Deda Restaurant — Restaurant in Pasadena

This is a place where little details, from the decor to the drinks, seem thoughtfully curated. The atmosphere is very welcoming and it’s a place you can take your family. The entrance is also very thoughtfully designed. A must try is the signature Dediko cocktail, which is served in a uniquely shaped glass and is as delicious as it is visually appealing.

As for the food, the ingredients are incredibly fresh, and this really shines through in the dishes. The dumplings are a standout; they're truly exceptional and should be tried. While the menu claims they're made with "Wagyu" beef, I'd challenge that specific claim, but their quality and flavor are undeniable regardless.

While I really enjoyed my experience, a few things kept this from being a perfect 5-star review.

Pros: Fresh and high-quality food, with flavors that are authentic and delicious. The dumplings are absolutely amazing; a must try if you’re coming to a Georgian cuisine. Stunning and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere that makes for a great dining experience. The entrance is beautifully designed, creating a welcoming and impressive first impression. The signature Dediko cocktail is fantastic and served in a unique, beautiful glass.

Cons: I’d challenge the pricing vs. value. With our group of four spending around $280 (plus 3 photos costing $20 a pop), the expectation is for every dish to be top-tier. For example, the three dip appetizers were served with only a few chips per bowl, which was disappointing and felt a bit cheap considering the price. It was more design oriented than trying to serve the actual purpose: an appetizer for the table for people to enjoy. Dish presentation and portion size can be inconsistent. The $40 beef bowl, while delicious (no complaints whatsoever about taste), was a very small portion with no accompanying sides. It felt more like a sample than a main course and left the impression of a mini kid’s meal than a main entree. The photo sales felt a bit intrusive. It's awkward to be presented with printed photos of your group and asked to purchase them for $20 each. While it's not a requirement, it puts guests on the spot, especially when they may feel a cultural obligation to buy them. (A majority of the clientele is Armenian/Russian/Georgian). A better solution would be to have a dedicated photo display area where guests could view and purchase prints if they choose, which would also prevent the restaurant from wasting money on unwanted photos that they need to shred anyway if guests don’t want them. *Absolutely, do NOT tell guests they only have 2 hours to dine BEFORE they have even sat down. This was big one. We hadn’t even sat down yet and we feel like we’re on the clock. Sure, you can have internal rules and if you see guests have been sitting far past the allotted limit, slowly start hinting at the table to bring their check, etc. But absolutely do not not not not not say this to guests before seating them. We ate very comfortably and slowly, and we were there for less than 1.5 hours. This shouldn’t be a problem for most guests.

Overall, Deda Restaurant is a nice change of pace and a lovely spot for a night out. It’s great overall, but a few inconsistencies keep it from getting a...

Deda has been popping up all over my Instagram feed, and since our family has Georgian roots, of course we had to check it out -- part curiosity, part support.

They have a very convenient parking structure and they validate parking for 2 hours (otherwise can cost about $20.00). Upon walking in, we were greeted warmly in Georgian by two hostesses. The space is big, modern, and decorated with a fun cultural twist -- film posters from Georgia and Armenia that instantly set a cool vibe.

The setting/ plating is nice, but the utensils were a bit dirty. Our server was kind, though the pacing was... let's just say a little too relaxed. We asked for water, but it was forgotten. Later, we asked for paper napkins, but it never came (luckily we had some in our purses).

The bread came out first and was fantastic -- warm and fresh, perfect for our appetizer that didn't end up coming until much later. For food, we tried the Chicken Baje (great flavor, Sahara-level dryness), the sturgeon plate (good, though it leaned too sweet with the molasses side), and of course, the khinkali -- the dish I was most excited for. My mom has been making khinkali my entire life (she lived in Tbilisi for 10 years when she married my dad, so she knows what's up). Unfortunately, the khinkali was a letdown: the menu said beef, but the taste screamed lamb, and the saltiness was super intense. We know how much love goes into making these, so we forced it down. I am a salt lover, but it was unbearable. I am surprised nobody tests the batch before sending it out. I was a bit concerned with the flavor too - if it wasn't lamb, why did it taste like it? OR, if there IS lamb mixed in with the beef, why wasn't that notated on the menu? It was concerning for multiple reasons such as allergies or issues digesting lamb.

Service had its ups and downs -- one server (didn't catch his name - guy with a great beard) was fantastic and even double-checked on our appetizer when I asked him if it's normal to receive our entree before an appetizer. Meanwhile, other staff/ our waitress were off in the corner chatting, dancing, and overall not showing a sense of urgency to their tables.

Overall: 3 stars. The food has good moments, but it's overpriced for what it is, and the service could be sharpened. As many reviews point out, it's not quite "authentically Georgian." That said, I want to root for them. The foundation is here -- a great concept, beautiful space, and clear effort. With a few tweaks in the kitchen and a bit more attention from the floor staff, Deda could...

Don't pay attention to my 5-star review. It's just to keep the restaurant motivated. Honestly, I was expecting more. Let me break it down. ​First Impression: 5/5. A very nice, clean, and warm restaurant. The lighting, seating, and comfort were all very good. ​Staff: 5/5. Very welcoming, even without a reservation. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and appreciated the order list I had prepared on my phone, which was helpful for them. They worked very quickly and paid attention to every customer and group. ​Kitchen (BTW, the main reason of my visit): 2/5. It's Georgian cuisine, come on, guys! It should have been richer—I mean the options, the soups, the flavors. Ask anyone from the Caucasus, the puri bread should be a certain size, not 8-9 inches for $10. Please update your lemonades. Real tarragon and pear lemonades are staples of Georgian cuisine, but the homemade pear lemonade you offered tasted like anything but pear. I came for the Gebjalia, Kharcho, Ojakhuri, Ajika, Tkemali, and Churchkheli—and I could continue the list. You can do better. ​Parking: 5/5. It's Pasadena, so expect to pay for parking. It's located right behind the restaurant. I've paid for parking, but I'm not sure if you can validate it and make it free. ​Price: 4/5. For a party of seven, we were charged ~$300, tax included and with no alcohol (the tip was added separately).

​Overall: 3/5 ⭐. I'm waiting for the kitchen to be updated. Whether it improves will determine if I ever visit...