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I love having Mike & Ann's in my 'hood. There's nothing better than waking up late on a weekend morning and taking a lazy stroll down Mission with the bf to their delightful umbrella covered outdoor patio. The kind of morning when you don't need to keep an eye on the time and make a mad dash to get breakfast... because at Mike & Ann's, the best meal of the day is served until 2:30 p.m. Omelettes, pancakes, breakfast quesadillas and your standard bacon and eggs fare are all excellent. The bacon in particular is to die for... thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. Coffee is also outstanding, and we were never without. The only gripe my stickler of a bf had was that the foil-wrapped pats of butter were hard and cold....and how can you spread butter that way?!
I've been to Mike & Ann's for dinner a number of times as well, when the patio becomes filled with candles and twinkling strung lights - just lovely. Overall, I'd give it 4 1/2 stars... really good food and ambience, but on a couple of occasions the service may have been a little slow and disjointed.
Not too shabby. This place reminds me of a first date I went on with Rosemary Kimble, back in the 90s. We ended up kissing at the end of the date and I replied, "Not too shabby." Needless to say, I ended up in the hospital and never heard from her again, which is a shame, a guy normally has to pay for that sort of action!
This place has a great wine selection, interesting dining area and a lot of personality... I just felt a disconnect from the wait staff, not that they were rude. THey weren't and we got good service... I guess I'm a needy turd of a man that needs a little more attention... I know, I know. That's my problem, not theirs. But this is Yelp, and I can write what I want!! Well, not really, I can't tell people that Panned Parenthood is a great place to pickup on the ladies... Totally true by the way.
Anytime I'm in SoPas this is one of my fave spots to grab a bite. Food is good, granted not as great as it could be, and the service is ok, granted not as great as it should be, but the locale, it's divine. Perfect umbrella covered patio seating and cozy tables indoors, some around the bar, but all flooded with light and space from the street facing glass walls.
Used to come here after my long runs in the Arroyo and they make some solid oatmeal and scrambles, though it's kinda hard to screw those up. The lemon ricotta pancakes are light and fluffy and the earthy raisin-nut bread that comes with just about everything is rich and addictive.
Mostly, it's the nostalgia that gets me. This is one of the neighborhoods I grew up in and being here brings back fond memories of times and faces long gone. There's also this ridiculously cute craft shop next door that makes me want to stock up on cutesy crafty stuff I'd never have a clue what to do with. If they could get their act together, with better service in particular, I'd start coming just for them, but for now, when I'm in the hood, it'll do.
I've been here a few times and really like this place for Sunday brunch. Pancakes are amazing and most of the dishes are yummy. Service is great and you always have a full coffee cup. Their regular coffee is really good. Plenty of seating inside and outside.
Horrible service.
Overcrowded with people with dysfunctional taste buds.
As Lesley C. put it, it was one of the most infuriating dining experiences. My guest and I walked out before our meal came the second time I went. The tragic part was the manager genuinely seemed to want to make it up to us, and gave us our dinner on the house to go, but even that couldn't make up for how poorly guests are treated here.
Food was horrific, the first time and second time around. Give other deserving restaurants in the area your business!
REVIEW BASED ON BRUNCH.
I live 15 minutes away from this place & never realized that it was an actual restaurant. Go figure...
I dined alone for brunch a week ago & I was pleased with my meal. You can't go wrong with pancakes, eggs & bacon.
For those who care about the types of crowds, yes it is yupster central, but the prices - for lunch/brunch - made the meal worth it. Coffee was excellent.
Since I wasn't in a rush, I wasn't too concerned about the waitstaff services. But, I understand other reviewers frustration with waitstaff.
My waiter asked me if I wanted more coffee and never came back with coffee. I must have waited at least 30 minutes & I believe the busboy filled my cup. Also it took a while to get a refill of water.
I got the impression that the waitstaff & management are somewhat inexperienced. If you're trying to be the neighborhood restaurant that people love to talk about - IN A GOOD WAY - substance matters way more than style.
I will keep them on my list for a local brunch spot. If you are not in a hurry & like to linger on a Sunday afternoon, try M&As.
We're new in town and after a day of moving and painting we decided to scope out the neighborhood for a nice dinner. Mike and Anne's looked cute and inviting so we parked around the corner and headed in.
In a nutshell -- the food was good, the prices were reasonable, the service was slow, the ambiance was relaxing and both high-end and casual. Would return for a leisurely meal. Good place to bring parents.
Although everything we ordered was tasty, the mushroom risotto really stood out from the crowd. Musty, rich truffle oil was used generously and there were a variety of fun-shaped 'shrooms on top. We also liked the fig and prosciutto appetizer and the burrata appetizer.
This would be good for groups with a reservation on the outside patio, the inside didn't look big enough for a large group.
I love this place!... Considering it's close to my house... I come here at least 3times a month to have wine at their very nice bar or some delish apps, they have the best sweet potato fries ever!!! Everything on the menu that I've had is scrumshous!!!
Mike & Anne's never ceases to infuriate me. I ordered Yogurt and boyfriend ordered chicken sausage omelet. Table to our right, who ordered piles of food and table to our left, who ordered oatmeal both received their food before us and nearly finished eating before we got our food. WHY? WHY? Is an omelet really hard to cook? Was scooping vanilla yogurt from a Dannon container really hard to do?
Then, I recall this place usually piling the yogurt high with homemade granola and heaps of fruit. Of course, being the shittiest restaurant in the world, they have reduced that to a little stripe of granola and 2 strawberries, quartered, and 4 blackberries. Come on. At $7 bowl, you could throw a girl a bone and give her a few more berries. Then, the chicken sausage tasted like hot dogs.
My word of advice to Mike & Anne's. You are resting on your laurels. Your food is NOT worth the price so stop being so stingy.
Mike & Anne's is a restaurant that I frequent fairly regularly for Sunday brunch. I come back over… Read more »
One of the many places I frequent yet still haven't reviewed, however I was here last night and as always, I'm super pleased whenever I'm here. The owner named the restaurant after his mom and dad. Four stars alone on being a nice guy by commemorating his parents.
My favorites are the burger and cucumber gimlet. The menu is extensive, and the bartender, well, she's just a sweetheart. If you're from the area, then it makes the experience comfy. It always seems like I run into friends here. With that being said, I'm always happy whenever I leave.
I found this place through the handy Yelpers in Pasadena via "Today in Talk". There were a few suggestions out there, but after perusing the reviews and the menus I went with Mike & Anne's. To be honest, the name kind of sold me; I imagine it's a hip couple who decided to screw corporate life and open up an adorable restaurant...and yes, I realize I have a very active imagination.
I went with a couple of girlfriends on a Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. and had zero wait, in fact we got to chose indoor/outdoor seating and what table to sit at. There were a few fellow diners around, but they were all so calm (even the table with children). We sat outside and were immediately greeted by our dreamy French waiter (who kept calling us "Mademoiselle" and saying "merci"), glasses of water, and got to place our order for coffee.
We each ordered something different and were all pleased with our choices. I got the chicken sausage, avocado, cheese omelette (I substituted cheddar/jack for swiss, and egg whites) and it was pretty good. The potatoes with peppers and onions however, were amazing; as was the yummy raisin/nut toast that comes with it. I tried my friend's lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberry compote and they were so darn good. And this coming from someone that normally doesn't like lemon flavored stuff; they were light, rich, and fresh tasting.
It was a great experience: fabulous service, good food, nice setting, chill patrons.
I come here for brunch and afterwork Burgers and Beer. The burger is better then average. They have a small selection of very good beer. They serve Craftsman which is a local favorite but I would like this place a lot better if there were a few more beers to choose from. Brunch seems to be their strength. The selection is great and each dish consistently impresses. They seem to really get the art of the poached egg which is essential to me. The service can be a little inconsistent in the restaurant I have had quick friendly service and also had days where I waited forever to give my order. The dining areas usually pack pretty quick so I recommend making a reservation. The bar usually has space for last minute arrivals.
Been to M&A twice, first time for dinner with bf and his parents, second time for Sunday brunch with the bf. The food is okay and dinner can get pricey quickly. Between the two, the brunch is probably the more affordable (and tastier) option.
When we went for dinner, our waiter brought out three glasses of water (though we requested four). After about 45 minutes and a reminder or two, he brought out the last glass. The service wasn't quite en par with a place like M&A, our server was rather odd, just seemed inexperienced. BF's dad ordered soup to have before main course, and after 45 minutes, asked server if she was going to bring it out (she had disappeared for a while). She said she had completely forgotten to put in his order, and instead of apologizing, said rather awkwardly, "that must be very disappointing for you, do you want me to go back and place the order?" I mean, come on, give the guy, "I'm sorry, I completely messed up" at least.
Then it took the meal quite a while to come out. Thank goodness for the sweet potato fries BF's boyfriend ordered for appetizers. When our main courses finally came out, I noted that the portions were a little smaller than expected for the price paid. Had the pork chops, which were nothing to write home about (I ordered them a tad on the rare side and it came out way too fried). BF's mom seemed to enjoy her lamb rack.
Overall, wouldn't go back for dinner. Firefly and even Bistro de la Gare are better options in the neighborhood IMO. Dumbs down for service as well.
Few months later, BF wanted to go to try their brunch. After a short wait (we didn't have reservations, but there were a good amount of empty tables inside), the hostess seated us. Few minutes later, she came back, apologized, and said she forgot the manager had told her that she needed the table for something and not to seat someone there. BF is unhappy at this point, had his heart set on this table for some reason, and didn't like the other two options (one was a table crammed in the corner booth that was ideal for one person, not two) and another in the middle of all the action. Both hadn't been cleaned.
After a while we agree on a table in the back. Manager comes by and apologizes (after bf has made it very clear that he thinks it's stupid we can't sit at a still empty table) and blames hostess for the error. Turns out she wanted to combine that table with another for a lunch she was having with her parents and in-laws (Mike and Anne), though at that point, no one in the party had showed yet. We get over it and ordered.
Rather uneventful once we were seated. I had Anne's favorite, bf had one of the omelets. Definitely more satisfying than the dinner, and much cheaper as well. Good coffee. Staff came by way too often to try to clear us out (and we weren't there for very long).
Overall? Don't think I'll be back. Too many other places with better food, service, and prices. I gave it a try, two in fact, and know that there are just too many better options out there.
We stumbled across this restaurant on a Thursday evening. The first thing we noticed was how charming the place was. Despite located on a busy street, the outdoor seating reminded me of some vacation destinations. People were relaxed, enjoying their beer, and their company.
My friend and I shared a plate of New Zealand mussels. The mussels were very fresh. The broth was slightly too sour to my taste though. For the main course, I had the mushroom risotto. This dish was awesome! The rice was cooked perfectly and the white truffle oil paired so well with the woodiness of the mushrooms. Even though it was a vegetarian dish, it was very satisfying because of the creaminess of the risotto and the meaty texture of the mushrooms. Delicious!
I was looking at the photos of all the dessert plates as I was writing this review. They all looked so attractive. We did not have dessert that night. There is always next time! Would love to come back again.
PROS: Good food, Good breakfast, Very nice view by the window at night, Ok pricing.
CONS: Parking kinda sucks if your looking for street parking .. but there is a school house lot for all the shops on this street, Service is kinda slow, Close seating arrangement in the indoor section.
Cant wait to go back to try more.
Popped in tonight for a drink since everything else was closed in South Pass. Sat down at the bar and it took the bar tender a retarded amount of time to get to us. Since he had two other people at the bar and one tab;e to deal with that's pretty unnecessary. He aid it was his first night, which is possible cause it's a Sunday. But for Christ's sake I don't care, when you have 6 people to deal with it should not be a big task.
Finally got to order, I had a "craft" type of beer. I'm usually opposed to these beers since they are not very good most of the time. Brewery types of restaurants that only server their beer are not good eats in my book. This one was a Craftsman Lager and not too bad. But maybe I just wanted a beer and anything would do at that point. My drinking partner got a glass of Malbec which was pretty good.
We also wanted to order an appetizer but the Kitchen closed at 9. Lame, but it's a Sunday so I understand. However, if we had been waited on when we got there then we could've had something to eat. Next time I'll go down the street to Chevron, but some beers - pound them in the car and go to Carrow's. I can give myself bad service but at least I don't have to tip me.
Came for dinner here last night.
Ambiance is romantic but expect to be stared down by snobby regulars here. Food is overpriced and mediocre at best.
I ordered a $10 salad because their menu is limited. Took them 45 minutes to bring us our food and not once did the waitress bother showing up. Tables are crowded way too close together so you're better off sitting at the patio if you want some privacy. You're better off going to the little parlor up the street
Had dinner here with some old friends last Thursday and thought it was OK. Prior to coming here, I did my research on Yelp and read a bunch of reviews. They are almost all on point. The parking is so bad since the streets are pretty narrow and it's easy to miss this place unless you've been or pay close attention. I had to circle around a few times to feel my way around the area and find parking since it has a metro link crossing close by so it can get pretty confusing trying to maneuver your way back to the restaurant.
When I finally got there, I thought it was a cute dainty place that would be nice for sipping on wine and have conversations. The outdoor patio was very airy and looked great for outdoor dining on a warm yet breezy day! My party opted to sit inside since it was getting a lil chilly out, but the ambiance inside is great too since it felt cozy with a contemporary touch.
We started with the bread and tomato paste spread that wasn't that great and ordered mac & cheese and sweet potato fries. The mac & cheese was OK since it was good on top, but got pretty greasy and oily on the bottom. The sweet potato fries, however, was great. It was crispy and light. Not as greasy as a lot of fries out there so I didn't feel as guilty popping one after another. I really had no choice since it took almost an hour after our starters before our entrees was served. That's with putting all of our orders in at the same time as the starters. One of the reviews were dead on when it stated that the wait for food was long...regardless if there was a lot of people or not. In our case, there was a fair amount, but I wouldn't say it was remotely crowded at all.
I ordered the corn and ricotta ravioli, which was pretty good since it was nice to occasionally feel the crunch of the corn bits while eating the ravioli. It was kind of unexpected and different. One of my friend ordered the cod and the other ordered the short rib. Both were good, but nothing that was mind blowing or worth phrasing. We ended with the warm brownie dessert that was pretty good since it was warm and soft when it came and the vanilla bean ice cream next to it was just the perfect compliment!
Overall, my experience was average since the food was average and the service was horrible. The lag time between dishes were just way to long. The reason I gave it a 3 star instead of 2 is because it was a nice environment and we didn't feel rushed/pressured to leave since we were there from 6:30-11pm chatting away!
3.5/5
This place wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. After reading a few reviews, I was left with a poor taste in my mouth.. but after randomly walking by this restaurant, I decided that it was rather cute and I loved that they were dog friendly.
They have delicious cocktails.. I had a cucumber concoction and it was quite delicious. My friend and I opted for the hamburger which was $12 and gourmet.. it was good.. exactly what you would expect it to taste, but I must say... $12 dollars? Really?
To basically sum it up, this place has great ambience.. esp if you want to grab drinks with someone.. the food isn't too shabby, just expensive.. good service.. and I'll most likely go back just because of the ambience, but I won't be going any time soon (or will I?)! Give it a try.. you may surprise yourself!
Mediocre food at best, poor service all around, and sweet potato fries, that are, like oh my god, amazing! I'll take my sarcasm for desert. Side note, sweet potato fries are sliced, fried, and salted. ANYPLACE can do it and have it turn out ok.
Try another spot. There is nothing exceptional here other than the long wait for your order and the perpetually empty water glass.
Came here for lunch. The menu is limited. The prices are reasonable. The food is nothing special. Plus, we got sick from the undercooked burger. The decor/atmosphere is cute and warm. The staff takes forever for everything. Overall it's just okay, but i'm not sure i'd ever want to come back.
I've wanted to come to this place ever since I moved down to Los Angeles, so I was pumped up when my co worker asked me if I wanted to go with her. But alas, I was disappointed.
The restaurant is located in a quaint neighborhood in South Pasadena. The minute I stepped in, I felt like I was transported to some restaurant in the Lower East Side of Manhattan with the dark woods and Asian influences. Although the restaurant was nice, the section of the restaurant where the bathrooms are located had the feel of a hole in the wall Mexican place.
The meal started off with some bread and a spread which I believe was a mixture between tomatoes and olives. I dont like olives but the spread was quite good.
The menu was underwhelming. 99% of the time I can find something I want to order, but all the dishes on the menu didn't seem appetizing. I give it points for having one of my favorite beers (Duvel from Belgium) though. I ended up ordering the braised boneless shortribs and a side of mixed greens and mac and cheese.
The mac and cheese was easily the best dish. It struck the right balance. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and it did not have either too much cheese or too much grease.
The mixed greens were pretty subpar. It was almost like they took lettuce out of a bag, put some balsamic vinegar on it, and shaved a bit of parmesan over the top. I could've made the same dish in my own kitchen.
The shortribs were OK. The meat was tender but the sauce it was in was a tad too sweet for me. Although I must admit that I don't often like sugar in my entrees.
Overall, the service was great but the food only average. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back although it would probably be nice to sit out on the big patio on a cool summer night.
Cost: $72 for a flatiron steak, braised boneless shortribs, mixed greens, mac and cheese, and a Duvel.
Super cute ambiance but the food is only ok. Great place to meet friends for lunch if you don't want to fight the crowd.
I've been to Mike & Ann's for dinner and on different occasions have had just drinks at the bar. Bar is a little pricey and dinner or ok not great not bad. Recently went for breakfast there was a slight wait since it was a Sunday morning. Once we were seated waiter took out order brought back drinks everything seemed to be going as it should.
About 25 minutes after ordering we started thinking where is our food and server about 10 minutes later server came by and said our ticket had not printer that our food wood be delayed. About 50-60 minutes after originally ordering we got our food. I had an omelet it was fine its hard to mess up an omelets but the side of bread and potatoes were very dry. Check came there was no discount for the wait. We expected maybe at least our drinks to be discounted or removed.
I've now had breakfast, dinner, and drinks here. I like the place and the ambiance but I think it's a little over priced for what you get. I will return at some point although it may not be my first choice.
Good location, peaceful & quiet with a bit of charm.
If you haven't been here, it's because your likely not from South Pas.
It's kinda new, and kinda hidden. But worth your sat or sun breakfast try.
Fresh, reasonable, very mom & pop but again, a tad bit sophisticated..
I only had breakfast her, so I can't really comment on their lunch or diner selection; but it was a late breakfast and all the other servings looked great.
I have been to Mike and Anne's a couple of times for breakfast and a few times for dinner. Although their breakfast items are good, I think the dinner menu is where this place shines. Pork chop is delicious, not dry. The ricotta and corn ravioli has a smoky, spicy tomato sauce with a basil foam. (The ravioli does change seasonally, I believe.) My favorite menu item is the sweet potato fries, crunchy-- fried goodness. And you can have all of this outside on the patio. It's a great place for a nice, quiet dinner.
I would have given this place 5 stars, but one thing they could improve is their desserts. I think the warm items are over-nuked so they come out way too hot and in the case of the bread pudding, almost rubbery.
Upon arriving at the establishment around 6pm on a Saturday, I pleasantly discovered that there was no wait though there were many diners enjoying their meal. The restaurant is connected to the bar; there is also a large outdoor seating area, which is quite popular with the crowd. The service is wonderful; the servers were attentive in making sure guests had water at all times. The decor was modern; I wouldn't say its romantic as it was sort of loud with people happily chatting away.
Now on to the food, like other yelpers I definitely recommend the sweet potato fries with the garlic aioli. It is actually the best part of the meal. The cold complimentary bread was nothing amazing, and I was very disappointed with the supposedly house special and waitress recommended CALAMARI since it is pretty hard to mess up calamari, but unfortunately, they did. The batter was overly thick, you could barely find the calamari in the dry over fried batter. To further the disaster, the olives combined with the odd tasting mushy rice was unpleasant to the palate and unsettling for the stomach. We also ordered the crab cake, and my only advice on that is STAY AWAY! You can barely taste the crab in the thick batter; it tastes like you are eating flour! Nevertheless, when the main dish arrived, it was quite pleasing to look at: large portions too!
For entrees, we ordered the pork chop, which was cooked to perfection, a rare feat as many places overcooks it. However, the mashed sweet potatoes and cabbage it came with were disappointing; they were sweet and buttery in a bad way. I would recommend pairing the meat with sweet apples instead. The best dish was the BLACK COD with EDAMAME; the fish was cooked perfectly, succulent and tender. However, the chef only seasoned the top skin of the fish and neglected to flavor the rest, making the potentially winning dish bland.
For dessert, we had the warm brownie, which was actually hot and delicious. However, they were stingy with the tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream, and the brownie itself was not worth the hefty $7.50, and it just wasn't good enough without the ice cream to complement it.
Overall, Mike & Anne's restaurant has potential; it already has a friendly staff who provides exceptional service. Now, they just need to make a few improvements in the kitchen to make it a hit, but until then, I would not return due to the somewhat expensive price for the unsatisfying taste; it could do so much better.
First off to the idiots who are complaining about the crowd that frequents the place, stop coming here. Seriously you morons, if you don't like the atmosphere go to Norm's. I'm sure there's one located near you, I know there's one in Rosemead, so knock yourself out, rock your baggy pants and stay home. Having lived here off and on all my life, I can tell you that there really aren't any rich people living here. Most are hard working families who tried hard to get here, and are most certainly middle class. Okay enough of the rant.
First off the service is always slow, not sure why because they have a full staff. They're slow at breakfast, slow at lunch and slow at dinner. They're slow when it empty and slow when it's busy and the funny thing is they're not really any slower when it's packed than when there's only a handful of people in the place.
When the food finally comes, it's always good though. The menu changes pretty regularly at dinner. I like the ambience here, it feels warm and inviting which is good because you'll probably be here a while. I can empathize with the reviews that dock points for the slow service, I usually would too. Maybe it's because I live here I feel more forgiving having another nice neighborhood restaurant around. Maybe they'll get better, hope springs eternal.
Food - B+
Ambience - A
Service - C-
Value - B
Parking is bad. Got boxed in by 2 cars, one was a porche. =(.
Service is SLOOOW.
Food is good. But overpriced. Tried the Ricotta pancakes. decent. not great. Potatos... have no flavor. uses very little fruits on other breakfast itmes. omelettes are good.
if you have a good hour for breakfast worth a try. if you are in a hurry..not advisable.
cornery bakery in pasadena is better.
BREAKFAST THOUGHTS:
The M-F/8-10 $6.99 breakfast special is worthwhile. Considering that most breakfast plates average $9. I've only been to this restaurant for breakfast. Quality of the food is uneven. Had a very rubbery Garden Omelet - spinach, goat cheese omelet with very overcooked potatoes the first time about a year ago. Could swear that it was a warm up from the previous day. URGH. Terrible for $9.50!! Vowed I wouldn't go back(they didn't have the breakfast special then), but went on a whim after hiking the lower arroyo.
I've been there 4 times this year, mostly due to the $6.99 plate. I wouldn't go otherwise. I typically pick Anne's Breakfast, standard - 2 x 2 x 2 and good each time. Service can be slow once it's crowded. Most times I arrive around 8:30 to an empty restaurant. We get generally good service...although I wonder what the wait staff is doing when there are so few patrons. A few nitpicks are that they don't automatically offer ketchup with egg orders and that the tables by the full window walls are cold because of air coming through the cracks.
Good service, great food (try the mushroom risotto!), and great ambiance. The food was reasonably priced....the drinks were a bit expensive. I went there for dinner last night but will definitely go back and try their breakfast menu. Lovely place!
I'm happily giving Mike & Anne's 4 stars - quality food (great ingredients), and a lovely patio. I'm also thoroughly enjoying the hipster reviews that dock points for all the "yuppie families" crowding the restaurant. Memo to all of you: if you are eating here you *are* a yuppie!!
Yes, I know it's hard to finally admit to it. I've been there. But once you do, just think of the freedom you'll have! No more hiding your new macbook behind a newspaper, no more scratching the logo off your chunky glasses. It's okay - you can look the part! Enjoy!
TRY THE MIKE AND ANNE'S BURGER!!!
you must.. really. thick ass angus beef patty with a blue cheese accent?! i never pass.
have it with their sweet potato fries, because those are the best you'll find in south pasadena, fo sho.
check the restaurant hours before going, it can trick up a few people out there when they close between lunch and dinner.
Mike and Anne's is one of the rare restaurants I'd be really excited to revisit. This is because the atmosphere is fresh and lively (it was almost full on a Thursday night), the food is innovative and prepared well, and the prices are reasonable. In all, I'd be reasonably sure I'd enjoy a trip back here. Their breakfast menu looks pretty darn good too.
Best Quality: Food
The most exciting aspect about M&A, to me, was looking over the very creative menu. They offer a lot of dishes that are either traditional favorites (e.g., braised short ribs) or "remodeled" classics (corn ravioli with foam). The menu and wine list have a breadth of items--and the dessert menu had several different classes of options (apple, chocolate, custard, etc.) Overall, the food is presented well and has great flavor.
Aspect to Improve: Service, Value.
Our waiter didn't arrive at the table until about 5 minutes after we were seated--in a really bad location (right in front of the front door). In addition, they had to move our table in order to make room for a party of four. However, I appreciate the host providing my salad on-the-house, which shows that they mean well.
Recommended Items:
Free range chicken breast
Roasted pork chop with lingonberry sauce
Corn ricotta ravioli with basil foam
Hangar steak with red wine reduction
In spite of Mike and Anne's being just up the street, my husband and I avoided the spot for a long time, based on all the negative reviews. Damn, Yelp, what's got your panties in a twist over this joint? Yeah, it's not super speedy service but no where in South Pas is a dine and dash, unless you're at Shakers. Yeah, there are yuppies with their babies in the $3k pram, but you're in South Pas, people! The yuppie capital of the SGV.
But you know what? It's one of the few places in town with a full liquor license and a real, honest-to-goodness bar. If you don't want to wait, sit in the bar. The service is fine there, and you'll avoid the one hostess who always looks pissed off. Smile, lady. The food is comfort food with a California edge to it. Their ingredients are high quality and their cocktails are very good. Is this a place to celebrate the important moments in your life? Not really, but it's a great spot for a leisurely breakfast or some drinks and a split supper with someone you love (or like a lot.)
I have to admit, I really like their breakfast. I can make lemon ricotta pancakes at home, but theirs are delicious too. They're a bit stingy with the side of berries, though. The service is slow, but not overly so. It's a place where you can relax over a leisurely breakfast, so they're not hurrying you out to turn the tables over, which I like. My husband ordered a bloody mary and it was all ice. A huge rip off. Other than that, I've loved every thing I've ordered: challah bread french toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, banana walnut pancakes. My husband has enjoyed the huevos rancheros.
I will probably never go back to their bar since I'm pregnant and then once the baby is born, I will be poor.
Oh my holy fucking crap! Finally a bar in South Pasadena. I have been waiting 9 years for this.… Read more »
We first came here a few years ago when we lived 2 blocks away and it was a brand new restaurant. At the time, they had not expanded the place (to include the bar) and not too many people frequented the joint.
We always had a fairly tasty brunch here but when we came back here recently for breakfast the place was packed!! We ordered omelettes and quesadillas and for some reason the potatoes were not as I remembered. This time it was soggy and tasteless and the eggs were awful.
Not to mention the waitress (whom we have had before and she sucks) still continued to suck. She didn't come by to greet us until well after a 10 min conversation between us friends and her first greeting was "I gave you enough time, what do you want to order?" Uhhh I'll have some water and I guess I will order my food now. She's the really skinny chick with the big nose. Can't stand her! Since the food is awful now, we will not be coming back here.
After hearing much praise for their breakfast, my wife and I headed down there one Saturday morning. It was not crowded so I figured we'd be in and out of there pretty quickly. After being seated, it took a good 10 minutes before the waiter came w/menus and to take our drink order. Another 15 minutes before he came back (WITHOUT drinks) to take food order. Another 20 minutes when he came back with the food - WITHOUT drink - all I wanted was a soda!
After a few bites into the omelet (I forget what my wife ordered) I realized something was wrong with the food and didn't eat it. My wife ate about half her food. When I flagged him down to ask for the check - he asked if something was wrong with the food. I said yes, but that was the end of it. No offer to replace the food, or apologize for the excessive long wait or for not liking the food.
1 hour later, both my wife and I wound up throwing up our meals - that's not good. Will not go back for breakfast.
Also, of all the empty tables to sit us in - they sat us right next to a family with 3 kids that would not shut up. It took me staring at the mother for her to finally tell her kids to calm down.
This is right before the bar had opened. After the bar opened, I have been back - but just for drinks.
Decor and service = 5 stars
Food = 3.5 stars
Average = 4 stars
I really wanted to give them 5 stars because it's in the neighborhood, walking distance, and so cute. I love the outdoor patio just as much as indoors - romantic, candlelight, all around pretty.
I came for dinner and ordered the miso-glazed fish (can't remember what kind now) and it was good, but definitely not the best I've ever had. My friend had the mushroom risotto which tasted AMAZING, but I think that was the only dish that was worth 4-5 stars. My bf had the ravioli - tasty, but not amazing.
I have yet to try breakfast here, but it seems that's a big hit at this place. I say try dinner once, and see how you like it, but it's definitely not one of the most amazing restaurants I've ever frequented.
Mike and Anne's is my latest most favorite restaurant for breakfast in the world. They must have caught on that their breakfasts are fantastic because they serve them everyday until 2:30 pm in the afternoon. My favorite is Anne's Favorite with scrambled eggs, and I substitute the lemon ricotta pancakes. Also, excellent is the granola and yogurt with fruit. My family love the meatloaf sandwich and the salads.
The location is excellent with street parking easy to find. The atmosphere is charming. Inside one side is floor to ceiling windows, and outside there is a large patio which is very inviting. They have added on a section with a bar and additional tables. This has helped reduce the wait time, and is lovely. With so many windows, the light inside is beautiful, and they have done a great job creating a Mediterranean style garden complete with full grown olive trees where once there was only black top and parked cars.
I have received prompt, helpful and polite service on every visit. The waiters are charming and friendly, and have been quite attentive.
It's a very relaxed and casual place. The prices are an excellent value. I have been there in the evening for coffee and dessert and they treated us very well. I love sitting outside on a warm summer night enjoying the evening and the conversation. It's a charming restaurant at reasonable prices. If only there were more places like this.
There is something odd about how they decide who to seat. Sometimes people have come in after us have been seated before us although same number in party. We put it down to the hostess screwing up the wait list.
Wkly Specials & Sunday Brunch…
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
1/2 Price Wine Wednesdays
Neighborhood: Glendale
South Pasadena, CA
Category: French
South Pasadena, CA
Category: Asian Fusion
South Pasadena, CA
Category: Sandwiches
South Pasadena, CA
Category: American (New)
South Pasadena, CA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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