Looking for dinner in Pasadena, MD? Mountain Road has a locally owned steak and seafood house and a familiar Texas Roadhouse, while Fort Smallwood Road has a pasta kitchen for a more casual Italian night.
Neighbors in the Best of Pasadena Facebook group selected Two Rivers Steakhouse, Primo Pasta Kitchen, and Texas Roadhouse as the 2026 top three for Best Dinner Restaurant. Here is a closer look at each, including what the kitchen is known for and the feel of the room.
1st place: Two Rivers Steakhouse
Best for: A scratch-kitchen steak and seafood house on Mountain Road
Two Rivers Steakhouse (officially Two Rivers Steak & Fish House) has been a locally owned Mountain Road restaurant at 4105 since 2011. The official story describes a scratch kitchen, steaks cut by an in-house butcher, seafood delivered most days of the week, and bakery items, soups, and sauces made in house. The room works as a sit-down dinner spot and a comfortable bar with a sports-bar side. Reviewers often praise the steaks, rolls, crab cakes, and shrimp and grits, and many suggest arriving early on weekends. Menus and the story are at tworiverssteak.com.
Address: 4105 Mountain Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
2nd place: Primo Pasta Kitchen
Best for: Pasta, pizza, and Italian plates on Fort Smallwood Road
Primo Pasta Kitchen is at 8557 Fort Smallwood Road, an Italian restaurant for pasta, pizza and flatbreads, seafood, and desserts in a relaxed room with TVs over the bar. The official site is primopastakitchen.com. Reviewers often mention generous portions and familiar plates such as baked ziti, ravioli, crab dip, and calamari, with the usual note that a busy kitchen can run a little slow. If you want an Italian dinner on the Fort Smallwood side of Pasadena, rather than a Mountain Road steakhouse, this is the 2026 name to start with.
Address: 8557 Fort Smallwood Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
3rd place: Texas Roadhouse
Best for: A Mountain Road steakhouse with a familiar menu
Texas Roadhouse is at 4465 Mountain Road, the Pasadena location of the well-known steakhouse chain. Expect hand-cut steaks, made-from-scratch sides, and a lively dining room, the same general formula the brand is known for, in a convenient Mountain Road box. It rounds out the 2026 dinner top three for neighbors who want a familiar sit-down meal without leaving town. Weekend evenings can get busy, so it is worth planning for a wait if you are heading over after work or on a Saturday night. Confirm current hours on the restaurant’s location page before you go.
Address: 4465 Mountain Rd, Pasadena, MD 21122
Hours and specials can change, so check with each restaurant before you head out.
Find more of Pasadena’s favorites
Have a local favorite to share? Join the Best of Pasadena Facebook group to discover more neighborhood recommendations and help choose the next winners.
Moving to Pasadena or looking for a home near your favorite dinner spot? James Bowerman, a Pasadena local since 1990, and Real Creative Group can help you find the right neighborhood fit. Call 410-971-8004 or visit realcreativegroup.com.