Best Contemporary French Restaurants in South Pasadena

My best friend and I had dinner at this beautiful restaurant, which I would recommend to everyone! The decor and ambiance are warm, modern, and inviting. The aromas from the kitchen greet you the minute you walk in. At that moment, you know you have arrived at the right place. The libations: Drinks: We ordered the spritz and a dirty martini complete with a sidecar and the Japanese house vodka--yummy! The passionfruit spritz is fruity and dry at the same time! The dinner: Aioli grani is a medley of veggies from the farmer's market and tasty aioli. Sweet potato gratin--If this dish were a person, I would marry it. Wow! The balance between the sweet, cheesy, and savory consistency and flavor makes this my favorite of the night. Dry-aged burger and fries: The default for the meat is medium rare, which is a must! The grilled jalapenos added a nice kick! The French fries come with a dijon aioli and curry ketchup are tasty! The service? It was excellent and added much to the overall dining experience.

Great place for innovative small plates and good wines.

As usual, this was a wonderful evening. The service was great. The food was delicious and the setting, as always, was just this side of magical.

We have been coming to Shiro's for many years and, once again, they reminded us why this is our favorite "special occasion" restaurant. The food is always excellent -- tasty and beautifully presented. Last night we enjoyed 2 favorites, the salmon tartar tacos and the catfish. The staff is very friendly and attentive and the atmosphere is lovely including the soft jazz piano playing on the sound system.

Fantastic, beautiful venue. Service was top notch! We asked why they didn't have an item this year on the buffet as they had in the past, and they went and made that special dish for my wife.