77 
Mountain Views News Saturday, February 21, 2026FOOD & DRINK 77 
Mountain Views News Saturday, February 21, 2026FOOD & DRINK 
LEE’S HOAGIE HOUSE 
PASADENA 

For someone who has watched every restaurant trend known 
to man come through Pasadena — the ones that worked, the 
ones that sort of worked, and the ones that disappeared faster 
than a New Year’s resolution — I have to admit something: I 
should have written about Lee’s Hoagie House years ago. 

When I walked through the door recently, Shahan Derian 
looked up from behind the counter, smiled, and said, “It’s 
about time.” 

He wasn’t wrong. 

Remember when we all thought oversized menus were the answer? 
Remember the era of valet parking at lunch? Remember Jerry’s Deli — pages of menu 
items, lines out the door? Some places expand, rebrand, chase trends and fade. Others quietly 
keep doing what they’ve always done. 

Lee’s is the latter. 

A few weeks ago, I called Shahan about Burger Week. His answer was immediate. “No. It’s 
the Chicken Hoagie.” No marketing pivot. No gimmick. Just certainty. After sitting down 
and taking a bite, I understood why. 

The Chicken Hoagie is simple in theory and excellent in execution. The chicken is tender 
and seasoned properly, stacked onto bread that actually holds together — and if you’ve eaten 
as many sandwiches as I have, you know that’s no small accomplishment. A hoagie is architecture; 
if the structure collapses halfway through, the experience is over. This one holds its 
form from first bite to last. It’s balanced — not drowning in sauce and not dry — just steady, 
satisfying, and repeatable. 

Step behind the counter and you see why the place works. Orders are called clearly, ingredients 
are prepped with care, the grill is managed properly, and the sandwiches are wrapped 
like someone expects you to enjoy them. Walk in for breakfast or lunch and you’ll be treated 
like you’ve been coming in for twenty years — even if it’s your first visit. Need catering?
Shahan will handle your wedding… or your divorce. He’s that steady. 

And then there’s the pickle bar. Not pickleball. Pickles. Crunchy, briny, help-yourself hospitality. 
In an era where every extra seems to cost extra, that small gesture feels generous 

— almost rebellious. 
Shahan sharpened his skills at the legendary Burger Continental on Lake Avenue, back 
when it was easily a top-five restaurant in town. Big crowds. High standards. No shortcuts. 
He brought that discipline and charm with him to Colorado Boulevard. 

Here’s what decades of covering restaurants have taught me: places don’t survive in Pasadena 
on hype. They survive on consistency. On familiarity. On being the 
spot you think of without having to think too hard. 

Lee’s Hoagie House isn’t chasing trends.
And maybe that’s exactly why it’s still here.
2269 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena 


YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! 
Call Patricia 626-818-2698
Peter A. Dills 

https://
podlink/1116885432 


THE TASTING ROOM 
A GREAT BARGAIN FROM ITALY 

I’m Gustavo Lira, Tasting Room Manager and Wine 
Buyer at The Bottle Shop in Sierra Madre with another 
wine and spirits selection. 

Have you been watching the Winter Olympics? If 
so, then you should be drinking this red wine from 
Piedmont – not too far from where some of the 
Olympic events are taking place. This wine is better 
than a Gold Medal! 

Agricola Tintero was founded in 1900 by Pierre “Pietrin” 
and Rosina Tintero. Currently, Pietrin’s great-
grandson Marco is the owner and winemaker and 
runs the estate with his wife Cinzia. The estate is 
sustainably farmed. They are a small producer with 
annual total production of around 41,000 cases. 
One of the wines they produce is the 2024 Tintero 
Rosso which is a delightful blend of 50% Barbera, 
40% Dolcetto, 5% Nebbiolo, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermentation takes place in 
stainless steel, and the wine is aged for eight months also in stainless steel to keep the freshness 
of the grapes. The wine is bottled unfiltered, so it is a vegan wine. 


The wine is savory with wonderful juicy, mouthwatering acidity. Black plum, red berries, 
very subtle notes of tobacco and soft tannins. This is a very likable and easy drinking wine 
that over delivers for the price. Serve it slightly chilled, but in this weather, you may not 
have to chill it at all. I can finish this wine in no time at all. It’s that good. Get some while 
you’re Olympic watching, you will love it! 

Get it at The Bottle Shop for $12.99. Say you saw it in the Mountain Views News and get 
the special price of $11.79 when you purchase two bottles. Special pricing good through 
February 27th. 

Until next time – Salud! 


Ifyou’rethinkingofmakingamovenextyeargivemeacall!
DRE#02015404 
626.253.1323 
suecookrealtor@gmail.com 
You Deserve an Agent Who 
Will Do More Than 
Just 
Sell 
Your 
Home 


Learn 
why 
sellers 
say 
that 
working 
with 
me 
was 
the 
difference 
between 
success 
and 
stress! 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com