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Food - Gale's, Pasadena, CA

Gale's

4.7 (3556)
$30 and under
Italian
452 South Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105

Make a reservation

A photo of Gale's restaurant

Gale's

4.7
$30 and under
Italian
Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 42 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for business meals
Gale's Restaurant is a totally local Pasadena spot for delicious Northern Italian fare, tucked away from the tourist chains in Old Town. Couples, families and friends that seem to have just finished a day outdoors snuggle among the brick walls and small marble tables, drinking cocktails and wine from elegant Brighton goblets. Start off with Bruschetta, Burrata Salad or Gale's Simple Salad and then move on to the country-style Tuscan steak or one of the house made ravioli specials. For dessert, don't miss the Tiramisu or Gale's iconic Coconut Cake. The wine list is a favorite among the guests for it's variety and excellent value.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Chef Leo
  • Catering
    Gale's menu adapts well to both office and personal catering. Check with us to see how our personalized menus can be tailored for your next event.
  • Neighborhood
    Pasadena
  • Cross street
    California
  • Parking details
    Ample Free Parking in lot and street parking.
  • Public transit
    We are very close to the Del Mar Station for the Metrolink. We are about 3 blocks away.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Gale's.

4.7

4.7
(3556)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Pasadena

    Best Value

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Gale's in Pasadena is a beloved Italian gem known for its "delicious authentic italian food," "attentive service," and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The menu boasts a variety of tasty options, including standout dishes like "chicken under a brick" and "lemon chicken and artichoke raviolis." Regulars appreciate the "consistent excellence" and the welcoming staff, making it a favorite for celebrations and everyday dining alike. Despite occasional issues with noise and service speed, Gale's remains a top choice for both locals and visitors.
3,556 Reviews
  1. Robin

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    You can't go wrong with anything your order on the menu. Pasta is excellent as well as the fish dished. The coconut is my favorite!!

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  2. Andrew Gold

    Los Angeles19 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    We have been going to Gale's for over 30 years and always had a great meal and great service. When we had dinner Friday night we felt the food and service were below their usual excellent standard because the carpaccio was too salty, and the seafood ravioli was overwhelmingly spicy and garlicky to the point that no other flavors were palatable. The service was slow and our waiter, whom we had not previously seen there, seemed rushed and overworked. We were not asked if we wanted some shredded Parmesan until we were halfway through dinner and we received one water refill although our glasses were empty. We did not see our usual waiters and wondered whether new management had taken over with new staff. We hope that Gale's will be back to its usual friendly cozy ambience next time we go. We hope this was just an aberration because Gale's is still our favorite restaurant. One thing which made it so outstanding was its dependability, over many years. Few restaurants can stand the test of time and we hope Gale's will return to its usual excellence.

    1 person found this helpful

  3. Pam

    Los Angeles1 review

    3.0

    Dined on October 30, 2026

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    The restaurant was so loud that we could hardly talk (6:30 pm). The open kitchen adds to the noise level, especially clanking plates up for serving, and dishes cleared from tables being dropped into bins - plus the occasional dropping of dishes/glassware. Yikes! The restaurant needs some sound absorption materials (walls are glass block, foor concrete, ceiling hard surface). It wasn't a reasonable sound level until after 8:00 pm. Large menu. Food good, but not outstanding.

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  4. peg

    Los Angeles8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    There is always something delicious for everyone at Gales—crispy salad, toothsome pasta with lots of clams or a yummy first course with burrata!

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  5. Kelly

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely evening with friends, great food and service. We will be back! Thank you

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  6. Maria

    Orange County8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 27, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The wait staff was attentive and professional. The food as always was excellent. This is the second time I noticed that the hostess seemed a bit unfriendly. She accommodated the reservation but her demeanor was not welcoming.

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  7. Linda

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 20, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome as always!!! Love Josh!! Known him for over 10 years

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  8. Walter

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 20, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My favorite place to eat in Pasadena, especially the outdoor seating 

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  9. Mia

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Service was amazing! It was very quick and they anticpated your needs. Food was so yummy. Definitely will be back.

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  10. israel Gold

    San Francisco11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 17, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Gale’s never disappoints!! The food is always great and the service is exceptional.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Pizzeria
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 3:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 3:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Chef Leo
  • Catering
    Gale's menu adapts well to both office and personal catering. Check with us to see how our personalized menus can be tailored for your next event.
  • Neighborhood
    Pasadena
  • Cross street
    California
  • Parking details
    Ample Free Parking in lot and street parking.
  • Public transit
    We are very close to the Del Mar Station for the Metrolink. We are about 3 blocks away.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, Gale's is family-friendly: staff accommodate children (taking kids' orders promptly), and parents report children enjoying menu favorites like pizza and eggplant parm.

Sunday is often the most relaxed choice, several guests note the restaurant is noticeably less crowded on Sundays.

Portions at Gale's are generous, guests often report mains large enough to share, with leftovers commonly taken home.

Yes, Gale's is a popular choice for special evenings, with cozy brick-walled dining, a well-regarded wine and cocktail program, and multiple guests celebrating anniversaries and special meals.

Yes, Gale's offers outdoor seating, including a covered outside dining area/marquee that many guests find pleasant for meals.

Gale's feels like a cozy Old Town Italian spot, brick walls, small marble tables and elegant Brighton goblets, paired with an energetic open kitchen and a calmer covered outdoor marquee.

How FAQ content is generated

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  2. United States
  3. Los Angeles
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Make a reservation

A photo of Gale's restaurant

Gale's

4.7
$30 and under
Italian
Pasadena

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 42 times today
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