Tarantino's Pizzeria

(626) 796-7836

784 E Green St
Pasadena, CA 91101 34.1444 -118.1343

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Neighborhood: South Pasadena

Hours:

Mon-Thu 11am-10pm

Fri-Sat 11am-11pm

Sun 5pm-9pm

Last updated 6.08.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Family-Friendly Dining, Lunch Spot, Group Dining

Cuisine:

Pizza, Italian

What People Are Saying About Tarantino's Pizzeria

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

Fill up on garlic rolls, salad, pizza by the slice, pasta, calzones, antipasta and more. Lunch specials are available.

ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. “The ambiance and the service are equally enjoyable.”
  2. “Good food, good friendly service, great atmosphere.”
  3. “The ambience is great if you're looking for a Mom & Pop type of restaurant.”
  4. “It is a hole in the wall and the decor isn't exactly romantic.”
dessert
50.0% positive
  1. “After waiting about 20 minutes I was served a cold slice of pie with a big pile of unmelted cheese in the center.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “Everything started out really well, the wine was Eh, but the service was very friendly and accommodating.”
food quality
90.0% positive
  1. “He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back.”
  2. “their pizza bread is amazing.”
  3. “great pasta”
  4. “they occasionally have this egg plant pasta dish that's great.”
  5. “Not the best pizza, not the worst”
  6. “The pasta is really tasty, but has lots of olive oil.”
  7. “Pizza & pasta is good and don't forgot the salad.”
  8. “love the food and the staff is very friendly.”
  9. “they have pretty good pasta and pizza (did anyone say shrimp pizza?”
  10. “this is the no fuss italian eatery that's authentic.”
  11. “Bring cash for good pizza”
  12. “Definitely a great place to enjoy a classic italian enviroment and good food.”
  13. “The best pizza in pasadena”
  14. “The pizza is so good.”
  15. “It sure does have some great pizza.”
  16. “Little place, great food”
  17. “the lunch specials are really good and inexpensive-try the combo salad-its 5 different salads on one plate-Its too much for one person.”
  18. “The foos is tasty and fresh.”
  19. “Great neighborhood pizza/pasta place”
  20. “My favorite is the plain ol' pepperoni and cheese pizza.”
  21. “If you like pizza, I highly recommend it here.”
  22. “Soup was okay, garlic bread was good.”
  23. “good crunch to the pizza crust, just like NY pizza.”
  24. “Don't miss the appetizer "salad" that consists of huge, tender slices of tomatoes, artichokes and all kinds of other stuff with flavorful balsamic viniagrette-based dressing.”
  25. “The Bianca pizza is good, that's about it.”
  26. “it was barely warm, they weren't mixed with the sauce, which was also very unsatisfying.”
  27. “They also have a pretty unique pizza called Pizza Florentine.”
  28. “It looks like a complete dive inside, but the pasta and pizza are amazing.”
  29. “Good pizza and pasta for dinner.”
  30. “at Tarantino's your in and out in a flash, and predictably, their food is always filling and delicious.”
  31. “it's also very cheap considering how great the food is.”
  32. “The pizza by the slice is pretty awful.”
  33. “recommend the special sauce (can't remember the name) instead of traditional marinara.”
  34. “The salads are huge and tasty.”
  35. “The pizzas are excellent, oozing with cheese, chrused garlic, and loads of fresh toppings.”
  36. “Order your pizza ahead of time and to go and eat it at the Paseo Mall.”
  37. “Great place, great food, well-run!”
  38. “The garlic rolls are to die for, the salad is always excellent, and I'm partial to the wonderful Stromboli.”
  39. “If you like garlic in your sauce, you'll love this place.”
  40. “The food is good, nice little place.”
  41. “Great pizza!”
  42. “Staff lovely, food horrible.”
  43. “Tarantino's is great for when you're craving your basic pasta with meat sauce.”
  44. “Im a picky eater and when i go out to pizza i usually get cheese, I know really daring, but when I went here I tried two very interesting pi.”
  45. “Good food, good friendly service, great atmosphere.”
  46. “Decent food, good prices”
  47. “Delicious food, friendly service.”
  48. “If you're looking for a place that serves up great pizza, stop in at Tarantino's on Green Street.”
  49. “If you are looking for good quality pizza come to Taratino's.”
  50. “specially love their vegetarian pizza - no sauce no cheese!”
  51. “wouldn't recommend this place to anyone during the summer because the place is tiny and the server's serve your food drenched in sweat, not enough AC to cool this place down.”
  52. “The real reason to come here is the great pizza.”
  53. “Great food, large portions”
  54. “The pizza toppings are always fresh and delicious, no frozen veggies here!”
  55. “If you get there between 11 am and 12 noon, it is relatively empty, but don't let that deter you, the food is the best I have ever eaten.”
  56. “My favorite pizza is the Florentine.”
  57. “My personal favorite is the shrimp and pesto.”
  58. “Its a cool plce to have some pizza or Italian food.”
  59. “It's like eating at somebody's house, or at a little authentic deli.”
  60. “really liked thier tomato basil and pasta.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “best place to go!”
  2. “The ambience is great if you're looking for a Mom & Pop type of restaurant.”
  3. “Definitely a great place to enjoy a classic italian enviroment and good food.”
  4. “the best italian place ever!”
  5. “The food is good, nice little place.”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back.”
service
71.11000061035156% positive
  1. “would say that the negative reviews (aside from a couple of just plain losers), are from people who can't appreciate the crowded, warm neighborhood feeling this place exudes.”
  2. “He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back.”
  3. “Good food, good friendly service, great atmosphere.”
  4. “We always feel welcome and receive great service.”
  5. “love the food and the staff is very friendly.”
  6. “Good service and usually not too crowded if you don't go on a Saturday night.”
  7. “Delicious food, friendly service.”
  8. “Everything started out really well, the wine was Eh, but the service was very friendly and accommodating.”
  9. “the service sometimes is sacrificed during the lunch rush but the help is always polite and friendly.”
  10. “Beer's are nice and cold and the service is great.”
  11. “wouldn't recommend this place to anyone during the summer because the place is tiny and the server's serve your food drenched in sweat, not enough AC to cool this place down.”
  12. “The wait staff was pretty slow, as was the kitchen, even though we got there plenty early before the lunch crowd, when it is next to impossible to get a table.”
  13. “love a place where the staff take the time to get to know who you are.”
  14. “The service is very friendly service and the prices are great too (cash only).”
  15. “The ambiance and the service are equally enjoyable.”
value
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “The service is very friendly service and the prices are great too (cash only).”
  2. “He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back.”
  3. “The salads are huge and tasty.”
  4. “the lunch specials are really good and inexpensive-try the combo salad-its 5 different salads on one plate-Its too much for one person.”
  5. “Our lunch was extremely filling, and everyone was left with the same impression - it was good value, but didn't quite live up to our expectations.”
  6. “Don't miss the appetizer "salad" that consists of huge, tender slices of tomatoes, artichokes and all kinds of other stuff with flavorful balsamic viniagrette-based dressing.”
  7. “Decent food, good prices”
  8. “Great food, large portions”
  9. “Bring cash and a healthy appetite cause the portions are big and they don't take credit.”
  10. “it's also very cheap considering how great the food is.”
  11. “the garlic rolls (you must, must try these) are addictive and the carbonara (huge serving and very garlicky) is heaven.”
  12. “Tarantino's is a hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant, with great prices and large quantities.”
wait time
25.0% positive
  1. “After waiting about 20 minutes I was served a cold slice of pie with a big pile of unmelted cheese in the center.”
  2. “The wait staff was pretty slow, as was the kitchen, even though we got there plenty early before the lunch crowd, when it is next to impossible to get a table.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/30/10

What ever happened to service?

by Susan Buck

My husband and I were in Tarantino's the other evening and ordered: Spaghetti with meat sauce, Angel Hair with clams, Chardonnay, and butter (for our bread.) We got Linguini with meat sauce, Linguini with Clam sauce, no Chardonnay and a tub of melted butter - what's up with that. I brought my issues to Pepe's attention (the manager and our server) and he blamed the cook. I told him he saw the order before it came out - didn't he think he had some responsibility here? I also told him we had been coming to Tarantino's for 30 years and he called me a liar - used that word! Said they had only been open 25 years - whew - the hair splitting! He also told us that if we don't like it - leave! I asked him to pack our leftovers and he argued about that too. What a mess ! ! ! We paid for our meal and left - I promised to call the owner. - Today I got a hold of the owner (5 days later.) NOT EVEN ONE APOLOGY ISSUED - SHAME ON HIM! The owner told me he ran two successful business and things like this happen. How can that be - how can someone be successful and so blatantly disrespectful of their clientele? He did say he'd refund our money - but I never even wanted my money back - we ate the food - it was good, but the service was so bad and so rude that we'll never go back. Too bad, it was a place we took many business associates and friends. Tarantino's ends up the big loser - because they don't know how to treat their customers. Shame - shame - shame. I'm telling everyone I know to boycott this place. If being treated poorly doesn't bother you - by all means, eat there, but if you work hard for your money and expect to be treated fairly - FORGET ABOUT TARANTINO'S ! !

  • Pros: Food - yummy if you can get what you ordered.
  • Cons: Service - sucks and the customer is most definitely wrong
1 Star Rating: Poor

12/11/09

Staff lovely, food horrible. CASH ONLY.

by NG200

Everything started out really well, the wine was Eh, but the service was very friendly and accommodating. Their garlic rolls were great! we both had a small dinner salad, which was average, then came out the pizza. The Florentine, large pie, $19+ spinach with a "variety" of cheese? No. it was 10 pounds of spinach(no joke) and a very tiny amount of what tasting like only mozzarella cheese. no red sauce. Then out came the ravioli. yikes. it was barely warm, they weren't mixed with the sauce, which was also very unsatisfying. It tasted like tomato sauce out of a can. We asked for a ton of extra parm cheese, there wasn't any on the table, we smothered everything in it to get some kind of flavor. I'm sorry, it just was terrible and to top it off i spent over $50+ !!! I was very bummed.

  • Pros: garlic rolls are great! staff very friendly.
  • Cons: WAY OVER PRICED for overall- very bad tasting food, sorry.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/05/08

The Best Lunch Place in Pasadena!

by SusieQ1122

I love Tarantino's and go there at least once a week. I've never had anything bad there, but a few of my favorites are the linguini with meat sauce and meatballs, the garlic rolls (to die for!), and the deluxe pizza. The pizza toppings are always fresh and delicious, no frozen veggies here!

Bring cash and a healthy appetite cause the portions are big and they don't take credit.

  • Pros: Great Food, Great Prices, Nice guys working
  • Cons: Cash Only
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/04/08

Best little Italian restaurant in Pasadena

by MrsKlingonPasadena

I love Tarantino's. I just got back from lunch there. If you get there between 11 am and 12 noon, it is relatively empty, but don't let that deter you, the food is the best I have ever eaten. They have a to-die-for specialty pizza called Tucci's Special, if it is your first time, I suggest that and an order of their garlic rolls. If you have a business meeting afterwards, I will suggest you bring breath mints, the garlic content in everything is very high and very delicious. Had to give it 5 stars.

  • Pros: Small restaurant, Good food close distance to businesses of old town Pasadena
  • Cons: Cash only
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/28/08

Feeling Hungry and Disappointed

by ElleT08

Be sure to stop by the ATM before coming here, because they don't accept credit cards, cash only! And If you're hungry you may want to eat ahead of time as well. The whole menu is a la carte, even the lunch menu. No salad or even a measly bread stick with your meal without an extra charge. The food has definitely declined over the years and without their coming into the current century on accepting at least debit cards, I'd rather go to one of the other hundred Italian restaurants in Pasadena with better food, customer service and ambiance.

  • Pros: ok sauce
  • Cons: cash only, customer service

The Details on Tarantino's Pizzeria

Place Categories:

  • great vegetarian pizza
  • great good food
  • love wonderful little italian place
  • good pasta
  • always excellent salads
  • great garlic rolls
  • love tarantino
  • great prices
  • delicious pizza toppings
  • really good lunch specials
  • great large portions
  • favorite plain ol pepperoni
  • rude service
  • cold beer
  • not best pizza
  • fresh foos
  • always polite help
  • great everything
  • not warm neighborhood
  • good lunch spot
  • good crunch
  • like green outdoor awning
  • great friendly service
  • cold slice
  • amazing pizza bread
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