FOOD
TRENDS
Celestino Ristorante
IN-N-OUT
BY C A R O L E D I XO N
Dynamic Dynasties Owned by the Drago family, CELESTINO RISTORANTE has been a fixture on Lake Avenue for over a quarter of a century, and Calogero Drago is still at the helm. “We are going with the flow,” he says. “We are going to be positive, patient, and disciplined.” The restaurant had never offered take-out but created a new family-friendly menu with a few old favorites that travel well: mushroom truffle balls with fontina cheese fondue; chopped salad with grilled shrimp; and osso buco with risotto to warm up in under a minute at home. Brothers John and Chris Bicos own historical spots such as MAGNOLIA HOUSE and GUS’S BBQ, to name a few. Growing up in San Marino, their father opened one of the area’s oldest diners dating back to 1962, THE ORIGINAL TOPS in Alhambra. Tops is still popular among locals with drive-through contactless service, a lower price point, and comfort food from a pastrami sandwich to chili-cheese fries all made from scratch. Gus’s BBQ, meanwhile, celebrates the best regional styles from all over the country and has pivoted to offer targeted family meals now that people are celebrating differently with small groups at home, and Magnolia House has added a custom parklet for
Knownreality Pies
TOP: ALEN LIN
From creating outdoor dining venues in parking lots to elevated take-away meals, the restaurants and chefs of Pasadena have pivoted, evolved, and persevered. Here, we delve into how some of the region’s most established purveyors have sustained, while also profiling a handful of next-generation chefs who are carving their own way in the midst of a pandemic.
