Cafe Bizou - Pasadena

I started with the TUNA TARTARE, which featured tuna mixed with capers, chives, and lemon, served alongside smoked salmon. This light yet satisfying appetizer was a refreshing take on traditional tuna tartare. I had never experienced the combination of tuna tartare with smoked salmon before, and it worked surprisingly well. It also included thin cucumber slices, adding an extra layer of freshness, along with some crostini for topping with the tartare and salmon. For the main course, I had the LOBSTER TAGIATELLE, which consisted of black ink tagiatelle pasta with pieces of lobster, tomatoes, and mushrooms in a lobster vodka sauce. This dish was the highlight of my meal! I love squid ink pasta, and this preparation was simply excellent. The combination of tomatoes and mushrooms in the lobster vodka sauce created a delicious contrast to the richness of the pasta without overwhelming its flavor. Unlike many restaurants, they didn’t drown the pasta in sauce but lightly coated each strand, allowing the dish to shine. The pieces of lobster were generous and incredibly satisfying, making the combination of pasta and seafood feel quite indulgent. Finally, I opted for the FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE for dessert. While it was the simplest dish I tried, it still made for a solid finish. I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet. The service was friendly, and there's a parking structure just over a block away, which is convenient (though I think it only has a few spots). Plus, the corkage fee is just $2! Overall, I give a thumbs up to Cafe Bizou, especially for the black ink pasta!