Kelly's Roast Beef Pasadena — Restaurant in South Pasadena

I will start off saying I gave 2 stars because the guy that took my order was pleasant and the place was clean.. However, that’s where the compliments stop.. I drove 30 mins to buy a $100 gift certificate, while I was there I ordered a lobster roll. I am from Boston and eat at Kelly’s very frequently throughout my entire life. I was in Boston all summer this year and had a lobster roll every week. It’s important for me to say this to show I am very familiar with their food. After spending over $126 on a gift certificate and a lobster roll (sandwich only) I was SHOCKED when I got home and took my sandwich out of the bag.. there was nothing besides little shreds of lobster knuckles and the very slim tip of a lobster claw. I couldn’t believe it.. I thought the meat may have shifted on my ride home and fallen over, but after I took the sandwich out it was clear this was not the case. The description online says the meat of TWO 1 pound lobsters.. I will say this, there was MAYBE a quarter of ONE lobster.. no chunks, only little shredded knuckles. Also, the bun was barely buttered and not toasted brown. Kelly’s needs to send someone from home down here to Florida to show them how it’s done. This place absolutely will not stay in business if this is what they are serving. New Englanders know better, and if you’re not from New England, nobody in their right mind would pay over $26 for this sandwich. I was so annoyed and disappointed. If I wasn’t 30 mins away I would have turned around and returned it. Now I’m regretting buying the $100 gift card if this is the kind of quality they are serving. I can honestly say I will never go to that location again. It’s to bad because Kelly’s back home is awesome and always busy.. the Kelly’s in Pasadena didn’t have one other single person inside....

Second visit to the restaurant in Pasadena. Having grown up on the North Shore of Boston, Kellys was a staple, especially in the summertime. Every year we visit Metro Boston and hit Kellys in Saugus or Danvers for lunch.

First time I visited the Pasadena restaurant, I had the roast beef sandwich with onion rings. No complaints, just the same quality as other Kellys up north.

The second time I had the combo platter, (fried clams and fried scallops), wife had a clam roll. Don't know if it was the day, cook, breading or what but the fried food was over salted! Usually fried seafood may be salted to taste by the customer, but this, inconcluding the french fries was way over salted, almost inedible.

I'll try again soon and see if my experience was an aberration.

Again though the roast beef sandwich was great!

Revised visit 21 Feb 2924"""

Came back for a third visit today and I'm glad to report that the Clam roll was perfect on my initial visit to claim for way overseas and oversalted, but the fried clams with bellies were perfect this time. So I think the best items on this menu is the fish sandwich fried clams with bellies and the plain roast...

Best roast beast sandwich I’ve ever had in my life and I’m a connoisseur for roast beast!! I got the large meal and I am glad cause the quality of the meat was so fantastic Ive plenty to munch on it again after the main event settles. The bun was like toasted with butter it was divine. They let me substitute the fries for coleslaw which I appreciated very much cause it hard for me to eat potatoes and not take a nap after. The bbq sauce was incredible I don’t usually like spicy and it wasn’t really but it had a kick that was nice but familiar almost like a worcestershire mixed into a bbq. They have that good crushy ice in the drinks I liked that. When I drove off after picking it up I was like meh it was expensive. Now halfway through the meal I can say it was worth every dime, I will be back, and honestly I’m glad I didn’t miss out on discovering this gem. Honestly the quality is top notch, it’s sit down restaurant quality available in a drive thru so happy for this new spot to be near me. And the service was good they are sweet people in there. I rarely write reviews and I’m here now before the meal is even finished. Just do it. You’ll be...