The Blind Donkey Brings Whiskey to Old Town Pasadena

New whiskey den/UrbanDaddy

By Lesley Balla

What is going on, Pasadena? Intelligentsia, Umami Burger, Everson Royce (from the same owners as Silverlake Wine), Stone Brewing tasting room and now a whiskey bar? And that's all on top of the other independently minded restaurants and bars starting to dot the dining scene. The Blind Donkey opens this Wednesday, right in the heart of Old Town just a block from the main strip. It takes over the short-lived Dish Bistro, and still retains the high ceilings, brick walls and large floor-to-ceiling windows.

What Dish didn't have was a strong cocktail program (no matter how hard it tried), but this has beerman Ryan Sweeney (Verdugo Bar, Surly Goat, Little Bear) involved, which means many good things. No, not mixology, but good artisanal spirits, and yes, including good beer on tap. The food menu won't roll out for a couple more weeks, but you can always find a good burger nearby. There may be a soft opening tonight and tomorrow, should you feel so inclined to swing by (53 E. Union St.; 626-792-1833).