Union - Pasadena

If you're a pasta lover, this is the spot to visit in Pasadena. We began our meal with an arugula salad that was a refreshing appetizer. My boyfriend and I dove... read more If you're a pasta lover, this is the spot to visit in Pasadena. We began our meal with an arugula salad that was a refreshing appetizer. My boyfriend and I dove in so quickly that I didn't even have time to snap a photo before it was all gone! Among all the pastas we ordered, I wish we hadn't started with the squid ink pasta simply because it had a strong flavor profile, similar to what we experienced with the salad. However, that doesn't mean we disliked it; the bits of lobster were a heavenly addition, so I’d rate it 8/10. They definitely saved the best for last when they served the torchetti and cacio e pepe together. The clear star of the evening was the torchetti, which I’d give a perfect 10/10. The cacio e pepe was a close second at 8/10.

TLDR: charming Italian restaurant in Pasadena, farm to table, pricey considering the small portions, homemade pasta, must try: charred octopus and polenta w/ mu... read more TLDR: charming Italian restaurant in Pasadena, farm to table, pricey considering the small portions, homemade pasta, must try: charred octopus and polenta w/ mushrooms, easy affordable parking Schoolhouse Garage $1/hour for 1st 2 hours), online reservations available I recently had my first experience at Union, the Italian restaurant in Pasadena, and it lived up to the wonderful reviews I've heard. It's definitely a popular spot, so I'd recommend making a reservation to avoid any lengthy waits. My reservation was on a Saturday evening at 4:15 PM. The restaurant's ambiance is quite lovely, with an intimate atmosphere. However, it's on the dim side, and I personally wouldn't have minded a bit more lighting. For those wondering about parking, the Schoolhouse Parking structure has two entrances, one on Green Street and the other on Raymond. The best part is the affordability just $1 per hour for the first 2 hours. So, parking is one less thing to worry about. Union is known for its farm to table approach and commitment to making its pasta in house. One unique aspect is that they take your entire order all at once. This means that you won't be able to order additional dishes later on due to the constraints of their small kitchen, except for dessert. My party of two decided to go all in and ordered four dishes to share. Here's the rundown: 1. Charred Octopus: It was a tasty choice, but a tad on the salty side. The salad at the bottom provided a perfect balance with chickpeas, mint, tomatoes, and cucumber. If you're a fan of octopus, this is a safe bet, although the texture was a touch chewy, which I didn't mind. 2. Polenta with Wild Mushrooms: This dish was a real standout. The tanginess of the vinaigrette, with a hint of truffle flavor, was absolutely delicious. The mushrooms were a highlight as well. 3. Bucatini: Cooked to a perfect al dente, the pesto, made with pistachios, was a pleasant surprise. The creamy burrata complemented it nicely. A pro tip: Add a squeeze of lemon for a zesty twist. 4. Torchetti: This dish had a little spicy kick to it. Some pieces of pasta were al dente, while others were slightly hard, but the flavor more than made up for it. NOTABLE FAVES All the dishes were in relatively small portions, but the beauty of it was that everything was shareable, allowing us to try a bit of everything. It's certainly worth a visit, especially if you appreciate farm to table cuisine and house made pasta. Just be sure to make that reservation to secure your spot.

Hostess was very rude she gives this place a bad first impression so just ignore her and enjoy the rest of your visit... Food is incredible! Everything here is... read more Hostess was very rude she gives this place a bad first impression so just ignore her and enjoy the rest of your visit... Food is incredible! Everything here is made from scratch. Loved the bread, pasta, and mushroom appetizer. Waitress was wonderful. Will definitely be back and hope the hostess is replaced in time for the next visit.

The pastas were to die for. We got the Torchetti and the Squid Ink lobster pastas and they were heaven on earth. The pork meatball appetizer was great but not a... read more The pastas were to die for. We got the Torchetti and the Squid Ink lobster pastas and they were heaven on earth. The pork meatball appetizer was great but not amazing, but since we weren't crazy about the lamb especially its cost we would probablyorder the meatballs again to eat with the pasta. We were full on 2 pastas 1 meatball appetizer and we were pretty hungry. Wedid have the hidden peach tart dessert that wasn't on the menu using our second stomachs but it was tasty but just average.Basically apple pie texture, but wish the peaches were soft instead of crunchy. Overall fantastic place and those pasta disheswere out of this world. The ambiance is a little crowded and a tad noisier than I would've liked. The waitress was sometimeshard to get a hold of (wish they scanned the area before turning around) but if it's the flavor you value more than the vibethen highly recommend.

Great dinner here that exceeded expectations. Food was super delicious with every dish a hit and no misses. Pastas are awesome with the spaghetti and meatballs... read more Great dinner here that exceeded expectations. Food was super delicious with every dish a hit and no misses. Pastas are awesome with the spaghetti and meatballs a don't miss dish. Service was warm and friendly. The space was bustling. Wines werebanging. Can't wait to come back.