Best Contemporary Italian Restaurants in South Pasadena

a special occasion dinner with family, Drago was the perfect place and well worth going out of our way for. The food, service, and ambiance were terrific, truly memorable. If you like fine Italian cuisine in a beautiful downtown location with welcoming, highly professional and elegant service, Drago is the place. (Highly recommend the seafood risotto and the lamb).

What an absolutely fantastic experience! A wonderful intimate dinner with extraordinary dishes and every bite was one of admiration of Barbara and her staff’s labor of love. This is one my most favorite experiences in memory which includes several Michelin three star restaurants. This is an LA gem and not to be missed!

Unforgettable Experience! This was, hands down, the best Italian meal of my life! The pasta was absolutely divine—every bite a perfect symphony of flavors that transported me straight to Italy. The freshness of the ingredients, the richness of the sauces, and the sheer perfection of the textures were unmatched. The service was equally impressive. Prince, our server, was a true gem—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely kind. He made us feel so welcomed and took care of every detail with such finesse. His recommendations were spot-on and added so much to our overall experience. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience. If you’re looking for outstanding Italian cuisine paired with world-class service, this is the place. We’ll definitely be back!

the dishes were quite inventive and not the sort of things we encounter in san diego restaurants. the squab pasta was amazingly tasty, the branzino perfectly prepared and delicious and the broccoli with olive oil, garlic and lemon couldn't have been better. the honeycomb ice cream and cannoli were just the right ending to our wonderful meal. the wine list was also inventive and the bottle of sicilian grillo blend paired perfectly with our dishes.

Didn’t know what to expect, but I met a couple friends after work and we shared a pizza and some appetizers. The service was fabulous. Elvira was lovely and attentive. The pour of wine by the glass was generous and the noise level was quiet enough for us to have a lovely conversation between friends - we will definitely come back!! The pizza and brussels sprouts were fabulous!