful, well prepared and plated. Our waiter, chatting with us cheerfully in several languages, found the perfect bottle of wine to enhance our meal. Thank you to the team for two memorable evenings! It is always beautiful and welcoming.