Pasadena Restaurant Week March 27-April 1

Pasadena’s restaurant community opens its doors for the first Pasadena Restaurant Week which takes place from Sunday, March 27 through Friday, April 1, 2011.

Pasadena Restaurant Week is a citywide event featuring the cuisine of many of Pasadena’s top dining establishments. Participating restaurants will offer at least three fixed price dinner and/or lunch menu items for visitors. Dinners will be three-course meals while lunches will be two course meals. Depending on the venue and menu offered, meals will be priced at $23, $34 or $45 for dinner or $15, $20 or $25 for lunch. (Some prices may vary for lunch and dinner, depending on the venue. Alcoholic beverages, gratuity and tax are not included in the price unless specified by the individual restaurants.)

Pasadena Restaurant Week was conceived to reintroduce Pasadena as a restaurant destination and remind local residents and visitors that Pasadena offers dining experiences to satisfy foodies of all tastes at all price ranges. Participating restaurants will be preparing special meals at extraordinary introductory prices.

Restaurants that are participating include some of Pasadena’s finest eating destinations including 1810 (eighteen ten), a/k/a An American Bistro, Bar Celona, Celestino Ristorante, Derek’s Bistro, El Cholo, El Portal, Elements Kitchen, Green Street Restaurant, Japon Bistro, Malbec, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Mijares, Noir Food and Wine, Pie ‘n Burger, Robin’s Wood Fire BBQ and Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Terrace at the Langham, Trevo’s at the Hilton, Villa Sorriso and Ix-Tapa. It is anticipated that more than 30 local dining establishments will take part in Pasadena Restaurant Week.

The entire list of participating restaurants can be found at http://www.pasadenarestaurantweek.com/. Menus are being posted as they are submitted.

“It is very exciting to have so many fine restaurants taking part,” said Paul Little, president and chief executive officer of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. “The event is generating a lot of enthusiasm from our restauranteurs who are excited to be able to showcase their extraordinary menus for visitors during Pasadena Restaurant Week.”

A kick-off event is being planned for Pasadena City Hall on Tuesday, March 22nd. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard has been invited to join the celebration on the steps of city hall.

The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association is a professional business organization. Since the earliest days of Pasadena, the Chamber has played a major role in the development of this internationally renowned city. Since 1888, when the organization was founded as the Board of Trade, the Chamber's primary purpose has been the enhancement of both the business climate and the quality of life in Pasadena. The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce serves 1500 members.