Technique Restaurant

I view myself as a fairly savy diner and dine out often. If you are looking for an experience in dining this is your kind of place. You need to go in understanding that this is a classroom for the students, once you understand this you will be blown away with the quality and creativity of the food. Granted the service is not 5 star but it is a great opportunity to spend time with aspiring chefs and restaurateurs! \r \r Go there to have fun and enjoy the experience. Zagat and Michelin have also rated this restaurant. more

My husband and I love good food and have eaten at some of the best restaurants, including the Culinary Institute of New York which was fabulous. This was one of the worst dining experiences we've ever had. Aside from the fact that it took over one hour to get our food, what finally came was more than disappointing. The bouillabaisse was a lukewarm tiny portion of two little clams, one very small piece of fish and a few spoons of what tasted like tomato paste. It was also to include mussels but they ran out. My husband's very small portion of fish was cold by the time it arrived and tough.We had a bottle of wine so our grand total was over $200. Stay away from this place! Cons: Bad service, horrible food, overpriced more

I had made reservations to go to Resaurant 561 for my son's birthday, as we had gone there several years ago and had a very nice time. Keep in mind, that I had informed the restaurant in advance that we were celebrating a special occasion. However, until last night, I have NEVER walked out on a restaurant before in my life. After being seated with my wife and 2 children, we sat for a full 10 minutes during which NOONE came by to take our drink order, or even give us a glass of water. Meanwhile, at least 5 or 6 waiters and waitresses stood idly by in plain view near the open kitchen. I don't know about you, but when a restaurant charges $28 for a New York Steak, and touts itself as an upscale dining restaurant of the world class California School of Culinary Arts, I expect not only world class food, but world class service as well. In my mind, leaving a customer sitting there for 10 minutes basically ignoring you completely is far from world class. Suffice it to say we will not be dining there ever again. I understand that this is a teaching restaurant, but I also understand that when a customer is treated as if they are not even there, then the quality of the food no longer matters. more

First off: it's a cooking school restaurant (and trains both chefs & waitstaff) - so do be patient and open to creative interpretations of food. And don't be surprised by a few lapse in service.\r \r That being said - I've had some spectacular dishes here for a fraction of the price I would pay at other fine dining restaurants. The 8 to 9 course tasting menu (Thurs & Fri) is a bargain for what you get, around $35 for lunch & $65 for dinner.\r \r For a cheaper alternative, go to the school cafe next door, which offers more casual dining at a lower price tag. Pros: food can be good Cons: expect service lapses more

THE FOOD TOOK 2-3 hours........... by the time we got our food we were long out of topics to talk about, could hardly keep our eyes open.... way past my bedtime.........\r besides that, service was excellent. food was excellent, but portion was very small for the price. I would recommend the yam and the mac n' cheese. If the food takes 45mins, i would still go back. Pros: service, food Cons: food takes FOREVER, price more

My dining experiences have all been awesome there. My friends and I marvel at the menu variety, the care in preparation, outstanding service. The desserts are second to none. Obviously, the awards given to this establishment are warranted. If you are in a great big hurry to eat, this is not the place to go. You should savor a place like this and its offerings. Every time I leave, I swear to myself that I will never eat anywhere else because I have just had the greatest meal ever!!! Pros: Selection, Preparation, Desserts Cons: you must be kidding more

We had dinner here tonight and were not impressed. Extremely expensive with food that was average. Wine list is pricey. I thought the prices were suppose to be more affordable because students were waiting on you and making the food. Not So! more

I dined here before with my daughter and order the taste menu with pairing wine flight. It was good and memorable. This time, I brought a group of 6 and expected a repeat experience and some bragging right. It was not so great. The waiting was agonizingly slow. The meal lasted from 7:15 to 10pm. We waited 40 minutes for the desserts to show up. I couldn't keep my eyes open driving home. Well, I probably won't come again. For the price, everything should be perfect. more

The most wonderful things about Bistro561 are the freshness of the ingredients and the ""eager to please"" attitude of the staff. However, sometimes they can be a little overwhelming...the staff, not the ingredients. It's a high end restaurant, but casual enough to visit directly after work. The salads and appetizers are just the right size to start off a good meal, and the desserts are just enough to finish off the evening. Even though it's in the Theater district of Pasadena, you don't have to wait for the next Playhouse event. Go and enjoy! Cons: Limited parking more

If you are looking for a fabulous meal at an agreeable price, look no farther than Bistro 561. My wife and I have drven by many times and finally had a table for our 10th anniversary. We couldn't have been more pleased. The service is upbeat without being cheerleaders and the staff is very approachable. The dinning area while not large, has high ceilings and large windows making it feel roomy. The food is prepared by students in their last session at the Culinary Institute but overseen by a master chef who cracks the whip and keeps the food flowing. Most of the service is proviuded by students of the Hotel Management courses associated with the culinary school. The total bill with appetizer, two entres, desert and a few drinks was $100. This is a great place for a great meal and fun atmosphere. Don't miss it. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere Cons: , Location more

Visited on 9/8/03 on the chance of getting a primo meal at a great price. Things started off great but took a turn for the worse when the entree was delivered. 3 out of 5 entrees (all the same) were cold, NY Strip at that, but still tasty. We all ate the cool steak paid the bill and left. Pros: Good Pricing, Great Service, Wonderful Taste Cons: Food was cool more

This place was absolutely delightful and delicious. The food was great, the service was wonderful and the atmosphere was pleasant. I definitely recommend this place. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere more

Food is prepared and served by the students at The Califonia School of Culinary Arts. Open M-F which is strange for a fine restaurants but I guess there are no students on Saturdays. They serve everything from fine french to classical international dishes. Menu is constantly changing and it will keep you coming back. Prices are very reasonable. more