Review Celestino Ristorante Pasadena

I was excited to review Celestino Ristorante and Bar, a well known classic Italian eatery in Pasadena. I had heard about how good the food was for quite some time, so my review was long overdue. Owner Calogero Drago, one of the famous Drago Brothers, has created a home away from home for his patrons. Offering authentic Italian comfort food with seasonal ingredients, the restaurant has and extensive menu. They also serve a continuous list of specials.

Review Celestino Ristorante Pasadena

We were greeted by Carole, the cheery hostess who brought us to our table. The main dining room was elegant, yet comfortable. Art by Sam Nicholson adorned the walls. Paintings featuring Italy’s small towns and the canals of Venice enhanced the charming atmosphere throughout the restaurant.

*Celestino Ristorante and Bar Dining Room; Photo by Richard Bilow*

Soon our server welcomed us. Carlos was extremely attentive and gave us some wonderful suggestions. He has worked at Celestino for over twenty four years and has been with the Drago brothers for a total of thirty seven years. So, we took his suggestions seriously. While my husband requested a cappuccino to start, I was looking forward to a nice red wine. Carlos suggested a glass of Incanto Super Sicilia for me. This full bodied red blend offered notes of dark fruit and oak. It had a long smooth finish.

Authentic Italian Cuisine

We began our culinary evening with Hawaiian Prawns. These were massive freshwater shrimp, presented with the heads on and split in two. The dish came with a petite salad of tender baby greens. The lightly seasoned shrimp had a succulent charred flavor which paired perfectly with the delicate salad.

Next, a classic dish…Calamari Fritta arrived at the table. The dipping sauce was amazing, with olives and capers blended into it. The calamari was both tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Exceptional Pasta

Pasta

With so many tasty menu offerings, we had no choice but to order two pasta dishes – The Linguini Con Arafoata E Granchio and the Gnocchi Della Cassa con Fonduta al Tartufa. The Linguini Con Arafoata E Granchio (Linguini with half lobster and crab meat in a light spicy tomato sauce) truly made an impression on us. The dish was beautifully displayed, a gorgeous split lobster tail alongside a generous mound of pasta. The zesty red sauce with crab meat had a marvelous zing.

The Gnocchi Della Cassa con Fonduta al Tartufa (potato dumpling stuffed with mushroom in a truffle cheese fondue) was equally scrumptious. The silky cheesy truffle sauce was exquisite. It drenched the supple potato dumpling balls which were filled with the perfect amount of mushrooms…an excellent combo!

*Bistecca Alla Fiorentina; Photo by Richard Bilow*

The Bistecca Alla Fiorentina (Grilled Porterhouse Steak 18oz served with Roasted Potato and veggies) was out of this world. Seared and cooked to an exquisite medium rare, the steak made our tastebuds cheer with delight! It was tender, tasty and simply magnificent.

Cannoli; Tiramisu; Photos by Richard Bilow

Finally we were persuaded to partake in dessert, even though we were utterly stuffed. I will say, it was so worth it. The classic Italian cannoli was light and smooth inside with a tasty outer crunch, and the tiramisu was an exquisite delicate cream filled treat.

If you crave authentic Italian cuisine, head to Celestino Ristorante in Pasadena. It’s the real deal in Italian comfort food. Celestino Ristorante and Bar, 141 S. Lake Avenue. Pasadena, CA 91101; https://www.celestinopasadena.com/