Tarantino's Pizzeria

One of my favorite restaurants! The have great homemade pasta sause. You can taste that it didn't come from a jar. I recommend getting their spicy chicken pasta and a pizza as well. Best mom and pop Italian restaurant. more

My husband and I were in Tarantino's the other evening and ordered: Spaghetti with meat sauce, Angel Hair with clams, Chardonnay, and butter (for our bread.) We got Linguini with meat sauce, Linguini with Clam sauce, no Chardonnay and a tub of melted butter - what's up with that. I brought my issues to Pepe's attention (the manager and our server) and he blamed the cook. I told him he saw the order before it came out - didn't he think he had some responsibility here? I also told him we had been coming to Tarantino's for 30 years and he called me a liar - used that word! Said they had only been open 25 years - whew - the hair splitting! He also told us that if we don't like it - leave! I asked him to pack our leftovers and he argued about that too. What a mess ! ! ! We paid for our meal and left - I promised to call the owner. - Today I got a hold of the owner (5 days later.) NOT EVEN ONE APOLOGY ISSUED - SHAME ON HIM! The owner told me he ran two successful business and things like this happen. How can that be - how can someone be successful and so blatantly disrespectful of their clientele? He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back. Too bad, it was a place we took many business associates and friends. Tarantino's ends up the big loser - because they don't know how to treat their customers. Shame - shame - shame. I'm telling everyone I know to boycott this place. If being treated poorly doesn't bother you - by all means, eat there, but if you work hard for your money and expect to be treated fairly - FORGET ABOUT TARANTINO'S ! ! Pros: Food - yummy if you can get what you ordered. Cons: Service - sucks and the customer is most definitely wrong more

Everything started out really well, the wine was Eh, but the service was very friendly and accommodating. Their garlic rolls were great! we both had a small dinner salad, which was average, then came out the pizza. The Florentine, large pie, $19+ spinach with a ""variety"" of cheese? No. it was 10 pounds of spinach(no joke) and a very tiny amount of what tasting like only mozzarella cheese. no red sauce. Then out came the ravioli. yikes. it was barely warm, they weren't mixed with the sauce, which was also very unsatisfying. It tasted like tomato sauce out of a can. We asked for a ton of extra parm cheese, there wasn't any on the table, we smothered everything in it to get some kind of flavor. I'm sorry, it just was terrible and to top it off i spent over $50+ !!! I was very bummed. Pros: garlic rolls are great! staff very friendly. Cons: WAY OVER PRICED for overall- very bad tasting food, sorry. more

I love Tarantino's and go there at least once a week. I've never had anything bad there, but a few of my favorites are the linguini with meat sauce and meatballs, the garlic rolls (to die for!), and the deluxe pizza. The pizza toppings are always fresh and delicious, no frozen veggies here!\r \r Bring cash and a healthy appetite cause the portions are big and they don't take credit. Pros: Great Food, Great Prices, Nice guys working Cons: Cash Only more

I love Tarantino's. I just got back from lunch there. If you get there between 11 am and 12 noon, it is relatively empty, but don't let that deter you, the food is the best I have ever eaten. They have a to-die-for specialty pizza called Tucci's Special, if it is your first time, I suggest that and an order of their garlic rolls. If you have a business meeting afterwards, I will suggest you bring breath mints, the garlic content in everything is very high and very delicious. Had to give it 5 stars. Pros: Small restaurant, Good food close distance to businesses of old town Pasadena Cons: Cash only more

Be sure to stop by the ATM before coming here, because they don't accept credit cards, cash only! And If you're hungry you may want to eat ahead of time as well. The whole menu is a la carte, even the lunch menu. No salad or even a measly bread stick with your meal without an extra charge. The food has definitely declined over the years and without their coming into the current century on accepting at least debit cards, I'd rather go to one of the other hundred Italian restaurants in Pasadena with better food, customer service and ambiance. Pros: ok sauce Cons: cash only, customer service more

This place is a Pasadena gem. Good food, good friendly service, great atmosphere. Eat in, or order to go, you can't go wrong. I would say that the negative reviews (aside from a couple of just plain losers), are from people who can't appreciate the crowded, warm neighborhood feeling this place exudes. Very New York style. Don't expect some trendy fancy Italian restaurant, go somewhere else, you won't be happy. Arrive early or come later to avoid the wait, bring cash, park in back, drink some beer, wine, dine be happy! Pros: Food, Ambience, Service. Cons: Bring cash, you will wait on Friday past 6PM more

It is, what it is, italian mall food outside of the mall. I guess the cash only should be a tip off, you can't dispute disatisfied service to the coins in your pocket. It is an institution because it is cheap eats for anyone that is on a tight budget like large families, students and underpaid Pasadena employee's. The chicken entree's are drowning in olive oil, the fagioli soup tastes like it comes from a can and the marinara probably did come from a can. The Bianca pizza is good, that's about it. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone during the summer because the place is tiny and the server's serve your food drenched in sweat, not enough AC to cool this place down. Considering the place is tiny you would think the cooks and server's could turn these table rather quickly, but they can't. If you are eating in, expect to be there at least 70 minutes, regardless of what you order. Order your pizza ahead of time and to go and eat it at the Paseo Mall. Pros: Pizza Bianca Cons: No parking, slow service, really cheap tasting carbs to fill you up more

Tarantino's is a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, with great prices and large quantities. Our lunch was extremely filling, and everyone was left with the same impression - it was good value, but didn't quite live up to our expectations. The wait staff was pretty slow, as was the kitchen, even though we got there plenty early before the lunch crowd, when it is next to impossible to get a table. I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich, custom ordered so there would be no vegetables on it (except the pesto - is that a vegetable?) Covered in lettuce, I survived. Soup was okay, garlic bread was good. Overall, I'd go again only because it's close to work, and because the pizza smelled and looked REALLY GOOD (although the warning on the menu said a 20 minute wait when ordering pizza.) Pros: Low prices, Big quantities Cons: Slow, Small Dining Area more

everything here is great. i specially love their vegetarian pizza - no sauce no cheese! i know it doesnt really sound good but wait til you try it! their tucci's is also amazing (though it will really stink up your car if you take some home!) their ravioli is the best ravioli ever! we had lunch here a few weeks ago for a friend's bday and she was so glad she was introduced to this place! for a fraction of what you pay when you go to those popular italian chains, this is the way to go! we usually have cash stashed in the car somewhere just for pizza money at tarantino's. the best italian place ever! Pros: food, staff Cons: parking, cash only more

I've been going here for a few years now, and have never been disappointed!\r I've taken friends and they really enjoy it.\r my usual is the spicy tomato with angel hair pasta and some bianca... YUM!! more

So many great pies are offered. I'm usually a meat eater when it comes to\r pizza but they have so many selections that are just as intriguing without meat.\r Good service and usually not too crowded if you don't go on a Saturday night.\r Never ordered just a single slice. Always went with the whole pie and only been for dinner so maybe the lunch time experience is different. I would think ordering a whole pizza pie would always taste better than just getting a slice unless the slice was fresh or made to order.\r I like this place with it's neon signs, old photos on the wall, red and white checkered tablecloths and green outdoor awning over the storefront. Viva la Tarantino's! Pros: Great pizza, service Cons: parking more

Gave them 3 honest tries before writing this review.\r 1. On a Friday night when they were busy we (and another family) tried to get the attention from someone to get our names on a list or to be seated. After 5 minutes of being ignored, we simply left.\r 2. Called the next day for take out, when we arrived to pick up 2 pizzas, the place was empty, and the woman could not be bothered to do her job. It was ""can you help me?"" instead of ""how can I help you."" Trying to get our pizzas, red peppers, etc. we were treated like she was doing us a favor. Fugetaboutit, we just left without our food.\r 3. A friend finally managed to pick up pizzas for take out, and when we finally tried their food, we gave it just a 4 out of 10. After all that effort, it wasn't even that great! more

I haven't ordered a sit-down meal here so I express no opinion on the matter. However, I can't imagine that it'd be very good. The pizza by the slice is pretty awful. \r \r After waiting about 20 minutes I was served a cold slice of pie with a big pile of unmelted cheese in the center. The crust was spongey and bland. The sauce was ridiculously sweet and the toppings were (again) cold. \r \r No thanks... more

If you like garlic in your sauce, you'll love this place. The pepperoni was good, but I didn't like the cheese they used. The crust was just okay, definitely not the thin ""New York"" style pizza, but the pizza did fold a bit. more

Delicious food, friendly service...stromboli is to DIE FOR. Great neighborhood joint, try to take out here at least once a week. GREAT. Pros: Excellent Food, Authentic, Vintage Cons: Small more

get there early or you'll be waiting. our first time there. no frills, quick, not quite new york, but still pretty good. would definitely go back. a jovial atmosphere. more

I've been here a few times now and every experience has been a gastronomical delight. The pizzas are excellent, oozing with cheese, chrused garlic, and loads of fresh toppings. I recommend the special sauce (can't remember the name) instead of traditional marinara. Also, don't miss the garlic knots or house salad with black olive vinaigrette - both delish. The ambiance and the service are equally enjoyable. Jolly italian men cram into a hole-in-th wall joint to serve the crowded, checkered table clothed booths with speed and a smile. more

i go to tarantinos at least 6 or more times a month. the garlic rolls (you must, must try these) are addictive and the carbonara (huge serving and very garlicky) is heaven. their pizza bread is amazing. i can't get enough of it. i have them on my speed dial and pick-up very often. it's also very cheap considering how great the food is. this is the no fuss italian eatery that's authentic. Pros: Garlic rolls, Pizza, Carbonara Cons: Nothing, Nothing, Nothing more

This place is so down to earth. The place is bustling and don't take reservations; so be prepared to queue up for a table. My favorite pizza is the Florentine. The service is very friendly service and the prices are great too (cash only). Mangia! more