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• LIFE • BULLETIN BOARD NEWS AND NOTES FROM OUR COMMUNITY “YOU DON'T NEED A SILVER FORK TO EAT GOOD FOOD."- PAUL PRUDHOMME HOME SALES RECENT HOME SALES IN THE GREATER PASADENA AREA FEAR OF INTIMACY A SIMPLE BEHAVIOR CHANGE COULD IMPROVE MARRIAGE P. 16 RESTAURANT REVIEW P. 17 P. 18 King’s Kitchen 1235 S. Central Ave., Glendale (818) 649-1333 kingskitchenla.com dining &nitelife Pasadena Weekly’s Dining Directory is a paid advertisement and is provided as a service to our readers. To advertise in the Dining Directory, call (626) 584-1500. Average price per entree $ up to $10 $$ $11–15 directory $$$ $16-25 $$$$ $25+ Royal Treatment KING’S KITCHEN APPLIES A MODERN TWIST TO OLD FAVORITES BY MICHAEL SPRAGUE | PHOTOS BY DANNY LIAO It occurred to me recently that in my scouring of the local scene I’d neglected Glendale. To make up for lost time I headed out on a Saturday to explore the culinary offerings and possibly stumble on a hidden gem that hadn’t been covered by my fellow columnists. For a late lunch/early dinner I went to King’s Kitchen on South Central Avenue. I am so used to the inescapable struggle of Pasadena parking that the private parking at King’s started my trip off on a high note. As I walked in I noticed some covered windows and arrows on the asphalt indicating one of the previous tenants was a fast-food place. I don’t hold that against them or think of it as low brow. In fact, I recognize just how intense the LA dining scene is, so there’s something pretty authentically rock and roll about putting a gourmet multicultural spot in the carcass of a fallen fast-food joint. While King’s Kitchen doesn’t lose points for the fast food remnants, it definitely foreshadows the mix of worlds in which it simultaneously exists. They advertise as serving Mediterranean and American cuisine, not as fusion. Rather, one side of the menu lists traditional American fare: burgers, sandwiches, salads. And Kebab Sandwich the other side features traditional Mediterranean dishes consisting of lamb, chicken and beef kabobs. The tables inside are all preset with silverware and napkins and thus bussed. That was somewhat surprising though, mainly because all orders are placed at a walk-up counter and food is brought to your table, a la a fast-casual restaurant. With some entrees in the $20 range, the price points and the quality of the menu options are incongruous with a fast-casual style. They are in their first month, so there are kinks to work out (they could pull a reverse Pie’N’Cone which, shortly after my article came out, transitioned away from their wait staff and is now walk-up service). The American side of the menu features some subtle elevated takes on classics. The caprese avocado toast ($11), for instance, takes the trendy millennial punchline and kicks it up a notch. This isn’t overpriced smashed avo with salt and pepper served alongside an overpriced coffee. Their avocado mash is accompanied with baby heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, baby basil, and drizzled with a basil aioli. It plays with the caprese concept by adding some much needed texture with the wheat toast, and the acidity of the tomato enhances the buttery ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE 111 North Los Robles Ave. Pasadena, (626) 486-1111 alexanderssteakhouse.com $$$$ Alexander’s Steakhouse welcomes you to experience American steakhouse cuisine with an innovative and elegant global inspiration. Our menu features Certified Angus Beef from the Mid-West, corn-fed and dry-aged for 28 days for unparalleled flavor. We serve the finest and most luxurious ingredients available including authentic Japanese wagyu beef. BONNIE B’S SMOKIN BBQ 1280 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, (626) 794-0132 bonniebssmokin.com $$ From Tulsa Oklahoma to Southern Cal. with a touch of New Orleans soul comes Bonnie B’s Bar B Que Heaven. Our 45-year-old traditional recipes are made with love. Try our new sweet pea’s double Fried burger made with our own sauces, soul bowl and homemade peach cobbler. Voted best BBQ & Soul food in Pasadena for our ribs, collard greens and Slim's Mac & Cheese. We are thankful and appreciate Pasadena. CAMERON’S SEAFOOD 1978 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena (626) 793-3474 Camerons4fish.com $$ Since 1984, Cameron’s Seafood has been serving its freshest seafood, and has become a landmark in Pasadena. Cameron’s brings the ocean home with their fresh catch being cooked over mesquite wood grills that burn all day long.Enjoy the very best Seafood, Steaks, Salad & Pasta! Voted Best Seafood in Pasadena Weekly for 27 years! Now you can order on-line: camerons4fish.com. 14 PASADENA WEEKLY | <strong>10.11.18</strong>
PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS •RESTAURANT REVIEW• King’s Kale Salad dining & nitelife directory Average price per entree $ up to $10 $$ $11–15 $$$ $16-25 $$$$ $25+ TOM'S FAMOUS FAMILY RESTAURANT 1130 E. Walnut St. Pasadena 626-577-7717 tomsfamous.com $ Please come and enjoy homemade breakfast lunch and dinner all made from scratch and FRESH. Nothing is ever served or made from a can. We pride ourselves as being the cleanest store with the best quality food and BEST service in town. Thank you PASADENA!!!!! HIKARI SUSHI 2064 Verdugo Blvd. Montrose 818-957-1800 Hikarisushiglendale.com $$ Hikari Sushi in Montrose is open for business to serve you fresh sushi, with a variety of rolls. We are the first All You Can Eat Sushi Restaurant in the City of Glendale. Please join us! We are looking forward to serving you! KABUKI JAPANESE RESTAURANTS 88 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 568-9310 3539 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 351-8963 kabukirestaurants.com $$ When you walk into a Kabuki you won’t be overwhelmed with Asian decor and music. What you will encounter is a casual atmosphere with today’s hottest music playing, people smiling and our friendly staff welcoming you through the doors. Look for the Red Mask. Come eat, drink and have fun! MARGARITA’S 155 S. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena (626) 449-4193 margaritaspasadena.com $$ At Margaritas Mexican Restaurant, our family has been sharing our authentic Mexican dishes with the wonderful people of Pasadena since 1977. Guests enter our warm, inviting space and leave as family -- with plenty of burritos, tortas, tostadas, fajitas, and more to be had in between! Our dishes incorporate and pay homage to the rich flavors of bustling mercados, corner taquerias, and seaside palapas. So visit us, eat to your heart's content at our mouthwatering lunch buffet, sip on a refreshing margarita, and feel at home. TOPS WALNUT 1792 E. Walnut St., Pasadena (626) 584-0244 topsburger.com $ At TOPS on Walnut & Allen, we maintain the original taste from 60 years ago. My father wanted to create food as close to homemade as possible. Our primary goal and focus is on taste, quality, freshness, cleanliness in our service and experienced staff. Most of our staff have been with us for more than twenty years. We invite you to come to TOPS on the corner of Walnut & Allen and taste the difference! Meet our staff and experience what quality service should be. The same quality service that has made us #1. WE OLIVE 32 E Colorado Blvd Pasadena, CA 91105 626-787-1000 weolive.com/Pasadena $$ We Olive Pasadena features an array of olive oils, vinaigrettes, dips, and other one of a kind flavors and offers complimentary Olive Oil tastings. We now serve lunch & dinner! Enjoy the summer evenings on our We Olive Patio! Happy Hour M – F 3:30 – 7pm! Enjoy cheese and charcuterie and California small patch wine. Shopping for a gift? Check out our wide selection of customized gourmet gifts. Located in Old Pasadena right next to free 90 minute parking. ZELO GOURMET PIZZAS 328 E. Foothill Blvd.Arcadia 626-358-8298 myzelopizza.info $$ It’s the cornmeal crust that makes this pizzeria stand out from the rest. This locally owned establishment’s signature dish is the fresh, corn, balsamic-marinated, oven-roasted red onion pie. Zelo Pizzeria has expanded the dining room to better serve you, so come in and give Zelo Pizzeria a try. VERTICAL WINE BISTRO 70 N. Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 795-3999 verticalwinebistro.com $$ Set above the streets of Old Town Pasadena, Vertical Wine Bistro offers a warm, inviting dining experience with an elegant and comfortable atmosphere. Our Chefs use only the freshest ingredients when designing our menu. We offer a wide selection of beer, wine and hand crafted cocktails. Tuesday - Sunday: 5:00pm til Close - Happy Hour (Tues- Fri): 5:00pm - 7:00pm – Closed Monday richness of the avocado. In spite of the fact that I wasn’t too impressed by the less than modest size of the chicken breast hidden beneath the breading of my spicy crispy chicken sandwich ($13), I was impressed by the attention to detail and quality of ingredients used. Under the buttery brioche bun, sliced Mexican jalapenos add another layer of crunch and bring some heat to the fried chicken. Rather than slap on some iceberg lettuce and call it a day, King’s uses butter lettuce and red cabbage to neutralize some of the spice and pairs it with the melted Swiss cheese. There are two different filet mignon options on the Mediterranean side of the menu for those who want to see how the steakhouse staple works with a Middle Eastern style. The luleh kebab ($16) is made with ground prime filet mignon skewered and charbroiled, while the barg kebab ($22) is a thin sliced filet. If you want to go all in on a Mediterranean experience at King’s, go with the lamb chops ($24) served on the bone and grilled with bell peppers and onions. All of the sandwich and burger options come with either a side salad or fries. The Mediterranean plates come with basmati rice, grilled tomato and grilled chili, and toasted pita bread. Diners also get to choose two sides to complement their meal: hummus, shirazi salad (diced cucumber, tomatoes and lemon juice) tsatsiki (a creamy yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil dip), Armenian salad, mast o musir (a Persian yogurt shallot dip), or ikra (an Armenian eggplant tomato spread). A heads up to those who have only had pita from American restaurants; the pita at King’s is thinner and drier than what you may be accustomed to. As thinly spread as the kitchen staff of King’s must be, whipping up everything from tacos and pastrami sandwiches to kebabs, I respect how well they manage to simultaneously dive so deeply into authentic Mediterranean plates while maintaining the quality of their American options. I appreciate that King’s was bold enough to buck the trend of fusing their traditional ethnic cuisine with American concepts. Instead they maintain the integrity of the traditional dishes while concurrently offering burgers and tacos for those who aren’t ready to embark on a culinary expedition. Kitchens generally maintain overhead by eliminating as much food waste as possible. For major chain restaurants, that equates to giant freezers and fewer fresh ingredients. King’s Kitchen manages a menu of fresh options cooked to order which is an effort for which they should be celebrated. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to King’s Kitchen and I plan on coming back and seeing how they grow. The pragmatist in me is concerned for how well they will be able to maintain the sheer amount of overhead needed for two divergent styles while maintaining the high caliber ingredients I tasted. If King’s Kitchen can maintain the high-quality ingredients and fresh flavors they’ve had coming out of the gate then by all means, I encourage they continue their dance between cuisines. <strong>10.11.18</strong> | PASADENA WEEKLY 15
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10.11.18

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