Everything here has amazing garlic flavor! We started off with a whole roasted garlic and I knew that I'd love everything in the menu. Ambiance: - cozy, festively decorated with nutcrackers for the winter holiday season - plenty of larger tables for big gatherings Service: - staff was attentive Food: - started with their free warm bread with germ olive oil and a whole head of roasted garlic. The olive oil is so fresh and has a blend of fragrant herbs like parsley. You have to spread an entire garlic clove on the bread and dip into the olive oil - ORECCHIETTE VODKA BOLOGNESE: I love bolognese and vodka sauce and this was my first time having pasta with both sauces. The sauce was delicious, creamy and meaty. Pasta was perfectly al-dente! read more

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A Cranford Instition! The Garlic Rose Bistro has been in downtown Cranford for many years, probably with the same menu. They do what they do very well. The Garlic Soup is outstanding. The Onion Soup Pork Chop is moist and tasty. Parking is easy - there is municipal parking lot in the back. The room is large and comfortable. The service was attentive. read more

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"Garlic Rose has become our monthly go-to spot, and for good reason! Being right in the neighborhood, we always expect a great meal, but the service truly blew us away this time. The manager is incredibly customer-focused; they noticed our 2-year-old was getting a bit restless and brought over a toy bunny to keep her entertained--it was such a kind, thoughtful gesture that made our night so much easier. The food is consistently delicious, fresh, and feels truly homemade with generous portions. You can't go wrong with the unlimited bread and that legendary garlic sauce--it's addictive! If you're looking for a homely atmosphere with a staff that actually cares about your experience, this is the place." read more

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Not the first time here and definitely not the last either. Close to home this place always hits the spot when me and wifey want something cozy and casual. Staff always so welcoming, nice and polite. Food is always great, nothing can be bad here. Love it read more

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Garlic is most definitely on the menu here!! If you love garlic and Italian food, you will likely be at home at Garlic Rose Bistro. Everything is made with the love of garlic. They start you off with some bread and an absolutely delicious perfectly-roasted bulb of garlic, as well as a herby dipping oil. While looking at the menu I couldn't resist ordering the "garlic chowder" which tasted like a garlic-focused potato soup. I also read on the menu that the pork chop options would be "the best you've ever had" and I always love a challenge. Well, I'm happy to report, the pork chop giambatta was truly the best pork chop I've ever had! It had me with the description- cherry peppers and onions, YUM sign me up, but the really amazing part is how tender and juicy the chop was. I'm usually disappointed by pork chops because they tend to be dry and/or tough, but that wasn't the case here. You may think, ok, but surely there is no garlic on the dessert menu? Well, you'd be wrong. You can polish off your night with a scoop of garlic ice cream! We got it because we had to try it. The consistency was divine, and at first it tasted like a high quality vanilla ice cream, but, the after taste was pure garlic! It wasn't terrible, it kind of tasted like we were eating ice cream off of a savory plate. Would I get it again? Probably NOT! But fun to try all the same! The staff was attentive and friendly, with multiple servers making sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant is clean and even with our group of 8 we felt we had plenty of room. read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Pork Chop Giambotta - truly the best pork chop I've ever had!! - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

We visited Garlic Rose for a birthday, and it was a very good experience overall. The Seafood Combo was packed with seafood and was a big portion. Our server, Dana, was very helpful and got everything to us in a timely manner. read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Seafood combo - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

I haven't been here in about 15 years. I asked around & a lot of people said this was still a good spot, so I figured I'd try it again. I have to say that I was really impressed with the service, the food & the very welcoming staff throughout the restaurant. Loved the olive oil spread for the complimentary bread! Our server was "Dana" and she exemplified what that role should be. She was very attentive, offered us reasonable entrees when we asked her, and was never pushy. She was gracious in allowing us time to chat & you could tell that she was invested in making our dining experience first class. Everything she suggested was amazing and we will most definitely be back. Even though we like to rotate area restaurants and sometimes not revisit one for over a year, we can make an exception for Garlic Rose. My only suggestion would be to make some small updates to the aesthetics as the decor could use some sprucing up, in comparison to other establishments in the area. A restaurant this good should also look a little nicer & brighter inside. read more

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The food is prepared to order and anything can be changed to your taste. Our food was very fresh and you could taste the quality. You could have as little or as much garlic you want. Ben our server was a delight. He very patient with my indecisiveness. He was genuinely kind and knowledgeable about the restaurant, menu, and gave us great recommendations. The restaurant is on a main street but once you step inside it is quiet and charming. read more

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The meal started strong with warm bread, an herby olive oil dipping sauce, and a full bulb of roasted garlic. My friend and I passed on the garlic, but the olive oil was delicious. We tried the Lemongrass Chicken Dumplings to start- unexpected for an Italian restaurant, with corn, lemongrass, onions, and a Szechuan ginger sauce. It leaned more Asian in flavor, but it worked and was quite tasty. The plate it was served on wasn't right for the dish- it should be on a longer platter so the dumplings are in a line- instead of bouncing around on a round plate in a thick sauce. You eat with your eyes first- definitely change the plate on this one for better presentation. My friend had the Chicken Francese with scalloped potatoes and really enjoyed it. I've had that dish before and it's always reliable-classic comfort food. I opted for the langostino pasta this time to try something new, and didn't love it. The langostino meat was a bit overcooked and lacked juiciness, and the artichokes felt a little heavy. On top of that, the presentation made it tough to eat- the dish was served in a bowl with a deep center and wide rim, which made it hard to scoop the pasta and manage the toppings. I'd suggest plating it on a broad, flatter dish for a better experience. We ended the meal with an affogato- gelato/espresso- simple, classic, and satisfying. The service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere had a nostalgic, old-school vibe. The decor isn't anything flashy, but there's comfort in the consistency here. Solid service, familiar flavors, I'd pass on the langostino- but chicken francese was a hit. read more

Garlic Rose is becoming a frequent go to for us. Im obsessed with their mussels and french onion pork chops. read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Mussels - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Garlic Rose Bistro is a local township fav diner/bistro. Very well known in the area for good home cooked flavors. The interior has the rustic look of the town's history. Restaurant is very nice for quiet dining experience. They offer drinks as well as BYOB. Service is solid and staff is experienced. Food is also very solid and well priced and the flavors are spot on. I had the special prime rib dinner. Almost everything has a garlic touch on it. So if you don't like garlic then you have a hard time here. read more

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Good, service and portions are very good. The garlic bulb is my favorite. Will definitely be back!

My husband lives for garlic. Last time we were in the area we wanted to try this place and finally got the opportunity. The service was amazing. From the first person we encountered to the last, everyone was friendly, helpful and attentive. We started with the garlic shrimp appetizer and it was delicious. The sauce was so incredibly scrumptious and the shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly. An awesome starter! Then for our main course I had the Penne with Sausage and hubby had Chicken Francese. It's a favorite dish of his and he said it was the best he's ever had. My entree was terrific, and had it not been so filling, I would have eaten it all and licked my plate (hahaha!)... it was excellent. I look forward to the leftovers!! We often save coffee and dessert for a different venue, but were so thoroughly enjoying our time that we decided to stay and have coffee... and even that was great. We visit this area often and I think this will become a favorite. It was so incredibly good. Definitely if you like garlic -- and good Italian food -- go here! read more

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Everyone raves about the French onion pork chop and it's good BuT the Garlicious Chicken Rigatoni Marsala cream sauce with mushrooms, sundried tomatoes & garlic was BOMB!!! Great atmosphere and servers were awesome ! Highly recommend trying this place! read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Garlicious Chicken Rigatoni - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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5 stars! Love the touch of garlic in all the dishes, never overpowering and always just the right amount. They start you off with some warm bread, roasted garlic, and a garlicky/herby green dipping sauce. It's kind of like a pesto but it doesn't have any nuts in it (great news for me, as I'm allergic). It's a super yummy way to begin the meal. The French onion pork chop is life-changing. My friend also ordered it, and he's adamant that this was the best pork chop he's ever had, and he doesn't even usually like Swiss cheese. If you like French onion soup, you definitely need to try it. The Gilroy potatoes that come with this dish are outstanding and taste even better in the demi Glace. Service is friendly and fast. They were excellent with my food allergies. They took them very seriously and even had the manager come over to speak with me. They have a full bar, which I found a little confusing because I didn't see that information anywhere on their website. read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Saltimbocca - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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***4 1/2 stars*** I didn't realize I'd brought my Dentyne Ice with me into the restaurant, but it was nice to have on my way out. Garlic Rose has been on my radar for literally years; they had a location in Madison that a few of my friends really liked back in the day, and while I don't have a strong opinion about garlic one way or the other, it seemed like a unique option. The Millennial Chum and I came here for dinner last night; Cranford is a "meet in the middle" area for us, so the timing was finally right for this one. Despite having to rely on the Parkway on a Friday night, both of us showed up uneventfully and were able to secure parking nearby. I parked on the street about a block away and had to pay $0.25 for half an hour of parking before the paid parking situation in Cranford expired - in this inflationary environment, I'll take it. We made a reservation for 5:45pm. It was pretty empty when we showed up but considerably more crowded by the end, so it probably wasn't necessary but I never see a downside if that's an option. It's a pleasant interior; there ARE white tablecloths, but it still maintained a pretty casual vibe. I was in nicer jeans and didn't feel like I was being naughty. I loved the way they handled the free bread situation here. The waiter placed a basket with two small rolls, along with roasted garlic to spread (that's a new one for me) and what seemed to be a well seasoned pesto-type dipping sauce. Initially the Millennial Chum was ruffled that we only had two small rolls to share, but it was clear that the basket would be immediately refilled, and the smaller portions prevented us from going nuts and filling up too much before the entrees showed up. Genius if you can keep a close eye on the bread inventory. The garlic and pesto-like sauce were delicious; each was excellent in their own right but I started combining them with my bread and really went to town. I'd accidentally had some dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets earlier in the day, so pasta seemed like the way to go. I opted for the Cheese Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce (the website says $23 but I think this was around $25 or $26). Generous serving, and very good. As you'd expect, there was garlic involved but honestly the flavor itself was so subtle that I wouldn't have even known except for the visible garlic chunks in the sauce. That might be my big takeaway for the masses considering stopping by here - there IS a lot of garlic but it's not overpowering in any way, shape or form. The Millennial Chum had the Harvest Chicken and was very content with that, sending it viral almost immediately via her vast social media talents. The only slight ding I can give this place is that the one dessert I was genuinely interested in sampling, the garlic ice cream, was unavailable. Early on a Friday night, that seemed like a bit of an unforced error but obviously I don't know the background on why that particular item wasn't on the premises. The upside is that because i wasn't feeling the other desserts, I saved a few calories in the long run. I nibbled on the Millennial Chum's Rocky Road (the manager, I believe, stopped by right after she ordered it to tell her it had nuts, which makes me think a ton of people have ignorantly requested it not knowing what makes it Rocky, but I digress). The service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, engaging and attentive. I can't speak for all females, but I'll take Miss over Ma'am any day, so hopefully he keeps up the excellent work in that capacity. Everyone was very pleasant and I'd have no issues going back; I'd be pretty devastated though if I missed out on the Garlic Ice Cream for a second time. read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Cheese Ravioli w/ Vodka Sauce. - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

Ate here on a recent Saturday night, and it was a really nice experience. Even though the pace was full, our waiter was attentive without overbearing, and the kitchen timing was on point. Many of the other reviews mention the warm bread complimentary on the table with herb oil and a roasted garlic bulb, but I have to stress how good it is. The bread is crusty and soft on the inside, perfect to compliment with the oil or spread with the savory garlic. For starters, my wife got the artichoke hearts. The were basically perfect, tender and well seasoned,with lots of sauce to sop up with more bread if you wanted to. They offer replacement bread many times, and it's so good, I had to force myself not to overindulge on it. I got the Bottle Hill Salad, which is arugula with nuts, cranberries, and a wonderful Gorgonzola,that was creamy, not sharp tasting, but a good depth of flavor. The salad had a cider vinaigrette that was great, not acidic at all. I would definitely get that salad again. For main, my wife had spaghetti and meatballs. It was served with a nice amount of creamy ricotta right in the middle. The meatballs were very good, and we really liked the red sauce. But overall, not a remarkable dish. I had the French onion pork chop, listed on the menu as "The best you will ever have". It was delicious! I was very, very happy with it, and the Gilroy Potatoes it came with, which is an au gratin . With the sauce and the perfect cook on the chop, it was an excellent dish. It was a little expensive, $110 for 2 of us, but that includes a glass of wine as well, and they are delivering a high quality dining experience, so I think it's worth it. read more

Italian with some French influence! The food is always delicious. Great service and atmosphere!

Everything was delicious. I had the pork chop based on review I had read. It did not disappoint. The potatoes were excellent. My husband had the filet mignon. We were pleased by the bar offerings. The waitress was attentive and personable. We will definitely be back read more

Amazing restaurant! Been going here for over 20 years. The food is delicious and consistent. The owner is so nice and we do all our family celebrations here. read more

My husband and I came here today to celebrate a belated Valentine's Day. I heard about this place (don't remember where!) and I am so glad I did... plus we both love garlic so it was a win. I made a reservation for 6pm on Saturday. It was pretty busy and it seemed like there was a lot of reservations. It was also a small place so I would definitely recommend reservations. They also had live music tonight which was nice. It was quiet, soft music, nothing loud. I believe our servers name was Ben and he was just FANTASTIC! All the tables around us who also had him were saying how great he was. He was so attentive, charming and informative. We both skipped appetizers, as well as dessert. They do give you bread to start out with. It was soft and warm. They also served it with a bulb of garlic and some sort of herb pesto sauce I think. Whatever it was... it was good! And they just kept the bread coming. For our entrees, my husband got the 'Shrimp and Filet Mignon'. He said it was delicious. For my entree, I got the 'Penne Sausage & Spinach Pasta' which was ground sweet Italian sausage, fresh garlic, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan. This was SUPER garlicky - just how I like it and a good portion as well. Since we didn't get an appetizer, I also got what I think was called the 'French Onion Garlic Soup'. It was absolutely delicious. If I had to pick a downside, I guess I would say desserts. They had about 10 desserts but most of them were just gelatos which were $12 each. I have a local gelato place by me which is fantastic and its about $3-4 for a small so I had to pass on this. The whole bill came to $80 - that's without tip - but worth every penny. Honestly... everything was great. I will DEFINITELY recommend this place and would be back for sure! read more

Fantastic restaurant! Great location downtown. Nice little bar too. The owner Mark is a great guy who did a great job during COVID and is loved in town. read more

Me and my guest went to Garlic Rose for dinner on a Sunday at about 5pm. We did not have a reservation but we called ahead and they were very accommodating. We said we would be there in 15 minutes and they said no problem. Upon arrival we were greeted and escorted to our table right away. Dana was our server and she was very friendly and so helpful with recommending food options. For appetizers we had the lobster bisque and the Horseshoe which is Shrimp stuffed with crabmeat Wrapped With Bacon. The appetizers alone were a highlight and so yummy. For our main course we had chicken parmigiana and chicken francaise. The chicken, let me repeat the chicken melts in your mouth. So flavorful. I highly recommend. To drink we had the sangria. It was ok. It needed more alcohol and stronger wine. But it was still tasty. The table next to us had cosmopolitans and they looked good. So I will try that next time. I would definitely come back and I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Old world restaurant ambiance that could use a little bit of a spruce but lovely staff and super delicious foods. The soup, pork chop, steak, pasta.. everything was so so goooood. read more

First time here finally and will definitely be back. The service is great! Loved the garlic and green sauce that was served with the fresh bread. The pastas came out fast, hot, fresh and flavorful. read more

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I need to remember to eat here more often! So many delicious menu items! The Gilroy potatoes are so good that if my entrée doesn't come with them, I make sure to order them as a side. All the soups are fantastic. And the French onion pork chop is out of this world. Plus a pleasant environment and excellent service every time. read more

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Excellent sangria and apps. The place is small but cozy and the food we tried was delicious, can't wait to go back!

Delicious food! Awesome service! Will certainly return. I would post a pic but my husband and I stuffed our faces before we had a chance to. It was that good... read more

It's been a few years since I've stopped by Garlic Rose Bistro and the food is still great! We had an early dinner on a Saturday and we were seated right away. Our server was friendly and attentive. I really loved the bread they served the table. It was warm and delicious with the olive oil. I really enjoyed the garlic shrimp, it was nicely seasoned. I had the short rib and it was great! We shared dessert and it was a nice end to a really good dinner. read more

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Excellent staff. Simple ambiance. Absolutely delicious food- burrata, chorizo, mussels, and gnocchi were all wonderful. Highly recommend this establishment. Will certainly dine here again. read more

I've been here a handful of times and never had a bad meal. Always fresh and delicious with a variety of meals to pick from. The garlic bulb with the bread is a great start to every meal. I've gone here dressed up on a weekend night and more casual during the week. Service is always on point. read more

All I have to say is get the French onion park chop (3 out of 4 of us ordered it !!)First time here and def won't be my last. The food and service were both top notch. FYI they have a full bar and made my wife a excellent fig martini (so good she ordered a 2nd one) read more

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The Garlic Rose has good old fashioned dining with excellent food! The tables are spaced apart nicely allowing for personal and private conversations, much unlike what we're all used to nowadays in new restaurants that cram you in. The service is excellent and food options abound! It's been a staple in the area for a long time, and it's easy to see why! read more

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Such a cute, homey spot! They also serve you a WHOLE roasted garlic bulb with the bread, so delicious, chefs kiss. Everything we ate was so yummy! read more

Food is always great here! We have tried many different menu items. I do think the inside needs to be update so we always take out.

The place is dated needs a revamp. Waiter was nice enough and the best part of the meal was the bread and sangria. Tuna appetizer was very small, expensive and not good. Entrees were equally terrible. Had a shrimp pasta dish and the shrimp were inedible. Dinner was expensive and not worth it. Too many other good restaurants in Cranford. read more

Great little spot in town for date night. Nice old school ambiance. I like that the menu is on the smaller side but still a lot of good options and generally different from traditional italian restaurants. Always good food and friendly service. Don't forget to get an espresso martini (or 3 in my case)! read more

Garlic Rose Bistro - Espresso martini - American Near Me - Cranford, New Jersey

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The price was high! Food was average. The service was a bit questionable. I have to constantly ask for the server and many times he seem to ignore our table. And we were near the kitchen area or front door- so no way he would not see us. Not sure I would want to return and experience the same. It's ashamed they are directly across with all the community events. Too bad. I will bring my business elsewhere read more

I met my cousins here, who recommended a place midway between us. I got chicken francaise, my wife got pasta. My cousins got various parmigianas. The issue I had was the price. Nothing was particularly elevated. This was a solid if unspectacular dinner. read more

A local Cranford favorite with an obvious emphasis on garlic. Soft delicious rolls come with a "secret recipe" green sauce that looks like pesto but isn't. It comes with a full roasted side of garlic to enjoy. The French onion garlic soup was good but we preferred the garlic chowder was better. For entrees, my daughter had the chicken francese and I had the salmon She gave the chicken an A, chicken falls apart and good creamy sauce I'm picky with salmon and would give it a B, could use a little more salt but the breadcrumbs on top give it a nice crunch and can't go wrong with angel hair If you've never been to Cranford and like garlic, a chill jazz vibe, moderate/low conversation, and central location with a good pour of white wine, check it out and ask for Kendall. Great server! Good for families with kids a little older 7+, casual date night or a bite and drink with time to spare before seeing a movie at the Cranford theatre across the street read more

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