Celestino

Reviews 7

A

A Private User

Old Town and environs hasnt ever been considered a mecca for foodies, and this restaurant proves why. The service was cheery. The place had a buzz about it, and was completely full. The trouble is, I have no idea what exactly the buzz was about. Celestino, like countless other Italian restaurants in the area, offers a fairly basic menu with the odd twist, but fails to really achieve any vibrancy with the food. The soup was the best thing we ate at the place, but the fact that they let simple broccoli soup actually speak for itself as simple broccoli soup did not carry itself over into the entrees, and at the price, this is simply unacceptable. They tempted me with morels and pheasant on the menu, two very delicious, flavoursome ingredients, but ruined them in an overwhelming sauce that meant I couldnt appreciate them for what they are. Perhaps they needed to, as they cubed the pheasant such that it was dry, gamey, and unrecognizable, and there was barely a morel to be found. An overwhelming, creamy sauce over pasta, which obliterates any other ingredients is something youll find at industrial restaurants, so why do I have to pay a premium to get it from an italian waiter? Why not cook something seasonal and inspired? My fiance found much the same, with a mixed seafood entree which was incredibly underwhelming, and rather fishy tasting.

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SU

susumu horie

Italian restaurant in the Pasadena city. I visit for lunch. Just frank and talkative "Italian" met. I take an order by English of trill and inform a kitchen by Italian. Itll be authentic even now, Italian feeling. An order is seafood salad and salmon, tomato pasta, Arroz negro risotto and porcini mushroom risotto. Elegant restaurant of Italian. パサディナ市内のイタリアンレストラン。昼飯に訪問。いかにも気さくで、話好きな、「イタリア人」が出迎えてくれた。巻き舌の英語でオーダーを取り、厨房にイタリア語で伝える。これからだけでも本格イタリアンの感じ。 オーダー は、シーフードサラダ、サーモンとトマトのパスタ、イカスミのリゾット、ポルチーニのリゾットの4品。味は薄味だが、最高に美味い。品の良いイタリア料理を味わうとこができる店。

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JU

judi freed

Based on other reviews and past experience with Drago group restaurants I thought this would be a nice place for a meal before a local show. It was Saturday night and very busy. There were a few tables on the patio and we were seated promptly. That was the last prompt thing to occur. We finally had to chase down a waiter who proved to be ours. He had been in and out of the room multiple times and never even looked our way. We ordered drinks and dinner and finally got some water and bread. The drinks and dinner arrived at about the same time. Drinks were ok. My husbands seafood pasta was ok. I had a pasta with scallops which should have been great. Instead the sauce was insipid and the scallops very bitter which I have never encountered before. I only ate a bit of the pasta itself - it was otherwise inedible. We ordered desert and coffee and cappuccino. The desert never arrived - the coffee and cap were indifferent. We requested the check by chasing down the waiter again and saying forget desert. Instead he said "Its just coming" and ran off. A few moments later a different desert than ordered was basically thrown at the table with the comment - no more and on the house. Unfortunately this substitute desert was not at all good. So one bite and left it all - paid the bill and left. We will not be returning.

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MA

Marcus Lo

Ive been to Celestino twice and it was pretty much the same experience both times. The pasta is good, the appetizers are passable, the service is italian, and the ambiance is on the loud side. FOOD: Ive tried two pastas here... the black and white with scallops and the spiral (green, long spiral pasta... not your standard spiral) with sausage. Pastas are made in house and both of these were good. SERVICE: The waiters here basically speak italian with some english so it may be hard to understand for some... especially if you have problems hearing (not uncommon as it was quite loud here both times I visited). They are generally friendly here though and provide adequate service. AMBIANCE: It can get loud here. This is a place id go to with friends. You probably wouldnt want to come here for first date or if you are trying to impress. EXTRAS: On both visits, my bread dish was dirty. There appeared to be some oil on it already and it looked like some crumbs? Strangely, on both visits, my setting was missing silverware. Dirty bread dish, napkin, but no silverware... PARKING: There is a large lot behind the restaurant. Parking wasnt an issue for me but ive only been here for dinner so I have no idea what the parking situation is like during other hours.

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RE

Re becca

My gf suggested this place as she come here often for lunch and hadnt experience it for dinner. Ample free parking in the back. I really loved their service here, everyone is so courteous and extremely attentive! While waiting I was automatically greeted warmly by one of the server and place to my seat immediately by a host. The restaurant atmosphere brings in a very romantic feel that I love, my gf said it reminded her of the Godfather because a lot of the servers had a strong italian accent. We had warm bread and a fancy contraption that pours oil on one side and balsamic in the other. My girlfriend highly recommended the tomato bisque soup that comes with pieces of bread mixed in ..it was just as she said SO good, i licked the bowl clean! our waiter spoke really fast and I kind of felt a bit pressure when it came down to ordering but whatever he suggested was actually really good. A bit on the oily side but it was good enough to save for the next day. We packed our entree to go and ordered two dessert Penna Cotta with strawberries and the Lemon meringue cake that was so airy and the perfect amount of sour that i accidentally ate it all without sharing with my friend ..opps! great times!

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A

A Private User

Thoroughly DISGUSTED!!! I was disgusted by the WORM that I found in my fettucini and by the response I got from Mario the manager. Although I initially thought the food and service was okay, I changed my mind after I found a cooked WORM in the left overs they packaged for me. Not only was I grossed out, but I was concerned about the health issues involved. To make matters worse, when I called the manager the next day he was very rude and accused me of lying. He yelled at me on the phone just continued to state "No, this does not work for me." He had the nerve to invite me to observe the cooks to prove there could not be a worm in my pasta, and could not hear the fact that there was unmistakably a worm in my food. Be careful if you choose to dine at Celestino because they are obviously not going to do anything to check the sanitation of their kitchen. I will NEVER go back! I would give it no stars if I could.

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DA

David Franchi

Ive eaten at Celestino a few times and it has always been great. Spoiler alert *** I am Italian born and raised. I know how Italian food is supposed to taste. Check my last name... Celestino caters to customers who know authentic Italian food. They dont have dishes you would find in fake chain Italian restaurants. Ive found some dishes that are rare in the US which were delicious. The servers are mostly Italian which makes the experience priceless since most "Italian" restaurants in L.A. rarely have Italian servers. Do you suppose a non-Italian server can really give you recommendations about what to eat? Not knowing how Italian food is supposed to taste. Seriously??? I dont think so. To anybody that has given less than 4 stars to this place, please go back to the Olive Garden we (as in the Italian community) dont care about your awful taste in food.

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