Conrad's in Pasadena

Conrad's

861 E Walnut St

Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 577-7603‎

I am a sucker for diner coffee and great service. We took our two young daughters out for a late breakfast today (the one day a week I get to pig out). IHOP was the plan but there was no parking available and I didn't feel like waiting that long to eat so we drove over to Conrad's instead. Plenty of parking and we only had to wait 5 minutes. I was glad to be there as it was only my 2nd time and their menu has a wide variety to choose from. I like that.

During the 5-minute wait, Hubby asked the hostess for a cup of coffee (he just couldn't wait) and she was very gracious in giving it to him. Hubby wanted pancakes and a giant omelet from the moment he woke up this morning. As for me, I wanted something not-so-sweet, something kinda dinner-y but still found on the breakfast menu. Alas, they did not have biscuits and gravy on the menu so I settled for their Southern Fried "Steak", scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and an english muffin. And of course coffee. Can they please get bigger coffee mugs?

"Steak" is in quotations because that is what they choose to call it. Not I. What I got was a big slab of unseasoned ground beef coated blandly and weakly with Conrad's version of southern-ness and laid on a generous plank of thick southern gravy that looked appetizing but...no. It, too, was bland. Don't they taste this stuff before they decide on a recipe to serve the public? Hashbrowns were great. Eggs were great. Coffee was great. Hubby's International Omelet was a thing of greatness. My Southern Fried "Steak" should have never been allowed to see the light of day. How did I manage to eat almost the entire thing? Because I was hungry after a boozy Saturday night house-warming party and there was ketchup on the table. There ya go.

Our server was Isaac. He was accurate, cordial and attentive. It turns out he and Hubby know each other from a long time ago when they both worked at (the late, great) Old Town Bakery. Hubby knows someone at EVERY restaurant we've been to in the San Gabriel Valley.

Will I return to Conrad's? Yep. There is a lot more to dining out than the expectation of perfect food. You can eat at home if all you want is food. The service at Conrad's was comfortable and pleasing as well as genuine, from floor manager to cook to hostess to server to busser. We'll be back.