Parkway Grill Friendsgiving Dinner in Pasadena for 36

Parkway Grill, at 510 South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, seats diners from 5 pm daily and handles groups the old-fashioned way: parties of eight or more call the front desk at (626) 795-1001 instead of booking online. That phone call is worth making for a Friendsgiving dinner, because the restaurant offers a Grill Room for 36, a glass-walled Atrium for 16 and a full buyout for up to 200, so a group of almost any size can have its own space.

The restaurant's history page says Parkway Grill opened in 1984 under owners Bob and Gregg Smith and claims that its wood-fired oven was the first in the San Gabriel Valley. The bar is an original from 1920s Chicago, shipped to Pasadena in the early 1980s, and the kitchen still cooks on a mesquite-burning grill and an oak-burning oven. The site adds that the restaurant has kept its own organic garden for more than 25 years and has won a Wine Spectator award every year since 1999.

Some longtime fans have called it the Spago of Pasadena, and the dining room has the polish to match. Pasadena Magazine named it one of its 2026 best restaurants in February. The room mixes white tablecloth service with the easy warmth of a place that has hosted the same families for four decades, which is exactly the balance a Friendsgiving needs: special enough for a toast, relaxed enough for a loud table.

Start with Parkway's Signature Black Bean Soup at $12 and the Roasted Bone Marrow at $24. The Tiger Shrimp Corndogs are $26, a playful starter that disappears fast on a big table. For mains, the Whole Ginger Fried Louisiana Catfish is $58 and is the most dramatic plate to put in the middle of the table, and the Braised Short Rib at $53 is the closest thing on the menu to a holiday roast.

The kitchen's two fires are worth planning around. Dishes from the mesquite grill come out with a deep char, while the oak-burning oven handles the roasted plates, so ordering one of each gives the table two different textures in a single round. Ask the server which dishes come off which fire that night, and let the group taste both before the mains arrive.

The Linz Heritage Angus Bone-In Ribeye is $85, a showpiece to slice and share. Lobster Mashed Potatoes at $20 make an indulgent side that works as the Friendsgiving version of mashed potatoes, and the Crème Brûlée Napoleon at $15 is the dessert to order for the table. An honest call: skip ordering a ribeye and the short rib for every pair, because the catfish and one ribeye cover a table of six with room for sides.

The private dining page lists the Grill Room for up to 36, the Atrium for up to 16 and a total buyout for up to 200. For a Friendsgiving of 12 to 30 friends, the Grill Room is the natural fit, while the Atrium suits a smaller, more intimate group that still wants its own room. Inquiries go to the party desk by email or through the front desk, and it makes sense to reach out several weeks ahead, since late November is also holiday-party season.

Two house rules matter for a group. Corkage is $35 per 750ml bottle for up to three bottles and $50 per bottle after that, which suits a group that wants to bring a few special wines. The restaurant also asks guests not to wear hats, jerseys, flip flops or athletic wear, so mention the dress code in the invitation to avoid an awkward moment at the door.

Plan B: Thanksgiving Day itself has no published menu on the restaurant's site, so a Friendsgiving on a different November night is the safer bet. If the private rooms are taken, the main dining room handles tables of eight or more by phone, and an early Sunday dinner at 5 pm leaves the evening free for anyone driving home across the county.

Valet parking is $8, and street parking is also available nearby, according to the restaurant. The Metro A Line's Del Mar station is a short walk up Arroyo Parkway, which makes the train an easy option for friends coming from Downtown LA or the San Gabriel Valley. The restaurant sits at the southern edge of Old Pasadena, so it is easy to combine with a walk before dinner.

Takeout is also available for anyone hosting the Friendsgiving at home, with to-go orders Monday to Friday from 12 pm to 8 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 5 pm to 8 pm. A group that wants to host can pick up the short rib and lobster mash and still bring the Parkway Grill flavors to the table.

Before dinner, walk a few blocks to Central Park on South Raymond Avenue, a shady square where the group can gather in the late afternoon light. Across the street, Castle Green, the Moorish-style former hotel on South Raymond Avenue, is one of Pasadena's most photographed buildings, with its towers and arched balconies. Both are a few minutes from the restaurant on foot.

After dinner, Colorado Boulevard in Old Pasadena is about a 15-minute walk north and stays lively in the evening with dessert shops and bars. For a group that wants one more round, the walk gives everyone time to digest before deciding where to go next. On a clear night, the mountains above the city make a quiet backdrop to the walk.

Parkway Grill, 510 South Arroyo Parkway, Pasadena, CA 91105. Phone (626) 795-1001. Sit-down dining from 5 pm daily. Parties of eight or more book by phone. Grill Room up to 36, Atrium up to 16, total buyout up to 200. Valet $8. Corkage $35 per bottle for the first three, $50 after. Short Rib $53, Whole Ginger Fried Catfish $58, Lobster Mashed Potatoes $20.