Colleen C.
Yelp
I live in Pasadena and often drive across Washington Blvd, passing Deluxe 1717 many times without really noticing it--until one evening I saw a good crowd inside. That caught my attention. The restaurant has both outdoor patio seating and indoor dining that overlooks the patio, with an open-air feel since there's no barrier between the two spaces. I decided to check out the menu, and it looked great--not cheap, but definitely reasonable for the quality they offer.
I brought my daughter for our first visit after noticing they offer happy hour, which I like to try before diving into the full menu. My thinking is: if they can nail the small plates, the full menu is worth exploring.
From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with friendly faces and made to feel completely welcome. I appreciated that no one made us feel awkward for just ordering from the happy hour menu--though we ended up ordering quite a bit anyway! We had the Chipotle Chicken Taquitos, Carne Asada Nachos, Brussels Sprouts, and a couple of glasses of wine.
One detail that really stood out: the sommelier came over to check on us and chat briefly about the wine. That personal touch made me feel seen and valued. I love when a place treats you like more than just a table number.
As for the food:
* The Brussels sprouts were flavorful and cooked well, though a bit heavy on sauce and a touch too crispy for my preference--I'd ask for less sauce next time, but I'd still reorder them.
* The taquitos had great toppings, but something about the chipotle flavor didn't land for us. We're taquito lovers and usually finish every bite, so this was a rare miss. That said, I'd give them another try if someone I'm with wants to order them.
* The nachos were delicious--fresh, flavorful, and satisfying. I'd absolutely order them again. My daughter enjoyed the steak on them, though I personally wasn't a big fan--but I'm picky with meat. I'd probably try it with chicken next time or go full vegetarian.
The freshness and flavor throughout the meal stood out, and there are several other menu items I'm looking forward to trying--especially the pulled pork sandwich, which I think my parents would love. I'm already planning to bring them here for a visit.
All in all, I'm so happy to have discovered such a beautiful, welcoming, and quality-driven restaurant right on Washington Blvd in Pasadena. Thank you to the owners and staff--we appreciate you and will definitely be back!