Union

I, and my family, are BEWILDERED by how much we LOVED this place. It's very family oriented in the sense that the menu is essentially curated for sharing. Sort of like tapas. The appetizers were INCREDIBLE. The bread was so fluffy it was to die for. We really enjoyed the burrata that came with it as well. The service was just out of this world. We were a big table with lots of questions and our server kept on answering like an energizer bunny lol The food and drinks came out so quick. I also appreciate that the server was up front about how the food comes out in sections. Whoever's food is ready will be served and then so on until everyone gets their food. The main courses.. I cannot rave about them enough. My absolute FAVORITE dish (because we ordered one of everything on the menu) was the Squid Ink Pasta. I am still dreaming about that meal. The lobster tastes SO FRESH, and the lemon was just enough to where it didn't overpower the dish.Being inside the restaurant you would think it would be very difficult to hear the people you're with. To the contrary. It's a quaint little restaurant with a lot of hustle and bustle, but it doesn't take away from your conversation. To say I cannot wait to come back is an understatement. My husband and I are planning our next date night here, and I hope this review doesn't make it near impossible to get a table because I fully expect this place to be on everyone else's list of restaurants to try

Great little Italian restaurant right by CalTech. Street parking or paid garage parking right across the street. The restaurant is very intimate and is perfect for a date night. They have rail seating at the bar with maybe 5-6 stools. Menu is great. Everything (including sauces and pastas) are made in house. Great wine and wine cocktails. Server was attentive as he could be. He forgot to put in 2 of our items but it was ok because we ordered plenty of food for the 4 of us. Definitely would love to come back.

Went here for dinner on a Saturday night. Easily made reservations via Resy. We were a little early for our reservation, but they still seated us immediately. They also have a cute full service bar top to eat at as well. The food is wonderful and the service was divine. We ordered the Schiacciata appetizer, octopus appetizer, arugula salad and beet salad, the torchietti raft AND the chicken entree. That's plenty of food for 2 people! We also ordered the bread pudding for desert. Once you've put your order in, things come out as they're ready, so if you order a lot like we did, be sure to pace yourself! We definitely indulged, but we don't go out often, so this was a very nice splurge.

I came here with a few friends for dinner in July. We were seated out in the patio after a short wait. For our dishes we ordered an arugula salad, the squid ink pasta, and another pasta dish. While the dishes were tasty and flavorful, they weren't anything mind blowing. The arugula salad was quite small and underwhelming for the price. The same could be said of the two pastas we ordered. While I can see why this would be a romantic date spot, it's a bit hard for me to justify the price point given the taste and small portion sizes that left my party still hungry after our meal. If you're curious to try this Michelin Guided restaurant, I would say go for it, but this might be a one and done type of restaurant for me given the numerous options for pasta and fine dining in Pasadena.

We attended the Feast of the Seven Fishes that was offered in 2-seatings (5:00 pm and 7:30 pm) on Christmas Eve for $135.00 plus tax and tip. A wine pairing was offered for $45 plus tax and tip. Both were a great bargain considering how much food you get and the number of pours as well. Most plates are served for 2 to share. Only the lobster hot dog was served one per person. The first seating ran over a little, so we did not get seated until almost 8:00 pm. Probably would have been better to set time for the 2nd seating to be 8:00 pm instead of 7:30 pm. The dinner started off with courses 1, 2, and 4 being so delicious. Course 3, the lobster hot dog was a miss for me. The spiciness of the dish overpowered the delicate flavor of the lobster dog. The worst of the night was the 5th course, calamari risotto. Never serve risotto when you're doing a special event where you're serving the entire dining room the same courses. Risotto is already hard enough to prepare properly but to do it in bulk just asks for problems. In our case, it was like eating mush - a gummy mess of overcooked rice with a few undercooked bits found within. The final 2 savory courses were fine, though the halibut with shaved black truffles leaned toward a miss for me. Panko crusted, the halibut was crispy but the flavor and texture reminded me of the golden arches' hash browns. The truffle was shaved too thick and just sprinkled over the halibut, so they added nothing to the dish. They were neither aromatic in smell nor taste. The dinner ended with a Butterscotch Panna Cotta which was prepared nicely but too sweet for my palate. One dessert to be shared by 2. That's fine if you're on a date, etc. A bit awkward if you're with co-workers.*I received a nasty email on January 13, 2025, calling me names and being pathetic for trying to use flashy words in my review to mask the fact that I am nothing more than a grumpy old man. I only posted 4 reviews in the last 2 months, and this is the one that closely matched what Chance from SF emailed me. I hope that's not the case.

My boyfriend and I came in here for a date night dinner. We were excited to experience another Michelin star restaurant. The indoor aesthetic is incredibly charming and intimate, but it seems like it's for any occasion as families with kids were enjoying meals as well.We made a reservation ahead of time and were promptly seated. Our waitress was knowledgeable about their wine selection and offered choices, based on our preferences.We shared the wild mushrooms (not pictured), which were my preferred appetizer. The pork meatballs were a hearty portion but were a little dry. The squid ink pasta was decadent and the lobster was juicy. The sauce coating the fish of the day was punchy and was a little different than what I was expecting. We were too full for dessert, unfortunately!I can see why they earned their star, but I would prefer trying other spots before making a second visit.

Union pasta is so delicious. The eggplant pasta and cacio e pepe are my favorite pasta dishes. All the pasta dishes are so good! The peas and buttermilk salads are also very good. I have been multiple times and I have had a great experience each time. The service is great. The restaurant is small so I would recommend to make a reservation. During the summer, it is great to eat outside. The new back room is great for a quieter vibe. The main room can be crowded and loud. This place is a must go to in Pasadena!

Came here for my wifes birthday dinner. We tried the meatballs, porkchop and a few pastas. Everything was solid but nothing really wowed me. The portions were good but definitely on the smaller side for the price. The service was outstanding though which is why a 4 star.

Everything was delicious! We came for a small birthday dinner and the food didn't disappoint. The pasta was cooked to perfection, keep in mind the lasagna is a little bit spicy but not overwhelming. I also got their dessert moscato wine and it was simply divine. Inside they have a very nice and intimate atmosphere. My only criticism was that for the reservation I had put down that we were celebrating a birthday and I wished they acknowledged it a little, if I had know I probably would've chosen a different place.

Michelin Star and for good reason. The ambiance, service, and food were outstanding. We had reservations on a weekday and were sat right away. We were sectioned in the back and it was much more intimate , quiet, and ideal. The front house is pretty loud in comparison. No hard alcohol, but wine and beer are available. We ordered everything. From the carrots, wild mushroom, and bread as an appetizer, along with the gem lettuce salad, to ordering 3 pastas and a dessert. Everything was shareable. The roasted carrots were out of this world. One of the best things I've eaten in a long time. The wild mushrooms followed. We ordered the rigatoni timballo (eggplant pasta/lasagna), tonnarelli cacio e pepe with a 63 Celsius egg (what a flex of perfection) along with the torchetti. Pastas are made in house, but hands down the torchetti was the winner. We had beer and wine and we followed our meals with their olive oil cake. Amazing. Memorable. Highly recommend Union for dates, birthdays, boujee dinners, and anniversaries. Everything was decadent, delicious, heavenly. Thank you Union for a lovely evening.