"Your second cousin is in Pasadena for an astronomy conference (you’re not sure why, you thought he was a dentist), and he wants Mexican food. Take him to Maestro, an Old Town Pas spot serving unique takes on upscale Mexican. To start, get some oysters - they come with a briny, spicy-as-hell shrimp aguachile - then bond over the lamb barbacoa, which is basically a build-your-own taco plate, and also fantastic." - brett keating