Celestino Ristorante
141 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena
By Sue Stauffer
Celestino Ristorante Owner Calogero Drago (center) with
servers Salvatore Attanasio and Mario Tello.
If you are seeking the warmth and friendliness of Italy as well as
some wonderful traditional Italian cuisine, then you will enjoy dining
at Celestino Ristorante. This is truly gourmet Italian cuisine, and you
will find such specialties on the menu as Timballo di pasta primaverile
(timbale of pasta with mixed vegetables in artichoke sauce),
Tortelloni di Zucca al burro e Salvia (tortilloni stuffed with pumpkin
with cream, butter and sage sauce), Mezzelune d’Anatra con salsa di
Funghui, Marscarpone e Mirtilli (ravioli stuffed with duck, mushroom,
marscarpone and blueberry sauce), and Linguini con scampi e
pepe Verde (linguini with langostino and green peppercorn).
This restaurant is much more than just a place for pasta. Mario Tello and Salvatore Atanacio are servers who are gracious and helpful
and can make some terrific recommendations to enhance your dining
pleasure. I enjoyed the bread and tomato soup Tuscan style
(Pappa al pomodoro alls Toscana) as this is not something found on
most menus. The Belgium endive with radicchio, walnuts and apples
(Insalata Rustica) was delicious and a nice change. The chopped salad
with shrimp (Insalta Cose Buone) is also delicious. For antipasti,
some good choices are swordfish carpaccio with orange and fennel,
smoked breast of duck with red beet salad, beef carpaccio with capers
and shaved parmesan cheese, and mushroom soufflé with fontina
cheese sauce and black truffles. If you love risotto, try the risotto with
squid ink sauce or risotto with beets and goat cheese.
I like the gnocchi (potato dumplings) with the four-cheese sauce,
but it is very rich. For entrees, consider the filet mignon with Barolo
wine served with a timball of roasted potatoes or the grilled veal
chop. The veal shank (Ossobuco all Milanese) is served with a saffron
risotto and very nice. There is always a fresh fish of the day that is
well prepared so ask your waiter if he would recommend it.
Wines recommend by my wine consultant, Jim Stauffer, include a
good bottle of Chianti with your meal to really enhance the flavors or
a super Tuscan. A nice white wine to consider would be a lightly
chilled Pinot Grigio… perfect for lighter cuisine.
All the food at Celestino Ristorante is carefully prepared to bring
diners only the best possible. There is parking adjacent to the restaurant
off Lake Avenue and a patio area is available in front.
Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some fine Italian cuisine in
nearby Pasadena.
For more information or to make reservations, call (626) 795-
4006.
