(626) 799-1414
1526 Mission St
South Pasadena,
CA
91030
34.1159
-118.1509
Neighborhood: San Marino
Price:
$
Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fntn
Last updated 9.05.09
What People Are Saying About Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fntn
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene – Established in 1915, the pharmacy is now a pop-culture shrine to every decade between then and now. A gift shop, which spans between the vintage fountain and the working apothecary, is jam-packed with everything from licorice whips and Betty Boop to Britney postcards and 'NSync dolls. – – The Food – From behind the gleaming oak and marble counter, gifted soda jerks man the fountain. Dreyer's ice cream, sweet but not too rich, makes up the base for most of the classic concoctions, but purists revel in the fountain's perfect renditions of egg creams,…
HORRIBLE Service
by losangal at Citysearch
This place could be so much fun but the soda fountain service kills the experience. The wait staff are slow and unfriendly. It takes forever to get any service and when you do it doesn't even come with a smile. There are better places in town for a shake. Try Soda Jerks up the street.
- Pros: cool old fashion soda fountain
- Cons: horrible service, not so good food
Experience....Dissappointing to say the least!
by icecream1 at Citysearch
I am a big ice cream fan and recently visited the Fair Oaks Pharmacy with my wife for the first time a few weeks ago. After an exciting review by local TV station rating the FOP as a blast from the past with an old fashion atmosphere and a full menu of delicious food and beverage choices. I and my wife decided to stop by on a beautiful warm Sunday afternoon to enjoy a bite to eat and experience a taste of history. Unfortunately, to summarize our experience, it began to quickly evolve from a positive experience into a negative one. After seating down for a moment that turned into almost 20 minutes before a server even looked in our direction. My wife decided to get up out of her seat and politely ask one of the female servers at the counter for menus. When asked, this girl seemed surprised and her personality was very unfriendly and unapproachable. After taking our order we waited patiently for an additional 30-40 minutes for basic burgers and drinks, adding the server forgot to order our fries we initially asked for. After eating our meals, which were just fair tasting to say the least our server didn?t even stop by and ask us if we were alright or to refill our drinks. Our experience even got worse after we observed other patrons who just been seated being offered menus and drinks in less than 5 minutes. I am not sure but based on the rest of the patrons in the restaurant we were the only minority couple there at the time. It?s disappointing to mention, but after our experience I hope ethnicity did not play a role in the behavior of this particular server, but it appears coincidental when she was also assisting other patrons with a much more positive attitude. Although, it was a very disappointing experience for us and we will not return to FOP. I hope the legacy of the old-fashion soda fountains live on along with the history of the famous route 66 experience.
- Pros: Blast from the past
- Cons: Customer Service, Prices,
Nothing fair about Fair Oaks - or even appetizing
by cookin4six at Citysearch
I used to love Fair Oaks Pharmacy! Early in our marriage, my husband and I would often stop to get an ice-cream and enjoy the familiar atmosphere and great treats. Unfortunately, it seems as though some things do not improve with time.
I took my four young children into the pharmacy today thinking they woul dlove the experience. They each decided to get a phosphate. After waiting patiently in their seats, their phosphates came and they were horrendous! They looked like dishwater and tasted like a combination of bitter and sour. They sipped them politely, but jumped at the chance to trade them in for an ice-cream. I told the girl at the counter that their drinks were not very sweet and asked if they could trade them in for just a child's sized ice-cream (this was an understatement! I'm sure the chocolate had no sugar in it at all). The girl said yes they could trade them in, but we would need to pay for it. I said no thanks, and we left. A few minutes later, the girl I had paid chased me out to my car asking if we had paid yet. This is the same girl that made my children's yucky sodas.
Don't waste your time at Fair Oaks Pharmacy. There is nothing "fair" about it, or even appetizing to us!
- Pros: Great history of a wonderful place
- Cons: service, taste, value
The Details on Fair Oaks Pharmacy & Soda Fntn
Know Before You Go:
South Pasadena's Mission Street affords a stroll through the halcyon days of yore. The few blocks west of Fair Oaks Avenue are lined with pet stores, craft shops and tons of antiques.
Category:
Pharmacies, Restaurants, Stationery Stores, Gift Shops, Diners, Dessert Shops
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Outdoor Dining, Historic Setting, Lunch Spot
General Info:
Open 7 Days






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