Colette Pasadena 人生如戏 — Restaurant in Pasadena

My friend and I decided to take a chance and head to Colette for brunch on a Saturday morning.

Colette is located on Michillinda Ave., on the corner of a relatively big plaza. There's a good amount of parking (as well as street parking), so I don't think that will ever be an issue. While Colette seems quite unassuming from the outside, once you walk in, the interior is super classy and elegant with a hint of modern flair (if that doesn't make sense, please excuse me!). Love the lettering of "Colette" on the walls, the minimalistic decorations throughout the restaurant, etc. We were told to choose a seat wherever we pleased. Plenty of tables inside, but they also have a nice enclosed patio area. We opted to sit outside.

Colette's is only open for breakfast and lunch, but breakfast and lunch are both served all day. They have a good variety of American foods - quesadillas, burritos, breakfast sandwiches, as well as salads, sandwiches, a children's menu, and coffee/tea. Felt like the food was reasonably priced. My friend and I ended up ordering one savory and one sweet dish, where we just split half and half.

Carnitas Breakfast Burrito: $9 I'm not the biggest burrito fan, but this blew me away! Carnitas with scrambled egg, cilantro, onion, and avocado with salsa and sour cream on the side. The workers were super nice and ended up giving us some more salsa when we needed a bit more. This breakfast burrito was pretty huge! We each split half - which was more than enough food. I think if we had just ordered this, I would be satisfied. But that burrito was pretty awesome - the ingredients inside all tasted good; carnitas was cooked well and had good flavor, the cilantro gave it that extra bit of flair - and the salsa and sour cream just helped top off the entire burrito.

Churro French Toast: $7 This was a pretty popular dish among the Yelpers, and I knew I had to try it out. Churro and French toast? What's not to like? Sliced French bread with cinnamon and sugar and a jar full of syrup. I think this is one of the best French toasts I've ever tried - if only because of that churro addition. Crispy on the outside, soft and bready on the inside. The cinnamon gave it that sweetness of flavor, but the bread still held its own - with the addition of the syrup, each bite was a pleasure to eat!

Service was amazing! I had read reviews about how slow the wait time was, but we were in and out within an hour. The workers came by every so often to refill our water, we got our food really quickly, and I think even Colette stopped by to ask how things were!

tl;dr - Really blown away by how good everything was. Really nice gem located in Pasadena! Will definitely be back to try their lunch dishes when I have a chance. Highly recommend the churro French toast!

Credit cards accepted. Pay at the front when you are finished...

In the bustling cityscape of Pasadena, Colette stands out as a culinary pioneer, redefining the essence of Cantonese cuisine with an innovative flair. The transformation of this former brunch haven into a gastronomic powerhouse is the handiwork of Chef Peter Lai, whose storied experience at Hong Kong’s Peninsula hotel has informed his visionary approach. ( We were fans when he was the head chef at Embassy kitchen in SGV)

Colette’s menu is a testament to Chef Lai’s philosophy of creativity and evolution, presenting traditional Hong Kong favorites alongside reimagined American Chinese dishes and pan-Asian elements. The standout char siu, made with premium Kurobuta pork and a unique sauce, exemplifies the restaurant’s commitment to elevating classic fare with a creative touch.

The culinary journey at Colette is marked by signature dishes that reflect Chef Lai’s dedication to his craft. The Crispy Stuffed Chicken, a reinterpretation of the traditional Crispy Flower Chicken, is a marvel of technique and flavor, requiring over six hours of meticulous preparation. This dish, along with others, necessitates advance orders, underscoring the restaurant’s focus on quality and attention to detail. It’s this labor-intensive approach that justifies Colette’s pricing, which, while on the higher side, mirrors the artistry and effort invested in each creation.

The experience at Colette transcends the culinary, as the service is equally impressive. Knowledgeable waiters provide impeccable service, offering spot-on recommendations that enhance the dining experience. The synergy between the front-of-house staff and the kitchen ensures that every meal is not just consumed but savored, with the understanding that the prices reflect the exceptional quality and creativity on the plate.

Colette is more than just a restaurant; it’s a destination where passion for food and excellence in service converge to create an unforgettable gastronomic adventure. The restaurant’s commitment to innovation, coupled with its respect for tradition, makes it a must-visit for anyone seeking to explore the cutting edge of Cantonese cuisine in Los Angeles. As satisfied patrons, we left Colette with a sense of anticipation for our next visit, eager to experience once again the rich tapestry of flavors that define this remarkable...

There are only a handful of upscale Chinese restaurants in SGV, and even fewer that do things exceptionally well - Colette falls into this category. The best way to experience this restaurant is to come in a large group with your family/friends and try more of the menu.

We loved the modern, cleaner take on Cantonese cuisine. The food was less salty, less oily, and much lighter (no excessive cornstarch in sauces) than traditional Chinese dishes. My picky Cantonese family enjoyed it greatly!

Like most Cantonese restaurants, you can request to have certain dishes cooked a different way based on your preferences, which is what we did for the vegetables and the lobster dish.

Dishes are listed in order of preference:

Must haves: Black Truffle Chicken: amazing flavor from the truffle, chicken was juicy Lobster with crispy rice noodles: the crispy rice noodles absorbed the addictive lobster sauce! Crispy chicken with shrimp paste (half order): one of their signature dishes that’s more of a shrimp dish than chicken. Half order was already a LOT. Chayote with minced pork: great veggie to have

Great dishes, order if hungry: Curry beef brisket: SOO tender and it also came with many pieces of tendon which I love! Kurabota Char Siu: nice and fatty with great flavor Luffa vegetable: we asked for it to be stir fried with garlic (different from how it’s listed on the menu)

Good, but not must haves: Wagyu fried rice Salted egg yolk pumpkin Chicken wings: the kids loved this

Don’t recommend: Seafood Laksa Spaghetti: the least Cantonese and most random menu item LOL. It had decent heat to it but really paled in comparison to the rest of the meal. Depth of spices + flavor wasn’t there, and I prefer a bouncier noodle over a wide fettuccine. Pork ribs: the quality of the pork ribs wasn’t that good. I think we were expecting something similar to DTF but the sweetness, stickiness, and sharpness (from vinegar) wasn’t there. Ribs might be better if cut into smaller pieces

I can see this restaurant being on the rotation for my family! I think the odd location delayed our visit for a while, and I regret not coming sooner. We ate a LOT during dinner and had leftovers, but this was one of those meals where we felt quite...