Lunching at the Athenaeum
Monday, February 12, 2007 20:38I had the occasion to eat lunch at The Athenaeum, CalTech’s private on campus club, last week. I usually wouldn’t review a place that required membership, or accompanying a member, to get in, but I had such a nice lunch that I figured I would drop a few notes about it.
Walking into the building, which looks like it would blend in on an Ivy League campus, I hear a string quartet playing in one room before veering left into the main dining room. How civilized. We walk through the Main Dining Room out onto the West Patio, taking a seat under one of the outdoor heaters. It turns out that the weather is warm enough that we turn the heater off before our backs are broiled.
So, the atmosphere is classy, how is the food? I plan on ordering a cup of the chowder and the steak salad, but my host suggests that I take a walk past the carvery buffet before I make my choice. I do and I decide to have a go at the buffet.
This is one tasty spread. I dive into the ceviche, pile a little arugala salad (with pomegranate seeds), skip the risotto, pick up some poached salmon appetizer, ladel a cup of Boston clam chowder (passing over the vegetable lentil), attack the plump asparagus (which are topped with roasted red and yellow peppers) and finally, I choose a few slices of roast lamb leg over the stuffed chicken breasts.
Now, had I wanted to, I could have piled a bit of everything on my plate (and there is more than I mentioned), just like any buffet. Unlike most buffets, I actually want to pile on a little of everything. It looks that good. I assume that it tastes good, but I know that looks can be deceiving.
The food. It’s good. It’s very good. If I was a member, and CalTech was anywhere near where I worked, I would come here for lunch. Often. The salads are delicious, the salmon moist and tasty, the chowder is decent — not a stand out, the asparagus is cooked perfect and the peppers are a nice touch. The lamb is tender and flavorful. Finally the ceviche. I don’t think I have ever had ceviche at a buffet, although it is a great buffet dish. This ceviche was excellent, plump shrimp and fish swimming in a tart vinegar and citrus.
The bill went on my host’s tab, but I did see that the buffet rings up at a very reasonable $10.75. A side note that the iced tea was very good. Apparently, another drink that they specialize in is a strawberry lemonade which is served in a large brandy snifter. I didn’t taste, but one glass came to our table and I’m told it was delicious.
An interesting note of history about The Athenaeum:
The first formal dinner was held in February 1931, when Albert Einstein arrived for a two-month sojourn at Caltech. Three Nobel Prize winners, Albert Einstein, Robert A. Millikan, and A. A. Michelson, attended that dinner.
Update Kevin at LA Observed points out:
The building, by the way, was designed by Gordon Kaufmann, architect for the L.A. Times building and, improbably, Hoover Dam.
Update II A few other interesting posts about wine tasting at 2020 Hindsight.
The Athenaeum (at CalTech)
551 S. Hill Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 395-8200
By Jonah (see more of his posts). Jonah is the founder of la.foodblogging and also created Digesty, a food blog aggregator and Cheww.com, a spam free foodblog search engine.
sneakypeteiii says:
February 13th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Jonah, you really missed out by not ordering the strawberry lemonade. Among us graduate students it borders on legendary.
Maribeth says:
February 13th, 2007 at 9:26 am
The best things at the Ath come in a brandy snifter — strawberry lemonade, and Berries Athenaeum.
The buffet is indeed excellent, although I never realized that as a grad student.
Jim A. Beardsley says:
February 13th, 2007 at 9:30 am
The article brings to mind The University Club at Cal State Northridge. While not as exclusive as the Athenaeum, the reasonably priced buffet at the ‘Orange Grove Bistro’ is one of the SF Valley’s least known really good lunch secrets and by far the best option at the University. The weekend and holiday brunches are also above average.
Susan Kitchens says:
February 13th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Two other things that the Ath has — monthly wine tastings and cooking workshops. (My S.O. works at JPL and is an CalTech alum, and is a member).
One of those cooking workshops, on knife skills, changed the relationship I have with my chef’s knife (for the better).
I’ve blogged the Ath a few times, including a wine cellar dinner. Photos on Flickr.
Never had the lunch buffet, but the Wednesday night buffet is marvelous.
Jeff says:
February 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I had the pleasure of working as a server at the Ath the summer after my freshman year in college. No tips, but the pay was very good.
The real treat, however, was the “benefits package”, which included a meal with every shift worked (lunch is good, but dinner is where it shines) as well as leftover chateaubriand and freshly made caesar salads.
Don’t tell them that the wait staff (mainly college kids from CalTech and elsewhere) used to sneak a glass of champagne or two off the trays during the private parties…
I’ve been able to go back as a proper guest a few times since and it’s always great. Good food and good memories.
Carrie says:
February 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
If your not a member of the Ath, try the citrus house. Open from 11:30 to 1:30 it offers a very nice menu all within an undergrads budget. Not a greasy spoon or dorm food, it has a great selection of salads (try the shrip and scallop with mango dressing) soups and fantastic desserts. Excellent service all around a winner. And you dont need to be a member - located in the center of Cal Tech north of the bookstore.
Jonah says:
February 13th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Last time I was out at CalTech we got denied by the “Ath” (full) and tried to go to The Citrus House but they were having a private party. We ended up at the cafeteria, not horrible, but very much a cafeteria. The Citrus House did look pretty good.
Thanks for the tips on the Athenaeum Susan, do you have to be a member to get into the classes and tastings?
thranduil says:
February 13th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I’m envious! Unfortunately the equivalent where I work appears to pale in comparison (not worth a review based on my lunch experiences). Glad I’ve got reciprocal privileges and can’t wait to try the Athenaeum and CSUN’s University Club.
Taste-Buzz says:
February 20th, 2007 at 9:14 pm
As an alum, my favorite events at the Ath are actually when they hold monthly “tastings” for various beverages. It’s usually wine, but a few times a year they branch out to beer, champange, scotch and other spirits.
Also, the coolest part of the Ath is the Rathskeller, which is the underground bar where all the grad students hang out.
It’s true that you missed out with the Berries Ath.
– Taste-Buzz, Caltech Class of 2000
Susan Kitchens says:
March 4th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
(sorry, Jonah, didn’t see your question to me until now). You don’t have to be a member to attend wine tastings or cooking classes, but you do have to be the guest of a member. Doc M joined the Ath after we went to several wine tastings as the guest of his co-worker (depending on the relationship you have with the member, guests settle up with the member later, as the charge appears on the member’s monthly bill– that’s what Doc M did, and then he said, I’m gonna join myself).
I went to the Ath for bordeaux tasting a wedensday or so ago (on Ash Wednesday, which made it Ath Wednesday).
As for upcoming events, you can see what’s coming up by checking out the Update (link below. Current issue is Feb, I bet March will be available soon. (remember, there IS a dress code. Not as strict on cooking class days, tho).
Schedule of events is available in The Update. The March one should be coming out soon. I see that Australian Reds is the wine tasting for March 21. Hmmm… :) The next cooking workshop is a schedule conflict. (Doc M called while I was writing this comment, the Mar 21 tasting is ON, if you’re interested in it, you’ve got my email address in the admin edit comment part of this comment…. er, you are the Jonah of the site formerly known as lablogs.com, right?)
(I’m taking a class at PCC, just down the street from the Ath. Methinks I’ll make it down there for lunch one or two days this semester)