Pez Coastal Kitchen
Restaurant · Downtown ·
Modern coastal kitchen serving fresh seafood & cocktails
Modern coastal kitchen serving fresh seafood & cocktails
"Lucy Thompson-Ramirez and her husband-chef Bret Thompson debuted their spacious seafood haven in early 2024. Thompson secures some of Pasadena’s freshest catch of the day along with smoked meats and dry-aged fish prepared on-site. A pleasant dining room colored in white and turquoise eases the mind as servers deliver scallop aguachile shooters, homemade pasta like the spaghetti alla chitarra with Manila clams, and ribeye with salsa verde to each table." - Mona Holmes
"Chef and partner Bret Thompson says: "The fires have had a massive impact on our cover counts. We lost 85 percent of our business over the last week. It’s been heartbreaking for our staff, as we’ve only been able to keep them on for three or four days a week. We’ve been volunteering with our church to help parishioners affected by the Eaton Fire. It’s especially difficult for Pasadena because so many of our staff have had their friends’ or families’ homes burned down or loved ones displaced. It feels like we’ve all been through a war. But we also need the fabric of the neighborhood to come out and support local restaurants." The summary: an 85% drop in business, reduced staff hours, strong community relief efforts, and a plea for neighborhood support." - Eater Staff
"In Pasadena the Thompson team transformed an 1896 building into Pez Coastal Kitchen, a seasonally driven seafood-forward spot with smoked meats and dry-aged fish, showcasing a menu shaped by Mexican American influences and chef Bret Thompson’s training in Spain and France." - Eater Staff
"Pasadena has a new seafood contender with the arrival of Pez Coastal Kitchen. The restaurant serves coastal LA-inspired cuisine like a surf and turf molcajete and a ceviche tostada. The seafood offerings extend into brunch, when diners can find a spicy tuna tostada, limey shrimp aguachile, and fried calamari on the menu." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"Pez Coastal Kitchen debuted in Old Town Pasadena in February. The third Southern California restaurant in the Pez Cantina collection, the restaurant is inspired by LA culture, owner Lucy Thompson-Ramirez’s Mexican American background, and chef-owner Bret Thompson’s travels and training in Spain and France. Find dry-aged seafood, smoked meat, a thoughtful wine list, 16 beers on tap, and fresh cocktails in a revamped building dating back to 1896. The cold bar showcases shellfish towers and scallop aguachile, while the sea bass is served over a Meyer lemon risotto. — Mona Holmes, reporter" - Eater Staff