Cafe Santorini

Old Pasadena is regrettably beginning to fill up with all-too-familiar national chain eateries, giving it a slightly homogenized feel. But distinctive independents like Cafe Santorini continue to maintain the neighborhood's status as a prime dining destination. This establishment is tucked into the One Colorado plaza, about the closest thing Pasadena has to a genuine piazza (there's even some great gelato found next door). The restaurant exploits its second-story location with a stellar patio from which to view of the pedestrian activity below.

The menu at Cafe Santorini provides a pleasant culinary tour of the Mediterranean, with dishes inspired by Italy (e.g. pizza, pastas, risotto), Greece (e.g. lamb souvlaki), Spain (e.g. red curry paella), Morocco (e.g. lamb chops with couscous) and beyond. The interior is nondescript and the coveted terrace tables are therefore a bit congested, but it's always lots of fun.