Union Restaurant - Pasadena (CA)

5 /5 Julie Chang: Service was good, food was good too We love the fettuccine truffle pasta, was 4/5; the starter wild mushrooms was 5/5 too This place def passed the vibe check, very cute and comfy with a relaxing atmosphere.

5 /5 Frank L: If you’re looking for an unforgettable meal in Pasadena, Union Restaurant is an absolute must. The vibe is intimate and lively, but the food is the real star. The squid ink pasta with lobster was a standout, perfectly balanced, bright, and incredibly fresh. It’s rare to find seafood pasta that feels this light yet indulgent. We also started with the focaccia and cheese, which were surprisingly sophisticated; the bread had the perfect crunch, and the cheese was high-quality and creamy. Every dish feels thoughtfully crafted. It’s easily one of the best dining experiences in the area.

5 /5 Melissa T.: We’re a party of 8 and ordered 4 appetizers, 5 pasta dishes, and 1 main dish. It was a little too much for our group, but to be fair, half of the party doesn’t eat much in general. I loved almost every single dish we ordered. Each of us had our own favorite pasta, and 4 out of 5 pastas had their own fan(s). That really shows how good their pastas are, an 80% hit rate! You almost can’t go wrong with any choice; it all comes down to personal preference. Our server was excellent and very helpful with recommendations. We couldn’t decide on our fifth pasta, and the one she suggested ended up being my personal favorite. It had butternut squash and pine nuts. Yummmm! Will definitely come back again!

3 /5 Lani X: Atmosphere: 5 stars - Restaurant itself was cute and laid out well. We were next to another couple but never felt like we were intruding into their space or vice versa. Service: 4.5 stars - Service was super friendly and mostly attentive. Server checked on us almost immediately after seating but then took a long time to return to take out order and wasnt anywhere where I could wave her down. After that initial bit though, other servers started to assist with our table and they were much more attentive. Food: I guess I shouldnt have been too surprised since we were able to secure a reservation an hour before during the dinner rush but I was underwhelmed with the food. Will start with the stars of the night though.. Favorite dishes were the bread/dip (bread was perfect, crusty on the outside and soft and fluffy inside, the STRACCIATELLA cheese was a great pair) and the squid ink lumache (light sauce with acidic flavor) Everything else was just ok or just missed the mark of being a great dish. The third place dish for me was the torcheii with pork ragu sauce. The caramelle flavor profile was amazing but the pasta itself was a bit odd. I think because if its shape the outer part of the pasta was a tougher and somewhat flavorless but the brown butter sauce and the crispy sage were amazing and would have been 5 stars with a better pasta. The shape of this pasta was cute but ultimately took away from the dish. The octopus dish had great flavor but I thought it was a little too chewy. Also I was so hungry I forgot to take pictures of all but the last two dishes.

5 /5 Irene Hanji: This is a great restaurant for gatherings with family and friends. We went on a Monday evening and had made an online reservation, so there was no wait when we arrived. The hostess at the front was very nice, and we were able to get a seat outdoors just like we hoped. Our server was patient and took the time to explain the menu, even recommending a delicious appetizer. We ordered two pasta dishes: One was squid ink lumache and the other was a name ends with Pepe. Overall, everything was really good. The portions were on the smaller side, which was actually nice because it allowed us to try more flavors. The drinks were also well-made — the house-made Italian grapefruit soda was especially refreshing. All in all, we’d definitely come back to try other dishes next time.