The Stinking Rose

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325 Columbus Ave (at at Grant)
San Francisco, CA 94133

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(415) 781-7673
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The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
The Stinking Rose - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 23 )
( 20 )
( 9 )
( 7 )
( 12 )

Best

The all Garlic appetizer is divine, the garlicky Rabbit was amazing. And the garlic ice cream for dessert sealed it.

Worst

greeted by 4 bored and unhappy looking hosts who can't be bothered. bagna caulda is the only thing worth tasting. wilted arugula and expensive pastas make this place not worth t...

tourist trap 8/13/2006

Garlic Lovers, such as ourselves, were so excited to be told about this amazing garlic place. What a disappointment. Though the decor was nice, we were squished into this tiny booth and my man had to sit on the end! The rest of us, meanwhile, played elbow wars with unknwon customers sitting behind us through curtains. The waiter tried to accomodate us (says he deals with this all the time) but the experience was not at all great. The food seemed overrated and not as garlicy as I expected. Their beloved garlic mashed taters were cold. MINUS 10 POINTS. Pros: decor, garlic Cons: food, elbows more
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Garlic lovers haven 8/6/2006

I would recommend eating at the Stinking Rose at least once. Most of the Italian restaurants in North Beach are the same, so the garlic gimmick gives the SR an edge. I have eaten there a few times and always received excellent service. Pros: Excellent garlic-heavy dishes, private tables Cons: Only one bathroom stall? more
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To be tried once! 5/25/2006

The name denotes the 'garlic-ness' to the entire experience. Every morsel of food had the garlic after-taste to it. Since I love garlic, it was a good experience- not extraordinary though. The bread and oil served in the beginning were very good. We had pesto pasta and some garlic chicken dishes- it was average. However it is a destination to be tried once in North Beach! Pros: Garlic, Decor Cons: Parking, Garlic breath more
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Interesting 4/21/2006

If you like garlic, you should check this restaurant out but I think it's over priced. I'm sure you can find better restaurants. It's interesting because all meals have garlic in it. I've only been there once but I don't think I would go back if it was my choice. Cons: Expensive more
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Where's the Garlic!? 4/7/2006

Ate there with sister and a local. Overpriced with just OK food. We should have stopped with the bread and oil because that was fabulous. Maybe we aleady had our palate accustomed to garlic either by the smell of the place or the bread because several times we each said we didn't think there was that much garlic in the food. Decent experience for a tourist but there is so much more in San Fran that I would have preferred to spend that amount elsewhere. Oh, the restroom was deplorable with paper everywhere on the floor!! And lastly--they wont seat you until everyone from your party arrives so you can't even sit with a drink while waiting for a third person to come. Pros: fun Cons: price more
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Fun, loud, and your breath leaves like garlic 2/13/2006

Great place if you are new to the city. Always packed and just some good downright hearty Italian food. Not the best in the city but its fun to go with a large group. You can always get a window seat and people watch cause North Beach is always packed. more
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Highly Recommended by Capella Salon 1/17/2006

The food was excellent. Best Tiramisu ever. Great for romantic dinner or a fun group. The fish and salads were terrific. We loved our pasta. Highly recommended. Bread should be served warm with the garlic appetizer. Bathroom deserves a makeover. Pros: flavor, authentic, price Cons: bread was cold, bathroom more
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Skip dinner just buy a souvenir :( 12/29/2005

If you want to go & purchase a souvenir to say that you have been there, then I suggest doing just THAT! We had dinner on 12/28 the ambience is different, nice at first then you sit and realize that the tables are really super small you barely have enough room to scoot into your chair without bumping into the chair of the person behind you. I ordered the 1/2 lb of Crab for $19.95 & it was GOSH AWFUL!! my BF got the Pork Loin it was the better of the 3 entrees that we ordered the other item was the Chicken Lasagna which to all of us at the table (4) was salty aside from that it would have been tasty. Our bill was $80 for 3 entrees & no one ordered any alcohol or wine. The dessert menu is limited and again nothing to write home about. Pros: gift shop, the look of the place Cons: price, limited dessert menu, cramped tables more
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Not recommended 12/26/2005

The food was not good for the most part. I wish I had read the other reviews before going to this restaurant. Their pastas, the salad and even their breads were among the less tasty ones I ever had. On the positive side, their concept of garlic in all things is interesting. The restaurant was definitely kid friendly. Their pizzas seemed to be ok. Pros: kid friendly Cons: bad food more
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bad bad bad. 12/2/2005

This place is only still in business because they don't depend on regulars who actually LIKE the place. Came here because I eat garlic by the clove but other than that catch, there's nothing here that would ever make me come back! Pros: garlic Cons: food more
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If you are Dracula STAY AWAY!!!! 10/4/2005

This restaurant is a fun tourist trap to go and eat all things garlic. I strongly recommend making reservations as this place was packed. The food, while good, was certainly not the best Italian I have eaten. The server was nice but extremely busy and therefore we waited for our drinks, etc. The decor is cute, garlic everywhere. I would go again, but only after visting some of the less touristy restaurants in the area. Pros: Prompt seating , fun decor, food good Cons: Busy, parking, server too busy more
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must love garlic 9/17/2005

The Stinking Rose A Garlic Restaurant is one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to. It has Californian-Italian cuisine with GARLI... more
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Our favorite restaurant in Frisco 9/5/2005

My husband had to go to The Stinking Rose for his birthday. I went online to make reservations and found the reviews here. I made the reservation anyway and prepared for a disaster. Sure enough when we arrived they didnt have our name and the place was packed. I was furious. The manager was very sweet and told us wed have a great table. Five minutes later we were in a cozy little nook with candles all around. The waiter was there as soon as we sat down and our food came fast. Now this wasnt Mortons but I thought the fondue and steak were great. Everyone was so pleasant, I heard the manager ask the waiter if we were happy twice. On the way out I told him about the bad reviews. I promised wed set things right as soon as we got back home. We loved the place. Pros: fast waiters, cute restaurant, close to fun things Cons: there is no parking, bad web reservations more
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Ridiculous fad 9/4/2005

I just don't know how this became so popular. A bunch of alternative ways to cook garlic with various foods is not a cuisine. My roommate ... more
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Garlic Lover's Paradise 9/2/2005

The Stinking Rose is a garlic lover's dream come true. This restaurant bills itself as a garlic restaurant and proudly proclaims, We season... more
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Garlic with a Twist 8/25/2005

Like other reviews I've written I would like to balance out some of the other reviews. This place has been a little over rated, but if you order the right thing you will like it. They used to charge for bread, I think they realized that was a mistake. The prices were a bit much but now they have made it a little better by giving you a package deal that comes with appitizer, meal and dessert, and boy all three are good if you know what to order. The garlic mussles on a sizzling skillet are awsomd, garlic chicken w/garlic mash potatoes are fabulous, and the chocolate mouse cake in a tall cup is tasty! I felt the same about the price and friends were disappointed with what they ordered as well, stick to what ya know on the menue and you won't get hurt there. Pros: some food, dessert, salad, garlic musscles Cons: expensive, overpriced, no parking in area more
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a dissapointment 8/1/2005

I also heard a lot about this place; I'm assuming it was good once upon a time. The dinning experience was okay, but the food was really below average. I could never justify eating there again with better restaurants all over the same block! Cons: bad food, squished dinning more
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the garlic is the only good food here I liked 7/21/2005

I've heard so much about this highly advertised sf restaurant I was willing to try it out, but I should have gone elsewhere. The staff was friendly- for the exception of the Manager in a suit at the host desk.He is the first reason for this review to be so negative, the food second. I never heard such insulting remarks to customers and to his employees-- Which I asked the host when I was seated- Is he having a bad day?? They said no- it seems he's the same everyday. The food was not great- was too fast and overpriced. I did like the garlic relish and roasted garlic in a tub. Over all the staff was friendly and the food ok. But I would not go there on a busy night or speak to the manager. This is not Italian food- just garlic with food as a second thought. Pros: garlic is good, servers friendly, in and out fast Cons: manager rude, overpriced, pre-cooked food more
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Yummy food 7/17/2005

Excellent restaurant. Very clean. the food was amazing and very flavorful. The servor helped us to pick our meals. I would go back just ... more
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avoid meat loaf 7/5/2005

I know this place is extremely popular with the locals and has grown to be a hot spot through word of mouth. The trendy name must help, too.... more
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Menu for The Stinking Rose


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Fragrant and flagrantly crowd-pleasing, this popular North Beach attraction is a temple to garlic. The multiple dining rooms are festooned with objects d'art, murals and the...

  • 9/8/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Sunday From 11:30 AM To 10:00 PM
  • Payments: American Express, Cash, Discover, Diner's Club, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: North Beach, Northeast
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