Marina

“I want to thank Nader for his kindness and generosity. After meeting him outside of his restaurant, he offered some strawberries he had just picked up for his farm to table Italian food restaurant, Marina. They were vibrant, plump, fresh and delicious! Thank you for giving me a taste of the quality you serve at your restaurant and also for the hospitality you gave me in your parking space. That thoughtful geature was a huge measure of the quality you create inside and outside of your restaurant. Congratulations on your success. May you be blessed with more! Thank you!”

“From start to finish, everything was five stars. Sat at the bar, and the bartender was extremely friendly! We had the pizza, pasta, and a few appetizers. Everything was fresh! The ambiance was busy, but service was still amazing; the owner was walking around checking in on tables throughout the night. This is a go-to spot when in Pasadena!”

“Truffle cavatelli was 5/5, so delicious!!! Scallop risotto and pizza were also excellent! The fried pork chop was ok, would try something else next time. We were lucky and got a parking in front of the restaurant. Table was ready on time. Service was great, had an issue but resolved quickly.”

“Marina did not disappoint! The fresh seasonal menu uses local ingredients sourced from the Pasadena Farmeds Market. You can taste the quality — every dish is amazing! We also met Gustavo, one of the owners, who was so warm and welcoming and had fantastic dish recommendations. We also saw that they had pasta options for gluten-free diners. We tried and loved: Persimmon Salad (a surprising favorite, these tangy fresh flavors contrasted perfectly against the ricotta cheese, and the persimmons were SO sweet and delicious) Butternut Squash Agnolotto (incredible flavors with the sage and brown butter, and perfect for fall) Truffle Cavatelli (the actual favorite — mouthwatering flavors and very generous on the truffle!) Wagyu Flat Iron Steak (juicy and flavorful) We also got the Salvavita, Bourbon & I Don’t Give a Fig cocktails. They were delicious and beautifully presented. We’ll be back to try more dishes soon!”

“I brought my mom here for her 66th birthday dinner this evening, and the food we ordered was all delicious. We began with the wild arugula nectarine salad (yum!), shared the Bianca (truffle mushroom) pizza, and she had the steak frites, while I opted for the bucatini. All was tastefully executed. We also had a passion fruit marg and the “I Don’t Give a Fig” cocktail. Both quite good. Our server was Danny, and though he began pretty strong, we felt he could have been a little more attentive. He didn’t ask if we wanted more cocktails when we had finished our drinks, and he didn’t bother upselling us on anything else. He did bring my mother a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a candle and sang her happy birthday, but with the amount of food + drinks we had ordered, a small bowl of ice cream at a pretty high-end restaurant felt kind of cheap. We’ve been to other restaurants on our birthdays where the server was thoughtful enough to bring us a slice of cheesecake or something a little more exciting than just ice cream. Ice cream felt like we were at a Denny’s or an IHOP. This is no deal breaker; it’s simply an observation. Something else to note: parking in the adjacent underground lot cost $12. It would be great if the restaurant and the garage had some sort of deal where the restaurant could validate patrons’ parking, or at least discount it.”