The Kitchen Italian Cafe & Pizzeria

This place is a hidden gem in Old Town Pasadena—classic old-school Italian, with some Brooklyn vibes. My server, Elizabeth, was kind, knowledgeable, and made the experience even better. The food was amazing, and the New York City personal pizza was the closest I’ve had to a real New York slice in Old Pas. Great selection of red wines too. Definitely worth a visit 🍕🍝🍷

A cozy Italian restaurant located in the heart of downtown Pasadena. The prices are quite fair for the portion sizes and the taste was satisfactory although nothing that will blow you away. If you’re looking for a safe-bet Italian restaurant with pasta that tastes just as you would expect and nothing more beyond that, this is a good safe option and the service here is excellent with incredibly friendly and attentive staff.

Our NY cousin was in town and we got together for lunch. The place has a nice atmosphere and kept clean. The servers were friendly and professional

Great food and service. A landmark in Pasadena. Staycy and Stephanie started this 27 years ago and serve their customers seven days a week 11 AM to 9 PM. Julie and Hunter took care of us tonight with a red carpet. We thought! But noticed everyone is served as such. Cozy place. Tucked away, yet too too Italian. Drop by next time you are the old Pasadena. You be happy you did

We were pleasantly surprised w our lunch. We ordered from the Dine LA menu. The minestrone soup was delicious. Loved the salad. My wife was very pleased w her pizza. Parking is a challenge. But pretty good Italian food. We will definitely visit again.

The tomato/marinara tasted canned, excessive use of oregano. I ordered minestrone, and what i got was a bowl of floating oregano, dead vegetable vomit. It tasted horrid, colorless. Tasted the same as the marinara. I ordered one slice of cheese, same sauce ( I could not finish it, never in my life have i not finished, a slice of pizza, and Dominoes tasted five stars after this). A straight up hair on my wife's side salad. Blonde; neither of which are we. The sign says 30 years, I'm assuming at some point ownership had changed hands, cause this "30 years" tasted like 3 years of cutting corners. I left, I walked out and I cried, ask my wife. Never, ever have I not finished a small meal.... IN MY LIFE! As a chef, who cooks for 3 of the Major Sports team in Los Angeles have never had a more unenjoyable meal. I don't blame the establishment but the management that has allowed foid to come out soo horrid. Will not be returning. I had such high hopes. Especially for "30 years" in business. Try for yourself. I could be wrong but my experience wasnt an exaggeration.

Such a yummy Italian restaurant. The decor is super cute. It was fresh inside during a rather warm summer afternoon. Service was quick. Items as ordered. Such a unique authentic taste to My chicken piccata. My friend loved her dish as well. I will return.

The food is always excellent and the service terrrific! Get the Lasagna and you won't go wrong. Many tasty items on the menu as well. Located just 1 block off of Colorado, it is easy to find. And the atmosphere is cozy & you won't be rushed as some other restaurants in town.

This place is a hidden gem in Old Town Pasadena--classic old-school Italian, with some Brooklyn vibes. My server, Elizabeth, was kind, knowledgeable, and made the experience even better. The food was amazing, and the New York City personal pizza was the closest I've had to a real New York slice in Old Pas. Great selection of red wines too. Definitely worth a visit

Our NY cousin was in town and we got together for lunch. The place has a nice atmosphere and kept clean. The servers were friendly and professional

I have missed the fettuccine alfredo and garlic roasted potatoes SO much now that i work in DTLA. I ordered delivery and was absolutely thrilled to get the same rich alfredo and crave-worthy potatoes piping hot. The prices have gone up (as is the case everywhere), but i was happily surprised that the serving size also went up! The 1 order of fettuccine alfredo and 1 order of potatoes was enough for 3 whole meals (I made a salad to go with it). My husband and son were thrilled and we will definitely be ordering again.

Ordered 2 slices for take out today. Staff was friendly and courteous. Food came out quickly (it was only 2 slices but still), the inside dining area was clean, nice looking, and spacious with a cool bar setup. Took some pics of the inside but was so hungry I forgot to take one of the slice. Decent size and fluffy crust. Pretty solid slice about $5 each. I'd come back here

Perfect date night spot - quaint place, great food, nice wine list, and attentive service. Pizzas are fantastic, pastas are delicious & even the salads and sandwiches are really impressive. Parking is just a few yards away, too - which is not normally the case in Old Town Pasadena. Reasonable prices, too! They have been here over 25 years and are clearly dedicated to keeping the food & service at an impressive level.

Got deep dish w artichoke and onions and eggplant parmasean and it was very good, I was very happy with them and will come back

Friendly place and food was delicious. My waiter was very nice and attentive. Definitely recommend

Dont know why this place is slow but its really good! My daughter always wants pasta so I went here since we were shopping in the area. The ambience is nice and cozy. Our server was attentive and gave excellent customer service. I ordered NY Style pizza and my daughter loves spaghetti so that what she had. She absolutely loved her dish. She loved the music...she absolutely loved that it wasn't busy which umm....obviously is not what a business wants lol. She's loves it. We will be back. Our waiter Micheal was awesome!!!

I loved this little Italian spot in Old Town! My friend and I walked in on a busy Saturday night but were able to find a spot at the little bar. It's not a huge place but they've got indoor and outdoor seating. The woman working at the bar was super friendly and gave good recommendations on their foods and drinks. Everything on their menu sounded tasty so I'd definitely be down to go back and try more! If you're looking for a good spot for Italian I'd recommend this place.

Tony Soprano would eat here on the regular. The Kitchen is an old school Italian sneak joint. A brick wall bastion of Italy. The food is lovingly made, the baked dishes are wildly delicious, and they also serve a Sausage and Peppers calzone, you need this in your life. The pizza? Great. The ziti? Great. The sausage and peppers? Do it. Place is a gem, do yourself the favor.

Stromboli Calzone was absolutely amazing, service was swift and attentive. Ambiance felt homey. Tortellini w/pink sauce was good.

Worst experience EVER we called to ensure service and were told be there by 8. We get there 7pm wait 20 min to be seated, wait 20 min at the table for the wait staff to come to us after flagging down and told they won't serve us due to kitchen closing. Mind you it's 7:38 and we've been here for 40 min. Kitchen closes at 8. Worst new year experience EVER. YOU SUCK. NEVER COMING BACK

Parked at De Lacey parking structure across the street, where Buca Di Beppo and Miniso is. It's just around the corner with red bricks on the building and it was kinda empty when my group and I got there around 5:30-6p on Friday night today, but it kinda picked up with more people over time. We're glad to sit outside since we were kinda loud and I noticed the inside ambiance when I went to the bathroom, it was pretty chill with ac, but also kinda quiet. The server came right away when I was the last to arrive 30min late and gave us some time to think about what we want. I got the Dine LA menu that is a limited time only and tried their minestrone soup, shrimp and roasted ravioli, and tiramisu with white wine. Everything paired nicely. Though the soup wasn't as hearty or packed with veggies as I've had in other places. I was also not a fan of beans and for the ravioli, I felt it was more cheesy than shrimpy, but I do love how loaded it is and it does taste good. Tiramisu was just right since it tasted like it was layered with ice cream and overall service was good and efficient. They were attentive on checking up on us and refilling our waters. I had a great time with my group overall!

Great local cozy Italian restaurant with delicious food at ridiculously reasonable prices. Not high end yet down to earth simple and tasty food. Server - Hunter- was utmost spot on efficient, kind- hearted, and professional. A warm environment to relax with no pressure nor rushing you along here. Will definitely return!

WOW!!!! This hidden gem in Pasadena is a MUST! We stopped in for a quick bit and a couple of drinks and after seeing the other patrons' plates we had to jump in with both feet and get the spaghetti, pepperoni 14" NY pie, and a minestrone. The soup was a little bland but some cheese and salt fixed it right up, the spaghetti was on point as I requested they make the meat sauce a little spicy and the pie was a solid 7.5, out of 10, everyone knows the rules, but you be the judge for yourself.

The Calzone was tremendous! And big enough for leftovers tomorrow. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. So much so we are headed back tonight. Service is very attentive and offers suggestions. Ambiance is very family style.

I have always wanted to try this place and tonight for the first time I went. Let me tell you I was not disappointed . Ordered the Chicago style w added pepperoni as it only comes with cheese, 10inch for 21.00 and 2 bucks per topping Not bad given it's in old town and everything will cost you. Got the basic house salad. Nothing special but not bad at all. Comes w tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini. It's fresh 15 .00 for the full size . Inside is simple and clean , friendly server and lots of seating indoor and outside as well Can't wait to come back to try the pasta

Went here for dine LA yesterday. Service was patient & friendly. We got seated right away as the restaurant is a hidden gem. We were able to make a reservation on OpenTable, which wasn't necessary but just to be safe. The minestrone is decent. The complementary bread with the butter paired really well. The flaky white fish was zesty, soft, & delicious. The tiramisu was masterful. It's pretty hefty for one person so either bring a human garbage disposal or pack it to-go. They also let my friend sample the red and white wine before ordering his own. The house wine was also included in the dine LA menu. The ambiance was well-lit, calm, & romantic. It wasn't chaotic like the other restaurant nearby. Great for dates & friendly dinners.

The best Mariana sauce I have ever had in my life! Fabulous food, we had fried zuchinni with the Mariana sauce, New York pizza and lemon piccata! The nicest staff and tried to get the recipe from the owner but no go! Her daughter waited on us and was delightful! Wonderful experience!

A group of us dined-in for weekday lunch and we had a delicious meal. We ordered a variety of starters including the bruschetta, fried mozzerella, and the meatballs. The bruschetta came with a large mound of diced tomato and onion, soo much balsamic, and a good number of very crisp bread toasts. It was a very generous portion and really fresh. The mozzerella were breaded and fried crispy. Meatballs came two to an order with a good amount of red sauce. Our entrees were huge portions and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Shrimp scampi has a ton of garlic and butter and 6 shrimps with linguine. The Lemon Pasta has a lemony, mushroom sauce and you can add chicken. Chicken Parm was another staple that we enjoyed. It's the kind of Italian-American fare with red and white tablecloths but service was excellent and we all left happy. Since that first visit, I've gotten take out several times. We've reordered the shrimp scampi each time and it was just as garlicky as before. The Chicken Marsala and Chicken Piccata both have a breaded, pounded chicken breast and good sauce. I really like ordering sauteed spinach as a side in lieu of the pasta. It might be sauteed frozen spinach but they add a lot of onion so it tastes great.

Great pizza, lasagna, service... what else can I ask for! The Kitchen is our default pizza spot in the area. The food never disappoints.

Tri color Tortellini and Cheese Ravioli 10/10 , customer service & server was great . Cute spot , ambiance great

My new fave Italian spot in Pasadena!! I love the ambiance very Italian home style with the red checkered tablecloths and the atmosphere is so romantic and chill! The food is delicious and the service is exceptional!!

Public pay parking structure across street Outdoor seating with cover on both side of streets since this restaurant located on corner Plenty of seating on Wednesday night  House salad is very plain - not recommended  Chicken Alfredo pasta- one best pasta I had since the covid.. eat will hot.. sauce gets thick when cold Pizza - cheese.. yummy even I am meat lover type person Pizza - veggies, I did not eat it because have toppings I don't eat. But my friends love it. Garlic bread is okay wish have more garlic flavors.  I would go back for the pasta..

My wife and I made the trek out to Monsterpalooza but when we got there the line was way longer then we we willing to stand in. Just to make the trip worth while we decided to stop and get a bite to eat. We saw the kitchen and decided to stop in. It was empty so of course we were sat immediately. Our server's name escapes me since J waited so long to complete this review. Anyway she was very pleasant. Our food came out fast and was very delicious. Then I started to wonder why exactly this place was empty. Good service is harder and harder to find. Then when you add the deliciousness of the food, I hope more people find their way here.

Just a great place to hang out. Food is tasty, and service is phenomenal! The girls are awesome. Just a wonderful, homey, down to earth place with great food.

In town for business. Our noses lead us here. We parked down the road and had the intention of eating somewhere else. Then we smelled Italian food. I'm not sure if it was coming from this place, but we stumbled upon this one and decided to try it. If you like your taste buds, go no further. We had a joke at dinner about all the people walking past us as we sat on the patio. "Why are you just walking by, do you hate yourself? Stop here and get some food!" My friend and I split a pizza, breadsticks and spaghetti and meatballs. I'd love to say we had leftovers but after a long day of traveling and no eating we were starving. In our gluttonous frenzy we had destroyed the pasta before I could get a pic. But it was amazing. You can tell the meatballs and the pasta are made there. Not frozen stuff trucked in. Service was great. I don't remember our servers name but he was a very nice and polite young man. Very attentive, kept my drinks filled. It was empty when we went in, literally nobody else was there eating. I was afraid that might have been a bad sign but it was a Monday night around 7 pm. I'm sure it gets busier on the weekend. We paid street parking it was less than $2 at the meter for 1 hr. If you get the breadsticks ask for a side of marinara, it kicks it up a notch. So should you eat here? FOGETTA ABOUT IT! Just come eat already!

Everything is always WONDERFUL here- the food the people and the ambiance! We frequent here often. One of our favorites Highly Recommend

Been here a few times. We love it here. We love the cozy, old town ambience and that it doesn't get too crowded as most Old Pasadena restaurants typically do. However, we've never come in the evenings or weekends, so I can't speak to that. The food is always good quality, and ample so we always have leftovers. The servers are attentive. But most of all, we love the location-- it's around the corner and away from the always-crowded Colorado & Delacey intersection. Parking is a bit steep in the structure across the street on Union, but that's Pasadena for you!

One of my favorite casual places to grab a bite in old town Pasadena. Super friendly owner and staff and they are still one of the best deals in old town. Some of the best meatballs, pink sauce and cheesy garlic bread. Great casual friendly atmosphere with a small bar. Has been for over 30 years - support your local woman owned small business. Worth the short walk off the main path of old town. Where else can you still get a Peroni for $6 in old town. They also have NY, Sicilian and Chicago Deep dish pizzas. Great for dates, a quick casual meal or families.

This place is a Pasadena gem! Gluten free deliciousness! Can't go wrong with the r NY pizza style here as well! Such a delicious spot! Great ambiance and fantastic service!

Tried the following, all delicious: 18" pepperoni pizza, a pizza slice, house salad and also antipasto salad. Tried the chicken Marsala with pasta earlier this week with a bottle of Lagunitas IPA and it was great!

One of our favorite pizza place that serves Chicago Style Deep dish pizza. We have been coming here for over ten years. It's a cozy little cafe on the corner street with indoor and outdoor dining area. The food is delicious with shareable portions. We always get an appetizer, a salad, one pasta dish and one pizza. Serves four people perfectly. I love their mozzarella sticks that comes with Marinara dipping sauce. The deep dish is the star here in my opinion. We absolutely love it. The service is always great, friendly and attentive staff.

Excellent dinner tonight for Dine LA. Large proportions with 3 courses. Nice options for appetizers, entrees and dessert - including a glass of wine. Homey feel with friendly and attentive service by Michael. Enjoyed the bruschetta, caesar salad, lasagna and chicken marsala. Tiramisu and limoncello cake ended the evening. Highly recommend!

Walked in after shopping with my daughter, we were headed to the parking structure when my daughter said she wanted a slice of pizza. I walked in, the lady gave a bland welcome... I asked if they had pizza slices avail. She stated yes- however one slice took almost 20 min to come out. She did offer water... which we declined. Upon receiving the pizza slice... I noticed the validation machine in the back and asked if she could validate for us... she stumbled to get the NO out. I said isn't that the machine right there? She said no again, stating they don't validate. I just looked at her l and said thank you. I guess my $8 for a single slice of pepperoni pizza was not enough for a validation but mediocre service and what appears to be lies. The slice was good... but we won't be back. To bad bc the place is cute on the inside. But not worth the trouble. Would not recc if you value spending your money at places that want repeat patrons and offer great customer service .

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Old Pasadena. It is off the beaten path and a great place for dinner and/or lunch. First, the balsamic dressing on their house salad is the BEST!! The food is also very fresh and tasty. My favorite dish would have to be the lemon pasta or the chicken piccata. If you ask my family, it would be spaghetti with meatballs for my son and husband and Fettucine alfredo for my daughters. The owners Stephanie and Stacy are really great. They are both super nice and accommodating as is the staff. The portions are generous and on the weekdays, their lunch specials are really great. We always have a nice meal at The Kitchen.

If you're interested in a hot crust but cold toppings this is the perfect restaurant for you. First one sent back and second one came the same way 45 minutes later. Ugh :( Stay away - this means you lol.

I love coming here . It a small cozy location on the corner street. Comfortable seating inside. Good customer service . Came for lunch and order few appetizers before ordering lunch. A must have appetizers: The garlic potatoes,fried zucchini and the garlic cheese bread. All delicious and just the right flavors. Very delicious not to heavy Meat lasagna ,good portion served.

Food was good. Went for work Christmas luncheon. Parking is hard to come by so give yourself extra to arrive before your reservation

Steph and all the staff here are without a doubt fabulous! The food is excellent and value is great ! Will def recommend to everyone I know in the area

I have ordered pizza from this restaurant for the past 15 years. I ordered pizza and pasta salad tonight. The pizza didn't have any sauce. I called and spoke with a member of the staff. She told the owner who told her that she saw the pizza being made, and that there was sauce on it. Does she know exactly which one was made for me? Was it the only pizza that they made today? Why would I call a restaurant and lie? I didn't want to leave this review, but I felt compelled to do so after they insinuated that I was lying. Prices have skyrocketed everywhere. If I'm going to pay over $20 for a pizza, I want it to be delicious and made correctly. I had to dip it in pasta sauce to make it edible. I'm glad I had pasta sauce. I guess I'll have to find a different place to order from.

The pizza was great and the service was excellent, went for brunch with my friends and we stayed for a few hours enjoying the drinks and food.

Great dinner date place! Pizza and lasagna are really good! Service is quick and friendly!

Had a great time here; great food, drink and service. Elizabeth was our waitress and she was really good and really nice. We'll be back! :)

I ordered pizza and pasta from here and they were both nasty tasting and super oily. Avoid this place!

What a great new find! I have been looking for a delicious, red-and-white-checkered tablecloth Italian restaurant for ages. Finally found it here. Michael was such a great server. He told me his favorite wine, I tried it, and I couldn't agree with him more. Wish I remembered the name. We had calamari for a starter, and it was crispy and hot and just right. We shared a thin crust pizza with pepperoni, meatball, and mushroom. I am very picky about my meatballs, and these were some of the best meatballs I've ever had. We went whole hog and also shared an order of chicken marsala. Tender chicken, not overly breaded, delicious wine and mushroom sauce. I didn't expect us to finish everything, but shamefully, we did. It was just too good. We even scarfed down the side of spaghetti and marinara. All I can say is that I hope and pray that this restaurant makes it through Newsom's dictatorial shut down. Stay strong, restauranteurs.

One of the servers, I believe her name was Sidney provided us with excellent service! She was friendly and had several suggestions to enhance our lunch and make the experience memorable. Please thank her for us. We will definitely be back!

Food pretty good cute little pizza place! Service was fast and smooth! Smaller place but definitely worth a try!

Ordered a Caprese salad and some of the garlic potatoes, 2 orders. The Caprese salad was on a bed of tired mixed greens, spring mix. The few slices of tomato were thin and had obviously seen way better days. Very mushy and mealy. No basil at all. The mozzarella was the only good part. The potatoes, both orders, were swimming in oil and very average. First time I ever ordered from them. Apparently, even though the food can be ordered through a food delivery app, they deliver themselves, which is fine. However, the food came 39 minutes after the reported arrival time. Not good. Won't be ordering from them again.