Union Restaurant

Soulful, field to table cooking, inspired by Northern Italy and the California coast.

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9 / 10
129
ratings
Address

37 E Union St Pasadena , CA 91103 United States

Credit Cards Yes
Outdoor Seating No
Menus Brunch, Dinner
Drinks Wine
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Comments / 46


Keywords:

polenta pasta good for dates pork meatballs olive oil cake trendy wild boar gelato squid ink chili handmade meats porchetta wild mushrooms bar homemade food crowded chefs dinner cavatelli
Eater

A seasonally inflected California-Italian restaurant , Kalman does everything from house made pasta to innovative appetizers to hefty mains like the epic porchetta . The wine program is also top notch. Read more

Mohammed Abu Hajar

its a seasonal Menu Glazed Octopus it was great and crunchy and i tried the home made pasta with squid ink and lobster was yummy, the main was the lamb shoulder and it was on top of rich sauce

Eater

Bruce Kalman’s Pasadena dinner spot Union is a call-to-arms for pasta lovers everywhere. They work seasonally rotating menus and focusing up on all things noodle . Read more

Eater

Working seasonally rotating menus and focusing up on all things noodle , Kalman and his Union team are forging ahead as Pasadena’s best Italian restaurant , bar none. Read more

Frazgo Fraz

Make reservations . Period. Service was impeccable. Food scrumptious. And best is chefs are willing to share recipes if you ask! The medley of wild mushrooms over creamy polenta is to DIE for.

Andrew Galdi

everything is delicious! the squid ink garganelli is truly fabulous, as was the cauliflower , the straciatella , the wine list . basically it's just fantastic italian food and you can't go wrong!

Doug de Wet

Fresh pasta , sweet tomatoes , garlic , and mild chili heat combine to make Spaghetti Alla Chittara one super satisfying plate of pasta . Buon appetito!

Angelise Slifkin

Exceptional cuisine with attention to detail, fantastic chef & institution. Everything is made in house & is somewhere between amazing and superb. True gem of Pasadena, order the squid ink pasta .

David M.

Great food, don't get thrown by the hipster appeal. The food is imaginative and delicious, every thing is made in house, from the cheese to the on-site butchered porchetta

Paulo Santos

Okay... The squid ink garganelli with lobster and truffle butter will forever be engrained into my memory and palette. Forget appetizer , order two of these for yourself.

Toia Capelli

Everything is absolutely delicious and made in house. For apps, the pork meatballs are perfection as are the wild mushrooms with polenta . All the pasta is amazing.

Paulo Santos

Seasonal/Off Menu Porchetta taco // if they stil have it you've got to try at least one. Lives up to their slogan on the wall.. See wall.

Tarah Feinberg

Everything made, butchered in-house. Really beautiful, perfect execution of Italian dishes , along with some delicious modern developments.

jo bens

Squid ink + lobster is a must! the mushrooms are so good also! Grilled octopus also!

Nicole

Wild mushrooms , charred Octopus , Pappardelle . Excellent. Service outstanding enjoyed all with the Barbera wine . Neighborhood gem

Angel

Squid ink lobster pasta and wild mushroom polenta are so good! All the pastas are handmade and so chewy: delicious!

DAN COX

Exceptional cooking in Old Pasadena. Just order up, eat, enjoy, and then begin making plans for your return visit.

Dmitriy Stonaev

Amazing place! I feel really like in Italian restaurant ! Very tasty and delicious food! I like octopus !

Lizzy Saxe

Fresh pasta is all lovely, as are the mussels , but you absolutely must try the mussels and the mushroom polenta .

Bertha Lee

Everything is farm-to-table, and delicious! However, don't eat here if you're in a rush. Food takes a while to come out...

Mark Otuteye

Wine , squid-ink pasta , olive oil cake , spaghetti , asparagus salad with duck egg . All good!

M M

Small tables, clean hip ambiance (for Pasadena), modern Italian. Fun.

Erin Scott

Octoulpusn & meatballs are heavenly. Best thing you'll put in your mouth in All of Pasadena.

Chris Ledermuller

Very inventive Italian food . I recommend the porchetta and the squid ink pasta with bits of lobster .

Juan Zuberbuhler

Amazing hand made pasta . Shared plates only so order a bit of everything!

Toia Capelli

The cavatelli with wild boar and roasted carrots was super tasty!

Simple Foodie

Mussels , Wild Mushroom Polenta , Spaghetti alla Chitarra, Collards , Trout , Budino

Juan Zuberbuhler

Great handmade pasta . Family style only, to share but it’s worth it.

Neel Hajare

Black truffle fettuccine is delicious, and curbside pickup works great

eric bornemann

It's all about the pork . Serious eats at seriously the best restaurant in Pasadena

miles lennon

Awesome farm-to-table. Meatballs are can't-miss but menu likely changes

Ron

Fantastic pastas and a porchetta to die for!

Michael Kalec

Really great and interesting place to eat! Love it!

Sam Alon

I would recommend the Squid Ink Garganelli and the Olive Oil Cake .

Lizzy Saxe

Pasta , seafood , vegetables , it's hard to go wrong at Union.

Anne Le

I think they skimp a little on the lobster .

Shen Deshayne

Ask for the chefs table

M M

Squid ink garganelli . Joey is the best server.

Mirla del Rosario

Pork meatballs , wild mushrooms w polenta

Anjelica Martin

Absolutely everything here is amazing

Brooke Mulligan

Very pork-centric. So good

Scott Ross

Lovely pastas !

Katie Legato

Absolutely fantastic.

Chris Ledermuller

No. 101 on Jonathan Gold's 101 top restaurants for 2015.

Abdullah Sw

Interesting dishes !!

Jason H.

Food ok but the hostess was arrogant and condescending and kind of ruined a birthday evening.

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