Thanks to Alan Hájek, Christopher Hitchcock, Henry Mendell, and Laurie Shrage for their contributions to this restaurant guide.

Reservations are very strongly recommended for Friday and Saturday nights, especially if you want to dine around 8:00 p.m. on Friday, after the Presidential address and reception.

Many Pasadena restaurants offer outdoor and indoor dining.

Area codes are (626) unless otherwise stated; distances are from the Hilton (168 S. Los Robles). The immediate area (three or four block walk) includes many of the standard, reliable restaurant chains, such as:

California Pizza Kitchen
Cheesecake Factory
Gaucho Grill
Louise's (Italian)
McCormick & Schmicks Seafood (nice outdoor dining)
Soup Plantation
Tony Roma's, etc.

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant ($$), takes reservations and has very pleasant indoor and patio dining with a large menu. 1111 N. Los Robles, 405-0064.

Paseo Colorado, 280 E. Colorado Blvd., is a large mall on Colorado behind the Sheraton and is extremely convenient to the hotels. Restaurants are inexpensive to moderate. They include:

Border Grill ($$), Mexican, offshoot of the well known Santa Monica restaurant of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. 844-7700.

P. F. Chang's China Bistro ($), 356-9760

Café Med ($$), 844-7700

Yardhouse Restaurant ($$), 577-9273

California Crisp ($), 396-9992

Rubio's Baja Grill ($), 535-9383

Delmonico's Seafood Grill ($$$), 844-7700

The Bodega Wine Bar ($), has light food as well and is recommended. 793-4300

Nearby Restaurants (within 3/4 mile of the hotels)

California School of Culinary Arts Bistro ($$), Open Mon.-Fri., seating 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; 5:30 p.m.; 8:00 p.m. 405-1561. (.3 miles)

California School of Culinary Arts Café ($), a less expensive version (see above). Open: Mon.-Fri, 7:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. 561 E. Green St. (.3 miles), 683-7319.

El Portal ($$), regional dishes from the moles of Oaxaca to the seafood of Vera Cruz. 695 E. Green, 795-8553.

Gelson's Supermarket, nearest grocery and deli to the hotels with a good deli and places to sit. This upscale market has an extensive assortment of ready to eat delicacies, great for a picnic lunch, to take back to the hotel for breakfast or dinner, or to sustain you on your homeward flight at the corner of the Paseo Colorado mall. 280 E. Colorado (actually at the corner of Green St. and Marengo Ave. (less than .4 miles), 535-0190.

King Taco #21 ($), inexpensive and good Mexican food. 45 N. Arroyo Pkwy. (.7 miles), 792-0405.

Mario's ($$$),Where they sing while you dine. 39 S. Molina Ave., 796-1977.

Sitar Exotic Indian Cuisine ($$), 618 E. Colorado Blvd. (.4 miles), 449-5954.

Sushi of Naples ($$), good sushi and other Japanese food, with no Italian influence whatsoever. 735 Green St. (east of El Molino in the Theater district), 578-1123.

Maison Akira ($$$), French with Japanese accent. High end, but generally worth it. 713 East Green St., Pasadena (.4 miles), 796-9501.

Yahaira's, ($$), serves lighter Mexican fare with an emphasis on fresh ingredients. (Its parent restaurant El Portal is right next door, serving more traditional fare.) 698 E. Colorado Blvd. in the Theater District, 844-3254.

Old Town Restaurants

Old Town is centered at the intersection of Colorado and Fair Oaks. Shuttles leave every 15 minutes, but it's easily walkable in about 15 minutes. Walk west down Colorado Blvd. or Green St.

A'Float Sushi ($), sushi on boats, not great but fun. 87 E. Colorado, 792-9779.

Akbar Cuisine of India ($), Try the Coco Lamb. Food not as incendiary as menu suggests, so no need to be timid. 44 N. Fair Oaks Ave, 577-9916.

All India Café ($), Indian, probably the best of the four on this list (but see also the Tibet/Nepal House). Good seafood, dishes from Bombay and beyond. 39 S. Fair Oaks Ave, 440-0309.

Cafe Atlantic ($$), Xiomara's more reasonable sister restaurant: excellent Cuban. 53 E. Union St., 296-7350.

Café Santorini, One Colorado, Mediterranean cuisine. 64 W. Union. St. (in the alley), 564-4200.

Chiara, has several good Brazilian dishes along with its more pedestrian Italian offerings. 43 E. Colorado (just east of Fair Oaks in Old Town), 564-8696.

Chandra ($$), Thai. Saladang's competitor. People differ about which is better. 400 S. Arroyo Pkwy., 577-6599.

Il Fornaio ($$), one of the better Italian chains. 449-0052, One Colorado (24 W. Union. St., (in the alley).

Kuala Lumpur ($$), good Malaysian Restaurant, mostly from southern Malaysa and Indonesia. Try the curry or wonton laksa, the yam-curry noodles, the tamarind noodles, and any seafood dish. Ying Yang noodles sooth an overheated palate—they're not on the menu, but you can ask for this subtle dish. 69 W. Green, 577-5175.

Patakan Union ($$), Thai. 43 E. Union St., 449-4418.

Ruby's Diner ($), Chicken fried steak and meatloaf dinners, old fashion fountain drinks. 45 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, 796-7829.

Sushi Roku, one of a chain, but with a good reputation. One Colorado (33 Miller Alley), 683-3000.

Tre Venezie ($$), Italian. Try the unusual pastas, veal bollito misto, fish in agrodolce, and seductive desserts. Comfortable dining room. 119 Green St. (.9 miles), 795-4455.

Restaurants at Raymond Street in Old Town

Raymond Street, wrapping around Holly St., north of Colorado, has some of the best restaurants in Pasadena.

Cafe Bisou ($$), Cal-French crowd pleaser. 91 N. Raymond, 792-9923.

Chado Tea Room, Very impressive tea list. 79 N. Raymond, 431-2832.

Nonya's ($$$), modern Malay/South Chinese fusion. Recommended by Pasadena denizens. Specialty cocktails. 61 Raymond St., 583-8617.

Tibet/Nepal House ($$), Nepali, nice goat curry, excellent vegetarian dishes, drink Himalyan Blue beer or buttered tea. They say the Dalai Lama eats here. 36 E. Holly St., 585-9955.

Xiomara ($$$), Nuevo Latino Cuban, with killer mojitos. 67 N. Raymond Ave. 796-2520.

Yujean Kang's ($$$), nouvelle Chinese, possibly one of the best and most interesting Chinese restaurants in the L.A. area. Recommended by philosophers near and far. 67 N. Raymond Ave., 585-0855.

Beer in Old Town

Gordon Biersch, great beer, not food. One Colorado (41 Hugus Alley), 449-0052.

Yard House ($), for draft beer of many varieties, food unknown. 330 E. Colorado Blvd., 577-9273.

Odd and Odder Restaurants in Old Town

Buca di Beppo ($$), old-style American Italian, bizarre restaurant with larger servings, but somehow charming despite the genre. 80 W. Green St., 792-7272.

Honey Baby's Tea Cakes ($), Homemade goodies for lunch or tea. 10 E. Holly St., (626) 585-9127.

Twin Palms ($$$), tent dining (taste by Kevin Costner). 101 W. Green St., 577-2567.

Restaurants Near Old Town

Arroyo Chophouse ($$$), Steak. 536 South Arroyo Pkwy (.8 miles), 577-7463.

Parkway Grill ($$$), Wonderful California Cuisine, don't be put off by the stodgy looking decor. Recommended by Cal Tech faculty. 510 S. Arroyo Pkwy (.8 miles), 795-1001.

Saladang ($$), Thai, companion restaurant of Saladang Song. Excellent Thai food with modern approach. Try catfish in red wine sauce, pad kee mow, prik king, and Thai toast. Curry dishes are great. But can be crowded. 363 S. Fair Oaks Ave. (.7 miles), 793-8123.

Saladang Song ($$), Thai, companion restaurant of Saladang. Quieter and slightly less expensive than Saldang. 383 S. Fair Oaks Ave. (.7 miles), 793-5200.

Lake Street Area Restaurants

Lake Street Area is about a fifteen-minute walk east. If you are watching your budget, you'll find more eating places to suit you on this walk along Colorado Blvd., or Green St. than in Old Town.

Bistro 45 ($$$), French in an amazing 1930s Art Deco Building. Lovely small plates. Strong recommendations from many quarters; often found in the "top 10 in S. California; top 100 in nation" kinds of lists. 45 S. Mentor Ave. (.9 miles), 795-2478.

Celestino ($$), good California Italian. 141 S. Lake Ave., 795-4006.

Cobbler Factory ($), dinky place famous for cobblers. 33 N. Catalina Ave. (.9 miles), 795-1005.

Europane, A classic European-style bakery, Europane has great sandwiches, as well as quiche and other lunch fare. Be forewarned, however, that it's hard to escape without picking up a little something for dessert as well. Great bakery including excellent pastries and sandwiches. Open 7a.m. - 5:30 p.m., except Sun., closes 2:30. Cash only. 950 E. Colorado Blvd (.9 miles). 577-1828.

Halie ($$$), Cal-French-Asian Fusion. New very good chef, interesting decor. 1030 E. Green (.8 miles from Hilton), 440-7067.

Madre's ($$$), Latin restaurant belonging to Jennifer Lopez; a fine restaurant called "Mom's." 897 Granite Ave (.9 miles.), 744-0900.

Peet's ($), Starbucks is ubiquitous, but some might well prefer Peet's. 605 S. Lake (1.0 miles), 795-7413.

Pie N' Burger ($), Inexpensive and good pies and burgers. 913 E. California Blvd. (1.1 miles.), 795-1123.

Radhikas Cuisine of India ($$), Indian. 140 Shopper's Lane (.8 miles), 744-0994.

Smitty's Grill ($$$), elegant (nice corn bread). Owned by the same people who own Parkway Grill. 110 S. Lake Ave (.7 miles), 793-9999.

Wolfe Burgers, Terrific burgers, many options. 46 N. Lake (.8 miles), 792-7292.

Zankou ($), Some people modestly consider Zankou (also in L.A. and Glendale) as having the best roast chicken in L.A. 1296 E. Colorado Blvd. (1.2 miles), 405-1502.

Restaurants Somewhat Further Away (drive or take a taxi)

Cameron's Seafood Market ($$), lots of seating with very good variety. 1978 E. Colorado (1.8 miles), 793-3474.

Casa Bianca ($), great eggplant/garlic pizza. 1650 Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, (1.6 miles), (323) 256-9617.

Raymond Restaurant ($$$), California food in a beautiful garden. 1250 S. Fair Oaks Ave. (1.8 miles), 441-3136.

Additional Restaurants

There is great Asian food available in the nearby communities of Monterey Park and San Gabriel, about a 15-minute drive from the hotel. There are a number of good restaurants near the intersection of Garfield and Main St. in Alhambra. The Gold Line connecting Pasadena with Downtown L.A. stops right in the heart of Chinatown. Of course, those willing to venture further into L.A. will be able to find anything under the sun.

Babita Mexicuise, ($$), serves top notch Yucatan-style cuisine in an intimate setting. 1823 S. San Gabriel Blvd. in San Gabriel (20 minute drive).

Empress Pavillion ($$), 988 N. Hill St., (213) 617-9898 and Ocean Seafood ($$), 750 N. Hill St., (213) 687-3088 are two solid Cantonese places in Chinatown.

MPV Seafood Restaurant ($$), Chinese, currently the restaurant is most commonly used by the CSULA Philosophy Dept. to entertain guests. 1412 S. Garfield Ave., Alhambra (4.7 miles), 289-3018.

Ocean Star Seafood ($$), one of the most popular Dim Sum houses in L.A. Regular offerings can be amazing (with service that can vary). 145 North Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park (5.6 miles), (818) 308-2128.

Pho 79 ($), no frills Vietnamese chain that serves satisfying soup and noodles, with restaurants in Chinatown (727 N. Broadway), Alhambra (29 S. Garfield Ave.), and San Gabriel (535 W. Valley Blvd.).

Señor Fish ($), This improbably named chain offers top-notch Baja-style tacos and burritos at unbeatable prices. There are branches on Mission street in South Pasadena (accessible by the Gold Line) and on Main Street in Alhambra. 618 Mission St., South Pasadena, 403-0145.

Shiro ($$$), Japanese/French fusion cuisine, often rated as one of the top restaurants in the L.A. area. Accessible by the Gold Line. Very good value for money. 1505 Mission St., South Pasadena, 799-4774.

Tung Lai Shun ($$), Islamic Chinese food. Be adventurous! Be sure to try the sesame bread! 140 W. Valley Blvd., No. 118C, San Gabriel (6.0 miles), 288-6588.