Agents Only excellent dining experience at Hotel Dena in Pasadena- July 2024

Agents Only is a quaint and intimate restaurant and bar located in the beautiful hotel Dena in Pasadena. A classic old car sets the mood as you enter the hotel.  It feels like you step into another era as you are greeted by the friendly staff dressed in suspenders.  As you enter Agents Only, it feels like you are stepping into a recording studio with instruments mounted on the walls and an old time microphone in the corner.  The lighting is soft and the vibe and decor is very cool. You can sit at the bar, or small tables with chairs and a couch.

The menu is simple Mexican cuisine, but don’t let that fool you.  Every dish is elevated with delicious sauces and the meats and seafood are spiced beautifully and cooked to perfection.  Start with the Queso Fundido with wild mushrooms as well as the Guacamole with Tuna. Chunks of tuna mixed in with guacamole with lime, cilantro, tomato, onion, and chipotle aoli.  Two very unique dishes that are not to be missed. For entrees we went with the Shrimp Enchiladas with creamy guajillo sauce as well as the Lobster Quesadillas. It’s a nice variety of seafood that you don’t usually get at other Mexican restaurants.  We also went with a side of the Yellow Corn Esquites and Plantains to enhance the meal, which made it very satisfying. We were too full for dessert, but they had some great options to choose from like the Churros or Tres Leches.