Brunch in Pasadena

Ambience and Great Food

I love L.A. I love it so much, if you say anything bad about it, I will kick your butt. That being said, sometimes we all need a break from the “hustle and bustle” – and by “hustle and bustle” I mean traffic, attitude, and restaurant/lounge identity crises.

Enter Pasadena, the calm, classy city 20 minutes away. And, if you’re looking for the calmest classiest place in Pasadena, then I suggest the Sunday Champagne Buffet Brunch at the Huntington Langham hotel.

Formerly the Pasadena Ritz-Carlton, this hotel has been around since 1865. It has beautiful architecture, a rich history and most importantly of all, delicious food.

The Sunday buffet brunch is like something out of a dream. It is served at “The Terrace” dining room, which has an indoor portion and a section actually on the terrace overlooking the pool and cabanas. Picture tables of innumerable delights. The seafood table: smoked salmon, shrimp cocktail, oysters (I hate oysters, but apparently they are extremely popular), smoked scallop salad… The dessert table: tiny chocolate cakes topped with gold leaf, parfait stacked with fresh berries. The Asian table: perfect steamed dumplings with chili sauce, fried pork dumplings, shiu mai.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention there’s a huge chocolate fountain, right when you walk in. You can pick what you want and cover it in chocolate (cake, strawberries, melon, even rice krispie treats). I wanted to just open my mouth and put my head under, but my parents said I would be asked to leave (just kidding people, I wasn’t REALLY going to do that).

They have all kinds of small plates, everything from fois gras to spicy tuna roll. They also have eggs benedict, made to order pasta, imported meats… and because it’s a buffet you can try it all. I can’t even explain it. You just have to see it. See, taste, and believe. And you will believe, I garuntee it.

I only had one complaint: the melon broth with caviar. It was so strange, I thought it must be good. Not the case.

The brunch is a little pricey so bring your wallet- or your parents (hee hee hee) – because it is totally worth it. 

1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue,

Pasadena, California 91106,

T 1 (626) 568 3900

F 1 (626) 568 3700 

Brunch Served from 10:00am to 3:00pm Sundays