Derek’s Bistro

My wife and i went to Derek’s Bistro a couple of months ago and descided to go back for another deliscious dinner and we could NOT BELIEVE the restaurant was closed! Whaaaaaat !! What happened to them??? Did the owner and chef got into a fight or something? Man, we were so dissappointed because we loved it the first time we went. We had the rack of lamb dinner and the scallops on risotto appetizers and that was one of the best meals we have ever had. The lamb was incredibly fine, delicate and tender and so flavorful, not unlike other steak houses i have been to. The food and staff were incredibly good. Very very sad story.
I only give the restaurant four stars because they have let me down for closing down on me, otherwise it was a five star place.

Had a great dinner at Derek’s. Food was fabulous. Waiter suggestions were perfect, without being the priciest things on the menu or wine list. Owner Tony takes pride in his restaurant and attends every guest, suggesting wines and offering tastings.
Great experience and wonderful atmosphere, food and wine.

I am sorry to have to write a review like this, but our dinner was horrible and, therefore, so is the review. The service was cheerful and attentive, but the food was both over and under cooked. My steak was cold and my wife’s chicken was dry as a bone.
We went to Derek’s once before, but that was with the original owner. I hope they can turn it around, but I fear not.

Daaaaaate niiiiiiight…
I’m going to begin this review with the fact that I’ve stared at the star thing for like 10 minutes, collecting my thoughts and trying to figure out where this place stands. I’m settling on 3.5, but rounding up because all-​in we had a really nice time.
I’m going to have to make a good section and the so-​so section because I’m actually torn on this one.
The good:
— The little amuse-​bouches that came before the frois-​gras we ordered was amazing. Light, little cracker with a great spread, an espresso cup with a little (I think) bell pepper soup was great.
— I had the New Zealand rack of lamb. PHENOMENAL. I asked for it medium-​rare and that’s exactly how they prepared it! I know this sounds stupid, but it seems like the only time I have lamb prepared properly is when I do it myself. The proportion wasn’t huge, but truly done properly. The side was a lentil dish which was pretty good, though the lamb truly stole the show.
— J had the pan-​seared duck (also perfectly done) and though I’m not a huge fan of duck, the piece I had was delicious.
— They have the brass balls to ask people to stay off their cell phones and I love them for that. I know that I have a very short temper for this kind of thing and have made scenes in many, many locals, but I do appreciate them making the effort to maintain the ambiance.
The so-​so (honestly, nothing was bad enough to warrent «bad»):
— They had a special (off menu) frois-​gras prepared by being poached in a cheesecloth, then chilled and served in slices over a cracker with some other frilly stuff. Meh… PRICEY, not worth the up-​sell the server made.
— When we came in (our reservations were at 7:30) there were probably about 10 – 15 people, yet they sat us in an awful corner, next-​to/​practically behind the bar, selling it as a romantic spot next to the fireplace… C’mon, the bartender could have reached out and cut my food for me. I had trouble believing the 10 year old with her grandparents and dressed in jeans and sneakers (we got really dressy, va-​voom) had a better table than we did.
— This is a general pet-​peeve, but it happened here and drives me nuts. I think it’s cool when owners wander around the place or maybe even present the night’s specials. I don’t think it’s cool when they move in on you (trust me, we were already cornered…) and start getting a little too friendly. I know you’re proud of the wine list you’ve pulled together, but seriously, it’s a wine list. Also, when you start asking a few too many questions while we’re clearly having a dressy, romantic night out is weird. I’m on a date with her, not you pal.
— Along the lines of the wine list, expect to pay very high-​end prices. The owner said that he only puts wines that he likes on the list and I’d venture to say there weren’t many wines under around 40ish bucks. We had a really nice Pinot Noir to have with the lamb and duck and I believe it was around 50 bucks. It was certainly on the low end of that list as well. No surprise in this department, I was expecting it long before even glancing into the book, just know that it’s gonna run you a lot to enjoy a bottle with dinner.
With a shared app, 1 cocktail each, entrees and a bottle of wine, we broke the $ 200 marker… I think we might have pushed about $ 250. Its ambiance was quiet, romantic and exactly what we were looking for, just not a place we’ll be eating at often.

2.5 stars, but rounding up for friendly service.
Dinner for two:
Bread basket (included)
Pan-​seared crab cake with mango chutney
Caesar salad
Watercress soup (included)
Salmon croquet (included)
(2) New York strip steaks with mushrooms
Pomme frites
Bread pudding
Apple tart ala mode
1 glass of red wine
1 pomegranate martini
$ 220 (including tip)
Nutshell:
bread basket was warm and delicious accompanied by butter and course salt flakes. The crab cake was delicious and small. The caesar salad was good and again small. The complementary shot of soup and salmon ball were okay. The New York strip was very disappointing as both our steaks were tough and chewy (one was cooked medium and the other medium-​well). The pomme frites were more like potato chip slivers… Not my favorite. The small bread pudding was fantastic, definitely the highlight of the meal. The apple tart was good and it came with literally one teaspoon full of ice cream. The $ 15 glass of wine was decent and the pomegranate martini was excellent.
Food 2.5 stars
Service 5 stars
Ambience 3 stars
Experience vs. Value 2.5 stars

I truly love the ambience of the restaurant, neat and nicely decorated. The outside is surrounded by the greens, great for lunch gathering, they are now serving lunch from Tuesday to Friday. If you prefer inside, ask for the room in the back, there are paintings hanging on the wall and shelves storing the cautiously selected wine, so intimate and cozy… not like any other hipster trendy noisy places with tables placed next to each other and you can hear everybody’s else is talking expect your friends and yourself. A great place to have a conversation with long time no see friends. The food were ordered and served in a leisurely manner, and they are prepared carefully. The Filet Wellington is a must try, their unique signature dish and does live to its hype. The quality of the meat and cut is superb, the thinly battered steak just melts in your mouth. We also had two appetizers: Seared Foie Gras with caramelized apricott; they generously serve it with glasses of dessert wine, a great combination. The seared scallop is very good, but nothing too special. For entrée, we also ordered yesterday’s specials, grilled Halibut and bow tie pasta with blue crab meat and diced jumbo shrimp. They are both good, but not as unique as the Filet Wellington. We had the house Pinot Noir to go with the food, it is fantastic. For dessert, we had the Almond Financier and Chocolate Lava cake, they are good, but not too special. They also gave us the amuse broche, which was a chilled mint cucumber soup and a chip with diced samlon/​salsa on top, delicious. Overall, it is a great dining experience. The service is also very welcoming. We kept talking and forgot about the time, they close at 9, but we stayed until 9:45…
I would definitely go back.

Derek’s Bistro aspires to 5-​star cuisine in its menu and prices. However, when it comes to execution and service, they are mediocre at best. If you want French-​style American-​contemporary food, there are just too many better restaurants with better pricing in Pasadena. (3.5 Stars)
Location: I have no major complaints about the location. Parking isn’t great, but when you get inside, you find tasteful decorations with several eating areas broken up by noise-​dampening walls. As someone who feels noise control far too often overlooked in eateries, Derek’s gets full marks here.
Price/​Value: Prices (and dishes) are different than currently (7 – 2010) listed on their website-​menu. Most appetizers cost $ 20 — $ 30 and are meant for 1 person. Main Courses range $ 33 — $ 43. Our meal, with 2 appetizers, 2 Mains, 1 Desert and 5 glasses of wine came in right at $ 120 *per person* including tax and tip. This makes them more expensive than similar restaurants in the area including Bistro 45 and Noir. Yet at Bistro 45 you get larger portions and at Noir, you get several tapas dishes– both better executed than our visit to Derek’s.
Service: I found the service bordering on sloppy. I respect restaurants that leave out the pretension– waiters that joke and refrain from condescension; menus that explain the food in a language I understand; food that is pretty but not fussy. The staff are absolutely delightful people. Helpful, polite and prompt.
That said, our server couldn’t recite the night’s specials without dancing on one foot like a child needing a restroom. One of my plates came out of the kitchen with sauce spilled on the rim. When replacing my silverware, my knife was casually set in my general vicinity on the edge of the table. Numerous times, servers reached right in front of me without warning to grab at things in the middle of the table. Any one of these mistakes wouldn’t catch my eye. But add them all together and you get the sense that professional quality isn’t an over-​riding concern here.
Food: Meh. A lot of interesting ideas, but sloppy and poor execution.
–Appetizers: Service started with an awesome amuse bouches. Here I give the chef props for foregoing pretension and serving a plate good for multiple bites. An onion strudel (mind blowingly good) paired with a chunky melon soup was actually the high point of the evening.
My wife had wanted the foie gras since reading about Derek’s Bistro on Unilocal.I chose the special of the day, a «Seared Diver Sea Scallop». The foie gras was mediocre. The outside was bitter (over-​seared or not cooked in a clean pan) and wasn’t crispy (as if it sat too long after cooking). The sea scallop did not have much sear on it at all– barely tan– and was over seasoned. The accompanying sweet-​pea risotto was mushy and couldn’t stand up to the salt on the scallop.
–Main Course: My wife had the duck breast. I had another special of the day, seared tuna. While the duck breast was decent, it again lacked the crispy skin on the outside– as if it had sat awhile. The sauce for the duck bordered on overpowering, but was otherwise ok. My tuna was unremarkable (other than the fact that it was a pretty small portion). A nice asian-​dressed salad actually stole the show, and the wasabi aioli tasted like regular mayo– with no floral bite at all.
–Desert: We shared the bread pudding which was great, but mouth-​scorching hot inside.
As noted above, Derek’s delivered an experience that hardly matched our $ 220+ bill. Given that our evening was mostly marred by poor technique or careless mistakes, one might just chalk this up as an off night and hope to visit them again. But while I feel for the friendly staff, I just cannot justify the risk of another «OK» dinner at such a price when I know that I can get similar tastes better executed in the Pasadena area.

In a word, Derek’s is excellent. I was very pleasantly surprised by the interior and the quiet, intimate setting. The foie gras appetizer was delicious and I was already happily won over. I’d recommend the pan-​seared duck breast and beef wellington. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding, which was not too sweet and beautifully prepared, but I think I would have preferred the crème brulée.
A slight warning: It is located in a very dull strip mall that does not do justice to this restaurant. Just look for the one aesthetically-​pleasing corner that does not belong, and you’ll find Derek’s.

Another yummy meal at Derek’s started off with tasty amuse bouches of avocado mousse on tortilla and roasted peppers on wontons.
Since the ravioli were so great last time, I selected the mushroom ravioli appetizers and was wow’d again. Delicious and hearty mushrooms tossed in a light cream sauce. The salad of baby greens, spinach, blue cheese, pecans and blood oranges was also tasty. It’s not exactly healthy with all the cheese and nuts but it’s satisfying.
My entrée of short ribs on a medallions of plolenta was very good. The meat was tender and the rich sauce was fantastic. It was great to mop it up with the polenta. Highly recommended.
Dessert was a trio of ice cream: caramel pecan, chocolate, and capuchino. I’m not a huge ice cream eater but the flavors really sang through and I did enjoy a few bites. I liked the caramel bread pudding much more. I had it here last time and they’ve improved upon it. The bread was soft and moist, the cream custard was rich and savory with the right hints of cinnamon, and there was just the appropriate amount of sweet raisins throughout. The drizzle of caramel crème anglaise was a delicious bonus.
They also have some great tea selections, including two decafs good for late nights: chamomile and herbal mint. The white ambrosia was also really good.

I kind of have mixed feelings about this place but it’s definitely a hidden spot in Pasadena. Tucked away in a tiny strip mall is this intimate restaurant.
The décor is warm and inviting, although the rooms are set up weird. I think it’s that strange set up that makes me feel a little nervous, like I’m caged in. I’d like to see them remove the doors to each of the small dining rooms because I feel a little boxed in. The menu is tiny but decent and the food is good tasting. I like the creative amouse bouches, the cesar salad, the tuna tartar they’ve featured before, and the steak the most, I think. But I’m really picky about things I eat so I kinda’ stick to my favorites.

Great meal and great service. Atmosphere is very intimate and I love that it’s not loud and noisy like most restaurants. The waitress was very accommodating and the owner, Derek, came over twice to chat with us throughout our meal.
I had a salad to start and then the lamb as my main entrée. The lamb was cooked perfectly although the entrée itself as a whole was nothing special. It was served with a mushroom risotto and green beans which were both good but nothing out of the ordinary.
I loved that the gave us a mini appetizer as well as gelatto for me for dessert on the house. I think the waitress felt bad when the rest of the table ordered dessert and I didn’t get anything so she showed up with two scoops of yummy peanut butter gelatto for me.
A great meal and definitely pricey but a good place to go to celebrate special occasions. Also, don’t be alarmed when you pull into a strip mall to find the restaurant, you are actually at the right place.

Service is really commendable here. Warm, inviting, unpretentious, and honest when you ask for their opinion on selections.
We had the Frisee salad to start, and the special Chilean Seabass and house special Beef Wellington. With wine pairings on everything. Lots of their bread — which we loved.
Frisee salad was good but not great. I enjoyed the pork, loved the fatiness of it, my wife did not appreciate it. Salad was a tad sparse.
Good flavor though as expected w/​Frisee.
Chilean Seabass was remarkable, a must order when available. Wife is pretty picky w/​her Patagonian Toothfish, but she absolutely adored their preparations — even more than places she craves. I agree — cooked perfectly, w/​lots of good side veggies.
Didn’t love the Beef Wellington, but certainly ate every last bite. I ordered it rare, but it came out closer to Well Done. Not the first time this has happened when ordering Wellington at multiple locations — perhaps its just not possible to have it done bloody. Saying it tasted a tad like Meatloaf is a stretch … but it kinda did. Tasty meatloaf, but still meatloaf. But perhaps I’m a bit harsh on Wellington in general as I’ve never been totally satisfied w/​it anyway — perhaps due to the lack of «grill» flavor. Props to them for adding a touch of foie gras in their preparation — this taste was not lost on me.
Dessert was good as well, sorry, don’t remember the exact cake we had.
Also, to start, we were presented some small chef specialties, including a very tasty mini-​empanada.
Wine pairings were good, especially as the server presented us multiple options to taste and choose for each dish. Nice touch. BUT — was a slightly disappointed when I saw each glass of wine was $ 15. A tad overpriced.
We’ll be back. Service was phenomenal and I can’t wait to try more of their offerings.

Celebrated my dad’s 60^th birthday here. A great place for a romantic dinner. Outdoor seating, fireplace, intimate décor, Frank Sinatra — it’s no surprise I saw many a couple tucked in a corner canoodling the night away.
Ambiance aside, the food is great. My sister had the rack of lamb (delicious), my dad had the steak poivre (excellent), and my mom had the duck (didn’t try it). I had the pork tenderloin which was ok, a bit dry and could have used a sauce. But I was so hungry I didn’t care.
The amuse bouche was a cream of mushroom soup and fried bass ball on the side. We ordered the cheesecake for dessert (nice) and had truffles to end the night.
The service was nice and friendly, not overbearing.
All in all, a great experience!

I met someone for dinner at this great restaurant. I love that fact that this place is located at a strip mall. It is so refreshing not have to valet when you go to a nice restaurant in LA. Okay, I am weird like that.
As you walk in, you would be greeted by a nice hostess, which is also awfully refreshing. And, like many have mentioned before, the good service did not just stop there.
Food were awesome. I had semi-​fixed menu and savored every bite of it. The food was on the heavier side, but it was to be expected with french cuisine. I did not get the pleasure to have the wine pairing with food as I had to stay sober that evening. Well, there is always next time.
This is definitely my new favorite in the area!

Derek’s is my favorite place. My bf brought me here few times a year ever since 2004 on special occasions. When you drive into the parking lot, you might think «really? this place looks pretty ordinary to me.» Please, just step into the restaurant and start your wonderful dinner experience. Believe me, this place is perfect.
*Décor = Perfect. Not too simple or overly complicated.
*Food = Amazing.
*Service = Wonderful. Of course it was perfect when Michael was the Maitre d’ there. He always remembered my bf since he was invited there very often via work and treated us with extra special attention.

I love Derek’s. I go here with my husband about once every 6 months as our fancy, break the bank and the belt dinner.
The 6 course prix fixe with wine pairing is phenomenal most times. The wines can sometimes be as good if not better than the food, which is really saying something. They will even accommodate my aversion to pork and red meat on the 6 course menu. The servers are extremely prompt, friendly, and insanely knowledgable.
I also love how you can find Derek there almost any night of the week mingling and sipping a martini of a glass of wine. The location may not be the most luxurious, but once you’re inside, you do not realize you’re in a mini-​mall.

I stumbled upon Derek’s by a real quirk of geeky fate many years ago. (Feel free to skip ahead to the real review if you feel that I’m not making sense!) I was a graduate student at Caltech, and was getting my usenet news groups set up. Naturally, I accepted all of the caltech.* newsgroups, and I was clearing them out I took a look at caltech.test. In that forum someone had posted some comments about local restaurants. It started with an semi-​indictment of Bistro 45 being overrated and too expensive and I was intrigued because I felt pretty much the same way. He then mentioned that Derek’s was actually the best place to eat in Pasadena. That was good enough for us, and my girlfriend and I went there the next Friday night.
I remember having the Beef Wellington, while she had a rack of lamb. They were both superb and before we knew it we had come back to try different dishes. Sometimes the pris fixe menu, sometimes just entrees, and one time I remember that we both had three appetizers and dessert but no actual main course! Once we got a fantastic Thanksgiving take out for about a dozen people.
We were never disappointed with the food, service, or ambiance. More over, we became very fond of the people too. Job was our original favorite, then it was Michael. And who could resist Derek? I very much appreciate the way he floats through the place, saying hello, asking if the food is ok, talking about food and wine… it is just great!
Oh, and did I mention that they catered our wedding? We went with heavy hors d’oeuvres and had purple potato with crème freche and bacon, beef tenderloin on brioche, a cheese plate, sweet potato waffle chips with a bit of lamb, crue d’ete, wild rice salad, golden and red beet salad, and chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Years later people still bring up how amazing the food was.

«I’ll have a Pinot Noir with that Plastic Surgery»
O.K. I have long been meaning to write about one of my favorite spots in Pasadena. Dereks Bistro. First, let me get rid of the conversation fit for a broken record.
— Yes, it’s in a funky mini mall location.
— Yes, it’s pricey.
— Yes, some Reviewers have not been happy.
— Yes, they have been ranked by Zagat, Michelin, etc. plus many high rolling magazines.
— Yes, they have one of the biggest wine selections in L.A.
— Yes, they have great wine dinners.
— Yes the Beef Wellington is stunning, and their Salmon Wellington is unique, and their Pasta with Truffles is worthy of killing over.
— Yes they bake their own great bread on premises.
— Yes they have their own pastry chef who makes desserts that make me cry.
— Yes, they have extra parking in a huge lot behind the building.
O.K. So are we done yet? Good. Now l want to talk about plastic surgery. Why? Because I had dinner at Dereks last night with some friends, one of whom is a well established Plastic Surgeon who drove ALL the way from the West Side to have din-​din with me and my wife. And yes! The conversation was hilarious and completely inappropriate for fine dining. Or any dining for that matter. Hilarious. No. I’m not going to out any famous people. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t anyway. My friend is about as HIPPA compliant with privy info as Fort Knox is with gold (what a professional). I wouldn’t respect him otherwise. Which brings me to my first point. This guy is about as humble and down-​to-​earth as a Monk who opted for a life as a custodian. At a monastery. While raising rescued puppies. We’re talking humble. So, you can see my point. The irony. Here’s a guy who works in a profession that defines superficiality, yet he’s as humble as apple fricken pie. What gives? Well, that’s why I like him. He’s honest, yet complex. Hey! That’s me. But the funny part is when his suppressed superficial-​side pops out for a peek. Such as making conversational comments about someone who looks tired, and therefore (very matter of factly) needs eye work. Or, when another friend dragged the conversation deep into the sophomoric level by chatting about his digestive gas. During dinner. Then, my doc friend proceeds to whip out 4 minutes of detailed clinical medical explanations about «bootie music» for lack of a better word. O.K. O.K. We try and respect Derek’s patrons and keep the laughter to a dulled giggle, but you just can’t resist such childish humor when you’re surrounded by high brows who inflect their words whenever they say «stocks» or «property values». Arguably, we helped lower the bar to a more human level. Ahh. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

My Valentine’s dinner review!
Plus
–A romantic bistro known only to locals
Minus
–Tiny lot parking, had to park on the streets and trek in heels
Plus
–Beautifully lit with Xmas lights and flowers exterior. Warm interior décor with eclectic mix of art
Minus
–Weird art & music. Imagine show tunes mixed with international folk music.
Plus
–Shared a intimate room with two other couples
Minus
–After requesting a table change from one in the hallway by the toilets
Plus
–The BEST foie gras I’d ever had!
Minus
–I had the endive salad and it was lacking. Next time, order the foie gras.
Plus
–The Valentine dessert was cute and so yummy! I especially liked the big strawberries in tuxedo designed chocolate!
Minus
–Had to wait over 45mins for filet mignon main course which was good but not great
Plus
–Had great red wine from France
Minus
–none, it’s booze.
Plus
–Good service and I got a long-​stemmed rose after dinner.
Minus
–no foil swan souvenir. hehe!
Excellent restaurant, worth coming back!

This restaurant is a hidden little gem for you and a special date, a decadent b-​day celebration or fancy dinner party. Yes– there is nothing casual about Derek’s except the parking in a strip mall. The minute you walk in through the courtyard you will notice the table linens, comfy yet elegant chairs, fresh flowers, carefully selected and placed artwork, neatly dressed staff and perfect ambient lighting.
Menu consists of classic dishes, contemporary fare and everything is made with fresh produce. Very nice wine and champagne selection with cocktails or port to polish off a nice meal.