Openings

What to Eat at Dish, Open Today in Pasadena

Carder's Octopus Carpaccio
Carder’s Octopus Carpaccio Photo: Jessica Stump

Dish Bistro & Bar, the slow-food restaurant bringing a slice of NoCal to Pasadena, opens today on East Union. Unlike many recently opened farm-to-table restaurants, this one is not going local, but instead showcases the producers, products, and natural bounty of Sonoma. That is, when the cooks in the kitchen aren’t making practically everything from scratch.

Chef Job Carder (a Patina alum who cooked at Mix and Manzanita Restaurant) and his team are making all pastas, bread, sausages, and charcuterie in-house, and also curing their own bacon, pancetta, and prosciutto. He’s also crafted a Cal-Med menu of small and big plates priced between $5-21 with a “mini-boo ya” of Cali bouillabaisse, caper berry-braised Jidori chicken, roasted leg of lamb sandwich, Liberty duck confit, and an OMFG-worthy foie gras Brûlée with layred duck rillette, carmelized foie gras, and apple chutney. Cali wines also dominate at Dish and Bartender Matt Bergstrom is behind cocktails like a spicy mojito and one using pinot noir grape juice. Dishes’ full dinner, lunch, and wines-by-the-glass menus are below.

53 E. Union St., Pasadena. 626-795-5546.

Lunch

Bites

Roasted Pistachios 6
Fleur de Sel, Espelette and Pimentón

Chilled Grilled Pears 7
Mascarpone, Blue Cheese and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Fried Olives 6
Roasted Shallots, Veal Pancetta and Ricotta Cheese

Oysters on the ½ Shell 2.50
Bloody Mary Sorbet and Champagne Mignonette

Salads

Hearts of Romaine 9
Grana Padano Tuile, Boquerones & Garlic Thyme Croutons

Organic Baby Lettuces 7
Cucumber Slivers, Kalamata Olives and Bohemian Creamery Capriago Cheese

Roasted Baby Beet Salad 11
Organic Gold, Red and Chioggia Beets with Micro Bulls Blood and Bohemian Creamery Boho Bell Cheese

Small Plates

Oysters Deanna 11
Grilled Oyster in the Shell topped with Artichoke Hearts, Grana Padano, Fresh Basil and White Wine

Charred Octopus Carpaccio 11
Fleur de Sel, Scallions, Blood Orange Segments and Micro Arugula with Lemongrass Vinaigrette

Mini Boo Ya 14
California-style Bouillabaisse with Black Cod Mussels, Clams, Bay Scallops & Shrimp in Lobster Saffron Broth

Onion and Madeira Soup Gratinée 9
Caramelized Onion and Madeira Wine Reduction topped with Crustinis and Gruyere Cheese

Dave’s Humus and Grilled Pita 9
Our Proprietors Family Recipe

House Made Truffle Fries 7
served with our Horseradish Chili Sauce and Garlic Aioli

Asparagus “Fries” 7
Crispy Thin Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Aioli

Tasting of Artisan Cheeses 14
Local Wild Flower Honey Comb with House Made Huckleberry and Port Jam

Sonoma County Olive Oil Tasting with Candied Kumquats and Grilled Bread 11
Preston of Dry Creek: Olio Nuovo-Chaste Maiden, Da Vero-Sonoma: Dry Creek Estate Blend, and Dry Creek Olive Company: Healdsburg Blend

Larger Plates
Sandwiches come with your choice of Green Salad or House-made Fries

Roasted Leg of Lamb Sandwich 13
Grilled Gold Balsamic Red Onions, Melted Raclette Cheese & Organic Watercress on Fresh Ciabatta Bread

Oven Roasted Jidori Chicken Salad Sandwich 11
House-made Mozzarella, Fresh Basil, Roasted Shallot Aioli, Wild Rocket Arugula on House-made Focaccia

Grilled Ratatouille Sandwich 10
Marinated Eggplant, Red Bell Peppers, and Green & Yellow Zucchini, Onions & Fennel with Bohemian Creamery Capriago Cheese on Toasted Baguette

Crispy Sonoma Liberty Duck Confit 16
Arugula & Frisee Salad with Oro Blanco Grapefruit, Grilled Apricots and Citrus Champagne Vinaigrette

Steamed Mussels and House-made Fries 15
P.E.I. Mussels, Baby Spinach, Pernod Garlic Butter, White Wine & Shallots

Winter Vegetable Fettuccini 15
Grilled Baby Fennel, Baby Artichokes, Pine Nuts & Fresh Basil tossed with a Red Bell Pepper Saffron Sauce


Dinner Menu

Bites

Roasted Pistachios 6
Fleur de Sel, Espelette and Pimentón

Chilled Grilled Pears 7
Mascarpone, Blue Cheese and Aged Balsamic Vinegar

Fried Olives 6
Roasted Shallots, Veal Pancetta and Ricotta Cheese

Oysters on the ½ Shell 2.50
Bloody Mary Sorbet and Champagne Mignonette

Salads

Hearts of Romaine 9
Grana Padano Tuile, Boquerones & Garlic Thyme Croutons

Organic Baby Lettuces 7
Cucumber Slivers, Niciose Olives and Bohemian Creamery Capriago Cheese

Roasted Baby Beet Salad 11
Organic Gold, Red and Chioggia Beets with Micro Bulls Blood and Bohemian Creamery Boho Bell Cheese

Small Plates

Oysters Deanna 11
Grilled Oyster in the Shell topped with Artichoke Hearts, Grana Padano, Fresh Basil and White Wine

Seared Day Boat Scallop 13
House Made Veal Pancetta, Wild Mushroom and Mussel Ragú with a Buttered Fumet and Fine Herb Sauce

Charred Octopus Carpaccio 11
Fleur de Sel, Scallions, Oro Blanco Grapefruit Segments and Micro Arugula with Lemongrass Vinaigrette

Dave’s Humus and Grilled Pita 9
Our Proprietors Family Recipe

Mini Boo Ya 14
California Style Bouillabaisse with Local Cod, P.E.I. Mussels, Cockles, Bay Scallops & Shrimp in Lobster Saffron Broth

Onion and Madeira Soup Gratinée 9

Caramelized Onion and Madeira Wine Reduction topped with Crustinis and Gruyere Cheese

House Made Lobster Ravioli 14
Shaved Perigord Truffles with Brandied Lobster “Bisque” Sauce

Foie Gras Brûlée 13
Layered Duck Rillette and Apple Current Chutney topped with Caramelized Foie Gras

Seared Mini Lamb Rack 14
Roasted Garlic and Balsamic Braised Shallots over Black Tuscan Kale

House Made Charcuterie Plate 13
Foie Gras Torchon, Terrine de Campagne d’Agneau and Duck Prosciutto served with Grilled Bread

House Made Truffle Fries 7
served with our Horseradish Chili Sauce and Garlic Aioli

Asparagus “Fries” 7
Crispy Thin Asparagus with Roasted Garlic Aioli

Tasting of Artisan Cheeses 14
Local Wild Flower Honey Comb with Candied Kumquats and Grill Bread

Sonoma County Olive Oil Tasting with Candied Kumquats and Grilled Bread 11

Preston of Dry Creek: Olio Nuovo-Chaste Maiden, Da Vero-Sonoma: Dry Creek Estate Blend, and Dry Creek Olive Company: Healdsburg Blend

Larger Plates

Bodega Bay Petrale Sole Fillet 19
Sautéed Salsify with Grilled Baby Leeks &
Brown Butter Gold Balsamic Sauce

Bone-in New York Strip Steak and Fries 30
Crispy Herbs and Garlic Chips with Bordelaise Sauce & Bone Marrow Floaters

Caper Berry and Olive Braised Jidori Chicken 19
San Marzano Tomatoes & Fennel over House Made Fettuccini

Crispy Sonoma Liberty Duck Confit 21
Grilled Baby Leaks, Roasted Baby Fennel & Braised Potatoes with Brandied Socca Sauce

Sonoma Direct Lamb Ragoût 20
House Made Pappardelle Pasta with Shaved Grana Padano

Roasted Organic Vegetable Terrine 18
Eggplant, Asparagus, Green & Yellow Zucchini, Mushrooms, Israeli Cous Cous & Vegan Paella Sauce

Wines by the Glass

Sparkling/Rose

Prosecco, Candoni, Italy, NV 7/26

Brut, Roederer Estate, Anderson Valley, NV 9/34

Sparkling Rose, Banfi Rosa Regale, Italy, NV 10/38

Rose of Pinot Noir, Sofia, Monterey, ‘08 8/30

Rose of Sangiovese, Alexander Valley Vineyards, ‘07 6/22

White

Riesling, St. M, Germany, ‘07 7/26

Pinot Gris, J Vineyards, Russian River Valley, ’08 9/34

Sauvignon Blanc, Tangent, Central Coast, ‘08 7/26

Fume Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyards, Sonoma County, ‘08 8/30

Cupcake Chardonnay, California, ‘08 5/20

Chardonnay, Ferrari Carano, Dry Creek Valley, ‘07 9/34

Chardonnay, Chalk Hill, Russian River Valley, ‘07 12/45

Viognier, Kenneth Volk, Paso Robles, ‘07 8/30

Albarino, Martin Codax, Rias Baixas Spain, ‘08 6/22

Red

Pinot Noir, McMurray Ranch, Sonoma Coast, ‘07 7/26

Pinot Noir, Kali Hart, Monterey County, ‘07 10/38

Merlot, Cupcake, California, 07 6/22

Merlot, Rodney Strong, Sonoma, ‘05 8/30

Chianti, Candoni Italy, ‘07 6/22

Malbec, Don Miguel, Gascon, Argentina, ’08 7/26

Tempranillo Blend, Abadia Retuerta, Seleccion Especial, ’06 9/34

Zinfandel, “Temptation Zin”, Alexander Valley Vineyards,’06 8/30

Zinfandel, Seghesio, Sonoma County, ‘08 12/45

Syrah, Hogue Genesis, Washington, ‘06 7/26

Cabernet Sauvignon, Louis M. Martini, Sonoma, ‘07 9/34

Cabernet Sauvignon, Gia Domella, Alexander Valley, 12/45

What to Eat at Dish, Open Today in Pasadena