(626) 449-9900

140 S Lake Ave (Between E Green Street and Cordova Street)
Pasadena, CA 91101 34.143529 -118.132264

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Neighborhood: South Pasadena

CAFE140SOUTH.COM

Years in business

Established in 1987

Hours:

Sun-Thu 11am-10pmFri-Sat 11am-11am

Price:

$

Last updated 5.03.12

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, MasterCard, Debit Card

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Online Reservations

Cuisine:

Pizza, Traditional American

Other Locations:

What People Are Saying About 140 Cafe

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Wannabe wacky décor, exposed brick walls decked with modern canvases and an open kitchen with loopy tile mosaic set the stage for high school dates, family dinners and office workers' lunch breaks. – – The Food – The Croc bridges the culinary generation gap. Mom and Dad can get eclectic with dishes like oakwood-grilled salmon bathed in a guajillo sauce while the kids can wolf down their beloved burgers and curly fries. Culinary epiphanies are unlikely but the food is consistent and the prices right, with most entrees hovering around $10. If you only…

ambiance
87.5% positive
  1. “nice atmosphere, though the service is usuall.”
  2. “The atmosphere was not so great.”
  3. “The food is still good but the service and the ambience doesn't compare.”
  4. “The atmosphere is great also.”
  5. “good food and fun enviorment!”
  6. “like the ambience at the Lake St. restaurant the best.”
  7. “The food is consistently fresh and delicious and remains constant from location to location.”
  8. “The atmosphere is fun and lively, though the design is circa 1980's.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “especially like their iced-tea.”
  2. “Sipping wine and munching on their delicious hot bread while you wait for your meal makes for an enjoyable relaxing evening.”
food quality
97.44000434875488% positive
  1. “The burger and fries are suprisingly good and don't miss the fresh-baked bread that is gratis (sometimes you have to ask for it.)”
  2. “The food is still good but the service and the ambience doesn't compare.”
  3. “Would you believe getting a good burger at a quasi california cuisine restaurant.”
  4. “Casuel, AWESOME food, good service & good for larger parties.”
  5. “The pizzas are incredible as are the salads.”
  6. “The food isn't bad, it's clean and healthy, very fresh California Cuisine, I get the concept, what I didn't get is being in a table that obviously didn't belong there, it was if if they placed it in the middle of a model runway, except the wait staff a”
  7. “Good food”
  8. “They have excellent salads and sandwiches, and the bread they serve before your meal is always hot, with”
  9. “Best bets: The Ahi sandwich, the Cuban chicken, the barbecue duck quesadilla (when it's on the menu) and the warm steak-and-mushroom salad.”
  10. “The side-by-side soup is amazing.”
  11. “good food and fun enviorment!”
  12. “great food and service”
  13. “The Seared Tuna sandwich is a tasty lunch treat if you are looking for a unique change.”
  14. “love the bread and service here.”
  15. “came here and the food was good.”
  16. “High quality food, excellent service, food a bit pricey but you get a lot for your money.”
  17. “The food here is always good, but my favorite thing on the menu is the garlic mashed potatoes.”
  18. “good friend recommended this restaurant, saying food and service were great.”
  19. “You can get in, order your favorite salad or entree knowing it will be the same every time.”
  20. “They serve the best bread and BBQ chicken pizza.”
  21. “The food is probably the best of all its competitors(better than applebees, olive garden, sizzler, etc) and has more of an interesting selection of choices without over doing it.”
  22. “Crocodile is a great place for chic salad and tomatoe checca pasta.”
  23. “Sipping wine and munching on their delicious hot bread while you wait for your meal makes for an enjoyable relaxing evening.”
  24. “Decent food, for a chain”
  25. “The food is consistently fresh and delicious and remains constant from location to location.”
  26. “The meat in the BBQ pork sandwich was good but the presentation of the dish was a hot sloppy mess on a hard hoggie bun.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “menu with a little more elan, very good service (generally) and reasonably sized portions that don't insult the mass of developing nations.”
  2. “Best bets: The Ahi sandwich, the Cuban chicken, the barbecue duck quesadilla (when it's on the menu) and the warm steak-and-mushroom salad.”
  3. “The food is probably the best of all its competitors(better than applebees, olive garden, sizzler, etc) and has more of an interesting selection of choices without over doing it.”
  4. “You can enjoy a large variety of items and the service is always great.”
  5. “The food here is always good, but my favorite thing on the menu is the garlic mashed potatoes.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “It's a great place to stop for lunch during the week, and it's a nice place to relax after shopping on South Lake.”
  2. “It is a good place to take clients or just with some friends.”
  3. “This is a great place for lunch if you're not in a hurry, and definitly quiet enough for a one on one business meeting.”
  4. “Crocodile is a great place for chic salad and tomatoe checca pasta.”
service
90.20000457763672% positive
  1. “nice atmosphere, though the service is usuall.”
  2. “The service was pretty good.”
  3. “great food and service”
  4. “High quality food, excellent service, food a bit pricey but you get a lot for your money.”
  5. “Their soda products are too syrupy but the service is good and the price is reasonable.”
  6. “love the bread and service here.”
  7. “The food is still good but the service and the ambience doesn't compare.”
  8. “The service is good too.”
  9. “You can enjoy a large variety of items and the service is always great.”
  10. “Casuel, AWESOME food, good service & good for larger parties.”
  11. “" Oh forgot, I'm married, ahem, "That's what California is about, sunshine and friendly people!”
  12. “For the money, the quality was pretty decent and I particularly liked our waitress as she was very friendly and checked in on us often.”
  13. “menu with a little more elan, very good service (generally) and reasonably sized portions that don't insult the mass of developing nations.”
  14. “The food isn't bad, it's clean and healthy, very fresh California Cuisine, I get the concept, what I didn't get is being in a table that obviously didn't belong there, it was if if they placed it in the middle of a model runway, except the wait staff a”
  15. “good friend recommended this restaurant, saying food and service were great.”
  16. “Be prepared for service that is a little slow.”
  17. “we went early (around 5) so i guess we missed the dinner rush and we received great service.”
value
86.66999816894531% positive
  1. “For the money, the quality was pretty decent and I particularly liked our waitress as she was very friendly and checked in on us often.”
  2. “Their soda products are too syrupy but the service is good and the price is reasonable.”
  3. “menu with a little more elan, very good service (generally) and reasonably sized portions that don't insult the mass of developing nations.”
  4. “Great portions and decent prices.”
  5. “High quality food, excellent service, food a bit pricey but you get a lot for your money.”
wait time
0.0% positive
  1. “Be prepared for service that is a little slow.”
2 Star Rating: Below Average

10/18/08

Not that Good

by GlosPolek

We decided to try Crocodile Cafe after walking past full dining tables on evening strolls. We knew it was a chain restaurant but the crowds drew our curiousity. The burgers tasted like they had been marinated in liquid smoke and the buns were cheap and fell apart. The fries were extremely salty. The meat in the BBQ pork sandwich was good but the presentation of the dish was a hot sloppy mess on a hard hoggie bun. It was very busy and took nearly 45 minutes to receive any food. Save your money eat at home.

  • Pros: Great Location, Nice patio
  • Cons: Very Busy, Food not worth the long wait
3 Star Rating: Average

07/27/08

A place I want to like, really..

by CaliforniaT

I like the location, it's so Californian, it's what I used to watch on TV in New Jersey and think "That's what California is about, sunshine and hot chicks! I'm moving there!" Oh forgot, I'm married, ahem, "That's what California is about, sunshine and friendly people!". The food isn't bad, it's clean and healthy, very fresh California Cuisine, I get the concept, what I didn't get is being in a table that obviously didn't belong there, it was if if they placed it in the middle of a model runway, except the wait staff are the ones strutting their stuff, and we're being bumped around like airline passengers in heavy turbulence.

.I like the food, I want to go there again, I'd just wish they'd either expand it , or give more space for the patrons.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/02/08

good selection. great for families

by wam08

This restaurant is one of the better family dining chains. The food is probably the best of all its competitors(better than applebees, olive garden, sizzler, etc) and has more of an interesting selection of choices without over doing it. Great portions and decent prices. I would even choose this restaurant over its "nicer" neighbors smittys and green st because I think the food is better for what you pay - - I will go somewhere not a chain if i actually want fine dining.

  • Pros: good food, choices, good environment
  • Cons: some dishes are a little spendy
3 Star Rating: Average

11/07/07

Kinda bleah

by organickali

Upon arriving & being seated, it took over 30 minutes to get any service, let alone drinks. When the food arrived, it didn't compensate for the lost time. To be honest, if I want to get pizza & American dining, I'd much rather go to CPK or D&B

  • Pros: Alcohol
  • Cons: Slow service, kinda crowded indoors
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/22/06

Decent food, for a chain

by dmenkes

I was invited here with a group as I normally don't eat at chain restaurants. For the money, the quality was pretty decent and I particularly liked our waitress as she was very friendly and checked in on us often. I had an iced tea and it was pretty good. My chicken was cooked well and flavorful. I'd come back.

The Details on 140 Cafe

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • good service
  • lively atmosphere
  • delicious bread
  • favorite steakandmushroom salad
  • worst crocodile
  • suprisingly good burger
  • pricey high quality food
  • favorite original croc
  • enjoy large variety
  • best bbq chicken pizza
  • especially like icedtea
  • not insult mass
  • incredible pizzas
  • suprisingly good fries
  • full dining tables
  • great location
  • tasty treat
  • like ambience
  • good lunch spot
  • very fresh california cuisine
  • amazing sidebyside soup
  • great place
  • decent price
  • best bets
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