Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato

Name: Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato
Address: 749 East Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA, United States, 91001
Telephone: (626) 791-6174
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.3

4.3

7 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

7 Jan 2025

7:00 pm

Charming
Child-friendly
Great for live music

Nestled in the community of Altadena, CA, our authentic Italian restaurant is a delightful culinary gem that transports you to the heart of Italy. We take pride in our commitment to authenticity, using time-honored recipes and fresh ingredients to create dishes that capture the essence of Italian cooking.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of Operation
Tue–Sun 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(626) 791-6174
Website
https://bulgarinigelato.com/
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
749 East Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001
Area
Pasadena
Parking details
None

What 7 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.2Service
3.8Ambience
4Value

Noise • Moderate

7 Reviews

P
Parveen
Orange County
13 reviews
1.0
13 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
I recently visited Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato and left feeling thoroughly disappointed. The restaurant’s entrance was difficult to locate, and as a first-time guest, I was unsure of the correct entry point. Upon arrival, I stood unacknowledged for about ten minutes while the owner/chef engaged in a conversation. Eventually, I approached another staff member to inquire about seating, questioning why I had to initiate this instead of being welcomed. Menu lacked variety, offering no chicken dishes, and although swordfish was listed, it was unavailable that day. The only protein options were beef and prime rib, which was disappointing for those who don’t consume beef. Additionally, there were no diet beverages available, and the chef’s demeanor was notably unfriendly. No substitutions allowed and no sides to add-on. Ordered bread as an appetizer, we waited 40 minutes without receiving it. To our astonishment, the owner was inside the restaurant, leisurely eating gelato with someone, seemingly indifferent to the service issues. Our dinner was served before the appetizer, disrupting the meal’s flow. Adding to the discomfort, our heater was moved to another table without rebalancing the remaining one between me and my friend. When the bread finally arrived—late into the meal as I was nearly finished with my pasta—there was no apology for the delay. The couple next to us, who ordered bread as an appetizer, received it within seven minutes, while we waited over 45 minutes. The manager or chef took no accountability, neither acknowledging the oversight nor offering an apology. To conclude the disappointing experience, the owner swiped the card and placed it back on the table instead of handing it to me directly, which felt discourteous. Overall, the combination of poor service, limited options, and inattentiveness from management make for an unpleasant dining experience. I would not recommend Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato to others seeking a satisfactory meal.
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M
Michiko
Los Angeles
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 7 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food is amazing. We had spaghetti with meat sauce, Margherita pizza, arugula salad, and gelato. Pasta was chewy/al dente and the meat sauce was the perfect accompaniment. Pizza crust was very light, sauce and cheese were very flavorful. Salad was topped with really good parmesan cheese. The gelato was the perfect ending. Everything tastes homemade with love. Although Italian food can be heavy, this meal left us feeling satisfied, but not overly full (which is perfect). We have lactose and gluten sensitivities, so I was prepared to not feel great later, but I had no bad affects from the meal. Service was great! Very friendly and personable. Definitely recommend Bulgarini if you want an authentic Italian meal that won't leave you feeling heavy.
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D
Dawn
VIP
Los Angeles
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on 28 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Owner and chef Leo serves Michelin-star quality! His pastas and sauces, not to mention his pizza and focaccia bread, are so uniquely delicious that your food quickly becomes the topic of conversation at the table. Consider ordering family style. This is a neighborhood gem that is not to be missed.
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P
Pateel
VIP
Las Vegas
43 reviews
5.0
43 reviews
Dined on 17 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful little restaurant in an unexpected place. Food was delicious, gelato was amazing! Definitely going back soon.
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M
Maria
Los Angeles
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 17 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is slow food. Good food. We were here for 3 hours, and it was expected. The owner, Leo, cannot be rushed, and has taught his cooks well with every detail of pasta making, tomato difference and sauce sweetness. Come here to relax and savor. His gelato is magnificent. Don’t miss it.
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D
Dawn
VIP
Los Angeles
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on 11 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
A neighborhood gem in Altadena, near Pasadena. Owner & Chef Leo is incredible with his unbelievable culinary talent and also the personal touch of his kindness and attention to his patrons. The focaccia bread at the start and gelato at the end are not to be missed. All of the entrees are stunningly delicious. A couple of my favorites are the parpadelle with wild boar and spaggettini with duck ragu, but all of his homemade pastas and raviolis are simply the best. Enjoy!
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S
Spencer
Los Angeles
5 reviews
1.0
5 reviews
Dined on 15 September 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
I will never go back. Dramatically overpriced, the owner/server could not be more unpleasant (if he doesn’t know you as he was nice to some regulars), the portions are very small and so-so tasting, and he makes up the bill and just gives you a huge random number with nothing itemized and no connection to the prices on the menu. Just an expensive crappy experience. I would usually not write anything but he was not pleasant at all and I was on a daddy/daughter date with my 11 year old. Total bummer.
3 people found this helpful

FAQs

Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato is rated 4.3 stars by 7 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

7 Jan 2025

7:00 pm

Google Map for Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato

749 East Altadena Dr, Altadena, CA 91001

Additional information

Area
Pasadena
Hours of Operation
Tue–Sun 6:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
None

Website
https://bulgarinigelato.com/
Phone number
(626) 791-6174

Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato

Make a booking

Additional information

Menu

What 7 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

FAQs

How is Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato restaurant rated?

Is Bulgarini Osteria e Gelato currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Additional information