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The Stinking Rose, San Francisco
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The Stinking Rose, San Francisco

18oz garlic roasted prime rib - San Francisco
18oz garlic roasted prime rib
by joits
Dining reviews and photos of The Stinking Rose posted by real travelers and San Francisco locals.
• 18 Photos
• 38 Reviews
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The Stinking Rose: The Stinking Rose is a tourist trap
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  • By dave_san_diego on November 25, 2003
  • San Francisco Page by dave_san_diego
  • The Stinking Rose in LA offers some wonderful garlic dishes, a helpful and friendly staff and a dimly lit ambiance that transports us to times past. The Stinking Rose in San Francisco, however, is a vast tourist trap. The bas relief of the outhouse above the bar should have been our first clue. The service was atrocious -- our orders were wrong more than once, the garlic topping was delivered five minutes before the bread arrived, the staff seemed to avoid eye contact less they have to do extra work. I had to get up and walk around to find a waiter each time we had a problem with our orders.
    The chicken in the pasta dish was overcooked and chewy, while the pasta itself had clearly dried out from too much time under a warming lamp. The rabbit didn't taste like garlic at all.
    This place is purely for tourists. They know you'll never be back again and their service reflects that attitude

    The 40 clove chicken is delicious, though the presentation on the plate will not win any awards.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Website: http://www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    The Stinking Rose: That night we were kicked out of our motorhome....
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  • Alice-Kees
  • Updated By Alice-Kees on July 15, 2003
  • San Francisco Page by Alice-Kees
  • The Stinking Rose - San Francisco
    by Alice-Kees
    The Stinking Rose is a garlic restaurant. It's garlic that you will find in every menu item. Garlic is very healthy so you should eat plenty of it.

    Garlic also makes you very thirsty, so with your meal (and later that night) you will need plenty of drinks.

    And last but not least: garlic makes a smelly person of you. Someone non-garlic eaters will keep a distance from. Alice and I made the mistake having a 3 course garlic meal after we split up from our party of 6. After returning to our motorhome that evening, we were soon kicked out of the vehicle by our own family... We had never thought of inviting them to our dinner that night!

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Website: %cghttp://www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: Garlic, Anyone?
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  • Rixie
  • By Rixie on May 27, 2003
  • San Francisco Page by Rixie
  • “The stinking rose” is the ancient name for garlic. Everything on the menu at this popular North Beach restaurant has garlic in it. Cuisine is California-Italian.

    It’s best to reserve a table. If you like to people-watch, request a window seat. Open 7 days a week, 11 am-11 pm.

    Parking is tough in North Beach, so take a cab or public transit if you can; Muni runs right by the door. The nearest garage is on Vallejo Street, next to the police station.

    The garlic mashed potatoes are wonderful. I also like the soft, roasted cloves of garlic that you spread on your bread instead of butter.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$11-20    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: 415-781-ROSE
  • Directions: North Beach, the Italian section of San Francisco
  • Website: www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: A Restaurant Devoted to Garlic
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  • MarkJochim
  • By MarkJochim on April 25, 2003
  • San Francisco Page by MarkJochim
  • The Stinking Rose is a shrine to health-giving garlic. The popular North Beach restaurant presents contemporary cuisine emphasizing fresh ingredients in a fun-filled, lively atmosphere.

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  • Theme: Eclectic/International
  • Price: US$31-40    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Website: www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: Eat plenty of parsley after your meal
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  • Satisfaction:
  • emilesc
  • Updated By emilesc on October 11, 2006
  • San Francisco Page by emilesc
  • Order a bowl of this after you finish your meal! - San Francisco
    Order a bowl of this after you
    finish your meal!
    by emilesc
    I live in Los Angeles, and The Stinking Rose is one of my favorite restaurants. I have never had any desire to go to the one in San Francisco because the line is usually out the door. And frankly, with the same restaurant available in my hometown, I felt like I'd be traveling overseas and eating at McDonald's; why bother?

    But my hostess, who is also from LA, was all hyped up to try the SF version. And she was paying, so who was I to argue? Hmmm... I kind of like the LA one better for atmosphere. The LA one is bigger, and the entrance is kind of tucked away so you don't feel like the bustling streets are right there in your face while you're eating, so I think it lends itself to a more romantic atmosphere. And I don't even want to think of what parking's like at the SF one, but the parking lot in LA is huge.

    Nevertheless, I had a fun time. If you love garlic, you can't go wrong with either restaurant. Here's a tip, though: we had dinner at 6pm on a weekday, so we beat the rush.

    I had the popular 40-garlic chicken, which was pretty good, not fantastic. A bit on the dry side and other than the garlic, I can't say it was as flavorful as I would have liked. It needed some other kind of spice to cut through the blandness. I did, however, enjoy the chardonnay the waiter recommended.

    Normally, I get the gnocchi in LA, which is probably a safe bet in SF as well. And you should try the garlic ice cream, really. The garlic adds a bit of tang, but it's doesn't overwhelm the sweetness. And of course, don't even think of starting your meal without the an order of oven-roasted spreadable garlic cloves for your bread.

    So here's the main tip: after the meal, ask your waiter for a small bowl of chopped parsley and a spoon (pictured). You'll get it free of charge (or you should anyway). In LA, they never bat an eye - in fact they were the ones who suggested I get the chopped bowl when I once requested a few sprigs years ago. In SF, the waiter seemed a bit taken aback, but the chef knew what I wanted, because out came the parsley with two spoons for my friend and me.

    It's rough going at first - chopping the parsley really brings out the flavor, and it is STRONG. But it's so worth it - it cuts through the bad breath and it keeps the garlic from reeking from your pores. And it's also been known to reduce any issues one might have with, um, gaseousness, shall we say?

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  • Theme: Italian
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Directions: It's on Columbus near Broadway, so there are a few buses which will drop you off almost right in front of the restaurant. From Market St., I took the #15.
  • Website: http://www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

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    The Stinking Rose: Whew! Break out the breath mints baby!
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  • RblWthACoz
  • Updated By RblWthACoz on August 4, 2006
  • San Francisco Page by RblWthACoz
  • The Stinking Rose - San Francisco
    by RblWthACoz
    An okay restaurant in my opinion. More of a novelty and a tourist trap than a serious dining experience. Service was nothing special and our waiter was barely ever at our table. The food was not overly spectacular. You won't miss anything if you don't go here in my opinion.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: 415-781-7673
  • Directions: North Beach area Open every day from 11 to 11
  • Website: www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: A fun spot for dinner
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  • RickinDutch
  • By RickinDutch on May 14, 2007
  • San Francisco Page by RickinDutch
  • Don't let the name put you off. This place was recommended by the concierge at the Marriott. Located just north of China Town The Stinking Rose serves everything made with garlic. A funky atmosphere with curtained off booths and casual, spunky servers I enjoyed the place a lot.

    Be sure to get the Bagna Calda, which is oven roasted cloves of garlic in hot live oil and butter. Great for spreading on the focaccia bread.

    Lots of salads, pasta, seafood, ribs, steaks all served with garlic mashed potates.

    A small but decent wine list and beer on tap.

    I had the Bagna Calda and Focaccia Bread, Garlic Encrusted Baby Back Ribs with Garlic mashed potates and loved it. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale took the heat off just fine.

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  • Theme: Other
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: about average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Directions: Corner of Cloumbus and (I think) Stockton. Usually a line out front.
  • Website: http://www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: Garlicky Kitsch at its best
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  • jumpingwithnorman
  • By jumpingwithnorman on April 16, 2009
  • San Francisco Page by jumpingwithnorman
  • I think the restaurant name says it all! If you are any tiny bit of the vampire persuasion, stay away from this place! The whole restaurant is one big cluttered garlic explosion divvied up into several different dining areas. There are a couple of floors to this restaurant. It does get pretty loud but all in good fun. Servers are sassy, fun & attentive. Be adventurous when ordering and forget the breathmints for now. Parking is a challenge in this area so be patient when looking for street parking.

    The Bagna Calda is their spreadable garlic that is out of this world. They take garlic cloves and roast them till they are spreadable. It is addictive! The pork chops are juicy & flavorful along with the chicken. Meat loaf was pretty good too.

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  • Theme: Local
  • Price: US$21-30    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Directions: Columbus & Broadway
  • Website: http://www.thestinkingrose.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: A tribute to Garlic
  • Tip Rating:
  • wrldtravler
  • Updated By wrldtravler on January 1, 2003
  • San Francisco Page by wrldtravler
  • The Stinking Rose - San Francisco
    by wrldtravler
    Vampires beware of hungry tourists lining up for all the garlic they can get at this North Beach mainstay.

    Must try the sauteed garlic cloves with Italian bread.
    Any of the pasta dishes are a good bet.

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  • Theme: Italian
  • Price: US$31-40    » Currency Converter
  • Comparison: more expensive than average
  • Address: 325 Columbus Ave., SF, CA 94133
  • Phone: (415) 781-7673
  • Directions: North Beach
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    The Stinking Rose: The Stinking Rose Restaurant
  • Tip Rating:
  • ycwong
  • By ycwong on August 26, 2002
  • San Francisco Page by ycwong
  • The Stinking Rose - San Francisco
    by ycwong
    'We Season Our Garlic With Food!'
    That's the restaurant's motto and you kinda get the idea....everything that we ordered tasted Great but we especially loved the garlic in olive oil that was superb with the bread...yummy!

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  • Theme: Other
  • Directions: 325 Columbus Avenue. San Francisco, CA 94133 1(415) PU-1-ROSE Open Daily (11:00 am - 12:00 am)
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
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