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Isaí treated us so well. He was kind and helpful. Highly recommend this spot. The food was delicious. We ordered the lasagna al forno, and the chicken sandwich 10/10.it was cool that you can sit outside, people watch and enjoy your food. Very cool place. We went on a Monday evening and we got here just in time before it got crowded. Loved it!
What a fun place! Great vibes and lots of garlic! Service was great and the food was pretty good. The ambience is garlic! So lots of cool things to look at. The vampire killer pizza is to die for! Loved the garlic cheese combo. Fettuccine was okay, not very creamy. I also didn't love the garlic lovers salad. More vinegar than garlic. I recommend checking this place out at least once! Patio seating but I might leave my pet at home because the walkway is very busy.
This is an SF staple. I grew up coming to this restaurant. This is one restaurant that everyone has to come and visit. If you are a garlic lover, this is the place to eat. Reservations are recommended. The ambiance is fun and festive. They play great music in here too! The food is exceptional. Comfort food. Everything is made to please your pallet. Loved every bite!
Super cute restaurant! I absolutely adored the outdoor seating that reminded me of Paris. We were sat upstairs, which gave us a different view and experience of the restaurant. Despite the restaurant being a little small and bustling, I did not feel cramped. The menu had a variety of options for any taste buds, so it was a great spot for a big group. We shared the bagna calda, which came with only 1 piece of bread so we had to pay extra for additional bread. The bread was soooo soft and tasty. Everyone in my group was pleased with their orders! I ordered the short rib ravioli with the garlic lovers sauce. My only critique was that it was just a tad too salty for me, but it wasn't horrible. The service was amazing from start to finish. Someone constantly checked on our table and never let our water glasses sit empty for more than a couple minutes. It's easy to make a reservation online. For a party of 6 or more, an automatic gratuity is included. There are clean bathrooms.
This was my first visit to SR since they switched locations. I'm not sure what I was expecting but the meal overall was pretty lackluster. I wished the restaurant would lean into the garlic theme in a more interesting way. Everything felt kind of lazy where they just slap some garlic on something and that's the end of it like the Gilroy garlic festival. Bagna calda was alright. Some of the garlic cloves were not soft and they offered one piece of dense bread with an additional piece costing extra. It seemed like the 40 clove garlic chicken was their most famous dish so we tried it. It was just okay and came with a sad side of mashed potatoes. We tried a gartini and other than some small pieces of raw garlic in the olive didn't taste any other garlic.
Was happy to come by and finally check this place out growing up in the bay area. I had always heard about it but every time I had walked by it felt too fancy or more of a date place to me. Finally checked it out for our anniversary dinner and happy that we did. The service was great, our waiter came over and checked on us multiple times and made sure that we had everything that we needed. We will definitely come back and check it out next time we're in the area.
Vampires won't get you here!!! We've been trying to try this place out for a long time and finally made our way. Be prepared to have garlic breath & garlic farts xD Starting off with drinks - I got the blueberry lemon drop ($14.99). It really packed a punch, I wouldn't say it was the best but it was definitely strong. Very vodka forward hold the lemon & blueberry I guess... idk if it was cheap vodka used but taking a sip was like taking a shot. For appetizers we ordered the bagna calda ($12.99) which is like an oil & garlic dip with bread. The bread we initially got was hard as a rock on the bottom, I literally couldn't take a bite out of it. We liked the bread where it was soft, but couldn't enjoy it so we asked for a new bread and got a baguette instead. Would've preferred the other bread if it wasn't so hard. LOVED the dip, there's a crap ton of garlic in it so there was sooo much flavor. Light but very flavorful. My bf ordered the sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake medium ($49.99). This plate didn't come sizzling so that was a bummer... but came with mashed potatoes which were a hittttt! Pretty sure there was also garlic in there but the mouthfeel was light, airy, and mushy all at the same time. Paired well with the steak which wasn't so bad! Thoroughly enjoyed the steak, was cooked on par for medium, easy to chewy, and marinated well with ofc their secret garlic sauce. I ordered the short rib ravioli and the garlic Brie & mushroom sauce ($26), which of the sauces is the most popular. I loved this dish. I'm a huge pasta lover and having the short rib in the ravioli than the traditional ground beef/pork, made the burst in flavor so unique and different. The sauce was almost like a stroganoff flavor, not too heavy, not too salty. For dessert, never had garlic ice cream ($9.99) before so we had to try it. It tasted more like hints of garlic rather than a weird garlicky flavor. It definitely pops out the more you eat it, but I think the chocolate sauce also distracts from the garlic taste. I enjoyed it, but maybe a one and done for me. Service was great, can't complain, they were polite and checked in often. Made sure everything was good. This is located in little Italy and parking can be tough, unless you're lucky.
Overall fun concept! Seemed a bit gimmicky as we just walked in having no idea of the theme or anything after prior dinner plans did not work out but was pleasantly surprised. Fun date with partner you know well. Got seated easily and quickly Sunday night with no res during peak hours Food: Best item was dessert so let's start there! The garlic ice cream was to die for! Ask for chocolate sauce on side. Unexpectedly one of my favorite ice cream experiences...creamy not too sweet, huuuge portion enough for two Bagna calda: yummy but ask for red pepper flakes on side. Creamy, flavorful( the perfect app) Basta pasta short rib ravioli: get the mushroom and Brie sauce! Not overwhelming, red pepper flakes were a nice addition Prime ribeye steak: meat was alright, fat cap was huge and despite it being cooked rare upon request there was some grizzle. The potatoes though! Definitely took the cake with this dish. Hefty portion. Paired nicely with house wine which I was surprised by as normally my experience with house wines isn't the best but this one had a rounder flavor and cut through the steak well Drink: - house wine had a generous and is $5 cheaper than the rest of the wines on the menu. I liked the flavor too again to my surprise! - expresso martini: I didn't try it but apparently it's strong! Service: quick, professional Ambiance: we sat outdoors and didn't feel cold at all as there's strong heating outside. Indoors the decor is funkyyyy in a fun way :D
We tried a few items but we weren't hungry for a huge meal. I didn't realize that the pizza was more like a flatbread and not a circle. It was good still. We also had to try the garlic ice cream which was worth it. The chocolate sauce on top mixed very well with the garlic flavor. If we were to come back I'd want some of the fresh bread with the roasted garlic. Service was great.
We sat on the patio and had a good time. There's heaters out front for when it got cold. The food was good but we were hoping it would have been absolutely smothered in garlic. We wanted to leave wreaking of garlic. The garlic ice cream was surprisingly suuuuper good and my favorite item. Service was ok. It was pretty busy night.
10 days ago
The food was good but we were seated facing the bathroom and told the seat near the fireplace wasn't available because it was late. About 15 minutes later they seated a gentleman at a four top diagonal our table. It was hard to enjoy our mushroom fettuccine and garlic hot plate while seeing people leave the bathroom. The food was excellent but the next time I'll sit outside or upstairs. read more
1 month ago
I've lived here for almost 5 years now and have yet to come here thinking it was a tourist trap! Turns out after booking a Friday night reservation, it's worth the hype. Things to note: they have their own pick-up and drop-off curbside spot because it's quite busy! Service is pretty attentive from the very beginning which is nice, they will usher you from your car to the host stand. Whole party needs to be there before you get sat. Good place to celebrate birthday, they sing to you and wear a giant Garlic on their head and serve garlic ice cream. Ambiance is kitschy but in a good way! It definitely added to its charm and unique experience. The fireplace were cool. I would love to sit on the walkway in the future on a beautiful weather night out! Food is great as everyone is saying! Just put 4 as there are other Italian restaurants that warrant 5 stars in North Beach. Come if you like garlic. :) read more
Isaí treated us so well. He was kind and helpful. Highly recommend this spot. The food was delicious. We ordered the lasagna al forno, and the chicken sandwich 10/10.it was cool that you can sit outside, people watch and enjoy your food. Very cool place. We went on a Monday evening and we got here just in time before it got crowded. Loved it! read more
Definitely a staple in San Francisco Always good food Always a good vibe Always hellaaaaaaa busy The food never disappoints from appetizers to the main courses and the cheese bread is always a must! Parking is sketchy (but we always find a spot on the street) - Happy Yelping read more
What a fun place! Great vibes and lots of garlic! Service was great and the food was pretty good. The ambience is garlic! So lots of cool things to look at. The vampire killer pizza is to die for! Loved the garlic cheese combo. Fettuccine was okay, not very creamy. I also didn't love the garlic lovers salad. More vinegar than garlic. I recommend checking this place out at least once! Patio seating but I might leave my pet at home because the walkway is very busy. read more
3 months ago
This is an SF staple. I grew up coming to this restaurant. This is one restaurant that everyone has to come and visit. If you are a garlic lover, this is the place to eat. Reservations are recommended. The ambiance is fun and festive. They play great music in here too! The food is exceptional. Comfort food. Everything is made to please your pallet. Loved every bite! read more
Super cute restaurant! I absolutely adored the outdoor seating that reminded me of Paris. We were sat upstairs, which gave us a different view and experience of the restaurant. Despite the restaurant being a little small and bustling, I did not feel cramped. The menu had a variety of options for any taste buds, so it was a great spot for a big group. We shared the bagna calda, which came with only 1 piece of bread so we had to pay extra for additional bread. The bread was soooo soft and tasty. Everyone in my group was pleased with their orders! I ordered the short rib ravioli with the garlic lovers sauce. My only critique was that it was just a tad too salty for me, but it wasn't horrible. The service was amazing from start to finish. Someone constantly checked on our table and never let our water glasses sit empty for more than a couple minutes. It's easy to make a reservation online. For a party of 6 or more, an automatic gratuity is included. There are clean bathrooms. read more
This was my first visit to SR since they switched locations. I'm not sure what I was expecting but the meal overall was pretty lackluster. I wished the restaurant would lean into the garlic theme in a more interesting way. Everything felt kind of lazy where they just slap some garlic on something and that's the end of it like the Gilroy garlic festival. Bagna calda was alright. Some of the garlic cloves were not soft and they offered one piece of dense bread with an additional piece costing extra. It seemed like the 40 clove garlic chicken was their most famous dish so we tried it. It was just okay and came with a sad side of mashed potatoes. We tried a gartini and other than some small pieces of raw garlic in the olive didn't taste any other garlic. read more
Was happy to come by and finally check this place out growing up in the bay area. I had always heard about it but every time I had walked by it felt too fancy or more of a date place to me. Finally checked it out for our anniversary dinner and happy that we did. The service was great, our waiter came over and checked on us multiple times and made sure that we had everything that we needed. We will definitely come back and check it out next time we're in the area. read more
1 month ago
We haven't been in over a decade, but it didn't disappoint. The decor is garlic inspired, the food tasty, and the people watching beyond compare. We had dinner last time and lunch this time. It was delicious and worth the stop. read more
5 months ago
Vampires won't get you here!!! We've been trying to try this place out for a long time and finally made our way. Be prepared to have garlic breath & garlic farts xD Starting off with drinks - I got the blueberry lemon drop ($14.99). It really packed a punch, I wouldn't say it was the best but it was definitely strong. Very vodka forward hold the lemon & blueberry I guess... idk if it was cheap vodka used but taking a sip was like taking a shot. For appetizers we ordered the bagna calda ($12.99) which is like an oil & garlic dip with bread. The bread we initially got was hard as a rock on the bottom, I literally couldn't take a bite out of it. We liked the bread where it was soft, but couldn't enjoy it so we asked for a new bread and got a baguette instead. Would've preferred the other bread if it wasn't so hard. LOVED the dip, there's a crap ton of garlic in it so there was sooo much flavor. Light but very flavorful. My bf ordered the sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake medium ($49.99). This plate didn't come sizzling so that was a bummer... but came with mashed potatoes which were a hittttt! Pretty sure there was also garlic in there but the mouthfeel was light, airy, and mushy all at the same time. Paired well with the steak which wasn't so bad! Thoroughly enjoyed the steak, was cooked on par for medium, easy to chewy, and marinated well with ofc their secret garlic sauce. I ordered the short rib ravioli and the garlic Brie & mushroom sauce ($26), which of the sauces is the most popular. I loved this dish. I'm a huge pasta lover and having the short rib in the ravioli than the traditional ground beef/pork, made the burst in flavor so unique and different. The sauce was almost like a stroganoff flavor, not too heavy, not too salty. For dessert, never had garlic ice cream ($9.99) before so we had to try it. It tasted more like hints of garlic rather than a weird garlicky flavor. It definitely pops out the more you eat it, but I think the chocolate sauce also distracts from the garlic taste. I enjoyed it, but maybe a one and done for me. Service was great, can't complain, they were polite and checked in often. Made sure everything was good. This is located in little Italy and parking can be tough, unless you're lucky. read more
4 days ago
Overall fun concept! Seemed a bit gimmicky as we just walked in having no idea of the theme or anything after prior dinner plans did not work out but was pleasantly surprised. Fun date with partner you know well. Got seated easily and quickly Sunday night with no res during peak hours Food: Best item was dessert so let's start there! The garlic ice cream was to die for! Ask for chocolate sauce on side. Unexpectedly one of my favorite ice cream experiences...creamy not too sweet, huuuge portion enough for two Bagna calda: yummy but ask for red pepper flakes on side. Creamy, flavorful( the perfect app) Basta pasta short rib ravioli: get the mushroom and Brie sauce! Not overwhelming, red pepper flakes were a nice addition Prime ribeye steak: meat was alright, fat cap was huge and despite it being cooked rare upon request there was some grizzle. The potatoes though! Definitely took the cake with this dish. Hefty portion. Paired nicely with house wine which I was surprised by as normally my experience with house wines isn't the best but this one had a rounder flavor and cut through the steak well Drink: - house wine had a generous and is $5 cheaper than the rest of the wines on the menu. I liked the flavor too again to my surprise! - expresso martini: I didn't try it but apparently it's strong! Service: quick, professional Ambiance: we sat outdoors and didn't feel cold at all as there's strong heating outside. Indoors the decor is funkyyyy in a fun way :D read more
We tried a few items but we weren't hungry for a huge meal. I didn't realize that the pizza was more like a flatbread and not a circle. It was good still. We also had to try the garlic ice cream which was worth it. The chocolate sauce on top mixed very well with the garlic flavor. If we were to come back I'd want some of the fresh bread with the roasted garlic. Service was great. read more
We sat on the patio and had a good time. There's heaters out front for when it got cold. The food was good but we were hoping it would have been absolutely smothered in garlic. We wanted to leave wreaking of garlic. The garlic ice cream was surprisingly suuuuper good and my favorite item. Service was ok. It was pretty busy night. read more
I'm an LA native who totally missed the boat on getting to try the Stinking Rose back home before its closure (RIP). So, I couldn't pass up the chance to try on my latest trip to SF. Arrived on time for my 6:15pm reservation and was immediately. Since I'm a solo girly, normally I would have opted for bar seating , but I had to get an eyeful of the vibes. Such a cute and kitschy place. I love a bit of quirk so this was right up my alley. For drinks, I started off with a Dracula's sunrise and followed it up with a watermelon margarita both super great but the margarita was the winner for me. Comes with a giant hunk of watermelon in the middle. Yum! I made sure to start off strong with the Bagna Calda. Simply garlic confit and bread. Really good. For my main I had the Cioppino! This was great and could have easily been shared with another person. Lovely mussels, crab, calamari all dancing in a delicious tomato sauce. I loved this. Best of all, they topped this with a glorious amount of Parmesan. Rigoberto helped me out for the evening and was totally great, helpful and gave me a lovely experience. Great visit to The Stinking Rose! I love garlic and already thinking about that 40 clove chicken. Ive been visiting the city pretty often. So I'm sure I'll be back again very soon! read more
7 months ago
Came here with a friend on a Tuesday night to try out this garlic-themed restaurant! We had both respectively heard a lot of good things about this place, so we wanted to try it out! The service was great, as the servers checked up on us often and gave us recommendations. The ambiance was also lovely! We sat outside and I really liked that the tables are garlic-themed! Sitting outside on the street was a cool experience, as the seats are positioned so that we could people watch and take in the view as we ate! The food was amazing as well - my friend got the garlic lover's sauce with gnocchi and I got the garlic mushroom and Brie sauce with housemate fettuccine. The fettuccine was very good - chewy and delicious! I have to say I tried my friend's dish and her sauce was definitely much more garlicky, though both sauces were quite rich! I definitely want to come back sometime to try the garlic ice cream and the garlic chicken sandwich! We also got the warmed acme baguette as an appetizer and it was perfectly crunchy and delicious! Overall, I would definitely come back again for try new items and bring new friends here to experience it! read more
8 months ago
Date of Visit: 11/7/2025 We visited the famous garlic restaurant The Stinking Rose on a Friday night in early November. We made the reservation right before our visit, and there were plenty of seating available. We were sat ono second floor mezzanine area, with a great view of the restaurant. Mummy's Boy Watermelon Margarita $14.99 I ordered the watermelon margarita made with tequila, watermelon, lemon, lime, and agave. Dracula Sunshine $14.99 Husband got the dracula sunshine made with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine. Both cocktails were just ok, and considered we just had some drinks at Pagan Idol, which is one of the best cocktails in the city. Sizzling Garlic Prime Ribeye Steak $49.99 We ordered the prime ribeye steak cooked to medium rare. The smell of garlic was amazing. Brick Oven-Roasted Dungeness Killer Whole Crab $69.99 And we also got the whole crab, which was brick oven roasted with garlic and spices. Tiramisu $9.99 For dessert we ordered the tiramisu. Made with two layers of espresso drenched sponge cake divided with mascarpone cream & dusted with cocoa powder. The taste was great with a hint of rum. read more
I saw this place about 10 years ago when I was in SF and had always missed the chance to visit. That was until this past week. And to be honest it was kind of a let down. The food was just ok versus the prices. The taste didn't blow me away but they did achieve the garlic flavor which I guess that is what you come for. The seating was small and kind of cozy but the outside seating was too close for comfort of the passerby. Maybe that is just my opinion. read more
7 months ago
I absolutely loved Stinking Rose back home in LA, so I was so happy to see their original location pop up on my Yelp while searching for dinner on a Friday night. It was easy to make reservations online for 2 for the same day at 8pm. Upon arrival we were seated inside quickly and I was reminded why I absolutely love the vibe of this place. The theme is so on brand and fun! I will say that the LA location was a lot bigger with more space, so it did feel a little cramped at our small 2 person table. I ordered my usual - the Bagna Calda and the Sizzling Garlic Prime Ribeye Stake which comes with the most delicious garlic mashed potatoes. The Bagna Calda is the MUST GET APP! Oven roasted whole garlic cloves in olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy - literally heaven for all garlic lovers and pairs so perfectly with the bread. I ordered my Ribeye medium rare and it was cooked well. The mashed potatoes are my absolute favorite! So flavorful and I loved it more than steak. My fiancé got the Ravioli and also really enjoyed his dish. Service was solid and checked up on us often. Overall, I'm glad I got to visit the OG SF location and will definitely have to come back next time I'm in the city! read more
Finally checked this place out for my birthday this past summer. I am a person who looooves garlic. Minced garlic on the stove is the BEST savory smell EVER. However, tart preserved garlic I am not a fan of. I have to say my visit was a little underwhelming. Fortunately here was no wait on a weekday night. Street parking was easy to find. I loved the interior decoration and atmosphere. It is maximalist decor, all the way up the high ceilings. It was cool but makes me wonder how often and how can they even clean off the dust all the way up there. I expected the bagna calda and garlic ice cream would be my favorite, but my favorite was actually the garlic relish on acme bread!! The bagna calda honestly did not taste very fresh. I felt as if I was eating beans oddly. The pasta was tasty, but it could have been more garlicy. The seafood and steak were ok. The garlic martini was ok; I tasted a preserved garlic flavor rather than a savory garlic bread kind of flavor I was hoping to get. Not a big fan of tart preserved garlic personally. At the end they gifted some garlic ice cream and sang a birthday song, but no garlic hat that I heard was a popular thing in the past (though my friend said the hat looked old and dirty so maybe they got rid of it). The garlic ice cream didn't taste like garlic lol. I'm unsure if it was because the ice cream was so subtly flavored and the meal I had before was heavier on garlic so I just couldn't detect it in the ice cream? Another item I've been so excited to try and felt underwhelming. Overall, the staff was very nice and I'm glad I got to try this place. I might want to come back to try some other items, but I'm in no rush since the flavors didn't make a great first impression on me. read more
1 month ago
Meh. It was all hype. I got pasta...garlic in the description, but no garlic in the flavor. Also, what self-respecting Italian food establishment serves food without any bread. We were not even offered bread. I had to ask the waiter for it and then it was an extra charge. Crazy. I'm glad we went, but I'll never go back. read more
8 months ago
We went here for the first time for my birthday, and it was a good experience overall! I got the tomato alfredo ravioli which was delicious! Well seasoned and a perfect portion leaving me full but not over-stuffed. My partner got the Bolognese slow-roasted pork fettuccine which both of us were not super impressed by. Not bad but nothing special. Felt like it was missing some oomph. Service was great, the staff was attentive and kept our glasses filled. read more
We have been coming here since 2015 at their old space in North Beach. We also celebrated my Father in Law's birthday on March 7th with 11 people in our group especially there was a Chinese New Year parade and the restaurant is busy. First, the staff are very helpful and accommodating especially the amount of people in our group. They were very friendly and constantly checking on us if we need more bread and water. They did not rush us out after our meals since there are other people also waiting to dine in. Second, the ambiance is casual. We love all the art decorations they have especially the garlics. Bathroom is clean and well maintained. Lastly, the food is incredible. My in laws and our pastor loved the 40 garlic half chicken too bad they don't serve the whole chicken. I personally loved their salmon and steak. I did have salmon at that time and it just melts in your mouth with the garlic mashed potatoes. Also, my mother in law and her two friends loved their crab. The only thing that was a little disappointing is that you cannot personalized your pizza and the cheeseburger does not come with French fries (they don't serve fries) so my husband has to get food from somewhere in the area since he is also highly allergic to seafood. Over all I still give this restaurant 5 stars because the waiters never complained even with the amount of requests from all of us. read more
It's been a while since we visited The stinking Rose, the last time it was in 2016, for my daughter's 18th bday. This time, new location and new set up. My sister and I were in the city to buy a cake for my husband at the bakery next door and decided to grab lunch. We grabbed a table on the front facing the street, we were helped right away. I ordered the bbq garlic chicken pizza and my sister the bacon, tomato and avocado baguette. It was delicious. I managed to eat the whole damn pizza by myself, I was suppose to take some home to my son. Now I have the perfect excuse to come back and bring my son. read more
2 months ago
I love this place! The food is always delicious however they can never seem to get the ribeye cooked properly, my son asked for medium and they gave him rare. It was very unappetizing and he only took a few bites and stopped when the blood started to ooze from the meat. The garlic doesn't seem to work on the vampires. read more
Loved the mussels for sure! Must try. Rib eye was a good choice, but def had better. Seafood fettuccine had good portion of seafood, but sauce seemed a bit watery. Wine choices and martini were nice. Garlic ice cream was good but expected a little bit more garlic taste. Staff is kind, pretty hard to flag them though when it gets super busy. Place is nicely decorated and has plenty of seatings inside and outside. read more
9 months ago
Came here for dinner and we were seated promptly. The servers were pleasant and attentive. The only thing was it seemed a bit squished with the seating and walkthrough. Other than that, the place was nice and clean. We ordered a couple of bagna calda, a couple of bruschetta di aglio, a couple of ciopinno, an order of ravioli, and an order of count Vladimir's sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake. Along with some cocktails. Everything was delicious and full of flavor. We enjoyed it all to the last bite. With the quality of food and service is worth coming back to. read more
Food: everything we ate was delicious. I would recommend it and will return. We started with the 1000 garlic cloves and their hot fresh bread, to die for, yummy. We ordered the lasagna. It was a 10 out 10 experience, my daughter ordered the seafood fettuccine and it was seasoned perfectly too, the sauce was so great! We also ordered the bread, it was served hot. I had a cocktail and it was good. We ended our meal with the creme brûlée cheese cake, but this to me lacked something, but my daughter liked it. The only complaint I have is that the seafood dish only had 2 skimpy crab hind legs, for $40. I expected more crab. Service, all the staff were attentive and ser was extremely polite and friendly. Ambiance was so old school and charming. read more
5 months ago
Awesome, impromptu stop to the stinking roast today! The food was superb as always! Started with the tub of garlic and fresh baked bread and it was amazing! Hubby got the 1 pound ribeye steak accompanied with garlic mashed potatoes and I opted for the 40 clove chicken... Both dishes were superb! Finished it off with their homemade garlic ice cream, and I couldn't have been happier with our fair today! Very reasonably priced, great service and I can't wait to get back! read more
5 months ago
The service definitely stands out! Everyone is friendly and accommodating. Quick ordering and drinks. The food is good, but I was expecting more garlic in everything given the reputation and namesake. Perhaps my use of garlic is extreme given my Sicilian heritage. Still the dishes with heavy garlic or where you can order more garlic sauce are fantastic. Very cute location and decor. Great for a date night if you like garlic! read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
-- Garlic glory... still searching for its old magic There are few places in San Francisco as iconic -- or as unapologetically fragrant -- as The Stinking Rose, the legendary temple of garlic. Seeing the restaurant reopen in a new space brings a wave of nostalgia for anyone who remembers the original location. The spirit is still there, but at the moment it feels like the restaurant is still settling into its new skin. Dinner began with Bagna Calda and bread, the classic start that once defined the experience here. The warm garlic butter dip was beautifully aromatic and exactly what you want from a restaurant built around garlic. Unfortunately, the bread itself didn't live up to the memory. It was noticeably chewy and dense, lacking the soft, fresh, almost addictive bread the original location used to serve -- the kind that practically demanded you keep dipping. For the main course I ordered the Sizzling Garlic Prime Ribeye Steak, which arrived theatrically sizzling and perfumed with garlic. The steak was cooked precisely to the temperature I requested, which I appreciated. However, the ribeye itself was a bit chewy and didn't quite feel like the level of meat quality you'd hope for in a dish carrying such a bold name. The flavor was there, but the cut didn't quite rise to the occasion. Dessert brought the evening back to classic Stinking Rose territory: Gilroy's Famous Garlic Ice Cream. It remains one of the most playful and oddly satisfying desserts in the city -- creamy, sweet, and with just a whisper of garlic that makes you smile more than question it. Where the evening struggled most, however, was service. The staff felt distracted and not particularly attentive, and neither the hostess nor our server seemed to have checked the notes attached to our reservation -- something that's normally a small but meaningful detail that makes guests feel recognized. Those touches matter, especially in a restaurant with such a long-standing reputation. The Stinking Rose still carries its legendary identity and charm, but compared with the old location, the service, bread, and overall polish haven't quite reached the same level yet. That said, the bones of the experience are still there, and with a bit of refinement, this new chapter could absolutely reclaim the magic that made it a San Francisco institution. Four stars -- for nostalgia, garlic devotion, and the promise that the best may still be ahead. read more
Besides the vibes of sitting outside and reminding me of Europe/ Paris, this place was unfortunately not good. All the food disappointed us. The bread was cold, not fresh and too much garlic? If you're a garlic lover, maybe go here for the fact their whole menu was intriguing with all the garlic (garlic ice cream, appetizers, pastas, etc) but they just didn't execute it with the flavor. The garlic lovers pasta was better than the bolognese but that wasn't saying much. I don't think I've been disappointed after dinner in a long time :( read more
6 months ago
If you love garlic, you HAVE TO come here!! Finally had the opportunity to visit the Stinking Rose after hearing about it through social media & am so glad I stopped by! Was seated quickly, and given some time with a menu. The establishment is cute and definitely inspired by the theme of garlic & vampires. If you get one thing you must get the bagna calda!! No excuses! Delicious garlic roasted in olive oil & butter, served with a side of warm crunchy bread. I still dream about this dish (I went here months ago). I got the blueberry lemon drop and my boyfriend got the watermelon margarita. Both were decent, but nothing too impressive. We shared the gnocchi with marinara. The gnocchi was soft & delectable, sauce was yummy too. Our server was nice, but a little inattentive. Regardless, overall I enjoyed my experience dining here and would come again! read more
It's been years since I last came to The Stinking Rose, and I was curious to see if/how things have changed. We ordered all the classics - the bagna calda to start, the hot iron skillet-garlic roasted mussels, a whole crab, the garlic prime ribeye steak, the seafood fettuccine, and the garlic ice cream and tiramisu for dessert. Everything was tasty, though candidly we thought the garlic flavor could have been even stronger. Prices are absolutely high here - the whole crab was $60 and the ribeye was $50. Service was friendly and attentive. Worth giving this SF institution a try if you're a garlic lover but be prepared for the prices! read more
5 months ago
Love the food, the ambiance and the service. Deference we'll be back. The location near our Church Saint Peter and Paul, walking distance and so convenient. We recommend it if you're in North Beach area, San Franciscoz read more
I've been coming here for years whenever I visit the city and it seems to get even better as I age. The food is fantastic and the garlic theme is a win! Service was great and on point and the decor is very little Italy which I love. read more
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More info about The Stinking Rose
430 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA 94133
North Beach/Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill
Directions
(415) 781-7673
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https://www.thestinkingrose.com
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Ask the Community - The Stinking Rose
Is this dog friendly? Can we at your patio table with our dogs?
Yes, we are dog friendly. We have heated outdoor tables for you and your doggo!
How much is corkage? I saw on an old post that it was free. Is that still the case?
Hi, corkage is now $9.99. We look forward to seeing you at The Stinking Rose.
Is there only street parking here or is there a private parking lot also?
Street parking only
How big is the prime rib?
Hi Victoria, we no longer have prime rib on our menu. We now offer a Sizzling Garlic Prime Ribeye Steak which is around 15 oz. You can view our menu on our website at www.thestinkingrose.com.
Are there any gluten free pasta options?
We do not have any gluten free pasta options. We offer a few gluten free entree options. Please visit our website to view our menu.
If I don't like a dish, can I send it back and have it removed off the check?
That's a sort of surprising question. Are you nervous that you won't like something that you still want very much to try?…
Will the prime rib be offered again? The ribeye isn't quite the same.
Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to do prime rib, but we do have many other garlicky entrees for you to try!
Is Garlic Dungeness Carb still available on the menu?
We are unable to have the crab at our new location (due to the much smaller size of our kitchen). We do, however, have the same Garlic Dungeness Killer Crab at our sister restaurants - Franciscan Crab Restaurant (Fisherman's Wharf), Salito's…
Do you still have the romantic booths that were offered at the previous location, here at the new location?
We do not have the same romantic booths as we did in our previous location. We do have cozy outdoor heated tables at our new location that many couples enjoy together.
Would you be able to accommodate a large party of over 10 people?
Please email us at sfcomments@thestinkingrose.com and include the day and time you are interested. Thank you.
We have gift cards from before the shutdown - specifically from Costco. Are you still accepting these at the new location?
Yes, The Stinking Rose gift cards purchased at Costco are accepted at the new location. We look forward to seeing you soon!
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The Stinking Rose - italian - Updated July 2026
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