Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Stinking Rose

    3.8 (641 reviews)
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Order The Stinking Rose Takeout or Delivery

    The Stinking Rose Photos

    THE STINKING ROSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Stinking Rose

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Betsy M.

    What a jewel of a spot in SF North End to stop for some drinks, garlic bread , and people watching. We found the service wonderful, prices reasonable for this are and the refreshments delicious. Aperol Spritz made perfectly and the garlic bread was the right amount of crunch/softness and garlic.

    Mission Accomplished
    Christopher C.

    Made an easy reservation on Resy and the staff was able to accommodate me as I arrived 30 minutes earlier than my reservation. They have a choice of indoor and outdoor seating. It was a little chilly tonight so I opted for indoors. Ordered the Bagna Calda which is a garlic lovers dream! There had to be at least 50 cloves of garlic. I would let the bread soak in the oil and butter then eat it with the cloves. I was torn between a pasta and the 40 clove garlic chicken. I opted for the chicken after the waiter's recommendation. The chicken was much larger than I expected. It also came with garlic mashed potatoes. The skin was really crispy and the garlic sauce was delicious. I also dipped it in the Bagna appetizer and enjoyed that combination as well. The staff was also very fast on refills on drinks. If your a garlic lover definitely come here.

    Menu
    Jenny C.

    2/5 - Great Atmosphere, Disappointing Food We visited The Stinking Rose at 430 Columbus Ave without a reservation and walked in around 7:50 PM. We were seated immediately, which was a pleasant surprise. Our table was upstairs, but be aware that the tables are very small and can feel cramped. The restaurant has a fun retro vibe with dim lighting that makes it a great spot for date night or taking unique photos. Unfortunately, the food was underwhelming. The pasta was overcooked, salty, and the portion was quite small. The sea bass, served with cold mashed potatoes, was nearly $35 and was not worth the price. The one standout was the garlic pesto sandwich--it was delicious, and honestly, that's the only dish I'd come back for. Service was inconsistent. Our water glasses were never refilled, while we noticed nearby tables receiving attentive service. It left us feeling overlooked and made the experience less enjoyable. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for the food. It's better suited for tourists or anyone looking to experience the unique garlic-themed atmosphere and capture a few fun photos.

    Shani L.

    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.

    Salmon, chicken, fettucine
    Valerie G.

    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. :)

    Garlic steak and mash potatoes
    Donyae L.

    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

    Fettuccine
    Ashley V.

    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.

    Mary M.

    Garlic appetizer was very good. Crowded and a bit stuffy upstairs . Enjoyed ravioli for dinner

    Lasagna Al forno
    Ann V.

    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!

    katrina a.

    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!

    Bagna calda
    Thaila N.

    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.

    Happy anniversary
    Sean G.

    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.

    Bagna calda
    Egan B.

    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.

    Sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake medium

    See all

    2 hours ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of O D.
    1
    305
    156

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 hours ago

    Amazing place. Had amazing experience. Wait times were lower. Fast service. Good ambience.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    24 days ago

    Horrible service and food, we order a $30 pizza and we receive a flatbread with barely anything on top. I want a refund!!!!!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jon B.
    21
    134
    58

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 17

    The Stinking Rose Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Stinking Rose

    Can I order food delivered? Uber eats?

    Yes, we now offer delivery via DoorDash.

    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!

    Are vaccines still required for indoor dining?

    No- visited 4/16/22 and not needed

    View All 15 Questions

    You might also consider

    Original Joe's - Entrance to Original Joe's North Beach

    Original Joe's

    4.1(2.7k reviews)
    0.1 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    •$$$

    There is something undeniably magical about a bustling Sunday afternoon in the city, especially…read morewhen you step through the doors of Little Original Joe's on Chestnut Street. From the moment we walked in, the entire space hummed with that rich, classic energy--a vibrant dance between the busy bar upfront, the lively dining room, and the open kitchen working in seamless harmony. Being seated right in the center booth gave us a front-row seat to the whole grand show, an absolute perfect vantage point to take in the warm, nostalgic atmosphere (complete with framed vintage photographs that instantly transport you back in time). Even with the Sunday rush in full swing, the hospitality was nothing short of effortless. Carlos at the host desk welcomed us with such a genuine, warm smile that any wait felt practically non-existent. There's a rare, old-school kind of care in how he handles guests--attentive, gracious, and completely unflappable despite a packed house. It's no wonder this was my fourth visit here; people like Carlos are what transform a great meal into a cherished ritual. When someone takes the extra moment to make sure you're looked after--even offering a direct connection to their Walnut Creek location for future tight reservations--you know you're in special hands. And then, of course, came the table full of pure culinary delight: Caviar + Chicken Tower ($60): The absolute showstopper of the afternoon. Crispy, golden-fried chicken paired with cool, delicate dollops of crème fraîche and rich caviar, resting atop a mountain of parmesan-dusted fries. It was indulgent, playful, and completely unforgettable. The Pizza Salad ($22) & Marry Me Farfalle ($33): Everything you want from a classic Italian-American lunch--vibrant flavors, incredible richness, and comforting soul. Drinks & Libations: Perfectly crafted from start to finish. The Watermelon Hugo Spritz ($17) was refreshing and bright, while Elena's Espresso Martini ($17) provided that smooth, decadent kick. The N.A. Citrus Spritz ($14) and a warm Cappuccino ($5) rounded out the table beautifully. Mini Bombolini ($15): A heavenly finish. Warm, pillowy Italian fried doughnuts tossed generously in sugar--the ultimate sweet high note to end a perfect Sunday feast. It was, start to finish, a deeply satisfying experience--the kind of afternoon where great food, wonderful energy, and true hospitality meet. A absolute favorite spot that never fails to impress!

    It was decent but I felt a little overhyped…read more We had reservations which you need here, it gets slammed. Espresso martinis were delicious. We ordered the calamari which was decent, truffle fries, and prawn cocktail. Prawns were not cleaned properly. Everything was good but not mind blowing. Id come again to try an entree but I feel there's better places to go.

    Photos
    Original Joe's - Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich accompanied by French Fries and a Manhattan

    Joe's Famous Hamburger Sandwich accompanied by French Fries and a Manhattan

    Original Joe's - Eggplant Parmigiana

    Eggplant Parmigiana

    Original Joe's - Chicken Piccata

    See all

    Chicken Piccata

    American Bites - Indoor bar area

    American Bites

    4.7(125 reviews)
    0.1 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    •$$

    This is definitely one of those hidden gem in SF when you're craving Italian. Located in North…read moreBeach area with the entrance hiding in a small alley, the restaurant is bigger than we thought with both indoors & outdoors seating. The outdoor patio is definitely a blast for a summer day in SF, also converting to a free Tango class at 6:30 on Wednesday evening. We started with some special drinks as recommended by Ali, the most generous guy you've ever met. We got Japanese Artisan Gin Pomegranate Mint Martini and AB's Espresso Martini. They were so refreshing after we had to walk on some hills in 80degree weather in SF. After that, the appetizers we ordered came out with Caprese Salad & Mahmoud's Delicious Pork Ribs. The portion was huge for just appetizer. It's been a while for me to have that crispy baguette toasted with olive oil & vinegar, nothing could be better than that. The ribs were tender, the bonus point was definitely the sauce as it wasn't too sweet like the other places. You can't miss pizza in an Italian restaurant, so we ordered my favorite Crispy Prosciutto De Parma, Poached Pear. Prosciutto is my love so I'll just order it wherever I go if they have it on the menu. Super crispy, even though it's not as thin as I expected, I'd still order it again when we come back. It's served with a bowl of cheese powder and chili flakes so you can customize your pizza. The main entrees were definitely pasta and we just had our eyes bigger than our stomach. If you don't know what to order, ask Ali and he'll be more than happy to help you with all the recommendations, and even offer some alternatives for your pasta when the restaurant is not too crowded. My favorite was Pasta Dellacasa with Prawns added, mixing of all the sauces they have. It was so rich and I felt like no other pasta we had can be compared. They serve it hot and you can ask for as much cheese as you want for your pasta because they make it at the table for you. The place was really cool since the building was built over 100 years ago. Even the trees we were sitting next to are over 100 years old, which is pretty cool. You can even find the menu when the original place just opened, with pasta price ranged from $2-3.

    This place is Awesome!! Kinda hard to find it great!! My daughter(22) and I went here for a mother…read moredaughter lunch date. Found it on Yelp and decided we had to try it. Pulled up and saw the Valet($18) sign. We know parking it hard to find in that area so we just parked. The sign is for American Bites and the restaurant next to it. Walked in which is totally hidden. I would have never known it was there. We are greater instantly and told to choose any seat. They have indoor and outdoor dining. We chose indoor. Looked over the menu and order a Tequila Sunrise with Don Julio Anejo. Quite tasty Went for the clam chowder appetizer... definitely 5 stars. Flavorful and creamy. I would come back just for that. Daughter ordered the Seafood Linguini with a cream sauce. The waiter kinda questioned it but made it anyway.. They added Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper at the table. Everything came with a nice crusty bread I order the Ciopinno!! It was one of the best I ever had.. Added Parmesan and cracked pepper of course. Everything was 5star including the service we received. Left there and recommended the place to several friends.. I'll be back soon.

    Photos
    American Bites - 14 oz. NY Steak, Brussel Sprouts w/ candied bacon and fries Spicy Chicken Wings w/ Organic Sriracha butter sauce serve & Blue Cheese Ranch

    14 oz. NY Steak, Brussel Sprouts w/ candied bacon and fries Spicy Chicken Wings w/ Organic Sriracha butter sauce serve & Blue Cheese Ranch

    American Bites - Burger and chicken wings

    Burger and chicken wings

    American Bites - Chicken wings

    See all

    Chicken wings

    Sotto Mare - Best damn cioppino

    Sotto Mare

    4.3(6k reviews)
    0.0 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    •$$$
    Outdoor seating
    Family-owned & operated

    This historical SF seafood spot is a must try if you're in the area! Heads up this is located in…read morethe heart of North Beach, so parking is extremely limited. Try to come here via public transportation if possible--there's a muni bus stop just a few blocks away. Otherwise you might be circling for a street parking spot for a bit! The inside is very cozy with a bar. It's not a huge space, so reservations are a must to avoid long wait times. This place always draws a crowd. We were seated outside and ordered a variety of dishes for our table to share. Everything tasted incredible. Fresh and bursting with flavor. The Cioppino was the star of the show, of course ($58). A huge bowl filled to the brink with seafood and steaming red broth. We also got the lobster ravioli ($32) that was in a delivious tomato cream sauce and fettuccine with Bay Scallops ($31) that was tender and cooked to perfection. This is a must when visiting SF and worth the price point!

    Best of the Best Cioppino we had! Wait was about 2 hrs,…read morebut it was way worth it. Paid $30 parking fee, right across the street from the restaurant. Everyone was so polite even though they were super busy. We ordered Smoked Salmon as an appetizer and it was also delicious, no smell of fish or after taste at all. It tasted way better with the Sourdough Bread together with Smoked Salmon and also with Cioppino. It's a must go place if you are visiting and in town for Cioppino.

    Photos
    Sotto Mare - Scallop saute

    Scallop saute

    Sotto Mare - Crecked Crab

    Crecked Crab

    Sotto Mare - Steamed clams and mussels is really fresh. And the portion is big!

    See all

    Steamed clams and mussels is really fresh. And the portion is big!

    Tony's Pizza Napoletana - 20" Pepperoni Pizza

    Tony's Pizza Napoletana

    4.2(9k reviews)
    0.1 mi•North Beach/Telegraph Hill
    •$$

    SFGATE Best Pizza of the Bay 2026 50 Top Pizza USA (2026):…read moreTied for No. 2 in the U.S. 50 Top Pizza World (2025): Ranked No. 10 in the world. I met my dear friend here for dinner on Friday night and it was packed inside and out. The wait was about an hour or so, even with her calling that morning to put her name on the waiting list. We walked around and had a drink next door. Plan accordingly! My friend highly recommend the Meatball Gigante. It's one giant Meatball with your choice of sauce. We got the wild mushrooms, pancetta cream sauce. The sauce is where the magic happens. You can easily dip an entire loaf of bread with that addicting sauce. The meatball is full of flavors. They menu says they limit 25 orders a day. I guess we were lucky! We also got the Fried Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms. I have been wanting to try this dish. I remember my old Italian neighbor used to ask my mom for the blossoms each year. Not my favorite but it was okay. For the star of the night, we got the New Yorker pizza (gold medal winner Las Vegas) with sliced mozzarella, hand crushed tomato sauce, cup & char pepperoni, sliced sweet 7 spicy Italian sausage, ricotta, chopped garlic & oregano. The crust is perfect. You know it's legit when sauce is dripping out from the corner of your mouth when you take a bite and the cheese is still pulling away. I love it that the slices are cut big so you can fold it in half. IYKYK. I see what the hype is about! We sat outside to reduce the wait time. I would love to sit inside the next time I come back and I want to try other dishes. The menu is huge and I hardly made a dent. A gem in San Francisco!

    Quite simply the best pizza we've ever had! The meatballs were flavorful, the garlic bread was nice…read moreand crispy- We took the extra garlic and put it on the New Yorker for even more flavor.

    Photos
    Tony's Pizza Napoletana - The place we sitted

    The place we sitted

    Tony's Pizza Napoletana - Il Padrino Sicilian pizza

    Il Padrino Sicilian pizza

    Tony's Pizza Napoletana - Margarita pizza, award winning for a reason!

    See all

    Margarita pizza, award winning for a reason!

    The Stinking Rose - italian - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...