Some of the most creative cooking in Pasadena is happening at Agnes, which opened earlier this summer on tree-lined Green Street. Grab a table in the main dining room with views of the wood-burning hearth or in the idyllic patio out back (or even in one of the cozy nooks in the cheesery) to get a taste of Thomas Tilaka Kalb’s very good food and the team’s unbeatable Midwestern-inspired hospitality.

A feast last Saturday night started with an Old Fashioned ($15) and included an array of dishes that captured the best of the season. The cooking also reflected Chef and his wife Vanessa’s personal and professional journeys that wind through Iowa and California but feels at home in Pasadena.

On deck this evening was chicken liver mousse fancily piped atop a cornbread eclair ($6.99)…

…house-made buttered and grilled sourdough ($7.99) served with extra virgin olive oil and Seka Hills elderberry balsamic vinegar…

…an arugula salad topped with duck pastrami, candy stripe figs, and black pepper chevre ($18.99)…

…a sweet corn and summer pepper cavatelli ($21.99) with fresh pork and fennel sausage, roasted Jimmy Nardello peppers, sweet corn, basil, and farmers cheese…

…and best of all: a deconstructed baked potato masquerading as a pasta dish ($19.99). The loaded baked potato dumplings brought together classic toppings like broccoli, cheddar, and bacon, and presented them in a fun and delicious new light. The delicate dumplings made for an ideal canvas, while a flourish of shoe string potatoes added crunch and flair. 

For dessert, soft serve with cookie crumbles…

…a perfectly tart plum cobbler…

…and an ode to the iconic Choco Taco filled with chocolate mousse and toasted marshmallow.

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Agnes
40 W Green Street
Pasadena, CA 91105

There’s more to eat in Pasadena:

• {SWOON} SPAM FRIED RICE AT OMMA RICE N CHICKEN
• 1886 BAR AT THE RAYMOND – PASADENA
• AFTERNOON TEA AT THE HUNTINGTON ROSE GARDEN TEA ROOM
• ALEXANDER’S STEAKHOUSE – PASADENA
• BONE KETTLE – PASADENA
• CARMELA ICE CREAM – PASADENA
• CHIM! THAI STREET FOOD – PASADENA
• CHOCOLATE AFTERNOON TEA AT THE LANGHAM – PASADENA
• DAISY MINT – PASADENA
• DOG HAUS – PASADENA
• DOTS CUPCAKES – PASADENA
• ERNIE’S AL FRESCO – PASADENA
• EURO PANE BAKERY – PASADENA
• FEASTS FROM MY TRUNK: JAMAICAN GOAT CURRY, IMPOSSIBLE LUMPIA, AND MORE
• FISHWIVES – PASADENA
• ICHIMA SUSHI – PASADENA
• JAKE’S BURGERS – PASADENA
• LA GRANDE ORANGE CAFE – PASADENA
• LOVE THY NEIGHBOR: MAKING DOSAS WITH RENUKA
• MAESTRO – PASADENA
• MAKO BOWL – PASADENA
• MARSTON’S – PASADENA
• MINT LEAF INDIAN CUISINE – PASADENA
• OLD SASOON BAKERY – PASADENA
• PIE ‘N BURGER – PASADENA
• PITFIRE ARTISAN PIZZA – PASADENA
• POKEMIX BY FLOUR + TEA – PASADENA
• POLKATOTS – PASADENA
• RAMEN TATSUNOYA – PASADENA
• ROMA ITALIAN DELI – PASADENA
• ROSCOE’S HOUSE OF CHICKEN AND WAFFLES – PASADENA
• SMITTY’S GRILL – PASADENA
• SMOSH TOWN – PASADENA
• SUPER BURGER – PASADENA
• THE LUGGAGE ROOM PIZZERIA – PASADENA
• TOP RESTAURANT – PASADENA
• TORTAS MEXICO – PASADENA
• TRUE FOOD KITCHEN – PASADENA
• UMAMI BURGER – PASADENA
• UNION – PASADENA
• UNION – PASADENA
• VEGGIE GRILL – PASADENA
• YANG CHOW RESTAURANT – PASADENA
• ZANKOU CHICKEN – PASADENA