Alexander’s Steakhouse, Pasadena, CA USA

Ordered for brunch at Alexander's Steakhouse in Pasadena, California, just outside of Los Angeles.

Rachel wanted brunch for her birthday. Something healthy and luxurious at the same time. A unique place we knew would be both quality and memorable.

Brunch, as simple as it sounds, is not something the greater Pasadena area is known for unless you’re looking for Dim Sum. And Dim Sum did not meet the requirements Rachel’s birthday stipulated.

So where did? Perhaps Alexander’s Steakhouse, one of our favorite restaurants in Los Angeles, would fit the bill. Their brunch had only started two weekends prior, so there were no reviews gleaming on the internet, and we simply had to rely on our dinner experience with Alexander’s as a reason to come here for Brunch.

We showed up for the meal after our massages with open minds and hungry stomachs to find a very limited menu, boasting breakfast and lunch items equally.

Rachel jumped all over the smoked salmon club sandwich, and we decided to split that along with the eggs benedict. I have had many smoked salmon clubs before, so while I was slightly hesitant, our waitress gave it an introduction I could not refuse: the recipe had been handed down by a sous chef for the legendary Joël Robuchon.

Mind = blown.

This was more of a sashimi salmon club sandwich, and not your typical lox or nova. The heartier pieces, barely cured/cooked, were tender and fresh, as expected from an incredible Japanese restaurant, but a first for me in a club sandwich. And the salmon just echoed the quality of the other ingredients in Alexander’s club sandwich.

Insanely addictive artisan sourdough bread. Perfectly soft and perfectly toasted. Airy, bubbly, and savory. Lightly boiled eggs neatly sliced and layered into the sandwich, coupled with the cucumbers and tomato, added the perfect textures and flavors to compliment the creamy sashimi salmon while not detracting too much from its holdability.

And the “sauce tar-tar” combined with the dill and watercress brought all of the ingredients together nicely, making the whole meal better than the sum of the individual ingredients.

Well done Alexander’s! With each bite I was blown away, and Rachel and I came away from this club sandwich with a renewed perception on salmon club sandwiches.

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