Gale's — Restaurant in Pasadena

FOOD: -Soft shell crab fritto: At $16, I was expecting a little bit more than the big chunk of crab that was served; however, it was a pretty large piece of crab; despite it being fried, the skin was already a bit soggy once it reached our table. It's served atop of coleslaw along with tartar sauce. I enjoyed the taste of the crab, but overall wasn't too impressed by this appetizer, especially since it's so pricey.

-Arugula salad: Not my go-to type of salad, but I think they did a good job in pairing items that complemented one another. Tomato, mushroom, and parmesan cheese went well with the lemon vinaigrette. The parmesan cheese slices sprinkled on top ... that's what got me. So good!

-Chopped antipasto salad: I liked this one as well! Different types of Italian meats, marinated vegetables, romaine, and a herb vinaigrette. It's different from what I usually order - the Italian meats definitely gave the salad much more flavoring, so it was a bit on the salty side. This one also had the parmesan cheese on top ... so I was a fan.

-Caesar side salad: I liked this one the most! I'm a big fan of Caesar salad, and this one had huge slices of parmesan cheese grated on top. It was a winner.

-Rosemary roasted chicken pizza: I believe this was $17 for a medium, which was way more than enough for all of us with all the food we had ordered. Mozzarella, ricotta, chicken, tomato, pesto, etc. The chicken and the pesto went well together. I would say that the flavoring of the pizza was a bit on the blander side than I would have liked, but it was not bad at all! I wish the chicken had a bit more flavoring, but the dough was well made and the ingredients went well together.

-Fettucini Carbonara: $17 This was probably the heaviest pasta out of the 4 that we had ordered. It was drenched in rich cream and pancetta, with onion, egg, and parmesan. Taste was really good, but after a few bites, I felt a bit dragged down. I had to limit my intake so that I could enjoy the other dishes! I do recommend this if you're looking for something to really fill you up.

-Pasta al Forno: $18 This was the pasta dish that I saw many people raving about on Yelp. Creamy meat sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan. A very simple dish, but this was probably my favorite out of the 4! The taste was spot on. Loved the meat sauce and the penne type noodles. Very easy to eat, but the sauce was super flavorful.

-Clams Linguini: $21 Clams with white wine. Very decadent, but I'm not a big clams fan. My friends really liked this dish - I personally liked the noodles; it was cooked more al dente and they gave us a lot of clams, so I do think the price is justified. But overall, it wasn't too special. The sauce was not as rich or as tasty as the other dishes, so it wasn't as memorable to me.

-Rotini Bolognese: $17 This was also a pretty good pasta dish. I don't usually order rotini pasta dishes, but this one looked good! This was also cooked in a meat sauce, although I don't think the flavor was as rich as the al Forno. This would be good if you had young kids! I would order the al Forno over this dish.

-Coconut cake: We were given a complimentary slice of coconut cake since it was my friend's birthday. It came with a raspberry sauce that went well with the coconut, although I preferred the cake on its own. Not too sweet, with just the right amount of coconut taste so that it isn't too overwhelming. Definitely a decadent enough dessert to finish off the night of heavy and fine eating. It also came with a plate of biscotti. Nothing too special about those - the cake was much better!

Service: was a bit of a miss for us. Our waiter seemed impatient and not too willing to answer our questions about the various dishes. The table next to us actually provided us with better feedback than did our waiter! The other workers were really nice - constantly refilling water.

tl;dr - Great place for a solid Italian meal experience! I'd recommend the Pasta al Forno for sure - all of the salads were really tasty. Definitely leave room for a slice of...

I recently dined at Gale's, an Italian restaurant recommended by a friend. We made reservations for a party of 6 a week in advance, and the restaurant was accommodating and promptly seated us upon arrival. Our waiter served us bread with oil and vinegar as we perused the menu. We ordered a total of 13 items, and requested the dishes to be brought in courses, which the waiter happily obliged.

For starters, we enjoyed the flavorful Mussels in white wine sauce, which paired perfectly with the bread. The Prosciutto and Melon provided a simple yet satisfying protein option, while the Carpaccio with goat cheese impressed us with its thinly sliced meat and complementary flavors. Moving on to the salad courses, the Roasted Beet Salad and Rustic Caesar Salad were both refreshing and well-balanced.

The pasta dishes were a highlight of our meal. The Rotini Bolognese featured a rich Italian meat sauce, while the Pasta al Forno delighted us with its creamy meat sauce and cheese. The Portobello Ravioli, stuffed with crab and shrimp in a cream sauce with wild mushrooms, was a standout dish that left us wanting more.

Each pasta dish was bursting with flavor and paired excellently with our wine selection. Overall, Gale's provided a delightful dining experience with delicious food and attentive service.

Towards the conclusion of our meal, we indulged in the 13th and final course—a generously portioned pizza that satisfied our group of 6 adults. This delightful creamy white pizza, topped with mushrooms and olives, boasted a thin crust with toppings evenly distributed on every slice. Our experience at Gale's was undeniably exceptional. The waiter's precise timing between courses enhanced our enjoyment of each dish. An additional highlight was the reasonable $20 cooking fee, and the added touch of live music on Friday evenings.

A standout feature for me was the presentation of fresh dishes and utensils with each course, elevating the dining experience.

In summary, I enthusiastically recommend Gale's as a warm and inviting spot for genuine, home-cooked meals that evoke a sense of dining...

Gale's is a revelation! Great atmosphere, great service, and high quality fresh ingredients. This place is great for a romantic date or for celebrating a birthday or graduation with a large group.

We were invited to the celebration lunch for our two friends' graduation from Fuller graduate school. Our group of about a dozen was seated in an area in the back of the restaurant which is setup for large parties. We had no idea that we were about to experience such food joy.

The first bite of the burratta with fresh fruit appetizer was exhilarating. The perfect balance of salty and sweet, creamy and tangy, spiced and herbaceous. Beautiful beyond adequate description. You'll just have to try it for yourself.

Second course was a really good Caesar salad. The small was actually plenty for two to share. Lovely fresh romain, and plenty of creamy, zesty dressing, and lots of thinly shaved parmesan on top. Instead of croutons it comes with a couple of pieces of amazingly flavorful parmesan crostini on the side.

Third course was sharable pasta and pizza. The Fettuccine Carbonara was a massive portion. For once in my reviews I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. It needed more pepper. Carbonara is supposed to be really peppery. In retrospect I probably could have asked for more fresh cracked black pepper.

In contrast, the With Everything pizza is wonderful. The symphony of flavor and texture would make John Williams proud. The sausage was the wow factor for me.

Our friend swears by the Portobello Ravioli as the best she has ever had.

Fun Facts:

-Gale's opened for business over a decade ago. Serving family-style Northern Italian cuisine, done California style, with a farm-to-table approach.

-Gale's is known for their coconut cake.

-A quote from the owner. "It's all about Family, Fine Dining, and Fun. Local vendors, the freshest ingredients, and the best customers in the world." Gale Kohl

So, do yourself a favor and give this fun, fancy, fantastic...