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I've known about The Garlic for the 11 years I've been in Orlando now. People travel far and wide to go out there for their special occasion dinners, and they wait for vast long amounts of time, too, as The Garlic doesn't take reservations. Not that they need to. They're full with a line out the door from open to close every single day. Ambiance in intense. It's a labyrinth of a restaurant. Italian date night tables, a giant oven surrounded by mountains of bread and roasted garlic, a stage for a live musical act, a huge beautiful bar, and wall decor that would keep the American Pickers interested for hours and hours. Service was excellent, too. Everyone we encountered was very nice. Our server gave us excellent service, kept the drinks flowing all night long, and paced out our apps, mains, and desserts at a very appropriate pace. Every tables gets started up with a half of a crusty baguette and a plate full of about a dozen roasted garlic cloves, mashed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. There aren't many better complimentary apps on the planet than this. Wow, really stunning. We ordered an app I can't find on the menu anymore. A delicious bone marrow dish with thicc, crispy, chewy baguette chips, and a sweet fruit chutney that was very decadent. Big fan. I main dish was the Cioppino (a hearty seafood stew of shrimp, scallops, lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, and fish sautéed in a tomato saffron broth with fresh herbs and seasonings). I can't explain just how deep with flavor the broth of this cioppino was. It shone with glistening oils, specks of spices and seasonings, flecks of allium. A very nice broth full of perfectly cooked seafood, and plenty of it, too. Even the calamari wasn't over. Very impressive. I recommend. I also got to try the infamous Bocce Ball (oven roasted 16 ounce filet mignon meatball served with marinara sauce topped with shaved parmesan cheese and served with linguini). This thing was insane. It was not functional. But it was delicious. Literally a marinara linguini topped with a massive meatloaf that tastes like filet mignon. The meat-to-pasta ratio was massive, so if you like meat, this is for you, and if you like pasta, ask for another serving of it on the side. We finished off our meal with a slice of carrot cake. Very dense, very moist, very packed full of pecans, and sweet sweet. I loved it. You might love it, too. Overall, we got in line right before it opened, and there were only two of us, so we got seated right away. But even if we had to have waited for two hours, it would have been worth the wait. I can tell why this place is the crown jewel of New Smyrna. I would love to come back.
Pros: Ambiance is crazy. The restaurants goes on and on and on and there's a beautiful bar, you walk right by the giant oven that cooked all the bread and garlic, and there's live music, too. Crazy good ambiance. The service was also exceptional. Our guy was so nice, and all the food came out hot, fresh, delicious. And you get a complimentary olive oil, balsamic, and roasted garlic dipping plate for your half of a baguette. Food was awesome, too. They have a very boisterous menu. A one-pound meatball and a market price cioppino. And their bravery pays off. Excellent, eclectic dishes. Cons: The only con is that they don't take reservations, but that's ok. It's worth the wait, I promise. Tips: Both of the aforementioned dishes were very good. There was a whole half a lobster in the cioppino, and the giant meatball was actually very well cooked, somehow.
Garlic is simply legendary and, in my opinion, unmatched--not just among Italian restaurants, but restaurants in general. I honestly can't remember a single time I've ever left hungry. I usually gravitate toward one of their incredible pasta dishes, but this visit the land-and-sea special caught my eye, and I'm glad it did. The steak was cooked beautifully, the lobster was outstanding, and together they made for one of the best specials I've had in a long time. Our group included both first-time visitors and longtime fans, and every single person walked away impressed. The service was exceptional from start to finish, and the ambiance...well, it's The Garlic. If you've been there, you already know. It's one of those places that has a character all its own and continues to set the standard for a memorable dining experience.
We come here each year and love it every time! The vibes are fun and quirky which makes it a great time. The food is SOO good!! We learned our lesson last time and just ordered three plates instead of four with our family of 4 and just enjoyed the plates family style. Their serving sizes are huge and if you're on vacation, that makes leftovers really difficult! So I would recommend getting one plate less than your party and sharing! Our favorite plate hands down was the seafood cannellini! OMG Cons: no reservations and if you have outdoor seating in the summer it gets really hot and muggy!
We walked right in and got seated on a Saturday night with a party of 6 around 6:30. This was great considering they do not take reservations. The service was great, and very attentive. They even worked on getting the kids food out first as we were eating dinner with a 1 year old and 4 year old. The outside setting was very nice by the fire place. The food was top tier. They serve bread and roasted garlic when seated. The lasagnas was my favorite. There desserts are not made in house, but are just as good as what is made there.
This place was really really cool. I mean it's mostly outside, but an upscale gourmet restaurant centered around garlic. The service is so good and the waitstaff are so charismatic. Plus they have live entertainment on nights and an outdoor bar for those who are waiting for a table. The table comes with their roasted garlic and fresh baked bread. The roasted garlic is drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I loved this and my only complaint is that since it's mashed and kept in the original clove and not peeled, you do miss some of the garlic and the little bits get into your mouth. So this gets an 8/10 for me. We tried the artichoke dip, which was a 9/10. It was rich and I don't think people know how much prep artichoke takes and how delicious it is. I got the seafood cannelloni. This was cheesy and rich and a lot. The waiter did warn me, I did not finish the dish. I did take it home. The overall meal was on the more expensive end. I do highly recommend trying this place at least once for locals and visitors. Not to mention, I had some drinks and they have dessert in the form of drinks. We did also actually get dessert, which was a key lime pie.
The food at The Garlic was absolutely outstanding. Like, genuinely exceptional. The kind of Italian food where you take a bite and briefly forget about everything else happening around you. Unfortunately, everything else happening around me included sweating like I had personally offended the Florida climate. The electricity situation and ventilation were... questionable at best. It is a little difficult to sit down and enjoy a beautiful plate of hot Italian pasta when you are sweating so profusely through your jeans and lightweight dress blouse that you start wondering if you're going to be electrocuted by your own puddles of sweat and the interesting collection of improvised electrical cords happening around the restaurant. Nothing says romantic Italian dinner quite like wondering whether your Chicken Parm is going to be accompanied by a side of cardiac arrest. That said, our waitress deserves a medal. God bless this woman. She dealt with my sweaty ass, my absolutely delightful in-laws who can find a complaint in a any restaurant, pull ginger ale out of her purse, order a glass of ice, and then complain that said ice melted before it even reached the table... ...and my six-year-old, whose current culinary philosophy is essentially: Chicken nuggets. Burgers. Pizza. Repeat. And somehow she remained pleasant through all of it. As for the food, everyone absolutely loved their meal. I had the Chicken Parm, my husband ordered the pork osso buco, and my son settled on spaghetti and meatballs. Every single dish was fantastic. The food is the star here. Exceptional. Delicious. Absolutely worth coming back for. I just wish the ventilation system would get the memo that we are supposed to be eating the food, not slowly becoming part of it through perspiration. Because apparently my personal dining experience was: Amazing Italian food Great meal Wonderful waitress Surface of the sun Would absolutely go back. I'll just bring a towel and one of those fans you wear around your neck, next time.
We went on a Saturday night around 6 o'clock. It was pretty busy but we only had to wait 20 minutes for a table for two people. We always love the ambience here; twinkle lights, and plants all around feels like a fairy garden cottage core Italian grandma's House. Jimmy was our server. He was great. We always love the complementary bread and roasted garlic. Silly me always fills up on that. I tried the strawberry basil lemonade with alcohol and it was delicious.. I got the seafood cannelloni and my husband got chicken Alfredo. We both enjoyed our meal. The seafood cannelloni was huge and super rich. Definitely enough to feed two people. The only thing we didn't like was the toasted Parmesan crunchies in the Caesar salad. They were just really salty and kind of overpowering.
Visiting the area for the week. Opens at four, no reservations taken. We arrived about 5:15. There were quite a few people ahead us, we were seated in about 30 minutes. This place is very unique. It has lots of greenery. Unique seating arrangements, very busy and yet everything flows. Plenty of staff. Upon being seated with family, they bring out a huge cutting board with oven roasted garlic, a huge crusty baguette. I ordered chicken parmigiana, huge portions. Hubby ordered a mixed seafood with linguine. Grandkids had chicken tenders & fries, and pasta with Alfredo sauce. It was all fantastic.
Decided to finally try out this famous NSB staple and I'm so glad we did. This place gets insanely packed, we literally showed up around 4:20 and they open at 4pm we waited for about 30 minutes for a table for two. The parking was all over the place like literally just shove your car anywhere you can where there is no signs for no parking, that on its own was a bit overwhelming. The food was absolutely delicious so it truly was worth the situation with parking! Service was great and very fast, even with how busy it all was, everything came out super timely. The smells in this place of garlic and delicious fresh food is absolutely the best.
We went for a friend's birthday with a large party and even though it was very busy, they sat us very quickly! The vibe was so fun and the place is huge! We enjoyed our food and had plenty of leftovers too! Definitely a New Smyrna favorite. We were recommended to get the chicken parm cutlet on the fettuccine Alfredo noodles.
We have been coming here for many years. Tonight was one of the best nights at The Garlic. Our server Jennifer made this night special. Her drink and food suggestions were excellent. This place is true eye candy, every room is different, every person is welcoming. There is live music not too loud, perfect. Yes you may have to wait awhile for a table but trust me, it's worth it.
I think the only disappointment that we had was not being able to check out the entire restaurant! In our 12 years of living in Florida, we have driven by here many times, but have not actually ate here. We came on a Wednesday around 4:50 PM and it was already incredibly busy. This establishment does walk ups only, there are no reservations. We were sat quickly. Our waiter brought out warm bread with two garlic bulbs that he put oil and balsamic on then mashed with a fork. It was so delicious! My mom ordered the eggplant Parmesan with their special red sauce that has olives in it. I ordered the chicken Parmesan. My husband ordered the crazy alfredo, which was a special that day. By the way, they put their specials on a lasagna noodle! The chicken cutlet was as big as the bowl. The Alfredo had sausage, shrimp, and, chicken. All of the food was really good. The weight staff was wonderful. The establishment itself, so beautiful. I love how eclectic it is. 1000000/10.
2 months ago
21 days ago
Truly make my taste buds happy just thinking about this spot! The decor is so unique and fun. You spot something new every time you go. They have made it so that you don't feel like you're in a super crowded restaurant. Expect to get there early! If not, you will wait. The wait is worth it and they have a lil bar outside to grab a drink from while you wait. I love how the daily specials are listed on a piece of pasta. It's just the little details like this that make this place an absolute gem! read more
Decided to drive up to new Smyrna Beach for dinner based on a recommendation from one of Bestie's friends who used to live down in Florida. It was about an hour drive from Cocoa Beach. The place does not take reservations. It opens at four. You can't park on the street in New Smyrna Beach and the restaurants website speaks about the specifically. They have a parking lot right behind the restaurant and then there's some parking across the street. We walked in smells amazing . There is a lot of kitschy, eclectic little decorations and a little gift shop. when you walk in. My only real complaint was that it was extremely loud in this restaurant. I can't emphasize this enough. They did have live music playing, and there was a large party seated right behind -- us probably 10 people at a table and kids running around and yelling and the music was loud. We were sitting at a small two person table and couldn't even really hear each other talking back-and-forth. So for me that's kind of a no go. I like to be able to hear conversation with my dinner guest. Also, if you or anybody in your party has sensory issues it is definitely sensory overload. Was a little clunky when we were seated, the hostess told our person where to sit us and she's like I thought it was closed in that section. The hostess said no. Needless to say we were sitting for probably a good 15 minutes before our waiter came over he profusely apologized, his name was Giovanni. I saw a couple reviews, calling him out for his great service and he was outstanding. He quickly got our drink orders. He explained the menu & brought out our bread and roasted garlic bulb and took our orders. Food came out surprisingly fast, which was great. Drinks were good. Price point was what I would expect for an steak and seafood restaurant. Bestie ordered the chicken parm and substituted the pasta for a side of vegetables which wasn't a problem. I had the cioppino. I'll start with the garlic and the bread. The roasted garlic was amazing. I'm a fan of roasted garlic with a piece of crusty bread. This is complementary. We finished that and our main dishes came out. My friend's chicken parm fillet was huge - easily 10 ounces and really crispy not over sauce not over cheesed. She really enjoyed it. The vegetables were a blend of broccoli, squash, and carrots. That was really tasty. She loved her meal. My cioppino was a huge bowl (as it usually is). There was a whole lobster in this stew. The tomato saffron broth was amazing. Stew was filled with clams, muscles white fish, squid, calamari it was just simply amazing. I did ask him for an additional small loaf of crusty bread because obviously - the broth. Needless to say I couldn't finish this, and I didn't expect to. when I asked if I could take it the one of the other waiters promptly brought out a plastic soup container expertly poured everything right in my container for me. It was really good. And the stew was even better the next day when I heated it up, it was just truly amazing. The price point was a steal for this. The whole cauldron of soup was $55 and considering there was a whole lobster and all of that fresh seafood in there, I couldn't complain about it. Drinks were good price point was great . If you're looking for something a little bit different then fish tacos at the beach bar give them a try. Dress code arranged from fancy to casual. I would say that it's not necessarily a date kind of place being as it is so loud. They do have a small kids menu. Overall, we were very happy with our meals despite the initial slow service. The only big complaint I have is the sensoryoverload. But the food was amazing and Giovanni was absolutely a delight. read more
I've known about The Garlic for the 11 years I've been in Orlando now. People travel far and wide to go out there for their special occasion dinners, and they wait for vast long amounts of time, too, as The Garlic doesn't take reservations. Not that they need to. They're full with a line out the door from open to close every single day. Ambiance in intense. It's a labyrinth of a restaurant. Italian date night tables, a giant oven surrounded by mountains of bread and roasted garlic, a stage for a live musical act, a huge beautiful bar, and wall decor that would keep the American Pickers interested for hours and hours. Service was excellent, too. Everyone we encountered was very nice. Our server gave us excellent service, kept the drinks flowing all night long, and paced out our apps, mains, and desserts at a very appropriate pace. Every tables gets started up with a half of a crusty baguette and a plate full of about a dozen roasted garlic cloves, mashed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. There aren't many better complimentary apps on the planet than this. Wow, really stunning. We ordered an app I can't find on the menu anymore. A delicious bone marrow dish with thicc, crispy, chewy baguette chips, and a sweet fruit chutney that was very decadent. Big fan. I main dish was the Cioppino (a hearty seafood stew of shrimp, scallops, lobster, clams, mussels, calamari, and fish sautéed in a tomato saffron broth with fresh herbs and seasonings). I can't explain just how deep with flavor the broth of this cioppino was. It shone with glistening oils, specks of spices and seasonings, flecks of allium. A very nice broth full of perfectly cooked seafood, and plenty of it, too. Even the calamari wasn't over. Very impressive. I recommend. I also got to try the infamous Bocce Ball (oven roasted 16 ounce filet mignon meatball served with marinara sauce topped with shaved parmesan cheese and served with linguini). This thing was insane. It was not functional. But it was delicious. Literally a marinara linguini topped with a massive meatloaf that tastes like filet mignon. The meat-to-pasta ratio was massive, so if you like meat, this is for you, and if you like pasta, ask for another serving of it on the side. We finished off our meal with a slice of carrot cake. Very dense, very moist, very packed full of pecans, and sweet sweet. I loved it. You might love it, too. Overall, we got in line right before it opened, and there were only two of us, so we got seated right away. But even if we had to have waited for two hours, it would have been worth the wait. I can tell why this place is the crown jewel of New Smyrna. I would love to come back. read more
2 months ago
Pros: Ambiance is crazy. The restaurants goes on and on and on and there's a beautiful bar, you walk right by the giant oven that cooked all the bread and garlic, and there's live music, too. Crazy good ambiance. The service was also exceptional. Our guy was so nice, and all the food came out hot, fresh, delicious. And you get a complimentary olive oil, balsamic, and roasted garlic dipping plate for your half of a baguette. Food was awesome, too. They have a very boisterous menu. A one-pound meatball and a market price cioppino. And their bravery pays off. Excellent, eclectic dishes. Cons: The only con is that they don't take reservations, but that's ok. It's worth the wait, I promise. Tips: Both of the aforementioned dishes were very good. There was a whole half a lobster in the cioppino, and the giant meatball was actually very well cooked, somehow. read more
Garlic is simply legendary and, in my opinion, unmatched--not just among Italian restaurants, but restaurants in general. I honestly can't remember a single time I've ever left hungry. I usually gravitate toward one of their incredible pasta dishes, but this visit the land-and-sea special caught my eye, and I'm glad it did. The steak was cooked beautifully, the lobster was outstanding, and together they made for one of the best specials I've had in a long time. Our group included both first-time visitors and longtime fans, and every single person walked away impressed. The service was exceptional from start to finish, and the ambiance...well, it's The Garlic. If you've been there, you already know. It's one of those places that has a character all its own and continues to set the standard for a memorable dining experience. read more
We come here each year and love it every time! The vibes are fun and quirky which makes it a great time. The food is SOO good!! We learned our lesson last time and just ordered three plates instead of four with our family of 4 and just enjoyed the plates family style. Their serving sizes are huge and if you're on vacation, that makes leftovers really difficult! So I would recommend getting one plate less than your party and sharing! Our favorite plate hands down was the seafood cannellini! OMG Cons: no reservations and if you have outdoor seating in the summer it gets really hot and muggy! read more
9 days ago
We walked right in and got seated on a Saturday night with a party of 6 around 6:30. This was great considering they do not take reservations. The service was great, and very attentive. They even worked on getting the kids food out first as we were eating dinner with a 1 year old and 4 year old. The outside setting was very nice by the fire place. The food was top tier. They serve bread and roasted garlic when seated. The lasagnas was my favorite. There desserts are not made in house, but are just as good as what is made there. read more
4 months ago
This place was really really cool. I mean it's mostly outside, but an upscale gourmet restaurant centered around garlic. The service is so good and the waitstaff are so charismatic. Plus they have live entertainment on nights and an outdoor bar for those who are waiting for a table. The table comes with their roasted garlic and fresh baked bread. The roasted garlic is drizzled in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I loved this and my only complaint is that since it's mashed and kept in the original clove and not peeled, you do miss some of the garlic and the little bits get into your mouth. So this gets an 8/10 for me. We tried the artichoke dip, which was a 9/10. It was rich and I don't think people know how much prep artichoke takes and how delicious it is. I got the seafood cannelloni. This was cheesy and rich and a lot. The waiter did warn me, I did not finish the dish. I did take it home. The overall meal was on the more expensive end. I do highly recommend trying this place at least once for locals and visitors. Not to mention, I had some drinks and they have dessert in the form of drinks. We did also actually get dessert, which was a key lime pie. read more
2 months ago
The food at The Garlic was absolutely outstanding. Like, genuinely exceptional. The kind of Italian food where you take a bite and briefly forget about everything else happening around you. Unfortunately, everything else happening around me included sweating like I had personally offended the Florida climate. The electricity situation and ventilation were... questionable at best. It is a little difficult to sit down and enjoy a beautiful plate of hot Italian pasta when you are sweating so profusely through your jeans and lightweight dress blouse that you start wondering if you're going to be electrocuted by your own puddles of sweat and the interesting collection of improvised electrical cords happening around the restaurant. Nothing says romantic Italian dinner quite like wondering whether your Chicken Parm is going to be accompanied by a side of cardiac arrest. That said, our waitress deserves a medal. God bless this woman. She dealt with my sweaty ass, my absolutely delightful in-laws who can find a complaint in a any restaurant, pull ginger ale out of her purse, order a glass of ice, and then complain that said ice melted before it even reached the table... ...and my six-year-old, whose current culinary philosophy is essentially: Chicken nuggets. Burgers. Pizza. Repeat. And somehow she remained pleasant through all of it. As for the food, everyone absolutely loved their meal. I had the Chicken Parm, my husband ordered the pork osso buco, and my son settled on spaghetti and meatballs. Every single dish was fantastic. The food is the star here. Exceptional. Delicious. Absolutely worth coming back for. I just wish the ventilation system would get the memo that we are supposed to be eating the food, not slowly becoming part of it through perspiration. Because apparently my personal dining experience was: Amazing Italian food Great meal Wonderful waitress Surface of the sun Would absolutely go back. I'll just bring a towel and one of those fans you wear around your neck, next time. read more
6 hours ago
15 days ago
We went on a Saturday night around 6 o'clock. It was pretty busy but we only had to wait 20 minutes for a table for two people. We always love the ambience here; twinkle lights, and plants all around feels like a fairy garden cottage core Italian grandma's House. Jimmy was our server. He was great. We always love the complementary bread and roasted garlic. Silly me always fills up on that. I tried the strawberry basil lemonade with alcohol and it was delicious.. I got the seafood cannelloni and my husband got chicken Alfredo. We both enjoyed our meal. The seafood cannelloni was huge and super rich. Definitely enough to feed two people. The only thing we didn't like was the toasted Parmesan crunchies in the Caesar salad. They were just really salty and kind of overpowering. read more
Visiting the area for the week. Opens at four, no reservations taken. We arrived about 5:15. There were quite a few people ahead us, we were seated in about 30 minutes. This place is very unique. It has lots of greenery. Unique seating arrangements, very busy and yet everything flows. Plenty of staff. Upon being seated with family, they bring out a huge cutting board with oven roasted garlic, a huge crusty baguette. I ordered chicken parmigiana, huge portions. Hubby ordered a mixed seafood with linguine. Grandkids had chicken tenders & fries, and pasta with Alfredo sauce. It was all fantastic. read more
9 months ago
Decided to finally try out this famous NSB staple and I'm so glad we did. This place gets insanely packed, we literally showed up around 4:20 and they open at 4pm we waited for about 30 minutes for a table for two. The parking was all over the place like literally just shove your car anywhere you can where there is no signs for no parking, that on its own was a bit overwhelming. The food was absolutely delicious so it truly was worth the situation with parking! Service was great and very fast, even with how busy it all was, everything came out super timely. The smells in this place of garlic and delicious fresh food is absolutely the best. read more
We went for a friend's birthday with a large party and even though it was very busy, they sat us very quickly! The vibe was so fun and the place is huge! We enjoyed our food and had plenty of leftovers too! Definitely a New Smyrna favorite. We were recommended to get the chicken parm cutlet on the fettuccine Alfredo noodles. read more
We have been coming here for many years. Tonight was one of the best nights at The Garlic. Our server Jennifer made this night special. Her drink and food suggestions were excellent. This place is true eye candy, every room is different, every person is welcoming. There is live music not too loud, perfect. Yes you may have to wait awhile for a table but trust me, it's worth it. read more
I think the only disappointment that we had was not being able to check out the entire restaurant! In our 12 years of living in Florida, we have driven by here many times, but have not actually ate here. We came on a Wednesday around 4:50 PM and it was already incredibly busy. This establishment does walk ups only, there are no reservations. We were sat quickly. Our waiter brought out warm bread with two garlic bulbs that he put oil and balsamic on then mashed with a fork. It was so delicious! My mom ordered the eggplant Parmesan with their special red sauce that has olives in it. I ordered the chicken Parmesan. My husband ordered the crazy alfredo, which was a special that day. By the way, they put their specials on a lasagna noodle! The chicken cutlet was as big as the bowl. The Alfredo had sausage, shrimp, and, chicken. All of the food was really good. The weight staff was wonderful. The establishment itself, so beautiful. I love how eclectic it is. 1000000/10. read more
Our server was very nice :) The roasted garlic and bread was a nice complementary starter. The rack of lamb was pretty generous in my opinion. It's market price, which came out to about $56. There were 9 pieces so I think that's fair. The garlic mashed potatoes were very very good! The decor is full of character and has that local restaurant vibe and charm. read more
2 months ago
19 days ago
The Garlic is a truly unique restaurant, offering a fun atmosphere and quirky vibe that sets it apart. The space is full of whimsy and character from the moment you step in. The restaurant surrounds a large tree and seating is a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces. Visiting during the holiday season is an absolute must because the over-the-top festive décor makes the entire place feel even more magical. Since they do not take reservations, plan to arrive a little before opening or expect a wait. Once seated, you are greeted by kind and attentive staff, and the experience feels both lively and warm. Even their specials are playful, written on a "daily noodle," which is literally a sheet of lasagna and adds to the restaurant's charm. They start you off with complimentary warm bread and roasted garlic, mixed tableside with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. For appetizers, we especially enjoyed the calamari and artichoke dip. The calamari was lightly coated and very tender, while the dip was nicely charred from the oven, was creamy, and had generous chunks of artichoke. For entrées, we have enjoyed the rack of lamb, pork osso buco, and pasta pomodoro. The only dishes that missed the mark for us were the shrimp and scallop scampi, where the linguine was overcooked, and a few of the desserts, which were a bit too sweet for our preference. Portions across the menu are generous, making most dishes easy to share. If you are dining with a group, family style is the way to go so you can try a bit of everything. The Garlic offers memorable food, abundant portions, and an atmosphere you will not forget. It is a standout dining experience and I highly recommend them! read more
Came here while on a trip to New Smyrna and we definitely left with our stomachs full! We started off with ordering the raspberry mojito- delicious! Our servers name was Vivian. She was very sweet, warm, and kind. We had the bruschetta as an appetizer and WOW it was SO GOOD!! Probably too much bread though if you also eat the roasted garlic that they give you to start with. Anyways, for entrees I got the Shrimp Scampi and my boyfriend for the Spuntitan. Spuntitan is MASSIVE. Easily can split for 3-4 people. Nobody has ever finished it before but my boyfriend took it upon himself to finish the entire plate let's just say he was very full . vivian our waiter was amazing and so charismatic encouraging him and being very hospitable. Really recommend this place! read more
I finally made it out to the coast to try the Garlic, and it was so worth the wait! I see why there's a line every night - the ambiance is whimsical and tons of fun, the food is fantastic, and the staff are delightful. We showed up right before they opened at 4pm and didn't have a wait, so I'd recommend that for sure! It was still packed when we left. Our server was attentive, so helpful with the menu, and never rushed us. Of course, we started with their complimentary bread and whole head of roasted garlic for dipping - delish! The bread is so fresh. We went all out on apps, with mussels, calamari, and bruschetta. The bruschetta was the standout for us - the flavor was incredible and the quality really stuck out to us! The mussels were in a white wine sauce with some sweetness to it, which was both different and really nice. Calamari was up to par as well! We both enjoyed the chicken parm as our main, and it was huge. I had plenty to take home, but the flavors here were awesome too! No room for dessert this time, but I do appreciate that the prices are nothing crazy and even getting a couple glasses of wine was reasonable. I can't wait to come back! read more
We went with a group of 8 people on a Saturday and we knew ahead of time there would be a wait & a line. You can't make reservations & it's first come first serve. So our group got there at 5:30, made the line and surprisingly only had a 45 minute wait for us to be seated. I like how there's tables and chairs out by the parking lot to wait. So we ordered a drink to pass the time. The restaurant is indoor/outdoor and they placed us in a little room with 2 other groups. Not as private, but still cozy & the bathrooms were right around the corner in the hallway over. Our waiter was great. The food came out fast and our meals came with salad, bread and garlic dip on the house. The bread and smashed garlic with oil was so good. Our appetizers were are great! Everyone enjoyed their appetizers & i loved our Lamb lollipops. For my meal; I ordered the Chicken Parm & I would rate it a 3 out of 5. Nothing out of this world. and I was bummed my local italian restaurant offers a better parm for the fraction of the cost. I would stick with the steaks or lamb. If the review was solely based on my own experience: with the price & what I ordered I would rate it a 3. However I also discussed it with my party and they enjoyed their plates so I have it as an average of a 4. My husband got a steak and potatos and he said it was good. A little overcooked but since it's "il forno" it was fine. The drinks were a 3. My sangria felt waterey and didn't pack much flavor and my friend got the Lemonade and she said it was good but had a ton of basil in it. You're definitely paying for the ambiance & it was a unique experience. Next time I think I'd get the lamb and save it for a special event. the ladies bathrooms have bidets but they weren't working when we used them. read more
3 months ago
The garlic is a truly unique and amazing experience. From the garlic bread starter and red sangria, to their amazing pastas and dessert, we love every part of the experience here. The staff is extremely friendly and warm, and anytime their specials include vodka sauce it's a must try. I love their red sangria because it's more red wine based instead of artificial like other places. Last night they had live music (Joesph Harrison) and he truly added to the experience he was amazing! We will be back again and again, thanks garlic! Can't forget their amazing ambiance and eclectic decor. Tortellini is a good one. read more
Another restaurant that I've been wanting to try for years. After tonight's visit, I'm really disappointed in myself for not going sooner! We had a fantastic time celebrating my mother's birthday at this New Smyrna gem. The Garlic does not take reservations, which can be good and bad at the same time. Luckily, we were seated immediately at a great table that's called "the Celebration table." (Couldn't have been more perfect for us). Our waiter, Jimmy, was fantastic. He did a great job making our first visit memorable. He started us off with warm bread and a large oven-roasted garlic which he made in front of us by smashing the garlic and mixing it with crushed black pepper, virgin olive oil and 12 year aged balsamic vinaigrette. The white sangria was very watered down due to tons of ice, not enough fruit, and tasted virgin. Would definitely not order again. However, all of our entrees were amazing. They each came with a houses salad, so Jimmy brought it out family style in one large bowl to share. The salad was fresh and went well with the olive oil and vinaigrette. I ordered the "Seafood Cannelloni" which contained an array of scallops, shrimp, and mahi mahi wrapped in fresh pasta baked with a newburg sauce. It was absolutely amazing! My mother ordered the "Pollo Marsala" which was sautéed chicken with shallots and mushrooms in a classic marsala wine sauce served with garlic mashed potatoes. She enjoyed it but it wasn't as amazing as my dish. My wife ordered the "Shrimp And Scallop Scampi" which obviously cones with sea scallops and shrimp sauteed in a light white wine and garlic herb butter sauce served over linguini. She said it was really good. We capped off our amazing dinner with the chocolate chip cannoli's. The Garlic is a really cool spot that has unique ambiance, non-traditional Italian dinning, with amazing food and service. It's easily become one of my favorite restaurants in Florida! read more
Stopped in here while in New Smyrna Beach at the recommendation of a friend. What a great surprise this was. Place is eclectic, almost a sort of tree house vibe... but really cool. I read some reviews that said no reservations and a wait ... but we were seated righted away tonight. Food and service were outstanding. So many great things on the menu it was tough to narrow down. The ravioli bolognese was maybe the best I' e ever had. The complementary hot loaf of bread with garlic dip was almost sinful (in a good way). The garlic potato zuppa ( soup) was very good. You gotta try this place if in town , it's one of a kind ! read more
Well like everyone else has said prepare yourself for a wait because minimum it'll be half an hour. If you can get over the fact that you will have to wait you are in for a treat. As soon as you walk in the aroma of garlic hits you. And it smells absolutely fantastic . It is a treehouse of sorts with various rooms. Service is great and a little experience as they bring you roasted garlic and bread to start out. I got the garlic parm and it was one of the better tasting ones, chicken cutlet was crisp but juicy. Sauce had great flavor. Overall this was an experience and can't wait to go back and have some great food! read more
1 year ago
It was really busy and they told us it would be a 2hr wait, we agreed since we drove 45mins to eat here and I was already committed to eating here at that point. The place is a maze, so many different sections I had no idea where I was going when I walked inside to "the bar" well, there are so many bars we just chose one. Ordered a drink and after about 49mins a couple left and we sat at the bar, thank God didn't have to wait 2hrs like we originally thought. I ordered: Pasta Pomodoro fresh chopped tomatoes, basil, and shallots sautéed with garlic, fresh herbs and parmesan cheese tossed with linguini and meatballs. I also ordered a Margarita. They bought us fresh bread with roasted Garlic, to start with and it was so good, didn't take a picture because there are so many on here already, you don't need another bread pic! My dish was really good and plenty for left overs, I was surprised how reasonably priced the food was. Ambiance was lively and they had 2 live music sections, maybe more but that's what I noticed. We had a great time and service was great also. read more
Came to the Garlic for dinner and it was packed. Despite that we hung out in the cool bar areas and enjoyed the tasty cocktails. Firstly , the service is top notch which matches the Beachy Italian decor. We ordered ravioli , chicken parm and a strip steak ( fries stole the show over everything ) The food was good and we enjoyed the experience . Recommended ! read more
5 months ago
10/10 would recommend. The food was AMAZING. Came out hot, quick and tasted fresh. Bread at the beginning was great - a tiny bit hard to chew but the roasted garlic that came with it was divine. The roasted garlic soup with potatoes was the best soup we've ever had. The actual entree was fantastic. We got the ravioli, the four cheese manicotti and the scallop and shrimp scampi - All WONDERFUL. There was a lovely gentleman playing the saxophone. It also seemed like we were separated from the families with younger children which was nice as it created a calm and quiet atmosphere. read more
We had the best time at The Garlic! We were celebrating my mother-n-laws birthday. I have a food sensitivity to garlic (presently resolved with medication) so I had never been. Boy! Was I missing out! Alan M. Was our server. He was fantastic! He was so chill and easy going. The restaurant is huge! It's mostly outdoor with fans and such but even in 90 degrees it was comfortable. We ordered so much and everything just kept getting better. The bread and spreadable garlic were so amazing! We also ordered the muscles and the mozzarella explosion or some like that for the appetizers. We also had the family Italian salad. For our meals we had the seafood cannellini and the manicotti with meatballs. Carrot cake for dessert. Everything was so good! We will for sure be back! read more
Tell me reader... do you find yourself going out and being let down by a restaurant that doesn't know how to season food correctly? WELL LOOK NO FURTHER! The Garlic, located in New Smyrna, is not only an eclecticly decorated restaurant, but an absolute culinary experience all around. If you're an actual garlic fan like I am, you'll find yourself literally one step from heaven. Let them start you off with their house baked bread and 4 hour GIANT ROASTED GARLIC CLOVE with olive oil and balsamic. The perfect combo to start with. Not pictured, I tried the Zuppa de Garlic, which is a garlic and potato soup as my appetizer. Let me tell you; get this soup. I will keep this slightly secretive. Trust me. We had the Caesar salad for our table and I will say, it was good but compared to other caesers I have had, it was t my favorite but you get a salad with any entree (the Caesar is a slight upcharge so take that into account). But my showstopper was the Char-grilled Filet Mignon. Medium Rare, served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. NOTHING was left on my plate. The balance is absolutely perfect and the facesmack of garlic is AMAZING. I paired the steak with a Pinot Noir (Kings End Inscription) than was *chefs kiss* MUAH... Make sure that if you are going anywhere near New Smyrna Beach, stop in at the Garlic to give yourself a memorable culinary excursion with an absolutely quaint and whimsical interior ambiance! read more
3 months ago
Unreal - New York Strip is super duper! 800 degree oven char is amazing. Salmon was loved and the Bruschetta was devoured. They have delicious kids meals with large serving for the young ones. Cool vibe, young ladies in the front can be a bit more CS savvy but I am not taking that away from wonderful server Gio and the delicious meal!!!! read more
The Garlic has been a part of our story for years. My wife and I have shared countless meals here, each one adding to a collection of memories we truly cherish. We've celebrated moments both big and small, sometimes just the two of us, other times with close friends and family gathered around the table. The atmosphere is incredibly warm and comfortable, especially the outdoor seating, where the fireplace makes cooler evenings feel cozy and inviting. Sitting outside under the lights only adds to the magic. Every visit feels intimate and special, wrapped in that glow, the comfort of consistently wonderful food, and service that is always top notch--attentive, welcoming, and genuinely kind. It remains one of our favorite local restaurants in New Smyrna Beach, a place that never loses its charm and always feels like coming back to something familiar and deeply loved. read more
1 year ago
The Garlic in New Smyrna Beach absolutely lived up to its stellar reputation. This place has an amazing atmosphere, excellent service, and food that hits the mark. A word of advice: get there when it opens! If you don't, expect a long wait. We really enjoyed the roasted garlic appetizer, great way to start the meal! For drinks, we couldn't resist "The Big Chicken" (a pitcher of wine), which not only has a great name but paired perfectly with everything we ordered. I went with the tortellini, and it was phenomenal, creamy, flavorful, and super satisfying. We spotted the lasagna at a nearby table, and it looked massive (in the best way). One of us will definitely be ordering that next time! If you're in the area and looking for a standout dining experience, The Garlic should be at the top of your list. We can't wait to come back! read more
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More info about The Garlic
556 E. 3rd Ave
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
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(386) 424-6660
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http://thegarlic.net/
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Ask the Community - The Garlic
Is there still an early bird menu?
No. We got there as soon as they open and they did not have any earlybird menu.
Is there a call ahead wait list?
They do not. It's seated as you arrive! I certainly suggest arriving early as their seating fills up very quickly; as does their parking!
Whats the wait on Valentine's Day ? I know they don't accept reservations but do we risk the chance to not be seated at all? Or can I just expect a wait time.?
I've never been there on that day, but I assume it has to be very tough.
Does The Garlic have Happy hour?
I don't have a yes/no answer. Every day when The Garlic opens they have around 40 people lined up at the door. I think I read some reviews about HH food but this place literally does not need to offer happy hour. Don't miss the house wine in a…
Can you wear nice shorts?
Yes, no dress code but I would say a nice casual at least :)
Is it possible to call in an order and schedule a time for pick up the same day?
Yes
How is the restaurant doing with safety guidelines right now? Masks on servers, tables set up with social distancing, etc? The Garlic is always so packed so I'm nervous but would hate to be in town and not go there...but HAVE to be safe.
Hi Cyndy the time I went no one was wearing masks. Everyone was at close distance especially at the outside bar. I felt a bit out of place being the only one with a mask on…
Does The Garlic have a corking fee?
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