77Mountain View News May 9, 2026Mountain View News May 9, 2026FOOD -DRINK - FUN 77Mountain View News May 9, 2026Mountain View News May 9, 2026FOOD -DRINK - FUN 
Peter A. Dills 

L.A.’s King of Cuisine

https://
podlink/1116885432 


RESTAURANTS 
THAT FEEL LIKE 
PASADENA 

(AND THE SANGABRIEL VALLEY) 

A few weeks ago, I made what some might consider a 
dangerous observation. 
Parking in Old Pasadena actually seemed easier. 
Now before you accuse me of losing my parking validation privileges, hear me out. 
That simple observation turned into a lunch debate with my friend, author Michael Higgins. 
I asked a question many of us have probably wondered: 
Do we have too many restaurants? 
Michael didn’t hesitate. 
“Never too many choices.” 

The more I thought about it, the more I realized he may be right. 
Because Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley don’t just have restaurants. We have places 
that feel like home. 

Restaurants with stories. Character. Familiar bartenders. Favorite booths. Menus you 
understand without needing a translator. 

Take Taylor’s Steakhouse in La Cañada. 
If restaurants had personalities, Taylor’s would be the guy wearing a sport coat, ordering a 
martini, and quietly judging your steak temperature selection. Old-school booths, proper 
pours, and enough history to fill a few chapters. 

Then there’s The Derby in Arcadia. 
Few places in the San Gabriel Valley feel more rooted in local history. Horse racing, dark 

wood, and the kind of dining room that reminds you some places still know how to do 
occasion dining. 
Domenico’s belongs in this conversation too. 
Whether you lean Pasadena nostalgia or Monrovia comfort, this is red-sauce California 

at its best. No apologies. Cheese, pizza, pasta, and the kind of food that doesn’t need 
reinventing. 
Casa Del Rey in Sierra Madre feels exactly like what a neighborhood restaurant should be. 
Good margaritas. Friendly faces. A patio that makes you want to stay for “just one more.” 

And of course, Panda Inn. 
Long before every strip mall in America had orange chicken, Panda Inn helped define 
upscale Chinese dining for Pasadena families. 

Then there’s North Woods Inn and Clearman’s Galley. 
Because sometimes what we really want is nostalgia served with a baked potato. 
Maybe parking feels easier because habits have changed. 
Maybe delivery apps keep more people home. 
Maybe people simply dine out less often. 
Or maybe Michael Higgins is right. 
You can never have too many choices. 
Speaking of choices, if you’d like to argue restaurant opinions with me in person, I’ll be 

pouring wine and telling stories at the Taste of South Pasadena on May 19—all in good fun. 
Because around here, debating where to eat may be our favorite local sport. Email me at 


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