The Stinking Rose Reviews

This was our first visit to the new location and the Stinking Rose remains a distinctive and enjoyable experience. The host and wait staff were welcoming and accomodating, and our food was delicious. As IPA drinkers, we especially appreciated having the Elysium Space Dust on draft (not just Peroni and various domestic lagers you'd typically find). In all, it was a great visit that compares favorably to the original location.

We had lunch here many, many years ago and looked forward to having lunch here again. The staff was friendly and helpful in making our selection. We shared the 40 clove garlic chicken and was not disappointed. We had plenty to eat for the two of us. This is a restaurant to be experienced. We walked to the restaurant, so not sure if parking is close by. There is some on street parking around the restaurant.

Almost everything in this restaurant contains garlic, and very tastefull. Seafood , mostly shimps with garlic is advised

We first visited the Stinking Rose in 2002, since then we have visited it each time we have been back in the City. It is a delight to arrive and smell the garlic for about a block before you get to the restaurant. The phrase stinking rose is an old English title for garlic, and garlic is at the heart of this restaurant. While fundamentally it is an Italian Restaurant, located in North Beach, the Italian section of San Francisco, its puns and images associated with garlic in all its forms is part of the charm. The uses of garlic dominate the location and its food. We began with a lovely shared dish of Bagna Calda, this dish is made up of garlic cloves, oven-roasted in olive oil until they are tender and juicy. They are served with some wonderful focaccia of which we had two lots. As you eat you can feel the garlic get into your system. Even for people like us who eat a bulb of garlic in our meals 6 days out of every 7 on average, this is a lot of garlic, but that is not a bad thing. For mains my partner opted for Gnocchi with a garlic, pork and beef sauce. The sauce was not excessively garlicky, but after the Bagna Calda, it might just have been a lighter version. The gnocchi was light and fresh and soaked up the sauce. The sauce itself had an intense depth of flavour. Very nice indeed was his final judgement. I chose the Fettuccine with garlic, pork and beef ragu with garlic meatballs. The pasta was el dente and the rich sauce spread its way across the pasta. The meatballs had chunks of garlic running through them and gave another texture to the pasta with sauce. The meatballs were beef mince and provided a rich dimension of flavour. I certainly knew I had been eating garlic by the end of the meal. My partner decided to have dessert, as it is not likely he will get a chance to have Garlic Ice Cream anywhere else. The ice cream was cold and the garlic taste seemed to come as a surprise given that most other ice cream flavours are sweet, but it was not off putting, rather it provided a cool and refreshing end to the meal without reducing the garlic input.

The Stinking Rose that everyone remembers from Pre-COVID days is no more and the current iteration is under new management, ownership, and chefs. They may have bought the name but there is nothing about the new one that I find even remotely the same. If you read any review about the Stinking Rose that is pre February 2022 (including one I did back in 2018) then you're reading about a reputable SF tourist and foodie destination that no longer exists. Which means the overall ranking that the current Stinking Rose enjoys on this site is no longer valid or justified. I've been to the Stinking Rose over 1/2 dozen times over the years and each time I come to San Francisco I make it a point to visit. I enjoyed myself so much that I encouraged others to visit and even brought my daughter to it. So I was happy when I found out that the restaurant was reopening and I could stop by once again. Unfortunately I only learned after the fact that everything about the restaurant that made it so charming and the food so tasty was no more. While the service was OK, the food was just not up to standards and certainly tasted like a bad rip off of Italian classics. EVERYTHING was so overpriced! When asked if we wanted coffee or dessert we b-lined for the exit. There are definitely a lot of other great Italian restaurants in the North Beach area of San Francisco....so SKIP Stinking Rose and head to them. Won't be visiting ever again!

My husband and I were headed for Cafe Sport or maybe Soto mare, where we’ve had several not cheap but very good meals in the past, but we were so exhausted at the end of a long day that we decided to stop at the Stinking Rose. Big mistake. Bread tasted like those Pillsbury dinner rolls that come in a tube that you crack on a counter edge to open. Pizza came almost immediately, and crust tasted the same as the rolls! We each got a personal pizza for 17$, and my husband got a Lagunitas. I have eaten pizza thousands of times, in many states and a bunch of countries, too, and I’ve had my share of takeout fast food pizzas and frozen bake at home pizzas. We didn’t think it was possible to make a pizza so badly. I ordered a spinach pizza, which had that very weird crust, frozen spinach, and flavorless cheese on it. My husband had the meatball pizza, which was only a little better because it did have tomato sauce on it. The bill was about $50. There are so many excellent restaurants in SF. Go elsewhere. This place takes every shortcut in the book and overcharges. Tourist trap.

We were visiting San Francisco and someone recommended this place to us while we were in town. We stopped here for dinner and got to the door and Victor, the manager, said it would probably take 10 minutes or so to seat our party 4. It didn't take long to get us seated. Jose was our server and he did an awesome job. He gave us great service and made sure we had what we needed. We started with Watermelon Margaritas which were really good. For dinner I had the Salmon which came on top of a bed of lettuce with a side of potatoes. My wife had the 40 Clove garlic chicken and both entrees were delicious. Each entrée came with mashed potatoes. We really wanted to try the cheesecake but unfortunately they were out of cheesecake. This place has great service and good food and you should check them out.

Amazing food. Large portions and very flavorful. Surprisingly, garlic dessert! Didn't make a reservation although to avoid disappointment I would recommend.

Friends had told us about The Stinking Rose as a unique and fun place to dine while in San Francisco, and they were certainly right! Busy and noisy with a great selection of Italian food - this restaurant was the most unique of any location we ate at during our trip last week. The wait staff offered great recommendations, and the food was excellent (40 cloves of garlic chicken, pasta with bolognese, pizza, etc). The garlic ice cream for dessert may be an acquired taste, tho, as it was not particularly a favorite of mine of my wife's. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it!

Honestly, we eat garlic a lot. For this reason decided to visit this place. Not impressed, especially with the environment. Their food was ok.

Don’t get scared by the name. Delicious food at the right quantity and price. Easy to find in the trendiest part of the city.

Very enjoyable meal with my group of 7 including kids. Super atmosphere, fast, attentive and friendly service. Nice drink options and great food (including for those who don't like garlic - eg: kids). Get the roast chicken - you won't regret it!

Charming Italian restaurant serving foods heavy in garlic. This is the place for garlic lovers! Excellent service.

Great food, ambiance, and excellent service. Worth the trip to the City. As a local, we tend to overlook many places which cater mostly to tourists. But it was a beautiful day and we decided to venture out to North Beach and have lunch at the famous Stinking Rose and well worth the trip, traffic, etc. The Prime Rib is a must. The gnochi pasta was excellent too. A bit pricey but even with that, it was still worth it.

We recently had dinner at the Stinking Rose during our recent trip to San Francisco. Yes, the waiters wear 'I Stink' t-shirts. And yes, the walls are decorated with pics of Frank Sinatra and other Italian celebrities. And yes, the menu is crammed full of vampire jokes. And yes, the food is really good and the restaurant is really, really fun. Start with the garlic soaking in a hot tub. Another good choice is the chicken with 40 cloves of garlic. Then if you dare, finish with the garlic ice cream

This is a great place to visit with lots of stuff to gawk at and enjoy. The staff was very friendly and we enjoyed a wide variety of dishes. Great food!

This is a restaurant that my dad visited like a million years ago... and he recommended to me when I was in SF. This is definitely a must go for garlic lovers and I really enjoyed their clams, my sister also said she had one of the best steak in her life.

I took my niece and her boyfriend here as a Welcome to San Francisco dinner. They also loved it. the food was fantastic and the service was very friendly.

Went to The Stinking Rose and sat at the bar. Ordered an apetitiser and entree. Within 10 mins of the appetiser coming out our entrée arrived. We hadn’t finished the appetiser. We ordered rib eye steak medium. The steak was charcoaled on the outside and as we cut into the middle it was rare. Only when we put our napkins on the plate the staff member asked if we wanted it cooked more. This place treats its customers like a conveyor belt - they just want you in and then out - avoid!!!

We were very specifically looking for Carmelized Garlic to slather on SF Sourdough & a delicious "Bagna Cauda," Garlic Anchovy Dip with Crudites. These were both indicated on the menu appearing in the front window. I ignored warnings from fellow "Foodie Friends" about this place as I reasoned that it can't be that inferior. The Garlic arrived with no apparent caramelization. It had, we found out, not been roasted slowly in an oven as is traditionally done, but put cut-side-down to sizzle a bit in a frying pan. Traditionally, the roasting & caramelization process renders the garlic cloves mushy & (mild and nutty) rather than crisp & hot. These were crunchy & HOT as if barely cooked. The Bagna Cauda, which is supposed to taste of sauteed Anchovies and Garlic was weak and almost watery. Our Waiter did not at all look surprised when we asked for our bill with almost the full amounts, still on our table. Once at this place was too much of a visit. Next time we'll avoid this tacky chain & opt for an authentic & small North Beach Italian Place.

We were tired after a long day and so many walking, we stop there without any expectations and we had found that typical and original italian restaurant in SF good price,nice plate, super pizza, affordable wine and fast service, will recommend that place for sure

The prime rib was really tasty and perfectly cooked. Topped with a lot (!) of garlic. Very nice and authentic atmosphere.

A friend suggested the Stinking Rose to me when I visited San Francisco 16 years ago. I remember it as a FANTASTIC!!!! experience. 16 years later, on a trip with my daughter, I wanted to take her to the same restaurant. We were seated quickly (had a reservation), given water and waited quite some time to be greeted by our waiter. He was pleasant when he did come for our order. We started with the garlic skillet appetizer (have purposefully blocked the name from my mind). It tasted too strongly of anchovies, the garlic was just mush and it was beyond oily. Overall, so unpleasant we couldn’t eat more than a few bites. I ordered a lasagna calzone and my daughter ordered the 40 clove chicken. Her chicken was so undercooked that when she cut into it it oozed blood. She cut into in a few other spots and it was indeed undercooked. The waiter offered to “heat it up a bit more” and she passed easily. I did not recognize the shape of my lasagna calzone (have had many and none were the same strange shape), parts of it were burnt and when I cut into it I found only some cheese. It was meant to have a bolognese sauce and sausage along with that cheese. This ended up being only the second time in my life where I got up and left a restaurant. The other time was due to waiting an hour for an iced tea and to order. This was the first time I left because of the food. This whole experience was beyond disappointing. It’s such a shame this restaurant went so downhill over the years.

Very delicious food never restaurant cook like this. I will come again again to the Francisco and visit this restaurant.

Went to the Stinking Rose as sounded quite interesting. Had read that they would do smaller portions for kids, whilst not having a kids menu. When I asked for my son for his sea bass to be kid sized, the waiter said that the fillets were only small, he only ate half. Price including tip was nearly $200 without starters or wine, very over priced for four people. Food was good but not significantly better than other restaurants we have been to whilst away.

We visited here on our last night in San Fran. My husband had the steak and I went for the lamb shank. Neither disappointed! Absolutely delicious and our server Zeb was awesome!

The garlic chicken pasta in tomato black olive sauce tasted like a tomato purée bathing dodgy offcuts of chicken with just two whole olives thrown in with none in the sauce. I could not taste any garlic at all which was disappointing. The bbq ‘garlic’ chicken pizza did not taste of garlic and was a mediocre pizza if that.

This is off the beaten path but because it was highly recommended, we had to venture up here and so glad we did.!! We walked and had intentions of taking an Uber back but the weather was nice so we walked back. The food was amazing. The service was ok. I had the lasagna, I'm still dreaming of how good it tasted. The prices were average. NOTE: If you want bread, you have to order it.

If I could give bonus points I would! This restaurant is just perfect: the decor is great, the service great, Mikiko took very good care of us and the dishes.... FABULOUS. Restaurant not to be missed under any circumstances!

My friends and I were roaming around San Fran and passed this place, we laughed and thought the name was fun and took a couple pics. We later returned on our walk back for dinner and didn't regret it. Food was so rich and flavourful. The table condiment was a herbed garlic mince which was as curious as the name and so delicious I almost got full on just bread and that dip. I barely saved room for my black pasta with clams. Go ahead, try them, it's a great experience.

The food was good, but really didn’t taste of garlic, except the appetizer. Note we LOVE garlic. We eat at The Garlic in New Smyrna Beach, Florida often, and it is a 2.5 hour drive. The Bagna Calda appetizer was basic rolls with a pan of garlic cloves in oil. The garlic was delicious. The light addition of anchovies added depth. The bread did not do the garlic justice. Puglian, French, or another crusty bread would have highlighted the dish better. We both chose pastas and they were served so quickly we called them “formulaic.” I chose Short Rib Ravioli with Tomato Cream Marinara. The Short Rib meat was good, probably best I’ve had. They were large raviolis and the sauce was average. My husband had the fettuccine with Garlic Brie & mushrooms. He thought it was okay. The staff was only interested in standing near the door and chatting with each other. No banter with the guests, recommendations from their menu or other local insights. The meal was acceptable, but we wouldn’t eat there again.

Made a same day reservation with a note to say we had just gotten married in Vegas and flying back to the UK tomorrow, incase they could make it a special evening. We arrived and I told the server to possibly read the reservation note, they didn't....the disappointment was a fair bit. I asked for a table outside for a bit of atmosphere and it was nice to not have to wait as I'm guessing most people like to sit there under the heaters on a cute little table on the street. We ordered some bread and garlic to start which was yummy! I then had the garlic chicken and mushroom pasta with a mountain of parmesan which was AMAZING! My husband had the calzone, I did pinch a bit to try and that was so so good! The female server did like to ignore us when I asked her for water a couple of times which I felt was slightly rude but the male servers were always on the ball. I forgot to take photos, which isn't usually like me but definitely make a visit here, even if I felt a little neglected when I first arrived due to the reservation note not being read.

We went with my husband and baby toddler, few days ago, it was good but not delicious. We had higher expectations, mature because the recommendations we had before. But still it was good! They had plenty of room inside but expect $50 per person.

Food is okay but not amazing, even their signature dishes. The settings make the place very loud, not great for conversations. Service was very friendly.

We visited the restaurant on Monday night, it was reasonably busy which was nice. We had gnocchi and ravioli, both tasted like they were from a packet. The sauces on both were average, I would have been disappointed if this was a ready meal. It’s a shame because the restaurant was in a good location and staff were friendly.

Have eaten here before on a prior trip to San Fran. You have to like garlic as it is in everything. Very unique with great food and service. Recommend the crab and shrimp trays, the garlic spinach fondue and the pizzas. You can buy shirts etc when leaving. Highly recommend for something different. Even garlic ice cream!

Twenty-odd years after our first visit we thought a return trip was in order! The atmosphere was buzzy and fun, and the food and service were great, especially the garlic ice cream! It was expensive though, coming in at $140 incl tax and service. Overall, well worth a visit, but I’m not sure we’ll be back for a third time.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in SF. Recently moved to a new location across Columbus Avenue, its tight, bright, colorful, lively, and located on the main drag in North Beach -- the sort of neighborhood with an Italian flag on every light pole. I had the calzone and it was great.

Went here in February after it had been highly recommended. It might have just been an off night, as it had no atmosphere and the food was OK. My wife had gnocchi and was disappointed with it. I won't be rushing back.

Zebulon made our experience delightful. Amazing man! He was really helpful with the menu as it was our first time there and he made some GREAT recommendations. I would highly recommend the mussels and the shrimp! I had a fantastic birthday and they made it really special for me. Excellent staff and service. Great food!

Such high expectations, but a poor experience for the price paid. Having booked several months in advance, we arrived and were taken to a small eating area above the main restaurant, rather than being seated in the main area or outside. The place was only half full! We did see another guest having a disagreement with a waiter about his seating. We ordered Bruschetta, followed by the Salmon, and the 40 clove garlic chicken. Part way through eating our starter, the main courses arrived, so we politely turned them away. We finished our starter, which took another 20 minutes and asked for a short break before the mains (we did not want to rush the meal). When the mains arrived, it was clear they were the original meals that had been ready to serve 30 minutes ago - the chicken with mash potato was very hot but dried out and the garlic sauce congealed, and the salmon was mainly cold ! The waiter confirmed they were the original meals, and had simply been left under the heater for 30 minutes. He wasn't keen to make fresh ones, and asked what we expected him to do with these meals!! They did cook and bring fresh meals to us, and they were fine (the chicken was good, and the salmon was average) - a shame about the waiter's attitude and how it made us feel. For a pre-booked relatively expensive meal, the overall experience was very poor, and it was no surprise that the restaurant wasn't full. We won't be eating at The Stinking Rose again...

We stopped here without reservation for an early dinner and had a great experience. The service was friendly and very attentive. the food was delicious, I had the garlic chicken and my wife had the ravioli and they were both delicious. The garlic ice cream was also interesting!

A colleague recommended this place and we went thinking it was standard Italian . It’s more of a garlic restaurant than Italian . Although I like garlic , I wasn’t prepared for the excessive amount that each meal contained . It wouldn’t be for me but lots of my colleagues love it . Apparently you can request less. Decor is very traditional .

Amazing food! I wanted to try everything. Its a different place for sure! You will need gum but its so worth it.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary and it was wonderful. Great service and food. The atmosphere was nice as well. If you love garlic, you’ve gotta come here.

We experienced their great wine selection and service. Ambience was wonderful! The menu almost talked us into an early dinner, but we'll be back for dinner next time!

Awesome , amazing menu, fantastic service and great decor. Don’t have the garlic mussels, you won’t stop eating them . Garlic encrusted rib eye the best !

We had a wonderful time here. There is a wide choice on the menu with enough to suit every palate. Portions are a good size.

What a great evening out! Our group of six thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at "The Stinking Rose"! From the bread with garlic, parsley & oil to our mains (many of us enjoyed the 40-clove roast chicken) to the awesome dessert to which they treated us for free (since my husband had a few unopened clams in his shellfish linguine - nice touch), everything was awesome! It was a wonderful dining experience!

Tour guide recommended Stinking Rose to our group. We decided to take him up on it. We're really glad we did. I got the pasta bolognese, which was excellent. Wife got a garlic brie chicken and mushrooms; it was likewise superb. Waiter, Pablo, was attentive and knowledgeable. Would definitely go back!

Visited San Fran with family from the US and absolutely loved it. As a European with loads of Italian restaurants in our country, we were really missing a nice Italian meal and this really hit the spot! Thank you for a lovely dinner

I love this place I only got to go once but I never thought I could eat a whole bulb of garlic and I can! Plus the rare steak was the most amazing thing I ever tasted. I wait for the day I can go back.

We didn’t book and it as really busy but as we went quite late we got a table. Both dishes were nice. I had the crab al fredo which was nice but portion was smaller than expected. Service was good and food came out quickly. Nice decor.

We found ourselves in the Italian district by chance having gone to Washington square as we hadn’t been there yet on our trip. We walked for a while before someone suggested The Stinking Rose. The restaurant was very dimly lit and my wife had to use the torch on her phone to read the menu. It did improve slightly when the lights were brought up but not by any great amount. It was an unusually hot day but inside the restaurant one ceiling fan struggled to make it any more comfortable and our group turned to fanning themselves with anything to hand. The food was average and the restaurant appeared to play on the overall theme of lacing everything to excess with garlic. My wife had the lamb shank which was scattered with a dozen or so cloves. I had the Lasagne which was ok but small and just wasn’t worth €25. SF prices maybe but I want to come away having thought money well spent. Overall average I’m afraid to say.

We started with the Bagna Calda, Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub. Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. This was so good with the fresh-baked focaccia bread. I had the meatloaf, my wife the roasted chicken. We shared our servings. The meatloaf was delicious, savory and juicy. The roasted chicken was perhaps the BEST roasted chicken I have EVER tasted, and I LOVE chicken. It was done perfectly and the seasonings were excellent. We live in Portland OR and I would fly here just for the chicken!!! Our server Alejandro, was spot on and very attentive.

The spaghetti and meatballs were flavorless. The forty garlic chicken was good. Disappointed in the food overall for price.

The idea of eating somewhere with garlic as the star is novel! With this comes a price tag as well, if you put that to the side and just enjoy the food, you’ll have a fun evening. The meatballs were a good way to start the meal. We had the lamb and 40 clove chicken, both were really good. The cheesecake and chocolate doom were a nice way to finish off our meal. My wife and I both have an intolerance to egg and after eating here we both had some form of digestive reaction. It may be a suggestion if they are to check the ingredients of each of these meals again.

The wait staff were very friendly. The bread with garlic sauce is really good. My husband's prime rib was delicious. I ordered the meatloaf and unfortunately did not come out hot.

Had a great garlic dinner. Only backside was that you taste garlic some hours (read days...) afterwards.. Their garlic wine was unfortunately out of stock so sadly we couldn't try it. Friendly staff, ok facility. Focus on the food!

I remember when the place was full and bustling. The food was amazing, the bread and garlic spread were complimentary. But when we visited last week, it was nothing like the old times. Cold bread, cold garlic spread and poor service. The dishes were really overpriced and underwhelming. If you are going to charge $16 for a salad, please make sure it’s worth it. Not just a small portion of dressed cherry tomatoes. Do not recommend.

The service was incredibly poor. We made a reservation for 6:30pm, and were not seated until about 7:00pm. At one point, the host (of which there were two) walked us up to the second floor, at which point he promptly turned around and told us there was no space and we’d have to wait further. No problem - they have a bar where we could wait. But then when we were finally seated, it was impossible to get service. We had to ask the host to please make sure the server checked in with us. We had asked for water for three times, and only got it when we had talked to the host. From there, the server checked in about every 3 minutes for 20 minutes - radio silence after. The hosts were kind - the servers not so much. The food was incredibly average, certainly nothing worth waiting +30 minutes (WITH reservation). It was fun to go to a “San Francisco Institution” - but otherwise? Waste of time and money.

Fun restaurant in the heart of SF! Order and share plates to allow you to try multiple items. Take some time to check out the memorabilia on the walls. Mushroom ravioli, prime rib, spinach cheese garlic dip and don’t forget garlic mashed potatoes.

The food is so much better than we expected. This is a fun “novelty” restaurant and so we thought it em be style over substance. We had it recommended and so have it a try. The meal was so good - especially the Bagna Calda. This is a shared starter of slow roasted garlic in olive oil which you spread over bread. Sweet, creamy & delish. I also had the seafood fettuccine. Massive portion which tasted great

We had a group of six & I reserved a table on Open Table. When we got there, we were seated right away. Our waiter Nick was awesome & very informative on all the dishes. The guy that was delivering our drinks/food was sweet too. The Brie & the mushroom ravioli was so yummy! Loved the blood orange margarita.

The restaurant was almost empty, but the service was very slow. The sandwiches we had (bacon, crab) were just ok. When my son asked for some lettuce on his hamburger, they charged an extra $2 for two small pieces of lettuce. And there was no taste of garlic in our sandwiches, even though it was supposed to, according to the menu.

Most everything here is centered around garlic, which was fine for us. Even the decor includes a record garlic chain around the ceiling. Garlic chicken was very flavorful and juicy, BBQ pizza was enough for two at lunch, and even the unique garlic vanilla ice cream was good.

A few people had recommended The Stinking Rose to us before we went on our holiday to San Fran and I'd say this is one of the best recommendations! Great restaurant, good atmosphere and absolutely loved the food, especially the crabs and prawns in garlic sauce!! For a garlic lover this restaurant is not to be missed. But it is a great restaurant regardless and would highly recommend.

So excited to try out the original stinking rose in San Francisco... what a great place try the garlic martini

We popped in here for a pizza on our last day in SF. We chose a table outside which had heaters and it was lovely. We sat and watched the world go by on busy Columbus Avenue. The food was lovely and the staff were friendly, polite and attentive. Well worth a visit.

We had a great experience here for dinner just a few nights ago. The place was rocking and the area is so vibrant and alive! Our waiter was outstanding and the food was delicious. Super fun atmosphere; great for families! Will definitely go here again!

If you are walking the city, make sure to head to North Beach neighborhood and visit this place. You won't want to miss a little garlic in everything and save room for dessert.

I had dinner with a group of colleagues at the Stinking Rose on February 5, 2020. Overall, the service was very good, and for San Francisco the prices were pretty reasonable. This place specializes in garlic heavy food. I’ve eaten here before and have always enjoyed it, and have never thought they were too heavy handed with the garlic. This time I had garlic Dungeness crab, and it was awesome!

Still a solid three star review. Unfortunately The stinking Rose has replaced the restaurant that used to be where The stinking Rose is now. New menu with no fried calamari. Margarita Pizza is different now, and definitely not as good as it was. I kind of want the old restaurant back.

Contrary to popular belief, vampires love garlic. And you won't find more garlic than at the Stinking Rose. The food is fantastic, wonderfully seasoned with plenty of garlic. I would suggest beginning with Garlic in a Hot Tub. A pan of garlic roasted in olkve oil, butter and a small dose of sardines. You spread it on the warm, house made bread. It was delicious. We also had the prime rib, sea bass and mushroom raviolis. Everything was excellent. The decor was fun and light hearted. As you walk-in be sure to look up at the longest garlic braid in the world. Longer than a football field. If you are in San Francisco this deffinately worth your time.

A bit noisy but you’re in the heart of North Beach so lots of traffic and people. But our pasta (ravioli and fettuccine and two sandwiches wee really good. We are every bite! The portions were a reasonable size for lunch. We dared to try the garlic ice cream! The goest bite was pretty garlic-y but after that it was just plain delicious. Try it!

Nestled in between SF's historic North Beach and Broadway neighborhoods, The Stinking Rose is a classic restaurant with unique bites that do well to summarize the eclectic dining elements of San Francisco. While rooted in Italian fare, fusion elements from around the world plus the local's love of Dungeness crab are all connected to the fantastic cooking element of garlic (the capital for which is only 2 hours away in Gilroy, CA). The general decor of the place is best summarized as "kitchy chaos", but the food and service are of a quality well beyond the eye-grabbing atmosphere of this hot dining spot. This is a must-hit spot for visitors taking in the sights, and also a beloved regular spot for frequent visitors and residents of North Beach.

It’s a great place. Everything on the menu is infused with garlic, the decor of the place is very nice. Be prepared to smell like garlic of the night! The service was friendly and the food came fast. This was an enjoyable experience. I’d recommend the seafood and crab over the steaks and chicken. Also the black linguine with clams was my fav dish!

I can't count the people who recommended this restaurant to us before our trip. The "garlic" restaurant " you have to try it". Very disappointing my steak was ok just ok. Her chicken pizza was shockingly bad. The starter garlic dumped in a heap of oil was an experience. One to avoid.

If you are a fan of garlic or even if you’re not, the stinking rose has absolutely wonderful food. Even the non-garlic lovers enjoyed their meals. Highly recommend.

Great unique restaurant. Don’t come here if you don’t like garlic. It’s great that it has its own gimmick, and as we like garlic we loved the food! The staff were great. You obviously leave with powerful garlic breath so don’t plan anything in confined spaces for afterwards. The resulting farts alone are enough to clear any space, so leave your bedroom window open! Great restaurant, I highly recommend.

Please don’t leave San Francisco without eating here. It’s incredible- the decor the food the service, everything was exactly perfect

Pretty good food but the garlic cloves is what stands out. TONS of delicious amazing garlic. Pretty sure garlic prevents hangovers. After dinner I went out to a bar in downtown SF and got smashed, about 8 cocktails. Super drunk. Woke up the next morning with zero hangover feeling like a million bucks and I attribute that to the garlic I had at stinking rose for dinner prior to drinking. And service here was amazing. I had a very cool waiter, older dude, wish I could remember his name. Been working there for years. My group of 4 all had a fun time and I would def go back!

We dined here (old location) about 20 years ago so when we had one night in SF, with fond memories, we dined again. In terms of a good, tasty meal, it hit the notes. However in terms of a strongextra strong garlic flavour (as its legend suggests), it initially missed the high notes unfortunately. I did ask for an extra order of garlic to smother the 40-clove chicken and the garlic pasta dishes we ordered which increased the game. For me, it needed that extra kick. We did finish off with the garlic ice cream, which had a hint of garlic, but not a strong presence. We ate outside, which was nice, service was good.

Disappointing. Food was tasty, but expensive. Felt like a conveyor belt, we were fed quickly and offered to pay the bill quickly. We wanted a nice relaxed evening with some good food to celebrate our anniversary, instead we ate and left in around 30 mins!

The ambience was interesting because it was all red and there were lots of mirrors on the walls. It seemed as if the manager had taken over the premises of a Chinese restaurant. The service was quick and made an effort to take the order quickly. The bruschetta was very garlicky, but quite tasty. The same was true of the lasagne, which was tasty. The ravioli had too thick a dough, which strangled the filling. It was edible. The cheesecake that was served later was also unfortunately only mediocre. When this had all been eaten, the waiter came unprompted with the bill. Remarkable timing.

We visited The Stinking Rose in San Francisco based on a friend’s recommendation, and it truly lived up to the hype for garlic lovers. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the staff were more than happy to suggest dishes for first time visitors. The restaurant’s lively atmosphere and unique decor also added to the experience. It’s definitely a must visit spot when in San Francisco!

This is a fantastic restaurant, the food is delicious and there is so much garlic it could kill a Vampire. I would definitely go back, the staff were friendly and the food was amazing, did I mention that they use a lot of Garlic.

I was delighted to learn that this storied garlic lover's eaterie was back in a new location after the pandemic shutdowns. I'm from L.A., and our location has closed permanently, a other Covid casualty. My first day back this year was busy, I hit the ground running after an early arrival and kept on going until I realized it was time for some dinner. I sat at the bar and observed the busy atmosphere. People were out and about, and that was great to see. I opted for the always delicious bruschetta, followed by the house special salad with shrimp. As always, the portions were fine and the food was fresh. Glad to be back, and to see familiar sights open for business again. Now, if the old clam house could reopen as well....

This is a different kind of restaurants based mainly on garlic , if you are not a fan of garlic then I’ll not recommend it. The ambiance and decoration of the restaurant is amazing and you feel you are in a different world once you step in. The ribeye 12 oz was really good along with the mash potatoes and spinach yet the chicken pasta was not good at all and I read the same comments from other reviewers so I really recommend the Managment to look into it to be at the same standards of the resturant. I loved the experience.

If you like garlic this should be the place, better it was the place… now it is a very touristic restaurant that serves a sort of Italian food for people that do not have an idea of what it is… Italian food; the only garlic dish is what they call bagna calda, that has nothing to do with bagna cauda…..

We've been to this place 2 times. We went on our first trip many years ago. Excellent. The 2nd time we took the family who loved both the place and the food. All perfect. It was unreserved but we arrived on a good time and gave td right. I'll come back other times if I have the chance.

Was a definite worth going experience. The atmosphere was great as the food. The waiters were excellent and gave me a brand new menu for a keepsake that I have displayed on my wall.

An original place where the entire menu has garlic, even dessert. Original and central place, good cuisine with a very pleasant atmosphere and attention

Came here for dinner on a Saturday and it was packed. The place seemed smaller than the first time I was here about 25 yrs ago. Wife has never been here so we decided to try Whole crab (3.5/5): wife loves crab in general. She said it was fresh but it was too salty Sizzling garlic ribeye (3.5/5): it was fine. I ordered medium, but it was a little more cooked than that. Garlic potstickers (3/5): nice crisp, however filling was just average. The tables were tiny, so the wife had a difficult time enjoying her crab. We ended up taking most of it home. Street parking was almost impossible to find, so we parked in the Chinatown garage and took a 5-10 minute walk. Service was excellent. Two entrees, one appetizer, tax and top came out to $165.

Took a while to find parking. On the edge of China Town. I got the ribeye and my wife got the 40 clove chicken. I wish I had gotten the chicken which was very good. I love garlic as this is a garlic restaurant, but was expecting more. I noticed the table next to us got the garlic ice cream, everyone said it was good, but no one finished it.

Great food but man was it loud in there couldn’t enjoy the meal as the manager / owner was shouting at some friends everybody trying to outdo each other phew 😅

Heard about this world famous restaurant before our trip. It’s on the same cross road where Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire almost had her handbag snatched in the 90’s movie! This restaurant was packed on a Monday night - full of locals as well as tourists. Pics attached. We had to book. Highly recommend this eatery. A friendly greeting on the way in. Taken past a full wall of merchandise. Everything from garlic hats, mugs, t-shirts to their own branded garlic oils. We would of taken some back to the UK but we thought they may leak in our luggage. Food wise we were given freshly baked bread and garlic oils complimentary. We had the garlic fondue, garlic,white onion and potato soup followed by garlic buttery mash and lamb shanks. All d-lish! Staff were attentive but not annoyingly so. We had a look at the dessert menu - but were too full for their branded award winning garlic ice Cream ! It was $145 inc tip for x2 mains, a coke & a blood orange margarita. So not cheap - but worth it for s special meal. A romantic setting and we advise you go on your vacation.

Went to the Stinking Rose for Dad’s Birthday dinner - his choice. 2nd time in San Fran and second visit here. We stuffed ourselves with the bread and the garlic, then our party enjoyed their seafood pasta, gnocchi w meat sauce, fish, and garlic steak. Everything was delicious, especially the perfectly cooked steak and Mom loved her seafood pasta dish. Thanks to the staff who sat us in a nice table near a window and sang happy birthday to my Dad who had to wear a hilarious garlic hat! Totally recommend this garlicky delicious restaurant when in San Fran!!!

Everything we ate here was delicious!! The rolls they give you to start were fresh, and with the table garlic placed on them made a great start to dinner. I had the 40 clove garlic chicken with mashed potatoes - my only regret is I got too full to finish it. Chicken was moist and the dish wasn’t overwhelmingly garlicy. My boyfriend got the garlic shrimp pizza, which must have been good as all that was left were crumbs! We were recommended this place by a friend, and boy were we glad we went and so will you be!

I eat at the Stinking Rose every time I am in San Francisco and it never disappoints. I was here with my partner and some friends for a 4 night 60th birthday celebrations and after a wonderful weekend of friends, fun and food we spent our last evening here. Service was wonderful, the food was exceptional, the wine was flowing and we all had an amazing evening!

A thoroughly enjoyable meal with excellent table service. Couldn’t fault anything. The attention to details was particularly good; water was constantly topped up and, despite it being a very busy evening, their standards didn’t slip.

I’m not sure where this place gets so many positive reviews. The food is mediocre at best with a reduced menu which claims to have ‘garlic’ as the center piece while in reality anyone with a somewhat discerning taste would agree that garlic is absent, used inadequately and simply bad. Service was bad, the waiter didn’t offer any recommendations and showed up twice at most during our dinner. The ‘garlic onion soup’ tasted like old potato water and the bread was just old and stale. I can see why some people might enjoy the decor and marketing behind the garlic obsession but there many other better restaurants in North Beach.

Wow. I love garlic, and they do it so well here. Life without garlic would not be worth living. That having been said, I managed to get my Garlic Overload here and couldn't finish my dinner! Started with garlic olive oil and bread....so good.....on to a garlic laden pasta dish. It was awesome, but I hit my saturation point eventually. Still, if you're a garlic lover, you need to go and find your own saturation point. You'll thoroughly enjoy the journey!

Was excited to try this restaurant but was extremely disappointed. Iced tea isn't even fresh brewed. Bread came out with the dipping pesto. Garlic pesto was good but the bread was nothing special at all. Didn't even taste fresh. We ordered a large salad to split. At $13 it came as hunks of yellow butter lettuce, a few cut cherry tomatos and a sprinkling of rancid pine nuts. Seriously? The lasagna was good but not anywhere close to the best I have ever had. Would NOT recommend.

My husband and I concluded our trip to San Francisco with this very interesting and fun restaurant. It's definitely a different dining experience and one we plan on doing again next time we are in the City. We celebrated my husband's birthday there, where the staff happily sang Happy Birthday and placed a garlic hat on his head. It was great fun. We both had the Italian Meatloaf dinner; certainly a different twist to traditional meatloaf. Whole cloves of garlic as well as broccoli pieces. The whole cloves of garlic were a bit much in the meatloaf and although it was a very good meal, I would have preferred the garlic to have been chopped smaller. A bit pricey, but hey...it's San Francisco. Fun place.

We went to The Stinking Rose on a recommendation and found the food good but not exceptional and the service poor. We had pizza, seafood pasta, and steak, and started with their famous garlic appetizer. All of it was fine but nothing noteworthy. The meal felt rushed and our server checked on us just once after we ordered. It took forever to get our check. Later in our trip we mentioned that ate at The Stinking Rose and our friend said “are they even still open?” That about sums it up!

You will know when you're near - that heavenly aroma will entice you. For devotees of garlic it will be an enjoyable experience. Groups would be well advised to reserve a table. Portions were generous, but the menu is a little pricey... Had heard good things about steaks but was not prepared to pay as much as was asked. Trademark Bagna Calda is tasty and would be a great shared app for a group. I had ordered it (loved it!) but didn't realize my meal would come with an additional side of the roasted garlic as well. Roast chicken is flavourful juicy. Server was welcoming and witty!

The name refers to a Roman reference to garlic. I love it, and they use it. Not to overpower, but certainly to celebrate. I had a chicken mushroom linguini, with the pasta obviously hand-made. When presented it looked sparse, but girl, it was everything a traveling 152 pound white man needed. Base your appetizer and desert choices from there.

The menu is somewhat limited but interesting. The bread was great. The olive oil spread is homemade with pesto. I used it on my sea bass because the sauce was somewhat bland. My friend enjoyed the portabello mushroom dish.The service was good. However, the chairs are very, very hard and uncomfortable.

Don't go if you don't love the bulb.....OMGGGGGGarlic Get the appetizer of roasted garlic and split entrees. Delicious wine list and everything is loaded!

Very delicous Food. We had the Ravioli. The best Ravioli ever and i am an expert 😘 Super garlic experience, but not strong in the taste

Called in for a quick pasta lunch which was good. Food and service great but probably a little expensive for a quick bite- our fault/choice. I would love to go back at night as it looks as if it would have a great atmosphere and the food and service was great.

Heard good things about this restaurant so my boyfriend and I decided to visit while we were staying down the street. We absolutely loved this place!! We had the GNOCCHI with bread for an appetizer. He had the seafood cioppino & he loved it!! I had the garlic mushroom fettuccini. 5/5! We also had a few cocktails which were tasty! (watermelon cocktail & moscule mule). The garlic ice cream was 10/10! Definitely a must! We will for sure be back next time we visit SF. & our server was amazing too! Thank you for such a wonderful visit!

Yes, there is lots of garlic in the food. We had mushroom ravioli which was delicious. The sauce was rich and flavorful. I'd suggest sharing as it would be too much for one. The panzanella salad was not our favorite. Our service was excellent.

Whilst in San Francisco on business I decided to check out The Stinking Rose and only regret I cannot fit more food in my stomach. Full of flavours, really friendly service.

I was concerned that the food would be overly seasoned with garlic, but it was the perfect amount. Our waitress was very nice, but a little scatter-brained, as it was in the middle of the dinner rush. Not the best Italian I've ever had, but the food was good and it was worth a trip to experience the unique concept and decor. Overall good experience

The crab had outstanding flavor. Although I wish it would have come with a side. It was just the crab. The baguette with garlic was wonderful also. The 40 clove chicken was surprisingly not very flavorful.

The best meal I’ve eaten since being in the US over last 2 weeks. I had the garlic chicken and mushroom brie pasta and oh my it was gorgeous! My friend got the bolognaise we were both really impressed. The portion size was great and the service was so fast. It was pricey in comparison to UK however still relative in relation to every where else in San Fran! I would definitely go back if I was staying here!

Went here with a friend while in town for a long weekend. The wait at Soto Mare was 2 hours long and we were starving so tried the Stinking Rose. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was good. I had the seafood soup, and my friend had the meatloaf. The portions are very big, and they have a good wine list.

The food is very git, meat cooked perfectly to the point. Garlic taste not intrusive. Tables rather small and close together. High volume in the restaurant

I'm a Local, and TheStinkingRose of old is greatly missed - this new version may look good, with enticing pretty sidewalk tables, but the food is not worth the time or cost. Better go into the inner neighborhoods for really good food. I had an early dinner before attending a neighborhood meeting. I could hardly find anything on the limited and WAY OVERPRICED menu, then chose the Fettuccini-Fresh Tomatoes. Firstly, the waitress could not describe the ingredients/preparation, the pasta was stuck together and overcooked - a real sin, the sauce was bland and under seasoned (saltless) and relied upon garlic to dominate, the arugula was no help but maybe basil instead would have helped. The $30-plus bill was not worthy it for a quick one dish, no wine meal needed before going out to advocate for local businesses. Now I feel the need to rush out to find a good plate of pasta elsewhere to correct my disappointment in my once favorite restaurant.

I guess I was just thinking a full garlic bomb, but it was far more delicate and tasty than that....add a Chianti and amazing decor - we had a great meal! Don’t miss the garlic bread and meatballs as appies to go with the rolls!!

What an amazing place! Once we were seated in a position we approved of, we settled into the quirky environment, with mirrors and pew-like booths to enrich the visual experience, we enjoyed an excellent meal, lamb shanks and spare ribs cooked to perfection, and I even ventured to taste the garlic ice cream which was much more pleasant that I could have imagined. It really is unique and, despite the negative reviews, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and would recommend the place.

The restaurant is focused on garlic. Yes, everything has garlic, but I was pleased to realize that it wasn't overdone. Most dishes are not overpowered with garlic. They have some gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options on the menu as of August 2019.

We loved our night here, the food was great and not too badly priced. We didn't have a booking but the staff were more than accommodating and we got a great table outside.

We were really looking forward to eating here but what a disappointment. Average impersonal service and average food. We were eating our starters and our main courses arrived. The waiter just dumped the lot on the table and walked off ! Don’t plan on spending a nice long leisurely meal here as we arrived at 8pm and were out the door at 8.50. So many better places to eat in San Francisco. This is one to avoid. Looks like it’s glory days over. The food is way overpriced for the quality served. Thought we have just caught them on an off night but reading the reviews it would appear not. Not for me !

I just love this place especially the roasted garlic what a way to start a meal . I like every thing they have especially the chicken

Was super excited for this landmark restaurant only to find out its a tourist trap and not an authentic Italian restaurant. I'd pass if I was you!

I've been to SFO many times and I often find myself here because my party wants to attend. Sure, if you like garlic, this is the place to go but be clear a) it's overpriced, b) there are other great restaurants that are better and a five minute walk away. I've had some great waiters there and others, not so much.

Our group of nine enjoyed the Stinking Rose. Call for reservations or go at an off time or you will wait for a table. The food is fantastic and our service was great. And note it is pricey. I highly recommend you putting this on your list of places to visit when in San Fran.

Their motto - "we season our garlic with food". This garlic restaurant in Little Italy was recommended by a friend and we decided to make a reservation. I love how there's a jug of water ready for us although we were seated at a dark corner and next to a rather loud group. We were given some bread rolls with a garlic olive oil dip which works for a garlic lover like me but not for my girl who didn't fancy so much garlic. And I ordered a Blood Orange Margarita which was pretty good to me as it wasn't very strong in alcohol. Then we shared a pepperoni garlic pizza (6/10 - would have preferred crust thinner), a shrimp and mussels with roasted garlic (6.5/10 - was quite plain except for roasted garlic, the dipping sauce was too watery and salty) and a gemelli pasta with garlic meatballs (8/10 - the meatballs and the tomato-based sauce were good). I like garlic so it was ok for me but it was too overwhelming for the rest of my family who thought there were too much of it.

We ordered the Bagna Cauda, 40 clove roast chicken and a 16oz ribeye. The chickens and Bagna Cauda were excellent. The steak, however, was a little over done. I ordered a medium rare and it came well done. It was still good, but I have to deduct a star for this. Overall, I enjoyed the meal.

My wife and I had dinner here last Saturday, prior to a Beach Blanket show. The service was excellent and the food was very tasty. Our server was very attentive, despite the fact that the place was packed, and was very mindful of our need to get to the show on time.

If you like garlic this is the place for you. You can smell it as soon as you walk in the door. Has a nice tradition feel.

The Stinking Rose, a famous Italian restaurant known for its use of garlic, has a new location on Columbus Avenue where Calzone Restaurant used to be. There is outdoor and indoor seating. I opted for the outdoor seating - great for people watching. I had a panini with a beer. The panini was average. Maybe I will try pasta another time.

60 visits over 30 years, first one since 2019, it's dead, the food is bad, the atmosphere is bad, doesn't smell like garlic, no clove and bread when you sit and menu shrunk by 50%.

The food is delicious, the waiters were super attentive and even though you can't eat anything, it's totally worth it! There are options for those who don't eat garlic. It's in a region that's worth getting to know.

We first visited the Stinking Rose many years ago on our first trip to San Francisco and loved it. We were glad to see that it is still here and still very good. Their menu is all garlic based and very flavorful. Everything is fresh and perfectly cooked. We had the Bagna Calda which is roasted garlic cloves. They were perfectly cooked and spread like butter. We also had the pizza which was very good. Hopefully they will still be here if we ever get back to San Francisco.

We loved our first visit here in 2019 my daughter made sure we had to come this visit to San Francisco and it was excellent again! There were eight of us and we all found our meals delicious! The drinks were perfect! Garlic lovers paradise! Excellent service by the staff making our experience even better with the excellent atmosphere! Did I say excellent food?!!! Thank you for a wonderful dining experience!

Came here solo for lunch. Did not have a reservation but they asked if I wanted inside or not. There was another solo diner outside so I opted for that as it was a beautiful cool but sunny day. I was a bit worried as there wasn't a whole lot of sidewalk but it was perfect and the people watching was great! Highly, highly recommend the Garlic Fennel Sausage (with extra garlic LOL). The crust was light, the finely chopped red onion and garlic was perfect and the sausage took it over the top! I ate the entire thing by myself! The staff were very kind, always refilling water and checking on me.

If you’re a fan of garlic then this restaurant is a must. The quality of the food is great and the taste is fantastic. Yes you’re going to smell the following day but it’s worth it! Reasonable cost, friendly helpful staff and great atmosphere

I have eaten at this restaurant on every trip to San Francisco. The food is always delicious! I recommend the short ribs! My friends enjoyed the dishes they chose as well. Highly recommend! Located in Italian Town.

We returned to The Stinking Rose because our first experience over 30 years ago was outstanding. We were first seated in a dark back alcove next to a family whose kids were very "agitated". The hostess didn't respond when I commented but, after asking one of the serving staff if there was a better lit table appropriate for a couple, he found us the perfect spot. The staff are still as great as ever and the aromas from the kitchen were divine (we love garlic!). My lasagna was delicious but my husband’s ribeye steak was riddled with fat and gristle and not worth the $42 price tag... unfortunate because, once we changed tables, everything else about the evening was very nice.

We had wanted to try this restaurant for a long time and loved the idea of a garlic theme throughout the menu. Reality is that this is a nice restaurant with okay food and friendly service, but probably not as good or different as we had hoped for.

My first time back in about 20 years and I can't say it's what I remembered. It's a quaint little restaurant that is full of bustle. We didn't have reservations but they took us to a table upstairs. I would have preferred a downstairs table as it has a "warmer" feel to it. The upstairs feels isolated, like that table no one wants. Our server came over right away and took our drink order and we also ordered the Bagna Calda (Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub). This was my mistake because what I really wanted was the Roasted Garlic Bulb. But the Bagna Calda was at the top of the menu and highlighted as one of their specialties, I thought I was ordering the roasted garlic. They brought rolls that were somewhat warm, but lost their warmth rather quickly from the plate they were on. Most restaurants bring rolls out in a basket wrapped in a napkin to preserve the heat. The rolls seem fresh and are lightly basted with garlic. The table has a jar of olive oil and crushed garlic. I think you truly have to be a BIG lover of garlic to use that spread. Honestly, it would be better with some parsley and/or oregano, possibly some crushed red peppers. But I would have been happier with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar. For dinner, I decided to keep it simple with the Mushroom Ravioli and my friend had the Salmon with the acini and lemon butter caper sauce. We didn't wait long for the dinner to arrive and it looked very fresh. One bite of the ravioli and I could tell this was very fresh pasta. The mushroom cream sauce was amazing! I had fresh Parmesan grated over the pasta and it really did add to the taste. I think there were a dozen ravioli and it was a very filling dish. I would have liked a little more sauce but it was delicious and I highly recommend. My friends Salmon was also amazing! A generous piece of salmon atop a large helping of acini and the lemon butter caper sauce was incredible! My friend who rarely finishes a whole meal, let alone one this large, was surprised at herself when she finished the whole meal! I had a couple of bites myself and would also recommend this dish! The food here is unquestionably fresh and very delicious. It does make me want to come back and try some of the other dishes. When I came here a long time ago, I remember the roasted garlic bulb being so delicious and I was disappointed I ordered the wrong item, the garlic in the hot tub. I think you REALLY have to be a BIG garlic lover to enjoy this dish. It comes just moderately warm and it's just too much. I do like garlic and cook with it regularly but it's just a bit much. And maybe they will put their rolls in a regular basket to keep them warm. Good restaurant and I would recommend.

While on a quick trip to San Francisco, this place caught our eyes while driving by on a city tour. We looked in to it online and decided to try it out. Party of four. While the theme and restaurant were captivating, our meals were not over-the-top garlicky. It was good, just not as garlicky as we had hoped. It has all the earmarks of a tourist joint with a catchy name, very prominent signage, and interior decoration that you can spend hours staring at. It is possible that some locals enjoy the fare. We saw a party of 12 that could have been a business function or a large group traveling together. All in all, a unique experience that you might as well do at least once.

Wife and I have been here a couple times and we're excited to have dinner during our most recent trip to San Francisco. We took the cable car to Chinatown and during our walk around town we came up to the Stinking Rose and decided to stop for lunch. I had the roasted garlic chicken and my wife had the peperoni pizza. We were less than impressed and disappointed with our visit. Here's why.... - they changed locations to across the street and we felt it had lost its ambiance. - the pizza was good but nothing special - the garlic chicken was barely cooked enough and they didn't give you the pile of roasted garlic cloves with the meal. Mashed potatoes seemed to have too much oil... - we also ordered bread but didn't get the roasted garlic to add on top.

Some of the best Italian cooking I have had. A long established restaurant that quite a few people mentioned to us as a must. Really pleased we booked a dinner. Easy online booking system, well priced a you will not leave hungry. Recommend the meat balls.

Hence the name of the restaurant, everything is infused or made with garlic. Some people get nasty garlic breath and reek from garlic for days. Not me, so I went for it and enjoyed every last bit of it. I had the Sea Bass. They even have garlic ice cream. We did not try it, but I think someone should.

I always wanted to try this restaurant in North Beach and I’m glad I finally did! I love the fun atmosphere as we were seated upstairs! I tried the Garlic Alfredo which is one of the signature dishes as they are known for their garlic. It was very good! You could really taste the garlic without it being too overwhelming! Definitely recommend!

Positives-food tasty and nice, house wine value for money. Negatives-sat at table 40 mins late, rushed out and told we could order either main or pudding, not our fault if kitchen closes and we have not been able to sit earlier. Staff overwhelmed. Shame as could have been better stars.

Service and food was first class. Loved the quirky decor and atmosphere. We were glad we had booked but tables were available. Would recommend a visit.

Nipped in here on first night in SF (no booking required). Pizza was one of the best I’ve ever had! Ordered a G&T & an aperol spritz - they came in champagne flutes?! Barely any T in the G&T (had to order separate glass of T - no charge). No spritz (soda) in the Aperol - just Aperol & Prosecco - I didn’t bother ordering the Spritz ;) Would definitely return for the food

The name doesn’t seem to be a good advertisement for this restaurant! But apparently they have one here and one in LA. It is a hip and funky place featuring a garlic braid that is over 300 feet long and hangs throughout the place. The menu is somewhat limited, but everyone can find something they like. I had the flatbread, which was loaded with big chunks of chicken and BBQ sauce. My wife had the mussels and shrimp and I loved the way they served it in a hot skillet over heat. She loved her food. The service was very good. Efficient and friendly. The place has a great atmosphere and there are several different rooms to dine in. They even have these booths offering a secluded and more intimate experience. Pricing was pretty good. We had a bottle of wine with dinner and it was all under $100. I would go there again, that’s the best review I can give.

Nice, but not as nice as we’d hoped it would be. Food quite average & not quite the garlic over-load we’d expected. My wife had Calzone, & I had past gnocchi, neither of us could taste the garlic much. However - the garlic ice cream was off the charts with flavour & certainly the most garlic flavour food we had

So we ate here after hearing about how good it was from some locals.  We had several different appetizers before our entrees and everything was delicious.  The wait staff was very friendly and helpful.  Then, towards the end of our meal I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye.  When I turned my head I realized it was a rat!  The rat then went under our table, over my wife's shoe and then scurried down a hallway.  My wife and the women at the table went bizerk!  Thank goodness we were at the end of our meal or else I'm sure we would have left.  Upon telling the waitress she was very apologetic and took off the appetizers from our bill. That was a nice gesture on her part and we appreciated it.  Again, the food and service was very good, but a rat roaming the dining area isn't so good for business.  I'm sure other big city restaurants have similar problems, but this was the first time I'd ever seen a rat scurrying across the floor of a dining establishment and it made me wonder about the overall sanitation of the place. The rat is why I gave it 3 stars; otherwise it would have been 4.

We had a late dinner here and it was delicious. We started with the mussels. Excellent. Highly recommended. Everyone seemed to like their entrees. My wife and I shared the pasta with garlic meatballs. It was enough to share. Others had the forty clove chicken and the portabella mushrooms. The atmosphere is fun, and if you like garlic, you should go here.

Family friend recommended. He had eaten here 30 years ago and recommended exactly what he had. The Brie chicken - OMG! We even tried the garlic ice cream. Glad we listened to the recommendation!!

This restaurant was highly recommended to us from someone who travels to S.F. often. Thus, the food was very good and very authentic. It was so good that we ate their two more times before our vacation ended. I do not understand how some people give this restaurant bad reviews! I am Italian and my family and I were in Italy last year and The Stinking Rose is every bit as good as most of the restaurants that we ate at in Italy!

This place has an interesting name associated with the copious amounts of garlic they put in every dish. However, I ordered the most popular dish, garlic roasted chicken. While the potatoes were excellent and the pan gravy was very good, the chicken was a little dry and ordinary. Frankly, I think this place is overpriced and I would not recommend it.

We have been here a few times already and I highly recommend it. I am working in the travel business and always tell my clients to go there. Delicious food, cozy atmosphere and always an attentive service.The BAGNA CALDA is the best :-) We'll be back the next time we visit San Francisco!!!

We only had pizza and drinks but the pizza was the closest thing I’ve had to a real italian pizza in Italy. Delicious. The crust is out of this world. And the cheese! Yum. Can’t wait to go back. We sat outside in the sun and loved the people watching.

This was a bit disappointing as the quality of food and service wasn't the same as in years past. I will not be recommending it to others.

Visited for drinks and sat in the outside seating area. Lovely drinks and the staff were friendly and attentive. Nice little spot to enjoy the sunshine.

On arrival, we don’t have reservation but the front desk lady told us that she will have availability inside within 5-10 min. We agreed that we wait inside at the bar in the meantime. We got drinks at the bar. Then front desk ignored us and I inquired about our table. She was complete overwhelmed, denying what we agreed just before. She said that only people with reservations have seats. It is a very poor service from the start. Service is 0.