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The Arbour - Steakhouse in Pasadena, California

The Arbour

4.7 (490 reviews)

527 S Lake Ave #120, Pasadena, CA 91101

Californian restaurant
Bar
Restaurant

About The Arbour - steak house in Pasadena, California

Farm-to-table Californian fare & craft cocktails in a relaxed, fashionable space with a woodsy feel.

Customer Review Summary

The Arbour offers a delightful dining experience with a charming atmosphere and attentive service. Many patrons praise the food, highlighting standout dishes like the tomahawk steak and crab pasta. The farm-to-table approach is appreciated, with fresh ingredients and generous portions. Service quality varies; some experienced great attentiveness while others noted lapses in connection and responsiveness from staff. The ambiance is described as elegant yet casual, making it suitable for both romantic dinners and family celebrations. While some dishes received mixed reviews regarding seasoning and flavor, most guests recommend returning to try more menu options.

Key Features

Service options

  • Outdoor seating
  • No-contact delivery
  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Fireplace
  • Great cocktails
  • Great coffee
  • Great dessert
  • Great wine list

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Happy hour food
  • Hard liquor
  • Healthy options
  • Organic dishes
  • Small plates
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Cozy
  • Romantic
  • Trendy
  • Upscale

Crowd

  • Groups
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations

Payments

  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards

Children

  • High chairs

Parking

  • Free parking lot
  • Paid street parking

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

4.7 out of 5
5
389
4
73
3
13
2
11
1
4
Based on 490 reviews

Nuvia Ball

3 months ago

Wonderful from beginning to end. I went with family to celebrate my birthday. There were several other birthday celebrations happening the same night and several families out for Sunday dinner. Service was great, I only gave it 3 stars for service because our server definitely farted on a pass by our table, but the hostess was amazing and very attentive she even introduced us to the chef at the end of the night.

Candie S Brown

7 months ago

Sit at the bar! You'll get even better service than at a table. Last time we were here it was OK ... the food brought us back more than anything. This time they were booked so we sat at the bar, and the service was impeccable. We ordered the beef chili, which has a beef fat candle that you can NOT miss out on, the duck duo and the spaghetti. The food still didn't disappoint, and this time the service at the bar was just phenomenal. Amazing local gem.

Señor LOCO

Tomahawk steak was fantastic. Probably the best I’ve ever had. Make sure to ask for it when you go in because it’s only in their secret menu. You will not be disappointed. The pasta was divine. Prices are reasonable for the quality of food you’re getting and service on par.

VK

9 months ago

One of the best filets I’ve ever had! No bad parts in the meat, the sauce was very tasty, and everything came together very nicely. Complimentary bread. Everyone was very kind and the service was quick. I also got the chocolate mousse to go and it was quite bitter. It is an acquired taste.

Miss Mari

Underwhelming. I ordered the shrimp pene pasta and a roasted beet salad. The pasta was under seasoned and all around bland. The beet salad was surprisingly good! They made a great vodka martini too. There’s some weird rule that you can’t bring out the bread until you put in the order? That was weird. Our server was off putting. No real eye contact. No connection. I’m a nurse. I know what it’s like to have to talk to strangers. It’s not easy. But when it’s your job to do so, eye contact is key. The dessert menu was meh. I had high hopes for this place. It’s a great space. Too bad the menu and service fell short.

Paulin

1 year ago

Quite delightful experience for me. The food was alright (not as mind-blowing as we’d expected), but it was decent. I had a duck as an entree and felt like it was under seasoned and texture was not as tender - I usually like it more charred and crispy on the skin. The dessert was pretty solid in my opinion, drinks were also on point (top quality French wine selections). I really enjoyed the ambiance here, seems pretty upscale and classy though I’d hope the food could be more elevated for this type of location in Pasadena.

Paulina Stanczak

1 year ago

I've been meaning to try The Arbour since it opened back in 2017. Everyday I'd pass by it on my drive home from work, and whenever I was stuck in traffic on Lake ave, I would try to get a glimpse of what laid behind the wide-paned windows of this enigmatic (and relatively new) restaurant. Even from my car window, I could feel the warm, rustic, and inviting vibe of The Arbour beckoning me to come inside and delight in a comforting meal. My moment finally came this weekend and gosh am I impressed! Let's start with the atmosphere ... the country style of The Arbour is on point! The incandescent lighting, high beam ceilings, and vibrant artwork all set a tranquil tone. The mood is elegant yet also laid-back, which allows one to engage in intimate conversations or lighthearted laughter with their chosen company. Now for the food ... The Arbour provides a pure and sophisticated farm-to-table dining experience. The dishes are not only delicious, but also healthy! Whole foods - ranging from meats, grains, vegetables and fruit - are fresh and seasoned in a way that brings out their best taste. I was surprised by the beautiful presentation and generous portion sizes of our meal, which included the Beet salad, Seabass, and Shrimp Penne. Before the main course, we were even served fresh, warm bread with a dollop of garlic butter. Everything was delectable! Gorgonzola cheese and walnuts paired perfectly in my beet salad, while the succulent seabass (the centerpiece my entree) was served with crispy polenta cakes and savory vegetables. Yum! My friend tucked into his creamy shrimp penne with relish and enjoyed it with a refreshing glass of Chardonnay. Finally, the service was so friendly and attentive. We were seated quickly and got our order in within 10-15 minutes. Our waitress made some great dinner suggestion and even helped me create the perfect mocktail (lime and mint)! Bottom line, The Arbour is one of my new favorite restaurants in Pasadena. I would love to come back here and try their many other exotic dishes. I highly recommend this place for a romantic date night or fun dinner with friends!

Vivi L.

1 year ago

I’ve been wanting to try this place for a while. New to the neighborhood (moved here from DTLA) so I’ve been missing pasta from Bestia. Saw good reviews of Arbour and seems like a farm to table concept which is my favorite. We made Saturday night reservations and the hostess walked us to our table right away. The establishment was classic yet still lively and casual enough to not feel very stuffy. Our server Lorna (I hope I spelled her name right) was very welcoming and friendly. She recommended the crab pasta special and wow it did not disappoint! Looked so simple but literally tasted like ocean. My husband got the shrimp pasta which was also amazing! I kept eating off his plate. There were a lot big chunks of shrimp and the creamy sauce was so rich and flavorful without overpowering. Lorna also said the portions are pretty big and she did not lie! We were both stuffed and packed the leftover to go. We also got the Brussels sprouts salad which was refreshing. For drinks I got the limoncello spritz drink and it was also delicious. Overall we loved everything from the food & drink to the service we received. We will definitely be back!

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 4–9 PM
Monday 4–9 PM
Saturday 4–9 PM
Sunday 4–9 PM
Thursday 4–9 PM
Tuesday 4–9 PM
Wednesday 4–9 PM

Price Range

$50–100