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"This place wins my vote on MANY levels - check them out! Best bang for your buck if you are an event planner. Cheapest buy out in the city.…" read more »
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Don't ask me why, but I've been wanting to eat at one of the Stinking Rose spots for a long time. I haven't gone to the Beverly Hills location, because, well, I despise driving up to LA in that water torture traffic. But, since we were in San Fran and my boy was driving, we hit it up.
I started with these little magic pills: http://www.yelp.com/bi... I felt stronger, faster, and smarter instantly.
They have some serious prime rib. To give you an idea, I enjoyed it more than the prime rib from Lawry's. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
With all my magical garlic powers harnessed, I am now ready to straight wax these fools: http://static3.px.yelp...
The service was a bit snail like, so I might've lost some of the proprietary garlic powers before my battle with the TWATlight scum, but I'm ready. I'm bringing the ruckus.
I remember always passing by this place and thinking, "I've got to try it!" I even remember when I was younger, and my mom tried taking us here and the line was too long, so we didn't wait.
Last weekend, finally came here to have dinner with my cousin and her friends. During my meal here, I tried The Stinking Rose House Salad, Mussels, Spicy Prawns pasta, and the Fresh Tomatoes pasta.
First off, considering this is a Garlic restaurant, I was expecting much more garlic flavors in the dishes. Yeah, I was expecting to reek of garlic smell, sweat garlic, burp garlic, ya know. but no, that didn't happen. i know that sounds nasty, but isn't that what you would expect after eating at a garlic restaurant?
The house salad was alright, it was kind of plain, and nothing great. The Mussels were very good - tender and very flavorful. The Spicy Prawns pasta was good, however the Fresh Tomatoes pasta wasn't. Even though the Fresh Tomato pasta is plain and doesn't have much to it, they definitely could have made it taste better. It was so plain, and literally tasted like I was eating plain pasta.
Like others mentioned, the bread and garlic dip were good, but that was probably the best dish I tried, and that comes free! Maybe I didn't try the right stuff, but it still isn't a good sign if I tried a couple of things and none of them were outstanding.
Wish I tried the Bagna Calda, but unfortunately I got to dinner 45 minutes late and just ordered entrees for myself without appetizers.
Overall, The Stinking Rose was just okay. I was expecting it to be better considering I've heard about it a lot throughout my life, but eh!
One star for the bread. Which you get for free, funny enough.
Other food is expensive and the portions are small. I knew this going into the restaurant but it was a special occasion so I was willing to spend a little. I at least expected the food to be good. Like, expensive and good. Mine was cold. I did not get a salad.
And the service was... nonexistent. We barely saw our server, and here comes the part I hate... because we had a party of six, they automatically charged me for gratuity. Really? I absolutely hate it when servers know tip will be included in the bill and they do a shitty job.
I'll never, ever go back.
Came here today for lunch with a friend around 12.30pm. It was like half full. They sat us down at a table for four. There were four glasses on the table for water. I looked at them and they were all dirty. The waitress saw that we weren't using the glasses and had them washed.
We ordered the Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub
Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of
anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread. Served at your table in an iron skillet.) It was pretty good but the bread was even better with the garlic radish that was on the table.
OMG I still dream of it.
I got prime rib and my husband got the big gigantic crab. So amazing!
Also it is a must the BAGNA CAUDA and the roasted garlic.
We went twice and both time was amazing. I wish there was one in Miami where I live.
Hmmm ... all the stuff here is quite good, but the after-garlic poisoning you get is serious. Pretty serious. After enjoying my dinner, I went home and tried to wash my mouth with Listerine and Porto wine to remove the garlicky breath. No success.
You are warned ....
Let's start with the drinks. My group had ordered a pitcher of the house wine. It was good, though I must say that I probably can't give a very accurate description of the taste because I was already a few drinks in so I wouldn't be able to do it justice with my review. So let's just say that it would be a good choice, and we'll leave it at that. ;)
I loved the bread and the pesto-garlic spread. The bread was warm and garlicky, and garlic in the spread was really fresh! I loved it. Simply delicious.
My sister and I shared the spicy prawns pasta. It was okay -- Actually, I'm being nice; I've had better pasta. The prawns weren't as delicious as I thought they'd be considering that I was back in the Bay (as opposed to not-so-great seafood in the midwest), and the pasta noodles were kind of bland. Oh, and they called it the "spicy prawns" --- it was not at all spicy to me! Strange... I almost wished I had just snacked on their bread and pesto-garlic spread instead.
My friends let me try some of their food. Two of my friends ordered the roasted rabbit. I thought the rabbit was okay. It was the first time I've had rabbit though. I thought it tasted like very dry (white-meat) chicken... Not bad. One of my friends gave me some of his garlic braised boneless short rib. Now, this was the most delicious thing there that I tried... I wish I had ordered this instead but my sister's opposed to red meat.
The service was good. But would I come back here? Hmm it wouldn't be my first choice considering that nothing really wow-ed me (plus, parking is horrible in this area!). I'd come back if my friends insist on coming here though.
I brought my bf(best friend), for a birthday dinner to this famous Restaurant, Which opened their doors in 1991, The name really sticks with you , Because i always wanted to try it, And remembered the name when my bf and I talked about trying it YEARS ago. I said to her we are going to be out the all day, And you will not know any of our destinations! Well, She said softly, OK, And smiled. So i preceded to plan, And researched all the places i remembered her wanting to try and the Stinking Rose was to be the dinner surprise! Located in North Beach area (Which is the Italian section of S.F.). Where you have wonderful walking experience, And beautiful Italians all over the place! (I know because i was one of them,HA!)The Stinking Rose received this name for the Garlic, Tons, And tons of Garlic,(Hence, The Stinking Part is reviled). Well, We were there, The service very accommodating! Mentioned, My bf's Birthday at the door and received great seating spot.(you should get reservations because most times it is busy). the appetizer We ordered spinach, and fontania cheese fondue, Very nice! like the thin bread they serve with it for dipping in the fondue. We both ordered the Neal(stinking) Ravioli, with special house sauce , Though mine i ordered with chicken(and my bf is vegetarian so no meat in hers). The dish was better with no meat actually, This Ravioli dish was just OK, nothing special. We both had a drink Hers the Blueberry Margarita which i took a sip off of and we both thought...Nay, its ok, Again nothing special. I drank a baileys on the rocks( simple, and nice). Now the highlight was ...The Birthday dessert presentation, Was a 5 star..Guys....OK, They brought probably 5 people to sing Happy Birthday, They brought out this candle opera, The three candles all lit up! Ooh, It was beautiful!, Like shes the queen or something This beautiful candle opera... And when they sing the song, And the part where they say your name is replaced by "You little Stinker"(This was Classic!). We were both laughing and in awe! They served her Garlic Ice Cream, In a huge glass Goblet and a lite chocolate cake,,OOh, The Dessert is truly "The bomb" (A little play on words, HA!). The total bill $105. We both thought the dish we had and what we paid was not so good. Though, I may go back to try another dish. I BELIEVE THIS PLACE IS PERFECT, For your special someone, For thier Birthday dessert.......He/she will remember this moment!
I'm a huge fan of garlic and when my friend suggested this, it was a definite yes for us. After a horrible late lunch off the wharf, we were a little hungry. This place definitely hit the spot with there delicious dishes of garlic galore.
There house bread was tasty with the bagna calda (roasted garlic in olive oil and anchovies) tasted great together. The garlic steamed clams was delightfully light, but was missing a kick to it. There pepperoni pizza was a hit with the guys, but the bbq pizza not so much. The bbq pizza was missing something to it, which brought the overly sweet taste to it and didn't feel very balanced with the taste. On the other hand, the arugula salad was fresh and light with the right freshness taste to it. After all the food we had ordered, we made room for the neon ravioli. Nothing spectacular to it, but the light garlic basil alfredo taste made the dish light and not heavy at all.
Overall, this place was definitely an experience that everyone should try. Nothing overly wowed about the place, but I'd come again if I was in the neighborhood again. Cause you know after all the garlic consumption, I would be safe roaming the streets in fear of any vampires lurking my way...haha
WOW went here a few days ago for our anniversary 11/16/09. The food certainly has gone down hill since the last time we were here. The Bagna Calda was cold, the mussles were poorly cleaned and the mashed potato that came with the lamb were barely edible. Extremely disappointed in the quality of the food..
When making your reservations try to request one of the tent room, Far more private than the rest of… Read more »
Two stars with all things being equal, but three stars if you set your expectations for the tourist trap it is.
Had a very enjoyable and fun experience at the Stinking Rose on Saturday night. Loved the atmosphere which was festive and kitschy in a good way. We went at 5:00 and the noise level allowed for relatively normal conversation. When we were leaving at 7:00, it was quite a bit more noisy. As for the food, the short rib was five star quality and would stack up against any gourmet restaurant. The sizzling skillet of mussels, crab and shrimp was very good and everyone at our table loved it. The neon ravioli was pretty good although a few raviolis were hard. The Alfredo sauce was good. They had a olive oil, parsley garlic spread on the table which was fabulous! The sundae was good and enough to share. Overall a fun experience with better then solid food and a great North Beach option!
Second time I've been here and I love this place. It's a must go to every time I'm in SF.
Be prepared to wait though, there's always a line. And you have to wait even if you have reservations. It's incredibly popular and always seems to be packed.
The food is well worth it though, really excellent. If you like garlic that is. My favorite thing is still the Bagna Calda (roasted garlic and olive oil to spread on the bread rolls). The garlic relish on the tables is excellent too. I've tried the lasagna and the mussels, both are fantastic. The house red wine (by the liter) is pretty good too, though not exactly the boldest red I've ever had.
Highly recommended.
3.5 stars
I was actually surprised by how tasty this resturant is. I wasn't expecting much for a place that seems alittle too 'themed' and 'touristy' to me but my food was pretty decent. Alittle too pricey vs quality...but my man picked it and I kept my mouth shut til after dinner.
My only complaint is, the hostest (blonde girl). The rule of "your waiting begins when your party is all here" when you've made reservations for 8 o'clock days in advance is BS! Espsically at 9 o'clock you walk out into the waiting area after your meal and its empty AND this place closes at 11. So one person was missing. BIGDEAL.
Then next day everyones stomach hurt but mine. I had the ravolli. Our whole upstairs smelt like GARLIC escaping from everyone's skin.
Prepare to bathe, swim, and drown yourself in garlic! And, brace yourself for the aftermath of garlicky gas! DUTCH OVEN ANYONE??? Haa haa
For years, I've wanted to eat at The Stinking Rose. However, rumors of it being just another "tourist trap" veered me away.
My friends and I were preparing for the weekend with another Friday night at Bubble. We wanted to stay within the North Beach area so my friend had suggested "The Sticking Rose" b/c he has enjoyed it all the other times he had went. I can tell you at first I was wary, but seeing that I love to try new things, SR it was.
I was easily able to make reservations 2 days prior for Friday night at 8:15 PM. When we arrived we were a bit late, however, we were seated promptly.
FOOD:
*Badgna Calda (Garlic cloves roasted in olive oil w/ hint of anchovy): MmMmMm...the garlic was super tender and melted in your mouth, The anchovy which you could NOT taste added a subtle saltiness. It was great on the rolls. But, I think the Badgna Calda would have been a better complement to sliced, toasted French or sourdough bread, so the garlic can get into all the nooks and crannies.
*Sizzling Iron Skillet of Shrimp and Mussels: This was ok. The shrimp was a little small and since it was still in its shell the garlic flavor didn't really permeate into the shrimp. The mussels were also on the smaller size but was tender.
*Garlic Roasted Prime Rib w/ Creamed Swiss Chard and Steamed Veggies: HOLY SMOKES!!! I'm a total meat whore and this was probably one of the best prime ribs I've ever had; far superior to House Of Prime Rib in my opinion. It was perfectly cooked (medium rare) and had great marbling throughout which made the meat tender and very flavorful. The roasted garlic wasn't overbearing and added just enough garlic flavor to it. I actually smeared the Badgna Calda on the prime rib to add more garlic flavor! YUM! The au jus and horseradish was also a great complement. The creamed swiss chard...OH MY....was DELISH! If all veggies can be eaten this way, then I would be eating A LOT more veggies. But of course, I would probably clog up my arteries in no time. Normally, swiss chard is bitter, but SR's had no hint of bitterness. It was tender and super creamy.
FYI, the portion is MASSIVE. I ordered the regular cut (probably 14 oz), ate half, and could barely breathe afterwards.
*Garlic Ice Cream: Although I was STUFFED, I just had to try the garlic ice cream. We told the waiter that I wanted to just "try" a bit and he was able to scrounge up a generous sample for all of us to share (although I'm the one that ate 95% of it). The garlic ice cream was topped with chocolate sauce. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Bu itself, the garlic ice cream tasted like vanilla ice cream with a savory garlic undertone to it. With the chocolate sauce, it made the ice cream nutty as opposed to garlicky. It was actually quite good!
SERVICE: Surprisingly fast. Once we ordered the apps, we got it within 5 minutes. And, with the entrees within 15 minutes. Although we got our entrees fast, we never felt rushed by the wait staff. Our server was friendly and checked on us several times. Extra brownie points for the free sample of garlic ice cream! : P
AMBIANCE/DECOR: When I walked in this place, it immediately reminded me of Bobo's and then I realized they were actually sister restaurants. SR has a very funky theatrical circus theme with red and gold tables and velvet curtains that line each booth. The mirror in each booth was a perfect touch, so you can take a gander at your make-up! Lol! Although I can see the restaurant getting very loud, the booth allowed for some privacy so you can carry on a conversation without distractions.
CROWD: Tourists, older crowd in 40s-50s.
Just a note, be prepared for the unsightly after effects. You will be reeking of garlic for days. I'm not talking about breathe though; unsightly....*FART*
Definitely a tourist hot-spot, but it's a fun place to eat at if you can push your way through the crowd. Reservations are a must if you don't wanna wait hours for an open spot.
We came as a group and ordered the clams for appetizers, which were delish! It came in a hefty-sized pot with plenty of bread, and after polishing off the clams, we dipped the bread in the broth! For the main course, we had the rabbit (which actually had a tough texture), pork chop, and chicken plates. Dessert, the garlic ice cream, which was surprisingly NOT repulsive like I had anticipated.
Overall, a fun dining experience! (This coming from a person who doesn't really like garlic normally.) I took off one star because of the impersonal service--the place is really busy and the server wasn't very accessible and didn't seem to have the time to be friendly or refill drinks.
Who can make the bread rise?
Sprinkl'd salt askew
cover it in garlic and a miracle or two?
The Stinking Rose can,
The Stinking Rose can
cuz they mix it up with cloves
and make it all taste good.
Who can take a clove now
wrap'd in garlic leaves
soak it in the oil and make
a roasted meal with ease...
The Stinking Rose can..
The Stinking Rose can cause they mix up all the clove and make it all taste good
Everything they bake
Satisfying and delicious
Talk about your deepest wishes
In all your favorite dishes
Who can take them all
Dip them in the perfect cream
Separate the plant
Into a delectable dream
The Stinking Rose can cause they mix up all the clove and make it all taste good
And it all tastes good cause the Stinking Rose,
thinks it should.
Pretty good, but nothing special.
I'm a big fan of garlic so that's not why I didn't love this resaurant. It's just nothing special at all. Even the special garlic sauce/spread appetizer that everyone raves about is way overrated.
Good meal, but nothing I will do twice.
The Stinking Rose is a tourist staple in San Francisco and for the most part lives up to the touristy reputation it holds. The atmosphere is quite an eyecatching smorgasboard of classic pictures, Italian wine casks and dripping red candle wax. It's always busy inside and there's barely enough room for waiters and customers alike to maneuver around tables. Everyone seems to be attracted to the name, but the food should really be what brings someone to try a place out. For me, the Stinking Rose fell a little short on their name and the food.
One look at the menu, and you know you are going to leave with a musk of garlicky goodness. Everything is laced with cloves and cloves of garlic, or so you believe. For me, certain items just weren't garlicky enough. More often than not, I made use of the herb garlic concoction (on the table) to liven up my dishes. Between two of us, we ordered the neon ravioli, the short ribs (served with Garlic Mashers and Creamed Spinach), the roasted garlic appetizer, and some asparagus. Right off the bat, the asparagus was a mistake because it wasn't even laced with garlic! The ravioli and the short rib both fell short, garlic wise and luckily the roasted garlic appetizer saved the day, as it was mashed and spread into most of my entree.
A place as busy and renowned as the Stinking Rose should definitely prove itself by really taking garlic to a whole new level. Perhaps, I've numbed my personal garlic-o-meter so much that I felt the need for more. I suppose to me, there can never be too much garlic.
I really liked this place when I visited San Fran..
I was taken here because I love garlic. I see a lot of 3 stars.. but I really liked it a lot .. maybe Ibecause it was the first time i've been to a place that was all about garlic.. not sure.. but I really loved the complimentary bread with garlic butter spread or whatever it was on your table..
The steak was awesome... I heard there is also one near/in LA.. but I've never been to it..apparently it's not as good? I don't know
All i know is... it gets lines of people waiting to be seated.. that's got to tell you something. (reserve ahead!)
I love the raw garlic they have on the table for you to dip your bread. YUMMY. I had the clams for appetizer and the soup. Both is very flavorful. My boyfriend usually get the prime rib and I had the baby back ribs. Last time I was there, I even had the dungeness crab, which I didnt want to eat everything, but actually ended up finishing it up without saving any for my bf =/
I actually been here a few times, but last time I was seated in the booth, which I never knew this restaurant was that big to begin with. So, the decor was really nice, with different lamps hanging in each booth. Service was excellent, and server kept on checking on us to see if we needed anything.
Will definitely be coming back in the future, since my boyfriend is always craving for garlic.
Even though we all walk out with strong garlic breath that lasts till the next day, its ok..well worth it.
I finally made it to the Stinking Rose, which I've looked forward to since I'm a big garlic lover and I've wanted to check it out for years, even before I moved to Cali. The result... meh. Definitely more of a tourist thing, the only point being garlic, rather than the overall taste of the food. We ordered the Bagna Calda (garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy), which was delicious with the bread, although it would have been better if the bread was warm. Dinner was Forty Clove Garlic Chicken with Garlic Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, the chicken was only okay, not even the best Forty Clove Garlic Chicken I've ever had, but the Mashed Potatoes had a weird, sticky/pasty texture, totally not worth it.
I visited this location years ago with my family... and it still sticks out in my mind, mainly because of the kind (and jovial) owner. He proceeded to show us photos of his volunteer work, of him carrying the olympic torch through SF... and even pictures of him meeting the King of Jordan. This place was exactly what we were looking for, which was comfortable, touristy, kitschy and... garlicky.
I really don't remember the food, except for the grilled garlic in oil dish (which basically consisted of us smearing grilled oily garlic on fabulous bread). I do remember having trouble hailing a taxi afterward in chinatown. Don't expect to be wowed by the food... but bring friends and family here and expect to have a good time.
When we lived here, my husband and I would go to dinner here often. The ambiance is great, the food is wonderful and I really really loved the bloody marys. I think the only thing I ate that didn't have garlic in it was the choc. pudding for desert, and even then, I wasn't sure...... If you want a great date place (not for making out of course) the service is good, go early or call in, we always had a wait. Loved the group experience.
3 stars for the food alone. I know what garlic tastes like, but was it so wrong that i was expecting a little more flavor? The bagna calda was OK. the bread rolls were cold, and I thought the iron skillet was gonna be fresh off the grill, not heated over an oil candle. I had the chicken caesar salad for $14.95 !! what a total jip! and FYI I wouldn't call it a caesar chicken salad, more like chicken, lettuce and garlic infused oil with croutons. I had to eat I was starving. my BF had the pepperoni pizza, nice napolitano style. service was quick, although it was right after weekday lunch peak hours. and their espresso's were SO watered down =( only satisfying thing from my entire lunch was the Peroni and my Ice water with lemon wedges.
Food: YUMMMMM!!!!!!! Beware of Garlic OVERLOAD. They serve this pesto like spread with bread on the table before you
Staff: Very nice, will take your picture, thoughtful and attentive!
Ambiance: Great Italian look.
Recommend? Yes.
Went here for my birthday last Friday night and it was great! I have been to the W. Hollywood location before and have always loved this place.
We started off at the bar on Friday and had Christina as our bartender. She was totally awesome! Friendly and funny! She gave us some of that wonderful garlic relish and bread...yum-o!
We headed to our table when the rest of the party got there, but I was three glasses of wine in by this time, so I couldn't even point out our waiter in a lineup....lol! The food was terrific...I split the crab legs and prime rib with my friend and it was the perfect amount of food.
I will definitely come back!
I went to this place with some friends for my friend's 16th birthday this year. All around I think everyone had a great experience. We all loved our food, especially my friend who was the birthday girl (she said that the pasta was better than anything she had ever tasted). I ordered some pizza. It was adorable! Flat bread, a little cheese and tomato I was content. However, it wasn't cheap and it took them forever to actually get us our food.
I would give this place 5 stars if I were only judging it by the dish (the one and only) that I got, but it was really pricey and frankly I was so starving by the time the food came the (lovely, looking back) portion of the pizza didn't feel like enough.
5 Stars!!!!
First off.........I HATE GARLIC!
So maybe I wasn't thinking right when I came here for dinner last night, but I had it bookmarked and didn't think twice about the name. Damn......thought it was going to be a miserable experience.....but you saw the 5 stars, so u know I was wrong.
I can't remember EVER having eatin at an italian restaurant that I would rate 5 stars.....at least not recently.
The place was packed, but luckily there was a table for 2 available for us so we didn't have to wait. Instead, we were walked to the back room w/ 5-6 tables and sat in a tiny table by the wall. All of the walls were painted and looked pretty cool, and there was a pitcher of water waiting for us at the table. here's how things turned out:
Service - very friendly and efficient
Water - good that there was a pitcher at our table, bad that it tasted like unfiltered tap water
Utensils - forks seemed cheap and some had bent teeth
Garlic Bread Rolls - soft; ok
Garlic Steamed Clams w/ pesto - I don't like clams and i thought they were good. my gf loved 'em
Caesar Salad - big portion; tasted good
Chicken & Asparagus (w/ fettucini n sun dried tomatos) - VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!
Halibut (w/ Lemonbutter, garlic, n caper souce and green onions w/ a side of acini di pepe pasta in roasted tomato sauce) - pretty good; Halibut took a long time to prepare
misc. - asked them to go easy on the garlic since we were going clubbing later that night and they did
Overall, this was a great experience.....I still hate garlic, but for some reason, I can guarantee that we'll be back here again soon!
GARLIC LOVERS unite!
The ambiance and decor of this place is like no other. And from the moment you walk in...the smell...it's making me hungry just thinking about it.
And if you have not tried their meatloaf...DO SO...tender and spiced to perfection!
I like garlic, didn't like any of the food I had here.
(disclaimer: this review is of a visit about a year and a half ago)
Ah, the Stinking Rose. It's almost hard to review this place since almost everything has been said in other quality reviews. But hey, Milo is always up for a challenge, and here he goes.
Yes, it's true - you will smell really, really bad up to two days after you eat here, especially if you hit their appetizer, which consists of garlic cloves soaking in heated olive oil with anchovies that you spread onto their Focaccia. Excellent.
I don't think I've ever received a drink as quickly as I did here - you order it, the waiter enters it into a hand-held computer, and one of the Three Stooges pops up out of nowhere and places it in front of you.
Now, on to dinner - I had the Chicken w/Asparagus with Fettuccine and Pine Nuts. Excellent - the taste, the preparation, all except the cheese. You see, Milo likes to season his cheese with food, and I had to request three times to bring the cheese boy back to the table. Not the end of the world, but I get cheesy when it comes to my cheese.
My date and I opted to skip dessert, because after eating what felt like the equivalent of 80 bulbs of garlic we weren't in the mood for the garlic ice cream. So, a pit stop on the way home was in order, and Mint Chocolate Chunk ice cream before and after coitus sealed the night.
It's simple, folks - if you like garlic, go. However, DO NOT GO ANYWHERE AFTER DINNER! Trust me - you will offend those around you.
One Of My Fav Restaurant In Frisco
The Stinking rose should be taken literally. As I write this, I think I still smell like garlic -a day later.
Had the roasted garlic and oil appetizer thing. Of course I loved it, since I love roasted garlic but about 1 hour later I was def regretting eating it. I'm not getting into details.......
Had the whole crab for my main course. Regretting ordering that as well. It was covered in this garlic and herb mess that was slippery and slimy and made getting into the crab even more difficult. And the herb stuff did not go with crab at all. The worst crab I've had. UGH!
I would only recommend this place to people who are trying to keep the vampires away.
Busy...packed...lines!
This is what you'll encounter on a typical weekend at the 'Rose'. This is quite a popular restaurant and is a garlic lovers heaven! Their entrees are packed with tons and tons of garlic, enough to fight-off ten vampires (or more!).
The inside decor is very unique with interesting. If you get the opportunity to tour or dine upstairs, you will notice the tight space and how the tables are placed very close together. If you're claustrophobic, don't dine upstairs! BUT, it does give a nice and intimate feel. The ceiling is painted with clouds and sky and include other decorations, too.
The pastas with any choice of protein are delicious and for dessert, try the chocolate mousse. It comes in a tiny serving cup, but the sweet flavors are amazing.
Oh and if you look outside the restaurant, by the menu, you'll see their little garlic mascot thing posted on the glass. It's too cute!
There's also a 'Stinking Rose' in Beverly Hills that I have yet to try! But, do visit this location if you're in the Bay Area. Touristy or not, this is a worth while dining experience.
The decor is very unique. We ate in the Chianti room, where Chianti bottles hang from every inch of the ceiling. The food was very good. I had the garlic meatloaf. It was kind of a last second audible because I'd been considering the garlic pork loin; my brother ordered that, and from the taste he shared, I can confidently say that it was a winner too.
A few downers come to mind. The food is a bit on the pricey side even considering the portions. The wine list was mediocre. And, at the end of our meal, the server didn't offer us any dessert or coffee. He just showed up with a bill. That might not have been so noticeable, but for the discussion earlier in the meal about the garlic ice cream. That said, I've been a server, and I'm sure I forgot to offer someone dessert somewhere along the way. I'd hate to think that it cost my restaurant a star, so I allow the 4th star to remain.
I probably won't return considering all the options on the same block, but this is a great place to try at least once.
Athlete and garlic-lover are two things that I am not, so betting dinner on the outcome of a mini-golf game with the bf should have been a sure sign that I'd be losing. That was fine-- I was game to plan an evening out. Then I had the idea of taking him to The Stinking Rose because he loves garlic and I pick it out of everything I eat...y'know, cute in theory.
The restaurant is very cute, and we had a perfect table by one of the windows, so that was fantastic. And I think that's it.
I expected it to smell awfully upon entering the restaurant, but it was ok. I picked the garlic off my short ribs so they tasted fine, and I really enjoyed the bf's 40 clove chicken. The bread was cold though, and I refused to try the Bagna Calda. If I had written this review sitting in the restaurant, I may have opted for a high 3-star review; good tastes but horribly over-priced.
But no, I am writing this review 3 days later, hence I am taking into account the fact that I smelled like garlic for two days. It's not worth it. The worst part is that you can't necessarily smell it yourself, but other people can. I would say that if you really need your garlic fix, go somewhere else and just ask for extra garlic. You'll probably save money, and not stink.
If they didn't have that darn garlic bath that you spread over those stinkin' delicious rolls, I would say pass.
Their food is mediocre and lacks any originality. The restaurant itself is one big tourist attraction, an attraction I can do without. And service was slow and lacked any enthusiasm.
All of these things would, usually, keep me away from such a restaurant. BUT! That DAMN garlic bath, truly is delicious.
Bottom line; if you MUST go here, do not leave without trying the garlic bath or else you simply will hate this place.
I was on a family road trip this summer with my mom and sister, one of our stops happen to be San Francisco, telling people was I going there got a lot of people telling of things to do and see there. One person told me if to check out the Stinking Rose, looked up the menu and it all sounded amazing. I ended up getting the garlic roasted prime rib, it was a great piece of meat, and the garlic Yukon mashed potatoes served along with, where great as well. Atmosphere was very nice and casual.
This place is really disappointing. I had wanted to go here for a while since it looked like such an interesting place, but now I realize that it's just a North Beach tourist restaurant. The one positive thing is that the inside looks really cool.
You get your food fast - a little too fast. It doesn't taste very good (especially for the price) and you can tell that it isn't very fresh. I think they're all about turnover - getting your food quickly and getting you out of the door to make room for more unsuspecting people to serve nasty food.
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
Category: Italian
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