If you love garlic, this is the place for you. Everything on the menu has garlic in it, and it's often featured in really unusual ways. The ambience is really nice, too -- they have cool private "booths" as well as bigger booths for larger groups. They also give you a garlic hat to wear if it's your birthday; super cute. Probably not the best place for a date -- your pores will radiate garlic within 10 minutes of sitting down. But if you love garlic, it's completely worth it!
(4)
Marjorie U.
I like their food but they really need to clean the women's restroom. It ruins your dining experience if your restroom is dirty. I do appreciate the service. I tried their meatloaf and it was bland for my taste. I enjoyed their whitefish. I am not a fan of their homemade ice cream (without the garlic).
(3)
Alexia V.
average food at an average price
(3)
Stanley L.
Ok I don't see the attraction at all. I know garlic is good for you but this place smells like you are entering the city of Gilroy. All that garlic destroyed any other natural taste of the ingredients used, which was really unfortunate.
(2)
Liz V.
I smell so bad but it was SO worth it! If you don't LOVE garlic, don't go. It was my birthday and they brought over a garlic clove hat, a dish of their garlic ice cream and took pictures, it was perfectly embarrassing and WONDERFUL! It's a silly tacky place, but the food is pretty darn good. We ordered the Bagna Calda, the Louisiana shrimp tureen and the black linguine with clams. It was all great! Our server was hilarious, very candid and we weren't sure if he was just very sarcastic or just hated working there but he was helpful, attentive and entertaining. We'll be back!
(4)
rosalyn J.
It's a great traditional restaurant .If you like garlic you should try their food. Enjoy it
(4)
Frankie L.
eh. food's just ok and the garlic theme is really out lived it's appeal. For the 90s it was cool though.
Was extremely pleased with the service and food. It was my birthday and I couldn't have picked a better place. You definitely need to eat here, especially if you are going to see a show. The location is within minutes of the theaters.
(5)
Laura L.
Really nice place to go. Especially going with good friends or cousins.I prefer go there by noon. Good to talk, even private conversation :)
(4)
Vanessa M.
Finally tried this place last night! It did not disappoint- and it is heaven if you are a big garlic fan. Located on La Cienega in Beverly Hills, right near other great places like Fogo de Chao, SLS Hotel, etc. We tried to find street parking for a good 20 minutes but failed- all of the residential streets beside it are mostly permit only, so we had to resort to valet. Thankfully that was only $4.50 and they will run to fetch your car after it's over. I had heard that the reservation process was not great, and that is true. I had placed mine a month ago, called the day before to confirm and it was lost, so I made it again. Then when we got there they somehow thought it was for 5 people instead of 2. Nevertheless we were seated immediately after coming in around 7:45 pm on a Friday night. The real fun begins inside. As other reviewers have said, it's like Tim Burton had a circus in here. This place is quite ideal for a date night, as they have a lot of intimate couple seating in these "beetlejuice" alcoves (tents with thick black and white vertical stripes) and different chandeliers at each table. My s.o. and I were seated immediately to the right after we entered, which happened to be next to a bar where someone sang and played live jazz covers of older songs (it was great!). The bar itself looks awesome. We looked at the rest of the restaurant after our meal and the decor is creepy/fun. Most importantly, the food- everything was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. Everything has garlic in it (unless you request it "vampire style") so be prepared to stink after. We started off with their signature appetizer, the bagna calda and munched on their garlic rolls with their garlic spread. It was so tasty and soft. Next we shared a medium skillet of shrimp and mussels that come with this amazing garlic butter... wow. I had the blood orange martini and not only was it sweet and nomnomtastic, but they bring you a shaker with the rest and it's pretty much 3 glasses worth, which for $10 is a pretty good deal. Our main dishes were great- he got the silence of the lambs shank and I got the garlic braised boneless short rib, both served with garlic mashed potatoes and some steamed greens. The meat was some of the softest I've had, juicy and tasty all around. We had to try the garlic ice cream to top it all off- I liked it, he didn't. You can def taste the spicyness of the garlic but it was kind of vanilla-ish, and it's served with some warm caramel sauce in a martini glass. So full of garlicy goodness. For a full meal like that, it's not cheap but not as pricy as the surrounding restaurants and with excellent quality food and interesting atmosphere. The service is on point! Be warned you will smell the garlic in your mouth for a long while. Some will even go as far to say to bring a change of clothes, especially if you're continuing the night after. Definitely recommend this place- if you aren't a big garlic fan you will definitely come out of this place as one. And with this review I officially pen the 100th entry of my Yelp 100 Challenge for 2013 :)
(5)
DexterFan L.
Excellent restaurant with delicious food and great service! Highly recommend the ice cream and steaks. The drinks are great as well.
(5)
Ida K.
Garlic chicken and roasted garlic spread on bread is my favorite! The restaurant is really dark so I don't recommend this place for all kids.
(4)
Arvin L.
As i write this review I have to be honest I probably would never have come here on my own. I was in the area one time accompanying my aunt and uncle and they suggested eating at The Stinking Rose. I did not object as I looked through the menu before arriving and I saw an eclectic mix of dishes to choose from. I'm not a picky either per se, but I do adjust my expectations of a restaurant and it's food depending on the price they charge. Having said that, I actually enjoyed my meal at The Stinking Rose. As a starter we all shared the bagna calda and ate it with the complementary focaccia bread. The bagna calda paired well the focaccia bread. I was expecting the garlic to have a little more of an intense sweet roasted flavor but for $4.95 I will not complain. For the main entree I ordered the Silence of the Lamb dish, which is pretty much an oven roasted lamb shank served with fava beans, creamed spinach, and garlic mashed potatoes. The lamb itself was very tender and literally fall of the bone good. The garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were good enough for me. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst either but for a $22.95 dish it seals the deal for me. Of course if you feel like you need more flavor just add more garlic from the bagna calda, that's what I did. This is by no means the most expensive restaurant on the block especially when you have Lawry's The Prime RIb, Fogo de Chao, Matsuhisa, Mortons, The Bazaar, and plenty more along La Cienega Blvd. Anyways The Stinking Rose get's 3 stars from me. Honestly, I enjoyed my food. I enjoyed it enough for me to want to go back. The price is definitely reasonable for the quality and taste. But part of the problem is the location. I live 38 miles from The Stinking Rose and when I drive up along La Cienega I probably would be tempted to eat at Lawry's across the street. If they opened up a Stinking Rose in Orange County which is closer to my home I would probably consider eating here more.
(3)
Jerome T.
Everytime I come here I just get the slab of prime rib and split it with someone. Its probably one of the best prime ribs I've ever had. The sides are great too. Definitely for someone who loves garlic, which I do. My only negative I would say is the last time I went (been there about 4-5 times) was that the prime rib was a little cold. Maybe it was because I was still eating my bread but it felt more warm then nice and hot. But that's just this last time. Valet parking is nice and convenient. Service is pretty darn solid and the staff has been super nice everytime we ask for more bread, water, etc. If you come for a birthday, you get a free garlic ice cream and get to wear a garlic hat. Happy Birthday Stinker. =)
(5)
Erika L.
Garlic, garlic and more garlic.. ! If you like Garlic this is the place to visit! It is a garlic themed restaurant, and it is delicious. I had asparagus chicken pasta dish. The chicken was shredded on the pasta sooo flavorful. Their dinner rolls served at the beginning of the meal are just so soft and they give you different rolls with different toppings on them and if you are a star watcher, get ready to run into some famous peeps! I love the fact that it has a vintage feel to the restaurant and also the inside is cute, with YES Private cabanas for I bet some famous people!?
(5)
Amanda P.
Just like the 3 star rating states, this place was just "A-OK." The bf and I went to the Stinking Rose to celebrate my and a friend's birthday. Our reservation was for 7pm on a Sunday (last Sunday) and valet parking was still plentiful. The restaurant was also surprisingly empty the entire night. From reading prior reviews I already expected mediocre food and terrible service and that is what we were met with. First, we ordered the garlic appetizer that was just pure garlic bulbs. That was actually surprisingly delicious. I didn't think garlic alone would be that good and I freaking love garlic. For our entrees in our party of 7 we ordered the lamb shank, neon ravioli, rabbit, meatloaf, and chicken plus a large order of garlic fries and spinach fondue. The lamb was good and so was the meatloaf (the only two dishes I tried), and my friends liked their dishes. The garlic fries (large order was humongous) were good too (I'm a fry lover. There's always room for fries!). The spinach fondue was lacking and definitely not worth the 9.95 we paid for it. At the end, my friend and I were brought out garlic hats and free garlic ice cream desserts for our birthday while the wait staff sang happy birthday to us. Garlic ice cream was different, that's for sure. It wasn't terrible but I probably wouldn't order one (it was nice to get this complimentary for our birthdays). Now let me tell you about the service.... When you eat at what I label as a middle level restaurant (think olive garden level in terms of pricing and food) I expect a little better service. The wait staff kept coming by and it felt like they were trying to "spy" on our table when our check was given to us. We were still trying to finish our food and having conversations. They didn't even try to make it subtle they were waiting for us to pay for our meals. The wait staff also needs to be trained on proper etiquette. You do NOT reach in front of a guest's face to pour drinks for them and if you do you would also say "pardon my reach" or some form of "excuse me." Instead, this wait staff would stick their arm right in front of your face while you are trying to eat or have a conversation with someone next to you or across the table. I found that extremely rude. There should be no excuse for this because in any level restaurant there are the same set of basic etiquette. I think I got better service at a walk in $-one-dollar-sign diner. Overall: Service = terrible, Valet ($4.50) = meh, Food = OK.
(3)
Jamie N.
I love the food at the Stinking Rose (wish I could say the same about the cleanliness and the decor). Great New York steak and a huge selection of beers.
(4)
Victoria G.
My husband and I love this restaurant a lot. Great and fast service. The food is sooooo delicious and we both weren't talking too much during the dinner. Happy experience here and we will go there again.
(5)
Ruth V.
Their bagna calda is interesting, great pair for the garlic bread. Mussels n clams, jus the way I want it cook. Calamari jus perfect. Their seafoods here are really good. Filet mignon jus the way I want it cooked juicy n delicious. If u like red, try Jordan. Garlic ice cream, not my taste. It's funny if its ur birthday, they let u wear a gigantic garlic hat. I still wanna consider coming back here, it's the food n great customer service.
(4)
Angela A.
Ever since I could remember I have wanted to go to The Stinking Rose. I LOVE the name and since I adore garlic and not afraid to eat it, I was made for this restaurant. We started off on the right foot because they have valet service that KNOWS how to greet their customer. They flank the car on both doors and open them together. I was just telling my husband the other day that valet employees no longer impress me. They only open the door for the driver and forget about the passenger(s). But not here, they opened my door too.. LOVE IT. Then we entered the restaurant and I became a little concerned. The entry way is very tired and old. The leather couches are worn and torn. I said oh oh, if they have torn upholstery what else are they letting go. Um, that would be the bathrooms. Bathrooms were tired and old too. I have to get this off my chest right off the bat, I disliked the decor and ambiance. In all the times I dreamed of entering this restaurant I never EVER imagined it would look like Beetlejuice had a nightmare and it stayed around to become a restaurant. There were so many colors, textures and stripes fighting for attention that I stopped looking around and concentrated only on what was immediately in front of my face. I had a moment of panic and almost asked my husband to leave, but then the waiter showed up and he was so GOOD, that I changed my mind. The staff here is fabulous. I can not say enough about them. Our server answered all our questions with enthusiasm and experience. He helped us with our dinner decisions and they proved to be good ones. Before he even left the table we were served with the most delicious warm bread. There is a garlic tapenade at the table that is delicous. We ordered the baked brie with roasted garlic as our appetizer and for the FIRST time in a restaurant it was served with more than enough crunchy bread thins. It was very tasty. Hubby ordered Prime Rib and he ate the whole thing. I ordered the Rabbit and it was delicious and plentiful. They basically served me half a rabbit with garlic mashed potatoes. The rabbit was perfect, I was not a fan of the mashed potatoes. Only other complaint I had was the clearing of the plates. The table runners would bring drinks, food to the table, but they would never clear the table. So at one point we had an empty bread plate, an empty appetizer plate, two martini shakers and an empty martini glass with our dinner. When our server came by to check on us he removed everything immediately, it's a shame his support staff didn't do it earlier.
(3)
Matthew K.
So, I went here about 3 times now and had consistent OK food and consistent BAD service. First off, went inside to wash my hands and the bathrooms were dirty (Sunday evening at 7:30 PM with barely any tables) lost my appetite there. Also as you walk through the aisle in front of the hostess desk, there seems to be a weird stench too. All in all, it did not seem like a clean environment. Also my server was nowhere to be found. Got greeted 10 minutes after we sat. Had to ask a different waiter and busser for refills and check. And half the time they forgot about it. What gives? But at least the food was good which makes me come back. Filet was good, new York steak was good too. had it with the pepe pasta? I think it was, which was pretty good too. I really think they could do better..
(2)
John K.
My wife and I went there for the first time this weekend. We had both heard wonderful things about the Stinking Rose and to say the very least, they did not disappoint. We will visit again!
(4)
Jonathan W.
This was the STRANGEST dining experience of my life. The restaurant feels like a place where the characters of a David Lynch would stop for a quick drink - there is a indoor cabana seating area that traps you next to the closest patron, guests are invited to wear garlic shaped hats, an old man earnestly sings semi-modern hits on his casio keyboard, and the waiters take your order on an ancient wireless device. As advertised, everything is full of garlic, and the appetizers are mostly delicious. However, the entrees are a bit pricey considering the quality of the finished product.
(1)
Catalina T.
The place: The decor for this place is outstanding! I truly loved the atmosphere and vibe it gave out. There was def lots to see and it felt like I was at a totally different place, most of the tables are secluded in a way that you aren't invading others and it was very cozy. I was surprised that I did not get the strong odor of garlic I would normally get just even driving down to Gilroy. That could be a good thing. I was also surprised there was no wait whats so ever to be seated. I thought that being around the holiday season, people would be jammed packed here. There was lots of large parties going on but this amazing restaurant truly has plenty of seats available for their customers. 10/10 The food: We started with what everyone usually starts with here... the garlic soaked skillet thing. I thought the garlic cloves would be a bit more roasted and the skillet would be hot but it was mild in heat. Garlic cloves in olive oil, soft and so good spread on the warm bread. I loved loading my bread roll with it. I also used these garlic cloves on my baby back ribs order. The baby back ribs ($19.95) were alright. The menu stated they would be garlic encrusted but it wasn't garlic-y enough for me or how I expected them. They were though good and soft, fall of the bone status. I added the garlic that was in the skillet AND also the garlic sauce thing they have on their table (looks like its just minced garlic soaked in oil and with some spices). Garlic those babies up and scarfed them down in no time. The mashed potato side that comes with the ribs were pretty good, garlic-y, soft and just delicious without being dry. The husband had ordered 40 clove garlic chicken that comes bone and all. ($19.95) That chicken was sooo not dry at all and the sauce that came with it was heavenly. I found myself quickly reaching over to steal his chicken and sauce. I would highly recommend that was a meal for any first timers at the Stinking Rose. After talking to a few of my friends that have also been there before, I sure am hoping to be able to go back sometime soon. I heard their prime rib is top notch and I must come back for sure for their garlic ice cream which I also heard is a must try. 8/10 The service: Pretty fast!! The food came out way faster than I thought and I am assuming that some of the stuff in the kitchen and on the menu is pre-made rather than made to order (such as the garlic cloves in the skillet). The hostess seemed tired when we had arrived (she was yawning but it was the day after Christmas) She was really nice and I cracked a joke about her tiredness. The waitress we had was on top of things and did come out every so often to make sure everything was good for us. Parking: They have valet but we were lucky to find some street parking and have a nice little walk there. Would love to come back and try their garlic ice cream and also their prime rib. #1/2014
(4)
Tesia K.
I honestly loved my experience here. My first choice for date night was Benihana's but they open for dinner at 5:30 so we went across the street and had a great time. It's like a garlic amusement park! Haha, you walk in and there is a wall of what I thought was garlic pillows behind the hostess desk but it turns out they were puffy garlic hats! What a gag. In the middle of the restaurant the tables are in cabanas with black and white strips so you can eat garlic shamelessly. On the table they have kind of a chimichurri but with the garlic to herb ratio favoring the garlic by a LOT. I put in on everything. Ordered the slow cooked garlic in a hot tub, the bagna calda and got so full off of the bread. Couldn't stop myself from spreading the soft garlic on the hot, fresh mini loaves and stuffing my face. No regrets there because we had plenty of leftovers to take home. Popcorn Calamari wasn't the best I've had. The breading wasn't crisp and the seafood not as chewy. It came with two sauces that were so-so but I kept dipping my calamari in them because it was better with them than without, and that's not saying much. Gnocchetti, little tiny gnocchi. I am always tempted to order gnocchi but every time I do, I am disappointed. I think I will stay away from this potato pasta dish for a while until I see some ricotta gnocchi on a menu. The sauce was heavy but the pine nuts and asparagus helped with that, still I only had a couple bites. The star of the show was the prime rib. The large cut is only $3 more and it was as big as my date's face. Perfectly cooked with a thick black pepper crust served with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, au jus, and horseradish cream. Perfectly pink and juicy, really a spectacular piece of prime rib. The restaurant is decorated with murals along the wall. My view consisted of garlic bulbs sitting at a table eating dinner, and the ceiling was speckled with star sparkles. The menu states that they flavor their garlic with food and I think I overdid myself with the raw table garlic and the bagna calda because I had a garlic induced headache at the end of it but again, no regrets. My boyfriend really fell in love with the place. It's not your average restaurant and more affordable than the other places to eat on Restaurant Row.
(4)
Vivi N.
I originally made a reservation for a Friday night (very easy and fast through Open Table) but circumstances changed so I opted for takeout instead. Street parking was a little tough but not unmanageable and they do have valet. Even though I was only there for about 15-20 minutes, the decor of the place was over-the-top enough to catch my eye during my short stay - it kinda has a Buca Di Beppo/carnival kinda vibe... except "garlic-y". Near the cash register they have a wall full of hot sauces ranging from the basics to ethnic to funny (in a your butt's gonna be on fire after you eat this kind of way), so that's a plus for hot sauce connoisseurs like myself. I was also delighted to see a few people (they were probably celebrating a special occasion) donning huge garlic clove hats that were silly and fun looking! The cashiers/hosts were very pleasant and greeted me right away. Everything I ordered was packaged correctly, they were prompt and it was all there. I ordered 3 items: -Bagna Calda: A popular appetizer that consists of a side of focaccia rolls and a mixture of whole garlic gloves soaked and roasted in olive oil (for dipping or spreading). It tastes just as you'd expect it to: heavy, a little sweet, with tons of garlic flavor. It was good but not mind blowing. I'd probably give this a 3/5... was over it after a few bites. -Margherita Pizza: A rectangular shaped pizza that was decent. It comes as a bigger portion than you'd expect. The tomatoes were fresh and juicy but the crust and cheese weren't amazing. 3.5/5 at best. -Clams: Tossed in a fresh linguine and a garlic and herb sauce. You'd think this dish would be a lot lighter than it actually is, not bad though. Tons of fresh black clams and the sauce was so flavorful. Just a tad oily for my taste... 4/5. Overall, the food was just okay but the service was excellent. It's a fun looking place though and probably worth it to check out at least once!
(3)
Nicola V.
After hearing a restaurant devoted to garlic, I had to come. I made a reservation of 5 through OpenTable on a Saturday night at 7 with such ease. Maybe it was an off night, but right when we got there at 7, we were seated immediately with no waiting. Their starter bread is definitely not complete without ordering their bagna calda. A great starter for a garlic filed meal! I thought the bagna calda would be hard, but luckily the roasted garlic was easily spread on their bread - I'm sure restaurants in heaven have this as their starter bread. Unfortunately my whole party ordered prime rib, so I was sad we didn't' try their other dishes. Prime rib was good, but we didn't really taste the garlic infused part of the meat, nonetheless it was tender and up to par. I was real hesitant with trying their garlic ice cream, however I didn't find the flavor overpowering. There was a hint of sweet garlic taste and bits of it in the ice cream and it balanced well with vanilla ice cream and choc syrup. Say it's your birthday so you get to wear the garlic hat!!!!
(4)
David R.
We love coming to this restaurant because we love garlic and the food they make is so tasty. We recommend the double mussels and double crab if you like shellfish. I honestly think that the Prime Rib here is far better than Lawry's which is across the street. The drinks here are also good, but if you love wine: Bring your own! No corkage fee! But be sure to tip well if they are opening a bottle for free.
(5)
Trisha A.
AH! i cant believe the stinking rose was my first ever review on yelp! im excited to update my first review and give them a SOLD 5 STAR RATING. how can you not love a place that has garlic EVERYTHING? we came here on a saturday night to celebrate my best friend's birthday. it was the groups first time and they loved it. i requested to sit at the lover's tent because it has a more intimate setting. we were greeted right away from our server FELIZ M. not to mention how great of a server he was! he was the most attentive and he made sure we were enjoying every bit of our meal and experience. every table is served with some fresh garlic bread rolls and it's nice to pair it up with the garlic oil and minced garlic on the table. it comes out very warm and pretty tasty too! for appetizers i always have to get an order of the garlic fries. their garlic fries are my favorite here. it has a nice crispy texture and the minced garlic is so delicious! i always end up putting more garlic anyways! good thing they have a mini jar on the table. believe it or not but dracula's martinis are pretty affordable! it's only ($9.95) per order and you get a lot! not only do they give you the martini glass but they include the shaker with the rest of your drink. i recommend getting the hamil-tan cucumber martini. it comes with cucumber vodka, lime, and sugar rim. the sugar rim was a very nice touch to the drink. it was very refreshing, crisp, and tasty! one got me on a good buzz. i originally ordered the kiss of death and it was literally the kiss of death. it was SUPER STRONG. i couldn't enjoy it and luckily the bartender let me change it. thank you for that. my best friend and i ordered the little devil petite filet mignon including the garlic mashed potato and creamed spinach ($29.95) i recommend having your steak MEDIUM RARE. its perfect because it just melts in your mouth. the sides went well together and this time the creamed spinach wasn't too creamy! this entree is my favorite here and one of the reasons i come to the stinking rose! the salmon plate was really good. i had a bite off my friend's plate and i like how it was cooked on the rare side. it was very moist and soft. i love coming here for dinners and/ or special occasions. everyone is so nice and the food is excellent! parking is valet but it's only $4.50! not bad for beverly hills. you get free garlic ice cream for your birthday with some caramel topping. your server also brings out the garlic hat with some candles. it's a very fun experience! i love the stinking rose!
(5)
Jackie B.
I hate this place this is my second time here and each time I came the food was COLD. Never will I come here again. The only reason I came is because today was my friend birthday and this is what she wanted. Other than that I would not have came here because of my prior experience I hate this place one again!
(1)
Kahikina R.
Great place! If you love garlic, you have to check this place out. I ordered the baby back ribs with mashed potatoes and for dessert I had the garlic ice cream. All of it was amazing. I thought some of the seating was cute, they looked like little tents to give you a little privacy. The service was great. Definitely a place I would eat at again!
(5)
Han C.
First of all, the food I ordered deserved 4 stars, but this review is based on food served to my 11-people group. We came here for Sunday dinner. The restaurant was packed. Our reservation was at 7pm. Some of us didn't get here until 7:30pm, but then it took them almost an hour for them to get the table ready. It wasn't entirely their fault since we weren't all here at 7, so that's that. Parking is easy if you do valet. The restaurant has its own valet lot for $5. It is possible to find free street parking in walking distance on a 2-hour only basis. Some people in our group did that but had to move their cars half-way through dinner. The appetizer, bagna calda, which is essentially cooked garlic with oil and spices to go with breads, was great. It didn't taste very strong. For people who prefer stronger garlic flavor, the minced garlic in jars available on every table was the choice to go. I think everyone in the group enjoyed the bread+garlic. We also ordered a large order of garlic fries, and it was REALLY large. That one order was enough for our entire group. I think it was easily over 5000 calories. It tasted great too. The fries were the right amount of crispy, and the garlic was perfect. For entree, I ordered the $39.99 Filet Mignon, which was by far the best entree on my table. Their medium rare was just the right balance of red vs pink. It wasn't bloody but showed perfect pink to red transition as you go to the center of the meat. I would go as far as to say it was better than some of the $50 Filet Mignon served in higher-end places. This was a 4-star experience for me. I saved some of the garlic parmesan from the fries to go with the steak, and it was an interestingly good combination. Unfortunately, the $19.99 lamb shank and short rib other people ordered didn't quite live up to the quality. They were mediocre. You couldn't taste any special garlic flavor in them. The short rib didn't even taste as good as the $8 one available at my university cafeteria. This is why this review overall was only 3-star. I would have rated a 3.5 if I could. All entree came with garlic mashed potatoes and creamy spinach. Both were great, and I thought they were definitely on par or better than their $13 counterparts in higher-end places. Would have been 4-star here. We ended the dinner with 3 orders of the garlic ice cream shared among our 11 people. Some people liked it, some didn't. I did like it, and I firmly believe this is something you have to try at least once. Would have been 4-star too. Bonus: they do a nice special for anyone claiming to be celebrating birthdays and even made one of the ice creams on the house. A+ service here.
(3)
James H.
Place is pretty cool. The decor is a bit weird where it feels like a carnival type of theme with garlic everywhere. When going with a large group, it can get very cramped up. The tables are a bit small. The food was mediocre. Not amazing but didn't suck. The best thing though were the garlic butter clams. I'd definitely recommend it. I had the lamb last time and I thought it was alright. Was juicy but once again, it was just lamb. Nothing really special about it.
(3)
Mia N.
I liked the red, theatrical, dark atmosphere, table cabanas, bottled ceilings... I had the filet mignon and it was delicious. Also took a bite of the garlic ice cream and the garlic was very strong - but I liked it. Service was also very good.
(5)
jesse n.
had a great time, service was good, food was great, we were full with smiles on our face...will be back soon, just not for bdays anymore
(4)
J L.
So this restaurant is known for their garlic apparently. Haha hence the name "stinking rose" which I thought was pretty funny. The staff are friendly, it's a really fun place to go to because of the decor. If it's your birthday they sing to you in hats that are shaped like garlic cloves HAHA. It's pretty kickback, the food isn't too bad. Not the best, I hate to say, but it was pretty good. It's a cute restaurant, not too serious, the tents kind of made me feel like I was in a circus to be honest haha. But overall, good experience. Would I come here again? Hm, I'm not sure. I would probably try other restaurants in the area, but it's worth a try at least once.
(3)
Robert T.
Closer to 3 1/2 stars, based primarily on cost. Then again, this is Beverly Hills. After 15+ years of curiosity, I finally got around to trying Stinking Rose. After visiting the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA, we headed over at about 7 pm or so. There were a handful of peeps in the lobby, but our wait was quick, between 5 to 10 minutes. Very fortunate in that we had no reservations on a Saturday evening. The decor is quirky, kitschy, and cool all rolled into one. Some may find the vampire theme a tad cheesy, but I dug it. The ambiance was great. My only note being that our table was pretty dark, and I had trouble reading the menu. Definitely not a big issue for me , though. We sat and ordered our drinks and were served the warm rolls. They were fantastic with the garlic oil on the tables. They had a good selection of appetizers. Ordered the garlic Brie, and it was phenomenal! It is served with a crispy, cracker type bread. I do have sensitive teeth, so I opted to eat the brie with the dinner rolls. Wow! Amazing! This combo was definitely the highlight of the meal for me. Did I say "PHENOMENAL!"??? I had the portobello mushroom steak served with the garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I was very impressed with the portobello steak. The gravy was great, but not sure how vegetarian friendly it is. (In this case, don't ask, don't tell). Being pescatarian, I had been worried about my choices. There were several options for me, with numerous pasta dishes and fish in addition to the portobello steak. Ms. Date had the bone-in filet with mashed and spinach...she devoured the stake (ha ha) like a malnourished saber tooth tiger, which meant a thumbs up for her! The garlic mashed was pretty good. Obviously, I have a high tolerance for spice/heat and garlic, because both sides were actually moderately garlicky for my taste. I deduct half star because my spinach was just above room temperature. I didn't feel like sending it back, and it was not too bad. Date had a Manhattan and the garlic martini. She seemed to enjoy both, especially the martini. I had a Tom Collins and the peach iced tea. Warning: The drinks were very potent. The iced tea was the best I have had in a long time. For dessert, we shared the notorious garlic ice cream. We both loved it. Again, I didn't taste strong garlic. The topping (caramel? tofffee?) really made the taste. You can't visit Stinking Rose without trying this dessert at least once! I say split it if you are cautious. Service was very good, maybe an 8.5/10. Sorry I forgot our waitress' name, but she was very friendly, very efficient, and had remarkable timing. Bus staff was also very efficient. Overall, a really solid experience. Our timing was most fortunate, as there was a huge crowd coming in as we left, at 9 or so. So much so that it was about 30 minutes before our car was delivered by the valet. I deduct 1/2 star for the lukewarm spinach and one star for overall cost. Our meal ran $120 plus tip for all the items noted. (Plus valet). A bit on the steep side, but still fair for a special occasion. If you love garlic, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you try Stinking Rose, especially for a birthday, anniversary, etc. Lastly, I cannot endorse the garlic baked Brie enough. Absolutely loved it!!! I will consider going back and making the Brie my main dish with the rolls. The gnocchi sounded really good too, though!
(4)
Juliet Rachel C.
Mmmm mmmm, garlic galore!! Stinky breath after your meal? Who cares!! It is well worth it! Too bad mints aren't complimentary. Be sure to equip yourself with a box of mints or a pack of gum prior to coming here. You'll definitely need it after your meal. I think the prices here are very, very reasonable, the portion sizes are huge, and the food is very rich, rather heavy, delicious, and very filling!! Ok, I've always disliked the decor here. It's a cheesy circus theme with a creepy vibe, but I'm aware that the overall ambiance was meant to be flamboyant & eccentric. It's just unappealing to me & I feel like I'm in some haunted circus fun house. Kinda disturbing, haha! However, the servers here are really cool and the food is freakin delicious, so who gives a crap about the creepy ass decor! I came here with my dear gf, Shanon Y. for dinner and here's what we ordered: - Bagna Calda $4.95: Garlic soaking in a hot tub. Garlic cloves, oven roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on the house baked focaccia bread. Served in an iron skillet! I loved spreading the garlic drenched in olive oil & butter onto the focaccia bread!! It also tasted good with the jar of minced garlic & chives presented at each table, so be sure to use it! The Bagna Carda garlic cloves were soft and so easy to eat with the bread. Loved this...so addicting. It was also really great to mix the cloves with the yukon gold mashed potatoes to produce a more flavorful potato dish! Yummy! - Mussels (Sizzling Iron Skillet-Roasted) small $9.95: These mussels were so addicting! The portion was big enough for the two of us! We devoured it and were so happy with this dish. It came with an olive oil & butter dipping sauce. The medium sized plate can probably feed 4 or 5 people! - Forty Clove Garlic Chicken, Roasted on the bone $19.95: Served with yukon gold mashed potatoes. Shanon Y. ordered this and I took a few bites of it. The chicken was so tender, and though it was tasty, it didn't have a very strong garlic taste to me. Maybe my taste buds were no longer as sensitive to garlic since I had already consumed copious amounts of garlic prior to getting our entrees! - Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib $19.95: Served with creamed spinach and garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes. Mmmm, so lean, tasty, and tender....I loved my short rib. It was braised to perfection! I used some sauce and garlic cloves from the bagna calda to mix in with the yukon mashed potatoes, and wow, am I thankful that Shanon suggested me to do so!! I enjoyed the potatoes that much more after the mix in! Shan and I had such a great meal. However, I really think we overdid ourselves by consuming way too much garlic, and trust me, it burned....garlic is quite acidic and the intensity hurt my mouth to a point where my eyes were watering! Shanon and I both developed a bit of indigestion/heartburn after our meals, too. We will be sure to go easier on the garlic binge next time!
(4)
Ashveen S.
This place is delicious. I have to admit it's a bit pricey, but it's worth it for the food and the ambiance of the restaurant. Such a cute date spot or a fun place to celebrate a birthday (I went for a birthday dinner). I ordered the chicken dish that is on the entree menu and added a side of the creamed spinach. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. I took half my plate home and it filled me up for lunch the next date. I would like to go back to have a nice dinner with my fiance soon.
(4)
Shanon Y.
I'm in GARLIC heaven! If you adore eating food with garlic, than you will not be disappointed by The Stinking Rose! All the dishes are garlic-based so be prepared to walk out reeking of garlic from your breath to your clothes. For whatever reason they don't provide you with mints after your meal so be sure to have some handy because you will need it! I would probably not recommend this place for a first date that's for sure! I came here recently with my lovely Yelper friend Juliet C. and we had a delicious and fulfilling dining experience. We had reservations for 6:30pm, but due to traffic we were running late and the hostess was very flexible in squeezing us in for a 7:00pm reservation. Once we arrived we were seated promptly in a cute little tent like booth. The interior of the restaurant reminded me somewhat of Buca di Beppo, there were strange and outrageous props and artifacts all around the restaurant. My friend compared it to a creepy circus and I would have to agree, but we were too invested in devouring our meals to let the creepiness bother us. After studying the menu, we decided to order the following items: -Bagna Calda ($4.95) which is essentially garlic cloves sitting in a tub of olive oil, butter and chives. It makes for a great dipping sauce with the complimentary bread. We ended up mixing this along with the jar of minced garlic and chives for a stronger taste. We also discovered later on that the Bagna Calda complimented the mashed potatoes very well! I ended up mixing it into the mashed potatoes for a even more flavorful taste. - Mussels roasted on a iron skillet ($9.95 for small) this is more of an appetizer which can be shared family style. You can also order it in medium and large sizes for larger parties, but the small was enough for the two of us to share. There's also an option to order this dish with shrimp and crab. I highly recommend this dish for seafood lovers! It will not disappoint! -Forty Clove Garlic Chicken ($19.95) After reading the Yelp reviews, this was one of the dishes that was highly recommended so I ordered it as my main entree. This entree comes with two huge pieces of chicken (white and dark meat) and a huge serving of Yukon mashed potatoes. The portion size was so big I ended up taking leftovers home for another meal! Although, the dark meat part of the chicken was quite tender, the white meat part was dry and bland. I will probably not be ordering this entree the next time around. - Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib ($19.95) Juliet ordered this as her main entree and it was served with a side of creamed spinach and Yukon mashed potatoes. I sampled some of her short rib and it was tender and flavorful. The portion size was also pretty big so she had leftovers to take home as well. Overall, we had a great dining experience even though we completely stank of garlic afterwards. I now realize how accurately this restaurant was named! Shortly though we both began to experience some indigestion so perhaps we consumed a little TOO much garlic. I'll definitely make sure not to OD on the garlic the next time around! It also took me two days to finally get the garlic taste out of my mouth, but all in all I will definitely be coming back again when I have the craving for garlic!
(4)
Shawn Y.
Yes, this place is known to have garlic in most of the entrees.
(4)
Miss J.
One word...GARLIC!!! can't wait to come back with my beau again. :) Love it!
(4)
Jonathan F.
Solid Italian food choice. Especially fun with a group. Gotta love garlic to really appreciate!
(4)
Rony O.
GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC! I love it! The Bagna Calda is tremendous!!! Great food and great service :)
(5)
Victoria W.
Definitely the stinking rose! Loved it, try their signature garlic ice cream. Highly recommend .
(4)
Lina C.
My lovely boyfriend took me here on our four year anniversary (5/16/12) and to my surprise, it was a unique experience. I've been to many restaurants and there aren't any like The Stinking Rose. The interior is whimsical and very playful. In a way, I thought I was submerged in a dream where I had run away to join the Russian Circus. Russian Circus? Yes, that is correct. The Russian Circus. There were vibrant red walls much like that of a ringmaster's jacket. Bundles of garlic hanging on some parts of the ceiling with extravagant chandeliers lighting up parts of the room. We sat under the Garlic Lovers Lane where these massive black-and-white striped canopies hung over us as we ate. The table tops were marbled with hints of greys and whites. The plates, ceramic. The atmosphere was just warm and inviting. As far as the food, it wasn't up to par for me. I ordered the Baby Back Ribs with garlic encrusted all over it. Personally it was a bit dry and tasteless (even with the garlic!). The mashed potatoes that came with it were good though. Eric ended up getting the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib. Once again, it wasn't my favorite just because it was flavorless as well. I personally enjoyed the Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub appetizer where the garlic is slowly simmered while soaked in extra virgin olive oil and butter. This allows the garlic to break down and become soft and mushy unlike it's raw form. Just like butter, you place the garlic atop of your bread and spread it across the flat surface and munch away! We also ordered the Sizzling Iron Skillet Mussels which was served with a buttery-lemon dip. I love mussels and so this was probably one of the highlights of the night especially if the entrees weren't all that impressive. The last item I I would recommend trying is their garlic ice cream. It's not common to find yourself a garlic-flavored ice cream. I'm not sure if many places do serve it, but if you ever get the chance, just do it. It wasn't your normal sweet, savory ice cream that you would get at Coldstone's creamery. It was cold (obviously), a bit bitter, and it definitely had a hint of garlic to it. It was very subtle and not too overpowering as far as taste. I think what made this experience delightful is the decor/theme that The Stinking Rose upholds, the interesting foods that they serve, but also being able to celebrate our love for each other. I can finally say that I have been to The Stinking Rose and hopefully you can too. Lina Chen
(3)
Michelle S.
I love the decor and the ambiance at stinking rose. The food is very flavorful (obviously, thanks to the garlic). My favorite is the filet, but order any steak at this place and you won't be disappointed.
(4)
Hana A.
Garlic ice cream is the stand out
(4)
Concerned C.
I've always loved this restaurant. The food is superb, the service is amazing and the ambiance is heavenly. Garlic is good too :)
(5)
Casey D.
The food is delicious and the service is great! It's a little more expensive than it might be worth but for a special occasion it's a treat. And don't expect to finish one of the Sundaes by yourself, they're HUGE!!
(4)
Jenn M.
I wanted to like this place, but sadly the amount of stars this place received on Yelp reflects the true nature of this restaurant. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible experience but I feel as if it could've been better. My friends and I had dinner reservations at 7pm and were seated in a different room in a corner. It was nice and private and cozy. But a bit too quiet! We needed some kind of background music. Anyway, the waiter introduced himself and right away was a bit confused as to which table to serve. He said he was new. We've been warned. Unfortunately, he ended up being our waiter. Bless his soul, that poor thing. He was able to smoothly take our orders and brought us bread in the meantime. Our food came out within a reasonable time. I ordered the short ribs while my bf had the pork chop. Other people in our party ordered the chicken, rabbit, and steak. The short ribs were delicious, warm and full of flavor. I had a taste of my bf's pork chop and it was pretty good. He liked my meal better and I think I liked his meal better. ;) As for dessert, the waiter offered us the garlic ice cream and we went ahead with that. While we waited for the ice cream to come out he said he was going to clear our plates and also bring a to-go box for my friend's leftovers. And then all of a sudden we were playing the "waiting game". We won, the waiter lost. We waited so long for our table to be cleared and he even came back to see if the ice cream came yet. When our ice cream finally came (brought to us by another person, not our waiter) I had to ask the guy if he could clear our table. He did it so quickly and without a problem! If our waiter had enough time to just walk around and even visit our table to see if dessert came out, shouldn't you see our table full of empty plates that needed to be cleared?! Sadly, this is where we had to knock off stars. I really hated that an automatic charge of 18% gratuity was tacked on for a party of 6 because we feel that we did not receive great service. I give partial pardon to our waiter since he was new but still... When I got in my car my bf told me he found bits of glass in his water glass! I asked him if he was sure, and wasn't mistaking it for ice. He said he knew it was not ice and it was glass. We went home paranoid. I always thought the restaurant was going to wreak of garlic but it didn't. Thankfully! And our food didn't taste like it was overpowered by garlic. I felt like I was eating at any other restaurant and that the meals just had that natural taste of garlic seasoning incorporated in it. I guess I was expecting to have some kind of garlic overload and in a way I'm glad I didn't. As for our service and finding bits of glass in the water glass, for us, this place stinks.
(3)
Liz M.
BACK TO FRONT, how you feelin' dat? Garlic Ice Cream - get it. don't think, just do it. Rabbit - aint too shabby Garlic Fries - eh, could've been done at home Garlic Appetizer -- the one in the pan -- not too bad but I love garlic. The verdict on this one -- perhaps they need people to sign a disclaimer/release or informed consent because YOU WILL smell and feel like garlic for days. Yes, this was my last meal during my most recent trip to LA.... I pity the fool who had to sit next to me on the plane back to Boston. I fear a summons/process server at my door anyday now.
(3)
Elsa L.
If you live in LA, you'll have to try the Stinking Rose once. However, ONE TIME is enough. I'm pretty sure that I'll never go there again. Most of the foods are just okay to me even though I was really hungry at that time, and the decoration is disorganized though they try to make it cute (or modern?) The service is not as good as it costs. So, what is good...hmm...mojito was pretty good...- -" Since the Stinking Rose is kind of famous in west LA, I'll say you can try once if you want(of course it's okay not to step in there forever).
(2)
Sandra A.
I've always heard of this place, and wanted to try it. So I did! I've never really yelped and studied the pictures, so I pretty much came here through what I've heard. Lunch Time: I went here on a Saturday afternoon. It was not crowded and the parking in their lot was free until 3 or 4pm I believe. I would double check... I walked in with my bf, and it was quiet, not fancy like I expected and had an era type of vibe. Dark and red hues, the interior was filled with black and white striped canopies in the center floor, and had booths surrounding the walls of the restaurant. One thing you will definitely notice is the bold funky garlic themed mural on the walls. Not very pleasing to look at, but fun... I was seated in the "garlic lovers lane" and I felt a good amount of privacy. We ordered the regular prime rib, with mashed potatoes and spinach, and fish & chips. The prime rib was cooked medium rare, and it was perfect. Juicy, very tender, and plain. The mashed potatoes were the best part. Nothing was dry nor too garlic-y on that plate. Plain and simple. Was it worth $35? depends what you're used to, but I would say no. Maybe it's worth $28 top, but I guess this place has got to pay for whatever they need to pay for? I also had the fish and chips. The fish was juicy, large, and very flavorful. After the first couple bites, it was good, but the oiliness took over and I started to feel sick. I couldn't eat more than 1/4 of the fish and could not continue eating the fries. The fries were good though! Just too much oil to handle... I'm sure this would be great to share with a medium sized party of 4-6. The garlic bread was okay, too dry for my taste. Even with the olive oil and garlic on the side. Wish they had some vinaigrette of some sort. This place was good to try, but it's nothing outstanding. Probably good for locals who like to just eat there I guess... Not really worth driving 20 miles for. What I really didn't want to pay for was the service. The service was blah at best. I was very reluctant to give a 15% tip from my $70 bill. The waiter did not smile and came once for us to order, another to bring us our food, and to finally give us our check -_-. who came up with these tipping rules?
(3)
J W.
garlic ice cream was interesting; it was good though. I had a steak and it was perfectly cooked the sauce was ok. Rabbit was just blah. Salmon was ok. Ribs were fall off the bone but nothing really to crave for. Valet parking. The interior is '60s hotel/restaurant with semicircle booth seating. Dimly lit.
(3)
Brynna B.
I really loved this place! Until I woke up the next morning and even after brushing my teeth 4 times, I still had major garlic breath. Don't go here if you have anywhere to be that evening or the next day. The vibe and interior is awesome, loved the cabanas. We were seated in the Vampire Room, after going through the labyrinth like restaurant, and aside from the awkward breakup that was happening, it was so cool. The service was spectacular. Loved the free garlic bread. I got the meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and loved the meatloaf, the potatoes weren't as good as I was expecting. The only negative is the valet guys, who sucked! So rude, just talking amongst themselves and ignoring the line of patrons waiting for their cars.
(4)
PsychoKnight X.
Worth a try. You don't come here to save money, but the prices are fair for both very good service, very good food, excellent parking. We came at 11:30am Sunday opening time and the place was dead til about 12:30pm, at which time about half the parking lot was full. Everyone says order the bagna calda to go with the free bread. I ended up putting it on most everything I we ordered. And I hate garlic. Its good. The kids shared the butter pasta (sans garlic and herbs, parmesan on the side) and because the texture was different and novel, they liked it very much. For the first time, they were willing to try the clams in broth juice (small tureen) and the two of them ate it all up. I ordered it for me but didn't get to eat any, except one. I ordered baby back ribs and everyone in the family liked it. Crispy on the outside, juicy tender on the inside. My wife occassionally orders lamb shank at expensive restaurant. She did the same here, and as with other occassions, the meat is tough and dry, and very gamie. Which means I lose my entree to her. Do not ever order lamb shank at places which don't specialize in it and are able to maintain a daily fresh resupply of lamb shanks. My experience is middle eastern places serve the meat fresher and have more frequent practice at cooking it. Chocolate mouse with an accompaniment of vanilla ice cream rounded off our meal today. Both the shank and the ribs were under 20, so neither expensive nor economical. Bring something to keeps the kids busy. Maybe paper and crayons so they can draw about the weird decorations. Service was as good as it can possibly get. Both the servers, bussers, and the manager were proactive at making sure everyone was checked on frequently. Soon after you get the food, they will verbally check on you. Then after that they drop by, slow down and smile as they check your table, pick up any empty plates, and give you a chance to ask for anything - without having to go through a dialogue. Even with the off-chance that some food item is not to your liking, you are guaranteed to have a good time eating there. They care about the food, they care about the customer's dining experience, and will take care of any concerns you might have. My only beef is the extremely mediocre bathrooms. Not updated in decades, and even then, the materials are suitable for a diner or fast food place. Think of a high school bathroom, but very well cleaned. It is totally out of keeping with the rest of the restaurant's motiff and quality. Owners: you need to spend some money on the bathrooms, okay?
(4)
Gilbert C.
anything w garlic is right in my book and this place is chock full of it
Wow! This place is unbelievable and I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Lauren C.
When someone asks me what my favorite food is, my reply is always "Garlic!". I put it on just about everything when I cook. I was so pleased when my boyfriend decided to take me here for our anniversary! I had the ribs with mashed potatoes. Delish. As I knew it would be. What I really want to comment on is the service that we got. My boyfriend has a dairy allergy which greatly limits what he can eat. We let our waiter know about this so that he could recommend something to my boyfriend. He really went above and beyond any other restaurant we've ever been to to make sure he got something he wanted. He double-checked and consulted with the chef on all recommendations and worked with us to make it an enjoyable experience. In the end, we had great food, in a place with great ambiance, and INCREDIBLE, attentive service. Loved spending our anniversary here.
(5)
Anjelica A.
Came here the day after Valentine's Day so that we could still have a romantic dinner but avoid the crowds. My boyfriend and I have recently become garlic addicts, so we decided this would be an ideal date spot. And we were right! My boyfriend had requested a romantic table when he made the reservation. But when we arrived they led us past these really cute little cabana-style private tables (getting my hopes up) to these tiny two-person booths along the back wall right beside the waiters' entrance to the kitchen (which dashed our hopes immediately). Not romantic at all. And the cushion on my seat was lopsided so that I had to brace my feet against the floor to keep from sliding into the aisle. Not cool! We asked to be moved. The hostess then escorted us to a quiet room all the way on the other side of the bar. You could have heard a pin drop in there. Like, literally. The one couple already seated in this tiny dining room looked up at us, all annoyed. We felt like we were intruding on their privacy. So we asked to be moved again. The hostess warned us that we would have to wait, but I told her that we didn't mind, especially if we could do it at the bar. The wait was less than 10 minutes and when the hostess came to get us, I apologized a whole lot, and the hostess warmed up to us and was really nice. She led us to Lover's Lane, a dining area with private 2-person cabanas, and we were thrilled! So intimate! We ordered the bagna calda, which other Yelpers raved about, but I have to be honest; it wasn't as garlicky as we had hoped! Because the garlic has been cooked so long, it falls apart and will even spread like butter on your bread. But its garlic taste is very mild. It might be ideal for someone who is not a true garlic lover, but it rather disappointed us. The appetizer that we DID love was the Roasted Garlic Baked Brie. Holy cow! This was melt-in-your-mouth decadence! The highlight of my meal! It was a small wheel of garlic-infused brie baked and cut into wedges and served with crostini. I wish they offered this as an entire meal! And we loved the complimentary rolls that have garlic relish baked into the top. They also put a jar of this relish on the table and it is so amazingly delicious! It'll give you that mouth-zing you're craving! I made sure to bring home a postcard from the hostess's table that has their garlic relish recipe. I have yet to make it, though. We also ordered the Sizzling Skillet of double crab/double shrimp and the Large Cut Prime Rib. The prime rib was delicious. The shrimp wasn't all that great -- they were somewhat overcooked and the delicate shells were sticking to the shrimp, making them a mess to peel. The texture of some of the shrimp was a little mushy, in my opinion, but my boyfriend loved them. I liked the crab; roasting it in garlic made it taste absolutely delicious. I wasn't smart to order it on a romantic date because crab is so messy to crack and eat; it was not the most ladylike I have ever looked (or smelled), but that was my own poor choice and nothing to do with the restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner with a bottle of riesling that a friend had brought us from Napa, and I loved that the restaurant has no corkage fee! We finished our meal with the garlic ice cream, and I know it sounds disgusting, but it was the perfect note to end on. It's garlic ice cream with chocolate mole sauce on top and it was so delicious: the chocolate sauce was the perfect counterpoint to the almost-savory garlic ice cream. I can't wait to come back! Baked Brie, Garlic Relish, and Garlic Ice Cream, I've missed you!
(4)
Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to return to the Stinking Rose for her birthday, so we gathered a small group & went on a Tuesday. Valet parking was quick & friendly $4.50 to park, not bad in LA. Upon entering you are beginning your visual & olfactorial journey into the garlic world. It is bright & colorful. Everywhere you look there' some hommage to garlic from garlic art to garlic hats & an area selling all things garlic behind a long desk on one side of the entryway, to a ceiling to floor of hot & garlic sauces opposite of it. The greeters & wait staff are energetic & friendly from the start. We had a reservation but save it for the weekend, as ours wasn't needed since there were enough booths, black & white striped tent covered seating & open tables to accommodate midweek walk-ins. There is a jar of chopped garlic & herbs on the table for your warm garlic rolls which might be a bit strong for the faint of heart, but if you order the warm, spreadable Bagna Calada which is sweeter, milder, whole-roasted garlic brought on a sizzling skillet you're in for a treat. Drinks are individually served in short neck glass bottles that you pour from, standard sodas, juices, etc. They do have a full bar with live entertainment on certain days of the week. We settled on eating family style, so we ordered the double crab & double shrimp sizzling skillet and a short rib plate to share. Another person ordered the babyback rib plate, that she inhaled in record time siting the flavor & tenderness of the ribs. The short ribs were melt in your mouth tender. & juicey. Both plates were served with your choice of sides. We chose the delectably creamy garlic mashed potatoes & creamed spinach. The spinach was just ok as there wasn't much flavor added to it. The crabs were not the king variety, luckily, but rather the smaller, sweeter version dipped into garlicky butter sauce that's so run down your chin good. I was pleasantly surprised since I am only a lukewarm crab fan, but when having crab in the future it will be at this place. The peel & eat shrimp was plump & juicy as well when lovingly dipped in that sauce from heaven, but the crab stole the show AND was worth the work! Finally dessert. After a rousing round of Happy Birthday (the 4th or 5th that night), we shared the birthday girl's free serving of chocolate covered ice cream which we were pleasantly surprised by, but not in love with. No Love was reserved for the Kustard ice cream...ah to be in love again, and again, and again! We dove into the creamy, not too sweet & rich cool treat like sinners from hell diving for a vat of water! Overall it was a good party vibe, friendly staff, and good food! I take a point off for the spinach & garlic ice cream which were just okay. Loved it!
(4)
Linda C.
Made reservations through Yelp for Valentine's Day weeks in advance. Sat through a lot of traffic on the way to dinner and was late 30 min. Luckily we were still seated right away! The restaurant was pretty packed and we were led into Dracula's Grotto which was decked out as you would guess, Dracula decor and fake spider webs. We were seated at a small table in the corner which we loved since the rest of the restaurant looked very squished. I was really surprised with the layout of the Stinking Rose. For years I've always wanted to try this place out and it was not what I expected--but it did exceed my expectations. As we were seated, we were presented with a plate of garlic bread--warm and soft. Ask for balsamic vinagrette and make your own olive oil and balsamic vinagrette dip! For starters, we ordered the Arugula salad--it was exactly what I expected, just light with garlic vinagrette, gorgonzola cheese, and red onions. We also ordered the Double Mussels and Crab ($39.95) which came out on a large hot sizzling plate. This was delicious! Dip the mussels and crabmeat into the garlic butter, it definitely adds a lot of flavor to it. I'd definitely order this one again! Me and my bf also shared the Metrosexual Cut which was the 8 oz Bone-in Filet. This came with garlic mashed potatoes which I found really addicting and garlic creamed spinach which I thought was a bit on the bland side. The filet was pretty standard, but I still prefer Houston's or Ruth's Chris. Service was great overall. The valet pickup was a bit slow, but it was understandable considering how swamped they were for Valentine's Day. I'd definitely come back but I'd probably stick to the appetizers and seafood next time. I had a great time! The ambiance and decor was all so interesting and a bit cheesy to me but I still loved it! Be prepared to still have garlic breath the next morning.
(4)
Kym F.
Okay, so I might be biased because I am Italian, but holy hell, do I love garlic! This place is garlic heaven- even the parking lot reeks of garlic! :) I've eaten here several times, and never had a bad meal or experience- definitely keeps me coming back. All the food is really great, and reasonable by LA standards. The garlic pesto on the table, paired with the warm bread they serve, is amazing- I seriously want to take a bath in it. And because I'm not afraid of carbs, I usually go for a pasta dish- that, and because they are so stinking delicious :) And I usually have leftovers- yessss!!! Pizzas are great, and the bagna calda is a must try- delish! Garlic ice cream sounds scary- its not, just try it :) Just writing this review is making me look forward to my next visit, hopefully soon! :)
(5)
Sharon Y.
It was okay...the food was a bit pricey for the quality...
(3)
Wendy N.
We had a great time and the food was delicious!! I love their sauteed garlic and tiny claims. I had garlic wine and garlic ice cream. It was both delish! I would definitely come again.
(5)
Marc L.
Sadly, this is one of those places where the more I go, the less I like. Everyone's first visit to The Stinking Rose seems like a revelation... With so many framed portraits of celebrities past and present, how can you go wrong? As you walk through the front lobby, you'll be ooing-and-awing at the storefront full of garlic paraphernalia, whether it's t-shirts or one of the many bottles of garlic hot sauce that fill the shelves right across from the restroom. The theme extends itself all the way into the dining room, with tacky artwork on the walls reminiscent of Buca di Beppo- although it's obviously all about garlic here... They even have a parody of Michelangelo's most famous Sistine Chapel scene, with the Almighty handing a clove of garlic to Adam. In total, I've been to The Stinking Rose at least four times in the last three years. I've ordered the roasted chicken, the roasted rabbit, the prime rib, and most recently, the mini gnocchi (called gnocchetti). Out of all of them, I liked the prime rib the best... not surprisingly, the most expensive of the four- and you can get better at Lawry's. The chicken was so-so, the rabbit was dry, and the gnocchetti was quite disappointing. I think I remember someone on Yelp being a gnocchi nut, and he's totally right when he says that bad gnocchi "is like chewing gum"... the dish became dull very quickly. On a positive note, the bread is GREAT here! Mmm, warm focaccia with garlic-infused olive oil, or even better, with BAGNA CALDA- a skillet full of roasted garlic cloves, soaked in olive oil and anchovies... you can smear it like BUTTER on the bread! Of all the garlicky items on the menu, bagna calda is probably the most memorable. Aside from the so-so entrees (which are slightly more expensive than I'd prefer, for what you're getting), the drinks are TERRIBLE- they highlight their mojitos, but they all taste watered down to me. Of course, no trip to The Stinking Rose would be complete without a taste of their "famed" garlic ice cream... basically tastes like vanilla ice cream with hints of garlic- but hey, my tastebuds are probably all messed up from a meal full of garlic. In any case, I guess you could say it's pretty gimmicky- like the restaurant as a whole. Good for the first or maybe second time... Sorta fizzles after that.
(3)
Marsha M.
DON'T LET THE NAME FOOL YOU! MMMMmm. Their food was so great, by the time the actual food came, I was half-way-stuffed from gobbling down the garlic bread. Everything was great! Would love to go back. Plus the decorations inside, are very unique and sets an intimate tone.
(4)
Lourdes N.
my breath reeeeked of garlic. and i didn't mind at all. definitely a garlic lovers heaven..like my dad. the stinking rose has a casual atmosphere. it had random decorations, very homey feel. their calamari is something to rave about, soft, chewy and very tasty. the table had ready to use garlic sauce with garlic chunks which you can put on your bread, or add more to your entree, etc. i kept using it through-out my entire meal, couldn't get enough of it. ordered the Prime Rib which came with mashed potatas and spinach. the prime was not garlic-ful as anticipated, but the 40 clove chicken was spectacular, tender and so FULL of flavor in every bite. ended dinner with garlic flavored ice cream, which is truly what it is.. garlic flavored ice cream! ..bizarre but glad i tried it. and since it was for my bday celebration, they sang to me and i wore the garlic clove hat and they sang to me "happy birthday you stinker.."
(4)
Aleli C.
Good Lord! I love this place! The Bagna Calda is soooo good. I couldn't get enough of that stuff on my bread. Oh, and the garlic fries! If I could live off of one thing that's perfectly artery clogging, these fries would be it! They're perfectly crunchy outside, soft on the inside; each bite is a burst of wonderful garlicky goodness -- makes your mouth feel ridiculously happy. As for entrees, here are my top picks: The Filet Mignon with the garlic mashed potatoes and creamed Swiss chard. Man! Good stuff. I'm not really too fond of the chard, but the filet and the mashed potatoes are enough to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The Tureen of Steamed Clams. Wow! Perfectly cooked little bivalves that make my tiny Filipino heart flutter like there's no freaking tomorrow. I am in love! And if you're a seafood lover like me, this is the best thing on the menu: Sizzling Shrimp Iron Skillet. Gahhh, I'm doing a total Homer Simpson drool right now. Yes, yes, the shrimp is peel-and-eat, messy as hell, but it's definitely worth all the trouble. Eating those perfect little crustaceans makes me feel like I'd just died and gone to heaven. Garlic plus shrimps: can't get any better than that! As someone has already said, this Stinking Rose is much better than the one in San Francisco. The menu is more varied, the place, much more spacious and laid-back. Oh, and parking's relatively easy due to the valet service. The service is okay. I like how they're all techied-out with their handy-dandy little Palms that seem to have become another appendage to their bodies. I do warn you, however: a few of the waiters have a tendency to bring you drinks that you didn't order and when you tell them to take it back, they still charge you for it. Bastards! (minus 1 star for that!) This has happened to me and my family a few times, so I suggest checking your bill before paying it. As for the cost of dining here, well, it's not the cheapest place to go to, but dammit! the food is definitely worth the splurge. This place has definitely earned a special place in my food-loving heart. One-and-2/3 thumbs up! (If only those servers weren't so greedy, then the place would've gotten 2 full thumbs up!)
(4)
Jess P.
My parents and brother were in town last weekend, and on a drive through Beverly Hills we passed The Stinking Rose. I vaguely remembered reading something about a garlic-centric restaurant, and thusly we decided to give it a shot. The decor was warm and kitschy, and I can see where it might bludgeon one about the head (if one is concerned with this sort of thing). I'm generally not, however the creepy anthropomorphized garlic-woman painting was certainly attempting to weird me out. No matter, on to the food! Right away the menu scored points by clearly delineating vegetarian options. I do eat eggs and dairy, but I had to leave the meaty dishes to my family. We ordered the garlic french fries as an appetizer, and fresh rolls appeared tableside post-haste. The rolls came in onion, garlic, and plain iterations and went very well with the accompanying garlic olive oil and garlic pesto spread. The garlic fries were, "addictive" according to my father. His proclamation was greeted by sounds of happy chewing from the rest of us. I ordered the house salad, which was unremarkable save for its slight tendency towards dryness. Just a bit more dressing, please! Still, it was a good size and the ingredients were fresh. For dinner, I ordered the neon ravioli. I have come to expect very little from ravioli over the years. Generally, if it's good there is too little of it, and oftentimes it is overcooked or undersauced. I was definitely not disappointed by this dish! There was a generous portion of pasta and the garlic basil alfredo sauce was light and savory, and applied in just the right amount. Delicious pasta, on the whole. My brother selected the filet mignon rare, and said that it was cooked to his satisfaction. He mentioned that it was nicely seasoned, too. My father chose the lasagna and proclaimed it very good. He is a diehard Italian fan, and said that he would order this dish again if the opportunity arose. My mother had the chicken and asparagus pasta, yet by this point she was burning out on garlic. She mentioned that if she had just this dish she would've been fine. We also ordered a side of spinach, and I was quite impressed with its flavor. Actually, I want some right now. Yum. We concluded with the garlic ice cream (more for the novelty than an actual desire for dessert). My assessment is that it tastes like vanilla ice cream with a little something extra. It was fine, but I'm not about to go demanding that Hagen-Daaz manufacture it. I think I'll skip it on any return visit. Overall, the food quality was great, the concept was novel and pleasing, and the service was good. The Stinking Rose is doing a good job of backing up their very specific theme, and this would be a great place to take a date you're comfortable with (garlic breath, anyone?) or a small group of fun people. There was plenty of street parking available when we went, but there's a valet if you're into that sort of thing.
(5)
Sam T.
I actually expected a lot from this place. The food was not as good as I imagined it to be. The garlic ice cream I've had in the garlic festival before. The one I had here which is suppose to be from Gilroy did not taste as fresh (it was really hard). I ordered Though nothing really wrong with the service there were a few things that caught my attention. We were about to sit down on a table but was quickly asked by the manager to move to a different table. The waiter was not particularly happy. Food: 3 Service: 3 Environment: 4 Price: 3
(3)
Lea D.
I have been wanted to go to this place for years!!!! I mean years but no one ever wanted to go with me, plus it's in BH which is far from me. I hate driving in LA traffic but it was worth it!!! My birthday was here and my birthday request this year was to go to the Stinking Rose. Everyone who had been here warned me that I must love garlic. And boy do I love it! So, we went! We had an early dinner so we did not have to fight the LA crowd which was nice. We sat in our own horseshoe shaped booth and started the night with a martini. I got the French Guillotine Lemonade which is made with Vodka, Chambord and lemonade. They brought it to the table and poured it in front of me and then left the shaker with the extras! That was awesome. Cheers! and Down the hatch. It was very tasty and sweet! Next, the hot baked rolls come out. They are not premade rolls and they are covered in garlic. Well, what do we do? We add more garlic to it! On the table we find a little jar of freshly chopped garlic and parsely sitting in virgin olive oil. This was so dang good, but like I said earlier, I LOVE GARLIC! So, vampires beware! Then we ordered the roasted garlic baked brie. Oh my goodness, creamy baked brie with roasted garlic served with crispy crostini. So good. I had wanted to try the bagna calda and the shrimp skillet appetizer but I just didn't have the stomach room because for the main event, I ordered the garlic roasted prime rib. It was cooked to perfection! It didn't seem garlicky at all to me but then again my mouth was doused in garlic since the rolls. The prime rib was served with mashed potatoes and I ordered steamed vegetables instead of the creamed spinach. The steam veggies were good but the mashed potatoes were only average. They were chunky a little on the pasty side. I don't mind chunks in my mashed taters but the pastiness was not pleasant, I prefer creamier potatoes. I was also able to steal a few bites of the Acini di Pepe Pasta. That was really good! I wish i had gotten that instead of the potatoes (that's a big statement coming from me because I seriously love potatoes). Well, like every birthday dinner, we ended it with dessert. I was stuffed and couldn't try all of the desserts so I just shared the garlic ice cream. It wasn't bad at all. I actually enjoyed it. Next time I come I will try the custard ice cream or strawberry sundae. I would definitely come here again. It was awesome. The decor is gaudy but fun! The service was great too. I am hoping to take my parents here when they visit in May! I can't wait! Thanks Stinking Rose for making it a great experience!
(4)
Brennan D.
Have the Lamb, the filet mignon, the garlic mashed potatoes and the garlic ice cream...you cant go wrong with any of those picks. If you love Garlic then go to this place.
(5)
Daniel S.
really fun place to go ONCE. everyone is probably curious about a restaurant themed around vampires and dedicated to the mighty garlic and for good reason. this place grabbed my love of garlic, and took it on a glorious magical vampire adventure but got carried away and left me with a burnt tongue. After garlic appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks I started to fear just how much more garlic can they fit into one dinner? I LOVEEEEEE garlic and i actually really enjoyed my night here, but the food ranges from mediocre to above average which is unattractive considering its heavy duty price. bread basket - YES. so good. they have a little garlic relish type thing on the plate put that on some hot bread. yes. just yes. be warned the garlic is raw eating too much although delicious will burn your tongue a little. i got over zealous and it got to the point where soda bubbles hurt to hold in my mouth bagna calda - must try... signature appetizer but one pot is good enough for a large party its a hot tub for garlic in oil... sounds, looks, smells, tastes amazing. prime rib - HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT. one of the best prime ribs ive ever had. this stood out soooo much for me. get dis one. mashed potatoes were above average pastas - almost all of them were decent but ultimately unsatisfactory. I got the prawns pasta, description said fettucine bacon onions in a spicy red pepper garlic oil. noodles were funky and the sauce was so sweet it was unappealing to my flesh. garlic ice cream - must try... signature dessert and surprisingly delicious. all of the soda is brought in mason jars which are super hip and cool and they have quite a list of garlic drinks that are fun to try. overall i think this place has become more of a touristy location whose real value is for showing your friends this cool vampire-garlic themed restaurant. I personally would not come back for the food even though its pretty good.
(3)
Ryan R.
I could never be a vampire. :-( No matter how much I love True Blood and the idea of living over thousands, millions of lifetimes. I could NEVER live without garlic. I'll take garlic anyway I can get it. The Stinking Rose is all garlic. I used to love this restaurant and made sure I visited any time I came to LA. I love their garlic martinis and I love their garlic spread for the bread, but other than that, the food and service have turned to a more touristy flare. It makes sense. Very few locals frequent this place. I think the next time I'm in LA, I'll probably just come for a cocktail and app. They have a really funky bar.
(3)
Robbyn A.
I love this place. I've been (2) times and both times have been GREAT! I've gotten the same thing both times too, but I'm always tasting everyone's food so I have an idea of their other dishes. They have great pastas, nice salads, I love their Garlic Steak Chili, not bad at all. I also love their Garlic encrusted ribs. How can you go wrong with that? You can't. That food is good ! No one is disappointed at the Funky rose...opps I mean the Stinking rose. It's good and consistent!
I came across this place from a friend of mine, since my boyfriend are a very big fan of GARLIC and have been planning and wanting to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival we thought that this would be a perfect pre-experience. As we drove in, we were greeted by the "valet guys" I just thought that it was unnecessary for them to have valet since their parking area is pretty big. Maybe its just from my experience from other valet services that you can't really trust those people. As we were walking out of the restaurant, we were told that the charge was $5 so we gave them $5.... the guy who drove our car to us made a little comment in spanish not knowing that I speak and understand spanish! He said a very rude comment about how cheap we were and said "no selve" meaning "worthless". I was just so irritated by that. ANYWAY! Stinking Rose is a very interesting and unique restaurant! Yes, we knew what we were getting into right when we walk in. Don't let the outside fool you because the inside of this restaurant was just uhhmmmazing! It kind of reminded me of that one restaurant in Disneyland inside the pirate's of the carribean where their lights were semi dimmed. There were pictures/paintings and big garlic cloves hanging throughout the restaurant. As we were guided to our table, we walked passed by tables that had their own personal cabbanas. Lowkey I wanted to seat in one of those tables but didn't know if they were strictly reserved. We were seated way in the back where it was perfect for my boyfriend and I. Small little table next to a wall were they have one of their memorable paintings. Food wise: We were greeted by our friendly server who served us water right when we sat down and was also served their delicious fresh out the oven garlic focaccia bread/rolls! Bread was perfectly baked and seasoned, we also ordered the "BAGNA CALDA" which was recommended by many yelpers. We were in GARLIC HEAVEN!!! Couldn't even explain to you how delicious and well prepared that bagna calda was! BAGNA CALDA: garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. IT WAS BASICALLY GARLIC SOAKING IN A HOT TUB! As for appetizer, we ordered the roasted garlic baked brie! I was a little bit disappointed how it came out because it came with the thinnest, I mean really really thin bread to spread out brie. Their rolls were alot better and tastier to use! As for the roasted garlic baked brie, it was just uhhhmazing because the garlic and brie together just melts in your mouth! Brie is one of my favorite cheese so this was PERFECT! On to the entrees! :) Boyfriend ordered the "FORTY CLOVE GARLIC CHICKEN" with a side of garlic french fries! Chicken was well prepared and was deliciously seasoned with their garlic sauce. I ordered the "SILENCE OF THE LAMB SHANK" with the chiant glazed and fava beans AND garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes AND creamed spinach! DEFINITELY HIT THE SPOT! every single bite were all different and uhhhmazing! We had plenty of left overs because we were so full right after all the bread and appetizers. I am so glad that we found this place and we will definitely be back! Overall experience = 10 STARS!
(5)
Liz R.
Excellent food with nice garlicky flavor.. You have to love garlic to appreciate it.. The garlic spread is awesome... Love it...
(4)
Jasmine S.
I have been here a couple times with friends and families. I gotta say you have to be a garlic lover or semi-okay with garlic in order to fully enjoy the advanture at Stinky Rose. Gotta say, the afterward taste in your mouth..or even the next day, you might have to be prepared to smell like a little garlic walking around. butttt its all worth it when you dip that soft warm bread into the green garlicky sauce...hmm its really yummy, and i bet if you keep on eating it, you will be full before your meal comes ( thats how I got full the first time i was there, so dont reach for the third bread before your meal shows up!) I had the garlic roasted prime rib last time, and surprisingly it wasn't sooo garlicky like everything else we had. The meat was tendure and juicy with a little extra garlic flavor to it. SO overall, I think this is a safe dish to order if you are not a HUGE fan of garlic. Tureen of seafood in tomato broth was my favorite! I had that similar dish at Mi Piace in Pasadena, but since its stinky rose, you will have an extra flavor of galic in your pot. I LOVE LOVE the tomato broth mixed with a heavy garlic flavor, and all those jumbo deal seafood just made the pot extra awesome! this is a great dish to get if 1. you are on a date, cuz its not messy and you can quietly use your spoon to sip and eat. ( but you might not want to kiss you date afterward...cuz your breath stinks) 2. if you are a die-hard seafood lover. 3. if you don't mind a heavy taste of garlic with your seafood. Mussels and shrimps ( medium size) is good for a party of 4-6. Depends on whether majority of the guests are seafood lovers or not...if they are, you might need to get a large instead. The whole dish comes on a hot metal plate, so be careful to not get your fingers burnt. The whole dish is medium garlicky...but you get a garlic oil sauce with it, so you can just dip your shrimp to get extra garlic taste. Last but not least, the garlic ice cream. It is soo weird to think about how would that taste like..well it really does taste like two seperate flavors except they all just melted in your mouth like magic. I think the vanilla beats the garlic taste, you get more vanilla creamy taste instead of the garlic... But it is a good experience to have, so I highly recommend first time stink rose eaters to order the ice cream in the end. :) so buon appetito everyone!
(4)
Penn C.
I've driven by The Stinking Rose a thousand times without stopping. One day in December, it popped up as available on Open Table and I decided to book it. Glad I did. I had no idea what the cuisine was. Wasn't even sure of the theme except that garlic was a part of it. The food is incredible. None of it is "too garlicky" even though everything I had had something to do with garlic. The caesar salad is amazing. The muscles are amazing. The NY, fillet and the prime rib are amazing. The steaks come with spinach and mashed potatoes. Normally, I wouldn't take a bite of cooked spinach, but I eat this willingly. The manager's name is Mossimo and he takes his job quite seriously. He is one of the nicest people I have met and always accommodating. Checks on all the guests to make sure everything is perfect. The second time we dined, they seated us in "Dracula's Grotto". It's like a wine cellar for a vampire and we loved it. All total, we've dined three times and booked Valentine's Day as the fourth. It is pricey, but I think it is worth it.
(5)
Alexis B.
3.5 So I was scrambling and I mean SCRAMBLING, trying to find a NYE dinner spot somewhat last minute. I through out some options to the PIC but he seriously, wasn't havin any of the choices I gave him. I've created a monster by the way. He used to not care about where I picked to eat but in the last 3yrs or so, he's become quite snooty and picky! Anywho we had no choice but to come here. I've always wanted to so this was the time! I also had some doubts coming here because I didn't want to club worrying about smelling of garlic if I decided to get my mad dance on and sweating, opening up those pores LOL Rsvps were a cinch. Walked in and WOW that garlic smell hits you right there. It was not bad or overwhelming. I just never been to a spot so scented LOL. We were given a nice big booth. I love when they do that for my PIC and I. Much more intimate and romantic. Speaking of ambiance. I felt like I was in an italian circus vampire bordello. Dark and red in there! Cleary this place is not for vamps ;) LOL. So anywho, we start to order some cocktails and shots. I got pretty buzzed and feeling real good! Every table comes with garlic rolls. I have to say these were THEE BEST garlic rolls I've ever had at dinner. I think about these rolls about once a week LOL. I really wanted to come back to take some home to go the next day haha. We started with the clam tureen. Nice big white bowl of garlic butter broth and clams galore. It was so good dipping that crack bread into the broth. I had to stop eating this bread but I couldnt! So for main course I had the rabbit dish and PIC had the short ribs. My dish was HUGE. Like 2 large rabbits. It was never ending meat. The rabbit was slightly overcooked. Didn't come close to the rabbit I had at Animal. You can tell they added some kind of olive tapenade to it and it made it a liiiiitttttttle overwhelming. The mashed potatoes were yummy. The short rib was fall off the bone kind of meat. Very tasty and wish I ordered that dish. I was tooooo full for dessert. Thanks to that crack bread. I will come back, mainly for that bread and to try other things!!!!
(3)
Edwin C.
if you want to OD on garlic, come here. favorite every time is the prime rib..
(4)
Giancarlo F.
I thought all of their food was wonderful, I overdosed on their bread. I had a grilled mushroom dish which was wonderful
(4)
Tehreem J.
The Stinking Garlic is pretty good, I came here for my birthday service was great. I like that on your birthday you get garlic ice cream, it's a cute gesture but tastes kind of gross. I got the salmon which was alright. The salmon was slightly dry but the couscous was pretty amazing! I recommend trying this place out at least once.
(4)
Rick C.
So, one place you do not want to go on Valentine's Day is The Stinking Rose. I thought we had it made when we made reservations. When we arrived, the place was jam-PACKED. I felt like I was in line for Pirates of the Carribbean at Disneyland in the middle of the summer. When I finally worked my way to the host, they had two lists: reservations and walk-ins. Now, this place was fully booked. Why are they taking walk-ins? We arrived at 9:15 for a 9:30 reservation. We didn't sit down until close to 10. Minus a star for that fiasco. (Surprisingly, everyone was civil about the mess.) This was our second time here and we liked it quite a bit the first time. We loved the old-school kitsch decor and enjoyed our meal well enough. I was looking forward to ordering the same thing I had last time which was a 3-ounce steak. I love red meat but usually don't order it at restaurants because the portions are so goddamn outlandish. I don't need a pound of meat. I just want a few bites. We walked through the bar area and they sat us in a weird corner that looked like an outtake from Beverly Hills Cop. It looked like an 80s add on. But it was quiet and away from the madness of the front of the house. We looked the menu over. My wife ordered what she had last time, cappellini cooked simply with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. (They serve this at just about any Italian place and it's almost always good.) I searched in vain for my little steak but it's gone. GONE from the menu. I was kinda pissed about it. Minus another star. Instead, I ordered the giant prawns with some kind of pasta. We started with some of that garlic spread (which IS on the menu, contrary to another reviewer) and some garlic fries. The starters were gone before we could even think about it and we were already oozing garlic out of our pours. Our dishes arrived. Suddenly, Linds remembered that she didn't really care for her pasta the last time. She pushed it around before deciding not to eat any more. Which was fine since the bread and fries were filling enough. The prawns weren't bad, like low-rent lobster. I asked for light butter-garlic sauce and I kind of blew it there because usually places drown their food in sauce but if you ask for light sauce, they hardly give you any. That's what I got. Still, I cleaned my plate. And I wasn't gonna do anything less for 23 bucks. Half a star off for the pricey food/wife not liking her dish/horrible parking situation combo. (Took us 10 minutes to even get out of the car and another 15-20 to get out of the lot after.) We probably won't be coming here again for quite awhile. We get enough garlic when I cook at home. 2.5 stars
(2)
Jay C.
Tourist Trap, nothing else to say. The food is all very mediocre and the ambiance is total tongue in cheek. If you want this type of meal hit a Buca de Beppo and you get kitch and good grub. Yes they have lots of garlic but whatever, I cook with boatloads of the stuff and so does every southern italian cook. Don't get me wrong, the food is pretty good, but it is not worth all of the hype. It's pricey for what you get because of it's location, but you aren't going to get an affordable meal over there anyways!
(3)
Aria A.
If you love garlic as much as I do, this is the place to be. Garlic garlic garlic everything. The ambiance is great here and really classy. I tried the garlic meatloaf and that was the best meatloaf I ever had. They even have a small side jar of freshly chopped/minced garlic just to add more flavor to your entree. Try this place out but be prepared for some flatulance if your stomach has a strange reaction to garlic.
(4)
Jennifer N.
This is what I wrote and send to their restaurant. I used to love, love this restaurant until last Saturday... Dear Stinking Rose, We had been loyal customers for many years. But last Saturday we dreaded it and couldn't wait to leave your restaurant. Our server name was Bela G 111. First we arrived and was seated. Server did not come to table for about 10 minutes! when he came, he tried to take our order then excuse himself in the middle of it because his PDA was out of batterey. Was out of site for about 10 minutes, when he was in site he went to the table on our right and left and skipped us. Eventually came back to our table to continue to take our orders. We were so hungry while waiting to get serviced, we ate all the bread. The food came, The "medium" prime rib we ordered was too raw. Redness and red juice were coming out of the prime rib. The Aspergus and chicken pasta was so under seasoned that all we could taste was the oil in it. Took us nearly an addition 25 minutes after our food to finally get the bill. We were at the restaurant from 6:30 to about 9pm UNWILLINGLY because service was horrible. Through out the entire meal, the waiter or bus boy didn't even pour the water for us which we had to do ourselves. Please understand a good advertising is good word of mouth. After this experience, how do I continue to share my comments with people I network with?? One thing the service was bad, perhaps he was having a bad day or busy, but your food quality has gone down. We used to love your food with the tasty Garlic flavors marinated into the dishes.. these days it just seems the dishes were just toss and turn to get it out of the kitchen asap. I hope management and customer service pays attention to this because especially with the recession going on these days, if we don't mind spending the money at a good restaurant with good service. But doubt of any returns if this continues. Thank you for your time to read this. Stinking rose has gotten a four stars out 5 stars at a few critics, blog sites, But recently I'd been seeing a few two stars and complaint these days on reviews on your restaurant. Please improve so we can love your restaurant once again!
(3)
Alan L.
This is the place to eat if you love garlic on your food. I only visit this place once with my friends, but would love and go eat again. I highly recommend trying their garlic ice cream after dinner. Strongly recommend not to bring your date to this place, unless you planned not to make out after dinner. :D The quality of its food speaks for itself.
(5)
Hanh D.
My sister and I were at The Stinking Rose last night, and we were gluttonous. We started with the popcorn calamari for appetizer, which was near perfect. The calamari was moist and tasted just right, but the dipping sauce was bland. We were also given regular bread and garlic bread as we waited for our entrees. My sister had the baked portobello mushroom that she said needed more salt, with a glass of sauvignon blanc. I had the infamous roasted rabbit with a glass of syrah. The red wine was excellent, a bit sweet, and not strong. (The waiter suggested syrah or pinot noir with the rabbit, and he gave me a sample of both to let me decide.) I was afraid that the rabbit would be dry since many reviewers commented on that. My rabbit (three pieces) was mostly moist. The parts that were dry was "over roasted," but I ate what I could with a knife and fork while refraining from my primordial tendency of picking it up with my hands and ripping the meat off with my teeth. I told our waiter that I was afraid the rabbit would be dry but mine was moist. He said that they've had a lot of complaints lately from customers (we Yelp reviewers?) with the rabbit being dry. So, the chef is fully aware of it. The garlic mashed potato that came with our entrees wasn't garlicky enough for us so we added pureed garlic (from a small jar that is on all the tables.) To end the evening, we shared dessert--custard ice cream with strawberry coulis (puree) and whipped cream. We couldn't finish the dessert because it was a generous portion, but we thought it was the best out of the entire meal. Overall, the food (except dessert) was bland and didn't have enough garlic. We couldn't taste any distinctive flavor in our food and was surprised that garlic didn't play a stronger role in any of our dishes. I felt as though garlic was just a garnish on my rabbit. However, the service was excellent and our waiter was quite attentive.
(3)
Risa Y.
This is like my 7th time dining at the stinking rose! I love garlic and this place is garlic heaven :) I did have ONE bad experience with the pasta... I can't quite remember which one it was, but I remember it being toooo creamy. But other than that this place is awesome. I've had most of the appetizers on the menu and they are all great! Prime rib and the filet Mignon is great here too, but I think what I like best is the seafood. This time around I ordered Zuppa Di Pesce (under tureens) I never ordered this because I didn't know what a Tureen was, but this Zuppa Di Pesce came with Mussels, crab, fish, calamari and shrimp in a spicy tomato Brodetto! You can order Small, Medium or Large. Small is a good portion to share with someone if you order other things to share. I also got the Whole Crab roasted in their secret Garlic Sauce, which is always my favorite thing on the menu! Then I also got a small salad and garlic fries YUM!!! between 2 people we almost finished everything! This is a good place for a date because they have these cozy seatings that are sectioned off with these small cabana like thing (I don't know how else to explain it lol) Don't worry about having stinky breath because if you both eat garlic then you wont smell it :) It's also a fun place to come with a whole bunch of people because they have big tables too. Great ambiance! There is a also a full bar in the front which is pretty nice when you have to wait to get seated. I'm going to keep coming back here! It's surprisingly not too expensive for a restaurant in Beverly hills :) Make your reservation on opentable.com and earn some dining points!
(5)
Jesse T.
Wow, economic down turn, turns win for me. WE got sat down at the rose with in 5 minutes on a Saturday night at 830pm... How is that possible in BH? I suppose the regular Beverly Hillbillies were busy having their jewelry soaked that night, who knows? This is likely my 5th trip to the Rose and by far not the last. For those who dont know what the Stinking Rose does, they call themselves the stinking rose because Garlic is part of the same family of plants that the common red rose belongs to. That is to say, they flavor their garlic with some food. For those who are of the Garlic challenged, lets just put it this way, when you roast garlic for a long time, the flavors mellow, get a bit sweet, and in many cases permeate the food it is cooked with. When you roast 300 bulbs of garlic , a dynasty is created. My Recomendations: Bagna Calda is an appetizer dish at its purist form, garlic roasted in olive oil. Which is then served warm to spread on your dinner rolls. Spoon some of the garlic on to your roll and spread it like a butter. Heavenly. The flavors are subtle, as I've said before, the garlic mellows when roasted so do not expect the kick of raw garlic when you order this, expect mellow tones with an almost sweet taste. Garlic Encrusted Spare Ribs. Rib nuts know, for a spare rib to be right, its not fall off the bone tender, its pull off the bone tender. They nailed the ribs. The rib rub was very nice, it had rosemary hints and some cayenne bite to it. I was very impressed that they left the sauce on the side, thank you for giving me the choice. This stuff had substance, of course it was freshly made, of course there were chunks of garlic in it. This tasted of a good brown sugar sauce with a good kick of worchestershire. Double Crab Double Shrimp. There is a bit of work in this meal, a large sizzling tray of dungenous crab and large shrimp is served with a lovely garlic butter dip. The Crab and shrimp have been sauteed in a similar butter so is permeated with the garlic flavors. A touch salty, but I believe this helps bring the crabs flavors out well. As I've said this is a working meal, dont wear your white Versace for this meal. Lamb Shank. This is a very tender piece of shank, the burgundy sauce is amazing. It neither takes away nor over kills the lamb flavors, this is likely the one meal with the least amount of Garlic. If it wasn't for the Garlic mashed potatoes I'd have thought this was a vampire faire. Finish the meal off with a bit of their famous Vanilla Kustard Garlic Ice Cream. its a tad more dense than your regular ice cream and the flavor is quite unique. All parking on the site is valet exclusive, with a $4.50 fee. The reason I give this place a 4 out of 5 is the price. 164 bucks for four people. But I think its worth it.
(4)
Pat T.
Horrid!! The bagna caulda was disgusing, overcooked.. tasteless. I ordered the Sea Bass, in hopes of something reminiscent of London... well, it was far from.... far from fresh that is! The bill for two for a cheesecake factory experience $129... which I would gladly pay, but not for this. Cocktails -2
(2)
Holly L.
Likes: -Garlic bread w/ olive oil, pesto, and garlic -Neon ravioli (filled w/ potato & cheese Garlic basil alfredo sauce) -Garlic Ice Cream (it's gross & good all at the same time! Your senses have no idea how to react.)
(4)
Connie M.
So for years now i've heard about the stinking rose...people telling me how great it WAS but now they don't think it's as good as it used to be...stuff like that...BUT...i never got to see for myself. Last night, the boyfriend and I were driving around LA for over 30 minutes trying to find a place to eat...drove all over sawtelle...but it was madness trying to find parking so we gave up and drove towards the grove...we decided to pass restaurant row to see if we'd maybe find a place to eat...low and behold...we pass the stinking rose...and we decided to go there...we opentabled in the car for a reservation at 9pm and walked in. YAY! The interior was super fun...tons of little knickknacks on the wall...and everyone is sitting in a little beachy like cabana. We looked over the menu and ordered the $5 garlic clove spread thing for the bread...as an appetizer...and i ordered the medium sized clams and the boyfriend ordered the LARGE cut prime rib. HOLY CRAP let me tell you this...the food was AMAZING! let's start off with the bread and the spread...the bread was amazing...fresh and delicious...YUM YUM YUM!!!!!! and then there is the garlic cloves...those were delicious...but sort of on the sweeter side..i'm more of a savory person when it comes towards food...so that wasn't my favorite. then came my big ass bowl of clams...THOSE WERE DELICIOUS...then again...i love seafood..and i scarfed that thing down quick...i think the boyfriend only ate 2...but let me tell you...when you eat seafood...you always get one or two that you kind of look at and never eat because they don't look all that delicious...so ahha i passed on it..because it was BLACK...gross right? the boyfriend was like i'll eat it...so i gave it to him..and he almost gagged...AHAHHA anyway aside from that stinker of a piece my meal was SUPER DELICIOUS! Now the boyfriend's prime rib was also EFFIN DELICIOUS! so great...so tender and juicy and it was a huge slab...yum yum definitely worth it! He only ate about 1/2 of it and we took the rest home. I would love to come again...and possibly try the garlic ice cream...i love garlic...but yesterday i was just too full... Can i just say the morning after.....my breath is still super garlic-y...HAHAH ugh...but sooo YUMMMMMMz
(4)
S P.
Went here with a friend, loved the ambiance of the place. Ordered Banga Calda -Garlic soaking in hot tub - was nice roasted garlic potato onion soup - was awesome! - must try this! forty clove garlic chicken - here is where the place lost one star - the garlic completely overpowered all the taste, so much so that i couldn't finish it. But i would come back again and try some other dishes.
(4)
Aaron R.
This is some awesome food. The food always tastes fantastic, and I always leave full. It is a bit pricey, but unlike the Melting Pot, you actually get a decent amount of food, and it tastes much better. Garlic ice cream. Awesome stuff. The only downside to this place: no matter how much you brush your teeth, that smell isn't going away any time soon.
(5)
Max L.
As a huge garlic enthusiast I was quite excited to try the food at TSR... it was just good, but definitely overpriced. Probably wouldn't go back.
(3)
Andy N.
In all honestly, I had really low expectations for this place. The reviews on here were mixed and I didn't know what to think. My gf wanted to eat here and It's a place I've been eye'ing to try for awhile. I pulled up to the valet and it costs 4.50 to park. Make sure you have cash or you'll be running to the ATM down the corner. This is restaurant row and these are the must go to places in L.A. The Stinking Rose feels like a circus as you walk in. There's so much themes going on in each room of the place. One room is a dungeon, a garlic looking room. a light room, and many more. The pricing on the menu here also isn't too bad. The experience is an awesome one. I felt like I was at Disneyland/Cirque De Solei. They bring you out this awesome garlic dinner roll as the complimentary starter. It has a side of green garlic sauce to dip it in. You can also order the bagna calda. That dish is garlic, oil, and butter mixed together for bread dipping. I enjoyed mixing the green sauce with the bagna calda. My breath was on full stink mode after this. Prime Rib - I had this as my main entree. It had garlic yukon mashed potatos, swiss chard, horseradish, au jus, and the medium rare cooked prime rib. The mashed potatos were okay whipped. I had to put on some bagna calda on it to give it a kick. The swiss chard was really bland. I added a ton of salt and bagna calda on that. The prime rib was cooked to awesomeness. It was nice and tender. The horseradish and au jus dip went very well with the meat. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. The Garlic Ice Cream - Is there really garlic in here? I couldn't taste it if there was. The ice cream was good. The chocolate caramel was good, too. The bad part was this came out the freezer pre made. It was hard as a rock. Good thing it tasted nice. Recommendation: Prime rib and garlic ice cream. and get extra garlic rolls! Oh and eat lots of gum and brush your teeth immediately after.
(4)
Phil H.
This was an interesting place to eat. As you can see by the name of the restaurant, most of their dishes are garlic-infested. Some are hit and misses, but overall, I was satisfied and their decor is a bit out there. Makes some time to get used to but the thing that really weirded me out was their garlic ice cream. Yup, you read that right. Their garlic ice cream is quite interesting. It may sound daunting but surprisingly, it was actually good. Try it out whenever you go there.
(3)
Tena'e W.
Hmmm hmm good! Everything cooked to perfection garlic inspired dishes. Last year I went there for my.birthday. I felt like I was in little Italy look the decor soothing atmosphere. The food was yummy made beautifully from the garlic pesto to the crab I enjoyed. My moms chicken was delicious garlic mashed potatoes soo good. Garlic ice cream.I.didn't like the bar has wonderful cocktails tv for the games. Nice setup for the gourmet items. Oh yeah I.will be back!!
(5)
Mel G.
Too much of a beautiful thing.
(3)
Fanny H.
Strictly for the service. Made reservations for a party of 5 on Saturday night at 8:30pm. Arrived right on time and went inside to tell the hostess we were here only to be greeted by a MOB of people waiting both inside and outside the restaurant to the point where it could deemed a fire hazard. First, I don't understand why there were so many people at the hostess counter. It's not THAT hard to maintain the guestlist, especially with such a flawed system such as the one this place has. Second, this place does not adhere reservations. Now maybe this was because it was Father's Day weekend and it was crazy busy, but there are absolutely no excuses. For what should be an established restaurant such as Stinking Rose, I would assume they know how to manage a crowd and be able to run a busy night smoothly. They did not do that. My party was told it would be a 45min to an hour wait and when we pried for more information as to why we would have to wait with reservations in our hand, the hostess dare retaliated with a response along the lines of how they couldn't kick out people who are seated at the tables and that there were parties who got there before us that they have to seat first. Uh, we understand that, what we did NOT understand was why you would overbook the night or allow such an influx of patrons without reservations to be seated over those with reservations. In summary, we found out that reservations did not matter here. If your reservations are at 8:30pm and you get there at 8:30pm, somebody who walked through the door at 8:29pm without a reservation would be seated before you. Last time I checked, that is NOT how a reservation works. A reservation calls for a table to be held and reserved for you at the allotted time for your party; Stinking Rose does not do that. They also told us that they would prioritize our party since we did have reservations but if having our party as priority still resulted in an hour wait, then there is something really wrong with your system. Luckily, our party got dropped off and did not have to go through valet. Would've been a waste of our time AND money. As much I want to try this place, pass. Maybe the SF location will fair better, but let's be honest, I'm not willing to sacrifice the time and effort to find out if that is indeed the case.
(1)
Cassandra Y.
The Service: Great, very attentive. The Food: A little bit tooo much garlic for me. The appetizer, banga calda, is excellent. The garlic is super soft. But after a few hours... my tummy is not happy (too much garlic!!) The Parking: Valet parking. Challenge to find street parking.
(3)
Juan M.
This is a pretty nice restaurant in Beverly Hills. The thought of Garlic on everything sort of turn me off, however, my wife wanted to go. I order steak and lobster, and I will say it has been one of the best dishes I have had. The food tasted amazing and the vibe was great. I recommend trying this place if you're in the area. Wish it was closer to where I live.
(5)
Rachel B.
One word for this place: FUN! Let me elaborate a little... It's a little like a chain Italian place, in that it's all theme, all the time. The food is definitely more imaginative and better quality than what you'd get at Bucca De Crappo, or Cheesecake Craptory. I would not take a date here! It's way too kitschy for date night. But it's fun! I went with a group for a graduation dinner. We ordered the Garlic Ice Cream as a starter- it's a subtle flavor, and if you have it for dessert, you probably won't notice it! They kept the garlic rolls coming while we waited for our food- it was a busy Saturday night, so it was understandable that the service was a little slow. But yeah, noticeably slow, bordering on inattentive. The food itself was decent, but slightly short of amazing. I ordered veggies & mashed potatoes along with a double crab & mussels platter. The veggies were steamed with an olive oil drizzle, a type of prep best reserved for catering, not really inspired or memorable in any way, which is a shame! There's nothing as good as oven roasted veggies with garlic & oil, but alas, this is why people love coming to my house to eat! The crab & mussels were OK- they came on one of those gigantic fajita platter deals that smokes and sputters and generally creates a burn hazard on your table top. Again- Fun! but not super great for the food. Mussels were definitely overcooked as a result... and both the mussels and the crab were "flash-fried", so there was a dry, oily crust on all the shells. It didn't really do anything to improve the taste of the crab, and it was really, really messy... I suspect there's a MUCH better way to get some garlic flavor into king crab legs! All in all, we dropped about $100 for two people- not bad considering the amount of food, but not a spectacular meal for $100. Luckily we had a big group of fun friends to keep me feeling like it was a two-star experience!
(3)
Vatsa S.
We were in LA Area during one the weekends and decided to try this Stinking place! Had heard great reviews of this place and decided to give it a try. We were seated in a sort of private booth area. It was like dining inside a tent. The wall were bright red with painting of different suburban/urban places. The decor was different but we liked it. Mind, I am not a garlic person but my other half is and we are vegetarians. We ordered the Garlic fries, the only veggie entree on the menu Portobello Mushroom and Lasagna from the pasta menu. While waiting for food, we were served with bread basket. The breads were good, but delicious with the chopped garlic and olive oil mixture. We almost finished the entire garlic-oil mixture, provided in a decent sized glass container, before our foot arrived. I garlic fries were good but nothing special. I thought the Mushroom dish was ok, but the Lasagna was great. After eating so much delicious bread, we could not finish the dishes. We packed the leftovers. Overall the food was great and so was the experience. We will try the one closer to home in San Francisco sometime in near future. Who would have thought food with so much garlic would taste good as well!
(4)
Rene N.
How was our experience? Eh... Walking in, I didn't expect to be welcomed by the smell of public restrooms... but that's exactly what happened. Public restrooms and the smell of garlic are not exactly the best combo. When checking in, it took the FIVE girls about 15-20 seconds to recognize us. Almost like a "who's going to check them in" kinda situation. Finally one helped us, confirmed our reservation and said it'd be 10 mins. I let that go, it was a Saturday night and they were busy. We ordered the Bagna Calda as recommended by almost everyone in reviews... we weren't impressed. I'm Italian and a HUGE fan of garlic, but we had about one or two dips and we were done. We actually enjoyed the olive oil with the fresh garlic they had on the table more than the Bagna Calda, but hey at least we can say we tried it. My wife ordered the 40 Cloves Chicken & I ordered the baby back ribs. After each of us tried a rib we sent the plate back as the rack had too much fat. They were nice enough to take it off of the tab. Kudos for that I guess. We enjoyed two drinks, she had two beers and I had a Toothy Fruity (basically a Mai Tai) and Blood Orange Martini. Neither were anything special. The wall of hot sauces is impressive, and the band is nice. Loud enough to flow through the restaurant but not too loud to interrupt your meal. Maybe I just went in with high expectations due to the great reviews but I was actually a little disappointed. Not exactly how I wanted to spend our first anniversary but it was something different. The parking has its pros and cons. They MAKE you valet ($4.50 charge) and while they are quick to take your car, it takes about 10-15 mins for them to get it from the "other lot" if it isn't parked in the main one. It's nice to pull up and get out, not have to worry about finding parking in LA... but when I'm ready to go I'M READY TO GO and waiting around with a bunch of people b*tching about how long it's taking to get their car wasn't exactly how I wanted to end my evening. Will we ever be back? Probably not. It's over priced and overrated. Just my opinion, maybe it was just our experience but first impression is everything.
(2)
Megha M.
It was a super fun place for dinner on a Saturday night. It was pretty crowded, and some people were really dressed up while others were quite casual, but for some reason, it seems to work either way. The decor is unlike anything I've seen before! It's quirky but not trashy, so I really enjoyed that. Service was great as well. You get free garlic rolls all night. Food is pricey but portions are big so you can share. Try the garlic ice cream-it's really interesting. Definitely coming back, but only with people who like garlic because otherwise they will hate you for it...
(4)
Megan N.
I went here for the first time yesterday evening for dinner and was completely won over!!! They even have swanky bathroom decor! We sat at a table which had a canopy over it with drapes that you could shut for more privacy. I ordered the filet mignon, and my grandmother ordered the 40 garlic clove chicken. We both had the garlic mashed potatoes and their house salad with the garlic dressing. My grandmother's chicken was delicious. It was tender and juicy, made even better with a roasted clove of garlic mashed on top. My filet was (seriously) the best steak I've ever had in a restaurant. I ordered it medium rare, but it came out rare -- which I ended up absolutely loving!! So it was a happy accident. The gravy...or juice that was on the plate was great when I mixed it with my mashed potatoes. We also ordered the Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub....which is basically roasted garlic served in a pool of olive oil. They present it in a cast iron skillet and set it on top of a tea light candle to keep it a little warm. The cloves are soft and warm, so you can spread them out over the bread they serve you when you first sit down. YUMMY! To end the meal, we both ordered the garlic ice cream which was sooo good. It's served in this really cool looking cobalt blue, frosted dish (I'd love to know where they came from, I'd like to have them for my own home). The ice cream looks vanilla, but it's like they poured a thin coating of chocolate fudge over the scoop of ice cream and put it in the freezer just long enough for the fudge to become gooey when you stick a spoon in it. Whatever they do, its sooo yummy. I'm not normally an ice cream person, but I'd go back again just for this. (You know, even if the steak hadn't been the most awesome steak ever. heehee) It's a little pricey....but I think it's worth it for a really good meal every now and then. I'm already looking forward to my next meal there!! Olive oil and garlic.....mmmmmMMMMM. =)
(5)
Mimi L.
I don't get the hype. At the price you're paying, you'd expect to be in a fairly elegant restaurant, but the Stinking Rose is far from it. Each of their rooms is decorated with a different theme - we sat in some room that reminded me of the Sistine Chapel gone wrong - and while it IS kind of fun, it also creates an overly-eclectic, clashing look. Also, their tables are way too close together - the woman who sat behind me had a huge mass of curly hair and it kept tickling me throughout dinner. Gross. As far as the food goes...some of the entrees that my friends ordered were pretty good, I guess (steak & salmon). I made the mistake of ordering the tiger prawns ($23) - 2 puny shrimp on a pile of noodles. The taste was okay, but it looked completely unappetizing. We all shared an order of garlic ice cream at the end, and THAT was my favorite - not because it was good, but just because it was so interesting. It was one of those foods that you'd take a bite of, wince and think "oh WOW...", then take another bite a few seconds later because you've forgotten that you didn't exactly enjoy the taste. Last thing - your breath WILL smell.
(2)
Kelly M.
Do you love Garlic??? I mean no really....do you luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvv Garlic??? Well if you do and there's no chance of your being a Vampire...this is the place for you. Not only a great bar to hang out in....but amazing food, and the best part??? Garlic Ice Cream. No joke.
(5)
Cathy K.
I love garlic and garlic loves me. Dare I venture, then, that the Stinking Rose is a restaurant right up my alley? Call first to make a reservation, not necessarily because it's mandatory, but just because it's fun to listen to the Dracula-esque voice that's recorded on their answering service! I always get a kick out of the "Thannnk you forrrr cah-ling the STINKing Rrrose~" When you first step into the restaurant, the first thing you will notice will be the dim red lighting that predominates the entire building. You will also notice the racks and racks of interestingly bottled olive oils, preserves, and whatnot, garnished with bunches of garlic bulbs everywhere. It's eclectic, it's kitschy, it's fun! The food here is not exactly the best (I've had almost everything on the menu), but the massive doses of garlic that are infused into every plate makes everything MUY PALATABLE! Yummers. Always ALWAYS order the Bagna Calda. It consists of whole cloves of garlic slow simmered in olive oil peppered with anchovies (I know I don't eat seafood, but for this, I have to make an exception!). It comes out on a cast iron skillet sitting atop a candle-lit grate (so that it stays warm throughout), and it's soooo soft that you use it to spread on your bread, just like butter! Oh, yum. It's definitely a popular favorite. Don't order the pastas, because they're probably the worst things on the menu, but the prime rib is always a hit, and I've enjoyed the pork chops there as well. Other steaks are just whatevers (might as well get the prime rib if you're in the mood for beef), but the ribs are actually quite yummy, too. DO NOT bother with the garlic ice cream. Does it sound gross to you? If so, then you're right on the money. It doesn't just sound gross, it tastes gross. Skimp on dessert altogether, because once you get your bill, a tasty treat comes right along with it! As "breath savers," they offer this Italian jelly candy. It's hard candy, but it's chewy, too. They come in all sorts of great fruity flavors. These little candies might not seem substantial, but trust me, they're sooo addicting. In fact, I always wheedle the waiter into packing up several handfuls in my to-go bag for me! ^^ Actually, I love these candies so much that I used to special order them from a candy store in Big Bear. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore, so I have no supplier left. So, every time I end up at Stinking Rose, I have to stock up my personal stash! Come to think of it, DO NOT ask the wait staff for extra candies! They're MINE!!! LEAVE THEM FOR ME!!!
(4)
Heather S.
I'm giving the Stinking Rose 1 star for its fun decor. As I was rushed to "Dracula's Lair," apparently the furthest corner of the restaurant, I wasn't able to catch too many glimpses of the main dining rooms but the Halloween style cobwebs and wine-cellar decorations were cute for what they were. I am also giving the Rose 1 star for offering pitchers of Guiness, always a plus. Other than that, the Rose was a disappointment. The roasted rabbit was dry, the bagna calda garlic spread was only so-so, and overall, I was left wanting more garlic! Unless you like overcooked cloves, the actual taste of garlic is strangely absent from the food. My boyfriend had the short RIB, yes thats singular, even though I believe the menu read "ribs" and while he liked it, I thought it tasted a little soft and mushy. Would not return. Not even for a trial. For $80+ for two people, you could find better.
(2)
Stella C.
Disclaimer: This review is not about the food. I am seriously disappointed. My boyfriend and I wanted to go to a special place on Valentine's Day and we had heard a lot of good things about this place (plus I love garlic). He made a reservation, through Yelp I might add, for 9:00 P.M. When we arrived, on time, I thought there was some sort of wedding / group party / very large get-together of people who all know each other and will be sitting in a room together and my RESERVED table will still be mine. Wrong. The line was out the door, filled with couples leading to the front desk and out the back onto the street. We waited in line for 45 minutes just to tell this damn restaurant, Hey! We're here! And we wouldn't have been late if it weren't for this baffling line that shouldn't have to stand in because we made a RESERVATION. And then, we had a revelation. Every single person in front of us and to the back of us had a reservation. The Stinking Rose literally triple-booked or maybe even quadruple-booked itself on Valentine's Day. Without receiving an apology, we were told that it would be another 45 minute wait. My boyfriend and I squeezed ourselves into the bar area, that actually would have been quite roomy had there not been 100 other people standing there as well. By this time, it was almost 10:30 P.M. and we were starving. There was nowhere to sit and practically nowhere to stand either. We ended up going to the Norm's up the street because we couldn't wait any longer and I had an early morning job obligation. Thanks, Stinking Rose, for turning a sure thing, into stink. I think management here needs to learn what a reservation means. They should have had a no reservation policy if they were planning to triple-book AND allow people in on a first come first serve basis. A reservation means a reservation. That means if I come at the time of my reservation, I will be seated within 10 minutes of my reservation. I have been to plenty of even low-end restaurants that understood the meaning of a reservation. I have been to plenty of restaurants that wouldn't seat my party because an empty table belonged to a party with a reservation. If a restaurant is not willing to do that, then don't allow reservations. Simple. Professionalism begins not when a patron is seated, but when the first point of contact occurs. Dining is about the experience as much as it is about the food. I was quite excited to try this restaurant. After this awful experience, no thanks.
(1)
Orenzo G.
Everything on the menu is great! I was a little disappointed in the silence of the lamb shank. But Seriously everything else is great like there tureens. It has a great atmosphere and awesome servers. The bar has great prices but he employees at the bar, from when i have been there, always seem to frantic and frustrated and they are very rude and impersonal.
(4)
Anita W.
I love garlic..absolutely love it.. This place is creative and even puts garlic in ice cream, which actually, is very good. I've been here a handful of times and have been very satisfied each time. I've had the garlic steamed clams, the salmon ravioli, neon ravioli,the bagna calda, and probably a few others..but everything there was good. Their service is SUPER quick for this type or restaurant. We had just finished ordering when the waiter brought us our lattes. Apparently, they have a handheld digital system that sends orders as they type them in. Nonetheless, -1 star because the salmon ravioli was too salty and the clams lack the "umph" from everything else. Ooh! anything thing I forgot to mention is their tiramisu..it definitely hits the spot.
(4)
Tajira M.
So as much as I love the plethora of garlicky food here, the service does stink, as Carrie said. We had a reservation, which of course they didn't have written on their list, but they agreed to seat us right away. As one host was leading us to our table, I took a spill right there on the tiled floor. Something was wet, and all over my pant leg. And no, I didn't put it there, nor did I pee on myself..lol. The host and the hostess both came over to see if I was okay, though my tiny Asian mom was the one to try and help me off the floor. At no time did they try to file a report, nor did their manager ever come to my table to see if I was okay. I was fine -- just scraped a knee -- but I'd never been to a place where they wouldn't just want to make sure. I mean seriously, this is the lawsuit era -- what were they thinking? Anyway, the food is never an issue here, hence the 4 stars. I didn't want my spill to ruin the meal, so I tried to ignore that it happened, though my knee was throbbing. They brought plenty of bread, and we ordered the iron skillet shrimp as an appetizer. Great flavor, not overcooked, and most of the shells came right off (peel and eat). My mom and dad both had strawberry mojitos, which I found too sweet, and I had a melon mojito. The melon was really subtle, but nice. At least I could still taste the rum and mint. Mom had the garlic crusted ribs, dad had the Italian meatloaf, bf had the chicken and asparagus pasta, and I had the garlic braised short ribs. Yum. My short ribs were moist and super tender, and everyone loved the garlic mashed potatoes. We were there for my mom's birthday, and they didn't disappoint here. Our server brought my mom some of their signature garlic ice cream, along with the Tortuga rum cake that she'd ordered. Both were great, and the rum cake was STRONG. Good. She had an espresso and we were ready to go. Mostly a good time, though if you fall on their wet floor, expect them to stand there and stare at you. I'm a fan of their food, not their service.
(4)
ML A.
OMG i love garlic and i love this place! i highly recommend the garlic chicken, the garlic fries, and the tub of garlic appetizer. every time we go to this place, i can't wait to have the garlic ice cream too! i know it SOUNDS gross, but it TASTES so good. warning: you WILL smell like garlic the next day, but who cares.
(5)
Christopher D.
My ex gf took me here once for my bday and the food was average. I think this place is way over hyped. I had prime rib and it was pretty dry and was not tender. The service was pretty prompt and they were friendly, but the place was fairly empty. Valet parking is right in front, so that's pretty easy.. Would I come here again? Probably not, but the atmosphere was romantic and it was a good experience.
(3)
Becca T.
First thought came to my mind when I first heard of this place is that "Omg, I'm gonna smell like garlic!"... haha. To my surprise, it wasn't as overpowering as I've thought it'd be. Came here last night to celebrate my friend's Bday. We got seated in one of the bigger dining rooms since there were 8 of us. I ordered the boneless short ribs & it was pretty good. The meat was soft & wasn't chewy. The Bday girl ordered the pork chop & that one was yummy. My friends & I tend to always order different plates so that we'd get to pick on each other's food... Sharing is caring =). Another friend ordered the rabbit plate. None of us had rabbit meat before so it was interesting. All I have to say is that it tasted like chicken. Come to think of it, almost everything tastes like chicken.... hahahaha. Their pasta dishes were good too. Basically everything was good. Like everyone else said, they have garlic in everything. I like the decor of the place. Btw, they have a wooden rocking chair in the shape of the Fertility God in the women's restroom. Sit on it & you shall be fertile... haha. I thought it was kinda creepy @ first to have that thing there. Of course, we all sat on it & it wasn't comfortable... yet there was a sign said "Comfortable if you're pregnant.".. Duh! None of us were so of course we couldn't manage to get in & out of that thing... hahaha. Yes, we can be dorks sometimes ^_^ Anyway, we also tried their infamous garlic ice cream. First taste of it was good but then you get this big garlic after taste though. The garlic after taste of the ice cream was more powerful than any of their entree dishes. They even drown that thing in caramel & it still didn't help. Garlic is an acquired taste. Stinking Rose is a good place to check out if you have never been there. The price is a bit more pricey compare to any other Italian eateries. The alcoholic beverages weren't strong though. I had a strawberry mojito & I barely tasted the alcohol in it. Food is edible if you don't mind the garlic. It left a good impression on me but didn't leave a GREAT impression... but I wouldn't mind coming back though. P.S: I brushed my teeth & rinsed my mouth w/ listerine, but I can still taste the garlic from the food. Bring gum w/ you if you came here on a date or plan to go out afterward =).
(4)
Sandy L.
The Stinker~affordable decent Italian food. Would I bring my date here? Depends if I'll being giving kisses that night. They use a lot of garlic so for some of you out there trying to avoid smacking lips, come here for dinner. Don't be lame and say "ewww....so much garlic...blah blah whine whine" The restaurants name says it all. Friendly staff. Oh... and those of you who turns bright red whenever you drink, come drink at this place. The red lighting helps..so you can't really tell.
(3)
Chris D.
Donna and I came here back in 2008 for lunch before Donna had a pre-operation appointment at Cedars-Sinai. We both enjoyed it thoroughly and wanted to come back. We both had the day off today and had some business to attend in Hawthorne so we figured it was the perfect day to eat here again! To start you get a plate of DELICIOUS garlic topped rolls which they place over a candle to keep warm. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… Most people order the bagna calda appetizer which is garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, butter, and anchovies to spread over the rolls. It's delicious and we had it during our last visit but I actually prefer the free jar of yumminess already on the table. It's raw garlic, evoo, and parsley. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… If it's your first time definitely order the bagna calada. Don't be scared away by the word "anchovy", their is just a hint for flavor. Donna and I both started with a cup of their roasted garlic potato onion soup which is topped with a pastry cap. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… It smelled wonderful but it didn't do much for me. It had a decent flavor but was very watery with not enough chunks. I wouldn't order it again and I wouldn't recommend it. For my entree I ordered the medium sized sizzling iron skillet with roasted mussels and shrimp. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… This wasn't just good..... it was FROCKING PHENOMENAL. A dozen shrimp and more than two dozen mussels come out sizzling hot. The waiter pours this dark liquid all over them which causes the skillet to explode with steam, sizzling sounds, and a heavenly aroma. You get two tiny forks to peel the shrimp and pull out the mussels and a bowl to discard shells. To dip you get a fantastic mixture of butter, garlic, and I believe Parmesan cheese. Every single bivalve and crustacean was melt in your mouth tender. Cooked to perfection. 99% of it was grit free and not one single closed up dead mussel. I highly HIGHLY recommend you get this as an appetizer to share with the table or to eat as an entree. I'm not that big a fan of mussels but these made me a believer. Donna had the gnochetti which were tiny gnocchi, asparagus, pine nuts, and garlic Gorgonzola sauce. It was a huge bowl. She said it had a great flavor but the gnocchi texture was off. I've read other reviews saying the same thing. She doesn't recommend it but she did like the flavors. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… We also shared a small order of garlic fries which was such a big portion we only ate half. They were nice and crispy but they were kind of skimpy on the garlic/cheese topping. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… To drink we both had mojitos which is rum, lime, fresh mint, and soda. Donna had the pineapple version. I've never had a mojito before so I can't compare it to other places but we both thought they were very refreshing but you won't catch a buzz. Our waiter Aaron L was outstanding. He had a great sense of humor and was on point with service. The guy at the front desk was hilarious too. Donna and I are both fans of this place. The food is tasty, the prices are reasonable given the area, and it has a great vibe. I highly recommend you give this place a try! Just make sure you don't have any close encounters planned because you will STINK for days. Lunch time has free parking until 4pm.
(4)
lisa z.
*sigh* I reaaalllly wanted to like this place. Ever since I heard about it I have been wanting to go there, because I love me some garlic, and was dying to try the garlic ice cream. So, this year on my birthday, my Italian family (who prefers authentic hearty Italian cooking) made the trek to Beverly Hills to give the Stinking Rose a shot. When I first walked in, my excitement grew, as the decor was brilliant with private little date booths, and bright garlicky murals all over the walls. The ambiance was totally there, and the scene was set. They brought roasted garlic cloves over the table to spread on bread, which were a tid bit disappointing (I roasted some the other day at home that tasted better). We then ordered our drinks which weren't even alcohoholic, and dug into the garlic spread bread not knowing that the drinks would take 10 years to get there. My brother sipped his iced tea when he finally got it and spit it out cuz he said it tasted like garlic. (probably his imagination playing tricks on him) I tasted mine, and there was something not-quite-right about it. Ick. Tastes like they hadn't cleaned the iced tea container in ages. So we all ordered different dishes, from steak to gnocchi, to chicken, and I had a little taste of everyone's food, and was not very impressed. My gnocchi was waaaaay to thick and creamy. I love thick and creamy, but they over-flavored it so that it was nastily pungent. The chicken came with dark meat, and the steak had very little flavor. The garlic mashed potatoes were allright, but overall I was just really disappointed. I finished the night off with the garlic ice cream I had been dying to taste. And it tasted like.....*drum roll*...........garlic ice cream. It was cool. Nothing special, but not bad. Coming from an Italian family, I know how delicious things taste when properly flavored with garlic. It was very strange to me, but it seemed like at the restaurant known for cooking with garlic, they didn't really know how to cook with garlic. I think this place's popularity is purely due to it's being a novelty. It is in Beverly Hills, therefore frequented by stars, and the idea is original....I will give them that. Perhaps they just need some new recipes....
(2)
Melody C.
First timer. My ex and I are big garlic fans, and what do people say.."go eat at The Stinking Rose if you're a garlic fan!" It was her birthday, so why the hell not. Food is pretty decent. But...not garlicky enough for me, at all. I mean I'm not such a fan that I consume obscene amounts of garlic with every meal, but I easily infuse more garlic flavor when I cook at home than what I ate tonight. So what did I eat? First, I had the roasted shrimp. That was yummy, though it was a tad bit salty. Roasting the shrimp allowed me to actually eat the shell along with the meat because it was actually crispy. Yes, I eat the shell when I can, because first of all, I'm lazy, and second of all, it actually helps lower the high cholesterol of the shrimp. It came with melted butter with either lemon or vinegar in it, which tasted great but I didn't taste much of garlic with this dish? I ended up putting the fresh raw garlic condiment they had on the table on the shrimp to enhance the garlic flavor. Then my ex had garlic crusted ribs, and I the garlic chicken with 40 cloves. Both came with a side of mashed potatoes. My ex's dish was not too bad, but again, I tasted more rosemary than garlic. The rosemary was a bit strong, and maybe they were pretty liberal with the garlic but the pungency of rosemary overpowered it? I dunno, but if it were up to me I would've put cumin & thyme on ribs rather than rosemary; that would complement chicken better in my opinion. Speaking of chicken..I wasn't very happy with my dish. I was really just expecting a good roasted chicken with garlic, tons of garlic, I mean, it says 40 cloves of garlic, so it had to be somewhat garlicky, right? Well, it had a subtle hint of garlic on it, but 40 cloves? I don't really taste that. My chicken was a bit bland, it had a lot more white meat than dark meat, and it was glazed with this..sweet cream sauce, which tasted kinda like blue cheese ish? Which seemed really unsuitable for the dish? I think if they were to put that sauce on it, they should at least say it on the menu "chicken glazed with sweet sauce" instead of just "roasted chicken" Now, aside from my chicken, it had maybe 7 cloves of roasted garlic on the side, with a droopy stalk of green onion. I dunno where the rest of the 33 cloves of garlic was, but it wasnt stuffed in the chicken. When I tasted the garlic on the side, it was the most ungarlicky garlic I've ever had. And the green onion too, tasteless. I really think they over roasted the garlic and the green onion until all the flavor leaked out of it. Actually, it tasted like they boiled the garlic and green onion to death then threw it on the dish. The check took too long, and they packed my ex's ribs without bbq sauce. So..overall..I think the food is not bad, but nothing is garlicky enough and the foods don't taste very balanced (weird spices and sauces that did not complement), so the price did not justify the food. The shrimp was good, and the best thing was the raw minced garlic infused with green onion condiment thing on the table. I would go back there again, not for the garlic, but to give other foods a chance. The reason I give it 3 stars is because my experience with the food failed to equal the reputation of the restaurant.
(3)
Gloria Y.
It was not garlicky enough. I was expected to be blown away with garlic, but I wasn't. Neither was my husband. We got there by 6 and was seated immediately. It wasn't busy at all. We had to go early because my husband wanted to be home by 8 to watch Smallville. The decor reminded my husband of a 1890s brothel for some odd reason. We kept expecting can can dancers to come out at any moment. To me, it was a tad too theme-y, with the "Lover's Lane" and cheap tapestry surrounding the table. It did ensure more privacy, but when the entire area was empty, and you seat the following couple the table behind us where they proceed to converse loudly, the whole privacy thing was mute. The music selection was also really weird. Then there's the food. Like I said, it was definitely not garlicky enough. There was a pesto with garlic spread that we both enjoyed, but that was the only item that was garlicky. We ended up spreading that over everything. The bread was also very warm and fresh, which went great with the garlic spread. We ordered calamari first, and it did come out promptly. It was good, but unfortunately not that special. It wasn't seasoned with extra garlic, and the sauces weren't really garlicky either. But it was still good. I ordered the braised short ribs with creamed spinach, while my husband ordered the filet mignon with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The short ribs tasted like Chinese braised beef. I don't think it was worth the $20. It was decent, and the meat was tender. The spinach was delicious, and not too creamy either. The meat came with some roasted garlic, which made the beef taste a little different from ordinary Chinese braised beef. The filet mignon was decent. We ordered it medium rare, but it was more on the rare side then medium rare. My husband just smothered a thick layer of the garlic spread to get some garlic taste on it. The mashed potatoes however, was really delicious. Very rich and homey. For dessert, we got the garlic ice cream. By then, my sense of taste was a bit out of wack from eating all that garlic spread, I could barely taste garlic in the ice cream. The chocolate/caramel sauce on top was delicious. My only beef with it is that the ice cream, sauce, and the dish were all frozen together. That made the ice cream really hard to scoop. Overall, it was OK. I don't know if I'll be going back there anytime soon. I might take my dad there for fun, but I'll have to make sure he doesn't order any steak, because he'll be disappointed. Perhaps we'll try some pasta next time.
(2)
Jennifer L.
I love garlic! I enjoy the atmosphere and sitting in semi private booths. Dessert: be a daredevil try the Garlic ice cream..it's pretty tasty. Personally I love the rum cake. Those who complain about too much garlic, HELLO, read the name of the restaurant. STINKING ROSE aka Garlic. Maybe not the best place for a first date, or is it? Perfect place if you know you don't want to be on this date. Shoot, I gave away one of my secrets. :P
(4)
Jeff K.
i heard about this place through a friend of mine and since it was my mom's bday a few days back, i went with the fam for a belated bday dinner. valet is $4.50 and easily bypassable if you do street parking on La Cienega. i think the metered parking is free after 6 or something. upon entering the restaurant, you're greeted with a red carpet and an interior area that's wallpapered with portraits of celebrities and whatnot. the decor was almost like Buca di Beppo and was scattered all over the place. it's kinda interesting to stare at and gaze upon all the old skool photos of celebs. i made reservations ahead of time, but there wasn't a wait at all on a Tuesday night. we were given the option for booth or cabana...and i chose the cabana for a more intimate family mood. but be warned that these seating areas can be quite cramped and if there's a party behind you, they might bump into your chair! our server was very friendly and gave us time to browse through the short two page menu. we ordered the famous 'bagna calda'...which is the baked garlic in olive oil, butter, and herbs (~$5), which also came with some foccacia bread. the garlic was so tender, it spread just like butter on the bread and really melts in your mouth. the garlic isn't too overpowering after being baked, but just enough to kick up the taste. as for our entrees, we ordered 3 prime rib (medium rare, comes with garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach) and chose to go for the SLAB size (which is 24oz, compared to the large that is 18) for ~$45. might as well splurge the extra $5 difference for 6 more ounces of bloody goodness!!my mom ordered the shellfish pasta (which came with a lobster claw and other seafood mix) with interesting black noodles! the sauce was awesome and the noodles were very tasty. water was available to us in a ceramic pitcher on the table (which was quite heavy when full! had to have weighed at least 5 pounds!) and there was a garlic mash thingy with what looked like cilantro at the table as well. prime rib came with au jous and horseradish along with the sides and was cooked to perfection! the slab was definitely hard to conquer and i had to wimp out and get a doggy bag for the leftovers. the garlic mash was amazing and made even better by mixing up some of the bagna calda into it. the creamed spinach was decent, although i'm not much of a fan. after we stuffed ourselves to satisfaction, i decided to order a garlic ice cream to see what all the fuss was about. it was served with four spoons, so my fam could share. it looked like a vanilla/garlic ice cream with caramel on top served in a martini glass. upon my first spoonful, i could taste a hint of the garlic as it melted in my mouth. definitely took me by surprise and i couldn't stop going for spoonful after spoonful!! it's really addicting and such a unique flavor combination!! definitely a MUST TRY even if you're completely stuffed. the sweetness and little garlic kick it has is amazing and helps to even out that feeling of being stuffed. i'd definitely come back again in the summer to dine outside along the side patio area and enjoy some garlic ice cream when the weather starts to heat up!! oh and be sure to bring some gum for after the meal!!! haha
(5)
Steven I.
Restaurant row...so many places to go! Next to a bunch of really nice restaurants, this place has to be good! Went here for a friend's 21st birthday because she really likes garlic. Therefor...where else would we go? Reservations were made and a buddy and I arrived about 45min early because we thought of traffic...none. Valet parking made it really easy to park because the streets...are hell. The valet did almost stall in my friend's car, but he didn't seem to mind. Upon walking in you can smell it, then you past the 2nd doors(yes there are 2 sets of doors with a small waiting area between), and BAM the garlic sort of smacks you...but in a somewhat good way. You arrive at the front desk(host stand) which also acts as a gift store with fun things to look at. We made our way to the bar to chill and have a drink before the rest of the party came and ordered a Calamari, which was pretty good. Expensive drinks of course, 2 drinks and a Calamari came to about $30 from what I remember. The rest of our party arrived and we sat. Looking at the menu you sort of...ponder what the hell am I supposed to get. Luckily I looked at some of the reviews here (Thank you!) and had no idea still...lol. So making it easy I just ordered the Filet, and shared a bottle of wine(Valley of the Moon) with my buddy. According to my birthday friend, the mojitos were wonderful. She was pretty drunk later(Lightweight). The service was very quick, didn't need to ask for anything. They give you water pitchers in the middle of the table so you can refill yourself, but those never went empty. Plates were removed quickly when they were done, and each member of the staff was very friendly and helpful, especially with the mass amount of cameras us asians carry...geez...I felt a little sorry for him lol. Last but not least...the infamous(famous?) garlic ice cream. Now...pretty much everyone forgot about it and was ready to go, when I saw another table eating it and making faces. I had to ask...we got a single scoop for free since he probably didn't feel like dealing with charging 1 ice cream, thanks for that. It's a scoop of garlic ice cream with chocolate syrup on top. Upon first bite, first taste...I wanted to make a face...but needed to see everyone else's expression. Salty sugar...that's how I can explain it. It's an experience...one I won't forget...not a bad one, but not a good one...just an experience.
(4)
Huana P.
This restaurant is quirky--kind of like a Buca de Beppo revved up on steroids--but unique, so it was worth the visit up to crowded Beverly Hills. The highlight was the Bagna Calda, really soft garlic cloves preserved in olive oil and butter. When you spread the garlic clove onto the warm focaccia, it tastes pretty yummy. I must have eaten 10 pieces of focaccia before my entree got to me. They kept refilling our focaccia! My entree was excellent! Upon the waiter's recommendation, I got the Zuppa di Pesce, a seafood broth in the small size, which was actually pretty huge. I really liked my dish, but my other friends dishes were only okay. They all ordered meat dishes like the Lamb Shank, Baby Back Ribs and Short Ribs. According to them, the meat was not as tasty as meat at Lucille's BBQ. The Stinking Rose was nice enough to bring out one scoop of garlic ice cream with a candle on top for my friend's bday. Yay! The ice cream was definitely an experience, and the garlic flavor wasn't bad....although I probably won't have it again. As mentioned earlier, the food overall is okay, unless you get what I got, and then you'll be happy. The atmosphere is quirky-unique, and the women's bathroom is pretty hilarious. Just look inside and see!
(3)
Cecilia G.
Had a great experience and the food was amazing! The filet Mignon was DELICIOUS! it melted in your mouth like butter! I cant stop talking about my experience there. LOVE IT!
(5)
Sandy S.
You must get the Garlic Fries. It was soooooo gooood!!!! We had the Garlic Fries, Fried Calamari for the appetizers and I had the Pork Chop. The Pork Chop was amazing. The cut was pretty thick and the mashed potatoes that came with it was good...very garlicy. Service was pretty good. They only have valet parking which was $4.50.
(4)
James H.
Two thumbs (or 5 stars for you yelpers) for this place! I made reservations here tonight for a bday and when called in to tell them i would arrive 45 mins sooner than expected, they gladly obliged. Valet was $5.50 but we were lucky enough to find street parking that's free after 6pm. Once we walked in it was sort of like walking into a buca di beppo which was dark with no windows and had a nice friendly atmosphere. The decorations were on point as well. Our server asked us if we wanted a private tent located near the entrance but we opted for the larger dining area. Once seated, our server gladly opened our bottle of wine with free corkage which was great. Bread was promptly served by another server. The bread was freshly baked and wasnt as soft as it could have been but no complaints. We choose to order the crab and large slab of prime rib (see picture) for $65. After a few sips of our wine and bread with the table garlic, the main course was here. The prime rib was well roasted with garlic and had garlic cloves on the top. Super soft and moist with our order of medium rare. After dipped in the au jus sauce, it was perfectly salted. I've had a little more melt in your mouth at other places but this place was pretty close. I actually prefer it over Lawry's. The crab was well seasoned with a light buttery taste. The crab was meaty and was easily cracked with the provided cracker. Mashed potatoes had the perfect taste of garlic in there as well. I'm not really a fan of creamed spinach that came with the plate but it wasn't bad here. After we finished our main course, they came by with the garlic hat to celebrate the birthday and garlic ice cream. hahah that garlic ice cream at first taste was like whoa.... because it tasted like garlic but on the second spoonful, it had less of that surprise factor. Good ice cream as a novelty but im not gonna order it by the quart for home. Good service, good atmosphere, free corkage, bday specials and great for a casual night out or a big celebration. Hard to say no to this place!
(5)
Jem K.
/*Dine LA*/ Ordered the ff: - Stinking Rose House Salad - Bagna Calda - Italian Garlic Meat Loaf - Lasagna We used the Bagna Calda as a spread to the bread and added more of the chopped garlic - yum! The most garlicky bread ever.:) i even tried dipping it on the lasagna sauce. :) lasagna is filled with mushroom, eggplant, garlic, onion and spinach. meatloaf looked like a giant steak when it arrived. Theyre all delicious.:) dont care much about the salad though... For our anniversary, our server gave us garlic ice cream with candles that look like Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast.:) We were also wearing the garlic hats the whole time. It's free. Try it.:) just for fun
(4)
Cathy G.
Any place where you see a server wearing a hat in the shape of a garlic clove tickles my fancy in more ways than one. People can talk about the interior decor all they want. To me, as long as the decor doesn't affect the taste of the food I could care less about colorfully painted walls. If anything, I say color adds character so bring on the food!! First off, let me just say I L-O-V-E garlic. I know you're saying to yourself "Geezus, how does this girl have a boyfriend?!?!" Luckily, he loves it just as much as I do so you know I'm a winner in all respects. When we came here, we were celebrating my bro's birthday so we had an ample chance to try a bit of everything. Let's start off - The bread topped with garlic and herbs. It was fresh and straight out of the oven. When I tore a piece off and dipped it in the olive oil/garlic/basil(?) pesto sauce, I was in heaven. Christ! If I could live on dinner rolls alone, this would be it. I had about 3 rolls before the entrees even arrived. Man, what a bread piggy!! It was a good thing I had iced tea on hand, otherwise, I'd be dead meat. Our entrees consisted of pasta, lasagna, calamari, salads, and a slab(which looked the side of a a cow...it was THAT thick) sided with sauce and a creamy horseradish mixture. It was all delicious. The steak practically melted in my mouth. You barely had to put pressure on the knife to cut it. For a steak that size, it was cooked to perfection. As for the pastas and lasagna, you couldn't really go wrong with either. Both were creamy and decadent, filled with garlic-y goodness and what have you. Just the mere thought of it now makes my mouth water. For dessert, we ordered the garlic ice cream which surprisingly was tasty to say the least. But it was one of those things - some people liked it, while others didn't. It had the creaminess of ice cream but it had the taste of garlic. To me, i thought the flavoring was just right. There was a nice balance of the sweetness from the garlic and the creamy texture of the cream in the ice cream. It was a great meal overall. I say try it at least once. It's not as bad or as stinky as people make it out to be. You'll thank yourself later. Trust me, I know I did. *nom nom nom* garlic bread.
(4)
Christina H.
This restaurant is just what the name is! Stinking Rose. Smelly (good smelly) beauty. The food is awesome. I love garlic so this is definitely my type of restaurant. They use it in every way imagineable. Some of their dishes are really creative, too. If you get a chance, I recommend trying their garlic ice cream. Definitely not what you would've expected it to be. It actually tasted great! The interior is a bit much. There was so much red drapery. But they had these private areas that seemed really cool. The minus 1 star was for the fact that I think it was an old restaurant and therefore some of the decorations and seats seemed old. Not the good vintage kind of old. But almost like a moldy kind of old. And they dim the lights way too low as if to try and cover up the dirty areas.
(4)
Nancy Y.
When my friend picked the Stinking Rose for her birthday celebration, I was ecstatic! I'm a garlic-lover and I was eager to eat at this infamous restaurant. I was in giddy anticipation of eating so much garlic that I was expecting my every pore to expell an odor worst than that of Pepe Lepew. So when I entered The Stinking Rose, I breathed deeply and waited for the pungent aroma of garlic to assail my olfactory senses. But as I took in another breath, I didn't smell anything? Hm.. odd, well maybe it will occur when I eat the food. Unfortunately, when I tasted the food I felt it wasn't thaat garlickly. This made me realize that perhaps the Stinking Rose is no match for my sino taste buds. Perhaps my asian eating palette makes me accustomed to pungent flavors? Nevertheless, even though the food was not overwhelmingly garlicky as anticipated, it was still delicious. For the appetizer we ordered the "Bagna calda" to spread on the house garlic bread. Bagna calda are oven-roasted garlic cloves doused in olive oil and butter. The carmelized garlic spreads like butter on the bread and yields a buttery, slightly nutty flavor. It kept my stomach warm and happy while waiting for the arrival of the main course. I ordered the 40 cloves garlic chicken. It contains the thigh and leg and the breast of the meat on bone. The thigh and leg was incredibly moist and tender and had a deeply entrenched garlic essence. The breast, on the otherhand was not nearly as tender. It, like most other chicken breast I've had is a little on the drier side but it was still flavorful. The mash potatoes on the side was particularly good. The garlic flavor was intense and simply melts in your mouth. I also had a sample of the Spicy prawns pasta. The prawns were infused with a rich red pepper and spicy essence and the spinach fettucine had a fresh, smooth texture. I would recommend both this dish and the 40 cloves garlic chicken. As for the ambiance, I was amused by the many different interesting visual features. Throughout the restaurant, there are various displays of cute and witty touches. For example, there is a huge mural painted in the main dining area of "Garlywood" and features many funny and humorous montages. The ladies room has an ancient "Fertility chair" for those to sit and determine whether a woman is pregnant. Overall, I had an excellent experience. Let's raise our noses high up to smell the glorious scent of the Stinking rose! Establishment Ratings --------------------------------- Pricing: $$$ Portion: **** Ambiance: *****! Service: **** Wait: **** (They take reservations) Parking: ** ($4 for valet) Cake-cutting fee: $10 Accept credit cards
(4)
Jmaes C.
I like the advertising on TV. Food is good. Service is good. so why not trying it ? Because if you have a date and want to kiss her afterwards... you can kiss that idea goodbye. And if you have clients the next day and have to be at work at 7 am...maybe not a good idea. Does anybody has an idea on how to get rid of that terrible after smell ?
(4)
Amy L.
Eclectic but inviting decor with comfy red booths, various interesting paintings all of garlic. The aroma of garlic laced savory meats was the first sensation I experienced while following the host to our destination. We were greeted by our server a few minutes after we sat down. He inquired about our beverage choices, and I ordered my usual, a Diet Coke. My friend ordered a Blue Cuban mojito which was deemed not so delicious after a couple sips. We perused the menus and ordered momentarily. The Bagna Calda, hot toasty buns, some baked with caramelized onions on top, and some with garlic olive oil, accompanied by a little pan of whole roasted garlic cloves in olive oil which you spread over the bread like butter. Amazing. The little pan was set atop a tealight so it stayed warm throughout the meal. I'd ordered a medium order of clams, but somehow received the mussels! I really wanted the clams but decided to try the mussels since they looked pretty delicious, and I despise sending food back. The medium order of mussels was a HEAPING pile, on a hot skillet, served with 2 sides of the best garlic butter I've ever had. They were extremely good and I highly recommend them, but next time I'll make sure I have the clams! We had to have a veggie, so I ordered the lightly breaded asparagus which was served with cocktail sauce. I thought that was a bit strange so I smeared everything with the cloves of garlic from our first appetizer. Next was the swiss chard fondue, also in a tiny metal skillet, and was reminiscent of spinach artichoke dip, served with toasted garlic rounds, garlicky creamy goodness. I was already full from the apps, but we were still expecting our entrees, the boneless short ribs(the meat was so tender it was literally falling apart with minor effort from my fork and knife, served with garlic mashed potatoes, swiss chard and whole roasted garlic cloves. My dinner companion had the 1/2 rack of garlic roasted baby back ribs which were crunchy on the outside, and tender on the inside, served with the same sides. We were stuffed and wrapped everything up as we were ready to burst at the seams. I couldn't leave without trying their garlic ice cream though, so that's what we had for dessert, garlic flavored ice cream covered in rich chocolate sauce. I actually enjoyed it, but my friend didn't. The first bite was a bit overpowering, but several bites later, i truly appreciated all the potent flavors that merged into one very rich and different ice cream! I really wanted the friggin clams! Dinner for 2 including tip $133.19
(4)
Sumi A.
I LOVE this place!!! I was hooked after my first visit, and this is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in LA. To start, their garlic martini is absolutely wonderful, and the other signature cocktails (i've tried just about all of them) have been supreme! The garlic in a hot tub appetizer is such a unique and flavorful dish, and I just can't leave without finishing my meal with their colossal strawberry sundae. The zuppa de pesce is something i've ordered about 5 times, and it's better and better each time (i don't know how this is possible). The sizzling seafood platter is another favorite - it arrives steaming at your table and is great to share with friends. The atmosphere is very bright and friendly, the staff has always been pleasant and helpful. I return to this restaurant as much as possible, I force ALL of my friends to go with me at least once, and everyone knows this has a very special place in my garlicky heart.... and now that i've talked about it, I will have to plan a dinner there this week! Ahhh...
(5)
Curtis C.
First visited some time in early 2007. Last visit was December 1st, 2007. Went here twice so far at the recommendation of a friend. Great environment but the location seems a tad difficult to get into. They have valet parking right in front. So if you're not okay with having someone park your car, you'd have to find parking on the street, I believe. First time I went, I took my sister-in-law and it was a very nice experience. Very "romantic" yet relaxing. I had made reservations online from OpenTable.com so it was a breeze getting a table. Only waited about 5-10 minutes. Although it sure did seem somewhat crowded (I believe it was either a Friday or Saturday evening). We both ordered the garlic cloves appetizer dish that is basically heated in oil and spread on bread. That sure felt somewhat "oily" but interesting. I'm not too into garlic but it was surely a new taste. She had ordered the rabbit and I ordered some fish, I believe (don't remember now). The food was fairly decent but slightly higher priced than normal. But, given the location and the atmosphere, it was somewhat expected. I don't remember the total for the dinner as she had "stolen" the bill from me. :/ The second time I went was for a "first date", so to speak. Great experience again and we only waited for about 5-10 minutes WITHOUT a reservation. We both went a tad bit more dressed up than usual and it seemed fine (although there were quite a bit of people in really casual attire). I had ordered us the same garlic appetizer dish which she said was quite interesting but very "oily" (which is to be expected since it's basically garlic cooked in oil) as well as some cheese/meat bread "snacks". Those were actually quite good yet the bread seemed too crispy for my tastes. I would order these again (probably not the garlic dish even though I believe it's one of their specialties). For dinner, she had ordered the rabbit (based on my recommendation from before) while I had ordered the blackened pasta. The pasta was superb and I would definitely order that again! Loved it! The service BOTH times was quite excellent. The waiters seem very friendly and the hostesses are extremely friendly. All in all, the entire experience was delightful. The only downfall of this establishment was the difficulty in parking without valet (I used valet both times) as well as the entrance. Seems too 'trafficy", if that's even a word. If you like garlic, however, this is THE place to check out. Definite tourist attraction. ;) - Curtis
(4)
M N.
I love garlic, but this is just WAYY too much. I never thought I would get sick of garlic, but I did. The bagna calda is not recommended if there's only 2 people in yr party because its a BIG amount of garlic to try to finish ( probably about 3 BULBS of garlic soaking in warm olive oil...its pretty big for an appetizer) The prime rib was EXCELLENT! and the roasted chicken was GREAT. You will leave this place reeking of garlic EVERYWHERE, but you already know that...so be kind to the planet by taking some ANTI-GAS pills before AND after the meal...ooh, and a bucket of mints.
(4)
Jiminy C.
Before I write this review, I must preface it by saying that my great grandparents were from Italy. I have garlic in my blood. So please exercise caution when reading this commentary.....as your ancestors might not have bestowed upon you the genes necessary for adequate garlic digestion. Grazie la mia Nona! Eh-hem. Ahhhh.....The Stinking Rose. How lovely is your name, and yet.....how incredibly uninviting. You'd think that a restaurant with the word 'stinking' in it would be a key place to avoid huh? But in this case...'stinking' is a synonym for gloooooriouuuuuuus! The handful of times that I've entered this surprisingly non-stinky restaurant, I have walked away a better woman. Ok, maybe not a better woman....but a BIGGER woman, yes. How could you not, when every single gosh darn thing on that menu is scrumdidliumptious?! Yes that's right. The food there is excellent. Not just excellent, but verrrrry excellent. I usually order the pork chops. A generous chop covered with caramelized apples and onions served with a warm helping of garlic mashed potatoes and all you can eat garlic buns. Need I say more? I have also sampled from the plates of my co-conspirators and have been wowed every time. Anything from meatloaf (anything but ordinary) to filet mignon. Boo-ya! But wait. Before you go darting off to garlic heaven, I must say one thing. Icecream. Thaaaaaat's right. You should not be allowed to set foot in that joint unless you sign a release form/contract. The release form so that you cannot legally sue the place when you wake up smelling to high heaven....killing your household plants and losing your job in the process. Reason for firing: Stank. Oh believe you me my friend....it'll happen. The contract, on the other hand, would be a written oath in the form of....THOU SHALT NOT REMOVE THYSELF FROM THE PREMISES WITHOUT EATING GARLIC ICECREAM LEST YE BE CAST INTO THE FIREY DEPTHS OF HELL. Wow. Who knew icecream could be so dangerous? Folks, I will say only this...there is something otherwordly about that bowl of icy goodness. It took me 3 visits to get up the nerve to eat that shiznit. And not because it was garlic helado...but because it sets you back a good 8 bucks. Um...Yeah. Waiter! I'll have the water refill please. Thanks so much. But on this particular evening, in this particular month of this particular year....a group decision made it possible to partake in the mystery desert. And boy were we glad we were all suckers for the cold stuff. Here comes a brief description. Wait for it.... The garlic is so subtle, you almost miss it. It's the aftertaste that gives it away. Like a big sister running to mom after you peed on the carpet. Damn it!! AHHHH!!!!!! She would have never KNOWN!!!! The thing that makes this concoction divine (As in...bust out the winged angels and harp playing cherubs) is that atop the half-dome of creamy white milkiness...is a blanket of Mole Caramel sauce. Did you read that last part? MOLE CARAMEL SAUCE. In other words, you have these three flavors bursting in your mouth like fireworks on the 4th: Garlic, Chocolate, and burnt caramel. Believe me when I say that it is worth a trip out to La Cienega just to experience this postre. So if you have the evening free and don't have to be anywhere or talk to anyone....or...be around any other living creature the next day, get'cho tooshie over there. It'll be well worth the ostracism.
(5)
Moistnchewie L.
PROS: Delicious flavorful seafood and steak items Moderately priced Great date restaurant Purtini candies you receive at the end CONS: Valet parking only (unless you want to look for street parking) OK waiters (they're friendly but don't do much for you)
(4)
Tina M.
Quick reason: Service: Meh... food took FOREVER even though the time we went there was literally NO ONE there (it was around 4, 4:30). Food: 1/2 really good, 1/2 really terrible Decor: Very nice. I like the eclectic look While the waiter and random food service guy tried to "help" us a lot by refilling our drinks and asking us how we were doing, the food took forever. I think it had been sitting under a heat lamp too because the potatoes had that hard film on it. (By the way, I ordered the spreadable oil drenched garlic + bread, and the surf and turf with Filet Mignon, Crab, Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Collard Greens... I also got the garlic ice cream). In terms of food the cooked garlic that you spread on bread was absolutely wonderful. I loved eating that, however the bread seemed cheap quality. As for the Filet Mignon... They split it... while I usually don't mind as I understand they need to cook it faster, the meat itself was small (it was more akin to a petit filet mignon) and wasn't that great quality. Still some strong fibers and no real homogenous fat distribution. I noticed some areas were fatty and others not. The crab was terrible. I eat crab VERY often and always 100% fresh. I always buy them alive and kicking from the Chinese market near me. The one they gave me was either 1. frozen before they gave it to me or 2. they cooked it twice (I noticed the edges were fried) or overcooked it because I noticed it was dry and tough. It was NOT juicy at all like I've had with the Dungeness crab I've cooked myself and the crab I've eaten at other restaurants like The Golden Turtle in San Francisco. For the price they gave me, my surf and turf was definitely not worth it. I also would have thought they'd make some kind of garlic sauce for the steak like they did for the fried crab. It was just plain steak. The taters and collard greens were good however. Since a whole crab at the Chinese place is usually about $10 (2 lbs), a live 1/2 crab would cost them $5... Filet mignon that they got would have probably cost about $10... plus mash and collard greens... possibly another $6... and they charged me $44... so 44-21, $23 bucks then probably another $5 bucks for labor.. so $18 profit... HELL NO. The garlic ice cream was really good but strange. When you first eat it the sweetness is overpowering, but at the end you get a strange garlic aftertaste. The mole was good and nutty too. As for the decor, it was really awesome. I loved the furnishings and crazy stuff hung from the ceiling. As for the sheer number of tables I saw in just my room, I know it must be crowded at dinnertime... I'm sure it would have been cooler then. Anyhoo, cool to go for the experience once in a while. I still want to try the mussels. By the way our bill (there were 2 of us) came out to be about $125 after tip. Only 1 alcoholic drink was bought too.
(3)
Gerard I.
Can I have some food with my garlic??? Haha, just kidding folks! What's to say that hasn't been said? How about this. Try the Bagna Calda, as mentioned before, are little garlic cloves swimming in delicious goodness for 5 bucks! That's for starters. The garlic rabbit dish is DA BOMB! Yes, I said "da bomb", don't tell anyone. ;-) For dessert, times two... Have a scoop of the vanilla garlic ice cream, it's not as bad as it sounds. The tiramisu, is equally DEELISH! The service is cool, we all arrived together. What's even cooler is that when my friend ordered the garlic bunny (copycat) she hated it, and they comped her meal. You can't beat that!
(5)
Amy Q.
I am deeply saddened to see that The Stinking Rose only has 3.5 stars!!! :'( This is my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles because of 1) the delicious food, 2) the prime location, and 3) the friendly prices. The interior is richly decorated like an Italian Arabian nights theme filled with garlic studded walls, plush wall decor, and circus-like tents that allow for some intimate dining ;) **TIP-- if you're on a hot date, you should ask for one of these tents. They make your dining experience so much better :) The food is AMAZING (menu: thestinkingrose.com/pdf/… ) --GARLIC GREEN SAUCE on the table, for all your bread, foods, or just to eat spoonfuls of if you're that intense. This sauce is so, so good. It's made with fresh garlic, olive oil, and some green herbs (don't know what kind) and it's RE-FILLABLE! The best part is, the garlic is so fresh that it actually hurts to eat it. But it hurts so good :') --Bagna Calda-- if you love garlic, then you MUST get this. This is a small, sizzling pan filled with olive oil and whole garlics, roasted to perfection. It's a melt-in-your mouth kind of good, and the garlic is so soft that it spreads onto the bread like butter. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I ate this, and the garlic was so strong (and delicious) that the salt from my tears hardly altered the flavor. --Mussels-- average. Heavily garlic-ed mussels that were in a oily and cheesy broth. They weren't anything TOO fantastic, but delicious nonetheless. --BBQ chicken pizza-- thin, crisp, and loaded with garlic-y chicken. But let's be real, you do not go to a gourmet garlic restaurant to eat BBQ chicken pizza. You bring out the big guns... like the ---Prime rib-- My FAVORITE dish here, and I'm a girl. True, I can never finish the entire plate, and yes, it's prime rib at a garlic restaurant, but YOU MUST TRY THIS. It's served with creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and whipped horseradish. The prime rib itself melts in your mouth (like butter, or like the Bagna Calda that we spoke of earlier ;)) and it probably rivals that of Lawry's. --Shellfish with fresh black linguine- my OTHER FAVORITE dish here. I get this about 80% of the time that I come here, partially because I love it so much and partially because I want others to try it as well. It's black linguine (blackened by squid ink, I think) with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and other types of shellfish. A MUST TRY, again :) --Garlic ice cream-- I know, I know... garlic? Ice cream? Seems like a bad combination but, hey, that's what they thought of peanut butter and jelly a long time ago!! This ice cream has only a HINT of garlic, but it's prepared with this DELICIOUS caramel sauce. If you're a fanatic for caramel and sweets like me, you should ask for a side of extra caramel. Who cares if the waiter judges you, you eat your ice cream the way you want to! AHHHH, The Stinking Rose... need I rave more? PS-- I highly suggest you bring the person you spend the most time with here, because... that person is going to be the one smelling you afterwards, and s/he will have less to complain about if the smell is mutual ;)
(5)
Sara S.
When I think of Stinking Rose, a few things come to mind: A vampire's worse nightmare Bad first date choice A dying flower The smell of garlic in your pores for at least a day A place that you should try at least once in LA, but you don't necessarily have to come back again ...so I realize everything sounds negative, but my experience here was actually pleasant. My BF and I had wanted to come here for awhile because we both love garlic. And since we are long past our first date, it was safe for us to come haha. We got the Bagna Calda, which is the recommended starter... the server pretty much asks if you want it first thing, and it's actually an effective strategy as I noticed most of the tables around us had selected it too. Full cloves of garlic (there's probably like 3-4 whole garlics in there), super soft and soaked in butter, and all that good stuff. Eating it on their garlic rolls here= crack. We then ordered two items from their entree menu, the "Silence of the lamb shank" and the Braised Garlic Shortribs. It's funny because our waiter warned us that our dishes would be out rather quick because both of our selections are braised dishes that are cooked overnight. HAHA that's never happened to me before! He asked us if we were okay with that. LOL. Sure enough, everything came out in about 5 minutes.... almost alarmingly fast! But anyways, the entrees come with a generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes & creamed spinach.... my two favorite sides to accompany meat! Both meat dishes were very tender (well it should be, it's braised) and quite delicious, albeit on the heavier side. After all the hype about the garlic ice cream, it was meh. I couldn't tell if the garlic flavor was from our meal or from the ice cream itself.... cuz otherwise it just tasted like $7.00 dolche de luche, which I can totally pass on. TIP TIP TIP: TRY THE MINCED GREEN ONION/GARLIC/OLIVE OIL mixture in the jars on the table!!!!!! It smells soooo good... you could possibly get a high from the garlic smell, but if you love garlic that much, you can put it in the mashed potatoes to give it an EXTRA garlicy crunch. Overall we had a (quick) but enjoyable garlic packed meal. The bill was reasonable too. Best thing ever? Walking out and seeing a guy wear the HUGE garlic hat because it was his birthday! Saw one of those babies is $44.95 LOL
(4)
Nina B.
Came here for Easter with the boyfriend. There was no wait at all. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. The hostess is a bit rude, but I'm just assuming it's because she has to work on a holiday. Anyways, We ordered the bagna calda, lamb shank, and prime rib. Sadly, the only dish my boyfriend and I enjoyed is the bagna calda. The lamb shank was not seasoned and it had a really weird strong lamb smell to it. We love lamb in all shapes and sizes, but this one sucked. The prime rib was okay. Not that much flavor, but it was juicy. Strange? I was really hoping to enjoy this restaurant because I am obsessed with garlic. Oh well. We'll probably not come back, but don't be discourage. Maybe you'll love it! Btw, it's valet parking only for 5 bucks.
(3)
Charlene M.
Delicious! Menu was Californian Italian. I love garlic and good food, and this place was very good! I am a vegetarian and had: Portobello Mushroom with veggies and mashed potatoes Garlic Ice Cream Mojito with vodka and Chambord Will definitely go back again. Even the Garlic Relish + Bread that they serve you is good.
(4)
Dan N.
Overall: 2.75 Food: 3.5 Service: 2 (This is what really killed their rating.) I was really excited to come here as I was hearing a lot of good things about it. But let's get to the point. Banga Calda: I love garlic, but my least favorite form of it is actually roasted garlic only because I love that strong taste of garlic. I didn't particularly like it with the bread. The bread is already, more or less, a blank canvas and I think the roasted garlic was too mild to flavor for the bread. I actually used the garlic relish instead. However, I did like the roasted garlic smeared on the Prime Rib. Prime Rib. Definitely smear the roasted garlic. The contrast of the meat really brings out the sweetness of the garlic that the bread couldn't do. As for as the prime rib, I must have gotten a bad piece of meat because it was NO WHERE NEAR the melt in your mouth texture I have been hearing. Lawry's formidable opponent? No, at least not this time. I honestly had a tough time cutting the meat, which greatly sadden me. My brother told me when he had his prime rib, last, it was so tender that he was able to tear his beef with just his fork. My friends' pieces were also tough to cut. The horseradish was really nice. It's mild at first but the spice creeps up on you slowly as you chew so it was perfect. Not overwhelming so it didn't take away from the flavors of the garlic, au jus, and seasoned beef; it allowed each of the notes to be played oppose to masking it all with a spicy punch to the mouth. Garlic Ice Cream: I didn't know what to expect but boy am I happy we ordered it. I don't know if eating our garlicky foods made an impact on the taste of the ice cream but the garlic was subtle, just right I'd say. [If I had a clean palette, would the garlic be more prominent? Perharps.] The texture was light and airy oppose to silky smooth which I liked. The caramel mole sauce was a nice touch. Definitely will order again. Service: Waited quite a bit to meet our waiter, Luis, after sitting down. After getting our drinks and order, he didn't show up between the time our servers came with our food until we finished our entrees. Not even once to refill our drinks which my friend actually had to ask for when he came to give us our dessert menu. He didn't return for about 15 minutes until I had to ask a bus boy to get our waiter back so we could put in the dessert order. C'mon, a 7 item menu does not require 15 minutes pondering. I had higher expectations on their service.
Not all that impressive. I went here with a love for garlic, and really wanted to get blown away. From some reviews, I really expected (almost hoping) for the garlic to totally overwhelm me, but it was not the case. Don't get me wrong, there was a ton of it, but most of the dishes just had chunks of garlic in it. For some people, I may sound crazy for saying "just chunks of garlic", but for someone who grew up eating Italian food and lots of fresh garlic in dishes, it just lacked the flavor I expected. We started with the bread and garlic bowl (not sure of the exact name of it). It was a good rush of raw garlic, but I feel they could have done more. Throw some seasoning in there to really bring out the flavor, but it was just garlic. I got the meatloaf for an entree (yea probably a bad decision right off the bat). It wasn't bad, but again, just lacked that flavor punch I was expecting. My Mom and friend both got the pork chop, which came with an apple and garlic chutney. Pork chop was cooked well, and the chutney was interesting, but once again the flavors just fell a little short to me. Both dishes came with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. This is where they got something right. Very creamy, just enough garlic and flavor. Did not try to the garlic ice cream, but I don't feel I'm missing anything too amazing. Prices weren't bad, but still didn't feel like we got our money's worth. The decor was very odd, to match the oddity of the menu, so that works. Overall 2 stars because of the mashed potatoes alone. Maybe I had too high of expectations, but that's the way it goes. I understand they have to dial down the garlic flavors to appease the "casual" garlic lovers, but still disappointed. If I was the owner of this place, I would come up with a "garlic level" system, similar to Indian/Thai food. But alas, I do not own a restaurant... yet.
(2)
Chase M.
I now have a new favorite restraunt. This place is pretty cool, I liked it. and service was excellent. First I had the Calamari which pretty good. I then had some Mussels, and they were the best Mussels I've ever had! Later I had the Garlic Ice Cream and it was really good. I've never tried it before and i was pretty impressed. Love this place and want to come back again.
(5)
Ly C.
Glad I return to the Stinking Rose this year to celebrate my friend's birthday. Very good service and food came out on time..love the garlic dipping sauce and bread. Wasnt too fond of the food, expecting more garlic- if we are the garlic lover. I had two mojitos-but it was kind of water down. Overall enjoy the decor and energy of the place, and yes had fun in the ladies lounge/bathroom with the Garlic God.
(4)
Jessica R.
We had a party of 13. An hour after ordering half our food came, a half hour later we got the rest. I wouldn't have minded as much but we had 4 kids under 3 that were starving and the waiter was totally unattentive. Would never go here again.
(2)
Brian C.
Well, the Stinking Rose definitely does...stink. I love garlic. I expected garlic. I got really bland food with a little garlic thrown on it, and I'm being generous there. The good. Service was excellent, everyone was very friendly and prompt (almost too prompt, I will explain later) The atmosphere was quiet and they separate you into these little 4 person booths that have tents over them which was nice for having quiet conversations. The bottle of wine we ordered was great, so at least they stock good stuff there. The bad. The food was definitely not fresh or made to order. First we tried the "Garlic soaking in a hot tub" which is basically a ton of garlic cloves that or baked in a 5" skillet full butter. The problem here is they obviously baked this in the morning and just have it sitting under a heat lamp, it looked and tasted like it had been sitting out all day. This is where the "too prompt" of service came in. We ordered that app and not 2 min later it was at our table, that screams "we threw this in a microwave" and it tasted just like that. That app made fresh would take much longer and taste much better. They alerady have a garlic spread sitting at the table for putting on the focaccia rolls, it's WAY better than the app. Next was the "garlic steamed clams" tureen" Pretty much muscles in garlic-butter sauce. Nothing much to complain about, not very "garlicy" though. The small order was a very good portion to split between two people. I got the filet mignon surf and turf. I ordered it rare and what I got was a very nice sear on the outside with perfectly rare meat inside all soaked in garlic butter, it was the highlight of my meal. the crab was a throw-away, I've had better at brunch buffets (that's not saying a lot), would not order again. The garlic mashed potatoes were fine, but the creamed spinach was at least 3 days old and tasted like it was slopped out of a tray, into the microwave and onto the plate. Gross. The gf got almost the same main course and it had pretty much the same problems as my dish. We finished it off with the garlic ice cream. Once again our fast food style service resumed and I think it maybe took a minute to bring us the ice cream. Which was solid as a rock, along with the caramel mole topping. It was served in a martini glass that was obviously pulled straight out of the freezer and brought right to the table. Totally lousy, very cheap and very disappointing. I mean how hard is it to scoop ice cream into a glass, dip some caramel mole sauce out of a pan, and maybe add a touch of whip cream. Five minutes worth of work would have made all the difference. I wouldn't have minded as much about the food quality, but the price is outrageous for what it is. I've had service that was just as good and food that was 10X better at Outback Steakhouse. To top it all off, the fact that it seemed like the food had sat around all day or was days old and reheated was confirmed as both the gf and I were up late with horrible stomach cramps and trips to the bathroom. It wasn't the garlic because I've eaten dishes that were way more garlic laden than anything here and been just fine. So if you want lazily microwaved food with garlic thrown on it or in it, in a super kitschy atmosphere that costs way too much and gives you the shits, then come on down to the Stinking Rose.
(2)
Tatiana C.
This place is amazing. Don't go before a hot date. don't go even the day before a hot date. but go. If you're a lover of foods that absolutely stink as I am, you will love the Stinking Rose. I went to the stinking rose with my parents while they were visiting earlier this week. We sat down and started with the bagna calda. which is absolutely incredible. Honestly I ate so much bread dipped in this heavenly garlicky buttery delicious mixture that I was pretty much full. The bread is so soft and buttery and topped with garlic pesto-ey sauce or onions. Then for dinner I ordered the night's special, the filet mignon, which was recommended above the short rib by my waiter, who was extremely friendly and attentive. i also ordered a pineapple mojito. which honestly was the worst thing about this place. It was extremely low on alcohol and didn't really taste like pineapple. It wasnt that bad, but everything else was just that great that it stuck out. Then, the filet arrived. The hot, crusty, moist, tastey, buttery, garlicy hearty slab of filet (which, I would like to add, was $19.99). It was absolutely the most delicious piece of meat I've ever tasted. Hands down. With it, came the most delicious mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I also tried the Prime rib, which was delicious. It's very very garlicky, much more than my meal or anything else really, and also quite peppery. it had a very strong flavor to it. The garlic fries are fantastic, very crispy and fresh. I also got to try the sizzling iron skillet with the shirmp, which was so fantastic. Really everything was delicious. For desert we ordered the garlic ice cream and the ice cream sundae. The garlic ice cream was okay, not personally my thing, but also that might be because i was so full from all that I had just eaten. I also tried the ice cream sundae with the vanilla custard and it was seriously fantastic. so absolutely delicious. humongous and my father ate the whole thing. I will definitely be going back to the stinking rose. preferably tomorrow.
(5)
Sam Y.
Well... this place gets credit for being very unique and consistent with their garlic theme. I on the other hand, like to keep my garlic intake to a minimal, not because of bad breath, but just because. This restaurant was chosen from an average vote amongst my posse for my best friend's 18th+6 birthday because everyone including the BF agreed that this was the choice among the other (which I forgot). Interesting concept I have to admit! I couldn't quite remember what everyone else got, but I had the prime rib - which was delicious, bf got the lamb, and BFF got the filet mignon, all were good. What I WAS NOT fond of... was the garlic martini and ice cream. I mean, okay it was my choice to order it but I as hoping for some kind of pleasant culinary surprise? BFF and I tried not to barf at the taste. It just wasn't for us but you can try it to see if it's to your liking. Quite pricey I might say. We loved the atmosphere, the interior, and all the spiffy things they had in there! The fertility statue in the women's restroom, the creepy looking doll at the front, the photo frames of old school celebrities, and the many hot sauce display. Parking is valet. Not the best place for... vampires and bloodsuckers? Though I can see how it can be a romantic spot for couples. I would say this place is an acquired taste, otherwise I would just stick with the usual entrees and non-garlic-ed ice cream and martini... like beer.
(3)
Edison T.
My 100th! Came here tonight for a date and we both were definitely ready for the stank. Place itself has really cute and quirky decor, from tents to a Dracula themed room, it really played up to the garlic theme with garlic bulbs hanging everywhere. The smell of garlic wasn't overwhelming as we made way through the place to our table and as garlic lovers, that made us both a little sad. The appetizer of garlic gloves in evoo with hint of anchovies was quite interesting for the garlic bulbs were much softer than imagined and very sweet. The free garlic bread were soft, fluffy, and scrumptious. The garlic pesto spread was quite the creeper, it was very delicious and perfectly seasoned when first consumed but then later on the spice and intense garlic flavors would creep back up your throat and to your nose. The clams in garlic sauce were extremely flavorful and not too heavy. However the presence of garlic (even though we asked for more garlic) could barely be tasted. The cheese and garlic filled raviolis were also another disappointment, not because they tasted horrible or anything because they were actually pleasant, but mainly because once again WHERE THE HELL IS ZE GARLIC!? Our main courses of the garlic wabbit and the garlic roasted prime rib were also lacking in juiciness and garlic flavors. The rabbit honestly tasted like chicken. My date also ordered the garlic wine because she's a G like that. I had a taste and at first we both agreed that there wasn't enough garlic and instead it tasted like apple juice. However as we let it settled for a little while we focused on the entrees, the garlic flavor really came out and boy was she surprised by it. However, being the G that she is, she downed the whole thing then demanded the garlic ice cream as dessert for she meant business. The garlic dessert with caramel fudge sauce tasted honestly just like vanilla ice cream, I might have tasted a strong garlic flavor in one of the first couple of bites, but none after. The service itself was quite slow and not very attentive. I expect better from a restaurant in Beverly Hills. Overall, the dishes were good, not bad, not spectacular, but most didn't live up the restaurant's claim to fame. I would've came back to this place had I gone with anyone else but since I came with a 400lb lion trapped inside the petite 5 foot frame of an Asian girl, I feel no need to come back here a second time for we (or rather she) ordered everything I wanted to try. So in conclusion, if you are truly a garlic lover then come just to experience some of the interesting dishes just to say you tried it. If you're not into garlic then why the hell would you come to a place specializing in garlic?
(3)
Leslie D.
With a name like The Stinking Rose, you know this place isn't exactly going to be a 5 star world class restaurant serving beluga caviar and black truffles. Still, it's a fun and eye-catching atmosphere with gaudy, over-the-top decorations serving Italian focused fare. I heard the original in NorCal is even more cheesy so I guess those of you in Los Angeles got let off pretty easy. I feel like almost every dish at The Stinking Rose is laden with garlic so obviously if you are a vampire, I'd stay clear. Only real vampires should stay clear though. Wannabe pansy vampires can still come *cough* Edward. So note, I constantly eat garlic (75% garlic eater here) so to me there is no such thing as too much garlic. Some of you might feel different or otherwise after coming to The Stinking Rose. So what should you order for food? For an appetizer, definitely order the Bagna Calda. This heavenly dish basically consists of roasted garlic cloves with olive oil simmering in a little cast iron skillet. Eat it as it is if you're a garlic freak or spread it like buttah on warm slices of house-made bread. You can even save some for your food later like I did and spread it on your steak for added garlicky oomph. For mains, you can't go wrong with the meat. This might sound crazy but the best filet mignon I've ever had in my life has been here. It was tender, cooked to a perfect hot pink and had such a delicious light garlic flavor to it that I did not need any condiments to help. It was wonderful as is. That coupled with the garlic mashed potatoes that accompanied the filet ensured a licked clean plate. Now on their dessert menu, they actually offer a garlic ice cream! I tried it once just for the hell of it just to be able to answer the question "What's the oddest ice cream flavor you've ever tried?" I've got it covered now. It is a really, really weird flavor. I can't even describe it! I suggest you try it for yourself and form your own opinion of it. Oh and take pictures of your reaction to it. That'll make it more interesting. Overall, The Stinking Rose is a fun place to try and perfect for a fun date, family meal, or a group dinner with your girlfriends. The food is delish, the atmosphere is fun and laid back, and you'll either come out of there with a greater appreciation for nature's wonder food.... or reeking of it.
(4)
jc g.
Went last night. First time with friends and wife. Food was great service very attentive and happily invisible. Careful with the raw garlic pesto on the table. Delish but strong. Had salmon which was a bit dry but good. Wife had the chicken a bit greasy but she ate it all! Friends had short ribs and lasagna which they liked. This place was fun and we will go back.
(4)
Grace Y.
I chose this place for our 9-year anniversary to try something new. (everything w/ garlic.. that's new.. and stinky :P) I would've given them 5 stars but I was not happy when we walked in to be seated by the entrance (when I specifically put on the "note" section when I made the reservation 2 weeks ago that I want some privacy) where there were heavy traffic and so many distractions that we couldn't hold a private conversation.. or any conversation for that matter. We asked for another table on the other side and our server Aaron didn't seem to have any trouble changing it for us :] We had: - focaccia bread yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… w/ this yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… minced raw garlic/parsley in evoo.. I absolutely loved their bread.. very soft and fluffy.. we had 2 plates of these :D - BAGNA CALDA yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $4.95 - oven roasted garlic cloves in evoo/butter.. I don't think we really needed to order this.. the raw garlic dip on the table was better than this one.. this dish was really sweet and mushy.. since it's cooked garlic. - GARLIC ROASTED PRIME RIB yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $29.95 - I don't usually order prime rib anywhere.. but this sucker was good :] *it was so much food, I had to take half home* - SILENCE OF THE LAMB SHANK yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $19.95 - bf loved it :] - GARLIC ICE CREAM yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… - on the house for our anniversary.. the caramel fudge was good.. and don't expect to taste any garlic in this ice cream.. unless you eat dessert first.. :] Garlic taste was there.. but not too strong since we ate a whole meal with garlic! duh! - PINEAPPLE MOJITO yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $10 - DIET COKE Total: $75ish w/out tip Service: Hosts - not so awesome Server - Aaron.. so very awesome :] Food came out super fast, drinks were refilled before they were gone halfway, ice water was given in a huge pitcher, everything done with a smile :] Parking: Valet for $4.50 or meters on La Cienega.. good luck finding one :P *We stank like garlic the whole night.. not nice on an anniversary day.. haha but it's ok :] and we'll definitely be back. MmMmm... *burp*
(4)
Jim A.
The food was great! While eating you feel like you are in a different world with their decor. yeah its on restaurant row and might be a little pricey but its pretty good and besides you really want to eat garlic everyday? Yeah! your girl or boyfriend might not like that but they will understand your weakness for the stinking rose!
(5)
Josie K.
OMG! this place is garlic lovers HEAVEN!! my bf took me here on a lil date and might i add that im so thankful my bf loves garlic as much as i do :) soo pretty much once i found out that he was taking me here, the first logical and obvious thing i did was to check the yelp reviews and pictures to know what to order (duhhh) hhehe. prior to our arrival at the restaurant and even sitting down i was pretty set on getting the bagna calda and the 40 clove chicken with mashed potatoes. yes, i'm THAT prepared :) there is a jar at your table filled with fresh chopped garlic and parsley and definitely make sure to try this!! i actually liked this fresh chopped garlic a lot more than the bagna calda that we ordered. i wasn't that amazed with the bagna calda actually. i thought it was just ok. the garlic was really smuushy/soft and didnt really taste strong at all. so if you like that fresh chunky smelly garlic then i'd say you'd be better off with the fresh chopped garlic at your table my entree was just delicious! the chicken is smothered in this glaze that sort of tastes like cheese. im not sure how to explain it exactly.. but if you like cheese and chicken then i'd def recommend this dish! my bf tried the pork chop w/ the apple glaze stuff and it wasnt bad at all. the sweetness of the jam really pairs well with the meat. the meat was really juicy and not dry one bit we also got an appetizer order of their mussels. i really liked the garlic dip that comes w/ the mussels but my only complaint is that the mussels were really skimpy and small. but aside from that i really liked this appetizer we also tried their infamous garlic icecream w/ caramel on top. okay seriously this dessert is soo freakin good! dont be scared, trust me. its not as bad as you think its gonna be. the garlic flavor isnt really overpowering. in my opinion the caramel on top is the main flavor you taste but there is a tinyy hint of garlic that kinda lingers on your tongue afterwards. service was good and the decor is so cute! theres cute tents to sit in which make your dinner more private. my only advice: DONT go anywhere social after your meal here. especially if youre tryna hit up a bar or club to meet some chicks/dudes. your breath will definitely smell for a while...
(5)
Laurie H.
They sat our party of five in a cozy booth. The place was pretty empty, given that it was a Wednesday night. Our waiter was training so we had two waiters technically They took our drink and appetizer orders first. Our waiter recommended that we get the Bagna Calda to share. Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub) Garlic cloves, oven-roased in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy, a wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread, served at your table in an iron skillet. The garlic was soft and spreadable. The bread was amazingly warm and some pieces had melted cheese on top. The best part is that the bread is unlimited... but try not to eat too much of it before your entree comes out! We also got the Garlic Spinach Fontina Fondue but it was gone before I could grab my camera... That was really good too but wish the portions were a shareable size! Garlic Filet Mignon Chili pizza Chili on pizza? Nouveau idea and surprisingly good!! Not enough garlic? You have nothing to fear! On every table there's a jar of something that looks like chopped up garlic and parsley. Add that to anything you deem not garlicky enough! I did that and it gave it just the right kick Garlic Encrusted Baby Back Ribs, served with garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes DELICIOUS.. I love my meat and I love my garlic. What more can I say?! Oh, and the mashed potatoes are amazing. I would like a plate of that if I was on a carb-only diet So happy with my Garlic-tini!! It tastes like a dirty martini that got hit with a garlic hurricane!! The best part about the Kustard ice cream dish is that it's big enough to share. We wanted to order the garlic ice cream but since someone from our party found a SPIDER in her water glass, the waiter brought us this dessert as an apology. From all my restaurant experiences, I have never seen a spider and honestly, now I question the cleanliness of this establishment. Grand Master Foodie says.... FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS The food was excellent and the service was above par but I hate spiders with a passion. I would've probably thrown a fit if I was the one that found the spider... **FIND MY REVIEW COMPLETE WITH PICTURES** foodbyhang.wordpress.com…
(4)
Lily N.
This place stinks. My food was overcooked. I had ordered one of their steaks (i don't remember the actual name) Don't understand the hype this place has got going for them. I came with a group of about 12? And our meals were just so-so. The pros: okay pricing and ample parking. Fast seating. The cons: food isn't that great. @ least mine wasn't. 2 Friends ordered rabbit which they thought was okay The rest ordered steaks and some other dishes but overall just an okay meal.
(2)
Garrett L.
My buddies girlfriend has been here before and said it was good so me and 7 other friends went here on a Saturday night. We had reservations for a week and we still had to wait 30 minutes. We got there right at our reservations time and maybe it was because there was 8 of us. It was busy and their waiting room was filled up. They have a ton a different hot sauces they display in the front so you could kill a good five minutes starting and checking those out while you wait. First off there is valet parking for $4.50 so you don't have to find parking if you don't want to. The ambiance is nice with low lighting, private little tables, and classical music. We got seated way in the back and i couldn't believe how many tables they had. They got us water pretty quick and some guy brought us bread and garlic spread, which we found out we had to pay for later. It was only $5, but i would have liked to know it wasn't complimentary. The garlic was a little bitter, but it was good. After waiting 15 minutes for our server to come back and get our order, most of us ordered the regular prime rib, with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic spinach for $30. If you were really hungry you could upgrade to a large for $40, or a slab for $50. My friend ordered a glass of wine with his prime rib and the server forgot about it until they were reminded 20 minutes later. My friend should have said something sooner. I got mine medium rare and it was nice as it melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were delicious, but the spinach was not such a big hit for me. Overall the experience was alright, therefore the 3 stars. I kind of wish i came with less people so i could have gas the server less since the service was mediocre. I probably won't go back because it wasn't that great and it was a far drive for me. The only way i would go back is if i was with a girl and she wanted to go.
(3)
Jayleen L.
Love everything in their menu! especailly the prime rib, melt in your mouth! all the pastaz are good too. great price great service great food!
(5)
Patricia M.
Who does not like garlic food? :) I love this place and very often go there. The food is good most of the time you have to choose what you eat. last time I ordered rabbit and was not really pleases with it. An interior is beautiful and stands out from other restaurants. The reason for the 4 star is for careless waiters :( . we were there at around 4 pm. the waiters were talking and joking with each other. if we did not call them they would not even bother to come and check on us.
(4)
Fei C.
The interior is very artistic n unique...The food is good but not spectacular, I really enjoyed the garlic ice cream...Service was excellent n I had a great experience dining there for my birthday :)
(4)
Kimberly B.
I dont understand all the hype. I took my dad and husband here our bill was $400 it was a waste of money and time. However the waiter was great. But the food was not good at all.
(1)
Pia S.
We were trying to get Kogi at the Alibi Room but out of frustration, ended up here...which is fine because it's almost been a year and a half since we've indulged in this place. Anyways, service has been up and down here but it doesn't matter; the garlic-encrusted baby back pork ribs are still excellent! Nothing compares. Their bread is pretty good too, carbs galore!
(4)
Tom W.
Pros: Great Food (Garlic Steak, Fries, Clam, etc.) Garlic Ice Cream! Awesome Decor Nice Service $5 Valet Guiness on Tap Cons: Bathrooms are a bit creepy!!
(4)
Mina W.
I came here for my best friend's birthday this past May, and I fell in love with the ambiance. Definitely has more of a romantic vibe to the place, but I still had a lovely time. Even the bathroom had the coolest decorations of vintage looking framed photos. I'm hardly ever disappointed when it comes to the cozy atmosphere of many of the Italian restaurants I've been to. But this is by far the perfect date spot if you don't mind spending more for great quality, service, and ambiance. I highly recommend The Stinking Rose.
(4)
Eman P.
First time ever last night !!! ........ went for a company dinner and most of my co workers were at the bar while we waited for everyone to arrive we had drinks in the bar they were friendly and fast there was a guy playing the piano, clarinet, and other instruments great ambience and music. Our party was about 23 people we were seated fast and service was fast and food arrived promptly. The Food was delicious my wife had the salmon great flavor I had the 40 clove chicken and baby back ribs. Everything was great all co workers satisfied. Everything did have a great garlic flavor to it. We even tried out the garlic ice cream. Great place will be back. No complains here
(5)
Jody C.
The Stinking Rose reminds me of a more expensive version of Bucca di Beppo. The setting inside is very thematic (almost circus-like) and casual. As a first time diner, I thought it would've been more fancy based off the name and location. There is only valet parking which is $5.50 or you can find metered parking on the street. The service was great and the food came out really quick. The garlic prime rib and the garlic fries are a must have. I also tried the spaghetti and garlic meatballs which was nothing special. The food is quite pricey but I do think it's worth trying if you've never been! PS. If you come on your birthday, be prepared to wear something "garlicky" :D
(4)
Amy C.
Been here done that...that's how I feel. Price is very reasonable for BH. The AYCE bread was awesome! Came here for dad's birthday and we shared a lamb shank and mussels...and we each has the potatoes soup. Food was good, but only back for a special occasion. But if you never dined here, you have to do it once.
(3)
Maggie S.
Good food, specially the stakes are very tender, deserts were also tasty. Even though this place is a bit crowded, but very organized, drink orders come quick and they manage to get your order prepared in a timely manner, also liked the ambiance and the service, also reasonable prices.
(4)
Christi P.
It was good. A little pricing but I think that you pay for the ambiance. We had a skillet with crab and mussels the meatballs and mash potatoes and and the fettuccine. Water to drink. the garlic butter is to die for!!!
(5)
Connie C.
In the mood for garlic? If you are and want to experience the unique dining experience of garlic-everything, give Stinking Rose a try but be careful of "meh" service! I'm not going to lie, I thought I was prepared for all it's garlicky goodness but I was not. Kinda garlic ODed. Here's the run down: Bagna Calda- (ban-ya * cal-da) Olive oil, cooked down garlic and bits of anchovies. This was very good, garlic was almost sweet & is a great addition to their house bread. Recommended to share with more than 2 people or you'll run out of things to put this on. Baked Brie- Over priced baked Brie with bread and garlic. Was not impressed at all & will not recommend ordering this. Save your money and pop a store bought Brie in your oven & ta-da! Prime Rib- Very good. I may have over done the garlic with the other mentioned dishes but I couldn't detect too much garlic seasoning on this. Meat was tender & it was def a big portion. Side of mashed potatoes were Ok, nothing amazing. Garlic Ice Cream- This is a must try no matter how disgusting you think it sounds. It's unexplainably, mysteriously decent. You are very surprised with the garlic power punch it gives you & will leave you unsure if you want more. Of course, you do want more, this time you try a spoonful with the chocolate drizzle. This is when you realize, it's different but not bad and almost works. Service- MEH. Give this a 2. Went during a weekday for a bday and it wasn't packed. My waiter was a bit condescending because I didn't pronounce "bagna" correctly. As he (basically) scoffed, I rolled my eyes & he then corrected his behavior by saying, "or how you say it is fine too". Though they give a pitcher of water, I drank it all & had to ask 3 different people for it to be refilled. The bus boys did better than Mr. Waiter. Might come back for the prime rib but will walk out if it's the same waiter.
(3)
Felicia C.
For it being my first time there it was good my meal was good you can't go wrong with that! It was a bit pricey . We had a bad waiter but the bus boy was great so you no who got the tip ! The most important thing was my sister had a great time since it was her birthday dinner!
(4)
Jenni A.
soooo good! prime rib was great as well as price. definitely will be returning. but i stink! officially a little stinker. lol great experience. thank you! we came for my moms birthday and got a complimentary garlic ice cream and they brought the cute garlic hat and candles.
(5)
Jesse M.
Food: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Bus Boys: 5 stars Waiter: 3 stars The Prime Rib is probably among the best I have ever eaten. The atmosphere is unique and refreshing. The bus boys (sorry for the lack of a better name) were very attentive and my drink was never less than half full for the whole evening and they were always near to bring me what I needed. The waiter on other hand was the only downside. When we sat down, he took our drink order and we did not see him for nearly ten minutes. After our order was taken, we did not see him again until he brought the check a hour later. I understand that the bus boys are taking care of our minute to minute needs, but it would be nice to see our waiter more since we wanted to place additional orders throughout the meal. I should not have to request his presence. Other than that, I would return and advise those of you that have not been, give the place a try. It was worth it.
(4)
Jessica Y.
I don't know that I have ever done a 1 star review, and maybe that is why I took so long to actually right this review, but disappointing to say the least. I had been wanting to go here for a few years and finally did as part of the Dine LA week, and so glad I did it at the discounted price, because then you just chock it up to an experience and move on. The food is just really mediocre and I think they feel if they give you a lot of food that makes up for the taste. Just doesn't work that way. Had their garlic at the beginning of the night that came as an appetizer. There were two of us and they had a vat of oil and garlic, that we couldn't have finished in a month. Following the garlic we got a small salad, that felt like it was taken out of a bag and thrown on a plate. Then we moved on to the entree. My husband said that the flavor of the 40 Clove Garlic Chicken as really good, but the chicken itself was dry. I had the famous meatloaf, and yuck. It was a giant hunk of meat that just looked so unappealing, I don't think I got past it. Will not be returning here again.
(1)
Calvin S.
I was walking to Gyu-Kaku for lunch during my California trip in June when I smelled a strong garlic odour coming out of this restaurant. We decided to stop by and take a look, as it honestly wasn't anything we can experience back home. After some thought, my family decided this would be the dinner place, and we booked a reservation on-site. We also had dinner with some of my mom's friends who live in LA, and they were a little taken aback by the mandatory valet parking here. For the record we parked down by Wilshire earlier in the day and didn't move our car, so we didn't bother with valet parking. I must begin by saying the seating wasn't exactly what I call "comfortable", thought it might be because we had a table of 6 but the table we sat in felt like a table of 4. Lighting was also at a minimum, but I assume that was the ambiance of this restaurant. I ordered the clams pasta, because I was attracted by the black linguine feature. I never tried it before, so I wanted to know how it tasted like. We also ordered the prime rib, the portobello mushroom, and the forty clove garlic chicken, though it was mainly my grandma who ate it. At the end the pasta was light years better than the garlic chicken, although the pasta itself was a little bit too "sticky", as in the linguine was stuck together more often than not. The prime rib and portobello mushroom were both great according to my parents. However the garlic chicken was too dry and tough for my grandma's liking, and she only managed to eat half of it before she gave up. Service was okay, but we kept getting different servers throughout the time we were here. I guess I liked the fact we were attended to the whole way, but I expect different servers from an Asian restaurant, not an Italian/American restaurant. There's a lot to explore in LA, so I wouldn't be too crazy on coming back even if it was a 4 star rating.
(3)
Jennifer R.
I love the dark and playful ambience of this restaurant. Festively adorned with an old world and vintage hollywood appeal. The bread basket is delicious. The blood orange martini has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy with a little kick. The steak was very flavorful and kinda on the crispy side for a me, but the server took care of it. Kinda nightmare before Christmas meets old school Italian meets dick's last resort. The drink runner Zach was great and especially our server Lucas who brought me a new "medium" steak. I will be definitely come back to wine and dine soon
(5)
Nordy N.
Very good. The decor is a little strange but the food and service were excellent. I got the prime rib and my friend got the filet. Both were fantastic and the mashed potatoes were the best! Tip: get some calamari marinara sauce with the bread....fantastic!
(4)
Jonathan P.
I looove this place. I've been here at least 5 times and have always had a good time. The food is really good but overall the vibe is super nonpretentious and casual. A stark contrast to a lot of the high end restaurants on La Cienega. If you didn't already know, all the food here has a garlic theme to it, even the dessert ice cream! So don't come if you don't like garlic. Meals start with garlic bread. I highly recommend adding the extra garlic at the table to it (and everything you order). Other favorite dishes include the garlic fries (they give you a ton), prime rib, and seafood pasta. I'm not a huge fan of crab but their crab is pretty good too. Mojitos are awesome as well (don't think they're on the menu). Finally, a great place for birthdays! They will bring out a garlic hat for the birthday person and sing to you ('happy birthday little stinker'). Then they give you some complimentary garlic ice cream as well (sounds weird but it works, very subtle). Looking forward to my next trip back! Very versatile place. Good for a romantic date, equally good as a fun place to bring kids. Recommend valet parking (5.50 or something random like that). Reservations don't hurt but I've never had to wait regardless.
(5)
Ethan R.
I HOPE YOU LIKE GARLIC?? Even if you don't there's garlic free dishes. They have little vampire faces next to them on the menu :3 That said, the food is good. It's traditional Italian fare with garlic added to everything from the sauces to the olive oil to the meat. The ambiance attempts to look very.. circus tent tacky? Everything from the red and black tents that mark off private areas to the pencil thin mustaches on the waiters contributes to it. If your date really really likes the food, they sell garlic flavored condoms at the counter. Can someone tell me if they burn?
(3)
Ivan R.
I went here about 4 years ago. Yes I know it was a long time but I think I enjoyed the food so good I still can't forget the garlic ice cream and the garlic shots. I would go here again. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because is been a while and I can tell by yelp they aren't doing so good
(4)
Jacqueline H.
Ordered the bagna calda, boneless short rib, and the gnocchetti. The bagna calda is good with the bread, but you can't really eat too much of it because it's easy to get sick of it quickly. The boneless short rib is a good entree size, but a little salty that day. The gnocchetti is delicious if you love cheese! Service was great, we were seated quickly, and valet parking is $5.50 cash only.
(4)
Desiree F.
Garlic garlic garlic. This is my second time here. Food was great. I love garlic and the garlic appetizer is to die for. That roasted garlic followed by the fresh garlic on the table. Yummmm. The staff was very attentive and contrary to reviews I read our servers did not try to hurry us out the door. One of our group was late and they were very accommodating.
(5)
Teresa C.
PROS: - Garlic rolls were good but don't eat too much of these or else you'll get too full to eat the rest of your meal. - Garlic prime ribs were really good. Meat was tender however some parts were too fatty. - COMBO (mussels, shrimp and crab): Love this! Crab was fresh and sweet however eating this very messy. Shrimp was really good but just a tad bit oily. Too many mussels but they taste good. Us three girls, had trouble finishing all the food. MEH: - Bagna Calda - too oily. roasted garlic swimming in a pan of oil. - Garlic Ice Cream - You can skip this. Too sweet. The caramel overpowers the garlic flavor. NOTE: - Decor sort of reminds me of a circus. Restaurant was very dark and dim lighted.
(3)
Seb C.
It's all bout Garlic! I you like garlic, you like the restaurant, if not, just don't think about going there! We decided to go there on a friday night, no reservation at 7pm! No waiting line, immediate sitting! Lucky! The bread served with the oil with garlic is very good and this is a large portion! The food was good, not exceptional, but good, the waiter was nice and attentive. The valet parking was ok. The drink list is ok as well. It's an experience, it was a good one for us, but for sure, we would not go there every week!
(4)
Tiffany J.
I'm a fan of all things garlic, so I definitely approve of this place! I took my boyfriend here for his birthday because I heard this place was fun, a little eclectic, and delicious--all correct. I have to say, it's nice to find a unique restaurant in Beverly Hills that isn't pretentious. For an appetizer, we ordered the Bagna Calda, which is essentially aged garlic, marinated in butter, olive oil, and a tiny bit of anchovy. Order this! It tastes really yummy with their focaccia bread (and our regular bread we had at home with our left overs). We also ordered the Clam pasta with black linguine--so simple, yet really flavorful. They also actually gave us a good portion of clams. The garlic prime rib was really good. Don't come in here thinking you're across the street at Lawry's, but the prime rib here is still good quality in my eyes--juicy, well seasoned, and of course---garlicky! I ordered the smallest size (roughly $35) and we still came home with leftovers. The prime rib comes with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach (which I could honestly do without because I'm just not a fan of creamed spinach in general). The Stinking Rose is not cheap, but also not over-the-top expensive. I would recommend this place for anyone who likes garlic and is feeling a bit adventurous (they do have garlic ice cream, but we were too full to try it). Just pack some gum or mints...or a travel-sized mouthwash :)
(4)
Karla S.
Yummy Garlic Heaven! The bread and the dipping roasted garlic dip is delicious. Indulge but don't forget your breath mints:)!
(4)
Maureen A.
The DineLA menu is super reasonable considering you get the roasted garlic and garlic bread to start, a starter salad, an entree, and dessert. I had the lamb as my entree, and it was fall of the bone tender. Dessert seemed like a throw away (vanilla ice cream in a cup), but the rest of the meal made up for it! And who doesn't love sitting in a circus tent for dinner?!?
(4)
Lily K.
I had a wonderful experience here. Really great service, food & drinks, and decor! The prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, and drinks were amaaaazing. I will never look at prime rib the same again. The garlic ice cream was tasty too! Just have to get over the shock of the first spoonful :) Surprisingly the most memorable dish was the MUSSELS! I will be back just for them!
(5)
Nicole M.
Awesome food. Good prices. And no corkage fee!!! I wish I knew that when we went there.
(4)
Lauren K.
This place was great! :D The server was so kind and helpful, and he checked on us often enough (not too often, which is a good thing) to make sure we had enough water and focaccia bread (which was amazing), and to ensure we were satisfied with our meal. I ordered the 40-clove garlic chicken, which was incredibly good! The chicken was well-cooked and juicy, and the sauce and mashed potatoes were super great too! It was also my mother's birthday, so they came over with a super funny garlic hat and complimentary garlic ice cream (with delicious mole sauce!!), and sang her a song! All in all, it was a wonderful experience!!
(5)
Shye J.
So. Much. Garlic! We went last night for my birthday and it was wonderful! First of all, it is really cute and the vaudeville/old-timey circus theme was charming. A lot of the booths and tables had privacy because of the circus tents around them. The food is flipping amazing! The gnocchetti is out of this world; the creaminess of the potato balls mixed with the crunchiness of the asparagus in the pesto blew me away! The prime rib and NY steak were freakin delicious. The garlic ice cream does not apologize for it's sweet, garlicky taste but is a surprisingly delicious one of a kind treat! Service was good/fast.
(5)
Diana C.
I've been wanting to try this place so my boyfriend took me for my birthday! Yay! I made the mistake of filling up on their garlic bread and potato onion soup, I couldn't help it! And I love how they have garlic sauce on the side. My boyfriend got the garlic roasted prime rib, medium rare. I have dull teeth and usually have a hard time chewing steak but this was cooked to perfection! So juicy, so tender. The garlic mashed potatoes went so well with it. If I weren't already getting full, I would've gotten a another side of mashed potatoes. I got the salmon with caper sauce and it was really good. It came with something on the side that tasted like really weird mini pasta. I don't know what it was but I didn't like it. I got complimentary ice cream because it was my birthday and I'm not sure if it was made with garlic or not. If it was, I couldn't bring myself to eat it and if not, I still couldn't eat it because my mouth was already overwhelmed from all the garlic I had already eaten. The service was great, our waiter was helpful with the menu and he sang happy birthday to me. I like garlic and I like Stinking Rose so I will definitely be back to try their other dishes!
(5)
Rahul K.
I am a big lover of Garlic. I have gone to the Stinking Rose twice and have loved the food. I had a Rabbit the last time I went, and it was quite good. The servers are quite knowledgeable about the menu and I was even advised against going for the Rabbit as it s quite bony, but I stuck with my choice and liked it a lot. This place is not for someone who is not a fan of Garlic, as almost everything on the menu has garlic in it. They are a bit pricey, but the complete experience is quite good.
(4)
Vicky T.
My boyfriend and I came here for our 5th anniversary on a Friday night and it wasn't hard at all to make or change a reservation. I really didn't feel like this would be the place to go to for a romantic (not to mention 5th anniversary date) dinner because there was a group of people next to us and they were just awfully loud THE WHOLE time. I understand that they were having a birthday and were celebrating, but the Stinkin' Rose advertise themself as having a romantic atmosphere. Onto the food, they served us complementary bread and garlic spread which was really good. We ordered the second biggest prime rib (cannot remember what it was called) but it was a delicious prime rib. I wasn't a fan of the cooked spinach but the garlic mashed potatoes was just heavenly! I ordered the Shrimp Fettucine and I didn't even touch it because it's honestly really NOT great at all. The waiter was really kind to take it back and didn't charge us for it. This was great because we were able to share the prime rib WITH leftovers! I would probably say that this would be just a one time experience and if you're a garlic fanatic, this is your spot!
*sigh* im soooo disappointed...had dinner here today...service was not so great...we were seated right away however we wanted to change our seats and it took the hostess 10 min to get back to us...after we changed seats it took the waiter another 10 min or so to come to our table to take our drink order...anywhooo after seeing great reviews about the bagna calda...we ordered it....ehh...nothing special...we also ordered garlic fries...once again..nothing special for our entrees we ordered the shrimp pasta and silence of the lamb shank.........mashed potatoes that came with the lamb were delicious....the lamb however was just plain awful..so awful that i had to send it back...ive had lamb before and thats NOT what it should taste like...my fiance wasnt too fond of the pasta he ordered either due to the overwhelming tomato sauce...anyways overall it was not a very good experience and were both very disappointed..weve been wanting to try this place for a while because were both big fans of garlic...and im sad to say this is the first and last time we will be dining at the stinking rose
(2)
Leesa R.
This place was amazing and quite unique! I went with a few couples and we were surprised walking through different sections to our table that was in a little private room. The food and service was outstanding. Great drinks too at a reasonable price.
(5)
Katie S.
Disappointed not what I expected. Service was good but had lunch spaghetti and meatballs with a salad. Maybe ordered the wrong thing . If I did go back would be for the prime rib.
Love the vibe of the restaurant as well as the food was delicious. The garlic ice cream was amazing!
(5)
constantconsumer c.
I thought about ordering the special bread but then a bunch of garlic topped bread arrived at the table and i ended up eating 4 of them with the garlic sauce that was on the table. The popcorn calamari was also really good. I picked the garlic baby back ribs but wished i got the prime rib when i tasted it. The ravioli was just ok. The garlic chicken was also very good but the winner was the roasted mussels and garlic!
(4)
Helen T.
My family and I came here for dinner for Christmas Eve and to be honest, I thought this place was okay - a solid 3 stars. The service was good, but the food was 3 stars at best. They have valet parking right in front of the restaurant for $5, or you could park on the street. The decor of the restaurant is definitely...interesting. It's kind of like a tacky vampire-ish garlic themed restaurant. It's not my type of thing, but I mean I don't think I would take anybody here on a date. Why would you, especially if every dish has a bunch of garlic in it? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE garlic, which is why I wanted to come here. But this restaurant is more of a group/family restaurant kind of place. What I did like about this place was that there was a jar of raw garlic with oil and herbs at the table, which is basically good on anything. We ordered the bagna calda as other Yelpers suggested, and a few other entrees, including the forty clove garlic chicken, garlic braised boneless short rib, and "silence of the lamb shank". All of our food came out in less than 15 minutes. The Bagna Calda came in a small skillet and was meant to be dipped with the bread. It had well cooked garlic which was super soft and mushy and went well with the bread. It was good, but not amazing. The entrees were not as good as some of the Yelpers said it was. The 40 clove garlic chicken definitely had a lot of garlic on the side, but the chicken itself felt like it was under seasoned. The taste seemed to be only on the outside, but when you bite into the chicken it was tasteless. Or maybe that just means that the meat was frozen. It was like that for the lamb as well. The flavors were good, but I felt that the meat wasn't as good as it could be. The short rib I got was also a bit dry and a little tasteless. I had to add quite a bit of the raw garlic on the rib to make it taste good. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the food. I will say that our waiter made sure that our water was never empty. He was definitely on top of it and stopped by our table a few times. We ended up paying over $120 for 4 entrees and and the Bagna Calda, which wasn't too bad. The portions were decently sized, but for the price, I felt like the food could have been better.
(3)
Matt J.
The food isn't bad, but it's not great either. You can certainly get better for the same price. Garlicness does not come through compared to equivalent dishes made at the San Francisco restaurant. In particular, their garlic ice cream is bland compared o. SF (at least SF in 2006). If you've eaten there expect a much milder flavor at the LA restaurant. Majority of my score is for service, though. Service is efficient but too efficient. Entrees were out while we still had appetizers on the table (maybe 10 minutes from order to serve). We either never saw the server, or he was right there ready to move us to the next step. Water was always full, etc., so they're not under staffed. Check was dropped on the table without a final check to see if we wanted anything else. He might as well have said "hey, we have a lot of people waiting, so...." Server was pleasant, not rude, and always had a smile, but we didn't like being subtly rushed. The guy delivering the plates always put the wrong dish at the wrong person (for a party of 2). It may have been because it was Xmas day, but they were clearly in a rush to move us through. The most disappointing part was that my wife asked for caramel mole sauce on her desert instead of chocolate. The server said they were the same thing (although called different things on the menu). We thought "that's weird, but he knows the menu." When we got our desserts, it was clear they are not the same sauce. I don't know if he really didn't know or just didn't want to deal with a special order. In summary, the entire experience is not worth the cost or quality of food. Food quality is not the same as SR in SF, and you can get better food and ambiance for the same price in the same part of LA. Service seems more concerned with pushing tables through than dining experience, and wait staff clearly doesn't know the menu well and didn't want to take the time to clarify. I wouldn't go here on a holiday or busy night and expext a leisurely dinner.
(2)
Sugean P.
Came here for the first time ever. I had very high expectations because I've heard such awesome things about this place but our server sort of ruined the experience for us. While we were perusing the menu, she came by a couple times to ask us if we were ready and each time we weren't. she was very attitude-y after that. I used to be a server so i ALWAYS make it a point to be nice and polite to servers and help make their job as easy and painless as possible. so I can pretty much guarantee that we were not in any way being rude or disrespectful to her. We ordered the garlic noodles, a Caesar salad, and the seafood pasta. The food was decent but wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be. Maybe the server's attitude left a bad taste in my mouth but I just couldn't enjoy it. She kept giving us looks as she walked by..almost as if she wanted us to get out? Not too sure. It was pretty much one of the busboys taking care of us that night by filling up our waters, making small talk with us, asking how the food tasted, and grabbing us whatever we needed. I wish I had gotten his name but If management happens to come across this review..give this man a raise lol At one point, the busboy told our server that one of the tables needed something from her. She snapped at him saying it's not her problem and that the customer needs to figure it out. This was all going on right next to our table lol The only time we saw the server after that was when she asked if we wanted our check. When we paid, she just grabbed it off the table (no "thank you" no "how was everything"). A quick snatch and a minute later, she came by with a quick drop of the change (once again, no "thank you" no "have a great night"). Everything she did that night should not be warranted any sort of tip but because I know servers split that tip with busboys and other members of the restaurant staff, we had no choice but to tip a decent amount. Especially since our busboy went above and beyond to ensure we had a decent evening. I definitely won't be back again. I know this is in no way the fault of the cooks, management, or any of the other servers. It's just this one server that ruined my first time here and overshadowed what could have been a good experience.
(2)
J S.
worst food and service ever!!!
(1)
Thaddeus T.
Decent prices. Portion sizes could be bigger but makes up for that in taste. Regret not trying the Garlic Ice Cream. Maybe later
(4)
Kathy C.
This place is the best for couple or dating ..so romantic...service is so great and the garlic ice cream is so yummy ! The food is so delicious!
(5)
Dean Y.
The old lawrys venue back in the day, brings back old memories. Service is fairly good, attentive waiters and friendly staff. The mussels and shrimp is a must try, also the bone in filet mignon was very tasty. Homemade pasta is very good, and also try the steamed clams - very good. Prime rib, make sure to get the smaller cut so you have more garlic flavor. Finish off with the garlic ice cream. Wines are reasonably priced.
(4)
Joey D.
Gotta be honest. Food was good but the baby back ribs were horrible!! The rack was more like a half of rack and skinny, for the money you spend, you should get your foods worth, not the case. The other entrees were good, meatloaf was great and the steak was good as well. Shrimp was the bomb and the crab legs were a tiny bit small, but that's the way the dice rolls. Desert was heaven but the garlic infused ice cream was just aghhhh. Too much for me. The servers were polite and very attentive and on the ball!! Appetizers were good but so tiny. Just being honest. Although I would've gave this restaurant a 5 star, but my dinner especially the ribs were just horrible.
(3)
Jenny B.
I dined here this past Saturday with my boyfriend. The restaurant itself had fun decor and the dim lights provided an intimate atmosphere. What my boyfriend and I were most impressed at stinging rose was the customer service skills of our waiter Reed. It was a busy night but he was very patient and never short with us. It was our first time there and he was very helpful with helping us select our dishes. He was a genuinely nice guy who went above and beyond while serving us. He communicate with his actions that he cared about his customers. Whenever you dine at this location, request Reed. We will definitely be back here with a larger party for our future group occasions. Awesome restaurant and even more awesome service! with reed's service it was a 5 star experience, had we had a typical waiter, the overall experience would be a 4-4.5 star. my boyfriend does not have a yelp account so he requesting that i post the below review for him, by him: This place is as advertised. Great ambiance and great for groups. A very unique experience if you're looking for something different. Our waiter Reid C, was awesome, on point with everything. Total professional the whole time and knew exactly when to check on us and when to leave us. Even Paul the manager came by our table, like at Fancy Steakhouses at the end of the meal. Not exaggerating, best service I've experienced in a long time, Reid should be putting on a clinic training others in the restaurant industry.
(5)
Jas R.
Excited that we finally had a chance to eat here! We didn't make reservations, however, we got seated immediately, in a cite, cabana-like table. Which made it feel quiet and private. Our server greated us with a plate of fresh garlic rolls, which were very warm and yummy. Especially with the Bagna Calda ( garlic cloves in a bath of hot oil). It almost tasted like garlic butter. The cloves had a nice buttery texture, and the garlic flavor was not too overpowering. We ordered the Prime Pork Chop, which was a thick cut (cooked to perfection) alongside a side of an apple compote and garlic mashed potatoes The 16oz slab of Prime rib, medium-rear was delicious! Every bite melted in your mouth And the Prawn pasta. It had a nice kick to it. With bacon pieces and fresh prawns in a red creamy sauce. For the portions and the quality of the food, the prices are pretty reasonable. Can't wait to go back and try other garlicky goodies!
(4)
Anthony F.
It is a fun place to go but not the best food I have ever had. It is worth going but I will not make this a place I frequent.
(3)
Rachel K.
Nice and really unique place to eat out if you're looking for a fancy restaurant or for a special occasion. I love how all the menu items include GARLIC( hence the name, the stinking rose). There issome pretty weird stuff on the menu though...garlic ice cream, salad which sound pretty weird but they are actually really tasty! For entrees, we got some squid ink pasta w/ some garlic sauce, filet mignon, and salmon ravioli. For me, the food was relatively mediocre considering the price which is why I give it 3 stars. Portion sizes suck also. But if you're looking for a restaurant with nice atmosphere and a unique experience, you should definitely try The stinking rose. Also, I advise you not to get the appetizer that they strongly recommend which is the garlic in a pot(?) Whole garlic pieces soaked in oil that taste like mush. :(
(3)
CeCe H.
If you like garlic then this place is a must! We came once before about a year ago and I wasn't blown away. They've definitely played around with their recipes because we just went this last week and it was amazing! I got the baby back ribs and they were so dreamy! Not too garlicky but just enough! And the meat practically slid off the bone my boyfriend got the macho cut garlic encrusted filet, medium rare and he LOVED it. He's a major steak eater and very very picky about his steak but he said it was probably his second favorite steak (only second to Ruth Chris). The meals came with garlic mashed potatoes that were good but not too much garlic. My boyfriends meal came with vegetables that I presume was spinach but it wasn't very good, super mushy and not flavored. They give you a ton of garlic bread which is amazing! I used the oil and garlic/parsley mix on the table but go easy because this is where the garlic is super potent! The beer was about $8 for a huge beer so that was nice. We got garlic ice cream for free because it was his birthday. This is where they made major improvements: last time we got the ice cream it was so bad, way too garlicky and weird. This time it was so much more subtle and the chocolate sauce balanced out the slight garlic kick at the end. It was really good this time! Only deterrent for coming here is the prices. Steaks were all about $30 and up, my ribs were $25. Overall bill for two came out to roughly $100. Did I mention the adorable decorations and awesomely silly garlic hats you can wear?!
(5)
Damon G.
I find it interesting that the restaurant responded to me by trying to put it on me in that I should have said something to them when I was there. How about just put out good food...especially when you charge the prices you do?
(1)
Delvin M.
Great food, great atmosphere, friendly servers my wife and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place.
(5)
Ebony M.
The Stinking Rose is a weirdly decorated vortex that makes me feel like I'm trapped in a Paul Lynde acid trip. The food is so amazingly good. Normally, I hate the smell of too much garlic, but it's all fresh garlic, not the cheap crushed and powdered crap from the grocery store. I ate here with my friends Adrian and Lori. We had a blast and the leftovers were even better the following day. Try the mashed potatoes. They will change your life.
(5)
Mary R.
It was so average. We had three different types of pastas and they all tasted ordinary. Im shocked that it has 4 stars and so many reviews. Will not come back. So over priced and such bland food.
(1)
Lyil C.
Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. The prome rib was great. So was the pineapple mojito.
(4)
Thomas M.
The first and only time I've eaten I ordered my meal to go. Even about 45 minutes later when I ate it, it was spectacular. Here's what I ordered: 1. Garlic Sea Bass 2. Spicy Prawn Pasta 3. Bone In Filet Mignon 16oz (with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach) "Bring on the garlic" Garlic Sea Bass - 8.5 out of 10 - Comes with a side of couscous that has a lot of flavor. The fish itself was cooked very well and was also packed with flavor. If you're ordering fish, definitely order this. Spicy Prawn Pasta - 8.5 out of 10 - Wasn't spicy for me but the flavors were very nice. A hint of sweetness made this a very intriguing and tasty dish. Can't go wrong with this one. Filet Mignon - 8.5 out of 10 - I was pleasantly surprised with the steak. Usually I prefer cuts other than the filet, but the cook on the steak was perfect. It was lightly seasoned which, in combination with the other rich foods I ordered, worked well. The mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were both amazing and can stand alone as sides. Super tasty. Overall, I had been wanting to try the Stinking Rose for a while and I intend to go back after this experience.
(4)
Marko C.
Four solid stars for The Stinking Rose! I haven't been to this restaurant in over 5 years and I'm so glad that I had a work-related lunch here! 12 of us showed up at 12:00 and were the first party to be seated. The decor in the restaurant is cute, festive, circus-y, vibrant, and FUN! There are even little tent-gazebos in the restaurant so you feel like you are in another world. We ordered a large dish of calamari for our appetizers ($19.95). The calamari was what was to be expected, adn it was served with three different kinds of dipping sauces. I couldn't tell the differences of the sauces apart. A bit expensive for the amount of calamari that we got. Grade: B For my meal, I ordered the regular cut of the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib ($38.95). I've been trying to stay away from red meat for several months now, but this prime rib has whetted my appetite and makes me want to go back to eating red meat regularly (which I won't!). The prime rib was perfectly cooked. I asked for it rare, and rare was what I got! The meat was tender and flavorful! Served with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and creamy horse radish. The prime rib was clearly the star of the order, while the mashed potatoes and spinach tasted very bland. The dish was over priced for the quantity of food that was served. For a garlic-focused restaurant, I didn't taste any garlic on the plate other than the three pieces of roasted garlic placed on the meat. Grade: B+ (A for the prime rib, B for the rest of the sides). The servers were super friendly and helpful! Great service! Food Grade: B+ Service Grade: B+ Worth the Money Grade: C Overall Impression Grade: B
(4)
Kevin C.
Went again. Bagna calda was good again. Better than last time I think. Garlic fries were also great. Got the prime rib, but I don't recall it being really garlicky enough. The spinach it came with was also kind of plain.
(4)
Madeline R.
Garlic mash potatoes a hit! A bit pricey but tasty. Coworkers & I all polished our plates clean
(4)
Christina S.
My parents are notoriously picky, so my sister and I selected the Stinking Rose with caution. But my parents were charmed by the garlic hat wearing waitresses and the silly paintings and the freaking delicious rolls, so my sister and I were more optimistic. We both got the filet mignon, and I selected creamed spinach and steamed vegetables as my sides. The wait for food really wasn't very long, especially since they brought us some more of those awesome rolls. My steak was just a hair over medium rare, which was a little disappointing, but it was still soft and juicy and delicious. The cream spinach was awesome, but I would skip the steamed vegetables; they were soggy and tasted like nothing. So there you have it. A review that should be at least a solid 4 stars. But my family and I all suffered pretty bad indigestion for a full day after we visited the Stinking Rose. Delicious, but bad for your stomach.
(3)
Jeffrey W.
If you like garlic, this is the place to go. I had been to the one in SF years ago and during a recent trip to LA I went to this one. The atmosphere is fun and the food is pretty darn good. I think everyone on my flight home knew where I had dinner the night before!
(4)
Cynthia L.
A memorable destination for special occasions, especially if you love Garlic. We had our company Christmas party for 12 last weekend and it was amazing. The food, the service, the garlic! The General Manager, Paul Witter made the advance reservation process painless and efficient and everything was exactly as we planned. Attentive waiter staff, and a good time was had by all. [Warning: Dessert sundaes and ice cream portions are huge, save room] PS--If looking for a fun date locale, the little booths throughout the restaurant can make for a romantic--albeit lively-- excursion (after dinner mints recommended).
(5)
J L.
We went ladt Thursday for friend's B day. It is a casual and friendly restaurant, but was not as expected by the name and location. Sort of S European style, interior is silmilar to Buca. Food is ok but not great, we like appetizer more than their prime rib.
(3)
Linda L.
the house "shot" is delicious! (garlic marinating in vinegar) Expect to leve reeking of garlic but it's all so delicious!
(5)
Shawn K.
I enjoy going here for special occasions, especially for Thanksgiving. When I go here I bring someone new each time and they enjoy themselves too. The atmosphere is wonderful. The menu is unique and the food is delicious. I try something new from the menu each time I go. I look around when I'm there and everyone is smiling and having a good time. The more I go the better it gets. I would like to explore the restaurant a little more like sitting at the bar or are the tables outside more than decorations? Next time I'll have to go to lunch instead of just for dinner. Sometimes when you drive by you can smell the GARLIC...yum!
(5)
Jayson W.
i have been here several times (7-8ish) but this was my first time in many years. not because i didnt like it, but i like to go to all kinds of different places. i went there with a couple of friends, to show them a new place they hadnt been. the waiter was awesome, very attentive and answered all the other couples questions. the assistants were on target, and checked on us several times, and never pressured us to leave, though i am sure we hung out and talked too long. my 3 stars though is cause it just wasnt as good as i remember, maybe its just me trying to glamorize it, or the fact i have been to hundreds of places since, it was just meh. especially for the price for 35-38 bucks for a prime rib i want it to be good, and it was aiiight but not yuuum.
(3)
Angie M.
So disappointed in this place. I have been wanting to come here for some time already. I love steak and garlic!! Where do I start!!! I guess I'll start with the service our server was not good at all. She took forever with our drinks, once we had our drinks my friend and I had to wait a really long time to get refills. Twice she came to the table asked if we needed anything and didn't see me raise my hand. (My mouth happened to be full both times) none the less it has been my experience that waiters actually look down and see if you need a drink refill as well as ask... anyway it wasn't pleasant. Another thing I didn't like is that when she finally got our refills she would say "excuse me" but wouldn't wait for me to physically scooch to give her room instead she would just stick her hand in bumping me and say sorry after.... another time she was grabbing a menu and almost knocked the bday girls drink down. Geez.. I got better service at the Dennys I went to 2 nights ago at 4am. SMH at this point we have yet to get our food and my review is at a 2.5 I was really hoping the food would be amazing since I have read so many good reviews. It was terribly disappointing. I ordered the prime rib, it comes with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The only thing I liked were the sides. The sides were really good I especially liked the garlic mashed potatoes!! Now on to the prime rib, the prime rib had so much fat on it. My friend and I spent 5 minutes just removing all the fat. It was disgusting. Finally we were ready to eat and I took my first bite. The prime rib was plain had very little flavor other than the garlic. I had to add salt and it still wasn't good. I didn't even finish my food it was way below my standards. I've had better prime rib from restaurants in Pasadena such as le grande orange (which is only $18) and the best prime rib from right across the street at Lawry's, now that is amazing prime rib, and an experience all on its own. Save your money and your time go elsewhere. Needless to say I won't be returning. One thing I really liked was the look of the restaurant very themed, just wish the service and food was up to par.
(2)
Andrew S.
always a great place to go to celebrate friends and family.
(4)
Mashty S.
I love this place, the garlic bread and appetizer are the best, if you have a bday they put one of those funny garlic hat on you and give you free ice-cream. I am not too crazy with their entree, so next time we'll go there, we will just try the appetizer.
(4)
Jackie B.
Stinking Rose has been one of my Favorite garlic restaurants over 10! Years. Me and my roadies go every time they are in town. I've had everything on the menu. Steak, Pasta, etc..I double up and share the platter! I mainly love the Sizzling platter of Mussels, crab legs and shrimp. A win win. The taste of garlic and butter throughout. I enjoy the butter lettuce salad and the warm rolls that they serve with every meal I add the garlic spread . It's a whole Stinkin night! So try not to plan nothing else cause you will smell like garlic all night. But it's worth it!
(5)
Megan S.
When I was in LA last, I finally had a chance to check out The Stinking Rose, and woah... It was so good. A friend has been telling me about it for years since she moved to LA, and I finally got to enjoy it first hand. We started off with the Garlic Spinach Fontina Fondue, which was so great. Perfectly flavored!! For dinner, I got the Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib, and let me tell you...I have never had a piece of meat so tender and flavorful. It was served with spinach and garlic mashed potatoes (yum!!). One of my friends got the Italian Garlic Meat Loaf, and that was really tasty as well. There aren't many vegetarian options on the menu, so if you don't eat meat, be prepared to be stuck with a portobello mushroom. Our server was really friendly, and pretty much all the staff that we spoke with were great. The decorations are a little funky, but in a fun way. Prices were totally reasonable and worth it!! I'd definitely go back in the future.
(5)
Jason W.
Went here for dinner, have to say pretty disappointed. Nothing was special..the filet minon was good but if you want steak go to a steak house. I ordered the prime rib, the 1st one I had was extremely dry to the point I thad to take it back, the second one tasted old and was not very tender. For the price I can't recommend this place there are much better options to dine at.
(2)
April T.
We had dinner on 11/14/14. Our server's name was Chevonne. Again she wasn't completely terrible.
(2)
Stacy H.
I was expecting alot for this place but it was a mistake. The clam soup was really just just clams + garlic which u can easily make it at home. The mushroom plate is the only reason I am giving one more star. Big rip off and service was so slow amd nobody came around. ( they only come around to get the tip at the end !!)
(2)
Sarah S.
Love it here. Cool ambiance and really great food. If you don't like garlic, you need to stay the hell away. Seriously. Anyone that eats here has a fragrant reminder for a minimum of 3 days afterward! I'm not complaining... soooo worth it. This location is better than SF as far as decor goes but the same amazing food. Try Bagna Caulda and the garlic ice cream for sure. The bloody Mary also gets this girls seal of approval!
(5)
Joy A.
I feel weird reviewing a long standing Los Angeles business but being that I came here recently for a celebration, I left wondering why I don't go to Stinking Rose often. It's FREAKING AMAZING. I mean, refer to the name of the restaurant. You must really really love garlic to come here. I mean, love smelling it, loving eating it including in your ice cream and don't mind smelling like garlic at the gym as it comes out of your pores in mile 3 of your treadmill run. I must say that they have the best prime rib ever. So flavorful, I forget to dip it into the au jus sauce. Come with hungry friends who love seafood for the shrimp and mussel platter that makes you cuss while you eat it. It is super quirky inside, lots of visual stimulation. May not be a sexy place to bring a date but certainly a place to bring someone you love and is comfortable with. And my mom met Sean Paul. If you don't know who that is, neither did she and that made his cornrows stand on end.
(5)
Brian C.
If you find a girl that still wants to kiss you after eating at The Stinking Rose, she's a keeper. This place has one of the best prime steaks that I've every had, but the garlic certainly helped. I've tried a number of their entrees such as the lamb, lobster, clams and other dishes, but the prime rib and the garlic is what keeps me coming back. Everyone raves about the Bagna Calda, and you should definitely try it at lease once, but I've found that the fresh garlic dip was what I preferred to eat with the bread and meat. The most notable thing about this restaurant is their Free Corkage policy. It's rare to find a BYOB restaurant in Beverly Hills. I know they could make a killing on selling over priced wine... I certainly respect their decision to let their patrons bring the wine of their choice without charging a corkage fee. It's not a best place to bring your first date, but definitely a place to go once you're more comfortable with each other.
(5)
Queso W.
1.) excellent service. Friendly wait staff. They're very helpful! 2.) forgettable food. I expected more from such a popular restaurant with such a unique gimmick/motif. The fare isnt bad, so don't get me wrong there. But it's also not fantastic. I was In a party of 6 and everyone ate off each other's plates + appetizers so that we could sample the menu flavors. Yeaaaaa....nothing was particularly great.
(3)
Beckie C.
The ribs were good! Cocktails...better! Place was not busy yet our waiter seemed to disappear at the most inopportune times!
(3)
Brian I.
Finally, I got to try The Stinking Rose. It's a Garlic Restaurant, so expect lots of garlic! It was a good friend's b-day and we had a reservation and that worked out very well since we all arrived on time and was ready to be seated on time. They start you off with garlic bread and you can have more garlic! Most of us ordered the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib and it starts at $39.95 for 12 oz, $44.95 for 16 oz, and $59.95 for 20 oz called The Slab. The best value in terms of getting more meat for your money is the large, so that's what I got, and I had it medium rare. We had a bottle of red wine. It was pretty good. You could probably share the large with someone because 16 oz is too much for one person, so I did take it home. Oh, since it was my friend's birthday, they got him garlic ice cream! Not everyone tasted the garlic, but I could and it reminded me of the time I went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival when I was a kid, so it's appropriately named Gilroy's Famous Garlic Ice Cream. I'm sure the rest of the dessert is good, but it's the garlic ice cream you have to try since everything else here is garlic. My friend took home a bunch of the candy or mints or whatever at the end of the meal because she thought it would be funny to give people since it's weird and it gets stuck in your teeth and it was a funny shared experience our table had. Not that they should stop serving this candy...it's just funny. Nice interior designed with its garlic theme. The mural I faced had Garlywood, a tribute to LA's Hollywood, and it was just fun to look at and people watch at the same time. I hear there are other themed rooms which would be fun to see. Service was really on point. I'd definitely come back again, but probably for a special occasion and when I'm willing to spend that much on a meal! It's good...I approve!
(5)
Betsy B.
I love this place! You can usually always get a table quickly. The decor is fun and the food is great. My favorite is the pork chops.
(5)
Tyffany L.
This place is awesome! If you love garlic, and I mean really love garlic then you found the right place! The entire restaurant is garlic themed, with Draculas room, to a carosel themed dining area. They even had cloves of garlic hanging above the ceiling in almost every room! The free garlic bread and garlic spread is addictive, my friends and I devour them so quickly before we even order anything else. They have alcoholic drinks with garlic in them and desserts! Their garlic steak and mashed potatoes are so delicious, I always order it. And for dessert they have garlic ice cream with chocolate syrup on top and the chocolate mixed with the vanilla garlic ice cream really brings out both the flavors. Its good food, go eat it!
(5)
Anna M.
My husband and I had dinner here the other night to celebrate our anniversary. We had reservations but we called in to say we were running late, which they accommodated with no problem. (Then again, it was a Wednesday night so it shouldn't have been too busy.) We were seated at a little table for two, which was supposed to feel intimate considering it was curtained off, but we were within another couple who were about an arm's length away, so it no longer felt quite so intimate. We were served bread right away. Delicious. We weren't brave enough to used the chopped garlic/parsley(?) concoction on the table, but we did use some of the garlic infused olive oil since there was no butter. It was pretty good as well. My husband ordered the Little Devil Petite Cut Filet Mignon. He said it was great. He forgot to order a substitute for the creamed spinach their entrees automatically come with, but they were nice enough to bring a huge side order of steamed vegetables for him shortly after. I ordered the Silence of the Lamb Shank, since I love lamb and I like the name. My sides (garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach) were perfect, but I felt the lamb was a bit dry and part of it was so tough it was hard to cut! Maybe it was a fluke. Sadly, I'm not one to send dishes back unless it is so very, very bad, but now that I think of it, maybe I should have. The flavors were fantastic, though. In the end, we still love the place and most of the food. I can't wait to go back and try their clams with the black fettuccine. We'd still recommend the place.
(4)
Julia M.
Absolutely my favorite restaurant. Everything tastes delicious. They even have garlic icecream. Will definitely go back!
(5)
Riza C.
Great dining experience especially when one is celebrating with a bunch of winners!!! Drove into the lot and its valet only ($5)....Loved the ambience when me and my friends walked in. Hot Salsas to the right and restaurant souvenirs such as all garlic olive oil, salsas, olives, and pasta sauce to the left. The ladies greeted us and promptly seated us (did reservations thru Open Table!!). We were greeted by our waiter who--along with other busboys were very attentive throughout the restaurant experience. We shared a large calamari appetizer with multiple lemon slices, marinara and ketchup-like dips. I ordered the forty clove garlic chicken replacing the mashed potatoes with creamed spinach. The garlic cloves that came with it was mouth-watering! ! I dunno how they cooked it, but it seemed like it was soaked in olive oil then roasted to perfection!!! Sean ordered Garlic, parsley, butter sauce fresh fettuccine. He mentioned it was "alright". He thought it at least xame with chicken Roma ordered Neon Ravioli--- she doesnt really say anything about it, but for the price of it, it seemed like she didnt get much!!! Kyle ordered the Italian garlic meatloaf-- and he mentioned it was good. For dessert, I ordered the Gilroy garlic ice cream. YES....it taste like vanilla ice cream and it got doused with garlic--thus garlic ice cream was born. It tasted weird at first but the more i ate it, the more it tasted good.. Roma got the strawberry cheesecake and i heard no complaints. Overall it was an awesome dining experience..i will definitely come back again!!
(5)
Tina S.
Hmmm, where do i begin. I took half a star away because i was confused with parking and didn't understand why we have to pay for valet when it wasn't busy nor where you park for free parking so JUST PARK ON THE STREET or just pay for parking it isnt much like 5 bucks. Also, the valet guy was kind of lame and said "Thanks for doing my job". It was a good thing I was super excited to eat here or else I would have hated the experience already. I took another half star because for a really awesome place I would expect our waitress to be a little more attentive, seemed a little scattered. BUT any way, i loved this place. I love garlic. I loved the atmosphere inside with the decor and the intimately spaced tents that I thought were absolutely adorable. I had the 40 clove chicken: juicy chicken with many cloves of roasted garlic and a delicious sauce! that I cannot even explain how yummy it is. My S.O. got the garlic ribs that were tender. Both dishes camenwith mashed potatoes of course! with garlic inside. You also get little rolls of garlic bread with your meal and also there is a small jar of raw garlic and parsely and olive oil. A half bottle of wine is decently priced as well. We totally reeked of garlic when we left and I wouldn't have it any other way.
(4)
Isaac G.
This was my first time going to stinking rose restaurant wit my girlfriend.. The host had nice smile and I was thinking that the wait would take long.. But actually it wasn't long at all.. The decoration of the place was amazing.. The service was okay it could had been better from the waiters.. But it was another guy that was doing a great job I forgot his name.. Although I would love to go again and recommended friends and family the food was delicious.. Thank you
(4)
Evelyn S.
You have to try the garlic ice cream!! I had the 40 clove chicken and it was amazing, my husband had the spaghetti and wasn't a fan but overall great experience. Reservations are a must and valet parking is $5.50
(4)
Jorge R.
Me and my girlfriend decided to celebrate her birthday at the stinking rose. Decor is awesome, the smell of garlic as soon as you walk into the restaurant is appetizing, we had a reservation so we didn't have to wait at all. food and service were great, the only thing i didn't like was the valet parking only, but its not a deal breaker. if you're not sure whether to come or not, you have to experience it at least once, i mean where else will you have GARLIC ICE CREAM!!!???
(4)
Jenny B.
If you like garlic its the best. Kinda pricey. Awesome ambiance. This is 1 of my birthday dinner go to's. Did I say Pricey?
(4)
Grace L.
Food and service were great. Shared the garlic roasted prime rib large cut and the Clams pasta for the entree and their famous bagna calda. The amount of food was perfect for us. I really loved the bagna calda but I think my throat is sensitive to large amounts of garlic because my throat became itchy and burned... I was in pain and had to actually stop eating it. The steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and their black pasta in the Clams pasta was delicious.
(4)
Kimberly P.
Definitely a busy spot on a Friday night. I suggest valeting your car since it is near impossible to find parking around that area. The restaurant is ample and hardly any lighting. So ladies with heels, watch your step. As far as the food, it was good but nothing spectacular. The Bagna Calda was a little overwhelming on the taste buds. As my entree, I got the forty clove chicken. The leg quarter was moist but the breast was on the dry side. The great upside to my meal was the Chardonnay wine I brought because there is no corkage fee!
(3)
Joanna L.
I've always wanted to try this place since I'm a big fan of garlic. I'm surprised however that as I walked into the restaurant I wasn't hit with a strong garlicky aroma. The setup of the restaurant is interesting and so were the decor - bottle of wines and garlic hanging above your head and funny pictures all around the place. However the food was not as tasty as I expected. So we came here for DineLA ($35 for three course) and we got one of each of the starter - not knowing that we could both get the salads and the Bagna Calda - the waitress wasn't very clear or rather I was kind of confused by her so we ordered one of each and then later it became clear that we could have both started with the salads because they would have also given the Bagna Calda. So what's Bagna Calda? It's a lot of garlic cloves roasted in olive oil made for spreading on their warm focaccia bread. It's super delicious - it's pretty much like very fresh garlic bread with a real garlic spread. For entrees, I ordered the Lamb Shank served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I really like the way they made their cream spinach - not drenched in cream so it's still semi-healthy. The lamb shank was okay - I didn't realize that it wasn't made with any garlic - the sauce is made with broth, wine and butter so there is no garlic in it. So what I did was just put some of Bagna Calda onto it to give it some garlic taste. The meat on the lamb shank was also kind of dry - some parts were fatty but it was mostly dry. My boyfriend ordered the Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib also served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach - which I must say was a definitely the better choice. For dessert (which we waited 15 minutes for) was just simple vanilla ice cream - I was kind of disappointed since I was hoping they would serve like garlic ice cream. The service was okay, our waitress wasn't around much and I couldn't say she was very friendly either. The longest thing to come out was the dessert, which I think they forgot at one point and just gave us the check. Overall this dining experience wasn't as great as I expected. The food was alright - the portions were good and it was a good deal. The service could be better. I think we'll be back here though because when looking through their regular menu, my boyfriend wanted to come back to try their Garlic Roasted Prime Rib which looks like it's the highlight of the restaurant and also their garlic ice cream.
(3)
Jasmine C.
I have heard of this restaurant long before coming to California, so I was very excited to eat here, especially with my garlic loving addiction. Sadly, I was not blown away by the experience, nor the food. The server, wow, by far one of the worst servers I've had in a restaurant in a very long time. I've even had better service at a Red Robin, and that is not saying much. He brought out our cocktails and served them with the wrong dressing on the rim, so it made the cocktails taste funny. I ordered a cucumber cocktail that said it had sugared rim, and he gave me the salted rim and poured the drink for me so it's not like I had time to check before hand. And before he even poured the cocktails, he couldn't even remember who ordered what when he brought them to the table. Seriously, TWO drinks! Then he brought our table a couple more drinks that weren't even close to what we were drinking saying we ordered them! Horrible service. The rabbit was overcooked and dry, so that was sad cause I am a rabbit fan. The garlic potatoes were delish, and the garlic ice cream was actually the best part of the meal. The caramel mole sauce had the perfect hint of spice and the garlic was so amazing in with the vanilla and sugar cream. A little bummed we didn't get better service.
(2)
Susan C.
I looove the prime rib here. We always order the second biggest size (the $40 one) in medium rare, and it is enough food to share among two people. The edges are well seasoned and the steak is so juicy and soft. The mashed potatoes and cooked spinach are pretty good too. I love the garlic garnish that they provide at every table because the bits of raw garlic makes it spicy in a good way. I always pair it with their yummy garlic bread that is given out as a starter. The garlic bath dish (just a ton of roasted garlic bathed in olive oil), is surprisingly good too, but you definitely need to share it with many people. Trying to finish it between two people was pretty difficult, even for garlic lovers.
(5)
Tamara W.
I brought my Grandma here for her birthday and she enjoyed herself. Kind of a corny restaurant that is great for low key family functions. The drinks are strong and the food is solid. Don't expect fine dining. This is standard American-Italian food, lots of sauce and lots of oil. They do provide a cute garlic hat for guests who are celebrating their birthday to take pictures. They also gave us a complimentary garlic ice cream desert for Gram's birthday that was pretty good!!
(3)
Usalinh P.
Dine in L.A was last night for my wife's co-workers get together. The place was easy to find and valet was $5 which wasn't bad. Went in and was greeted by the hostess promptly and directed to the rest of the group waiting at the bar having drinks. Hostess came right back to show us to our table which was located in the Dracula themed room in the back which was really cool. We had the whole room to ourselves so everyone could be as loud as they wanted to be. The waiter was very friendly and nice. Some of use did the Dine L.A. menu and some of us did the regular menu. The Dine L.A. menu included a salad to start, entrees were forty clove chicken, eggplant lasagna, short ribs, lamb shank, salmon, sizzling crab and something else I believe with a ice cream dessert. For myself I chose to order the dry aged bone in new york steak served with cream spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. The table had small garlic rolls and roasted garlic cloves in olive oil to snack. The steak was cooked awesome to a medium rare! Spinach was ok but needed more cream in it. Mashed potatoes was too chunky. It could have been alot better if it was mashed more and maybe add some milk and butter to smooth it out more. The wife had the prine rib which she said was ok but loved my steak better. We sat around for a bit to talk and waited on desserts. After desserts the check came and it wasn't too bad for the party of 14 we had. In most places with any party over 5 they automatically add in the gratuity but this place didn't. The total came out to $602 and we figured $715 should be good including the tip. So everyone threw in there cash and when the waiter came back he was glad it was all cash and no spliting of the ticket. So he grabs the money and comes back a couple minutes later waiting to know if we were aware we only tipped him $13. We all couldn't believe what he was saying because we had three different people in the group count the cash before he came to get it originally and it was $715. So we recounted the money he handed back to use and sure enough it was $615. So from the time we counted the money the first time and him taking it to go cash out $100 went missing. Rather then making a scene we took the cash back and decided to put it on a card instead. So I'm not sure if that $100 dropped somewhere or if someone pocketed the money or if we missed counted but I threw in another $100 to cover the rest of the tip. So my advice for others is to recount your money before giving it to your waiter or waitress and maybe also in from of them while they are at your table just to be sure it's right or just have the ticket split so you know what you're paying which makes it alot easier. Spending $240 there was outrageous to me, listen learn... I am updating my review to a 1 star from an original 3 star because of the manager who reached out to me attempting to clear up the issue we had with the missing $100 our waiter said we did not give to him. The manager reached out to me about a week after our visit wanting some info to clear up the issue. It has been months since and I have not received any reply since. I'm sorry mister manager no one in our party will return back to your establishment or will suggest anyone we know to visit your restaurant in the future
(1)
Nicole W.
Yes i am a female and i LOVE garlic. Came here with my bf cause we both crave for garlic and starving. He kept recommending this place so i wanted to give a try. We came for dineLA. The complimentary garlic bread was so gooood especially with the raw garlic spread, its just so matchy and delicious ! The bagna calda was also delicious, garlic was soft like butter and the sauce, dip them to the bread will definitely increase your appetite. The waiter was also really friendly, he kept refilling our bread (maybe cause me and my bf kept finishing the bread.......) I ordered ravioli for main dish and my bf got Forty clove garlic chicken. They were both delicious, my ravioli was super creamy. I couldnot finish them cause i had too much bread LOL Desser- We had vanilla ice cream. I am not a creamy ice cream person but somehow the garlic dish makes me crave for something really sweet. The vanilla icecream perfectly wash off the garlic smell in our mouth. My bf got really gassy and we smell like garlic for the remaining day but it totally worth it! I will def recommend here garlic lovers!!
(5)
Joseph C.
Sometimes you have no choice but to let the court decide who should be held responsible for messing up other people's property... I went to small claims court 7/17/2014 and was awarded $661.59 to fix my door that UNITED VALET PARKING INC damaged on mother's day... Justice was served!!! Now if I can only get these bastards to send my a check, I can fix my door... :) Thank you Paul Witter of Stinking Rose for all your help and understanding, I will be there soon to celebrate with my family, but will never valet again though..... :)
(5)
Kat C.
Parking is valet, unless you want to hunt for a street parking in that area. The valet is simple and fast. Not to mention, super polite too! I've been here a few times and of all the times, there was not a single time that I did not enjoy myself here. The service was wonderful, on point, and humorous. (The friendliness of the waiters made our meals even more enjoyable. ) Oh by the way, if you're not the type of person that loves garlic, some of these appetizers/meals would not be for you. There's still some awesome dishes on the menu that's light on garlic though. The food: first dish was the salad that comes with the meal. It's a basic salad, nothing fancy or anything. Then came the bagna calda. That was surprisingly good. Each person got their own dish of it and it was fairly a large portion for one. The garlic bread that you place it on is absolutely, garlicky Delicious! Next came our main dish. I had the Silence of the Lamb Shank and it was fork tender. The flavor was a bit overcooked and not as juicy as I remembered it. It was still good though. Their Italian garlic meatloaf was pretty good. It had good texture in it and the carrots surprised me. I was expecting a mouthful of meat when I took a bite into it. Instead of all meat, carrots were baked/cooked right in the meatloaf. It was a nice taste. Then came the dessert. The dessert was homemade frozen custard. That was super yummy! It was creamy, sweet, and a very nice way to end our meal. The custard left a sweet lingering taste to counterbalance the garlic ness that our breaths' carried. Overall, great service, great food, and great ambiance. I will definitely come back here.
(5)
Candice H.
Best clams ever sunk in garlic butter sauce . the bone in filet was AMAZING - melt in your mouth give me more!!!! The bread was yummy My daughter loved the noodles Everyone left full and very very happy Service was perfect and he was def one of the best servers I've had anywhere!!!!
(5)
Holly L.
The Stinkin Rose is stinkin' cute! Steph and I were yelping and The Stinkin Rose had us at "garlic." We were ready to get our stink on and indulge in some garlicky goodness and garlic breath! It's the perfect place to go if you love garlic. It's somewhat a theme restaurant. It's cute. It's intimate. The lighting is dim but not dim enough where you can't see your food. It's fun. As soon as you enter, there's the garlic shop with anything and everything related to garlic and a bunch of hot sauces. Each table is somewhat it's own private booth which I loved! Red lighting goes extremely well with black and white stripes. The decor, the lighting, and lounge feeling is what I enjoyed. It was such a lovely date night. I haven't been back to socal for almost two years! The waitress and waiters were all super friendly and funny. Could you ask for a better experience? Why, yes. Even the food was great! That was the best part! I wish there were more garlic but the prime rib and braised steak was cooked to perfection. The creamed spinach and mashed potatoes complimented the meat really well. Next time I would like to try one of their seafood dishes! Overall, a perfect experience! Couldn't be happier. I love these kinds of places!!
(4)
Denice A.
We took my Mother In-Law for her Birthday since she loves garlic. she loved it food was great, service was great and we even got to pick where to sit. overall loved the food and everything about it. its a pricy place but well worth it especially on special occasions.
(5)
Sophia D.
My experience here was good - Nice ambience, good food and service. The food here is not too garlicky as you might expect - I think it is perfect. I did not really care for the garlic ice cream though.
(4)
Shehla M.
I enjoy The Stinking Rose I truly do. I however feel a bit awkward considering the entire restaurant looks like a giant circus. However, aside from the awkward entrance, the odd ambiance and the interesting servers there are far better things on the table that may tingle yet slightly sizzle your palette. My favorite is the bread and bagna calda. You must remember that everything at the stinking rose has garlic so if this is a first date I suggest you go elsewhere :) The filet mignon is quite pleasant severed with a rich butter, garlic infused sauce. There's so much to love at this restaurant but the steak has continued to be my go to meal- perhaps it's the essence of the garlic that draws me in to my meat eating desires. Either way you'll be in for a treat regardless of what you order. Just don't take someone that's afraid of the circus in here though! Happy Circus, I mean Stinking Rose eats Yelpers!
(4)
Rick S.
Most tasty dinners I have ever had, service good, been there many times, always leave well fed.
(5)
Jenifer S.
Great restaurant! I like the theme of this restaurant, I think is cool! My husband took me here for dinner, and I felt as if I was having dinner in a mysterious place. It was definitely different. I enjoyed the food very much.
(5)
Nancy X.
If this place wasn't good, Robert Irvine would have SO MUCH FUN making fun of the decor on Restaurant: Impossible. It's so kitschy it's cute. It's like dimly lit, but there are stuffed garlic dolls around, and you eat in this cute little striped tents OMG hahaha But it's really yummy! My boyfriend and I came here for dineLA lunch and it was really good. $25 is super reasonable for the huge portions they give. I was a little apprehensive about the bagna calda appetizer because it's just a bowl of roasted garlic in oil...but it was DELICIOUS! Think hummus, but garlic. The garlic cloves were so soft and tasty. We "spread" them on the warm and soft bread rolls and it was the perfect start to the meal. The salad with garlic dressing was actually so damn good! My boyfriend actually HATES vegetables but he finished his plate before me because it was so yummy. The garlic alfredo ravioli was really really good. We just kept dipping bread into the sauce they used. The italian meatloaf was so juicy and tender and fatty and good, and the garlic mashed potatoes were heaven when paired with the meatloaf's gravy. The creamed spinach was left untouched though...because it's spinach :p For dessert, we just had normal vanilla ice cream...but for some reason I thought it was SO GOOD!? I dunno why, it was just really creamy and the perfect texture and sweet, I think since we just had a meal with nothin' but garlic, it was really nice to clean it up with some good ol' ice cream :)
True to the name: the service stunk!!! I will never return! We made reservations for 8 a week in advance and drove 2 hours to celebrate a 42 wedding anniversary. We were sat in a really private room near the bar, which we liked. The place is really cute and I liked the vibe. The service was horrible, and I mean horrible!!! Lucky for us, the bartender was our server, please tell me why I had to ask him 3 different times for my coke?! My husband had to actually excuse himself from the table to go get me my coke. The server forgot to take my order and had to be reminded. He seemed out of sorts when taking the order. The appetizers and salads were brought out with dinner and not before. When we told the servers we had not yet received our salads or appetizers the guy was very short with us and continued to bring our entrees and completely dismissed what we wanted, which was our appetizers and salad BEFORE our dinners so our food would still be warm. The food was okay, nothing special. The prime rib was good but not worth the price. I ordered extra garlic on mine which I did not receive. I have been wanting to come here for about 7 years and today I can lay that to rest. I will never return again. For a 360.00 tab the service is better at your local steak joint. Side note: we ordered the garlic in a hot tub and it was inedible. It was super fishy tasting. To much anchovy paste. However, I did enjoy the raw garlic that was already on the table.
(2)
Betsy K.
Whoa garlic! It's the first thing you smell going in and the last smell you take with you! Had reservations for a party of 11. We were seated as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. Hostess was very friendly. Our group ordered a variety of dinners. The ones I would recommend are: Porterhouse steak Short ribs Baby back ribs Forty clove chicken Not reco: Pork chop The service was great throughout. Garlic and garlic bread are plentiful! Parking is valet only. $4.50
(5)
Adam M.
This place was good. I wouldn't say the best garlic place I have had but its not something I would crave. I would choose Garlic Jo's in Newport over this place when I have my garlic cravings. I had the prime rib that was well cooked and was fairly tasty. I also had the oil bulbs but I was expecting more garlic in everything. I think my expectations might have been set a little high before coming.
(3)
Jay J.
Party of 25, Wednesday night birthday dinner. They were nice enough to seat us with half of our party present after waiting and drinking at the bar. I had a Basil Lugosi and Neck Bite. Not bad if you're into those kind of drinks. When seated, they brought us bread and recommended the bagna calda. It was delicious. My first time ever having garlic like that and I loved it. I had the short rib with mashed garlic potatoes and creamed spinach. The short rib was delicious and flavorful. I didn't even need a knife to eat it, it was fork tender. Downside, I didn't taste any garlic at all. Reading the other reviews beforehand, I expected this, but still enjoyed it. The mashed potatoes were garlicky and had a very smooth texture. The creamed spinach was ok, nothing special. My all time favorite is still Peter Luger's. I also tried the garlic prime rib, tender but also non-garlicky, the garlic rack of rib was yummy and flavorful with spices and a strong garlic taste. The garlic ice cream was strange, and tasted just like the garlic bread. It wasn't awful or anything, I'm sure it would have become an acquired taste if I had more than one spoonful. My friend wore the garlic hat all night. They provide a head cover/washing cap with it, but we still couldn't help but notice the stains on the cap. It was like an episode of 20/20 when we took pictures of the him with the flash on and this huge pink-ish stain shows up. Erg. Yummy? The staff was cool and took care of us pretty well, especially for a party this size. It helped that our half ordered first while the other half (the laggers) ordered much later and had to wait longer for their food. I guess some people are too dense to know that 8 pm means 8 pm...but I digress haha...The staff sang happy birthday to my friend and gave him a cup of garlic ice cream on the house. Overall dinner was good. It's definitely one to cross off the list. Would I come back? Probably not, while the food itself is good, about half of the items I ate were lacking garlic.
(3)
JR M.
Do you like garlic? I do. What do you do when you like garlic and lots of it? You go to The Stinking Rose of course. I'll start of with the actual location. We used valet which was quick and simple. Yes I would have preferred a lot but what are you going to do? Walking in you get a nice whiff of the food and the garlic. Obviously the garlic. It is a very nice decor. This place has its own personality. Lighting may be a tad dim but it isn't obstructive at all. It adds a sort of mystique to the place that just adds to the experience. Now to the important part, the food. Upon sitting at our booth we are given a platter of bread. Yes it sounds simple but the bread was very very good. I added a little bit of olive oil onto the bread and addition garlic and boy was I happy. It is a very nice way to welcome us diners to the restaurant. I ordered the steak. It comes in three sizes; standard; large, and the slab. You can guess which one I ordered. The slab of course. What can I really say about the steak? It was very good and admittedly a very nice size. Cooked to perfection, juicy, and tender. I can't really find anything to complain about in regards to the steak. The same can be said about the spinach and mashed potatoes that accompany the steak. I had a taste of the other dishes that my party ordered and all of which were delicious. From what I tasted you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service was top notch. The wait staff was very polite and attentive. Empty plates were removed accordingly and in a timely fashion, we didn't feels rushed, and honestly it was just a joy being there. I can easily recommend this to garlic lovers and furthermore food lovers in general. Come and eat!
(5)
Vanessa T.
If you love garlic then this is not the place for you. I was excited about this place and once I was there the excitement died. You do not smell garlic what so ever outside or inside the restaurant. This should have been a clue... I ordered the Garlic Chicken and it did not taste a thing like garlic. They give you all the cloves of garlic but they were so over cooked that they didn't taste like anything. The pork chop was very flavorful but..no garlic taste. If you are "not" a fan of garlic then this is the place for you...all others, save your money and make the garlic items at your house for free!!!
(2)
Grace A.
I've been to this place twice now. . And walking in. . You get a little feel of walking into circus? Anyway. . My friend and I started with a martini. . Which came with a cute little shaker and 1/2 a martini more. . We had the chilled asparagus (which was just alright) and the calamari (which was good. . But not extraordinary). I had a filet minon medium (which came with creamed spinach & garlic mashed potatoes) & my friend had the prime rib. . Which also came with the same sides. Both were very very on point and delish! If your a garlic lover.. than you gotta give it a try. .. Ohh! I have to say I was NOT fond of the garlic martini. . And for that reason. . Did not and will not try the garlic icecream.
(4)
Taquoia S.
I love this place. Every time I visit i get the the sizzling skillet its awesome I can never find anything wrong with this place.
(5)
Sophie S.
This is not a place for first dates or business meals -- but it's damn good. Aside from the obvious garlic breath, I am partial to the surf and turf (half a crab and a petite filet) and let me tell you - I wear the plastic bib. It can get messy, but is totally worth it. (Side note: also try the garlic potato soup w/ pastry cap.) At first I wasn't a fan of the Dracula theme, but admittedly it has grown on me -- at least it's something different and unique on restaurant row. My boyfriend and I have been going here for years as our "special occasion" spot. There are plenty of reasonably-priced options, but the surf and turf will cost you about $50, and of course the boyfriend also gets a big ol' steak and we share a bottle of wine and dessert, so, you know, our bill gets up in the $150-$200 range on a good night. For what it's worth, Morton's is just a stone's throw away and we always choose Stinking Rose over it. I really like the private booths inside. If you're a party of 4 or less, see if you can get seated in one of the canopy-ed tables. It's a cute and intimate environment. +Delish food +Garlic ice cream! +Decent wine list +Large dining room, but with intimate nooks and crannies and private rooms -Valet only ($4.50 and they never give you change) -Pricey
(4)
Vanessa V.
I loved the mussels and fries. Delicious ! Loved the little mints at the end. You could buy a bag on your way out. Even though it's in BH it's pretty chill and there's a comfortable environment. came here for my bday . Was a surprise to me and I loved the food.
(4)
Edward C.
this is the perfect place to take a date. from the outside it doesn't look like much, but then you pull itno the valet, and when you walk in... very romantic setting. the tables are very private. the menu is not very selective, but any choice will be good (everything will have garlic) keep that in mind on your date. full bar great tastin food good portions great art
(4)
Kaila S.
I loved the hottub of garlic cloves, soaking in butter! So delicious! I also got the garlic lasagna, which was heavenly and so large that I wasn't able to finish it. Next time I will definitely be trying the garlic wine and I have heard that garlic ice cream is amazing!
(4)
Kai B.
unimpressed. 2 stars because my meat was tender but taste couldve been improved. wouldnt go back. the black linguine my sister had was overcooked imo.
(2)
Hailey H.
Went here last night with my boyfriend and his parents. It was right out of a Tim Burton movie with the decor so that made it very fun in the spirit of Halloween. It was NOT what we were expecting but for the out-of-towners it was a really cooky and carny Hollywood experience that they loved. The food was also really good! They obviously know how to cook with garlic. It was well done and fresh. The parents had the 40 clove chicken which they raved about and we split the seafood combo and that was so tasty and good. The crab, mussels and shrimp were all sweet, juicy and well cooked. Definitely somewhere I would go back to!
(4)
Shawna S.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The food, the atmosphere, the service, the food... all amazeballs! My husband and I are considering going here again for our anniversary dinner.
(5)
Vanessa L.
Date night. Destination The Stinking Rose. Hands down the best part of the meal was the Prime Rib which was huge, and juicy and mouth watering. Loved it. My boyfriend is Basque, and therefore well experienced with Bagna Calda. I am not, but coincidentally we had a very similar reaction to this dish. I get that it is a garlic dish. But there is a difference between cooking garlic in oil until it is soft and serving it, and actually cooking garlic, and adding in other flavors, and making it a well rounded dish. We love garlic. And we came here BECAUSE of the garlic feature, and because of the Bagna Calda. However I would recommend that The Stinking Rose adds more Anchovy to the dish to give it a salty balance. I would argue that most people who eat it probably didn't even know that it had any anchovy in it because it was so few and far between. Chopping up the garlic and mixing it in with the other ingredients would make it more delightful as well. Here is a 5* recipe to give everyone an idea of what it should be like: epicurious.com/recipes/f… I am all about taking a traditional recipe, and making ones' own of it, as long as it is still delicious. We couldn't eat most of ours because it was just too much. That being said, we loved the mixed drinks that we got. The wine list is not so great but the mixed drinks will not disappoint. The Prime Rib was 5 star, and we had an amazing date night. I guess I am a harsh critic because if the dish that is supposed to be the main feature of a restaurant, and what they are known for, isn't done well, then it is easy to lose credibility.
(3)
Morgan A.
So. Much. Garlic. Deliciously overwhelming and kitschy. The inside looks like an Italian circus and the short rib is homey and fantastic.
(4)
C B.
Love this place. The calamari for appetizers was yummy.We ordered the porkchop and prime rib. Both were so good! The juiciest porkchop I've ever had! The garlic on the side of the porkchop isn't what I expected at all. It tasted kind of sweet and sour, like pickled. It was a good surprise. You'll have to try at least one. And of course, you'll have to try the garlic ice crea5m. You'll be pleasantly surprised. We finished ours!. Just make sure you have gum or mint right after.
(5)
Katrina Y.
I absolutely adore garlic and do everything in my power to work more garlic cloves into my food. So when I heard about this place, I knew I had to try it! First off we ordered the bagna calda-- basically a pot full of garlic cloves sitting in olive oil. This was really good.. probably the best thing I had that night. The garlic was so soft and spreadable atop The Stinking Rose's fragrant and delicious bread.. I really wish I had more now! My boyfriend ordered the short ribs. These were okay, it seemed like part of the short ribs were a little dry while the other half was perfectly moist and tender. I think the portion for this was pretty small for $20. I got the baby back ribs. These were pretty good, as I really enjoyed them with the barbecue sauce. I smothered a lot of the garlic from the bagna calda on top of my ribs, and it made it taste really delicious! The mashed potatoes (with some of the garlic from the bagna calda) and creamed spinach were really good though! My boyfriend didn't really care for the creamed spinach, which was fine with me because I gladly ate it all. We ended our night with the garlic ice cream. This was a REALLY expensive scoop of ice cream for $7-- after eating all the garlic we had, it was hard to taste the garlic in the ice cream. It pretty much tasted like a vanilla ice cream spicy garlic aftertaste, if you will. I liked this place, but mostly for the bagna calda.. I'm not sure if I'll go back here to order the same things again, but I think I'll be making another trip to try the other items from the menu! We wanted to get the mussels/shrimp/clams but our bill was already at $60. Pretty pricey, if you ask me!
(4)
Judith G.
Good food...the chilli as starter is amazing the flavors are just perfect, not overcooked beans and meat, it is thick and full of flavor. I had the basa fish in garlic butter capers and green onion. It was also very good. The prices are very reasonable and they do not charge an arm and leg considering the location of the restaurant and it's popularity. Their service from the hostess, waitress, busboy, and valet parking, every was extremely courtious, and efficient. I know I will be coming back, the restaurant is totally worth it in all aspects.
(5)
Ignacio P.
1st time here and had great experience. The staff, service, food and concept was great. Will be back.
(5)
Zebulon W.
It's an old favorite, but they don't really do reservations and sometimes they're not consistent.
(4)
Brainz D.
The Stinking Rose is an unusual take on cooking with garlic. It was amazing!!!! Had the crab,shrimp and mussels platter with a house salad and it was fantastic. The garlic ice cream was unusual but tastes amazing. I highly recommend..
(5)
Sophie P.
I absolutely love garlic, i use a lot of garlic in my own cooking, so we had to try this place. Came for dinner with my boyfriend. He had the prime rib, I had the crab. Both plates were amazing! Also the bagna calda as a starter was great. Drinks were so-so, the bartender was terrible though. However our waiter was very attentive. On the pricey side, but worth it. Great ambience for dinner date.
(5)
Victor S.
A good place to bring tourists out of town but the quality of the food is just ok and not really special.
(3)
Linda K.
Hubby and I ordered the filet mignon and the salmon with lemon sauce. Food was good, ambiance was good, service was good. Nothing extraordinary though. For the price, I did expect a bit more. I ordered my steak medium and it came out well done. I was too hungry to gripe or send it back. I don't regret coming in but we probably won't be back.
(3)
Kayden H.
First time there, have been wanting to try this place since seeing this restaurant on TV and hearing about it from friends about how good it is. Love anything with garlic in all my food, so of course would love this place too. So good and delicious. Had the bagna calda, forty clove chicken, new york steak, mixed seafood platter and garlic ice cream. Love the ambiance of the place, the restaurant doesn't take itself too serious. I mean it has guests wear garlic hats on there birthday. Service was excellent, waiters check on us often. Everything tasted great and worth what we spent. Definitely will be coming back again to try other items off the menu.
(5)
Alan Y.
If you can't live without garlic, this is the place. Everything is garlic. The chairs, the tables, the waiters. JK. The food is excellent and not too expensive. Beware you will smell, taste, and feel like garlic for about a day after eating there.
(4)
Sangwoo H.
Well, if it's come down to love it or hate it, I have to say I LOVE IT! I love this "chain" so much as a matter of fact, I've frequented both the SF and LA locations on many occasions and the LA location is by far the superior. The food of course is great and quite frankly, the interior doesn't bother me at all. Then again, unless a ceiling tile falls off and cracks my head open, interior decor doesn't really enter into my assessment of restaurants. If anything, fancy shmancy decorations are suspect in my book. If you do decide to visit this place, you must try the GARLIC ROASTED CRAB! (Which came first? Crustacean or Stinking Rose? Who cares!) The steak is pretty good too. The prices is pretty steep so don't be stingy and buy the roasted garlic dip appetizer for your rolls. At these prices what's another five dollars, right? Besides, the extra bucks will make sure your friends know for sure tomorrow where you ate today.
(5)
Cherie C.
I LOVE garlic, probably more than the average person. But that doesn't mean I need to put it in every dish and in such quantity. They took the gimmick so far that they sacrificed flavor. The restaurant itself is garish. Someone likened it to a technicolor bordello style, or something like that. It's ridiculous. I was seated with my friend at a table with only a bench on one side. A bench along the wall provides seating for a number of tables for two. We and the others at these tables looked like a panel of judges waiting for a parade to pass by. The roasted garlic appetizer was fine, but that's such a simple thing that they can't take credit for it.
(1)
jen m.
good food but i'll never go again. you want to know why? the valet in the parking lot stole money from my car. i've seen valet people take change from your change pocket in the car but not actual bills. that's just wrong. never going again for that reason. but if you can get past the stealing valets, the meatloaf is really damn good. and get some garlic ice cream. it tastes much better than it sounds.
(3)
Nina C.
I love garlic and so while visiting, I was taken here. The food was good, but I really don't remember my pork chop dish being extremely garlicky. The forty clove garlic chicken my friend had, I remember! Yummy! We were also adventurous enough to try the garlic ice cream. It was good, but I wouldn't crave it or anything... Overall, average.
(3)
Steve K.
Order their Pork Chops! The best pork chops I've ever had. I've been to both locations (SF & LA) and this one has much better service. If you wanna be really adventurous, order the Garlic Ice Cream. Don't blame me tho... : )
(4)
Stephy S.
The secret to the Stinker of a Rose is to either come with friends, come with someone you love or have swapped spit with before this dinner or go with someone you completely dislike and order the 40 clove chicken and then whisper loving words into their ear. Works like a charm. Unless it's your boss, cuz then it gets kinda weird and awkward. But I digress. If you are there with A or B, I still recommend the 40 clove chicken. Good lord, they easily must put a vat of butter in the sauce, but who cares. It is the stuff palate dreams are make of. I also will have to kick you if you don't try the Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub) for a mere $4.95! Okay now read it slowly with me people...Oh and can someone cue the softcore porn music, please....okay ya ready.... Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread. Served at your table in an iron skillet. Umm, need i say more. If you are craving meat, I say go with the Prime Rib. It is tah deye foour. Finally if you are looking for an excellent priced and tasty wine, go with the house Pinot Noir. So good and only $24 a bottle. Not too bad. And remember the rule. As long as you are both chowing down on Gahhrleek, then the smell is okay, because you cancel each other out. Totes. PS: This place has the lamest local cable commercial around, but don't let that stop you :)
(5)
Christina W.
Throw out your Irish Spring and prepare to bathe yourself in garlic. Rub the bagna calda (roasted garlic dressed in olive oil ... so soft that it spreads like butta) all over that focaccia. Then stick your hands in some forty cloves o' garlic roasted chicken, bone-in. *Bone can double up as a back scratcher. Next, braise your fingers in some garlic mashed potatoes. All of the above are scrumptuous and carry a heavy garlic taste and scent. Finally, mask your tongue with some garlic ice cream (this cream should be applied sparingly.) Overall, a Stinking Rose is good for digestion, but may cause heartburn for days after your garlic gorge fest. Someone smelled my garlic fresh odor TWO DAYS after I ate here. No Caress can beat that. We came here once with a girl who was visiting from out of the country. She didn't read or speak English. The following is the conversation that ensued between my friend, Mike, and the girl, as translated by me: Mike: What do you want to order? Girl: Anything, except for the rabbit. Mike (to waiter): She'll have the rabbit. (After the dinner entrees arrive and the girl tastes the rabbit.) Girl: What is it? Mike: It's chicken. Girl: Mmmm, it's so good. Mike (speaking in English to the rest of us): Ha, ha, ha. She's eating her little rabbit. How cute. See, even the foreign broads like the Rose.
(4)
Sida B.
I can't believe on a random weekday night I call up my friend and I go "hey let's check out that garlic place you always tell me about". We decide to call up 2 more friends and drive alllll the way to BevHills. Btw, parking is a b*tch. There's parking a lot the streets, but the restaurant is located in a hotel structure looking thing, so the parking is valet only. It's not that bad, $5 for tip. We had a reservation prior, and we came a little late, but the maitre d' was really chill and seated us immediately. I noticed little "romantic booths" for people who want dim lighting at a one-on-one dinner table. Quite sexy. The smell of garlic in this place is fantastic. Our waiter gave us complementary bread, and there's garlic dips on the table as well. We ordered the: 1. GARLIC FISH & CHIPS 2. GARLIC BRAISED BONELESS SHORT RIB 3. GARLIC STEAMED CLAMS 4. GARLIC ICE CREAM Lemme say, the steamed clams were possibly THE BEST clams I've ever had in my life. The sauce was so abundant, the flavor was so rich, and the clams were so well cooked! Plus they didn't sucker you out by throwing in a bunch of shells to make the dish look filling. Trust me. It's a winner if you like seafood and garlic. The boneless short ribs were pretty decent, although I felt like the garlic-y taste didn't quite sink in. Felt like regular short ribs to me. That also applies to the fish and chips, although I gotta say, THE FRIES!! were amazing. I think the atmosphere, the smell (of yummy garlic) and the service as well as that to-die-for clam and fries I had, just made this place a favorite in my book. I'm definitely going to bring people here the next time I have guests from out-of-state. So it was also "someone's birthday" that day, and we got a free complimentary dessert. I'm sorry for lying to you Stinking Rose!! But their garlic ice cream was, who knew, delicious. It leaves a slight aftertaste, but it definitely grows on you, so it's kind of an acquired taste. And they make you take a picture with this GARLIC HEAD. AWESOME. I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm in the area. Great place.
(5)
WinnieThePooh T.
Awesome food! The hubby and I always go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. The service is always attentive but not intrusive. I always get the garlic roasted crab. It is the best crab every. Way better than Crustaceans black pepper garlic crab. The hubby orders the prime rib which is tender and yummy. The garlic ice cream is worth trying.
(5)
Gabrielle F.
The Stinking Rose was awesome! After a mishap at another restaurant across the street- the Manager at The Stinking Rose accommodated me and 7 of my girlfriends with no wait! Dinner was delicious and Matthew- our server, was very charming! A great experience overall- thank you!
(4)
Jose C.
The attire is casual/dressy. The food is amazing and soooo fresh! The place is amazing and has a beautiful and elegant atmosphere! This is a great place to go on a date with because it is classy yet relaxed with great food and drinks. Everything is made with a lot of garlic hence the name. A must try is the garlic ice cream which is so good and not at all overwhelming. The service is good, but not great. I would expect better service but the food is delicious! They also have a full bar and valet parking. If you would like to try something new and different try this place you will not regret it. The menu is on-line!
(5)
Jon N.
Much cooler than their SF location... the Stinking Rose on La Cienega has multiple themed rooms that are done really nice. The food is great if you love garlic -- the bagna calda is something to definitely order. An all around fun place to go to dinner...
(4)
Pasha V.
Decor is interesting, but food is not. Btw, garlic presence is not overwhelming. Soup was good
(3)
Dow L.
Boyfriend and I had reservation for lunch and was immediately greeted by a really friendly staff. The food here is AMAZING!!!! Everything tasted so fresh. Service was wonderful as well. Came here on a Sunday and parking is free up until 4 pm. That's always a bonus considering parking is always cumbersome around here. We had such a lovely time and will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :55 N La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA, 90211
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Caroline F.
If you love garlic, this is the place for you. Everything on the menu has garlic in it, and it's often featured in really unusual ways. The ambience is really nice, too -- they have cool private "booths" as well as bigger booths for larger groups. They also give you a garlic hat to wear if it's your birthday; super cute. Probably not the best place for a date -- your pores will radiate garlic within 10 minutes of sitting down. But if you love garlic, it's completely worth it!
(4)Marjorie U.
I like their food but they really need to clean the women's restroom. It ruins your dining experience if your restroom is dirty. I do appreciate the service. I tried their meatloaf and it was bland for my taste. I enjoyed their whitefish. I am not a fan of their homemade ice cream (without the garlic).
(3)Alexia V.
average food at an average price
(3)Stanley L.
Ok I don't see the attraction at all. I know garlic is good for you but this place smells like you are entering the city of Gilroy. All that garlic destroyed any other natural taste of the ingredients used, which was really unfortunate.
(2)Liz V.
I smell so bad but it was SO worth it! If you don't LOVE garlic, don't go. It was my birthday and they brought over a garlic clove hat, a dish of their garlic ice cream and took pictures, it was perfectly embarrassing and WONDERFUL! It's a silly tacky place, but the food is pretty darn good. We ordered the Bagna Calda, the Louisiana shrimp tureen and the black linguine with clams. It was all great! Our server was hilarious, very candid and we weren't sure if he was just very sarcastic or just hated working there but he was helpful, attentive and entertaining. We'll be back!
(4)rosalyn J.
It's a great traditional restaurant .If you like garlic you should try their food. Enjoy it
(4)Frankie L.
eh. food's just ok and the garlic theme is really out lived it's appeal. For the 90s it was cool though.
(2)Leo C.
I've been to Gilroy garlic festival up North and a huge fan of garlic so this place is right up my alley. It's a very popular and trendy dining destination and reservations are usually recommended. I called ahead and was told that they had plenty of tables so there was no problem getting in. Parking was a breeze, self-parking and free. When we arrived for lunch, most of the tables were empty. We were seated in a large cozy booth at the main dining area. Some booths were under a canopy which adds a romantic charm and intimacy, especially Lover Lane for couples. The atmosphere is unique and the dark old world charm compliments the garlic food theme. Even the décor screams fun and whimsical. The hanging miniature hot air balloons and the ceiling painted in blue with clouds providing a natural back drop was very amusing. Every item on the menu is cooked or infused with some variation of spicing it up with garlic. We ordered a few appetizers, including the specialty of the house Bagna Cauda which is warm roasted garlic infused with hint of anchovies, served on a small skillet and accompanied with warm bread. Roasted and softened to a spreadable consistency, it was surprisingly good, lightly sweet and very addicting. The garlic fries were excellent as well. Deep fried to a perfect crispness and infused with fresh garlic and parsley. For our main entrée, we went with 40 clove garlic chicken and black linguine & clams pasta.The garlic chicken was outstanding. It was roasted to perfection, succulent and tender. The side of garlic mash potatoes were amazing and quite flavorful. Best I've tasted anywhere. Texture was smooth and creamy. My friend loved the linguine & clams.The clams were juicy, plump and succulent, the garlic flavor was there but not overpowering as one would think. Using squid-ink on the linguine, really enhances the flavor. Of course, let us not forget about garlic ice cream for dessert. Doesn't sound too appealing, right? Actually, it was quite lovely and delicious. At first bite it taste like an ordinary super-rich, creamy vanilla ice cream and suddenly the taste of roasted garlic hits your palette, but not overbearing and too garlicky. It was nicely presented inside a martini glass and topped with caramel sauce. I truly enjoyed it! Service wise, the staff was very attentive, courteous and knowledgeable stopping by regularly to refill our water and drinks. Though slightly pricey, the food is good and the experience, especially if you're a garlic fan is worth it.
(4)SoCalGal M.
Was extremely pleased with the service and food. It was my birthday and I couldn't have picked a better place. You definitely need to eat here, especially if you are going to see a show. The location is within minutes of the theaters.
(5)Laura L.
Really nice place to go. Especially going with good friends or cousins.I prefer go there by noon. Good to talk, even private conversation :)
(4)Vanessa M.
Finally tried this place last night! It did not disappoint- and it is heaven if you are a big garlic fan. Located on La Cienega in Beverly Hills, right near other great places like Fogo de Chao, SLS Hotel, etc. We tried to find street parking for a good 20 minutes but failed- all of the residential streets beside it are mostly permit only, so we had to resort to valet. Thankfully that was only $4.50 and they will run to fetch your car after it's over. I had heard that the reservation process was not great, and that is true. I had placed mine a month ago, called the day before to confirm and it was lost, so I made it again. Then when we got there they somehow thought it was for 5 people instead of 2. Nevertheless we were seated immediately after coming in around 7:45 pm on a Friday night. The real fun begins inside. As other reviewers have said, it's like Tim Burton had a circus in here. This place is quite ideal for a date night, as they have a lot of intimate couple seating in these "beetlejuice" alcoves (tents with thick black and white vertical stripes) and different chandeliers at each table. My s.o. and I were seated immediately to the right after we entered, which happened to be next to a bar where someone sang and played live jazz covers of older songs (it was great!). The bar itself looks awesome. We looked at the rest of the restaurant after our meal and the decor is creepy/fun. Most importantly, the food- everything was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. Everything has garlic in it (unless you request it "vampire style") so be prepared to stink after. We started off with their signature appetizer, the bagna calda and munched on their garlic rolls with their garlic spread. It was so tasty and soft. Next we shared a medium skillet of shrimp and mussels that come with this amazing garlic butter... wow. I had the blood orange martini and not only was it sweet and nomnomtastic, but they bring you a shaker with the rest and it's pretty much 3 glasses worth, which for $10 is a pretty good deal. Our main dishes were great- he got the silence of the lambs shank and I got the garlic braised boneless short rib, both served with garlic mashed potatoes and some steamed greens. The meat was some of the softest I've had, juicy and tasty all around. We had to try the garlic ice cream to top it all off- I liked it, he didn't. You can def taste the spicyness of the garlic but it was kind of vanilla-ish, and it's served with some warm caramel sauce in a martini glass. So full of garlicy goodness. For a full meal like that, it's not cheap but not as pricy as the surrounding restaurants and with excellent quality food and interesting atmosphere. The service is on point! Be warned you will smell the garlic in your mouth for a long while. Some will even go as far to say to bring a change of clothes, especially if you're continuing the night after. Definitely recommend this place- if you aren't a big garlic fan you will definitely come out of this place as one. And with this review I officially pen the 100th entry of my Yelp 100 Challenge for 2013 :)
(5)DexterFan L.
Excellent restaurant with delicious food and great service! Highly recommend the ice cream and steaks. The drinks are great as well.
(5)Ida K.
Garlic chicken and roasted garlic spread on bread is my favorite! The restaurant is really dark so I don't recommend this place for all kids.
(4)Arvin L.
As i write this review I have to be honest I probably would never have come here on my own. I was in the area one time accompanying my aunt and uncle and they suggested eating at The Stinking Rose. I did not object as I looked through the menu before arriving and I saw an eclectic mix of dishes to choose from. I'm not a picky either per se, but I do adjust my expectations of a restaurant and it's food depending on the price they charge. Having said that, I actually enjoyed my meal at The Stinking Rose. As a starter we all shared the bagna calda and ate it with the complementary focaccia bread. The bagna calda paired well the focaccia bread. I was expecting the garlic to have a little more of an intense sweet roasted flavor but for $4.95 I will not complain. For the main entree I ordered the Silence of the Lamb dish, which is pretty much an oven roasted lamb shank served with fava beans, creamed spinach, and garlic mashed potatoes. The lamb itself was very tender and literally fall of the bone good. The garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were good enough for me. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst either but for a $22.95 dish it seals the deal for me. Of course if you feel like you need more flavor just add more garlic from the bagna calda, that's what I did. This is by no means the most expensive restaurant on the block especially when you have Lawry's The Prime RIb, Fogo de Chao, Matsuhisa, Mortons, The Bazaar, and plenty more along La Cienega Blvd. Anyways The Stinking Rose get's 3 stars from me. Honestly, I enjoyed my food. I enjoyed it enough for me to want to go back. The price is definitely reasonable for the quality and taste. But part of the problem is the location. I live 38 miles from The Stinking Rose and when I drive up along La Cienega I probably would be tempted to eat at Lawry's across the street. If they opened up a Stinking Rose in Orange County which is closer to my home I would probably consider eating here more.
(3)Jerome T.
Everytime I come here I just get the slab of prime rib and split it with someone. Its probably one of the best prime ribs I've ever had. The sides are great too. Definitely for someone who loves garlic, which I do. My only negative I would say is the last time I went (been there about 4-5 times) was that the prime rib was a little cold. Maybe it was because I was still eating my bread but it felt more warm then nice and hot. But that's just this last time. Valet parking is nice and convenient. Service is pretty darn solid and the staff has been super nice everytime we ask for more bread, water, etc. If you come for a birthday, you get a free garlic ice cream and get to wear a garlic hat. Happy Birthday Stinker. =)
(5)Erika L.
Garlic, garlic and more garlic.. ! If you like Garlic this is the place to visit! It is a garlic themed restaurant, and it is delicious. I had asparagus chicken pasta dish. The chicken was shredded on the pasta sooo flavorful. Their dinner rolls served at the beginning of the meal are just so soft and they give you different rolls with different toppings on them and if you are a star watcher, get ready to run into some famous peeps! I love the fact that it has a vintage feel to the restaurant and also the inside is cute, with YES Private cabanas for I bet some famous people!?
(5)Amanda P.
Just like the 3 star rating states, this place was just "A-OK." The bf and I went to the Stinking Rose to celebrate my and a friend's birthday. Our reservation was for 7pm on a Sunday (last Sunday) and valet parking was still plentiful. The restaurant was also surprisingly empty the entire night. From reading prior reviews I already expected mediocre food and terrible service and that is what we were met with. First, we ordered the garlic appetizer that was just pure garlic bulbs. That was actually surprisingly delicious. I didn't think garlic alone would be that good and I freaking love garlic. For our entrees in our party of 7 we ordered the lamb shank, neon ravioli, rabbit, meatloaf, and chicken plus a large order of garlic fries and spinach fondue. The lamb was good and so was the meatloaf (the only two dishes I tried), and my friends liked their dishes. The garlic fries (large order was humongous) were good too (I'm a fry lover. There's always room for fries!). The spinach fondue was lacking and definitely not worth the 9.95 we paid for it. At the end, my friend and I were brought out garlic hats and free garlic ice cream desserts for our birthday while the wait staff sang happy birthday to us. Garlic ice cream was different, that's for sure. It wasn't terrible but I probably wouldn't order one (it was nice to get this complimentary for our birthdays). Now let me tell you about the service.... When you eat at what I label as a middle level restaurant (think olive garden level in terms of pricing and food) I expect a little better service. The wait staff kept coming by and it felt like they were trying to "spy" on our table when our check was given to us. We were still trying to finish our food and having conversations. They didn't even try to make it subtle they were waiting for us to pay for our meals. The wait staff also needs to be trained on proper etiquette. You do NOT reach in front of a guest's face to pour drinks for them and if you do you would also say "pardon my reach" or some form of "excuse me." Instead, this wait staff would stick their arm right in front of your face while you are trying to eat or have a conversation with someone next to you or across the table. I found that extremely rude. There should be no excuse for this because in any level restaurant there are the same set of basic etiquette. I think I got better service at a walk in $-one-dollar-sign diner. Overall: Service = terrible, Valet ($4.50) = meh, Food = OK.
(3)Jamie N.
I love the food at the Stinking Rose (wish I could say the same about the cleanliness and the decor). Great New York steak and a huge selection of beers.
(4)Victoria G.
My husband and I love this restaurant a lot. Great and fast service. The food is sooooo delicious and we both weren't talking too much during the dinner. Happy experience here and we will go there again.
(5)Ruth V.
Their bagna calda is interesting, great pair for the garlic bread. Mussels n clams, jus the way I want it cook. Calamari jus perfect. Their seafoods here are really good. Filet mignon jus the way I want it cooked juicy n delicious. If u like red, try Jordan. Garlic ice cream, not my taste. It's funny if its ur birthday, they let u wear a gigantic garlic hat. I still wanna consider coming back here, it's the food n great customer service.
(4)Angela A.
Ever since I could remember I have wanted to go to The Stinking Rose. I LOVE the name and since I adore garlic and not afraid to eat it, I was made for this restaurant. We started off on the right foot because they have valet service that KNOWS how to greet their customer. They flank the car on both doors and open them together. I was just telling my husband the other day that valet employees no longer impress me. They only open the door for the driver and forget about the passenger(s). But not here, they opened my door too.. LOVE IT. Then we entered the restaurant and I became a little concerned. The entry way is very tired and old. The leather couches are worn and torn. I said oh oh, if they have torn upholstery what else are they letting go. Um, that would be the bathrooms. Bathrooms were tired and old too. I have to get this off my chest right off the bat, I disliked the decor and ambiance. In all the times I dreamed of entering this restaurant I never EVER imagined it would look like Beetlejuice had a nightmare and it stayed around to become a restaurant. There were so many colors, textures and stripes fighting for attention that I stopped looking around and concentrated only on what was immediately in front of my face. I had a moment of panic and almost asked my husband to leave, but then the waiter showed up and he was so GOOD, that I changed my mind. The staff here is fabulous. I can not say enough about them. Our server answered all our questions with enthusiasm and experience. He helped us with our dinner decisions and they proved to be good ones. Before he even left the table we were served with the most delicious warm bread. There is a garlic tapenade at the table that is delicous. We ordered the baked brie with roasted garlic as our appetizer and for the FIRST time in a restaurant it was served with more than enough crunchy bread thins. It was very tasty. Hubby ordered Prime Rib and he ate the whole thing. I ordered the Rabbit and it was delicious and plentiful. They basically served me half a rabbit with garlic mashed potatoes. The rabbit was perfect, I was not a fan of the mashed potatoes. Only other complaint I had was the clearing of the plates. The table runners would bring drinks, food to the table, but they would never clear the table. So at one point we had an empty bread plate, an empty appetizer plate, two martini shakers and an empty martini glass with our dinner. When our server came by to check on us he removed everything immediately, it's a shame his support staff didn't do it earlier.
(3)Matthew K.
So, I went here about 3 times now and had consistent OK food and consistent BAD service. First off, went inside to wash my hands and the bathrooms were dirty (Sunday evening at 7:30 PM with barely any tables) lost my appetite there. Also as you walk through the aisle in front of the hostess desk, there seems to be a weird stench too. All in all, it did not seem like a clean environment. Also my server was nowhere to be found. Got greeted 10 minutes after we sat. Had to ask a different waiter and busser for refills and check. And half the time they forgot about it. What gives? But at least the food was good which makes me come back. Filet was good, new York steak was good too. had it with the pepe pasta? I think it was, which was pretty good too. I really think they could do better..
(2)John K.
My wife and I went there for the first time this weekend. We had both heard wonderful things about the Stinking Rose and to say the very least, they did not disappoint. We will visit again!
(4)Jonathan W.
This was the STRANGEST dining experience of my life. The restaurant feels like a place where the characters of a David Lynch would stop for a quick drink - there is a indoor cabana seating area that traps you next to the closest patron, guests are invited to wear garlic shaped hats, an old man earnestly sings semi-modern hits on his casio keyboard, and the waiters take your order on an ancient wireless device. As advertised, everything is full of garlic, and the appetizers are mostly delicious. However, the entrees are a bit pricey considering the quality of the finished product.
(1)Catalina T.
The place: The decor for this place is outstanding! I truly loved the atmosphere and vibe it gave out. There was def lots to see and it felt like I was at a totally different place, most of the tables are secluded in a way that you aren't invading others and it was very cozy. I was surprised that I did not get the strong odor of garlic I would normally get just even driving down to Gilroy. That could be a good thing. I was also surprised there was no wait whats so ever to be seated. I thought that being around the holiday season, people would be jammed packed here. There was lots of large parties going on but this amazing restaurant truly has plenty of seats available for their customers. 10/10 The food: We started with what everyone usually starts with here... the garlic soaked skillet thing. I thought the garlic cloves would be a bit more roasted and the skillet would be hot but it was mild in heat. Garlic cloves in olive oil, soft and so good spread on the warm bread. I loved loading my bread roll with it. I also used these garlic cloves on my baby back ribs order. The baby back ribs ($19.95) were alright. The menu stated they would be garlic encrusted but it wasn't garlic-y enough for me or how I expected them. They were though good and soft, fall of the bone status. I added the garlic that was in the skillet AND also the garlic sauce thing they have on their table (looks like its just minced garlic soaked in oil and with some spices). Garlic those babies up and scarfed them down in no time. The mashed potato side that comes with the ribs were pretty good, garlic-y, soft and just delicious without being dry. The husband had ordered 40 clove garlic chicken that comes bone and all. ($19.95) That chicken was sooo not dry at all and the sauce that came with it was heavenly. I found myself quickly reaching over to steal his chicken and sauce. I would highly recommend that was a meal for any first timers at the Stinking Rose. After talking to a few of my friends that have also been there before, I sure am hoping to be able to go back sometime soon. I heard their prime rib is top notch and I must come back for sure for their garlic ice cream which I also heard is a must try. 8/10 The service: Pretty fast!! The food came out way faster than I thought and I am assuming that some of the stuff in the kitchen and on the menu is pre-made rather than made to order (such as the garlic cloves in the skillet). The hostess seemed tired when we had arrived (she was yawning but it was the day after Christmas) She was really nice and I cracked a joke about her tiredness. The waitress we had was on top of things and did come out every so often to make sure everything was good for us. Parking: They have valet but we were lucky to find some street parking and have a nice little walk there. Would love to come back and try their garlic ice cream and also their prime rib. #1/2014
(4)Tesia K.
I honestly loved my experience here. My first choice for date night was Benihana's but they open for dinner at 5:30 so we went across the street and had a great time. It's like a garlic amusement park! Haha, you walk in and there is a wall of what I thought was garlic pillows behind the hostess desk but it turns out they were puffy garlic hats! What a gag. In the middle of the restaurant the tables are in cabanas with black and white strips so you can eat garlic shamelessly. On the table they have kind of a chimichurri but with the garlic to herb ratio favoring the garlic by a LOT. I put in on everything. Ordered the slow cooked garlic in a hot tub, the bagna calda and got so full off of the bread. Couldn't stop myself from spreading the soft garlic on the hot, fresh mini loaves and stuffing my face. No regrets there because we had plenty of leftovers to take home. Popcorn Calamari wasn't the best I've had. The breading wasn't crisp and the seafood not as chewy. It came with two sauces that were so-so but I kept dipping my calamari in them because it was better with them than without, and that's not saying much. Gnocchetti, little tiny gnocchi. I am always tempted to order gnocchi but every time I do, I am disappointed. I think I will stay away from this potato pasta dish for a while until I see some ricotta gnocchi on a menu. The sauce was heavy but the pine nuts and asparagus helped with that, still I only had a couple bites. The star of the show was the prime rib. The large cut is only $3 more and it was as big as my date's face. Perfectly cooked with a thick black pepper crust served with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, au jus, and horseradish cream. Perfectly pink and juicy, really a spectacular piece of prime rib. The restaurant is decorated with murals along the wall. My view consisted of garlic bulbs sitting at a table eating dinner, and the ceiling was speckled with star sparkles. The menu states that they flavor their garlic with food and I think I overdid myself with the raw table garlic and the bagna calda because I had a garlic induced headache at the end of it but again, no regrets. My boyfriend really fell in love with the place. It's not your average restaurant and more affordable than the other places to eat on Restaurant Row.
(4)Vivi N.
I originally made a reservation for a Friday night (very easy and fast through Open Table) but circumstances changed so I opted for takeout instead. Street parking was a little tough but not unmanageable and they do have valet. Even though I was only there for about 15-20 minutes, the decor of the place was over-the-top enough to catch my eye during my short stay - it kinda has a Buca Di Beppo/carnival kinda vibe... except "garlic-y". Near the cash register they have a wall full of hot sauces ranging from the basics to ethnic to funny (in a your butt's gonna be on fire after you eat this kind of way), so that's a plus for hot sauce connoisseurs like myself. I was also delighted to see a few people (they were probably celebrating a special occasion) donning huge garlic clove hats that were silly and fun looking! The cashiers/hosts were very pleasant and greeted me right away. Everything I ordered was packaged correctly, they were prompt and it was all there. I ordered 3 items: -Bagna Calda: A popular appetizer that consists of a side of focaccia rolls and a mixture of whole garlic gloves soaked and roasted in olive oil (for dipping or spreading). It tastes just as you'd expect it to: heavy, a little sweet, with tons of garlic flavor. It was good but not mind blowing. I'd probably give this a 3/5... was over it after a few bites. -Margherita Pizza: A rectangular shaped pizza that was decent. It comes as a bigger portion than you'd expect. The tomatoes were fresh and juicy but the crust and cheese weren't amazing. 3.5/5 at best. -Clams: Tossed in a fresh linguine and a garlic and herb sauce. You'd think this dish would be a lot lighter than it actually is, not bad though. Tons of fresh black clams and the sauce was so flavorful. Just a tad oily for my taste... 4/5. Overall, the food was just okay but the service was excellent. It's a fun looking place though and probably worth it to check out at least once!
(3)Nicola V.
After hearing a restaurant devoted to garlic, I had to come. I made a reservation of 5 through OpenTable on a Saturday night at 7 with such ease. Maybe it was an off night, but right when we got there at 7, we were seated immediately with no waiting. Their starter bread is definitely not complete without ordering their bagna calda. A great starter for a garlic filed meal! I thought the bagna calda would be hard, but luckily the roasted garlic was easily spread on their bread - I'm sure restaurants in heaven have this as their starter bread. Unfortunately my whole party ordered prime rib, so I was sad we didn't' try their other dishes. Prime rib was good, but we didn't really taste the garlic infused part of the meat, nonetheless it was tender and up to par. I was real hesitant with trying their garlic ice cream, however I didn't find the flavor overpowering. There was a hint of sweet garlic taste and bits of it in the ice cream and it balanced well with vanilla ice cream and choc syrup. Say it's your birthday so you get to wear the garlic hat!!!!
(4)David R.
We love coming to this restaurant because we love garlic and the food they make is so tasty. We recommend the double mussels and double crab if you like shellfish. I honestly think that the Prime Rib here is far better than Lawry's which is across the street. The drinks here are also good, but if you love wine: Bring your own! No corkage fee! But be sure to tip well if they are opening a bottle for free.
(5)Trisha A.
AH! i cant believe the stinking rose was my first ever review on yelp! im excited to update my first review and give them a SOLD 5 STAR RATING. how can you not love a place that has garlic EVERYTHING? we came here on a saturday night to celebrate my best friend's birthday. it was the groups first time and they loved it. i requested to sit at the lover's tent because it has a more intimate setting. we were greeted right away from our server FELIZ M. not to mention how great of a server he was! he was the most attentive and he made sure we were enjoying every bit of our meal and experience. every table is served with some fresh garlic bread rolls and it's nice to pair it up with the garlic oil and minced garlic on the table. it comes out very warm and pretty tasty too! for appetizers i always have to get an order of the garlic fries. their garlic fries are my favorite here. it has a nice crispy texture and the minced garlic is so delicious! i always end up putting more garlic anyways! good thing they have a mini jar on the table. believe it or not but dracula's martinis are pretty affordable! it's only ($9.95) per order and you get a lot! not only do they give you the martini glass but they include the shaker with the rest of your drink. i recommend getting the hamil-tan cucumber martini. it comes with cucumber vodka, lime, and sugar rim. the sugar rim was a very nice touch to the drink. it was very refreshing, crisp, and tasty! one got me on a good buzz. i originally ordered the kiss of death and it was literally the kiss of death. it was SUPER STRONG. i couldn't enjoy it and luckily the bartender let me change it. thank you for that. my best friend and i ordered the little devil petite filet mignon including the garlic mashed potato and creamed spinach ($29.95) i recommend having your steak MEDIUM RARE. its perfect because it just melts in your mouth. the sides went well together and this time the creamed spinach wasn't too creamy! this entree is my favorite here and one of the reasons i come to the stinking rose! the salmon plate was really good. i had a bite off my friend's plate and i like how it was cooked on the rare side. it was very moist and soft. i love coming here for dinners and/ or special occasions. everyone is so nice and the food is excellent! parking is valet but it's only $4.50! not bad for beverly hills. you get free garlic ice cream for your birthday with some caramel topping. your server also brings out the garlic hat with some candles. it's a very fun experience! i love the stinking rose!
(5)Jackie B.
I hate this place this is my second time here and each time I came the food was COLD. Never will I come here again. The only reason I came is because today was my friend birthday and this is what she wanted. Other than that I would not have came here because of my prior experience I hate this place one again!
(1)Kahikina R.
Great place! If you love garlic, you have to check this place out. I ordered the baby back ribs with mashed potatoes and for dessert I had the garlic ice cream. All of it was amazing. I thought some of the seating was cute, they looked like little tents to give you a little privacy. The service was great. Definitely a place I would eat at again!
(5)Han C.
First of all, the food I ordered deserved 4 stars, but this review is based on food served to my 11-people group. We came here for Sunday dinner. The restaurant was packed. Our reservation was at 7pm. Some of us didn't get here until 7:30pm, but then it took them almost an hour for them to get the table ready. It wasn't entirely their fault since we weren't all here at 7, so that's that. Parking is easy if you do valet. The restaurant has its own valet lot for $5. It is possible to find free street parking in walking distance on a 2-hour only basis. Some people in our group did that but had to move their cars half-way through dinner. The appetizer, bagna calda, which is essentially cooked garlic with oil and spices to go with breads, was great. It didn't taste very strong. For people who prefer stronger garlic flavor, the minced garlic in jars available on every table was the choice to go. I think everyone in the group enjoyed the bread+garlic. We also ordered a large order of garlic fries, and it was REALLY large. That one order was enough for our entire group. I think it was easily over 5000 calories. It tasted great too. The fries were the right amount of crispy, and the garlic was perfect. For entree, I ordered the $39.99 Filet Mignon, which was by far the best entree on my table. Their medium rare was just the right balance of red vs pink. It wasn't bloody but showed perfect pink to red transition as you go to the center of the meat. I would go as far as to say it was better than some of the $50 Filet Mignon served in higher-end places. This was a 4-star experience for me. I saved some of the garlic parmesan from the fries to go with the steak, and it was an interestingly good combination. Unfortunately, the $19.99 lamb shank and short rib other people ordered didn't quite live up to the quality. They were mediocre. You couldn't taste any special garlic flavor in them. The short rib didn't even taste as good as the $8 one available at my university cafeteria. This is why this review overall was only 3-star. I would have rated a 3.5 if I could. All entree came with garlic mashed potatoes and creamy spinach. Both were great, and I thought they were definitely on par or better than their $13 counterparts in higher-end places. Would have been 4-star here. We ended the dinner with 3 orders of the garlic ice cream shared among our 11 people. Some people liked it, some didn't. I did like it, and I firmly believe this is something you have to try at least once. Would have been 4-star too. Bonus: they do a nice special for anyone claiming to be celebrating birthdays and even made one of the ice creams on the house. A+ service here.
(3)James H.
Place is pretty cool. The decor is a bit weird where it feels like a carnival type of theme with garlic everywhere. When going with a large group, it can get very cramped up. The tables are a bit small. The food was mediocre. Not amazing but didn't suck. The best thing though were the garlic butter clams. I'd definitely recommend it. I had the lamb last time and I thought it was alright. Was juicy but once again, it was just lamb. Nothing really special about it.
(3)Mia N.
I liked the red, theatrical, dark atmosphere, table cabanas, bottled ceilings... I had the filet mignon and it was delicious. Also took a bite of the garlic ice cream and the garlic was very strong - but I liked it. Service was also very good.
(5)jesse n.
had a great time, service was good, food was great, we were full with smiles on our face...will be back soon, just not for bdays anymore
(4)J L.
So this restaurant is known for their garlic apparently. Haha hence the name "stinking rose" which I thought was pretty funny. The staff are friendly, it's a really fun place to go to because of the decor. If it's your birthday they sing to you in hats that are shaped like garlic cloves HAHA. It's pretty kickback, the food isn't too bad. Not the best, I hate to say, but it was pretty good. It's a cute restaurant, not too serious, the tents kind of made me feel like I was in a circus to be honest haha. But overall, good experience. Would I come here again? Hm, I'm not sure. I would probably try other restaurants in the area, but it's worth a try at least once.
(3)Robert T.
Closer to 3 1/2 stars, based primarily on cost. Then again, this is Beverly Hills. After 15+ years of curiosity, I finally got around to trying Stinking Rose. After visiting the Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA, we headed over at about 7 pm or so. There were a handful of peeps in the lobby, but our wait was quick, between 5 to 10 minutes. Very fortunate in that we had no reservations on a Saturday evening. The decor is quirky, kitschy, and cool all rolled into one. Some may find the vampire theme a tad cheesy, but I dug it. The ambiance was great. My only note being that our table was pretty dark, and I had trouble reading the menu. Definitely not a big issue for me , though. We sat and ordered our drinks and were served the warm rolls. They were fantastic with the garlic oil on the tables. They had a good selection of appetizers. Ordered the garlic Brie, and it was phenomenal! It is served with a crispy, cracker type bread. I do have sensitive teeth, so I opted to eat the brie with the dinner rolls. Wow! Amazing! This combo was definitely the highlight of the meal for me. Did I say "PHENOMENAL!"??? I had the portobello mushroom steak served with the garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I was very impressed with the portobello steak. The gravy was great, but not sure how vegetarian friendly it is. (In this case, don't ask, don't tell). Being pescatarian, I had been worried about my choices. There were several options for me, with numerous pasta dishes and fish in addition to the portobello steak. Ms. Date had the bone-in filet with mashed and spinach...she devoured the stake (ha ha) like a malnourished saber tooth tiger, which meant a thumbs up for her! The garlic mashed was pretty good. Obviously, I have a high tolerance for spice/heat and garlic, because both sides were actually moderately garlicky for my taste. I deduct half star because my spinach was just above room temperature. I didn't feel like sending it back, and it was not too bad. Date had a Manhattan and the garlic martini. She seemed to enjoy both, especially the martini. I had a Tom Collins and the peach iced tea. Warning: The drinks were very potent. The iced tea was the best I have had in a long time. For dessert, we shared the notorious garlic ice cream. We both loved it. Again, I didn't taste strong garlic. The topping (caramel? tofffee?) really made the taste. You can't visit Stinking Rose without trying this dessert at least once! I say split it if you are cautious. Service was very good, maybe an 8.5/10. Sorry I forgot our waitress' name, but she was very friendly, very efficient, and had remarkable timing. Bus staff was also very efficient. Overall, a really solid experience. Our timing was most fortunate, as there was a huge crowd coming in as we left, at 9 or so. So much so that it was about 30 minutes before our car was delivered by the valet. I deduct 1/2 star for the lukewarm spinach and one star for overall cost. Our meal ran $120 plus tip for all the items noted. (Plus valet). A bit on the steep side, but still fair for a special occasion. If you love garlic, I would wholeheartedly recommend that you try Stinking Rose, especially for a birthday, anniversary, etc. Lastly, I cannot endorse the garlic baked Brie enough. Absolutely loved it!!! I will consider going back and making the Brie my main dish with the rolls. The gnocchi sounded really good too, though!
(4)Juliet Rachel C.
Mmmm mmmm, garlic galore!! Stinky breath after your meal? Who cares!! It is well worth it! Too bad mints aren't complimentary. Be sure to equip yourself with a box of mints or a pack of gum prior to coming here. You'll definitely need it after your meal. I think the prices here are very, very reasonable, the portion sizes are huge, and the food is very rich, rather heavy, delicious, and very filling!! Ok, I've always disliked the decor here. It's a cheesy circus theme with a creepy vibe, but I'm aware that the overall ambiance was meant to be flamboyant & eccentric. It's just unappealing to me & I feel like I'm in some haunted circus fun house. Kinda disturbing, haha! However, the servers here are really cool and the food is freakin delicious, so who gives a crap about the creepy ass decor! I came here with my dear gf, Shanon Y. for dinner and here's what we ordered: - Bagna Calda $4.95: Garlic soaking in a hot tub. Garlic cloves, oven roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on the house baked focaccia bread. Served in an iron skillet! I loved spreading the garlic drenched in olive oil & butter onto the focaccia bread!! It also tasted good with the jar of minced garlic & chives presented at each table, so be sure to use it! The Bagna Carda garlic cloves were soft and so easy to eat with the bread. Loved this...so addicting. It was also really great to mix the cloves with the yukon gold mashed potatoes to produce a more flavorful potato dish! Yummy! - Mussels (Sizzling Iron Skillet-Roasted) small $9.95: These mussels were so addicting! The portion was big enough for the two of us! We devoured it and were so happy with this dish. It came with an olive oil & butter dipping sauce. The medium sized plate can probably feed 4 or 5 people! - Forty Clove Garlic Chicken, Roasted on the bone $19.95: Served with yukon gold mashed potatoes. Shanon Y. ordered this and I took a few bites of it. The chicken was so tender, and though it was tasty, it didn't have a very strong garlic taste to me. Maybe my taste buds were no longer as sensitive to garlic since I had already consumed copious amounts of garlic prior to getting our entrees! - Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib $19.95: Served with creamed spinach and garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes. Mmmm, so lean, tasty, and tender....I loved my short rib. It was braised to perfection! I used some sauce and garlic cloves from the bagna calda to mix in with the yukon mashed potatoes, and wow, am I thankful that Shanon suggested me to do so!! I enjoyed the potatoes that much more after the mix in! Shan and I had such a great meal. However, I really think we overdid ourselves by consuming way too much garlic, and trust me, it burned....garlic is quite acidic and the intensity hurt my mouth to a point where my eyes were watering! Shanon and I both developed a bit of indigestion/heartburn after our meals, too. We will be sure to go easier on the garlic binge next time!
(4)Ashveen S.
This place is delicious. I have to admit it's a bit pricey, but it's worth it for the food and the ambiance of the restaurant. Such a cute date spot or a fun place to celebrate a birthday (I went for a birthday dinner). I ordered the chicken dish that is on the entree menu and added a side of the creamed spinach. Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. I took half my plate home and it filled me up for lunch the next date. I would like to go back to have a nice dinner with my fiance soon.
(4)Shanon Y.
I'm in GARLIC heaven! If you adore eating food with garlic, than you will not be disappointed by The Stinking Rose! All the dishes are garlic-based so be prepared to walk out reeking of garlic from your breath to your clothes. For whatever reason they don't provide you with mints after your meal so be sure to have some handy because you will need it! I would probably not recommend this place for a first date that's for sure! I came here recently with my lovely Yelper friend Juliet C. and we had a delicious and fulfilling dining experience. We had reservations for 6:30pm, but due to traffic we were running late and the hostess was very flexible in squeezing us in for a 7:00pm reservation. Once we arrived we were seated promptly in a cute little tent like booth. The interior of the restaurant reminded me somewhat of Buca di Beppo, there were strange and outrageous props and artifacts all around the restaurant. My friend compared it to a creepy circus and I would have to agree, but we were too invested in devouring our meals to let the creepiness bother us. After studying the menu, we decided to order the following items: -Bagna Calda ($4.95) which is essentially garlic cloves sitting in a tub of olive oil, butter and chives. It makes for a great dipping sauce with the complimentary bread. We ended up mixing this along with the jar of minced garlic and chives for a stronger taste. We also discovered later on that the Bagna Calda complimented the mashed potatoes very well! I ended up mixing it into the mashed potatoes for a even more flavorful taste. - Mussels roasted on a iron skillet ($9.95 for small) this is more of an appetizer which can be shared family style. You can also order it in medium and large sizes for larger parties, but the small was enough for the two of us to share. There's also an option to order this dish with shrimp and crab. I highly recommend this dish for seafood lovers! It will not disappoint! -Forty Clove Garlic Chicken ($19.95) After reading the Yelp reviews, this was one of the dishes that was highly recommended so I ordered it as my main entree. This entree comes with two huge pieces of chicken (white and dark meat) and a huge serving of Yukon mashed potatoes. The portion size was so big I ended up taking leftovers home for another meal! Although, the dark meat part of the chicken was quite tender, the white meat part was dry and bland. I will probably not be ordering this entree the next time around. - Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib ($19.95) Juliet ordered this as her main entree and it was served with a side of creamed spinach and Yukon mashed potatoes. I sampled some of her short rib and it was tender and flavorful. The portion size was also pretty big so she had leftovers to take home as well. Overall, we had a great dining experience even though we completely stank of garlic afterwards. I now realize how accurately this restaurant was named! Shortly though we both began to experience some indigestion so perhaps we consumed a little TOO much garlic. I'll definitely make sure not to OD on the garlic the next time around! It also took me two days to finally get the garlic taste out of my mouth, but all in all I will definitely be coming back again when I have the craving for garlic!
(4)Shawn Y.
Yes, this place is known to have garlic in most of the entrees.
(4)Miss J.
One word...GARLIC!!! can't wait to come back with my beau again. :) Love it!
(4)Jonathan F.
Solid Italian food choice. Especially fun with a group. Gotta love garlic to really appreciate!
(4)Rony O.
GARLIC GARLIC GARLIC! I love it! The Bagna Calda is tremendous!!! Great food and great service :)
(5)Victoria W.
Definitely the stinking rose! Loved it, try their signature garlic ice cream. Highly recommend .
(4)Lina C.
My lovely boyfriend took me here on our four year anniversary (5/16/12) and to my surprise, it was a unique experience. I've been to many restaurants and there aren't any like The Stinking Rose. The interior is whimsical and very playful. In a way, I thought I was submerged in a dream where I had run away to join the Russian Circus. Russian Circus? Yes, that is correct. The Russian Circus. There were vibrant red walls much like that of a ringmaster's jacket. Bundles of garlic hanging on some parts of the ceiling with extravagant chandeliers lighting up parts of the room. We sat under the Garlic Lovers Lane where these massive black-and-white striped canopies hung over us as we ate. The table tops were marbled with hints of greys and whites. The plates, ceramic. The atmosphere was just warm and inviting. As far as the food, it wasn't up to par for me. I ordered the Baby Back Ribs with garlic encrusted all over it. Personally it was a bit dry and tasteless (even with the garlic!). The mashed potatoes that came with it were good though. Eric ended up getting the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib. Once again, it wasn't my favorite just because it was flavorless as well. I personally enjoyed the Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub appetizer where the garlic is slowly simmered while soaked in extra virgin olive oil and butter. This allows the garlic to break down and become soft and mushy unlike it's raw form. Just like butter, you place the garlic atop of your bread and spread it across the flat surface and munch away! We also ordered the Sizzling Iron Skillet Mussels which was served with a buttery-lemon dip. I love mussels and so this was probably one of the highlights of the night especially if the entrees weren't all that impressive. The last item I I would recommend trying is their garlic ice cream. It's not common to find yourself a garlic-flavored ice cream. I'm not sure if many places do serve it, but if you ever get the chance, just do it. It wasn't your normal sweet, savory ice cream that you would get at Coldstone's creamery. It was cold (obviously), a bit bitter, and it definitely had a hint of garlic to it. It was very subtle and not too overpowering as far as taste. I think what made this experience delightful is the decor/theme that The Stinking Rose upholds, the interesting foods that they serve, but also being able to celebrate our love for each other. I can finally say that I have been to The Stinking Rose and hopefully you can too. Lina Chen
(3)Michelle S.
I love the decor and the ambiance at stinking rose. The food is very flavorful (obviously, thanks to the garlic). My favorite is the filet, but order any steak at this place and you won't be disappointed.
(4)Hana A.
Garlic ice cream is the stand out
(4)Concerned C.
I've always loved this restaurant. The food is superb, the service is amazing and the ambiance is heavenly. Garlic is good too :)
(5)Casey D.
The food is delicious and the service is great! It's a little more expensive than it might be worth but for a special occasion it's a treat. And don't expect to finish one of the Sundaes by yourself, they're HUGE!!
(4)Jenn M.
I wanted to like this place, but sadly the amount of stars this place received on Yelp reflects the true nature of this restaurant. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible experience but I feel as if it could've been better. My friends and I had dinner reservations at 7pm and were seated in a different room in a corner. It was nice and private and cozy. But a bit too quiet! We needed some kind of background music. Anyway, the waiter introduced himself and right away was a bit confused as to which table to serve. He said he was new. We've been warned. Unfortunately, he ended up being our waiter. Bless his soul, that poor thing. He was able to smoothly take our orders and brought us bread in the meantime. Our food came out within a reasonable time. I ordered the short ribs while my bf had the pork chop. Other people in our party ordered the chicken, rabbit, and steak. The short ribs were delicious, warm and full of flavor. I had a taste of my bf's pork chop and it was pretty good. He liked my meal better and I think I liked his meal better. ;) As for dessert, the waiter offered us the garlic ice cream and we went ahead with that. While we waited for the ice cream to come out he said he was going to clear our plates and also bring a to-go box for my friend's leftovers. And then all of a sudden we were playing the "waiting game". We won, the waiter lost. We waited so long for our table to be cleared and he even came back to see if the ice cream came yet. When our ice cream finally came (brought to us by another person, not our waiter) I had to ask the guy if he could clear our table. He did it so quickly and without a problem! If our waiter had enough time to just walk around and even visit our table to see if dessert came out, shouldn't you see our table full of empty plates that needed to be cleared?! Sadly, this is where we had to knock off stars. I really hated that an automatic charge of 18% gratuity was tacked on for a party of 6 because we feel that we did not receive great service. I give partial pardon to our waiter since he was new but still... When I got in my car my bf told me he found bits of glass in his water glass! I asked him if he was sure, and wasn't mistaking it for ice. He said he knew it was not ice and it was glass. We went home paranoid. I always thought the restaurant was going to wreak of garlic but it didn't. Thankfully! And our food didn't taste like it was overpowered by garlic. I felt like I was eating at any other restaurant and that the meals just had that natural taste of garlic seasoning incorporated in it. I guess I was expecting to have some kind of garlic overload and in a way I'm glad I didn't. As for our service and finding bits of glass in the water glass, for us, this place stinks.
(3)Liz M.
BACK TO FRONT, how you feelin' dat? Garlic Ice Cream - get it. don't think, just do it. Rabbit - aint too shabby Garlic Fries - eh, could've been done at home Garlic Appetizer -- the one in the pan -- not too bad but I love garlic. The verdict on this one -- perhaps they need people to sign a disclaimer/release or informed consent because YOU WILL smell and feel like garlic for days. Yes, this was my last meal during my most recent trip to LA.... I pity the fool who had to sit next to me on the plane back to Boston. I fear a summons/process server at my door anyday now.
(3)Elsa L.
If you live in LA, you'll have to try the Stinking Rose once. However, ONE TIME is enough. I'm pretty sure that I'll never go there again. Most of the foods are just okay to me even though I was really hungry at that time, and the decoration is disorganized though they try to make it cute (or modern?) The service is not as good as it costs. So, what is good...hmm...mojito was pretty good...- -" Since the Stinking Rose is kind of famous in west LA, I'll say you can try once if you want(of course it's okay not to step in there forever).
(2)Sandra A.
I've always heard of this place, and wanted to try it. So I did! I've never really yelped and studied the pictures, so I pretty much came here through what I've heard. Lunch Time: I went here on a Saturday afternoon. It was not crowded and the parking in their lot was free until 3 or 4pm I believe. I would double check... I walked in with my bf, and it was quiet, not fancy like I expected and had an era type of vibe. Dark and red hues, the interior was filled with black and white striped canopies in the center floor, and had booths surrounding the walls of the restaurant. One thing you will definitely notice is the bold funky garlic themed mural on the walls. Not very pleasing to look at, but fun... I was seated in the "garlic lovers lane" and I felt a good amount of privacy. We ordered the regular prime rib, with mashed potatoes and spinach, and fish & chips. The prime rib was cooked medium rare, and it was perfect. Juicy, very tender, and plain. The mashed potatoes were the best part. Nothing was dry nor too garlic-y on that plate. Plain and simple. Was it worth $35? depends what you're used to, but I would say no. Maybe it's worth $28 top, but I guess this place has got to pay for whatever they need to pay for? I also had the fish and chips. The fish was juicy, large, and very flavorful. After the first couple bites, it was good, but the oiliness took over and I started to feel sick. I couldn't eat more than 1/4 of the fish and could not continue eating the fries. The fries were good though! Just too much oil to handle... I'm sure this would be great to share with a medium sized party of 4-6. The garlic bread was okay, too dry for my taste. Even with the olive oil and garlic on the side. Wish they had some vinaigrette of some sort. This place was good to try, but it's nothing outstanding. Probably good for locals who like to just eat there I guess... Not really worth driving 20 miles for. What I really didn't want to pay for was the service. The service was blah at best. I was very reluctant to give a 15% tip from my $70 bill. The waiter did not smile and came once for us to order, another to bring us our food, and to finally give us our check -_-. who came up with these tipping rules?
(3)J W.
garlic ice cream was interesting; it was good though. I had a steak and it was perfectly cooked the sauce was ok. Rabbit was just blah. Salmon was ok. Ribs were fall off the bone but nothing really to crave for. Valet parking. The interior is '60s hotel/restaurant with semicircle booth seating. Dimly lit.
(3)Brynna B.
I really loved this place! Until I woke up the next morning and even after brushing my teeth 4 times, I still had major garlic breath. Don't go here if you have anywhere to be that evening or the next day. The vibe and interior is awesome, loved the cabanas. We were seated in the Vampire Room, after going through the labyrinth like restaurant, and aside from the awkward breakup that was happening, it was so cool. The service was spectacular. Loved the free garlic bread. I got the meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and loved the meatloaf, the potatoes weren't as good as I was expecting. The only negative is the valet guys, who sucked! So rude, just talking amongst themselves and ignoring the line of patrons waiting for their cars.
(4)PsychoKnight X.
Worth a try. You don't come here to save money, but the prices are fair for both very good service, very good food, excellent parking. We came at 11:30am Sunday opening time and the place was dead til about 12:30pm, at which time about half the parking lot was full. Everyone says order the bagna calda to go with the free bread. I ended up putting it on most everything I we ordered. And I hate garlic. Its good. The kids shared the butter pasta (sans garlic and herbs, parmesan on the side) and because the texture was different and novel, they liked it very much. For the first time, they were willing to try the clams in broth juice (small tureen) and the two of them ate it all up. I ordered it for me but didn't get to eat any, except one. I ordered baby back ribs and everyone in the family liked it. Crispy on the outside, juicy tender on the inside. My wife occassionally orders lamb shank at expensive restaurant. She did the same here, and as with other occassions, the meat is tough and dry, and very gamie. Which means I lose my entree to her. Do not ever order lamb shank at places which don't specialize in it and are able to maintain a daily fresh resupply of lamb shanks. My experience is middle eastern places serve the meat fresher and have more frequent practice at cooking it. Chocolate mouse with an accompaniment of vanilla ice cream rounded off our meal today. Both the shank and the ribs were under 20, so neither expensive nor economical. Bring something to keeps the kids busy. Maybe paper and crayons so they can draw about the weird decorations. Service was as good as it can possibly get. Both the servers, bussers, and the manager were proactive at making sure everyone was checked on frequently. Soon after you get the food, they will verbally check on you. Then after that they drop by, slow down and smile as they check your table, pick up any empty plates, and give you a chance to ask for anything - without having to go through a dialogue. Even with the off-chance that some food item is not to your liking, you are guaranteed to have a good time eating there. They care about the food, they care about the customer's dining experience, and will take care of any concerns you might have. My only beef is the extremely mediocre bathrooms. Not updated in decades, and even then, the materials are suitable for a diner or fast food place. Think of a high school bathroom, but very well cleaned. It is totally out of keeping with the rest of the restaurant's motiff and quality. Owners: you need to spend some money on the bathrooms, okay?
(4)Gilbert C.
anything w garlic is right in my book and this place is chock full of it
(4)Emily T.
Came here during the weekend for lunch. There's free lot parking during the day. I didn't have to make a reservation, and the place wasn't too crowded. Walked in with a party of 4 and got seated at a canopy booth. I've got to say that I absolutely love the décor here. The servers are also extremely friendly and joked around with us. The dining environment was an experience in itself. Anyways, we ordered the Bagna calda, Garlic steamed clams tureen, Roasted mussels, shrimp, Crab sizzling iron skillet, and Garlic ice cream. They also give you free bread with amazing garlic spread. Don't get too carried away eating those though :) Got to prioritize your stomach space! Bagna Calda (appetizer) - Must try. It is bunch garlic cloves resting in a heated pool of olive oil. What makes it so amazing is that the garlic cloves melt in your mouth (how is that even possible?), and it goes perfectly with the free bread that they give you. Deliciousness. Garlic Steamed Clams Tureen If you like soupy dishes and seafood, get this. Portions are pretty big. There were more clams than I expected, and the soup/sauce was to die for. My party finished the dish in its entirety. We were able to drink the soup on the side. Mm, garlic. If you can't handle the garlic, then you could dip the bread in it :). Roasted Mussels, Shrimp, Crab Sizzling Iron Skillet When the server delivered this to our table, everyone's jaw dropped. The presentation was amazing. A mountain of seafood on a sizzling iron skillet. I enjoyed this dish, but the garlic theme wasn't as prevalent in this dish as it was with the other dishes. Regardless, it was delicious, and the sauces that came with it were excellent. The dish sizzled for a while, so I didn't have to worry about the food getting cold. If you're looking for a dish that will WOW the table, then consider ordering this. Garlic Ice Cream - Must try. Must try. It's a bit pricier, but if you feel like treating yourself, definitely go for it! It's chocolate frozen over a scoop of garlic ice cream. The ice cream itself isn't overpowering with garlic flavor. Think ice cream with a hint of garlic flavor. The chocolate and the ice cream complement each other very well. I made sure every bite I had had a mixture of both. The ice cream itself was extremely frozen for me, so I had to pick at it. For me, this was a good thing, because I was able to enjoy the ice cream over a conversation instead of devouring it all in one bite.
(4)Lea R.
Wow! This place is unbelievable and I can't wait to go back!
(5)Lauren C.
When someone asks me what my favorite food is, my reply is always "Garlic!". I put it on just about everything when I cook. I was so pleased when my boyfriend decided to take me here for our anniversary! I had the ribs with mashed potatoes. Delish. As I knew it would be. What I really want to comment on is the service that we got. My boyfriend has a dairy allergy which greatly limits what he can eat. We let our waiter know about this so that he could recommend something to my boyfriend. He really went above and beyond any other restaurant we've ever been to to make sure he got something he wanted. He double-checked and consulted with the chef on all recommendations and worked with us to make it an enjoyable experience. In the end, we had great food, in a place with great ambiance, and INCREDIBLE, attentive service. Loved spending our anniversary here.
(5)Anjelica A.
Came here the day after Valentine's Day so that we could still have a romantic dinner but avoid the crowds. My boyfriend and I have recently become garlic addicts, so we decided this would be an ideal date spot. And we were right! My boyfriend had requested a romantic table when he made the reservation. But when we arrived they led us past these really cute little cabana-style private tables (getting my hopes up) to these tiny two-person booths along the back wall right beside the waiters' entrance to the kitchen (which dashed our hopes immediately). Not romantic at all. And the cushion on my seat was lopsided so that I had to brace my feet against the floor to keep from sliding into the aisle. Not cool! We asked to be moved. The hostess then escorted us to a quiet room all the way on the other side of the bar. You could have heard a pin drop in there. Like, literally. The one couple already seated in this tiny dining room looked up at us, all annoyed. We felt like we were intruding on their privacy. So we asked to be moved again. The hostess warned us that we would have to wait, but I told her that we didn't mind, especially if we could do it at the bar. The wait was less than 10 minutes and when the hostess came to get us, I apologized a whole lot, and the hostess warmed up to us and was really nice. She led us to Lover's Lane, a dining area with private 2-person cabanas, and we were thrilled! So intimate! We ordered the bagna calda, which other Yelpers raved about, but I have to be honest; it wasn't as garlicky as we had hoped! Because the garlic has been cooked so long, it falls apart and will even spread like butter on your bread. But its garlic taste is very mild. It might be ideal for someone who is not a true garlic lover, but it rather disappointed us. The appetizer that we DID love was the Roasted Garlic Baked Brie. Holy cow! This was melt-in-your-mouth decadence! The highlight of my meal! It was a small wheel of garlic-infused brie baked and cut into wedges and served with crostini. I wish they offered this as an entire meal! And we loved the complimentary rolls that have garlic relish baked into the top. They also put a jar of this relish on the table and it is so amazingly delicious! It'll give you that mouth-zing you're craving! I made sure to bring home a postcard from the hostess's table that has their garlic relish recipe. I have yet to make it, though. We also ordered the Sizzling Skillet of double crab/double shrimp and the Large Cut Prime Rib. The prime rib was delicious. The shrimp wasn't all that great -- they were somewhat overcooked and the delicate shells were sticking to the shrimp, making them a mess to peel. The texture of some of the shrimp was a little mushy, in my opinion, but my boyfriend loved them. I liked the crab; roasting it in garlic made it taste absolutely delicious. I wasn't smart to order it on a romantic date because crab is so messy to crack and eat; it was not the most ladylike I have ever looked (or smelled), but that was my own poor choice and nothing to do with the restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner with a bottle of riesling that a friend had brought us from Napa, and I loved that the restaurant has no corkage fee! We finished our meal with the garlic ice cream, and I know it sounds disgusting, but it was the perfect note to end on. It's garlic ice cream with chocolate mole sauce on top and it was so delicious: the chocolate sauce was the perfect counterpoint to the almost-savory garlic ice cream. I can't wait to come back! Baked Brie, Garlic Relish, and Garlic Ice Cream, I've missed you!
(4)Tiffany J.
A friend of mine wanted to return to the Stinking Rose for her birthday, so we gathered a small group & went on a Tuesday. Valet parking was quick & friendly $4.50 to park, not bad in LA. Upon entering you are beginning your visual & olfactorial journey into the garlic world. It is bright & colorful. Everywhere you look there' some hommage to garlic from garlic art to garlic hats & an area selling all things garlic behind a long desk on one side of the entryway, to a ceiling to floor of hot & garlic sauces opposite of it. The greeters & wait staff are energetic & friendly from the start. We had a reservation but save it for the weekend, as ours wasn't needed since there were enough booths, black & white striped tent covered seating & open tables to accommodate midweek walk-ins. There is a jar of chopped garlic & herbs on the table for your warm garlic rolls which might be a bit strong for the faint of heart, but if you order the warm, spreadable Bagna Calada which is sweeter, milder, whole-roasted garlic brought on a sizzling skillet you're in for a treat. Drinks are individually served in short neck glass bottles that you pour from, standard sodas, juices, etc. They do have a full bar with live entertainment on certain days of the week. We settled on eating family style, so we ordered the double crab & double shrimp sizzling skillet and a short rib plate to share. Another person ordered the babyback rib plate, that she inhaled in record time siting the flavor & tenderness of the ribs. The short ribs were melt in your mouth tender. & juicey. Both plates were served with your choice of sides. We chose the delectably creamy garlic mashed potatoes & creamed spinach. The spinach was just ok as there wasn't much flavor added to it. The crabs were not the king variety, luckily, but rather the smaller, sweeter version dipped into garlicky butter sauce that's so run down your chin good. I was pleasantly surprised since I am only a lukewarm crab fan, but when having crab in the future it will be at this place. The peel & eat shrimp was plump & juicy as well when lovingly dipped in that sauce from heaven, but the crab stole the show AND was worth the work! Finally dessert. After a rousing round of Happy Birthday (the 4th or 5th that night), we shared the birthday girl's free serving of chocolate covered ice cream which we were pleasantly surprised by, but not in love with. No Love was reserved for the Kustard ice cream...ah to be in love again, and again, and again! We dove into the creamy, not too sweet & rich cool treat like sinners from hell diving for a vat of water! Overall it was a good party vibe, friendly staff, and good food! I take a point off for the spinach & garlic ice cream which were just okay. Loved it!
(4)Linda C.
Made reservations through Yelp for Valentine's Day weeks in advance. Sat through a lot of traffic on the way to dinner and was late 30 min. Luckily we were still seated right away! The restaurant was pretty packed and we were led into Dracula's Grotto which was decked out as you would guess, Dracula decor and fake spider webs. We were seated at a small table in the corner which we loved since the rest of the restaurant looked very squished. I was really surprised with the layout of the Stinking Rose. For years I've always wanted to try this place out and it was not what I expected--but it did exceed my expectations. As we were seated, we were presented with a plate of garlic bread--warm and soft. Ask for balsamic vinagrette and make your own olive oil and balsamic vinagrette dip! For starters, we ordered the Arugula salad--it was exactly what I expected, just light with garlic vinagrette, gorgonzola cheese, and red onions. We also ordered the Double Mussels and Crab ($39.95) which came out on a large hot sizzling plate. This was delicious! Dip the mussels and crabmeat into the garlic butter, it definitely adds a lot of flavor to it. I'd definitely order this one again! Me and my bf also shared the Metrosexual Cut which was the 8 oz Bone-in Filet. This came with garlic mashed potatoes which I found really addicting and garlic creamed spinach which I thought was a bit on the bland side. The filet was pretty standard, but I still prefer Houston's or Ruth's Chris. Service was great overall. The valet pickup was a bit slow, but it was understandable considering how swamped they were for Valentine's Day. I'd definitely come back but I'd probably stick to the appetizers and seafood next time. I had a great time! The ambiance and decor was all so interesting and a bit cheesy to me but I still loved it! Be prepared to still have garlic breath the next morning.
(4)Kym F.
Okay, so I might be biased because I am Italian, but holy hell, do I love garlic! This place is garlic heaven- even the parking lot reeks of garlic! :) I've eaten here several times, and never had a bad meal or experience- definitely keeps me coming back. All the food is really great, and reasonable by LA standards. The garlic pesto on the table, paired with the warm bread they serve, is amazing- I seriously want to take a bath in it. And because I'm not afraid of carbs, I usually go for a pasta dish- that, and because they are so stinking delicious :) And I usually have leftovers- yessss!!! Pizzas are great, and the bagna calda is a must try- delish! Garlic ice cream sounds scary- its not, just try it :) Just writing this review is making me look forward to my next visit, hopefully soon! :)
(5)Sharon Y.
It was okay...the food was a bit pricey for the quality...
(3)Wendy N.
We had a great time and the food was delicious!! I love their sauteed garlic and tiny claims. I had garlic wine and garlic ice cream. It was both delish! I would definitely come again.
(5)Marc L.
Sadly, this is one of those places where the more I go, the less I like. Everyone's first visit to The Stinking Rose seems like a revelation... With so many framed portraits of celebrities past and present, how can you go wrong? As you walk through the front lobby, you'll be ooing-and-awing at the storefront full of garlic paraphernalia, whether it's t-shirts or one of the many bottles of garlic hot sauce that fill the shelves right across from the restroom. The theme extends itself all the way into the dining room, with tacky artwork on the walls reminiscent of Buca di Beppo- although it's obviously all about garlic here... They even have a parody of Michelangelo's most famous Sistine Chapel scene, with the Almighty handing a clove of garlic to Adam. In total, I've been to The Stinking Rose at least four times in the last three years. I've ordered the roasted chicken, the roasted rabbit, the prime rib, and most recently, the mini gnocchi (called gnocchetti). Out of all of them, I liked the prime rib the best... not surprisingly, the most expensive of the four- and you can get better at Lawry's. The chicken was so-so, the rabbit was dry, and the gnocchetti was quite disappointing. I think I remember someone on Yelp being a gnocchi nut, and he's totally right when he says that bad gnocchi "is like chewing gum"... the dish became dull very quickly. On a positive note, the bread is GREAT here! Mmm, warm focaccia with garlic-infused olive oil, or even better, with BAGNA CALDA- a skillet full of roasted garlic cloves, soaked in olive oil and anchovies... you can smear it like BUTTER on the bread! Of all the garlicky items on the menu, bagna calda is probably the most memorable. Aside from the so-so entrees (which are slightly more expensive than I'd prefer, for what you're getting), the drinks are TERRIBLE- they highlight their mojitos, but they all taste watered down to me. Of course, no trip to The Stinking Rose would be complete without a taste of their "famed" garlic ice cream... basically tastes like vanilla ice cream with hints of garlic- but hey, my tastebuds are probably all messed up from a meal full of garlic. In any case, I guess you could say it's pretty gimmicky- like the restaurant as a whole. Good for the first or maybe second time... Sorta fizzles after that.
(3)Marsha M.
DON'T LET THE NAME FOOL YOU! MMMMmm. Their food was so great, by the time the actual food came, I was half-way-stuffed from gobbling down the garlic bread. Everything was great! Would love to go back. Plus the decorations inside, are very unique and sets an intimate tone.
(4)Lourdes N.
my breath reeeeked of garlic. and i didn't mind at all. definitely a garlic lovers heaven..like my dad. the stinking rose has a casual atmosphere. it had random decorations, very homey feel. their calamari is something to rave about, soft, chewy and very tasty. the table had ready to use garlic sauce with garlic chunks which you can put on your bread, or add more to your entree, etc. i kept using it through-out my entire meal, couldn't get enough of it. ordered the Prime Rib which came with mashed potatas and spinach. the prime was not garlic-ful as anticipated, but the 40 clove chicken was spectacular, tender and so FULL of flavor in every bite. ended dinner with garlic flavored ice cream, which is truly what it is.. garlic flavored ice cream! ..bizarre but glad i tried it. and since it was for my bday celebration, they sang to me and i wore the garlic clove hat and they sang to me "happy birthday you stinker.."
(4)Aleli C.
Good Lord! I love this place! The Bagna Calda is soooo good. I couldn't get enough of that stuff on my bread. Oh, and the garlic fries! If I could live off of one thing that's perfectly artery clogging, these fries would be it! They're perfectly crunchy outside, soft on the inside; each bite is a burst of wonderful garlicky goodness -- makes your mouth feel ridiculously happy. As for entrees, here are my top picks: The Filet Mignon with the garlic mashed potatoes and creamed Swiss chard. Man! Good stuff. I'm not really too fond of the chard, but the filet and the mashed potatoes are enough to make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. The Tureen of Steamed Clams. Wow! Perfectly cooked little bivalves that make my tiny Filipino heart flutter like there's no freaking tomorrow. I am in love! And if you're a seafood lover like me, this is the best thing on the menu: Sizzling Shrimp Iron Skillet. Gahhh, I'm doing a total Homer Simpson drool right now. Yes, yes, the shrimp is peel-and-eat, messy as hell, but it's definitely worth all the trouble. Eating those perfect little crustaceans makes me feel like I'd just died and gone to heaven. Garlic plus shrimps: can't get any better than that! As someone has already said, this Stinking Rose is much better than the one in San Francisco. The menu is more varied, the place, much more spacious and laid-back. Oh, and parking's relatively easy due to the valet service. The service is okay. I like how they're all techied-out with their handy-dandy little Palms that seem to have become another appendage to their bodies. I do warn you, however: a few of the waiters have a tendency to bring you drinks that you didn't order and when you tell them to take it back, they still charge you for it. Bastards! (minus 1 star for that!) This has happened to me and my family a few times, so I suggest checking your bill before paying it. As for the cost of dining here, well, it's not the cheapest place to go to, but dammit! the food is definitely worth the splurge. This place has definitely earned a special place in my food-loving heart. One-and-2/3 thumbs up! (If only those servers weren't so greedy, then the place would've gotten 2 full thumbs up!)
(4)Jess P.
My parents and brother were in town last weekend, and on a drive through Beverly Hills we passed The Stinking Rose. I vaguely remembered reading something about a garlic-centric restaurant, and thusly we decided to give it a shot. The decor was warm and kitschy, and I can see where it might bludgeon one about the head (if one is concerned with this sort of thing). I'm generally not, however the creepy anthropomorphized garlic-woman painting was certainly attempting to weird me out. No matter, on to the food! Right away the menu scored points by clearly delineating vegetarian options. I do eat eggs and dairy, but I had to leave the meaty dishes to my family. We ordered the garlic french fries as an appetizer, and fresh rolls appeared tableside post-haste. The rolls came in onion, garlic, and plain iterations and went very well with the accompanying garlic olive oil and garlic pesto spread. The garlic fries were, "addictive" according to my father. His proclamation was greeted by sounds of happy chewing from the rest of us. I ordered the house salad, which was unremarkable save for its slight tendency towards dryness. Just a bit more dressing, please! Still, it was a good size and the ingredients were fresh. For dinner, I ordered the neon ravioli. I have come to expect very little from ravioli over the years. Generally, if it's good there is too little of it, and oftentimes it is overcooked or undersauced. I was definitely not disappointed by this dish! There was a generous portion of pasta and the garlic basil alfredo sauce was light and savory, and applied in just the right amount. Delicious pasta, on the whole. My brother selected the filet mignon rare, and said that it was cooked to his satisfaction. He mentioned that it was nicely seasoned, too. My father chose the lasagna and proclaimed it very good. He is a diehard Italian fan, and said that he would order this dish again if the opportunity arose. My mother had the chicken and asparagus pasta, yet by this point she was burning out on garlic. She mentioned that if she had just this dish she would've been fine. We also ordered a side of spinach, and I was quite impressed with its flavor. Actually, I want some right now. Yum. We concluded with the garlic ice cream (more for the novelty than an actual desire for dessert). My assessment is that it tastes like vanilla ice cream with a little something extra. It was fine, but I'm not about to go demanding that Hagen-Daaz manufacture it. I think I'll skip it on any return visit. Overall, the food quality was great, the concept was novel and pleasing, and the service was good. The Stinking Rose is doing a good job of backing up their very specific theme, and this would be a great place to take a date you're comfortable with (garlic breath, anyone?) or a small group of fun people. There was plenty of street parking available when we went, but there's a valet if you're into that sort of thing.
(5)Sam T.
I actually expected a lot from this place. The food was not as good as I imagined it to be. The garlic ice cream I've had in the garlic festival before. The one I had here which is suppose to be from Gilroy did not taste as fresh (it was really hard). I ordered Though nothing really wrong with the service there were a few things that caught my attention. We were about to sit down on a table but was quickly asked by the manager to move to a different table. The waiter was not particularly happy. Food: 3 Service: 3 Environment: 4 Price: 3
(3)Lea D.
I have been wanted to go to this place for years!!!! I mean years but no one ever wanted to go with me, plus it's in BH which is far from me. I hate driving in LA traffic but it was worth it!!! My birthday was here and my birthday request this year was to go to the Stinking Rose. Everyone who had been here warned me that I must love garlic. And boy do I love it! So, we went! We had an early dinner so we did not have to fight the LA crowd which was nice. We sat in our own horseshoe shaped booth and started the night with a martini. I got the French Guillotine Lemonade which is made with Vodka, Chambord and lemonade. They brought it to the table and poured it in front of me and then left the shaker with the extras! That was awesome. Cheers! and Down the hatch. It was very tasty and sweet! Next, the hot baked rolls come out. They are not premade rolls and they are covered in garlic. Well, what do we do? We add more garlic to it! On the table we find a little jar of freshly chopped garlic and parsely sitting in virgin olive oil. This was so dang good, but like I said earlier, I LOVE GARLIC! So, vampires beware! Then we ordered the roasted garlic baked brie. Oh my goodness, creamy baked brie with roasted garlic served with crispy crostini. So good. I had wanted to try the bagna calda and the shrimp skillet appetizer but I just didn't have the stomach room because for the main event, I ordered the garlic roasted prime rib. It was cooked to perfection! It didn't seem garlicky at all to me but then again my mouth was doused in garlic since the rolls. The prime rib was served with mashed potatoes and I ordered steamed vegetables instead of the creamed spinach. The steam veggies were good but the mashed potatoes were only average. They were chunky a little on the pasty side. I don't mind chunks in my mashed taters but the pastiness was not pleasant, I prefer creamier potatoes. I was also able to steal a few bites of the Acini di Pepe Pasta. That was really good! I wish i had gotten that instead of the potatoes (that's a big statement coming from me because I seriously love potatoes). Well, like every birthday dinner, we ended it with dessert. I was stuffed and couldn't try all of the desserts so I just shared the garlic ice cream. It wasn't bad at all. I actually enjoyed it. Next time I come I will try the custard ice cream or strawberry sundae. I would definitely come here again. It was awesome. The decor is gaudy but fun! The service was great too. I am hoping to take my parents here when they visit in May! I can't wait! Thanks Stinking Rose for making it a great experience!
(4)Brennan D.
Have the Lamb, the filet mignon, the garlic mashed potatoes and the garlic ice cream...you cant go wrong with any of those picks. If you love Garlic then go to this place.
(5)Daniel S.
really fun place to go ONCE. everyone is probably curious about a restaurant themed around vampires and dedicated to the mighty garlic and for good reason. this place grabbed my love of garlic, and took it on a glorious magical vampire adventure but got carried away and left me with a burnt tongue. After garlic appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks I started to fear just how much more garlic can they fit into one dinner? I LOVEEEEEE garlic and i actually really enjoyed my night here, but the food ranges from mediocre to above average which is unattractive considering its heavy duty price. bread basket - YES. so good. they have a little garlic relish type thing on the plate put that on some hot bread. yes. just yes. be warned the garlic is raw eating too much although delicious will burn your tongue a little. i got over zealous and it got to the point where soda bubbles hurt to hold in my mouth bagna calda - must try... signature appetizer but one pot is good enough for a large party its a hot tub for garlic in oil... sounds, looks, smells, tastes amazing. prime rib - HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT. one of the best prime ribs ive ever had. this stood out soooo much for me. get dis one. mashed potatoes were above average pastas - almost all of them were decent but ultimately unsatisfactory. I got the prawns pasta, description said fettucine bacon onions in a spicy red pepper garlic oil. noodles were funky and the sauce was so sweet it was unappealing to my flesh. garlic ice cream - must try... signature dessert and surprisingly delicious. all of the soda is brought in mason jars which are super hip and cool and they have quite a list of garlic drinks that are fun to try. overall i think this place has become more of a touristy location whose real value is for showing your friends this cool vampire-garlic themed restaurant. I personally would not come back for the food even though its pretty good.
(3)Ryan R.
I could never be a vampire. :-( No matter how much I love True Blood and the idea of living over thousands, millions of lifetimes. I could NEVER live without garlic. I'll take garlic anyway I can get it. The Stinking Rose is all garlic. I used to love this restaurant and made sure I visited any time I came to LA. I love their garlic martinis and I love their garlic spread for the bread, but other than that, the food and service have turned to a more touristy flare. It makes sense. Very few locals frequent this place. I think the next time I'm in LA, I'll probably just come for a cocktail and app. They have a really funky bar.
(3)Robbyn A.
I love this place. I've been (2) times and both times have been GREAT! I've gotten the same thing both times too, but I'm always tasting everyone's food so I have an idea of their other dishes. They have great pastas, nice salads, I love their Garlic Steak Chili, not bad at all. I also love their Garlic encrusted ribs. How can you go wrong with that? You can't. That food is good ! No one is disappointed at the Funky rose...opps I mean the Stinking rose. It's good and consistent!
(4)Vi T.
Overall: If you love garlic, this is one place you have to visit! I have to admit, some of the dishes aren't that great, but the appetizers and side dishes are really yummy. Food: + Garlic Condiment on the table: This is my favorite item here and it's the only one that is free ^__^ It is chopped garlic with parsley in olive oil. The Bagna Caulda is similar to this in the fact that it is a garlic spread, but the one on the table is more fresh and has the spicy garlic flavor. LOVE LOVE LOVE this with bread! + Bagna Caulda (olive roasted garlic with evoo, butter and a hint of anchovy): This is roasted garlic that doesn't have the distinct garlic flavor like the garlic condiment on the table. This is garlic in a whole form until you can easily smash it and spread it onto your bread. My friends liked this dish more, but I still prefer the garlic condiment. Either way, if you love garlic - you can't go wrong. + Garlic Spinach Fontina Fondue: This was a good dish, but it was pretty simple. This was toasted bread with a cheese/spinach dip. + Garlic Fries: French fries with garlic bits, which was delicious! + Ribs: I remember nibbling on this dish, but it wasn't distinctive for me to remember. I haven't tried any of the other entrees, or I don't remember it. Next time, I might go for the crab though or steak. + Garlic Vanilla Ice Cream: This was quite odd, but it wasn't gross. It does have more of a vanilla flavor, but you can kind of taste the garlic undertone. Service: We had our reservation that was kept in a timely matter, and the waiters here were good. They weren't the best, but they weren't rude either. Environment: The décor of this place is very interesting...there's random things hanging from the ceiling, which looks like cups. The atmosphere and ambiance is very dark, and they have big tables to little tables hidden away with drapes. There's also a side bar, which I've never been to.
(4)Floren F.
I came across this place from a friend of mine, since my boyfriend are a very big fan of GARLIC and have been planning and wanting to go to the Gilroy Garlic Festival we thought that this would be a perfect pre-experience. As we drove in, we were greeted by the "valet guys" I just thought that it was unnecessary for them to have valet since their parking area is pretty big. Maybe its just from my experience from other valet services that you can't really trust those people. As we were walking out of the restaurant, we were told that the charge was $5 so we gave them $5.... the guy who drove our car to us made a little comment in spanish not knowing that I speak and understand spanish! He said a very rude comment about how cheap we were and said "no selve" meaning "worthless". I was just so irritated by that. ANYWAY! Stinking Rose is a very interesting and unique restaurant! Yes, we knew what we were getting into right when we walk in. Don't let the outside fool you because the inside of this restaurant was just uhhmmmazing! It kind of reminded me of that one restaurant in Disneyland inside the pirate's of the carribean where their lights were semi dimmed. There were pictures/paintings and big garlic cloves hanging throughout the restaurant. As we were guided to our table, we walked passed by tables that had their own personal cabbanas. Lowkey I wanted to seat in one of those tables but didn't know if they were strictly reserved. We were seated way in the back where it was perfect for my boyfriend and I. Small little table next to a wall were they have one of their memorable paintings. Food wise: We were greeted by our friendly server who served us water right when we sat down and was also served their delicious fresh out the oven garlic focaccia bread/rolls! Bread was perfectly baked and seasoned, we also ordered the "BAGNA CALDA" which was recommended by many yelpers. We were in GARLIC HEAVEN!!! Couldn't even explain to you how delicious and well prepared that bagna calda was! BAGNA CALDA: garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy. IT WAS BASICALLY GARLIC SOAKING IN A HOT TUB! As for appetizer, we ordered the roasted garlic baked brie! I was a little bit disappointed how it came out because it came with the thinnest, I mean really really thin bread to spread out brie. Their rolls were alot better and tastier to use! As for the roasted garlic baked brie, it was just uhhhmazing because the garlic and brie together just melts in your mouth! Brie is one of my favorite cheese so this was PERFECT! On to the entrees! :) Boyfriend ordered the "FORTY CLOVE GARLIC CHICKEN" with a side of garlic french fries! Chicken was well prepared and was deliciously seasoned with their garlic sauce. I ordered the "SILENCE OF THE LAMB SHANK" with the chiant glazed and fava beans AND garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes AND creamed spinach! DEFINITELY HIT THE SPOT! every single bite were all different and uhhhmazing! We had plenty of left overs because we were so full right after all the bread and appetizers. I am so glad that we found this place and we will definitely be back! Overall experience = 10 STARS!
(5)Liz R.
Excellent food with nice garlicky flavor.. You have to love garlic to appreciate it.. The garlic spread is awesome... Love it...
(4)Jasmine S.
I have been here a couple times with friends and families. I gotta say you have to be a garlic lover or semi-okay with garlic in order to fully enjoy the advanture at Stinky Rose. Gotta say, the afterward taste in your mouth..or even the next day, you might have to be prepared to smell like a little garlic walking around. butttt its all worth it when you dip that soft warm bread into the green garlicky sauce...hmm its really yummy, and i bet if you keep on eating it, you will be full before your meal comes ( thats how I got full the first time i was there, so dont reach for the third bread before your meal shows up!) I had the garlic roasted prime rib last time, and surprisingly it wasn't sooo garlicky like everything else we had. The meat was tendure and juicy with a little extra garlic flavor to it. SO overall, I think this is a safe dish to order if you are not a HUGE fan of garlic. Tureen of seafood in tomato broth was my favorite! I had that similar dish at Mi Piace in Pasadena, but since its stinky rose, you will have an extra flavor of galic in your pot. I LOVE LOVE the tomato broth mixed with a heavy garlic flavor, and all those jumbo deal seafood just made the pot extra awesome! this is a great dish to get if 1. you are on a date, cuz its not messy and you can quietly use your spoon to sip and eat. ( but you might not want to kiss you date afterward...cuz your breath stinks) 2. if you are a die-hard seafood lover. 3. if you don't mind a heavy taste of garlic with your seafood. Mussels and shrimps ( medium size) is good for a party of 4-6. Depends on whether majority of the guests are seafood lovers or not...if they are, you might need to get a large instead. The whole dish comes on a hot metal plate, so be careful to not get your fingers burnt. The whole dish is medium garlicky...but you get a garlic oil sauce with it, so you can just dip your shrimp to get extra garlic taste. Last but not least, the garlic ice cream. It is soo weird to think about how would that taste like..well it really does taste like two seperate flavors except they all just melted in your mouth like magic. I think the vanilla beats the garlic taste, you get more vanilla creamy taste instead of the garlic... But it is a good experience to have, so I highly recommend first time stink rose eaters to order the ice cream in the end. :) so buon appetito everyone!
(4)Penn C.
I've driven by The Stinking Rose a thousand times without stopping. One day in December, it popped up as available on Open Table and I decided to book it. Glad I did. I had no idea what the cuisine was. Wasn't even sure of the theme except that garlic was a part of it. The food is incredible. None of it is "too garlicky" even though everything I had had something to do with garlic. The caesar salad is amazing. The muscles are amazing. The NY, fillet and the prime rib are amazing. The steaks come with spinach and mashed potatoes. Normally, I wouldn't take a bite of cooked spinach, but I eat this willingly. The manager's name is Mossimo and he takes his job quite seriously. He is one of the nicest people I have met and always accommodating. Checks on all the guests to make sure everything is perfect. The second time we dined, they seated us in "Dracula's Grotto". It's like a wine cellar for a vampire and we loved it. All total, we've dined three times and booked Valentine's Day as the fourth. It is pricey, but I think it is worth it.
(5)Alexis B.
3.5 So I was scrambling and I mean SCRAMBLING, trying to find a NYE dinner spot somewhat last minute. I through out some options to the PIC but he seriously, wasn't havin any of the choices I gave him. I've created a monster by the way. He used to not care about where I picked to eat but in the last 3yrs or so, he's become quite snooty and picky! Anywho we had no choice but to come here. I've always wanted to so this was the time! I also had some doubts coming here because I didn't want to club worrying about smelling of garlic if I decided to get my mad dance on and sweating, opening up those pores LOL Rsvps were a cinch. Walked in and WOW that garlic smell hits you right there. It was not bad or overwhelming. I just never been to a spot so scented LOL. We were given a nice big booth. I love when they do that for my PIC and I. Much more intimate and romantic. Speaking of ambiance. I felt like I was in an italian circus vampire bordello. Dark and red in there! Cleary this place is not for vamps ;) LOL. So anywho, we start to order some cocktails and shots. I got pretty buzzed and feeling real good! Every table comes with garlic rolls. I have to say these were THEE BEST garlic rolls I've ever had at dinner. I think about these rolls about once a week LOL. I really wanted to come back to take some home to go the next day haha. We started with the clam tureen. Nice big white bowl of garlic butter broth and clams galore. It was so good dipping that crack bread into the broth. I had to stop eating this bread but I couldnt! So for main course I had the rabbit dish and PIC had the short ribs. My dish was HUGE. Like 2 large rabbits. It was never ending meat. The rabbit was slightly overcooked. Didn't come close to the rabbit I had at Animal. You can tell they added some kind of olive tapenade to it and it made it a liiiiitttttttle overwhelming. The mashed potatoes were yummy. The short rib was fall off the bone kind of meat. Very tasty and wish I ordered that dish. I was tooooo full for dessert. Thanks to that crack bread. I will come back, mainly for that bread and to try other things!!!!
(3)Edwin C.
if you want to OD on garlic, come here. favorite every time is the prime rib..
(4)Giancarlo F.
I thought all of their food was wonderful, I overdosed on their bread. I had a grilled mushroom dish which was wonderful
(4)Tehreem J.
The Stinking Garlic is pretty good, I came here for my birthday service was great. I like that on your birthday you get garlic ice cream, it's a cute gesture but tastes kind of gross. I got the salmon which was alright. The salmon was slightly dry but the couscous was pretty amazing! I recommend trying this place out at least once.
(4)Rick C.
So, one place you do not want to go on Valentine's Day is The Stinking Rose. I thought we had it made when we made reservations. When we arrived, the place was jam-PACKED. I felt like I was in line for Pirates of the Carribbean at Disneyland in the middle of the summer. When I finally worked my way to the host, they had two lists: reservations and walk-ins. Now, this place was fully booked. Why are they taking walk-ins? We arrived at 9:15 for a 9:30 reservation. We didn't sit down until close to 10. Minus a star for that fiasco. (Surprisingly, everyone was civil about the mess.) This was our second time here and we liked it quite a bit the first time. We loved the old-school kitsch decor and enjoyed our meal well enough. I was looking forward to ordering the same thing I had last time which was a 3-ounce steak. I love red meat but usually don't order it at restaurants because the portions are so goddamn outlandish. I don't need a pound of meat. I just want a few bites. We walked through the bar area and they sat us in a weird corner that looked like an outtake from Beverly Hills Cop. It looked like an 80s add on. But it was quiet and away from the madness of the front of the house. We looked the menu over. My wife ordered what she had last time, cappellini cooked simply with tomatoes, olive oil, and garlic. (They serve this at just about any Italian place and it's almost always good.) I searched in vain for my little steak but it's gone. GONE from the menu. I was kinda pissed about it. Minus another star. Instead, I ordered the giant prawns with some kind of pasta. We started with some of that garlic spread (which IS on the menu, contrary to another reviewer) and some garlic fries. The starters were gone before we could even think about it and we were already oozing garlic out of our pours. Our dishes arrived. Suddenly, Linds remembered that she didn't really care for her pasta the last time. She pushed it around before deciding not to eat any more. Which was fine since the bread and fries were filling enough. The prawns weren't bad, like low-rent lobster. I asked for light butter-garlic sauce and I kind of blew it there because usually places drown their food in sauce but if you ask for light sauce, they hardly give you any. That's what I got. Still, I cleaned my plate. And I wasn't gonna do anything less for 23 bucks. Half a star off for the pricey food/wife not liking her dish/horrible parking situation combo. (Took us 10 minutes to even get out of the car and another 15-20 to get out of the lot after.) We probably won't be coming here again for quite awhile. We get enough garlic when I cook at home. 2.5 stars
(2)Jay C.
Tourist Trap, nothing else to say. The food is all very mediocre and the ambiance is total tongue in cheek. If you want this type of meal hit a Buca de Beppo and you get kitch and good grub. Yes they have lots of garlic but whatever, I cook with boatloads of the stuff and so does every southern italian cook. Don't get me wrong, the food is pretty good, but it is not worth all of the hype. It's pricey for what you get because of it's location, but you aren't going to get an affordable meal over there anyways!
(3)Aria A.
If you love garlic as much as I do, this is the place to be. Garlic garlic garlic everything. The ambiance is great here and really classy. I tried the garlic meatloaf and that was the best meatloaf I ever had. They even have a small side jar of freshly chopped/minced garlic just to add more flavor to your entree. Try this place out but be prepared for some flatulance if your stomach has a strange reaction to garlic.
(4)Jennifer N.
This is what I wrote and send to their restaurant. I used to love, love this restaurant until last Saturday... Dear Stinking Rose, We had been loyal customers for many years. But last Saturday we dreaded it and couldn't wait to leave your restaurant. Our server name was Bela G 111. First we arrived and was seated. Server did not come to table for about 10 minutes! when he came, he tried to take our order then excuse himself in the middle of it because his PDA was out of batterey. Was out of site for about 10 minutes, when he was in site he went to the table on our right and left and skipped us. Eventually came back to our table to continue to take our orders. We were so hungry while waiting to get serviced, we ate all the bread. The food came, The "medium" prime rib we ordered was too raw. Redness and red juice were coming out of the prime rib. The Aspergus and chicken pasta was so under seasoned that all we could taste was the oil in it. Took us nearly an addition 25 minutes after our food to finally get the bill. We were at the restaurant from 6:30 to about 9pm UNWILLINGLY because service was horrible. Through out the entire meal, the waiter or bus boy didn't even pour the water for us which we had to do ourselves. Please understand a good advertising is good word of mouth. After this experience, how do I continue to share my comments with people I network with?? One thing the service was bad, perhaps he was having a bad day or busy, but your food quality has gone down. We used to love your food with the tasty Garlic flavors marinated into the dishes.. these days it just seems the dishes were just toss and turn to get it out of the kitchen asap. I hope management and customer service pays attention to this because especially with the recession going on these days, if we don't mind spending the money at a good restaurant with good service. But doubt of any returns if this continues. Thank you for your time to read this. Stinking rose has gotten a four stars out 5 stars at a few critics, blog sites, But recently I'd been seeing a few two stars and complaint these days on reviews on your restaurant. Please improve so we can love your restaurant once again!
(3)Alan L.
This is the place to eat if you love garlic on your food. I only visit this place once with my friends, but would love and go eat again. I highly recommend trying their garlic ice cream after dinner. Strongly recommend not to bring your date to this place, unless you planned not to make out after dinner. :D The quality of its food speaks for itself.
(5)Hanh D.
My sister and I were at The Stinking Rose last night, and we were gluttonous. We started with the popcorn calamari for appetizer, which was near perfect. The calamari was moist and tasted just right, but the dipping sauce was bland. We were also given regular bread and garlic bread as we waited for our entrees. My sister had the baked portobello mushroom that she said needed more salt, with a glass of sauvignon blanc. I had the infamous roasted rabbit with a glass of syrah. The red wine was excellent, a bit sweet, and not strong. (The waiter suggested syrah or pinot noir with the rabbit, and he gave me a sample of both to let me decide.) I was afraid that the rabbit would be dry since many reviewers commented on that. My rabbit (three pieces) was mostly moist. The parts that were dry was "over roasted," but I ate what I could with a knife and fork while refraining from my primordial tendency of picking it up with my hands and ripping the meat off with my teeth. I told our waiter that I was afraid the rabbit would be dry but mine was moist. He said that they've had a lot of complaints lately from customers (we Yelp reviewers?) with the rabbit being dry. So, the chef is fully aware of it. The garlic mashed potato that came with our entrees wasn't garlicky enough for us so we added pureed garlic (from a small jar that is on all the tables.) To end the evening, we shared dessert--custard ice cream with strawberry coulis (puree) and whipped cream. We couldn't finish the dessert because it was a generous portion, but we thought it was the best out of the entire meal. Overall, the food (except dessert) was bland and didn't have enough garlic. We couldn't taste any distinctive flavor in our food and was surprised that garlic didn't play a stronger role in any of our dishes. I felt as though garlic was just a garnish on my rabbit. However, the service was excellent and our waiter was quite attentive.
(3)Risa Y.
This is like my 7th time dining at the stinking rose! I love garlic and this place is garlic heaven :) I did have ONE bad experience with the pasta... I can't quite remember which one it was, but I remember it being toooo creamy. But other than that this place is awesome. I've had most of the appetizers on the menu and they are all great! Prime rib and the filet Mignon is great here too, but I think what I like best is the seafood. This time around I ordered Zuppa Di Pesce (under tureens) I never ordered this because I didn't know what a Tureen was, but this Zuppa Di Pesce came with Mussels, crab, fish, calamari and shrimp in a spicy tomato Brodetto! You can order Small, Medium or Large. Small is a good portion to share with someone if you order other things to share. I also got the Whole Crab roasted in their secret Garlic Sauce, which is always my favorite thing on the menu! Then I also got a small salad and garlic fries YUM!!! between 2 people we almost finished everything! This is a good place for a date because they have these cozy seatings that are sectioned off with these small cabana like thing (I don't know how else to explain it lol) Don't worry about having stinky breath because if you both eat garlic then you wont smell it :) It's also a fun place to come with a whole bunch of people because they have big tables too. Great ambiance! There is a also a full bar in the front which is pretty nice when you have to wait to get seated. I'm going to keep coming back here! It's surprisingly not too expensive for a restaurant in Beverly hills :) Make your reservation on opentable.com and earn some dining points!
(5)Jesse T.
Wow, economic down turn, turns win for me. WE got sat down at the rose with in 5 minutes on a Saturday night at 830pm... How is that possible in BH? I suppose the regular Beverly Hillbillies were busy having their jewelry soaked that night, who knows? This is likely my 5th trip to the Rose and by far not the last. For those who dont know what the Stinking Rose does, they call themselves the stinking rose because Garlic is part of the same family of plants that the common red rose belongs to. That is to say, they flavor their garlic with some food. For those who are of the Garlic challenged, lets just put it this way, when you roast garlic for a long time, the flavors mellow, get a bit sweet, and in many cases permeate the food it is cooked with. When you roast 300 bulbs of garlic , a dynasty is created. My Recomendations: Bagna Calda is an appetizer dish at its purist form, garlic roasted in olive oil. Which is then served warm to spread on your dinner rolls. Spoon some of the garlic on to your roll and spread it like a butter. Heavenly. The flavors are subtle, as I've said before, the garlic mellows when roasted so do not expect the kick of raw garlic when you order this, expect mellow tones with an almost sweet taste. Garlic Encrusted Spare Ribs. Rib nuts know, for a spare rib to be right, its not fall off the bone tender, its pull off the bone tender. They nailed the ribs. The rib rub was very nice, it had rosemary hints and some cayenne bite to it. I was very impressed that they left the sauce on the side, thank you for giving me the choice. This stuff had substance, of course it was freshly made, of course there were chunks of garlic in it. This tasted of a good brown sugar sauce with a good kick of worchestershire. Double Crab Double Shrimp. There is a bit of work in this meal, a large sizzling tray of dungenous crab and large shrimp is served with a lovely garlic butter dip. The Crab and shrimp have been sauteed in a similar butter so is permeated with the garlic flavors. A touch salty, but I believe this helps bring the crabs flavors out well. As I've said this is a working meal, dont wear your white Versace for this meal. Lamb Shank. This is a very tender piece of shank, the burgundy sauce is amazing. It neither takes away nor over kills the lamb flavors, this is likely the one meal with the least amount of Garlic. If it wasn't for the Garlic mashed potatoes I'd have thought this was a vampire faire. Finish the meal off with a bit of their famous Vanilla Kustard Garlic Ice Cream. its a tad more dense than your regular ice cream and the flavor is quite unique. All parking on the site is valet exclusive, with a $4.50 fee. The reason I give this place a 4 out of 5 is the price. 164 bucks for four people. But I think its worth it.
(4)Pat T.
Horrid!! The bagna caulda was disgusing, overcooked.. tasteless. I ordered the Sea Bass, in hopes of something reminiscent of London... well, it was far from.... far from fresh that is! The bill for two for a cheesecake factory experience $129... which I would gladly pay, but not for this. Cocktails -2
(2)Holly L.
Likes: -Garlic bread w/ olive oil, pesto, and garlic -Neon ravioli (filled w/ potato & cheese Garlic basil alfredo sauce) -Garlic Ice Cream (it's gross & good all at the same time! Your senses have no idea how to react.)
(4)Connie M.
So for years now i've heard about the stinking rose...people telling me how great it WAS but now they don't think it's as good as it used to be...stuff like that...BUT...i never got to see for myself. Last night, the boyfriend and I were driving around LA for over 30 minutes trying to find a place to eat...drove all over sawtelle...but it was madness trying to find parking so we gave up and drove towards the grove...we decided to pass restaurant row to see if we'd maybe find a place to eat...low and behold...we pass the stinking rose...and we decided to go there...we opentabled in the car for a reservation at 9pm and walked in. YAY! The interior was super fun...tons of little knickknacks on the wall...and everyone is sitting in a little beachy like cabana. We looked over the menu and ordered the $5 garlic clove spread thing for the bread...as an appetizer...and i ordered the medium sized clams and the boyfriend ordered the LARGE cut prime rib. HOLY CRAP let me tell you this...the food was AMAZING! let's start off with the bread and the spread...the bread was amazing...fresh and delicious...YUM YUM YUM!!!!!! and then there is the garlic cloves...those were delicious...but sort of on the sweeter side..i'm more of a savory person when it comes towards food...so that wasn't my favorite. then came my big ass bowl of clams...THOSE WERE DELICIOUS...then again...i love seafood..and i scarfed that thing down quick...i think the boyfriend only ate 2...but let me tell you...when you eat seafood...you always get one or two that you kind of look at and never eat because they don't look all that delicious...so ahha i passed on it..because it was BLACK...gross right? the boyfriend was like i'll eat it...so i gave it to him..and he almost gagged...AHAHHA anyway aside from that stinker of a piece my meal was SUPER DELICIOUS! Now the boyfriend's prime rib was also EFFIN DELICIOUS! so great...so tender and juicy and it was a huge slab...yum yum definitely worth it! He only ate about 1/2 of it and we took the rest home. I would love to come again...and possibly try the garlic ice cream...i love garlic...but yesterday i was just too full... Can i just say the morning after.....my breath is still super garlic-y...HAHAH ugh...but sooo YUMMMMMMz
(4)S P.
Went here with a friend, loved the ambiance of the place. Ordered Banga Calda -Garlic soaking in hot tub - was nice roasted garlic potato onion soup - was awesome! - must try this! forty clove garlic chicken - here is where the place lost one star - the garlic completely overpowered all the taste, so much so that i couldn't finish it. But i would come back again and try some other dishes.
(4)Aaron R.
This is some awesome food. The food always tastes fantastic, and I always leave full. It is a bit pricey, but unlike the Melting Pot, you actually get a decent amount of food, and it tastes much better. Garlic ice cream. Awesome stuff. The only downside to this place: no matter how much you brush your teeth, that smell isn't going away any time soon.
(5)Max L.
As a huge garlic enthusiast I was quite excited to try the food at TSR... it was just good, but definitely overpriced. Probably wouldn't go back.
(3)Andy N.
In all honestly, I had really low expectations for this place. The reviews on here were mixed and I didn't know what to think. My gf wanted to eat here and It's a place I've been eye'ing to try for awhile. I pulled up to the valet and it costs 4.50 to park. Make sure you have cash or you'll be running to the ATM down the corner. This is restaurant row and these are the must go to places in L.A. The Stinking Rose feels like a circus as you walk in. There's so much themes going on in each room of the place. One room is a dungeon, a garlic looking room. a light room, and many more. The pricing on the menu here also isn't too bad. The experience is an awesome one. I felt like I was at Disneyland/Cirque De Solei. They bring you out this awesome garlic dinner roll as the complimentary starter. It has a side of green garlic sauce to dip it in. You can also order the bagna calda. That dish is garlic, oil, and butter mixed together for bread dipping. I enjoyed mixing the green sauce with the bagna calda. My breath was on full stink mode after this. Prime Rib - I had this as my main entree. It had garlic yukon mashed potatos, swiss chard, horseradish, au jus, and the medium rare cooked prime rib. The mashed potatos were okay whipped. I had to put on some bagna calda on it to give it a kick. The swiss chard was really bland. I added a ton of salt and bagna calda on that. The prime rib was cooked to awesomeness. It was nice and tender. The horseradish and au jus dip went very well with the meat. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to. The Garlic Ice Cream - Is there really garlic in here? I couldn't taste it if there was. The ice cream was good. The chocolate caramel was good, too. The bad part was this came out the freezer pre made. It was hard as a rock. Good thing it tasted nice. Recommendation: Prime rib and garlic ice cream. and get extra garlic rolls! Oh and eat lots of gum and brush your teeth immediately after.
(4)Phil H.
This was an interesting place to eat. As you can see by the name of the restaurant, most of their dishes are garlic-infested. Some are hit and misses, but overall, I was satisfied and their decor is a bit out there. Makes some time to get used to but the thing that really weirded me out was their garlic ice cream. Yup, you read that right. Their garlic ice cream is quite interesting. It may sound daunting but surprisingly, it was actually good. Try it out whenever you go there.
(3)Tena'e W.
Hmmm hmm good! Everything cooked to perfection garlic inspired dishes. Last year I went there for my.birthday. I felt like I was in little Italy look the decor soothing atmosphere. The food was yummy made beautifully from the garlic pesto to the crab I enjoyed. My moms chicken was delicious garlic mashed potatoes soo good. Garlic ice cream.I.didn't like the bar has wonderful cocktails tv for the games. Nice setup for the gourmet items. Oh yeah I.will be back!!
(5)Mel G.
Too much of a beautiful thing.
(3)Fanny H.
Strictly for the service. Made reservations for a party of 5 on Saturday night at 8:30pm. Arrived right on time and went inside to tell the hostess we were here only to be greeted by a MOB of people waiting both inside and outside the restaurant to the point where it could deemed a fire hazard. First, I don't understand why there were so many people at the hostess counter. It's not THAT hard to maintain the guestlist, especially with such a flawed system such as the one this place has. Second, this place does not adhere reservations. Now maybe this was because it was Father's Day weekend and it was crazy busy, but there are absolutely no excuses. For what should be an established restaurant such as Stinking Rose, I would assume they know how to manage a crowd and be able to run a busy night smoothly. They did not do that. My party was told it would be a 45min to an hour wait and when we pried for more information as to why we would have to wait with reservations in our hand, the hostess dare retaliated with a response along the lines of how they couldn't kick out people who are seated at the tables and that there were parties who got there before us that they have to seat first. Uh, we understand that, what we did NOT understand was why you would overbook the night or allow such an influx of patrons without reservations to be seated over those with reservations. In summary, we found out that reservations did not matter here. If your reservations are at 8:30pm and you get there at 8:30pm, somebody who walked through the door at 8:29pm without a reservation would be seated before you. Last time I checked, that is NOT how a reservation works. A reservation calls for a table to be held and reserved for you at the allotted time for your party; Stinking Rose does not do that. They also told us that they would prioritize our party since we did have reservations but if having our party as priority still resulted in an hour wait, then there is something really wrong with your system. Luckily, our party got dropped off and did not have to go through valet. Would've been a waste of our time AND money. As much I want to try this place, pass. Maybe the SF location will fair better, but let's be honest, I'm not willing to sacrifice the time and effort to find out if that is indeed the case.
(1)Cassandra Y.
The Service: Great, very attentive. The Food: A little bit tooo much garlic for me. The appetizer, banga calda, is excellent. The garlic is super soft. But after a few hours... my tummy is not happy (too much garlic!!) The Parking: Valet parking. Challenge to find street parking.
(3)Juan M.
This is a pretty nice restaurant in Beverly Hills. The thought of Garlic on everything sort of turn me off, however, my wife wanted to go. I order steak and lobster, and I will say it has been one of the best dishes I have had. The food tasted amazing and the vibe was great. I recommend trying this place if you're in the area. Wish it was closer to where I live.
(5)Rachel B.
One word for this place: FUN! Let me elaborate a little... It's a little like a chain Italian place, in that it's all theme, all the time. The food is definitely more imaginative and better quality than what you'd get at Bucca De Crappo, or Cheesecake Craptory. I would not take a date here! It's way too kitschy for date night. But it's fun! I went with a group for a graduation dinner. We ordered the Garlic Ice Cream as a starter- it's a subtle flavor, and if you have it for dessert, you probably won't notice it! They kept the garlic rolls coming while we waited for our food- it was a busy Saturday night, so it was understandable that the service was a little slow. But yeah, noticeably slow, bordering on inattentive. The food itself was decent, but slightly short of amazing. I ordered veggies & mashed potatoes along with a double crab & mussels platter. The veggies were steamed with an olive oil drizzle, a type of prep best reserved for catering, not really inspired or memorable in any way, which is a shame! There's nothing as good as oven roasted veggies with garlic & oil, but alas, this is why people love coming to my house to eat! The crab & mussels were OK- they came on one of those gigantic fajita platter deals that smokes and sputters and generally creates a burn hazard on your table top. Again- Fun! but not super great for the food. Mussels were definitely overcooked as a result... and both the mussels and the crab were "flash-fried", so there was a dry, oily crust on all the shells. It didn't really do anything to improve the taste of the crab, and it was really, really messy... I suspect there's a MUCH better way to get some garlic flavor into king crab legs! All in all, we dropped about $100 for two people- not bad considering the amount of food, but not a spectacular meal for $100. Luckily we had a big group of fun friends to keep me feeling like it was a two-star experience!
(3)Vatsa S.
We were in LA Area during one the weekends and decided to try this Stinking place! Had heard great reviews of this place and decided to give it a try. We were seated in a sort of private booth area. It was like dining inside a tent. The wall were bright red with painting of different suburban/urban places. The decor was different but we liked it. Mind, I am not a garlic person but my other half is and we are vegetarians. We ordered the Garlic fries, the only veggie entree on the menu Portobello Mushroom and Lasagna from the pasta menu. While waiting for food, we were served with bread basket. The breads were good, but delicious with the chopped garlic and olive oil mixture. We almost finished the entire garlic-oil mixture, provided in a decent sized glass container, before our foot arrived. I garlic fries were good but nothing special. I thought the Mushroom dish was ok, but the Lasagna was great. After eating so much delicious bread, we could not finish the dishes. We packed the leftovers. Overall the food was great and so was the experience. We will try the one closer to home in San Francisco sometime in near future. Who would have thought food with so much garlic would taste good as well!
(4)Rene N.
How was our experience? Eh... Walking in, I didn't expect to be welcomed by the smell of public restrooms... but that's exactly what happened. Public restrooms and the smell of garlic are not exactly the best combo. When checking in, it took the FIVE girls about 15-20 seconds to recognize us. Almost like a "who's going to check them in" kinda situation. Finally one helped us, confirmed our reservation and said it'd be 10 mins. I let that go, it was a Saturday night and they were busy. We ordered the Bagna Calda as recommended by almost everyone in reviews... we weren't impressed. I'm Italian and a HUGE fan of garlic, but we had about one or two dips and we were done. We actually enjoyed the olive oil with the fresh garlic they had on the table more than the Bagna Calda, but hey at least we can say we tried it. My wife ordered the 40 Cloves Chicken & I ordered the baby back ribs. After each of us tried a rib we sent the plate back as the rack had too much fat. They were nice enough to take it off of the tab. Kudos for that I guess. We enjoyed two drinks, she had two beers and I had a Toothy Fruity (basically a Mai Tai) and Blood Orange Martini. Neither were anything special. The wall of hot sauces is impressive, and the band is nice. Loud enough to flow through the restaurant but not too loud to interrupt your meal. Maybe I just went in with high expectations due to the great reviews but I was actually a little disappointed. Not exactly how I wanted to spend our first anniversary but it was something different. The parking has its pros and cons. They MAKE you valet ($4.50 charge) and while they are quick to take your car, it takes about 10-15 mins for them to get it from the "other lot" if it isn't parked in the main one. It's nice to pull up and get out, not have to worry about finding parking in LA... but when I'm ready to go I'M READY TO GO and waiting around with a bunch of people b*tching about how long it's taking to get their car wasn't exactly how I wanted to end my evening. Will we ever be back? Probably not. It's over priced and overrated. Just my opinion, maybe it was just our experience but first impression is everything.
(2)Megha M.
It was a super fun place for dinner on a Saturday night. It was pretty crowded, and some people were really dressed up while others were quite casual, but for some reason, it seems to work either way. The decor is unlike anything I've seen before! It's quirky but not trashy, so I really enjoyed that. Service was great as well. You get free garlic rolls all night. Food is pricey but portions are big so you can share. Try the garlic ice cream-it's really interesting. Definitely coming back, but only with people who like garlic because otherwise they will hate you for it...
(4)Megan N.
I went here for the first time yesterday evening for dinner and was completely won over!!! They even have swanky bathroom decor! We sat at a table which had a canopy over it with drapes that you could shut for more privacy. I ordered the filet mignon, and my grandmother ordered the 40 garlic clove chicken. We both had the garlic mashed potatoes and their house salad with the garlic dressing. My grandmother's chicken was delicious. It was tender and juicy, made even better with a roasted clove of garlic mashed on top. My filet was (seriously) the best steak I've ever had in a restaurant. I ordered it medium rare, but it came out rare -- which I ended up absolutely loving!! So it was a happy accident. The gravy...or juice that was on the plate was great when I mixed it with my mashed potatoes. We also ordered the Garlic Soaking in a Hot Tub....which is basically roasted garlic served in a pool of olive oil. They present it in a cast iron skillet and set it on top of a tea light candle to keep it a little warm. The cloves are soft and warm, so you can spread them out over the bread they serve you when you first sit down. YUMMY! To end the meal, we both ordered the garlic ice cream which was sooo good. It's served in this really cool looking cobalt blue, frosted dish (I'd love to know where they came from, I'd like to have them for my own home). The ice cream looks vanilla, but it's like they poured a thin coating of chocolate fudge over the scoop of ice cream and put it in the freezer just long enough for the fudge to become gooey when you stick a spoon in it. Whatever they do, its sooo yummy. I'm not normally an ice cream person, but I'd go back again just for this. (You know, even if the steak hadn't been the most awesome steak ever. heehee) It's a little pricey....but I think it's worth it for a really good meal every now and then. I'm already looking forward to my next meal there!! Olive oil and garlic.....mmmmmMMMMM. =)
(5)Mimi L.
I don't get the hype. At the price you're paying, you'd expect to be in a fairly elegant restaurant, but the Stinking Rose is far from it. Each of their rooms is decorated with a different theme - we sat in some room that reminded me of the Sistine Chapel gone wrong - and while it IS kind of fun, it also creates an overly-eclectic, clashing look. Also, their tables are way too close together - the woman who sat behind me had a huge mass of curly hair and it kept tickling me throughout dinner. Gross. As far as the food goes...some of the entrees that my friends ordered were pretty good, I guess (steak & salmon). I made the mistake of ordering the tiger prawns ($23) - 2 puny shrimp on a pile of noodles. The taste was okay, but it looked completely unappetizing. We all shared an order of garlic ice cream at the end, and THAT was my favorite - not because it was good, but just because it was so interesting. It was one of those foods that you'd take a bite of, wince and think "oh WOW...", then take another bite a few seconds later because you've forgotten that you didn't exactly enjoy the taste. Last thing - your breath WILL smell.
(2)Kelly M.
Do you love Garlic??? I mean no really....do you luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuvvvvvvvvvv Garlic??? Well if you do and there's no chance of your being a Vampire...this is the place for you. Not only a great bar to hang out in....but amazing food, and the best part??? Garlic Ice Cream. No joke.
(5)Cathy K.
I love garlic and garlic loves me. Dare I venture, then, that the Stinking Rose is a restaurant right up my alley? Call first to make a reservation, not necessarily because it's mandatory, but just because it's fun to listen to the Dracula-esque voice that's recorded on their answering service! I always get a kick out of the "Thannnk you forrrr cah-ling the STINKing Rrrose~" When you first step into the restaurant, the first thing you will notice will be the dim red lighting that predominates the entire building. You will also notice the racks and racks of interestingly bottled olive oils, preserves, and whatnot, garnished with bunches of garlic bulbs everywhere. It's eclectic, it's kitschy, it's fun! The food here is not exactly the best (I've had almost everything on the menu), but the massive doses of garlic that are infused into every plate makes everything MUY PALATABLE! Yummers. Always ALWAYS order the Bagna Calda. It consists of whole cloves of garlic slow simmered in olive oil peppered with anchovies (I know I don't eat seafood, but for this, I have to make an exception!). It comes out on a cast iron skillet sitting atop a candle-lit grate (so that it stays warm throughout), and it's soooo soft that you use it to spread on your bread, just like butter! Oh, yum. It's definitely a popular favorite. Don't order the pastas, because they're probably the worst things on the menu, but the prime rib is always a hit, and I've enjoyed the pork chops there as well. Other steaks are just whatevers (might as well get the prime rib if you're in the mood for beef), but the ribs are actually quite yummy, too. DO NOT bother with the garlic ice cream. Does it sound gross to you? If so, then you're right on the money. It doesn't just sound gross, it tastes gross. Skimp on dessert altogether, because once you get your bill, a tasty treat comes right along with it! As "breath savers," they offer this Italian jelly candy. It's hard candy, but it's chewy, too. They come in all sorts of great fruity flavors. These little candies might not seem substantial, but trust me, they're sooo addicting. In fact, I always wheedle the waiter into packing up several handfuls in my to-go bag for me! ^^ Actually, I love these candies so much that I used to special order them from a candy store in Big Bear. Unfortunately, they don't sell them anymore, so I have no supplier left. So, every time I end up at Stinking Rose, I have to stock up my personal stash! Come to think of it, DO NOT ask the wait staff for extra candies! They're MINE!!! LEAVE THEM FOR ME!!!
(4)Heather S.
I'm giving the Stinking Rose 1 star for its fun decor. As I was rushed to "Dracula's Lair," apparently the furthest corner of the restaurant, I wasn't able to catch too many glimpses of the main dining rooms but the Halloween style cobwebs and wine-cellar decorations were cute for what they were. I am also giving the Rose 1 star for offering pitchers of Guiness, always a plus. Other than that, the Rose was a disappointment. The roasted rabbit was dry, the bagna calda garlic spread was only so-so, and overall, I was left wanting more garlic! Unless you like overcooked cloves, the actual taste of garlic is strangely absent from the food. My boyfriend had the short RIB, yes thats singular, even though I believe the menu read "ribs" and while he liked it, I thought it tasted a little soft and mushy. Would not return. Not even for a trial. For $80+ for two people, you could find better.
(2)Stella C.
Disclaimer: This review is not about the food. I am seriously disappointed. My boyfriend and I wanted to go to a special place on Valentine's Day and we had heard a lot of good things about this place (plus I love garlic). He made a reservation, through Yelp I might add, for 9:00 P.M. When we arrived, on time, I thought there was some sort of wedding / group party / very large get-together of people who all know each other and will be sitting in a room together and my RESERVED table will still be mine. Wrong. The line was out the door, filled with couples leading to the front desk and out the back onto the street. We waited in line for 45 minutes just to tell this damn restaurant, Hey! We're here! And we wouldn't have been late if it weren't for this baffling line that shouldn't have to stand in because we made a RESERVATION. And then, we had a revelation. Every single person in front of us and to the back of us had a reservation. The Stinking Rose literally triple-booked or maybe even quadruple-booked itself on Valentine's Day. Without receiving an apology, we were told that it would be another 45 minute wait. My boyfriend and I squeezed ourselves into the bar area, that actually would have been quite roomy had there not been 100 other people standing there as well. By this time, it was almost 10:30 P.M. and we were starving. There was nowhere to sit and practically nowhere to stand either. We ended up going to the Norm's up the street because we couldn't wait any longer and I had an early morning job obligation. Thanks, Stinking Rose, for turning a sure thing, into stink. I think management here needs to learn what a reservation means. They should have had a no reservation policy if they were planning to triple-book AND allow people in on a first come first serve basis. A reservation means a reservation. That means if I come at the time of my reservation, I will be seated within 10 minutes of my reservation. I have been to plenty of even low-end restaurants that understood the meaning of a reservation. I have been to plenty of restaurants that wouldn't seat my party because an empty table belonged to a party with a reservation. If a restaurant is not willing to do that, then don't allow reservations. Simple. Professionalism begins not when a patron is seated, but when the first point of contact occurs. Dining is about the experience as much as it is about the food. I was quite excited to try this restaurant. After this awful experience, no thanks.
(1)Orenzo G.
Everything on the menu is great! I was a little disappointed in the silence of the lamb shank. But Seriously everything else is great like there tureens. It has a great atmosphere and awesome servers. The bar has great prices but he employees at the bar, from when i have been there, always seem to frantic and frustrated and they are very rude and impersonal.
(4)Anita W.
I love garlic..absolutely love it.. This place is creative and even puts garlic in ice cream, which actually, is very good. I've been here a handful of times and have been very satisfied each time. I've had the garlic steamed clams, the salmon ravioli, neon ravioli,the bagna calda, and probably a few others..but everything there was good. Their service is SUPER quick for this type or restaurant. We had just finished ordering when the waiter brought us our lattes. Apparently, they have a handheld digital system that sends orders as they type them in. Nonetheless, -1 star because the salmon ravioli was too salty and the clams lack the "umph" from everything else. Ooh! anything thing I forgot to mention is their tiramisu..it definitely hits the spot.
(4)Tajira M.
So as much as I love the plethora of garlicky food here, the service does stink, as Carrie said. We had a reservation, which of course they didn't have written on their list, but they agreed to seat us right away. As one host was leading us to our table, I took a spill right there on the tiled floor. Something was wet, and all over my pant leg. And no, I didn't put it there, nor did I pee on myself..lol. The host and the hostess both came over to see if I was okay, though my tiny Asian mom was the one to try and help me off the floor. At no time did they try to file a report, nor did their manager ever come to my table to see if I was okay. I was fine -- just scraped a knee -- but I'd never been to a place where they wouldn't just want to make sure. I mean seriously, this is the lawsuit era -- what were they thinking? Anyway, the food is never an issue here, hence the 4 stars. I didn't want my spill to ruin the meal, so I tried to ignore that it happened, though my knee was throbbing. They brought plenty of bread, and we ordered the iron skillet shrimp as an appetizer. Great flavor, not overcooked, and most of the shells came right off (peel and eat). My mom and dad both had strawberry mojitos, which I found too sweet, and I had a melon mojito. The melon was really subtle, but nice. At least I could still taste the rum and mint. Mom had the garlic crusted ribs, dad had the Italian meatloaf, bf had the chicken and asparagus pasta, and I had the garlic braised short ribs. Yum. My short ribs were moist and super tender, and everyone loved the garlic mashed potatoes. We were there for my mom's birthday, and they didn't disappoint here. Our server brought my mom some of their signature garlic ice cream, along with the Tortuga rum cake that she'd ordered. Both were great, and the rum cake was STRONG. Good. She had an espresso and we were ready to go. Mostly a good time, though if you fall on their wet floor, expect them to stand there and stare at you. I'm a fan of their food, not their service.
(4)ML A.
OMG i love garlic and i love this place! i highly recommend the garlic chicken, the garlic fries, and the tub of garlic appetizer. every time we go to this place, i can't wait to have the garlic ice cream too! i know it SOUNDS gross, but it TASTES so good. warning: you WILL smell like garlic the next day, but who cares.
(5)Christopher D.
My ex gf took me here once for my bday and the food was average. I think this place is way over hyped. I had prime rib and it was pretty dry and was not tender. The service was pretty prompt and they were friendly, but the place was fairly empty. Valet parking is right in front, so that's pretty easy.. Would I come here again? Probably not, but the atmosphere was romantic and it was a good experience.
(3)Becca T.
First thought came to my mind when I first heard of this place is that "Omg, I'm gonna smell like garlic!"... haha. To my surprise, it wasn't as overpowering as I've thought it'd be. Came here last night to celebrate my friend's Bday. We got seated in one of the bigger dining rooms since there were 8 of us. I ordered the boneless short ribs & it was pretty good. The meat was soft & wasn't chewy. The Bday girl ordered the pork chop & that one was yummy. My friends & I tend to always order different plates so that we'd get to pick on each other's food... Sharing is caring =). Another friend ordered the rabbit plate. None of us had rabbit meat before so it was interesting. All I have to say is that it tasted like chicken. Come to think of it, almost everything tastes like chicken.... hahahaha. Their pasta dishes were good too. Basically everything was good. Like everyone else said, they have garlic in everything. I like the decor of the place. Btw, they have a wooden rocking chair in the shape of the Fertility God in the women's restroom. Sit on it & you shall be fertile... haha. I thought it was kinda creepy @ first to have that thing there. Of course, we all sat on it & it wasn't comfortable... yet there was a sign said "Comfortable if you're pregnant.".. Duh! None of us were so of course we couldn't manage to get in & out of that thing... hahaha. Yes, we can be dorks sometimes ^_^ Anyway, we also tried their infamous garlic ice cream. First taste of it was good but then you get this big garlic after taste though. The garlic after taste of the ice cream was more powerful than any of their entree dishes. They even drown that thing in caramel & it still didn't help. Garlic is an acquired taste. Stinking Rose is a good place to check out if you have never been there. The price is a bit more pricey compare to any other Italian eateries. The alcoholic beverages weren't strong though. I had a strawberry mojito & I barely tasted the alcohol in it. Food is edible if you don't mind the garlic. It left a good impression on me but didn't leave a GREAT impression... but I wouldn't mind coming back though. P.S: I brushed my teeth & rinsed my mouth w/ listerine, but I can still taste the garlic from the food. Bring gum w/ you if you came here on a date or plan to go out afterward =).
(4)Sandy L.
The Stinker~affordable decent Italian food. Would I bring my date here? Depends if I'll being giving kisses that night. They use a lot of garlic so for some of you out there trying to avoid smacking lips, come here for dinner. Don't be lame and say "ewww....so much garlic...blah blah whine whine" The restaurants name says it all. Friendly staff. Oh... and those of you who turns bright red whenever you drink, come drink at this place. The red lighting helps..so you can't really tell.
(3)Chris D.
Donna and I came here back in 2008 for lunch before Donna had a pre-operation appointment at Cedars-Sinai. We both enjoyed it thoroughly and wanted to come back. We both had the day off today and had some business to attend in Hawthorne so we figured it was the perfect day to eat here again! To start you get a plate of DELICIOUS garlic topped rolls which they place over a candle to keep warm. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… Most people order the bagna calda appetizer which is garlic cloves, extra virgin olive oil, butter, and anchovies to spread over the rolls. It's delicious and we had it during our last visit but I actually prefer the free jar of yumminess already on the table. It's raw garlic, evoo, and parsley. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… If it's your first time definitely order the bagna calada. Don't be scared away by the word "anchovy", their is just a hint for flavor. Donna and I both started with a cup of their roasted garlic potato onion soup which is topped with a pastry cap. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… It smelled wonderful but it didn't do much for me. It had a decent flavor but was very watery with not enough chunks. I wouldn't order it again and I wouldn't recommend it. For my entree I ordered the medium sized sizzling iron skillet with roasted mussels and shrimp. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… This wasn't just good..... it was FROCKING PHENOMENAL. A dozen shrimp and more than two dozen mussels come out sizzling hot. The waiter pours this dark liquid all over them which causes the skillet to explode with steam, sizzling sounds, and a heavenly aroma. You get two tiny forks to peel the shrimp and pull out the mussels and a bowl to discard shells. To dip you get a fantastic mixture of butter, garlic, and I believe Parmesan cheese. Every single bivalve and crustacean was melt in your mouth tender. Cooked to perfection. 99% of it was grit free and not one single closed up dead mussel. I highly HIGHLY recommend you get this as an appetizer to share with the table or to eat as an entree. I'm not that big a fan of mussels but these made me a believer. Donna had the gnochetti which were tiny gnocchi, asparagus, pine nuts, and garlic Gorgonzola sauce. It was a huge bowl. She said it had a great flavor but the gnocchi texture was off. I've read other reviews saying the same thing. She doesn't recommend it but she did like the flavors. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… We also shared a small order of garlic fries which was such a big portion we only ate half. They were nice and crispy but they were kind of skimpy on the garlic/cheese topping. yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… To drink we both had mojitos which is rum, lime, fresh mint, and soda. Donna had the pineapple version. I've never had a mojito before so I can't compare it to other places but we both thought they were very refreshing but you won't catch a buzz. Our waiter Aaron L was outstanding. He had a great sense of humor and was on point with service. The guy at the front desk was hilarious too. Donna and I are both fans of this place. The food is tasty, the prices are reasonable given the area, and it has a great vibe. I highly recommend you give this place a try! Just make sure you don't have any close encounters planned because you will STINK for days. Lunch time has free parking until 4pm.
(4)lisa z.
*sigh* I reaaalllly wanted to like this place. Ever since I heard about it I have been wanting to go there, because I love me some garlic, and was dying to try the garlic ice cream. So, this year on my birthday, my Italian family (who prefers authentic hearty Italian cooking) made the trek to Beverly Hills to give the Stinking Rose a shot. When I first walked in, my excitement grew, as the decor was brilliant with private little date booths, and bright garlicky murals all over the walls. The ambiance was totally there, and the scene was set. They brought roasted garlic cloves over the table to spread on bread, which were a tid bit disappointing (I roasted some the other day at home that tasted better). We then ordered our drinks which weren't even alcohoholic, and dug into the garlic spread bread not knowing that the drinks would take 10 years to get there. My brother sipped his iced tea when he finally got it and spit it out cuz he said it tasted like garlic. (probably his imagination playing tricks on him) I tasted mine, and there was something not-quite-right about it. Ick. Tastes like they hadn't cleaned the iced tea container in ages. So we all ordered different dishes, from steak to gnocchi, to chicken, and I had a little taste of everyone's food, and was not very impressed. My gnocchi was waaaaay to thick and creamy. I love thick and creamy, but they over-flavored it so that it was nastily pungent. The chicken came with dark meat, and the steak had very little flavor. The garlic mashed potatoes were allright, but overall I was just really disappointed. I finished the night off with the garlic ice cream I had been dying to taste. And it tasted like.....*drum roll*...........garlic ice cream. It was cool. Nothing special, but not bad. Coming from an Italian family, I know how delicious things taste when properly flavored with garlic. It was very strange to me, but it seemed like at the restaurant known for cooking with garlic, they didn't really know how to cook with garlic. I think this place's popularity is purely due to it's being a novelty. It is in Beverly Hills, therefore frequented by stars, and the idea is original....I will give them that. Perhaps they just need some new recipes....
(2)Melody C.
First timer. My ex and I are big garlic fans, and what do people say.."go eat at The Stinking Rose if you're a garlic fan!" It was her birthday, so why the hell not. Food is pretty decent. But...not garlicky enough for me, at all. I mean I'm not such a fan that I consume obscene amounts of garlic with every meal, but I easily infuse more garlic flavor when I cook at home than what I ate tonight. So what did I eat? First, I had the roasted shrimp. That was yummy, though it was a tad bit salty. Roasting the shrimp allowed me to actually eat the shell along with the meat because it was actually crispy. Yes, I eat the shell when I can, because first of all, I'm lazy, and second of all, it actually helps lower the high cholesterol of the shrimp. It came with melted butter with either lemon or vinegar in it, which tasted great but I didn't taste much of garlic with this dish? I ended up putting the fresh raw garlic condiment they had on the table on the shrimp to enhance the garlic flavor. Then my ex had garlic crusted ribs, and I the garlic chicken with 40 cloves. Both came with a side of mashed potatoes. My ex's dish was not too bad, but again, I tasted more rosemary than garlic. The rosemary was a bit strong, and maybe they were pretty liberal with the garlic but the pungency of rosemary overpowered it? I dunno, but if it were up to me I would've put cumin & thyme on ribs rather than rosemary; that would complement chicken better in my opinion. Speaking of chicken..I wasn't very happy with my dish. I was really just expecting a good roasted chicken with garlic, tons of garlic, I mean, it says 40 cloves of garlic, so it had to be somewhat garlicky, right? Well, it had a subtle hint of garlic on it, but 40 cloves? I don't really taste that. My chicken was a bit bland, it had a lot more white meat than dark meat, and it was glazed with this..sweet cream sauce, which tasted kinda like blue cheese ish? Which seemed really unsuitable for the dish? I think if they were to put that sauce on it, they should at least say it on the menu "chicken glazed with sweet sauce" instead of just "roasted chicken" Now, aside from my chicken, it had maybe 7 cloves of roasted garlic on the side, with a droopy stalk of green onion. I dunno where the rest of the 33 cloves of garlic was, but it wasnt stuffed in the chicken. When I tasted the garlic on the side, it was the most ungarlicky garlic I've ever had. And the green onion too, tasteless. I really think they over roasted the garlic and the green onion until all the flavor leaked out of it. Actually, it tasted like they boiled the garlic and green onion to death then threw it on the dish. The check took too long, and they packed my ex's ribs without bbq sauce. So..overall..I think the food is not bad, but nothing is garlicky enough and the foods don't taste very balanced (weird spices and sauces that did not complement), so the price did not justify the food. The shrimp was good, and the best thing was the raw minced garlic infused with green onion condiment thing on the table. I would go back there again, not for the garlic, but to give other foods a chance. The reason I give it 3 stars is because my experience with the food failed to equal the reputation of the restaurant.
(3)Gloria Y.
It was not garlicky enough. I was expected to be blown away with garlic, but I wasn't. Neither was my husband. We got there by 6 and was seated immediately. It wasn't busy at all. We had to go early because my husband wanted to be home by 8 to watch Smallville. The decor reminded my husband of a 1890s brothel for some odd reason. We kept expecting can can dancers to come out at any moment. To me, it was a tad too theme-y, with the "Lover's Lane" and cheap tapestry surrounding the table. It did ensure more privacy, but when the entire area was empty, and you seat the following couple the table behind us where they proceed to converse loudly, the whole privacy thing was mute. The music selection was also really weird. Then there's the food. Like I said, it was definitely not garlicky enough. There was a pesto with garlic spread that we both enjoyed, but that was the only item that was garlicky. We ended up spreading that over everything. The bread was also very warm and fresh, which went great with the garlic spread. We ordered calamari first, and it did come out promptly. It was good, but unfortunately not that special. It wasn't seasoned with extra garlic, and the sauces weren't really garlicky either. But it was still good. I ordered the braised short ribs with creamed spinach, while my husband ordered the filet mignon with creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The short ribs tasted like Chinese braised beef. I don't think it was worth the $20. It was decent, and the meat was tender. The spinach was delicious, and not too creamy either. The meat came with some roasted garlic, which made the beef taste a little different from ordinary Chinese braised beef. The filet mignon was decent. We ordered it medium rare, but it was more on the rare side then medium rare. My husband just smothered a thick layer of the garlic spread to get some garlic taste on it. The mashed potatoes however, was really delicious. Very rich and homey. For dessert, we got the garlic ice cream. By then, my sense of taste was a bit out of wack from eating all that garlic spread, I could barely taste garlic in the ice cream. The chocolate/caramel sauce on top was delicious. My only beef with it is that the ice cream, sauce, and the dish were all frozen together. That made the ice cream really hard to scoop. Overall, it was OK. I don't know if I'll be going back there anytime soon. I might take my dad there for fun, but I'll have to make sure he doesn't order any steak, because he'll be disappointed. Perhaps we'll try some pasta next time.
(2)Jennifer L.
I love garlic! I enjoy the atmosphere and sitting in semi private booths. Dessert: be a daredevil try the Garlic ice cream..it's pretty tasty. Personally I love the rum cake. Those who complain about too much garlic, HELLO, read the name of the restaurant. STINKING ROSE aka Garlic. Maybe not the best place for a first date, or is it? Perfect place if you know you don't want to be on this date. Shoot, I gave away one of my secrets. :P
(4)Jeff K.
i heard about this place through a friend of mine and since it was my mom's bday a few days back, i went with the fam for a belated bday dinner. valet is $4.50 and easily bypassable if you do street parking on La Cienega. i think the metered parking is free after 6 or something. upon entering the restaurant, you're greeted with a red carpet and an interior area that's wallpapered with portraits of celebrities and whatnot. the decor was almost like Buca di Beppo and was scattered all over the place. it's kinda interesting to stare at and gaze upon all the old skool photos of celebs. i made reservations ahead of time, but there wasn't a wait at all on a Tuesday night. we were given the option for booth or cabana...and i chose the cabana for a more intimate family mood. but be warned that these seating areas can be quite cramped and if there's a party behind you, they might bump into your chair! our server was very friendly and gave us time to browse through the short two page menu. we ordered the famous 'bagna calda'...which is the baked garlic in olive oil, butter, and herbs (~$5), which also came with some foccacia bread. the garlic was so tender, it spread just like butter on the bread and really melts in your mouth. the garlic isn't too overpowering after being baked, but just enough to kick up the taste. as for our entrees, we ordered 3 prime rib (medium rare, comes with garlic mashed potatoes, creamed spinach) and chose to go for the SLAB size (which is 24oz, compared to the large that is 18) for ~$45. might as well splurge the extra $5 difference for 6 more ounces of bloody goodness!!my mom ordered the shellfish pasta (which came with a lobster claw and other seafood mix) with interesting black noodles! the sauce was awesome and the noodles were very tasty. water was available to us in a ceramic pitcher on the table (which was quite heavy when full! had to have weighed at least 5 pounds!) and there was a garlic mash thingy with what looked like cilantro at the table as well. prime rib came with au jous and horseradish along with the sides and was cooked to perfection! the slab was definitely hard to conquer and i had to wimp out and get a doggy bag for the leftovers. the garlic mash was amazing and made even better by mixing up some of the bagna calda into it. the creamed spinach was decent, although i'm not much of a fan. after we stuffed ourselves to satisfaction, i decided to order a garlic ice cream to see what all the fuss was about. it was served with four spoons, so my fam could share. it looked like a vanilla/garlic ice cream with caramel on top served in a martini glass. upon my first spoonful, i could taste a hint of the garlic as it melted in my mouth. definitely took me by surprise and i couldn't stop going for spoonful after spoonful!! it's really addicting and such a unique flavor combination!! definitely a MUST TRY even if you're completely stuffed. the sweetness and little garlic kick it has is amazing and helps to even out that feeling of being stuffed. i'd definitely come back again in the summer to dine outside along the side patio area and enjoy some garlic ice cream when the weather starts to heat up!! oh and be sure to bring some gum for after the meal!!! haha
(5)Steven I.
Restaurant row...so many places to go! Next to a bunch of really nice restaurants, this place has to be good! Went here for a friend's 21st birthday because she really likes garlic. Therefor...where else would we go? Reservations were made and a buddy and I arrived about 45min early because we thought of traffic...none. Valet parking made it really easy to park because the streets...are hell. The valet did almost stall in my friend's car, but he didn't seem to mind. Upon walking in you can smell it, then you past the 2nd doors(yes there are 2 sets of doors with a small waiting area between), and BAM the garlic sort of smacks you...but in a somewhat good way. You arrive at the front desk(host stand) which also acts as a gift store with fun things to look at. We made our way to the bar to chill and have a drink before the rest of the party came and ordered a Calamari, which was pretty good. Expensive drinks of course, 2 drinks and a Calamari came to about $30 from what I remember. The rest of our party arrived and we sat. Looking at the menu you sort of...ponder what the hell am I supposed to get. Luckily I looked at some of the reviews here (Thank you!) and had no idea still...lol. So making it easy I just ordered the Filet, and shared a bottle of wine(Valley of the Moon) with my buddy. According to my birthday friend, the mojitos were wonderful. She was pretty drunk later(Lightweight). The service was very quick, didn't need to ask for anything. They give you water pitchers in the middle of the table so you can refill yourself, but those never went empty. Plates were removed quickly when they were done, and each member of the staff was very friendly and helpful, especially with the mass amount of cameras us asians carry...geez...I felt a little sorry for him lol. Last but not least...the infamous(famous?) garlic ice cream. Now...pretty much everyone forgot about it and was ready to go, when I saw another table eating it and making faces. I had to ask...we got a single scoop for free since he probably didn't feel like dealing with charging 1 ice cream, thanks for that. It's a scoop of garlic ice cream with chocolate syrup on top. Upon first bite, first taste...I wanted to make a face...but needed to see everyone else's expression. Salty sugar...that's how I can explain it. It's an experience...one I won't forget...not a bad one, but not a good one...just an experience.
(4)Huana P.
This restaurant is quirky--kind of like a Buca de Beppo revved up on steroids--but unique, so it was worth the visit up to crowded Beverly Hills. The highlight was the Bagna Calda, really soft garlic cloves preserved in olive oil and butter. When you spread the garlic clove onto the warm focaccia, it tastes pretty yummy. I must have eaten 10 pieces of focaccia before my entree got to me. They kept refilling our focaccia! My entree was excellent! Upon the waiter's recommendation, I got the Zuppa di Pesce, a seafood broth in the small size, which was actually pretty huge. I really liked my dish, but my other friends dishes were only okay. They all ordered meat dishes like the Lamb Shank, Baby Back Ribs and Short Ribs. According to them, the meat was not as tasty as meat at Lucille's BBQ. The Stinking Rose was nice enough to bring out one scoop of garlic ice cream with a candle on top for my friend's bday. Yay! The ice cream was definitely an experience, and the garlic flavor wasn't bad....although I probably won't have it again. As mentioned earlier, the food overall is okay, unless you get what I got, and then you'll be happy. The atmosphere is quirky-unique, and the women's bathroom is pretty hilarious. Just look inside and see!
(3)Cecilia G.
Had a great experience and the food was amazing! The filet Mignon was DELICIOUS! it melted in your mouth like butter! I cant stop talking about my experience there. LOVE IT!
(5)Sandy S.
You must get the Garlic Fries. It was soooooo gooood!!!! We had the Garlic Fries, Fried Calamari for the appetizers and I had the Pork Chop. The Pork Chop was amazing. The cut was pretty thick and the mashed potatoes that came with it was good...very garlicy. Service was pretty good. They only have valet parking which was $4.50.
(4)James H.
Two thumbs (or 5 stars for you yelpers) for this place! I made reservations here tonight for a bday and when called in to tell them i would arrive 45 mins sooner than expected, they gladly obliged. Valet was $5.50 but we were lucky enough to find street parking that's free after 6pm. Once we walked in it was sort of like walking into a buca di beppo which was dark with no windows and had a nice friendly atmosphere. The decorations were on point as well. Our server asked us if we wanted a private tent located near the entrance but we opted for the larger dining area. Once seated, our server gladly opened our bottle of wine with free corkage which was great. Bread was promptly served by another server. The bread was freshly baked and wasnt as soft as it could have been but no complaints. We choose to order the crab and large slab of prime rib (see picture) for $65. After a few sips of our wine and bread with the table garlic, the main course was here. The prime rib was well roasted with garlic and had garlic cloves on the top. Super soft and moist with our order of medium rare. After dipped in the au jus sauce, it was perfectly salted. I've had a little more melt in your mouth at other places but this place was pretty close. I actually prefer it over Lawry's. The crab was well seasoned with a light buttery taste. The crab was meaty and was easily cracked with the provided cracker. Mashed potatoes had the perfect taste of garlic in there as well. I'm not really a fan of creamed spinach that came with the plate but it wasn't bad here. After we finished our main course, they came by with the garlic hat to celebrate the birthday and garlic ice cream. hahah that garlic ice cream at first taste was like whoa.... because it tasted like garlic but on the second spoonful, it had less of that surprise factor. Good ice cream as a novelty but im not gonna order it by the quart for home. Good service, good atmosphere, free corkage, bday specials and great for a casual night out or a big celebration. Hard to say no to this place!
(5)Jem K.
/*Dine LA*/ Ordered the ff: - Stinking Rose House Salad - Bagna Calda - Italian Garlic Meat Loaf - Lasagna We used the Bagna Calda as a spread to the bread and added more of the chopped garlic - yum! The most garlicky bread ever.:) i even tried dipping it on the lasagna sauce. :) lasagna is filled with mushroom, eggplant, garlic, onion and spinach. meatloaf looked like a giant steak when it arrived. Theyre all delicious.:) dont care much about the salad though... For our anniversary, our server gave us garlic ice cream with candles that look like Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast.:) We were also wearing the garlic hats the whole time. It's free. Try it.:) just for fun
(4)Cathy G.
Any place where you see a server wearing a hat in the shape of a garlic clove tickles my fancy in more ways than one. People can talk about the interior decor all they want. To me, as long as the decor doesn't affect the taste of the food I could care less about colorfully painted walls. If anything, I say color adds character so bring on the food!! First off, let me just say I L-O-V-E garlic. I know you're saying to yourself "Geezus, how does this girl have a boyfriend?!?!" Luckily, he loves it just as much as I do so you know I'm a winner in all respects. When we came here, we were celebrating my bro's birthday so we had an ample chance to try a bit of everything. Let's start off - The bread topped with garlic and herbs. It was fresh and straight out of the oven. When I tore a piece off and dipped it in the olive oil/garlic/basil(?) pesto sauce, I was in heaven. Christ! If I could live on dinner rolls alone, this would be it. I had about 3 rolls before the entrees even arrived. Man, what a bread piggy!! It was a good thing I had iced tea on hand, otherwise, I'd be dead meat. Our entrees consisted of pasta, lasagna, calamari, salads, and a slab(which looked the side of a a cow...it was THAT thick) sided with sauce and a creamy horseradish mixture. It was all delicious. The steak practically melted in my mouth. You barely had to put pressure on the knife to cut it. For a steak that size, it was cooked to perfection. As for the pastas and lasagna, you couldn't really go wrong with either. Both were creamy and decadent, filled with garlic-y goodness and what have you. Just the mere thought of it now makes my mouth water. For dessert, we ordered the garlic ice cream which surprisingly was tasty to say the least. But it was one of those things - some people liked it, while others didn't. It had the creaminess of ice cream but it had the taste of garlic. To me, i thought the flavoring was just right. There was a nice balance of the sweetness from the garlic and the creamy texture of the cream in the ice cream. It was a great meal overall. I say try it at least once. It's not as bad or as stinky as people make it out to be. You'll thank yourself later. Trust me, I know I did. *nom nom nom* garlic bread.
(4)Christina H.
This restaurant is just what the name is! Stinking Rose. Smelly (good smelly) beauty. The food is awesome. I love garlic so this is definitely my type of restaurant. They use it in every way imagineable. Some of their dishes are really creative, too. If you get a chance, I recommend trying their garlic ice cream. Definitely not what you would've expected it to be. It actually tasted great! The interior is a bit much. There was so much red drapery. But they had these private areas that seemed really cool. The minus 1 star was for the fact that I think it was an old restaurant and therefore some of the decorations and seats seemed old. Not the good vintage kind of old. But almost like a moldy kind of old. And they dim the lights way too low as if to try and cover up the dirty areas.
(4)Nancy Y.
When my friend picked the Stinking Rose for her birthday celebration, I was ecstatic! I'm a garlic-lover and I was eager to eat at this infamous restaurant. I was in giddy anticipation of eating so much garlic that I was expecting my every pore to expell an odor worst than that of Pepe Lepew. So when I entered The Stinking Rose, I breathed deeply and waited for the pungent aroma of garlic to assail my olfactory senses. But as I took in another breath, I didn't smell anything? Hm.. odd, well maybe it will occur when I eat the food. Unfortunately, when I tasted the food I felt it wasn't thaat garlickly. This made me realize that perhaps the Stinking Rose is no match for my sino taste buds. Perhaps my asian eating palette makes me accustomed to pungent flavors? Nevertheless, even though the food was not overwhelmingly garlicky as anticipated, it was still delicious. For the appetizer we ordered the "Bagna calda" to spread on the house garlic bread. Bagna calda are oven-roasted garlic cloves doused in olive oil and butter. The carmelized garlic spreads like butter on the bread and yields a buttery, slightly nutty flavor. It kept my stomach warm and happy while waiting for the arrival of the main course. I ordered the 40 cloves garlic chicken. It contains the thigh and leg and the breast of the meat on bone. The thigh and leg was incredibly moist and tender and had a deeply entrenched garlic essence. The breast, on the otherhand was not nearly as tender. It, like most other chicken breast I've had is a little on the drier side but it was still flavorful. The mash potatoes on the side was particularly good. The garlic flavor was intense and simply melts in your mouth. I also had a sample of the Spicy prawns pasta. The prawns were infused with a rich red pepper and spicy essence and the spinach fettucine had a fresh, smooth texture. I would recommend both this dish and the 40 cloves garlic chicken. As for the ambiance, I was amused by the many different interesting visual features. Throughout the restaurant, there are various displays of cute and witty touches. For example, there is a huge mural painted in the main dining area of "Garlywood" and features many funny and humorous montages. The ladies room has an ancient "Fertility chair" for those to sit and determine whether a woman is pregnant. Overall, I had an excellent experience. Let's raise our noses high up to smell the glorious scent of the Stinking rose! Establishment Ratings --------------------------------- Pricing: $$$ Portion: **** Ambiance: *****! Service: **** Wait: **** (They take reservations) Parking: ** ($4 for valet) Cake-cutting fee: $10 Accept credit cards
(4)Jmaes C.
I like the advertising on TV. Food is good. Service is good. so why not trying it ? Because if you have a date and want to kiss her afterwards... you can kiss that idea goodbye. And if you have clients the next day and have to be at work at 7 am...maybe not a good idea. Does anybody has an idea on how to get rid of that terrible after smell ?
(4)Amy L.
Eclectic but inviting decor with comfy red booths, various interesting paintings all of garlic. The aroma of garlic laced savory meats was the first sensation I experienced while following the host to our destination. We were greeted by our server a few minutes after we sat down. He inquired about our beverage choices, and I ordered my usual, a Diet Coke. My friend ordered a Blue Cuban mojito which was deemed not so delicious after a couple sips. We perused the menus and ordered momentarily. The Bagna Calda, hot toasty buns, some baked with caramelized onions on top, and some with garlic olive oil, accompanied by a little pan of whole roasted garlic cloves in olive oil which you spread over the bread like butter. Amazing. The little pan was set atop a tealight so it stayed warm throughout the meal. I'd ordered a medium order of clams, but somehow received the mussels! I really wanted the clams but decided to try the mussels since they looked pretty delicious, and I despise sending food back. The medium order of mussels was a HEAPING pile, on a hot skillet, served with 2 sides of the best garlic butter I've ever had. They were extremely good and I highly recommend them, but next time I'll make sure I have the clams! We had to have a veggie, so I ordered the lightly breaded asparagus which was served with cocktail sauce. I thought that was a bit strange so I smeared everything with the cloves of garlic from our first appetizer. Next was the swiss chard fondue, also in a tiny metal skillet, and was reminiscent of spinach artichoke dip, served with toasted garlic rounds, garlicky creamy goodness. I was already full from the apps, but we were still expecting our entrees, the boneless short ribs(the meat was so tender it was literally falling apart with minor effort from my fork and knife, served with garlic mashed potatoes, swiss chard and whole roasted garlic cloves. My dinner companion had the 1/2 rack of garlic roasted baby back ribs which were crunchy on the outside, and tender on the inside, served with the same sides. We were stuffed and wrapped everything up as we were ready to burst at the seams. I couldn't leave without trying their garlic ice cream though, so that's what we had for dessert, garlic flavored ice cream covered in rich chocolate sauce. I actually enjoyed it, but my friend didn't. The first bite was a bit overpowering, but several bites later, i truly appreciated all the potent flavors that merged into one very rich and different ice cream! I really wanted the friggin clams! Dinner for 2 including tip $133.19
(4)Sumi A.
I LOVE this place!!! I was hooked after my first visit, and this is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in LA. To start, their garlic martini is absolutely wonderful, and the other signature cocktails (i've tried just about all of them) have been supreme! The garlic in a hot tub appetizer is such a unique and flavorful dish, and I just can't leave without finishing my meal with their colossal strawberry sundae. The zuppa de pesce is something i've ordered about 5 times, and it's better and better each time (i don't know how this is possible). The sizzling seafood platter is another favorite - it arrives steaming at your table and is great to share with friends. The atmosphere is very bright and friendly, the staff has always been pleasant and helpful. I return to this restaurant as much as possible, I force ALL of my friends to go with me at least once, and everyone knows this has a very special place in my garlicky heart.... and now that i've talked about it, I will have to plan a dinner there this week! Ahhh...
(5)Curtis C.
First visited some time in early 2007. Last visit was December 1st, 2007. Went here twice so far at the recommendation of a friend. Great environment but the location seems a tad difficult to get into. They have valet parking right in front. So if you're not okay with having someone park your car, you'd have to find parking on the street, I believe. First time I went, I took my sister-in-law and it was a very nice experience. Very "romantic" yet relaxing. I had made reservations online from OpenTable.com so it was a breeze getting a table. Only waited about 5-10 minutes. Although it sure did seem somewhat crowded (I believe it was either a Friday or Saturday evening). We both ordered the garlic cloves appetizer dish that is basically heated in oil and spread on bread. That sure felt somewhat "oily" but interesting. I'm not too into garlic but it was surely a new taste. She had ordered the rabbit and I ordered some fish, I believe (don't remember now). The food was fairly decent but slightly higher priced than normal. But, given the location and the atmosphere, it was somewhat expected. I don't remember the total for the dinner as she had "stolen" the bill from me. :/ The second time I went was for a "first date", so to speak. Great experience again and we only waited for about 5-10 minutes WITHOUT a reservation. We both went a tad bit more dressed up than usual and it seemed fine (although there were quite a bit of people in really casual attire). I had ordered us the same garlic appetizer dish which she said was quite interesting but very "oily" (which is to be expected since it's basically garlic cooked in oil) as well as some cheese/meat bread "snacks". Those were actually quite good yet the bread seemed too crispy for my tastes. I would order these again (probably not the garlic dish even though I believe it's one of their specialties). For dinner, she had ordered the rabbit (based on my recommendation from before) while I had ordered the blackened pasta. The pasta was superb and I would definitely order that again! Loved it! The service BOTH times was quite excellent. The waiters seem very friendly and the hostesses are extremely friendly. All in all, the entire experience was delightful. The only downfall of this establishment was the difficulty in parking without valet (I used valet both times) as well as the entrance. Seems too 'trafficy", if that's even a word. If you like garlic, however, this is THE place to check out. Definite tourist attraction. ;) - Curtis
(4)M N.
I love garlic, but this is just WAYY too much. I never thought I would get sick of garlic, but I did. The bagna calda is not recommended if there's only 2 people in yr party because its a BIG amount of garlic to try to finish ( probably about 3 BULBS of garlic soaking in warm olive oil...its pretty big for an appetizer) The prime rib was EXCELLENT! and the roasted chicken was GREAT. You will leave this place reeking of garlic EVERYWHERE, but you already know that...so be kind to the planet by taking some ANTI-GAS pills before AND after the meal...ooh, and a bucket of mints.
(4)Jiminy C.
Before I write this review, I must preface it by saying that my great grandparents were from Italy. I have garlic in my blood. So please exercise caution when reading this commentary.....as your ancestors might not have bestowed upon you the genes necessary for adequate garlic digestion. Grazie la mia Nona! Eh-hem. Ahhhh.....The Stinking Rose. How lovely is your name, and yet.....how incredibly uninviting. You'd think that a restaurant with the word 'stinking' in it would be a key place to avoid huh? But in this case...'stinking' is a synonym for gloooooriouuuuuuus! The handful of times that I've entered this surprisingly non-stinky restaurant, I have walked away a better woman. Ok, maybe not a better woman....but a BIGGER woman, yes. How could you not, when every single gosh darn thing on that menu is scrumdidliumptious?! Yes that's right. The food there is excellent. Not just excellent, but verrrrry excellent. I usually order the pork chops. A generous chop covered with caramelized apples and onions served with a warm helping of garlic mashed potatoes and all you can eat garlic buns. Need I say more? I have also sampled from the plates of my co-conspirators and have been wowed every time. Anything from meatloaf (anything but ordinary) to filet mignon. Boo-ya! But wait. Before you go darting off to garlic heaven, I must say one thing. Icecream. Thaaaaaat's right. You should not be allowed to set foot in that joint unless you sign a release form/contract. The release form so that you cannot legally sue the place when you wake up smelling to high heaven....killing your household plants and losing your job in the process. Reason for firing: Stank. Oh believe you me my friend....it'll happen. The contract, on the other hand, would be a written oath in the form of....THOU SHALT NOT REMOVE THYSELF FROM THE PREMISES WITHOUT EATING GARLIC ICECREAM LEST YE BE CAST INTO THE FIREY DEPTHS OF HELL. Wow. Who knew icecream could be so dangerous? Folks, I will say only this...there is something otherwordly about that bowl of icy goodness. It took me 3 visits to get up the nerve to eat that shiznit. And not because it was garlic helado...but because it sets you back a good 8 bucks. Um...Yeah. Waiter! I'll have the water refill please. Thanks so much. But on this particular evening, in this particular month of this particular year....a group decision made it possible to partake in the mystery desert. And boy were we glad we were all suckers for the cold stuff. Here comes a brief description. Wait for it.... The garlic is so subtle, you almost miss it. It's the aftertaste that gives it away. Like a big sister running to mom after you peed on the carpet. Damn it!! AHHHH!!!!!! She would have never KNOWN!!!! The thing that makes this concoction divine (As in...bust out the winged angels and harp playing cherubs) is that atop the half-dome of creamy white milkiness...is a blanket of Mole Caramel sauce. Did you read that last part? MOLE CARAMEL SAUCE. In other words, you have these three flavors bursting in your mouth like fireworks on the 4th: Garlic, Chocolate, and burnt caramel. Believe me when I say that it is worth a trip out to La Cienega just to experience this postre. So if you have the evening free and don't have to be anywhere or talk to anyone....or...be around any other living creature the next day, get'cho tooshie over there. It'll be well worth the ostracism.
(5)Moistnchewie L.
PROS: Delicious flavorful seafood and steak items Moderately priced Great date restaurant Purtini candies you receive at the end CONS: Valet parking only (unless you want to look for street parking) OK waiters (they're friendly but don't do much for you)
(4)Tina M.
Quick reason: Service: Meh... food took FOREVER even though the time we went there was literally NO ONE there (it was around 4, 4:30). Food: 1/2 really good, 1/2 really terrible Decor: Very nice. I like the eclectic look While the waiter and random food service guy tried to "help" us a lot by refilling our drinks and asking us how we were doing, the food took forever. I think it had been sitting under a heat lamp too because the potatoes had that hard film on it. (By the way, I ordered the spreadable oil drenched garlic + bread, and the surf and turf with Filet Mignon, Crab, Mashed Potatoes and Creamed Collard Greens... I also got the garlic ice cream). In terms of food the cooked garlic that you spread on bread was absolutely wonderful. I loved eating that, however the bread seemed cheap quality. As for the Filet Mignon... They split it... while I usually don't mind as I understand they need to cook it faster, the meat itself was small (it was more akin to a petit filet mignon) and wasn't that great quality. Still some strong fibers and no real homogenous fat distribution. I noticed some areas were fatty and others not. The crab was terrible. I eat crab VERY often and always 100% fresh. I always buy them alive and kicking from the Chinese market near me. The one they gave me was either 1. frozen before they gave it to me or 2. they cooked it twice (I noticed the edges were fried) or overcooked it because I noticed it was dry and tough. It was NOT juicy at all like I've had with the Dungeness crab I've cooked myself and the crab I've eaten at other restaurants like The Golden Turtle in San Francisco. For the price they gave me, my surf and turf was definitely not worth it. I also would have thought they'd make some kind of garlic sauce for the steak like they did for the fried crab. It was just plain steak. The taters and collard greens were good however. Since a whole crab at the Chinese place is usually about $10 (2 lbs), a live 1/2 crab would cost them $5... Filet mignon that they got would have probably cost about $10... plus mash and collard greens... possibly another $6... and they charged me $44... so 44-21, $23 bucks then probably another $5 bucks for labor.. so $18 profit... HELL NO. The garlic ice cream was really good but strange. When you first eat it the sweetness is overpowering, but at the end you get a strange garlic aftertaste. The mole was good and nutty too. As for the decor, it was really awesome. I loved the furnishings and crazy stuff hung from the ceiling. As for the sheer number of tables I saw in just my room, I know it must be crowded at dinnertime... I'm sure it would have been cooler then. Anyhoo, cool to go for the experience once in a while. I still want to try the mussels. By the way our bill (there were 2 of us) came out to be about $125 after tip. Only 1 alcoholic drink was bought too.
(3)Gerard I.
Can I have some food with my garlic??? Haha, just kidding folks! What's to say that hasn't been said? How about this. Try the Bagna Calda, as mentioned before, are little garlic cloves swimming in delicious goodness for 5 bucks! That's for starters. The garlic rabbit dish is DA BOMB! Yes, I said "da bomb", don't tell anyone. ;-) For dessert, times two... Have a scoop of the vanilla garlic ice cream, it's not as bad as it sounds. The tiramisu, is equally DEELISH! The service is cool, we all arrived together. What's even cooler is that when my friend ordered the garlic bunny (copycat) she hated it, and they comped her meal. You can't beat that!
(5)Amy Q.
I am deeply saddened to see that The Stinking Rose only has 3.5 stars!!! :'( This is my favorite restaurant in Los Angeles because of 1) the delicious food, 2) the prime location, and 3) the friendly prices. The interior is richly decorated like an Italian Arabian nights theme filled with garlic studded walls, plush wall decor, and circus-like tents that allow for some intimate dining ;) **TIP-- if you're on a hot date, you should ask for one of these tents. They make your dining experience so much better :) The food is AMAZING (menu: thestinkingrose.com/pdf/… ) --GARLIC GREEN SAUCE on the table, for all your bread, foods, or just to eat spoonfuls of if you're that intense. This sauce is so, so good. It's made with fresh garlic, olive oil, and some green herbs (don't know what kind) and it's RE-FILLABLE! The best part is, the garlic is so fresh that it actually hurts to eat it. But it hurts so good :') --Bagna Calda-- if you love garlic, then you MUST get this. This is a small, sizzling pan filled with olive oil and whole garlics, roasted to perfection. It's a melt-in-your mouth kind of good, and the garlic is so soft that it spreads onto the bread like butter. Tears of joy streamed down my face as I ate this, and the garlic was so strong (and delicious) that the salt from my tears hardly altered the flavor. --Mussels-- average. Heavily garlic-ed mussels that were in a oily and cheesy broth. They weren't anything TOO fantastic, but delicious nonetheless. --BBQ chicken pizza-- thin, crisp, and loaded with garlic-y chicken. But let's be real, you do not go to a gourmet garlic restaurant to eat BBQ chicken pizza. You bring out the big guns... like the ---Prime rib-- My FAVORITE dish here, and I'm a girl. True, I can never finish the entire plate, and yes, it's prime rib at a garlic restaurant, but YOU MUST TRY THIS. It's served with creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and whipped horseradish. The prime rib itself melts in your mouth (like butter, or like the Bagna Calda that we spoke of earlier ;)) and it probably rivals that of Lawry's. --Shellfish with fresh black linguine- my OTHER FAVORITE dish here. I get this about 80% of the time that I come here, partially because I love it so much and partially because I want others to try it as well. It's black linguine (blackened by squid ink, I think) with shrimp, mussels, scallops, and other types of shellfish. A MUST TRY, again :) --Garlic ice cream-- I know, I know... garlic? Ice cream? Seems like a bad combination but, hey, that's what they thought of peanut butter and jelly a long time ago!! This ice cream has only a HINT of garlic, but it's prepared with this DELICIOUS caramel sauce. If you're a fanatic for caramel and sweets like me, you should ask for a side of extra caramel. Who cares if the waiter judges you, you eat your ice cream the way you want to! AHHHH, The Stinking Rose... need I rave more? PS-- I highly suggest you bring the person you spend the most time with here, because... that person is going to be the one smelling you afterwards, and s/he will have less to complain about if the smell is mutual ;)
(5)Sara S.
When I think of Stinking Rose, a few things come to mind: A vampire's worse nightmare Bad first date choice A dying flower The smell of garlic in your pores for at least a day A place that you should try at least once in LA, but you don't necessarily have to come back again ...so I realize everything sounds negative, but my experience here was actually pleasant. My BF and I had wanted to come here for awhile because we both love garlic. And since we are long past our first date, it was safe for us to come haha. We got the Bagna Calda, which is the recommended starter... the server pretty much asks if you want it first thing, and it's actually an effective strategy as I noticed most of the tables around us had selected it too. Full cloves of garlic (there's probably like 3-4 whole garlics in there), super soft and soaked in butter, and all that good stuff. Eating it on their garlic rolls here= crack. We then ordered two items from their entree menu, the "Silence of the lamb shank" and the Braised Garlic Shortribs. It's funny because our waiter warned us that our dishes would be out rather quick because both of our selections are braised dishes that are cooked overnight. HAHA that's never happened to me before! He asked us if we were okay with that. LOL. Sure enough, everything came out in about 5 minutes.... almost alarmingly fast! But anyways, the entrees come with a generous portion of garlic mashed potatoes & creamed spinach.... my two favorite sides to accompany meat! Both meat dishes were very tender (well it should be, it's braised) and quite delicious, albeit on the heavier side. After all the hype about the garlic ice cream, it was meh. I couldn't tell if the garlic flavor was from our meal or from the ice cream itself.... cuz otherwise it just tasted like $7.00 dolche de luche, which I can totally pass on. TIP TIP TIP: TRY THE MINCED GREEN ONION/GARLIC/OLIVE OIL mixture in the jars on the table!!!!!! It smells soooo good... you could possibly get a high from the garlic smell, but if you love garlic that much, you can put it in the mashed potatoes to give it an EXTRA garlicy crunch. Overall we had a (quick) but enjoyable garlic packed meal. The bill was reasonable too. Best thing ever? Walking out and seeing a guy wear the HUGE garlic hat because it was his birthday! Saw one of those babies is $44.95 LOL
(4)Nina B.
Came here for Easter with the boyfriend. There was no wait at all. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. The hostess is a bit rude, but I'm just assuming it's because she has to work on a holiday. Anyways, We ordered the bagna calda, lamb shank, and prime rib. Sadly, the only dish my boyfriend and I enjoyed is the bagna calda. The lamb shank was not seasoned and it had a really weird strong lamb smell to it. We love lamb in all shapes and sizes, but this one sucked. The prime rib was okay. Not that much flavor, but it was juicy. Strange? I was really hoping to enjoy this restaurant because I am obsessed with garlic. Oh well. We'll probably not come back, but don't be discourage. Maybe you'll love it! Btw, it's valet parking only for 5 bucks.
(3)Charlene M.
Delicious! Menu was Californian Italian. I love garlic and good food, and this place was very good! I am a vegetarian and had: Portobello Mushroom with veggies and mashed potatoes Garlic Ice Cream Mojito with vodka and Chambord Will definitely go back again. Even the Garlic Relish + Bread that they serve you is good.
(4)Dan N.
Overall: 2.75 Food: 3.5 Service: 2 (This is what really killed their rating.) I was really excited to come here as I was hearing a lot of good things about it. But let's get to the point. Banga Calda: I love garlic, but my least favorite form of it is actually roasted garlic only because I love that strong taste of garlic. I didn't particularly like it with the bread. The bread is already, more or less, a blank canvas and I think the roasted garlic was too mild to flavor for the bread. I actually used the garlic relish instead. However, I did like the roasted garlic smeared on the Prime Rib. Prime Rib. Definitely smear the roasted garlic. The contrast of the meat really brings out the sweetness of the garlic that the bread couldn't do. As for as the prime rib, I must have gotten a bad piece of meat because it was NO WHERE NEAR the melt in your mouth texture I have been hearing. Lawry's formidable opponent? No, at least not this time. I honestly had a tough time cutting the meat, which greatly sadden me. My brother told me when he had his prime rib, last, it was so tender that he was able to tear his beef with just his fork. My friends' pieces were also tough to cut. The horseradish was really nice. It's mild at first but the spice creeps up on you slowly as you chew so it was perfect. Not overwhelming so it didn't take away from the flavors of the garlic, au jus, and seasoned beef; it allowed each of the notes to be played oppose to masking it all with a spicy punch to the mouth. Garlic Ice Cream: I didn't know what to expect but boy am I happy we ordered it. I don't know if eating our garlicky foods made an impact on the taste of the ice cream but the garlic was subtle, just right I'd say. [If I had a clean palette, would the garlic be more prominent? Perharps.] The texture was light and airy oppose to silky smooth which I liked. The caramel mole sauce was a nice touch. Definitely will order again. Service: Waited quite a bit to meet our waiter, Luis, after sitting down. After getting our drinks and order, he didn't show up between the time our servers came with our food until we finished our entrees. Not even once to refill our drinks which my friend actually had to ask for when he came to give us our dessert menu. He didn't return for about 15 minutes until I had to ask a bus boy to get our waiter back so we could put in the dessert order. C'mon, a 7 item menu does not require 15 minutes pondering. I had higher expectations on their service.
(2)Clifford Y.
Wtheezy... whoever's in charge of the interior design here should be fired. The millions of old, tiny black & white pictures in frames scattered everywhere (think Buca di Beppo) was fine.. the tent-separators for the privacy feel was fine, but what my gf and I could not stand was the design of the drapes and choice in color scheme - large, thick black & white vertical stripes, like the fumigation tents used for pest/termite control. Oh you're so petty, Clifford. I knew this place would be a fun place to eat and all, so I wasn't expecting anything super classy, but I'm not sorry that I didn't want to feel like we were being fumigated or eating at a cheap circus. I asked our server if we could be re-seated somewhere away from the tent setting (most of the place was designed like this) and they managed to find a table for us. Soo... we ordered: - Bread & garlic dipping sauce: The complementary garlic bread was served warm and soft. I believe the menu described the dipping sauce as a garlic "bath" for $5. The garlic cloves were thoroughly cooked and drenched in oil, soft enough to be used as spread for the bread or any of the other foods. We loved it. - Small order of Mussels: It was a pound's-worth, maybe about 20 something of them. My gf commented on how small they were, but I enjoyed them. Super oily, cheesey and garlic-y, and even more garlic sauce for dip. - Prime rib: We both ordered this because of the rave reviews. Cooked properly to our liking at medium rare. Although we both thought it was pretty good, we didn't think that it was better than Lawry's or Summit House's. It was soft, tender and juicy, but not melt-in-your mouth good. Still, I think it was worth the $29.95 each. Comes with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, both of which were forgettable. - Garlic Ice Cream: The gf & I were both a fan of this. At this point I wasn't sure if my abused senses were immune to the garlic, but I hardly noticed any presence of it & it only tasted like a strong vanilla ice cream. Our servers (before we switched tables & after) were all attentive and sincere. We constantly saw the floor manager walking around as well, and we could tell that they place a high emphasis on service. The Stinking Rose was one of the first places I've bookmarked and I am glad I finally got to try it. Overall, if they just changed up their décor or at least changed the god awful color scheme of the tents, I think I might consider coming back. Cliff Notes: Complementary bread. Garlic bath. Prime rib & garlic ice cream. Awful color/design for the tents..
(3)Jordan P.
Not all that impressive. I went here with a love for garlic, and really wanted to get blown away. From some reviews, I really expected (almost hoping) for the garlic to totally overwhelm me, but it was not the case. Don't get me wrong, there was a ton of it, but most of the dishes just had chunks of garlic in it. For some people, I may sound crazy for saying "just chunks of garlic", but for someone who grew up eating Italian food and lots of fresh garlic in dishes, it just lacked the flavor I expected. We started with the bread and garlic bowl (not sure of the exact name of it). It was a good rush of raw garlic, but I feel they could have done more. Throw some seasoning in there to really bring out the flavor, but it was just garlic. I got the meatloaf for an entree (yea probably a bad decision right off the bat). It wasn't bad, but again, just lacked that flavor punch I was expecting. My Mom and friend both got the pork chop, which came with an apple and garlic chutney. Pork chop was cooked well, and the chutney was interesting, but once again the flavors just fell a little short to me. Both dishes came with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. This is where they got something right. Very creamy, just enough garlic and flavor. Did not try to the garlic ice cream, but I don't feel I'm missing anything too amazing. Prices weren't bad, but still didn't feel like we got our money's worth. The decor was very odd, to match the oddity of the menu, so that works. Overall 2 stars because of the mashed potatoes alone. Maybe I had too high of expectations, but that's the way it goes. I understand they have to dial down the garlic flavors to appease the "casual" garlic lovers, but still disappointed. If I was the owner of this place, I would come up with a "garlic level" system, similar to Indian/Thai food. But alas, I do not own a restaurant... yet.
(2)Chase M.
I now have a new favorite restraunt. This place is pretty cool, I liked it. and service was excellent. First I had the Calamari which pretty good. I then had some Mussels, and they were the best Mussels I've ever had! Later I had the Garlic Ice Cream and it was really good. I've never tried it before and i was pretty impressed. Love this place and want to come back again.
(5)Ly C.
Glad I return to the Stinking Rose this year to celebrate my friend's birthday. Very good service and food came out on time..love the garlic dipping sauce and bread. Wasnt too fond of the food, expecting more garlic- if we are the garlic lover. I had two mojitos-but it was kind of water down. Overall enjoy the decor and energy of the place, and yes had fun in the ladies lounge/bathroom with the Garlic God.
(4)Jessica R.
We had a party of 13. An hour after ordering half our food came, a half hour later we got the rest. I wouldn't have minded as much but we had 4 kids under 3 that were starving and the waiter was totally unattentive. Would never go here again.
(2)Brian C.
Well, the Stinking Rose definitely does...stink. I love garlic. I expected garlic. I got really bland food with a little garlic thrown on it, and I'm being generous there. The good. Service was excellent, everyone was very friendly and prompt (almost too prompt, I will explain later) The atmosphere was quiet and they separate you into these little 4 person booths that have tents over them which was nice for having quiet conversations. The bottle of wine we ordered was great, so at least they stock good stuff there. The bad. The food was definitely not fresh or made to order. First we tried the "Garlic soaking in a hot tub" which is basically a ton of garlic cloves that or baked in a 5" skillet full butter. The problem here is they obviously baked this in the morning and just have it sitting under a heat lamp, it looked and tasted like it had been sitting out all day. This is where the "too prompt" of service came in. We ordered that app and not 2 min later it was at our table, that screams "we threw this in a microwave" and it tasted just like that. That app made fresh would take much longer and taste much better. They alerady have a garlic spread sitting at the table for putting on the focaccia rolls, it's WAY better than the app. Next was the "garlic steamed clams" tureen" Pretty much muscles in garlic-butter sauce. Nothing much to complain about, not very "garlicy" though. The small order was a very good portion to split between two people. I got the filet mignon surf and turf. I ordered it rare and what I got was a very nice sear on the outside with perfectly rare meat inside all soaked in garlic butter, it was the highlight of my meal. the crab was a throw-away, I've had better at brunch buffets (that's not saying a lot), would not order again. The garlic mashed potatoes were fine, but the creamed spinach was at least 3 days old and tasted like it was slopped out of a tray, into the microwave and onto the plate. Gross. The gf got almost the same main course and it had pretty much the same problems as my dish. We finished it off with the garlic ice cream. Once again our fast food style service resumed and I think it maybe took a minute to bring us the ice cream. Which was solid as a rock, along with the caramel mole topping. It was served in a martini glass that was obviously pulled straight out of the freezer and brought right to the table. Totally lousy, very cheap and very disappointing. I mean how hard is it to scoop ice cream into a glass, dip some caramel mole sauce out of a pan, and maybe add a touch of whip cream. Five minutes worth of work would have made all the difference. I wouldn't have minded as much about the food quality, but the price is outrageous for what it is. I've had service that was just as good and food that was 10X better at Outback Steakhouse. To top it all off, the fact that it seemed like the food had sat around all day or was days old and reheated was confirmed as both the gf and I were up late with horrible stomach cramps and trips to the bathroom. It wasn't the garlic because I've eaten dishes that were way more garlic laden than anything here and been just fine. So if you want lazily microwaved food with garlic thrown on it or in it, in a super kitschy atmosphere that costs way too much and gives you the shits, then come on down to the Stinking Rose.
(2)Tatiana C.
This place is amazing. Don't go before a hot date. don't go even the day before a hot date. but go. If you're a lover of foods that absolutely stink as I am, you will love the Stinking Rose. I went to the stinking rose with my parents while they were visiting earlier this week. We sat down and started with the bagna calda. which is absolutely incredible. Honestly I ate so much bread dipped in this heavenly garlicky buttery delicious mixture that I was pretty much full. The bread is so soft and buttery and topped with garlic pesto-ey sauce or onions. Then for dinner I ordered the night's special, the filet mignon, which was recommended above the short rib by my waiter, who was extremely friendly and attentive. i also ordered a pineapple mojito. which honestly was the worst thing about this place. It was extremely low on alcohol and didn't really taste like pineapple. It wasnt that bad, but everything else was just that great that it stuck out. Then, the filet arrived. The hot, crusty, moist, tastey, buttery, garlicy hearty slab of filet (which, I would like to add, was $19.99). It was absolutely the most delicious piece of meat I've ever tasted. Hands down. With it, came the most delicious mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I also tried the Prime rib, which was delicious. It's very very garlicky, much more than my meal or anything else really, and also quite peppery. it had a very strong flavor to it. The garlic fries are fantastic, very crispy and fresh. I also got to try the sizzling iron skillet with the shirmp, which was so fantastic. Really everything was delicious. For desert we ordered the garlic ice cream and the ice cream sundae. The garlic ice cream was okay, not personally my thing, but also that might be because i was so full from all that I had just eaten. I also tried the ice cream sundae with the vanilla custard and it was seriously fantastic. so absolutely delicious. humongous and my father ate the whole thing. I will definitely be going back to the stinking rose. preferably tomorrow.
(5)Sam Y.
Well... this place gets credit for being very unique and consistent with their garlic theme. I on the other hand, like to keep my garlic intake to a minimal, not because of bad breath, but just because. This restaurant was chosen from an average vote amongst my posse for my best friend's 18th+6 birthday because everyone including the BF agreed that this was the choice among the other (which I forgot). Interesting concept I have to admit! I couldn't quite remember what everyone else got, but I had the prime rib - which was delicious, bf got the lamb, and BFF got the filet mignon, all were good. What I WAS NOT fond of... was the garlic martini and ice cream. I mean, okay it was my choice to order it but I as hoping for some kind of pleasant culinary surprise? BFF and I tried not to barf at the taste. It just wasn't for us but you can try it to see if it's to your liking. Quite pricey I might say. We loved the atmosphere, the interior, and all the spiffy things they had in there! The fertility statue in the women's restroom, the creepy looking doll at the front, the photo frames of old school celebrities, and the many hot sauce display. Parking is valet. Not the best place for... vampires and bloodsuckers? Though I can see how it can be a romantic spot for couples. I would say this place is an acquired taste, otherwise I would just stick with the usual entrees and non-garlic-ed ice cream and martini... like beer.
(3)Edison T.
My 100th! Came here tonight for a date and we both were definitely ready for the stank. Place itself has really cute and quirky decor, from tents to a Dracula themed room, it really played up to the garlic theme with garlic bulbs hanging everywhere. The smell of garlic wasn't overwhelming as we made way through the place to our table and as garlic lovers, that made us both a little sad. The appetizer of garlic gloves in evoo with hint of anchovies was quite interesting for the garlic bulbs were much softer than imagined and very sweet. The free garlic bread were soft, fluffy, and scrumptious. The garlic pesto spread was quite the creeper, it was very delicious and perfectly seasoned when first consumed but then later on the spice and intense garlic flavors would creep back up your throat and to your nose. The clams in garlic sauce were extremely flavorful and not too heavy. However the presence of garlic (even though we asked for more garlic) could barely be tasted. The cheese and garlic filled raviolis were also another disappointment, not because they tasted horrible or anything because they were actually pleasant, but mainly because once again WHERE THE HELL IS ZE GARLIC!? Our main courses of the garlic wabbit and the garlic roasted prime rib were also lacking in juiciness and garlic flavors. The rabbit honestly tasted like chicken. My date also ordered the garlic wine because she's a G like that. I had a taste and at first we both agreed that there wasn't enough garlic and instead it tasted like apple juice. However as we let it settled for a little while we focused on the entrees, the garlic flavor really came out and boy was she surprised by it. However, being the G that she is, she downed the whole thing then demanded the garlic ice cream as dessert for she meant business. The garlic dessert with caramel fudge sauce tasted honestly just like vanilla ice cream, I might have tasted a strong garlic flavor in one of the first couple of bites, but none after. The service itself was quite slow and not very attentive. I expect better from a restaurant in Beverly Hills. Overall, the dishes were good, not bad, not spectacular, but most didn't live up the restaurant's claim to fame. I would've came back to this place had I gone with anyone else but since I came with a 400lb lion trapped inside the petite 5 foot frame of an Asian girl, I feel no need to come back here a second time for we (or rather she) ordered everything I wanted to try. So in conclusion, if you are truly a garlic lover then come just to experience some of the interesting dishes just to say you tried it. If you're not into garlic then why the hell would you come to a place specializing in garlic?
(3)Leslie D.
With a name like The Stinking Rose, you know this place isn't exactly going to be a 5 star world class restaurant serving beluga caviar and black truffles. Still, it's a fun and eye-catching atmosphere with gaudy, over-the-top decorations serving Italian focused fare. I heard the original in NorCal is even more cheesy so I guess those of you in Los Angeles got let off pretty easy. I feel like almost every dish at The Stinking Rose is laden with garlic so obviously if you are a vampire, I'd stay clear. Only real vampires should stay clear though. Wannabe pansy vampires can still come *cough* Edward. So note, I constantly eat garlic (75% garlic eater here) so to me there is no such thing as too much garlic. Some of you might feel different or otherwise after coming to The Stinking Rose. So what should you order for food? For an appetizer, definitely order the Bagna Calda. This heavenly dish basically consists of roasted garlic cloves with olive oil simmering in a little cast iron skillet. Eat it as it is if you're a garlic freak or spread it like buttah on warm slices of house-made bread. You can even save some for your food later like I did and spread it on your steak for added garlicky oomph. For mains, you can't go wrong with the meat. This might sound crazy but the best filet mignon I've ever had in my life has been here. It was tender, cooked to a perfect hot pink and had such a delicious light garlic flavor to it that I did not need any condiments to help. It was wonderful as is. That coupled with the garlic mashed potatoes that accompanied the filet ensured a licked clean plate. Now on their dessert menu, they actually offer a garlic ice cream! I tried it once just for the hell of it just to be able to answer the question "What's the oddest ice cream flavor you've ever tried?" I've got it covered now. It is a really, really weird flavor. I can't even describe it! I suggest you try it for yourself and form your own opinion of it. Oh and take pictures of your reaction to it. That'll make it more interesting. Overall, The Stinking Rose is a fun place to try and perfect for a fun date, family meal, or a group dinner with your girlfriends. The food is delish, the atmosphere is fun and laid back, and you'll either come out of there with a greater appreciation for nature's wonder food.... or reeking of it.
(4)jc g.
Went last night. First time with friends and wife. Food was great service very attentive and happily invisible. Careful with the raw garlic pesto on the table. Delish but strong. Had salmon which was a bit dry but good. Wife had the chicken a bit greasy but she ate it all! Friends had short ribs and lasagna which they liked. This place was fun and we will go back.
(4)Grace Y.
I chose this place for our 9-year anniversary to try something new. (everything w/ garlic.. that's new.. and stinky :P) I would've given them 5 stars but I was not happy when we walked in to be seated by the entrance (when I specifically put on the "note" section when I made the reservation 2 weeks ago that I want some privacy) where there were heavy traffic and so many distractions that we couldn't hold a private conversation.. or any conversation for that matter. We asked for another table on the other side and our server Aaron didn't seem to have any trouble changing it for us :] We had: - focaccia bread yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… w/ this yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… minced raw garlic/parsley in evoo.. I absolutely loved their bread.. very soft and fluffy.. we had 2 plates of these :D - BAGNA CALDA yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $4.95 - oven roasted garlic cloves in evoo/butter.. I don't think we really needed to order this.. the raw garlic dip on the table was better than this one.. this dish was really sweet and mushy.. since it's cooked garlic. - GARLIC ROASTED PRIME RIB yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $29.95 - I don't usually order prime rib anywhere.. but this sucker was good :] *it was so much food, I had to take half home* - SILENCE OF THE LAMB SHANK yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $19.95 - bf loved it :] - GARLIC ICE CREAM yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… - on the house for our anniversary.. the caramel fudge was good.. and don't expect to taste any garlic in this ice cream.. unless you eat dessert first.. :] Garlic taste was there.. but not too strong since we ate a whole meal with garlic! duh! - PINEAPPLE MOJITO yelp.com/biz_photos/fqca… $10 - DIET COKE Total: $75ish w/out tip Service: Hosts - not so awesome Server - Aaron.. so very awesome :] Food came out super fast, drinks were refilled before they were gone halfway, ice water was given in a huge pitcher, everything done with a smile :] Parking: Valet for $4.50 or meters on La Cienega.. good luck finding one :P *We stank like garlic the whole night.. not nice on an anniversary day.. haha but it's ok :] and we'll definitely be back. MmMmm... *burp*
(4)Jim A.
The food was great! While eating you feel like you are in a different world with their decor. yeah its on restaurant row and might be a little pricey but its pretty good and besides you really want to eat garlic everyday? Yeah! your girl or boyfriend might not like that but they will understand your weakness for the stinking rose!
(5)Josie K.
OMG! this place is garlic lovers HEAVEN!! my bf took me here on a lil date and might i add that im so thankful my bf loves garlic as much as i do :) soo pretty much once i found out that he was taking me here, the first logical and obvious thing i did was to check the yelp reviews and pictures to know what to order (duhhh) hhehe. prior to our arrival at the restaurant and even sitting down i was pretty set on getting the bagna calda and the 40 clove chicken with mashed potatoes. yes, i'm THAT prepared :) there is a jar at your table filled with fresh chopped garlic and parsley and definitely make sure to try this!! i actually liked this fresh chopped garlic a lot more than the bagna calda that we ordered. i wasn't that amazed with the bagna calda actually. i thought it was just ok. the garlic was really smuushy/soft and didnt really taste strong at all. so if you like that fresh chunky smelly garlic then i'd say you'd be better off with the fresh chopped garlic at your table my entree was just delicious! the chicken is smothered in this glaze that sort of tastes like cheese. im not sure how to explain it exactly.. but if you like cheese and chicken then i'd def recommend this dish! my bf tried the pork chop w/ the apple glaze stuff and it wasnt bad at all. the sweetness of the jam really pairs well with the meat. the meat was really juicy and not dry one bit we also got an appetizer order of their mussels. i really liked the garlic dip that comes w/ the mussels but my only complaint is that the mussels were really skimpy and small. but aside from that i really liked this appetizer we also tried their infamous garlic icecream w/ caramel on top. okay seriously this dessert is soo freakin good! dont be scared, trust me. its not as bad as you think its gonna be. the garlic flavor isnt really overpowering. in my opinion the caramel on top is the main flavor you taste but there is a tinyy hint of garlic that kinda lingers on your tongue afterwards. service was good and the decor is so cute! theres cute tents to sit in which make your dinner more private. my only advice: DONT go anywhere social after your meal here. especially if youre tryna hit up a bar or club to meet some chicks/dudes. your breath will definitely smell for a while...
(5)Laurie H.
They sat our party of five in a cozy booth. The place was pretty empty, given that it was a Wednesday night. Our waiter was training so we had two waiters technically They took our drink and appetizer orders first. Our waiter recommended that we get the Bagna Calda to share. Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub) Garlic cloves, oven-roased in extra virgin olive oil & butter with a hint of anchovy, a wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread, served at your table in an iron skillet. The garlic was soft and spreadable. The bread was amazingly warm and some pieces had melted cheese on top. The best part is that the bread is unlimited... but try not to eat too much of it before your entree comes out! We also got the Garlic Spinach Fontina Fondue but it was gone before I could grab my camera... That was really good too but wish the portions were a shareable size! Garlic Filet Mignon Chili pizza Chili on pizza? Nouveau idea and surprisingly good!! Not enough garlic? You have nothing to fear! On every table there's a jar of something that looks like chopped up garlic and parsley. Add that to anything you deem not garlicky enough! I did that and it gave it just the right kick Garlic Encrusted Baby Back Ribs, served with garlic yukon gold mashed potatoes DELICIOUS.. I love my meat and I love my garlic. What more can I say?! Oh, and the mashed potatoes are amazing. I would like a plate of that if I was on a carb-only diet So happy with my Garlic-tini!! It tastes like a dirty martini that got hit with a garlic hurricane!! The best part about the Kustard ice cream dish is that it's big enough to share. We wanted to order the garlic ice cream but since someone from our party found a SPIDER in her water glass, the waiter brought us this dessert as an apology. From all my restaurant experiences, I have never seen a spider and honestly, now I question the cleanliness of this establishment. Grand Master Foodie says.... FOUR OUT OF FIVE STARS The food was excellent and the service was above par but I hate spiders with a passion. I would've probably thrown a fit if I was the one that found the spider... **FIND MY REVIEW COMPLETE WITH PICTURES** foodbyhang.wordpress.com…
(4)Lily N.
This place stinks. My food was overcooked. I had ordered one of their steaks (i don't remember the actual name) Don't understand the hype this place has got going for them. I came with a group of about 12? And our meals were just so-so. The pros: okay pricing and ample parking. Fast seating. The cons: food isn't that great. @ least mine wasn't. 2 Friends ordered rabbit which they thought was okay The rest ordered steaks and some other dishes but overall just an okay meal.
(2)Garrett L.
My buddies girlfriend has been here before and said it was good so me and 7 other friends went here on a Saturday night. We had reservations for a week and we still had to wait 30 minutes. We got there right at our reservations time and maybe it was because there was 8 of us. It was busy and their waiting room was filled up. They have a ton a different hot sauces they display in the front so you could kill a good five minutes starting and checking those out while you wait. First off there is valet parking for $4.50 so you don't have to find parking if you don't want to. The ambiance is nice with low lighting, private little tables, and classical music. We got seated way in the back and i couldn't believe how many tables they had. They got us water pretty quick and some guy brought us bread and garlic spread, which we found out we had to pay for later. It was only $5, but i would have liked to know it wasn't complimentary. The garlic was a little bitter, but it was good. After waiting 15 minutes for our server to come back and get our order, most of us ordered the regular prime rib, with garlic mashed potatoes and garlic spinach for $30. If you were really hungry you could upgrade to a large for $40, or a slab for $50. My friend ordered a glass of wine with his prime rib and the server forgot about it until they were reminded 20 minutes later. My friend should have said something sooner. I got mine medium rare and it was nice as it melted in my mouth. The mashed potatoes were delicious, but the spinach was not such a big hit for me. Overall the experience was alright, therefore the 3 stars. I kind of wish i came with less people so i could have gas the server less since the service was mediocre. I probably won't go back because it wasn't that great and it was a far drive for me. The only way i would go back is if i was with a girl and she wanted to go.
(3)Jayleen L.
Love everything in their menu! especailly the prime rib, melt in your mouth! all the pastaz are good too. great price great service great food!
(5)Patricia M.
Who does not like garlic food? :) I love this place and very often go there. The food is good most of the time you have to choose what you eat. last time I ordered rabbit and was not really pleases with it. An interior is beautiful and stands out from other restaurants. The reason for the 4 star is for careless waiters :( . we were there at around 4 pm. the waiters were talking and joking with each other. if we did not call them they would not even bother to come and check on us.
(4)Fei C.
The interior is very artistic n unique...The food is good but not spectacular, I really enjoyed the garlic ice cream...Service was excellent n I had a great experience dining there for my birthday :)
(4)Kimberly B.
I dont understand all the hype. I took my dad and husband here our bill was $400 it was a waste of money and time. However the waiter was great. But the food was not good at all.
(1)Pia S.
We were trying to get Kogi at the Alibi Room but out of frustration, ended up here...which is fine because it's almost been a year and a half since we've indulged in this place. Anyways, service has been up and down here but it doesn't matter; the garlic-encrusted baby back pork ribs are still excellent! Nothing compares. Their bread is pretty good too, carbs galore!
(4)Tom W.
Pros: Great Food (Garlic Steak, Fries, Clam, etc.) Garlic Ice Cream! Awesome Decor Nice Service $5 Valet Guiness on Tap Cons: Bathrooms are a bit creepy!!
(4)Mina W.
I came here for my best friend's birthday this past May, and I fell in love with the ambiance. Definitely has more of a romantic vibe to the place, but I still had a lovely time. Even the bathroom had the coolest decorations of vintage looking framed photos. I'm hardly ever disappointed when it comes to the cozy atmosphere of many of the Italian restaurants I've been to. But this is by far the perfect date spot if you don't mind spending more for great quality, service, and ambiance. I highly recommend The Stinking Rose.
(4)Eman P.
First time ever last night !!! ........ went for a company dinner and most of my co workers were at the bar while we waited for everyone to arrive we had drinks in the bar they were friendly and fast there was a guy playing the piano, clarinet, and other instruments great ambience and music. Our party was about 23 people we were seated fast and service was fast and food arrived promptly. The Food was delicious my wife had the salmon great flavor I had the 40 clove chicken and baby back ribs. Everything was great all co workers satisfied. Everything did have a great garlic flavor to it. We even tried out the garlic ice cream. Great place will be back. No complains here
(5)Jody C.
The Stinking Rose reminds me of a more expensive version of Bucca di Beppo. The setting inside is very thematic (almost circus-like) and casual. As a first time diner, I thought it would've been more fancy based off the name and location. There is only valet parking which is $5.50 or you can find metered parking on the street. The service was great and the food came out really quick. The garlic prime rib and the garlic fries are a must have. I also tried the spaghetti and garlic meatballs which was nothing special. The food is quite pricey but I do think it's worth trying if you've never been! PS. If you come on your birthday, be prepared to wear something "garlicky" :D
(4)Amy C.
Been here done that...that's how I feel. Price is very reasonable for BH. The AYCE bread was awesome! Came here for dad's birthday and we shared a lamb shank and mussels...and we each has the potatoes soup. Food was good, but only back for a special occasion. But if you never dined here, you have to do it once.
(3)Maggie S.
Good food, specially the stakes are very tender, deserts were also tasty. Even though this place is a bit crowded, but very organized, drink orders come quick and they manage to get your order prepared in a timely manner, also liked the ambiance and the service, also reasonable prices.
(4)Christi P.
It was good. A little pricing but I think that you pay for the ambiance. We had a skillet with crab and mussels the meatballs and mash potatoes and and the fettuccine. Water to drink. the garlic butter is to die for!!!
(5)Connie C.
In the mood for garlic? If you are and want to experience the unique dining experience of garlic-everything, give Stinking Rose a try but be careful of "meh" service! I'm not going to lie, I thought I was prepared for all it's garlicky goodness but I was not. Kinda garlic ODed. Here's the run down: Bagna Calda- (ban-ya * cal-da) Olive oil, cooked down garlic and bits of anchovies. This was very good, garlic was almost sweet & is a great addition to their house bread. Recommended to share with more than 2 people or you'll run out of things to put this on. Baked Brie- Over priced baked Brie with bread and garlic. Was not impressed at all & will not recommend ordering this. Save your money and pop a store bought Brie in your oven & ta-da! Prime Rib- Very good. I may have over done the garlic with the other mentioned dishes but I couldn't detect too much garlic seasoning on this. Meat was tender & it was def a big portion. Side of mashed potatoes were Ok, nothing amazing. Garlic Ice Cream- This is a must try no matter how disgusting you think it sounds. It's unexplainably, mysteriously decent. You are very surprised with the garlic power punch it gives you & will leave you unsure if you want more. Of course, you do want more, this time you try a spoonful with the chocolate drizzle. This is when you realize, it's different but not bad and almost works. Service- MEH. Give this a 2. Went during a weekday for a bday and it wasn't packed. My waiter was a bit condescending because I didn't pronounce "bagna" correctly. As he (basically) scoffed, I rolled my eyes & he then corrected his behavior by saying, "or how you say it is fine too". Though they give a pitcher of water, I drank it all & had to ask 3 different people for it to be refilled. The bus boys did better than Mr. Waiter. Might come back for the prime rib but will walk out if it's the same waiter.
(3)Felicia C.
For it being my first time there it was good my meal was good you can't go wrong with that! It was a bit pricey . We had a bad waiter but the bus boy was great so you no who got the tip ! The most important thing was my sister had a great time since it was her birthday dinner!
(4)Jenni A.
soooo good! prime rib was great as well as price. definitely will be returning. but i stink! officially a little stinker. lol great experience. thank you! we came for my moms birthday and got a complimentary garlic ice cream and they brought the cute garlic hat and candles.
(5)Jesse M.
Food: 5 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Bus Boys: 5 stars Waiter: 3 stars The Prime Rib is probably among the best I have ever eaten. The atmosphere is unique and refreshing. The bus boys (sorry for the lack of a better name) were very attentive and my drink was never less than half full for the whole evening and they were always near to bring me what I needed. The waiter on other hand was the only downside. When we sat down, he took our drink order and we did not see him for nearly ten minutes. After our order was taken, we did not see him again until he brought the check a hour later. I understand that the bus boys are taking care of our minute to minute needs, but it would be nice to see our waiter more since we wanted to place additional orders throughout the meal. I should not have to request his presence. Other than that, I would return and advise those of you that have not been, give the place a try. It was worth it.
(4)Jessica Y.
I don't know that I have ever done a 1 star review, and maybe that is why I took so long to actually right this review, but disappointing to say the least. I had been wanting to go here for a few years and finally did as part of the Dine LA week, and so glad I did it at the discounted price, because then you just chock it up to an experience and move on. The food is just really mediocre and I think they feel if they give you a lot of food that makes up for the taste. Just doesn't work that way. Had their garlic at the beginning of the night that came as an appetizer. There were two of us and they had a vat of oil and garlic, that we couldn't have finished in a month. Following the garlic we got a small salad, that felt like it was taken out of a bag and thrown on a plate. Then we moved on to the entree. My husband said that the flavor of the 40 Clove Garlic Chicken as really good, but the chicken itself was dry. I had the famous meatloaf, and yuck. It was a giant hunk of meat that just looked so unappealing, I don't think I got past it. Will not be returning here again.
(1)Calvin S.
I was walking to Gyu-Kaku for lunch during my California trip in June when I smelled a strong garlic odour coming out of this restaurant. We decided to stop by and take a look, as it honestly wasn't anything we can experience back home. After some thought, my family decided this would be the dinner place, and we booked a reservation on-site. We also had dinner with some of my mom's friends who live in LA, and they were a little taken aback by the mandatory valet parking here. For the record we parked down by Wilshire earlier in the day and didn't move our car, so we didn't bother with valet parking. I must begin by saying the seating wasn't exactly what I call "comfortable", thought it might be because we had a table of 6 but the table we sat in felt like a table of 4. Lighting was also at a minimum, but I assume that was the ambiance of this restaurant. I ordered the clams pasta, because I was attracted by the black linguine feature. I never tried it before, so I wanted to know how it tasted like. We also ordered the prime rib, the portobello mushroom, and the forty clove garlic chicken, though it was mainly my grandma who ate it. At the end the pasta was light years better than the garlic chicken, although the pasta itself was a little bit too "sticky", as in the linguine was stuck together more often than not. The prime rib and portobello mushroom were both great according to my parents. However the garlic chicken was too dry and tough for my grandma's liking, and she only managed to eat half of it before she gave up. Service was okay, but we kept getting different servers throughout the time we were here. I guess I liked the fact we were attended to the whole way, but I expect different servers from an Asian restaurant, not an Italian/American restaurant. There's a lot to explore in LA, so I wouldn't be too crazy on coming back even if it was a 4 star rating.
(3)Jennifer R.
I love the dark and playful ambience of this restaurant. Festively adorned with an old world and vintage hollywood appeal. The bread basket is delicious. The blood orange martini has the perfect blend of sweet and tangy with a little kick. The steak was very flavorful and kinda on the crispy side for a me, but the server took care of it. Kinda nightmare before Christmas meets old school Italian meets dick's last resort. The drink runner Zach was great and especially our server Lucas who brought me a new "medium" steak. I will be definitely come back to wine and dine soon
(5)Nordy N.
Very good. The decor is a little strange but the food and service were excellent. I got the prime rib and my friend got the filet. Both were fantastic and the mashed potatoes were the best! Tip: get some calamari marinara sauce with the bread....fantastic!
(4)Jonathan P.
I looove this place. I've been here at least 5 times and have always had a good time. The food is really good but overall the vibe is super nonpretentious and casual. A stark contrast to a lot of the high end restaurants on La Cienega. If you didn't already know, all the food here has a garlic theme to it, even the dessert ice cream! So don't come if you don't like garlic. Meals start with garlic bread. I highly recommend adding the extra garlic at the table to it (and everything you order). Other favorite dishes include the garlic fries (they give you a ton), prime rib, and seafood pasta. I'm not a huge fan of crab but their crab is pretty good too. Mojitos are awesome as well (don't think they're on the menu). Finally, a great place for birthdays! They will bring out a garlic hat for the birthday person and sing to you ('happy birthday little stinker'). Then they give you some complimentary garlic ice cream as well (sounds weird but it works, very subtle). Looking forward to my next trip back! Very versatile place. Good for a romantic date, equally good as a fun place to bring kids. Recommend valet parking (5.50 or something random like that). Reservations don't hurt but I've never had to wait regardless.
(5)Ethan R.
I HOPE YOU LIKE GARLIC?? Even if you don't there's garlic free dishes. They have little vampire faces next to them on the menu :3 That said, the food is good. It's traditional Italian fare with garlic added to everything from the sauces to the olive oil to the meat. The ambiance attempts to look very.. circus tent tacky? Everything from the red and black tents that mark off private areas to the pencil thin mustaches on the waiters contributes to it. If your date really really likes the food, they sell garlic flavored condoms at the counter. Can someone tell me if they burn?
(3)Ivan R.
I went here about 4 years ago. Yes I know it was a long time but I think I enjoyed the food so good I still can't forget the garlic ice cream and the garlic shots. I would go here again. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because is been a while and I can tell by yelp they aren't doing so good
(4)Jacqueline H.
Ordered the bagna calda, boneless short rib, and the gnocchetti. The bagna calda is good with the bread, but you can't really eat too much of it because it's easy to get sick of it quickly. The boneless short rib is a good entree size, but a little salty that day. The gnocchetti is delicious if you love cheese! Service was great, we were seated quickly, and valet parking is $5.50 cash only.
(4)Desiree F.
Garlic garlic garlic. This is my second time here. Food was great. I love garlic and the garlic appetizer is to die for. That roasted garlic followed by the fresh garlic on the table. Yummmm. The staff was very attentive and contrary to reviews I read our servers did not try to hurry us out the door. One of our group was late and they were very accommodating.
(5)Teresa C.
PROS: - Garlic rolls were good but don't eat too much of these or else you'll get too full to eat the rest of your meal. - Garlic prime ribs were really good. Meat was tender however some parts were too fatty. - COMBO (mussels, shrimp and crab): Love this! Crab was fresh and sweet however eating this very messy. Shrimp was really good but just a tad bit oily. Too many mussels but they taste good. Us three girls, had trouble finishing all the food. MEH: - Bagna Calda - too oily. roasted garlic swimming in a pan of oil. - Garlic Ice Cream - You can skip this. Too sweet. The caramel overpowers the garlic flavor. NOTE: - Decor sort of reminds me of a circus. Restaurant was very dark and dim lighted.
(3)Seb C.
It's all bout Garlic! I you like garlic, you like the restaurant, if not, just don't think about going there! We decided to go there on a friday night, no reservation at 7pm! No waiting line, immediate sitting! Lucky! The bread served with the oil with garlic is very good and this is a large portion! The food was good, not exceptional, but good, the waiter was nice and attentive. The valet parking was ok. The drink list is ok as well. It's an experience, it was a good one for us, but for sure, we would not go there every week!
(4)Tiffany J.
I'm a fan of all things garlic, so I definitely approve of this place! I took my boyfriend here for his birthday because I heard this place was fun, a little eclectic, and delicious--all correct. I have to say, it's nice to find a unique restaurant in Beverly Hills that isn't pretentious. For an appetizer, we ordered the Bagna Calda, which is essentially aged garlic, marinated in butter, olive oil, and a tiny bit of anchovy. Order this! It tastes really yummy with their focaccia bread (and our regular bread we had at home with our left overs). We also ordered the Clam pasta with black linguine--so simple, yet really flavorful. They also actually gave us a good portion of clams. The garlic prime rib was really good. Don't come in here thinking you're across the street at Lawry's, but the prime rib here is still good quality in my eyes--juicy, well seasoned, and of course---garlicky! I ordered the smallest size (roughly $35) and we still came home with leftovers. The prime rib comes with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach (which I could honestly do without because I'm just not a fan of creamed spinach in general). The Stinking Rose is not cheap, but also not over-the-top expensive. I would recommend this place for anyone who likes garlic and is feeling a bit adventurous (they do have garlic ice cream, but we were too full to try it). Just pack some gum or mints...or a travel-sized mouthwash :)
(4)Karla S.
Yummy Garlic Heaven! The bread and the dipping roasted garlic dip is delicious. Indulge but don't forget your breath mints:)!
(4)Maureen A.
The DineLA menu is super reasonable considering you get the roasted garlic and garlic bread to start, a starter salad, an entree, and dessert. I had the lamb as my entree, and it was fall of the bone tender. Dessert seemed like a throw away (vanilla ice cream in a cup), but the rest of the meal made up for it! And who doesn't love sitting in a circus tent for dinner?!?
(4)Lily K.
I had a wonderful experience here. Really great service, food & drinks, and decor! The prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, and drinks were amaaaazing. I will never look at prime rib the same again. The garlic ice cream was tasty too! Just have to get over the shock of the first spoonful :) Surprisingly the most memorable dish was the MUSSELS! I will be back just for them!
(5)Nicole M.
Awesome food. Good prices. And no corkage fee!!! I wish I knew that when we went there.
(4)Lauren K.
This place was great! :D The server was so kind and helpful, and he checked on us often enough (not too often, which is a good thing) to make sure we had enough water and focaccia bread (which was amazing), and to ensure we were satisfied with our meal. I ordered the 40-clove garlic chicken, which was incredibly good! The chicken was well-cooked and juicy, and the sauce and mashed potatoes were super great too! It was also my mother's birthday, so they came over with a super funny garlic hat and complimentary garlic ice cream (with delicious mole sauce!!), and sang her a song! All in all, it was a wonderful experience!!
(5)Shye J.
So. Much. Garlic! We went last night for my birthday and it was wonderful! First of all, it is really cute and the vaudeville/old-timey circus theme was charming. A lot of the booths and tables had privacy because of the circus tents around them. The food is flipping amazing! The gnocchetti is out of this world; the creaminess of the potato balls mixed with the crunchiness of the asparagus in the pesto blew me away! The prime rib and NY steak were freakin delicious. The garlic ice cream does not apologize for it's sweet, garlicky taste but is a surprisingly delicious one of a kind treat! Service was good/fast.
(5)Diana C.
I've been wanting to try this place so my boyfriend took me for my birthday! Yay! I made the mistake of filling up on their garlic bread and potato onion soup, I couldn't help it! And I love how they have garlic sauce on the side. My boyfriend got the garlic roasted prime rib, medium rare. I have dull teeth and usually have a hard time chewing steak but this was cooked to perfection! So juicy, so tender. The garlic mashed potatoes went so well with it. If I weren't already getting full, I would've gotten a another side of mashed potatoes. I got the salmon with caper sauce and it was really good. It came with something on the side that tasted like really weird mini pasta. I don't know what it was but I didn't like it. I got complimentary ice cream because it was my birthday and I'm not sure if it was made with garlic or not. If it was, I couldn't bring myself to eat it and if not, I still couldn't eat it because my mouth was already overwhelmed from all the garlic I had already eaten. The service was great, our waiter was helpful with the menu and he sang happy birthday to me. I like garlic and I like Stinking Rose so I will definitely be back to try their other dishes!
(5)Rahul K.
I am a big lover of Garlic. I have gone to the Stinking Rose twice and have loved the food. I had a Rabbit the last time I went, and it was quite good. The servers are quite knowledgeable about the menu and I was even advised against going for the Rabbit as it s quite bony, but I stuck with my choice and liked it a lot. This place is not for someone who is not a fan of Garlic, as almost everything on the menu has garlic in it. They are a bit pricey, but the complete experience is quite good.
(4)Vicky T.
My boyfriend and I came here for our 5th anniversary on a Friday night and it wasn't hard at all to make or change a reservation. I really didn't feel like this would be the place to go to for a romantic (not to mention 5th anniversary date) dinner because there was a group of people next to us and they were just awfully loud THE WHOLE time. I understand that they were having a birthday and were celebrating, but the Stinkin' Rose advertise themself as having a romantic atmosphere. Onto the food, they served us complementary bread and garlic spread which was really good. We ordered the second biggest prime rib (cannot remember what it was called) but it was a delicious prime rib. I wasn't a fan of the cooked spinach but the garlic mashed potatoes was just heavenly! I ordered the Shrimp Fettucine and I didn't even touch it because it's honestly really NOT great at all. The waiter was really kind to take it back and didn't charge us for it. This was great because we were able to share the prime rib WITH leftovers! I would probably say that this would be just a one time experience and if you're a garlic fanatic, this is your spot!
(3)Connie C.
On our first wedding anniversary, my husband wanted to surprise me by making reservations here as he knows that I love garlic; even though, he was not a big fan himself, but he put that behind him to make me happy, which I appreciate greatly! Once we arrived, we were seated quite quickly, which was a big plus; however, it looked like a circus in there as we were seated in this black and white tent. (Talk about claustrophobia). I really did not like the walkway path as it was cramped...(If there was a fire, good luck on running away). Once seated, we were served with hot garlic dinner rolls with a olive oil mixture of fresh chopped garlic, which was pretty good, but I would suggest to try something new like roasted garlic spread instead. After settling in and taking photos, we ordered the small garlic fries, roasted garlic potato onion soup, forty clove garlic chicken, and the slab cut garlic roasted prime rib. The small garlic fries was nice and crispy; however, it did not taste like garlic...just regular fries that were overpriced with this really tangy ketchup mixture...but at least not one fry was soggy... The roasted potato onion soup is a must! The only dish that I loved. The pastry on the top was nice and flaky, great dipping in the soup. The potato onion soup was steamy hot and not salty at all. Definitely recommend this appetizer! The forty clove garlic chicken smelled so delicious; however, disappointed once again. They give you a half of a chicken, which is the breast meat with a wing and thigh with a drumstick. (White and dark meat). The chicken was pink in the inside where all the dark meat was located, just like how fellow Yelpers described. (I'm surprised that I did not say anything, guess they got me on a good day...) The only part I ate was the breast meat, but it was overcooked...so it was a bit dry...I tried my best to drench it in the sauce that was drizzled on top. Also, this came with their garlic Yukon mashed potatoes, which was sour and tasted like ice cream. This entrée was cold, not even warm...I was surprised again for not saying anything. The slab cut garlic roasted prime rib was enormous and cooked correctly just like how my husband likes it, medium rare. However, this was absolutely salty...it's like they poured the whole jar of salt. This also came with the garlic Yukon mashed potatoes with creamed spinach (mediocre)...but again the mashed potatoes tasted just like I stated in the previous paragraph. My husband's entrée was cold too...Basically, I really have to hand it to them for catching me on a good day... Lastly, service here was horrible...The drinks took a little longer than expected...and refills...man...the bus boy was better than our waiter. And trying to get their attention through the narrow walkway and circus tents...it was just horrendous. The check took forever as well...Sigh. Maybe that is why the food came out cold... Overall, I would definitely say this restaurant is overrated. I would not recommend coming here. P.S. I'm not expecting to get anything for free on our one year wedding anniversary, but everywhere we booked a reservation for our other anniversaries and birthdays, at least they had a heart to say it to us or write us a card...it isn't much, but it makes customers feel like you actually paid attention to their reservation request... *To valet: Please be more attentive and not talk to your colleagues when there are three couple's waiting outside to get their car (literally saw all of us and continued to chat)...because it's useless to have valet when we can walk to our cars while your chatting away. Thank you.
(1)Ally A.
*sigh* im soooo disappointed...had dinner here today...service was not so great...we were seated right away however we wanted to change our seats and it took the hostess 10 min to get back to us...after we changed seats it took the waiter another 10 min or so to come to our table to take our drink order...anywhooo after seeing great reviews about the bagna calda...we ordered it....ehh...nothing special...we also ordered garlic fries...once again..nothing special for our entrees we ordered the shrimp pasta and silence of the lamb shank.........mashed potatoes that came with the lamb were delicious....the lamb however was just plain awful..so awful that i had to send it back...ive had lamb before and thats NOT what it should taste like...my fiance wasnt too fond of the pasta he ordered either due to the overwhelming tomato sauce...anyways overall it was not a very good experience and were both very disappointed..weve been wanting to try this place for a while because were both big fans of garlic...and im sad to say this is the first and last time we will be dining at the stinking rose
(2)Leesa R.
This place was amazing and quite unique! I went with a few couples and we were surprised walking through different sections to our table that was in a little private room. The food and service was outstanding. Great drinks too at a reasonable price.
(5)Katie S.
Disappointed not what I expected. Service was good but had lunch spaghetti and meatballs with a salad. Maybe ordered the wrong thing . If I did go back would be for the prime rib.
(3)Tyler P.
The Stinking Rose is a very unique place. Unique styling and ambiance. The food was good, but not spectacular. We started with the roasted garlic appetizer with their house bread, this is the tell feel of the restaurant. Lots of garlic, but not to overpowering. For the entreé, we ordered prime rib and the short ribs. Both included garlic, of course, but it seemed almost out of place. It came with a side of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The potatoes were to die for, the spinach was average. The food want anything to wrote home about, but it certainly wasn't bad. The service was below average at best. They left a pitcher of water for us to pour when we were thirsty and rarely came to visit us. Overall, I'd recommend this place for the one time novelty, but not as a regular dining spot. It's definitely overpriced to go very often.
(2)Ellad U.
Love the vibe of the restaurant as well as the food was delicious. The garlic ice cream was amazing!
(5)constantconsumer c.
I thought about ordering the special bread but then a bunch of garlic topped bread arrived at the table and i ended up eating 4 of them with the garlic sauce that was on the table. The popcorn calamari was also really good. I picked the garlic baby back ribs but wished i got the prime rib when i tasted it. The ravioli was just ok. The garlic chicken was also very good but the winner was the roasted mussels and garlic!
(4)Helen T.
My family and I came here for dinner for Christmas Eve and to be honest, I thought this place was okay - a solid 3 stars. The service was good, but the food was 3 stars at best. They have valet parking right in front of the restaurant for $5, or you could park on the street. The decor of the restaurant is definitely...interesting. It's kind of like a tacky vampire-ish garlic themed restaurant. It's not my type of thing, but I mean I don't think I would take anybody here on a date. Why would you, especially if every dish has a bunch of garlic in it? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE garlic, which is why I wanted to come here. But this restaurant is more of a group/family restaurant kind of place. What I did like about this place was that there was a jar of raw garlic with oil and herbs at the table, which is basically good on anything. We ordered the bagna calda as other Yelpers suggested, and a few other entrees, including the forty clove garlic chicken, garlic braised boneless short rib, and "silence of the lamb shank". All of our food came out in less than 15 minutes. The Bagna Calda came in a small skillet and was meant to be dipped with the bread. It had well cooked garlic which was super soft and mushy and went well with the bread. It was good, but not amazing. The entrees were not as good as some of the Yelpers said it was. The 40 clove garlic chicken definitely had a lot of garlic on the side, but the chicken itself felt like it was under seasoned. The taste seemed to be only on the outside, but when you bite into the chicken it was tasteless. Or maybe that just means that the meat was frozen. It was like that for the lamb as well. The flavors were good, but I felt that the meat wasn't as good as it could be. The short rib I got was also a bit dry and a little tasteless. I had to add quite a bit of the raw garlic on the rib to make it taste good. Overall, I wasn't too impressed with the food. I will say that our waiter made sure that our water was never empty. He was definitely on top of it and stopped by our table a few times. We ended up paying over $120 for 4 entrees and and the Bagna Calda, which wasn't too bad. The portions were decently sized, but for the price, I felt like the food could have been better.
(3)Matt J.
The food isn't bad, but it's not great either. You can certainly get better for the same price. Garlicness does not come through compared to equivalent dishes made at the San Francisco restaurant. In particular, their garlic ice cream is bland compared o. SF (at least SF in 2006). If you've eaten there expect a much milder flavor at the LA restaurant. Majority of my score is for service, though. Service is efficient but too efficient. Entrees were out while we still had appetizers on the table (maybe 10 minutes from order to serve). We either never saw the server, or he was right there ready to move us to the next step. Water was always full, etc., so they're not under staffed. Check was dropped on the table without a final check to see if we wanted anything else. He might as well have said "hey, we have a lot of people waiting, so...." Server was pleasant, not rude, and always had a smile, but we didn't like being subtly rushed. The guy delivering the plates always put the wrong dish at the wrong person (for a party of 2). It may have been because it was Xmas day, but they were clearly in a rush to move us through. The most disappointing part was that my wife asked for caramel mole sauce on her desert instead of chocolate. The server said they were the same thing (although called different things on the menu). We thought "that's weird, but he knows the menu." When we got our desserts, it was clear they are not the same sauce. I don't know if he really didn't know or just didn't want to deal with a special order. In summary, the entire experience is not worth the cost or quality of food. Food quality is not the same as SR in SF, and you can get better food and ambiance for the same price in the same part of LA. Service seems more concerned with pushing tables through than dining experience, and wait staff clearly doesn't know the menu well and didn't want to take the time to clarify. I wouldn't go here on a holiday or busy night and expext a leisurely dinner.
(2)Sugean P.
Came here for the first time ever. I had very high expectations because I've heard such awesome things about this place but our server sort of ruined the experience for us. While we were perusing the menu, she came by a couple times to ask us if we were ready and each time we weren't. she was very attitude-y after that. I used to be a server so i ALWAYS make it a point to be nice and polite to servers and help make their job as easy and painless as possible. so I can pretty much guarantee that we were not in any way being rude or disrespectful to her. We ordered the garlic noodles, a Caesar salad, and the seafood pasta. The food was decent but wasn't as amazing as I thought it would be. Maybe the server's attitude left a bad taste in my mouth but I just couldn't enjoy it. She kept giving us looks as she walked by..almost as if she wanted us to get out? Not too sure. It was pretty much one of the busboys taking care of us that night by filling up our waters, making small talk with us, asking how the food tasted, and grabbing us whatever we needed. I wish I had gotten his name but If management happens to come across this review..give this man a raise lol At one point, the busboy told our server that one of the tables needed something from her. She snapped at him saying it's not her problem and that the customer needs to figure it out. This was all going on right next to our table lol The only time we saw the server after that was when she asked if we wanted our check. When we paid, she just grabbed it off the table (no "thank you" no "how was everything"). A quick snatch and a minute later, she came by with a quick drop of the change (once again, no "thank you" no "have a great night"). Everything she did that night should not be warranted any sort of tip but because I know servers split that tip with busboys and other members of the restaurant staff, we had no choice but to tip a decent amount. Especially since our busboy went above and beyond to ensure we had a decent evening. I definitely won't be back again. I know this is in no way the fault of the cooks, management, or any of the other servers. It's just this one server that ruined my first time here and overshadowed what could have been a good experience.
(2)J S.
worst food and service ever!!!
(1)Thaddeus T.
Decent prices. Portion sizes could be bigger but makes up for that in taste. Regret not trying the Garlic Ice Cream. Maybe later
(4)Kathy C.
This place is the best for couple or dating ..so romantic...service is so great and the garlic ice cream is so yummy ! The food is so delicious!
(5)Dean Y.
The old lawrys venue back in the day, brings back old memories. Service is fairly good, attentive waiters and friendly staff. The mussels and shrimp is a must try, also the bone in filet mignon was very tasty. Homemade pasta is very good, and also try the steamed clams - very good. Prime rib, make sure to get the smaller cut so you have more garlic flavor. Finish off with the garlic ice cream. Wines are reasonably priced.
(4)Joey D.
Gotta be honest. Food was good but the baby back ribs were horrible!! The rack was more like a half of rack and skinny, for the money you spend, you should get your foods worth, not the case. The other entrees were good, meatloaf was great and the steak was good as well. Shrimp was the bomb and the crab legs were a tiny bit small, but that's the way the dice rolls. Desert was heaven but the garlic infused ice cream was just aghhhh. Too much for me. The servers were polite and very attentive and on the ball!! Appetizers were good but so tiny. Just being honest. Although I would've gave this restaurant a 5 star, but my dinner especially the ribs were just horrible.
(3)Jenny B.
I dined here this past Saturday with my boyfriend. The restaurant itself had fun decor and the dim lights provided an intimate atmosphere. What my boyfriend and I were most impressed at stinging rose was the customer service skills of our waiter Reed. It was a busy night but he was very patient and never short with us. It was our first time there and he was very helpful with helping us select our dishes. He was a genuinely nice guy who went above and beyond while serving us. He communicate with his actions that he cared about his customers. Whenever you dine at this location, request Reed. We will definitely be back here with a larger party for our future group occasions. Awesome restaurant and even more awesome service! with reed's service it was a 5 star experience, had we had a typical waiter, the overall experience would be a 4-4.5 star. my boyfriend does not have a yelp account so he requesting that i post the below review for him, by him: This place is as advertised. Great ambiance and great for groups. A very unique experience if you're looking for something different. Our waiter Reid C, was awesome, on point with everything. Total professional the whole time and knew exactly when to check on us and when to leave us. Even Paul the manager came by our table, like at Fancy Steakhouses at the end of the meal. Not exaggerating, best service I've experienced in a long time, Reid should be putting on a clinic training others in the restaurant industry.
(5)Jas R.
Excited that we finally had a chance to eat here! We didn't make reservations, however, we got seated immediately, in a cite, cabana-like table. Which made it feel quiet and private. Our server greated us with a plate of fresh garlic rolls, which were very warm and yummy. Especially with the Bagna Calda ( garlic cloves in a bath of hot oil). It almost tasted like garlic butter. The cloves had a nice buttery texture, and the garlic flavor was not too overpowering. We ordered the Prime Pork Chop, which was a thick cut (cooked to perfection) alongside a side of an apple compote and garlic mashed potatoes The 16oz slab of Prime rib, medium-rear was delicious! Every bite melted in your mouth And the Prawn pasta. It had a nice kick to it. With bacon pieces and fresh prawns in a red creamy sauce. For the portions and the quality of the food, the prices are pretty reasonable. Can't wait to go back and try other garlicky goodies!
(4)Anthony F.
It is a fun place to go but not the best food I have ever had. It is worth going but I will not make this a place I frequent.
(3)Rachel K.
Nice and really unique place to eat out if you're looking for a fancy restaurant or for a special occasion. I love how all the menu items include GARLIC( hence the name, the stinking rose). There issome pretty weird stuff on the menu though...garlic ice cream, salad which sound pretty weird but they are actually really tasty! For entrees, we got some squid ink pasta w/ some garlic sauce, filet mignon, and salmon ravioli. For me, the food was relatively mediocre considering the price which is why I give it 3 stars. Portion sizes suck also. But if you're looking for a restaurant with nice atmosphere and a unique experience, you should definitely try The stinking rose. Also, I advise you not to get the appetizer that they strongly recommend which is the garlic in a pot(?) Whole garlic pieces soaked in oil that taste like mush. :(
(3)CeCe H.
If you like garlic then this place is a must! We came once before about a year ago and I wasn't blown away. They've definitely played around with their recipes because we just went this last week and it was amazing! I got the baby back ribs and they were so dreamy! Not too garlicky but just enough! And the meat practically slid off the bone my boyfriend got the macho cut garlic encrusted filet, medium rare and he LOVED it. He's a major steak eater and very very picky about his steak but he said it was probably his second favorite steak (only second to Ruth Chris). The meals came with garlic mashed potatoes that were good but not too much garlic. My boyfriends meal came with vegetables that I presume was spinach but it wasn't very good, super mushy and not flavored. They give you a ton of garlic bread which is amazing! I used the oil and garlic/parsley mix on the table but go easy because this is where the garlic is super potent! The beer was about $8 for a huge beer so that was nice. We got garlic ice cream for free because it was his birthday. This is where they made major improvements: last time we got the ice cream it was so bad, way too garlicky and weird. This time it was so much more subtle and the chocolate sauce balanced out the slight garlic kick at the end. It was really good this time! Only deterrent for coming here is the prices. Steaks were all about $30 and up, my ribs were $25. Overall bill for two came out to roughly $100. Did I mention the adorable decorations and awesomely silly garlic hats you can wear?!
(5)Damon G.
I find it interesting that the restaurant responded to me by trying to put it on me in that I should have said something to them when I was there. How about just put out good food...especially when you charge the prices you do?
(1)Delvin M.
Great food, great atmosphere, friendly servers my wife and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place.
(5)Ebony M.
The Stinking Rose is a weirdly decorated vortex that makes me feel like I'm trapped in a Paul Lynde acid trip. The food is so amazingly good. Normally, I hate the smell of too much garlic, but it's all fresh garlic, not the cheap crushed and powdered crap from the grocery store. I ate here with my friends Adrian and Lori. We had a blast and the leftovers were even better the following day. Try the mashed potatoes. They will change your life.
(5)Mary R.
It was so average. We had three different types of pastas and they all tasted ordinary. Im shocked that it has 4 stars and so many reviews. Will not come back. So over priced and such bland food.
(1)Lyil C.
Great food. Great service. Great ambiance. The prome rib was great. So was the pineapple mojito.
(4)Thomas M.
The first and only time I've eaten I ordered my meal to go. Even about 45 minutes later when I ate it, it was spectacular. Here's what I ordered: 1. Garlic Sea Bass 2. Spicy Prawn Pasta 3. Bone In Filet Mignon 16oz (with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach) "Bring on the garlic" Garlic Sea Bass - 8.5 out of 10 - Comes with a side of couscous that has a lot of flavor. The fish itself was cooked very well and was also packed with flavor. If you're ordering fish, definitely order this. Spicy Prawn Pasta - 8.5 out of 10 - Wasn't spicy for me but the flavors were very nice. A hint of sweetness made this a very intriguing and tasty dish. Can't go wrong with this one. Filet Mignon - 8.5 out of 10 - I was pleasantly surprised with the steak. Usually I prefer cuts other than the filet, but the cook on the steak was perfect. It was lightly seasoned which, in combination with the other rich foods I ordered, worked well. The mashed potatoes and creamed spinach were both amazing and can stand alone as sides. Super tasty. Overall, I had been wanting to try the Stinking Rose for a while and I intend to go back after this experience.
(4)Marko C.
Four solid stars for The Stinking Rose! I haven't been to this restaurant in over 5 years and I'm so glad that I had a work-related lunch here! 12 of us showed up at 12:00 and were the first party to be seated. The decor in the restaurant is cute, festive, circus-y, vibrant, and FUN! There are even little tent-gazebos in the restaurant so you feel like you are in another world. We ordered a large dish of calamari for our appetizers ($19.95). The calamari was what was to be expected, adn it was served with three different kinds of dipping sauces. I couldn't tell the differences of the sauces apart. A bit expensive for the amount of calamari that we got. Grade: B For my meal, I ordered the regular cut of the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib ($38.95). I've been trying to stay away from red meat for several months now, but this prime rib has whetted my appetite and makes me want to go back to eating red meat regularly (which I won't!). The prime rib was perfectly cooked. I asked for it rare, and rare was what I got! The meat was tender and flavorful! Served with mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and creamy horse radish. The prime rib was clearly the star of the order, while the mashed potatoes and spinach tasted very bland. The dish was over priced for the quantity of food that was served. For a garlic-focused restaurant, I didn't taste any garlic on the plate other than the three pieces of roasted garlic placed on the meat. Grade: B+ (A for the prime rib, B for the rest of the sides). The servers were super friendly and helpful! Great service! Food Grade: B+ Service Grade: B+ Worth the Money Grade: C Overall Impression Grade: B
(4)Kevin C.
Went again. Bagna calda was good again. Better than last time I think. Garlic fries were also great. Got the prime rib, but I don't recall it being really garlicky enough. The spinach it came with was also kind of plain.
(4)Madeline R.
Garlic mash potatoes a hit! A bit pricey but tasty. Coworkers & I all polished our plates clean
(4)Christina S.
My parents are notoriously picky, so my sister and I selected the Stinking Rose with caution. But my parents were charmed by the garlic hat wearing waitresses and the silly paintings and the freaking delicious rolls, so my sister and I were more optimistic. We both got the filet mignon, and I selected creamed spinach and steamed vegetables as my sides. The wait for food really wasn't very long, especially since they brought us some more of those awesome rolls. My steak was just a hair over medium rare, which was a little disappointing, but it was still soft and juicy and delicious. The cream spinach was awesome, but I would skip the steamed vegetables; they were soggy and tasted like nothing. So there you have it. A review that should be at least a solid 4 stars. But my family and I all suffered pretty bad indigestion for a full day after we visited the Stinking Rose. Delicious, but bad for your stomach.
(3)Jeffrey W.
If you like garlic, this is the place to go. I had been to the one in SF years ago and during a recent trip to LA I went to this one. The atmosphere is fun and the food is pretty darn good. I think everyone on my flight home knew where I had dinner the night before!
(4)Cynthia L.
A memorable destination for special occasions, especially if you love Garlic. We had our company Christmas party for 12 last weekend and it was amazing. The food, the service, the garlic! The General Manager, Paul Witter made the advance reservation process painless and efficient and everything was exactly as we planned. Attentive waiter staff, and a good time was had by all. [Warning: Dessert sundaes and ice cream portions are huge, save room] PS--If looking for a fun date locale, the little booths throughout the restaurant can make for a romantic--albeit lively-- excursion (after dinner mints recommended).
(5)J L.
We went ladt Thursday for friend's B day. It is a casual and friendly restaurant, but was not as expected by the name and location. Sort of S European style, interior is silmilar to Buca. Food is ok but not great, we like appetizer more than their prime rib.
(3)Linda L.
the house "shot" is delicious! (garlic marinating in vinegar) Expect to leve reeking of garlic but it's all so delicious!
(5)Shawn K.
I enjoy going here for special occasions, especially for Thanksgiving. When I go here I bring someone new each time and they enjoy themselves too. The atmosphere is wonderful. The menu is unique and the food is delicious. I try something new from the menu each time I go. I look around when I'm there and everyone is smiling and having a good time. The more I go the better it gets. I would like to explore the restaurant a little more like sitting at the bar or are the tables outside more than decorations? Next time I'll have to go to lunch instead of just for dinner. Sometimes when you drive by you can smell the GARLIC...yum!
(5)Jayson W.
i have been here several times (7-8ish) but this was my first time in many years. not because i didnt like it, but i like to go to all kinds of different places. i went there with a couple of friends, to show them a new place they hadnt been. the waiter was awesome, very attentive and answered all the other couples questions. the assistants were on target, and checked on us several times, and never pressured us to leave, though i am sure we hung out and talked too long. my 3 stars though is cause it just wasnt as good as i remember, maybe its just me trying to glamorize it, or the fact i have been to hundreds of places since, it was just meh. especially for the price for 35-38 bucks for a prime rib i want it to be good, and it was aiiight but not yuuum.
(3)Angie M.
So disappointed in this place. I have been wanting to come here for some time already. I love steak and garlic!! Where do I start!!! I guess I'll start with the service our server was not good at all. She took forever with our drinks, once we had our drinks my friend and I had to wait a really long time to get refills. Twice she came to the table asked if we needed anything and didn't see me raise my hand. (My mouth happened to be full both times) none the less it has been my experience that waiters actually look down and see if you need a drink refill as well as ask... anyway it wasn't pleasant. Another thing I didn't like is that when she finally got our refills she would say "excuse me" but wouldn't wait for me to physically scooch to give her room instead she would just stick her hand in bumping me and say sorry after.... another time she was grabbing a menu and almost knocked the bday girls drink down. Geez.. I got better service at the Dennys I went to 2 nights ago at 4am. SMH at this point we have yet to get our food and my review is at a 2.5 I was really hoping the food would be amazing since I have read so many good reviews. It was terribly disappointing. I ordered the prime rib, it comes with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. The only thing I liked were the sides. The sides were really good I especially liked the garlic mashed potatoes!! Now on to the prime rib, the prime rib had so much fat on it. My friend and I spent 5 minutes just removing all the fat. It was disgusting. Finally we were ready to eat and I took my first bite. The prime rib was plain had very little flavor other than the garlic. I had to add salt and it still wasn't good. I didn't even finish my food it was way below my standards. I've had better prime rib from restaurants in Pasadena such as le grande orange (which is only $18) and the best prime rib from right across the street at Lawry's, now that is amazing prime rib, and an experience all on its own. Save your money and your time go elsewhere. Needless to say I won't be returning. One thing I really liked was the look of the restaurant very themed, just wish the service and food was up to par.
(2)Andrew S.
always a great place to go to celebrate friends and family.
(4)Mashty S.
I love this place, the garlic bread and appetizer are the best, if you have a bday they put one of those funny garlic hat on you and give you free ice-cream. I am not too crazy with their entree, so next time we'll go there, we will just try the appetizer.
(4)Jackie B.
Stinking Rose has been one of my Favorite garlic restaurants over 10! Years. Me and my roadies go every time they are in town. I've had everything on the menu. Steak, Pasta, etc..I double up and share the platter! I mainly love the Sizzling platter of Mussels, crab legs and shrimp. A win win. The taste of garlic and butter throughout. I enjoy the butter lettuce salad and the warm rolls that they serve with every meal I add the garlic spread . It's a whole Stinkin night! So try not to plan nothing else cause you will smell like garlic all night. But it's worth it!
(5)Megan S.
When I was in LA last, I finally had a chance to check out The Stinking Rose, and woah... It was so good. A friend has been telling me about it for years since she moved to LA, and I finally got to enjoy it first hand. We started off with the Garlic Spinach Fontina Fondue, which was so great. Perfectly flavored!! For dinner, I got the Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib, and let me tell you...I have never had a piece of meat so tender and flavorful. It was served with spinach and garlic mashed potatoes (yum!!). One of my friends got the Italian Garlic Meat Loaf, and that was really tasty as well. There aren't many vegetarian options on the menu, so if you don't eat meat, be prepared to be stuck with a portobello mushroom. Our server was really friendly, and pretty much all the staff that we spoke with were great. The decorations are a little funky, but in a fun way. Prices were totally reasonable and worth it!! I'd definitely go back in the future.
(5)Jason W.
Went here for dinner, have to say pretty disappointed. Nothing was special..the filet minon was good but if you want steak go to a steak house. I ordered the prime rib, the 1st one I had was extremely dry to the point I thad to take it back, the second one tasted old and was not very tender. For the price I can't recommend this place there are much better options to dine at.
(2)April T.
We had dinner on 11/14/14. Our server's name was Chevonne. Again she wasn't completely terrible.
(2)Stacy H.
I was expecting alot for this place but it was a mistake. The clam soup was really just just clams + garlic which u can easily make it at home. The mushroom plate is the only reason I am giving one more star. Big rip off and service was so slow amd nobody came around. ( they only come around to get the tip at the end !!)
(2)Sarah S.
Love it here. Cool ambiance and really great food. If you don't like garlic, you need to stay the hell away. Seriously. Anyone that eats here has a fragrant reminder for a minimum of 3 days afterward! I'm not complaining... soooo worth it. This location is better than SF as far as decor goes but the same amazing food. Try Bagna Caulda and the garlic ice cream for sure. The bloody Mary also gets this girls seal of approval!
(5)Joy A.
I feel weird reviewing a long standing Los Angeles business but being that I came here recently for a celebration, I left wondering why I don't go to Stinking Rose often. It's FREAKING AMAZING. I mean, refer to the name of the restaurant. You must really really love garlic to come here. I mean, love smelling it, loving eating it including in your ice cream and don't mind smelling like garlic at the gym as it comes out of your pores in mile 3 of your treadmill run. I must say that they have the best prime rib ever. So flavorful, I forget to dip it into the au jus sauce. Come with hungry friends who love seafood for the shrimp and mussel platter that makes you cuss while you eat it. It is super quirky inside, lots of visual stimulation. May not be a sexy place to bring a date but certainly a place to bring someone you love and is comfortable with. And my mom met Sean Paul. If you don't know who that is, neither did she and that made his cornrows stand on end.
(5)Brian C.
If you find a girl that still wants to kiss you after eating at The Stinking Rose, she's a keeper. This place has one of the best prime steaks that I've every had, but the garlic certainly helped. I've tried a number of their entrees such as the lamb, lobster, clams and other dishes, but the prime rib and the garlic is what keeps me coming back. Everyone raves about the Bagna Calda, and you should definitely try it at lease once, but I've found that the fresh garlic dip was what I preferred to eat with the bread and meat. The most notable thing about this restaurant is their Free Corkage policy. It's rare to find a BYOB restaurant in Beverly Hills. I know they could make a killing on selling over priced wine... I certainly respect their decision to let their patrons bring the wine of their choice without charging a corkage fee. It's not a best place to bring your first date, but definitely a place to go once you're more comfortable with each other.
(5)Queso W.
1.) excellent service. Friendly wait staff. They're very helpful! 2.) forgettable food. I expected more from such a popular restaurant with such a unique gimmick/motif. The fare isnt bad, so don't get me wrong there. But it's also not fantastic. I was In a party of 6 and everyone ate off each other's plates + appetizers so that we could sample the menu flavors. Yeaaaaa....nothing was particularly great.
(3)Beckie C.
The ribs were good! Cocktails...better! Place was not busy yet our waiter seemed to disappear at the most inopportune times!
(3)Brian I.
Finally, I got to try The Stinking Rose. It's a Garlic Restaurant, so expect lots of garlic! It was a good friend's b-day and we had a reservation and that worked out very well since we all arrived on time and was ready to be seated on time. They start you off with garlic bread and you can have more garlic! Most of us ordered the Garlic Roasted Prime Rib and it starts at $39.95 for 12 oz, $44.95 for 16 oz, and $59.95 for 20 oz called The Slab. The best value in terms of getting more meat for your money is the large, so that's what I got, and I had it medium rare. We had a bottle of red wine. It was pretty good. You could probably share the large with someone because 16 oz is too much for one person, so I did take it home. Oh, since it was my friend's birthday, they got him garlic ice cream! Not everyone tasted the garlic, but I could and it reminded me of the time I went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival when I was a kid, so it's appropriately named Gilroy's Famous Garlic Ice Cream. I'm sure the rest of the dessert is good, but it's the garlic ice cream you have to try since everything else here is garlic. My friend took home a bunch of the candy or mints or whatever at the end of the meal because she thought it would be funny to give people since it's weird and it gets stuck in your teeth and it was a funny shared experience our table had. Not that they should stop serving this candy...it's just funny. Nice interior designed with its garlic theme. The mural I faced had Garlywood, a tribute to LA's Hollywood, and it was just fun to look at and people watch at the same time. I hear there are other themed rooms which would be fun to see. Service was really on point. I'd definitely come back again, but probably for a special occasion and when I'm willing to spend that much on a meal! It's good...I approve!
(5)Betsy B.
I love this place! You can usually always get a table quickly. The decor is fun and the food is great. My favorite is the pork chops.
(5)Tyffany L.
This place is awesome! If you love garlic, and I mean really love garlic then you found the right place! The entire restaurant is garlic themed, with Draculas room, to a carosel themed dining area. They even had cloves of garlic hanging above the ceiling in almost every room! The free garlic bread and garlic spread is addictive, my friends and I devour them so quickly before we even order anything else. They have alcoholic drinks with garlic in them and desserts! Their garlic steak and mashed potatoes are so delicious, I always order it. And for dessert they have garlic ice cream with chocolate syrup on top and the chocolate mixed with the vanilla garlic ice cream really brings out both the flavors. Its good food, go eat it!
(5)Anna M.
My husband and I had dinner here the other night to celebrate our anniversary. We had reservations but we called in to say we were running late, which they accommodated with no problem. (Then again, it was a Wednesday night so it shouldn't have been too busy.) We were seated at a little table for two, which was supposed to feel intimate considering it was curtained off, but we were within another couple who were about an arm's length away, so it no longer felt quite so intimate. We were served bread right away. Delicious. We weren't brave enough to used the chopped garlic/parsley(?) concoction on the table, but we did use some of the garlic infused olive oil since there was no butter. It was pretty good as well. My husband ordered the Little Devil Petite Cut Filet Mignon. He said it was great. He forgot to order a substitute for the creamed spinach their entrees automatically come with, but they were nice enough to bring a huge side order of steamed vegetables for him shortly after. I ordered the Silence of the Lamb Shank, since I love lamb and I like the name. My sides (garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach) were perfect, but I felt the lamb was a bit dry and part of it was so tough it was hard to cut! Maybe it was a fluke. Sadly, I'm not one to send dishes back unless it is so very, very bad, but now that I think of it, maybe I should have. The flavors were fantastic, though. In the end, we still love the place and most of the food. I can't wait to go back and try their clams with the black fettuccine. We'd still recommend the place.
(4)Julia M.
Absolutely my favorite restaurant. Everything tastes delicious. They even have garlic icecream. Will definitely go back!
(5)Riza C.
Great dining experience especially when one is celebrating with a bunch of winners!!! Drove into the lot and its valet only ($5)....Loved the ambience when me and my friends walked in. Hot Salsas to the right and restaurant souvenirs such as all garlic olive oil, salsas, olives, and pasta sauce to the left. The ladies greeted us and promptly seated us (did reservations thru Open Table!!). We were greeted by our waiter who--along with other busboys were very attentive throughout the restaurant experience. We shared a large calamari appetizer with multiple lemon slices, marinara and ketchup-like dips. I ordered the forty clove garlic chicken replacing the mashed potatoes with creamed spinach. The garlic cloves that came with it was mouth-watering! ! I dunno how they cooked it, but it seemed like it was soaked in olive oil then roasted to perfection!!! Sean ordered Garlic, parsley, butter sauce fresh fettuccine. He mentioned it was "alright". He thought it at least xame with chicken Roma ordered Neon Ravioli--- she doesnt really say anything about it, but for the price of it, it seemed like she didnt get much!!! Kyle ordered the Italian garlic meatloaf-- and he mentioned it was good. For dessert, I ordered the Gilroy garlic ice cream. YES....it taste like vanilla ice cream and it got doused with garlic--thus garlic ice cream was born. It tasted weird at first but the more i ate it, the more it tasted good.. Roma got the strawberry cheesecake and i heard no complaints. Overall it was an awesome dining experience..i will definitely come back again!!
(5)Tina S.
Hmmm, where do i begin. I took half a star away because i was confused with parking and didn't understand why we have to pay for valet when it wasn't busy nor where you park for free parking so JUST PARK ON THE STREET or just pay for parking it isnt much like 5 bucks. Also, the valet guy was kind of lame and said "Thanks for doing my job". It was a good thing I was super excited to eat here or else I would have hated the experience already. I took another half star because for a really awesome place I would expect our waitress to be a little more attentive, seemed a little scattered. BUT any way, i loved this place. I love garlic. I loved the atmosphere inside with the decor and the intimately spaced tents that I thought were absolutely adorable. I had the 40 clove chicken: juicy chicken with many cloves of roasted garlic and a delicious sauce! that I cannot even explain how yummy it is. My S.O. got the garlic ribs that were tender. Both dishes camenwith mashed potatoes of course! with garlic inside. You also get little rolls of garlic bread with your meal and also there is a small jar of raw garlic and parsely and olive oil. A half bottle of wine is decently priced as well. We totally reeked of garlic when we left and I wouldn't have it any other way.
(4)Isaac G.
This was my first time going to stinking rose restaurant wit my girlfriend.. The host had nice smile and I was thinking that the wait would take long.. But actually it wasn't long at all.. The decoration of the place was amazing.. The service was okay it could had been better from the waiters.. But it was another guy that was doing a great job I forgot his name.. Although I would love to go again and recommended friends and family the food was delicious.. Thank you
(4)Evelyn S.
You have to try the garlic ice cream!! I had the 40 clove chicken and it was amazing, my husband had the spaghetti and wasn't a fan but overall great experience. Reservations are a must and valet parking is $5.50
(4)Jorge R.
Me and my girlfriend decided to celebrate her birthday at the stinking rose. Decor is awesome, the smell of garlic as soon as you walk into the restaurant is appetizing, we had a reservation so we didn't have to wait at all. food and service were great, the only thing i didn't like was the valet parking only, but its not a deal breaker. if you're not sure whether to come or not, you have to experience it at least once, i mean where else will you have GARLIC ICE CREAM!!!???
(4)Jenny B.
If you like garlic its the best. Kinda pricey. Awesome ambiance. This is 1 of my birthday dinner go to's. Did I say Pricey?
(4)Grace L.
Food and service were great. Shared the garlic roasted prime rib large cut and the Clams pasta for the entree and their famous bagna calda. The amount of food was perfect for us. I really loved the bagna calda but I think my throat is sensitive to large amounts of garlic because my throat became itchy and burned... I was in pain and had to actually stop eating it. The steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and their black pasta in the Clams pasta was delicious.
(4)Kimberly P.
Definitely a busy spot on a Friday night. I suggest valeting your car since it is near impossible to find parking around that area. The restaurant is ample and hardly any lighting. So ladies with heels, watch your step. As far as the food, it was good but nothing spectacular. The Bagna Calda was a little overwhelming on the taste buds. As my entree, I got the forty clove chicken. The leg quarter was moist but the breast was on the dry side. The great upside to my meal was the Chardonnay wine I brought because there is no corkage fee!
(3)Joanna L.
I've always wanted to try this place since I'm a big fan of garlic. I'm surprised however that as I walked into the restaurant I wasn't hit with a strong garlicky aroma. The setup of the restaurant is interesting and so were the decor - bottle of wines and garlic hanging above your head and funny pictures all around the place. However the food was not as tasty as I expected. So we came here for DineLA ($35 for three course) and we got one of each of the starter - not knowing that we could both get the salads and the Bagna Calda - the waitress wasn't very clear or rather I was kind of confused by her so we ordered one of each and then later it became clear that we could have both started with the salads because they would have also given the Bagna Calda. So what's Bagna Calda? It's a lot of garlic cloves roasted in olive oil made for spreading on their warm focaccia bread. It's super delicious - it's pretty much like very fresh garlic bread with a real garlic spread. For entrees, I ordered the Lamb Shank served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. I really like the way they made their cream spinach - not drenched in cream so it's still semi-healthy. The lamb shank was okay - I didn't realize that it wasn't made with any garlic - the sauce is made with broth, wine and butter so there is no garlic in it. So what I did was just put some of Bagna Calda onto it to give it some garlic taste. The meat on the lamb shank was also kind of dry - some parts were fatty but it was mostly dry. My boyfriend ordered the Garlic Braised Boneless Short Rib also served with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach - which I must say was a definitely the better choice. For dessert (which we waited 15 minutes for) was just simple vanilla ice cream - I was kind of disappointed since I was hoping they would serve like garlic ice cream. The service was okay, our waitress wasn't around much and I couldn't say she was very friendly either. The longest thing to come out was the dessert, which I think they forgot at one point and just gave us the check. Overall this dining experience wasn't as great as I expected. The food was alright - the portions were good and it was a good deal. The service could be better. I think we'll be back here though because when looking through their regular menu, my boyfriend wanted to come back to try their Garlic Roasted Prime Rib which looks like it's the highlight of the restaurant and also their garlic ice cream.
(3)Jasmine C.
I have heard of this restaurant long before coming to California, so I was very excited to eat here, especially with my garlic loving addiction. Sadly, I was not blown away by the experience, nor the food. The server, wow, by far one of the worst servers I've had in a restaurant in a very long time. I've even had better service at a Red Robin, and that is not saying much. He brought out our cocktails and served them with the wrong dressing on the rim, so it made the cocktails taste funny. I ordered a cucumber cocktail that said it had sugared rim, and he gave me the salted rim and poured the drink for me so it's not like I had time to check before hand. And before he even poured the cocktails, he couldn't even remember who ordered what when he brought them to the table. Seriously, TWO drinks! Then he brought our table a couple more drinks that weren't even close to what we were drinking saying we ordered them! Horrible service. The rabbit was overcooked and dry, so that was sad cause I am a rabbit fan. The garlic potatoes were delish, and the garlic ice cream was actually the best part of the meal. The caramel mole sauce had the perfect hint of spice and the garlic was so amazing in with the vanilla and sugar cream. A little bummed we didn't get better service.
(2)Susan C.
I looove the prime rib here. We always order the second biggest size (the $40 one) in medium rare, and it is enough food to share among two people. The edges are well seasoned and the steak is so juicy and soft. The mashed potatoes and cooked spinach are pretty good too. I love the garlic garnish that they provide at every table because the bits of raw garlic makes it spicy in a good way. I always pair it with their yummy garlic bread that is given out as a starter. The garlic bath dish (just a ton of roasted garlic bathed in olive oil), is surprisingly good too, but you definitely need to share it with many people. Trying to finish it between two people was pretty difficult, even for garlic lovers.
(5)Tamara W.
I brought my Grandma here for her birthday and she enjoyed herself. Kind of a corny restaurant that is great for low key family functions. The drinks are strong and the food is solid. Don't expect fine dining. This is standard American-Italian food, lots of sauce and lots of oil. They do provide a cute garlic hat for guests who are celebrating their birthday to take pictures. They also gave us a complimentary garlic ice cream desert for Gram's birthday that was pretty good!!
(3)Usalinh P.
Dine in L.A was last night for my wife's co-workers get together. The place was easy to find and valet was $5 which wasn't bad. Went in and was greeted by the hostess promptly and directed to the rest of the group waiting at the bar having drinks. Hostess came right back to show us to our table which was located in the Dracula themed room in the back which was really cool. We had the whole room to ourselves so everyone could be as loud as they wanted to be. The waiter was very friendly and nice. Some of use did the Dine L.A. menu and some of us did the regular menu. The Dine L.A. menu included a salad to start, entrees were forty clove chicken, eggplant lasagna, short ribs, lamb shank, salmon, sizzling crab and something else I believe with a ice cream dessert. For myself I chose to order the dry aged bone in new york steak served with cream spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. The table had small garlic rolls and roasted garlic cloves in olive oil to snack. The steak was cooked awesome to a medium rare! Spinach was ok but needed more cream in it. Mashed potatoes was too chunky. It could have been alot better if it was mashed more and maybe add some milk and butter to smooth it out more. The wife had the prine rib which she said was ok but loved my steak better. We sat around for a bit to talk and waited on desserts. After desserts the check came and it wasn't too bad for the party of 14 we had. In most places with any party over 5 they automatically add in the gratuity but this place didn't. The total came out to $602 and we figured $715 should be good including the tip. So everyone threw in there cash and when the waiter came back he was glad it was all cash and no spliting of the ticket. So he grabs the money and comes back a couple minutes later waiting to know if we were aware we only tipped him $13. We all couldn't believe what he was saying because we had three different people in the group count the cash before he came to get it originally and it was $715. So we recounted the money he handed back to use and sure enough it was $615. So from the time we counted the money the first time and him taking it to go cash out $100 went missing. Rather then making a scene we took the cash back and decided to put it on a card instead. So I'm not sure if that $100 dropped somewhere or if someone pocketed the money or if we missed counted but I threw in another $100 to cover the rest of the tip. So my advice for others is to recount your money before giving it to your waiter or waitress and maybe also in from of them while they are at your table just to be sure it's right or just have the ticket split so you know what you're paying which makes it alot easier. Spending $240 there was outrageous to me, listen learn... I am updating my review to a 1 star from an original 3 star because of the manager who reached out to me attempting to clear up the issue we had with the missing $100 our waiter said we did not give to him. The manager reached out to me about a week after our visit wanting some info to clear up the issue. It has been months since and I have not received any reply since. I'm sorry mister manager no one in our party will return back to your establishment or will suggest anyone we know to visit your restaurant in the future
(1)Nicole W.
Yes i am a female and i LOVE garlic. Came here with my bf cause we both crave for garlic and starving. He kept recommending this place so i wanted to give a try. We came for dineLA. The complimentary garlic bread was so gooood especially with the raw garlic spread, its just so matchy and delicious ! The bagna calda was also delicious, garlic was soft like butter and the sauce, dip them to the bread will definitely increase your appetite. The waiter was also really friendly, he kept refilling our bread (maybe cause me and my bf kept finishing the bread.......) I ordered ravioli for main dish and my bf got Forty clove garlic chicken. They were both delicious, my ravioli was super creamy. I couldnot finish them cause i had too much bread LOL Desser- We had vanilla ice cream. I am not a creamy ice cream person but somehow the garlic dish makes me crave for something really sweet. The vanilla icecream perfectly wash off the garlic smell in our mouth. My bf got really gassy and we smell like garlic for the remaining day but it totally worth it! I will def recommend here garlic lovers!!
(5)Joseph C.
Sometimes you have no choice but to let the court decide who should be held responsible for messing up other people's property... I went to small claims court 7/17/2014 and was awarded $661.59 to fix my door that UNITED VALET PARKING INC damaged on mother's day... Justice was served!!! Now if I can only get these bastards to send my a check, I can fix my door... :) Thank you Paul Witter of Stinking Rose for all your help and understanding, I will be there soon to celebrate with my family, but will never valet again though..... :)
(5)Kat C.
Parking is valet, unless you want to hunt for a street parking in that area. The valet is simple and fast. Not to mention, super polite too! I've been here a few times and of all the times, there was not a single time that I did not enjoy myself here. The service was wonderful, on point, and humorous. (The friendliness of the waiters made our meals even more enjoyable. ) Oh by the way, if you're not the type of person that loves garlic, some of these appetizers/meals would not be for you. There's still some awesome dishes on the menu that's light on garlic though. The food: first dish was the salad that comes with the meal. It's a basic salad, nothing fancy or anything. Then came the bagna calda. That was surprisingly good. Each person got their own dish of it and it was fairly a large portion for one. The garlic bread that you place it on is absolutely, garlicky Delicious! Next came our main dish. I had the Silence of the Lamb Shank and it was fork tender. The flavor was a bit overcooked and not as juicy as I remembered it. It was still good though. Their Italian garlic meatloaf was pretty good. It had good texture in it and the carrots surprised me. I was expecting a mouthful of meat when I took a bite into it. Instead of all meat, carrots were baked/cooked right in the meatloaf. It was a nice taste. Then came the dessert. The dessert was homemade frozen custard. That was super yummy! It was creamy, sweet, and a very nice way to end our meal. The custard left a sweet lingering taste to counterbalance the garlic ness that our breaths' carried. Overall, great service, great food, and great ambiance. I will definitely come back here.
(5)Candice H.
Best clams ever sunk in garlic butter sauce . the bone in filet was AMAZING - melt in your mouth give me more!!!! The bread was yummy My daughter loved the noodles Everyone left full and very very happy Service was perfect and he was def one of the best servers I've had anywhere!!!!
(5)Holly L.
The Stinkin Rose is stinkin' cute! Steph and I were yelping and The Stinkin Rose had us at "garlic." We were ready to get our stink on and indulge in some garlicky goodness and garlic breath! It's the perfect place to go if you love garlic. It's somewhat a theme restaurant. It's cute. It's intimate. The lighting is dim but not dim enough where you can't see your food. It's fun. As soon as you enter, there's the garlic shop with anything and everything related to garlic and a bunch of hot sauces. Each table is somewhat it's own private booth which I loved! Red lighting goes extremely well with black and white stripes. The decor, the lighting, and lounge feeling is what I enjoyed. It was such a lovely date night. I haven't been back to socal for almost two years! The waitress and waiters were all super friendly and funny. Could you ask for a better experience? Why, yes. Even the food was great! That was the best part! I wish there were more garlic but the prime rib and braised steak was cooked to perfection. The creamed spinach and mashed potatoes complimented the meat really well. Next time I would like to try one of their seafood dishes! Overall, a perfect experience! Couldn't be happier. I love these kinds of places!!
(4)Denice A.
We took my Mother In-Law for her Birthday since she loves garlic. she loved it food was great, service was great and we even got to pick where to sit. overall loved the food and everything about it. its a pricy place but well worth it especially on special occasions.
(5)Sophia D.
My experience here was good - Nice ambience, good food and service. The food here is not too garlicky as you might expect - I think it is perfect. I did not really care for the garlic ice cream though.
(4)Shehla M.
I enjoy The Stinking Rose I truly do. I however feel a bit awkward considering the entire restaurant looks like a giant circus. However, aside from the awkward entrance, the odd ambiance and the interesting servers there are far better things on the table that may tingle yet slightly sizzle your palette. My favorite is the bread and bagna calda. You must remember that everything at the stinking rose has garlic so if this is a first date I suggest you go elsewhere :) The filet mignon is quite pleasant severed with a rich butter, garlic infused sauce. There's so much to love at this restaurant but the steak has continued to be my go to meal- perhaps it's the essence of the garlic that draws me in to my meat eating desires. Either way you'll be in for a treat regardless of what you order. Just don't take someone that's afraid of the circus in here though! Happy Circus, I mean Stinking Rose eats Yelpers!
(4)Rick S.
Most tasty dinners I have ever had, service good, been there many times, always leave well fed.
(5)Jenifer S.
Great restaurant! I like the theme of this restaurant, I think is cool! My husband took me here for dinner, and I felt as if I was having dinner in a mysterious place. It was definitely different. I enjoyed the food very much.
(5)Nancy X.
If this place wasn't good, Robert Irvine would have SO MUCH FUN making fun of the decor on Restaurant: Impossible. It's so kitschy it's cute. It's like dimly lit, but there are stuffed garlic dolls around, and you eat in this cute little striped tents OMG hahaha But it's really yummy! My boyfriend and I came here for dineLA lunch and it was really good. $25 is super reasonable for the huge portions they give. I was a little apprehensive about the bagna calda appetizer because it's just a bowl of roasted garlic in oil...but it was DELICIOUS! Think hummus, but garlic. The garlic cloves were so soft and tasty. We "spread" them on the warm and soft bread rolls and it was the perfect start to the meal. The salad with garlic dressing was actually so damn good! My boyfriend actually HATES vegetables but he finished his plate before me because it was so yummy. The garlic alfredo ravioli was really really good. We just kept dipping bread into the sauce they used. The italian meatloaf was so juicy and tender and fatty and good, and the garlic mashed potatoes were heaven when paired with the meatloaf's gravy. The creamed spinach was left untouched though...because it's spinach :p For dessert, we just had normal vanilla ice cream...but for some reason I thought it was SO GOOD!? I dunno why, it was just really creamy and the perfect texture and sweet, I think since we just had a meal with nothin' but garlic, it was really nice to clean it up with some good ol' ice cream :)
(4)Paul A.
Great service. Great food. We even changed our reservation time with short notice and had no problems. I got the meat loaf which was good and my fiancé at the chicken which was even better. Highly suggest it. Finally finished with the garlic ice cream which was really good.
(5)MICHELLE C.
True to the name: the service stunk!!! I will never return! We made reservations for 8 a week in advance and drove 2 hours to celebrate a 42 wedding anniversary. We were sat in a really private room near the bar, which we liked. The place is really cute and I liked the vibe. The service was horrible, and I mean horrible!!! Lucky for us, the bartender was our server, please tell me why I had to ask him 3 different times for my coke?! My husband had to actually excuse himself from the table to go get me my coke. The server forgot to take my order and had to be reminded. He seemed out of sorts when taking the order. The appetizers and salads were brought out with dinner and not before. When we told the servers we had not yet received our salads or appetizers the guy was very short with us and continued to bring our entrees and completely dismissed what we wanted, which was our appetizers and salad BEFORE our dinners so our food would still be warm. The food was okay, nothing special. The prime rib was good but not worth the price. I ordered extra garlic on mine which I did not receive. I have been wanting to come here for about 7 years and today I can lay that to rest. I will never return again. For a 360.00 tab the service is better at your local steak joint. Side note: we ordered the garlic in a hot tub and it was inedible. It was super fishy tasting. To much anchovy paste. However, I did enjoy the raw garlic that was already on the table.
(2)Betsy K.
Whoa garlic! It's the first thing you smell going in and the last smell you take with you! Had reservations for a party of 11. We were seated as soon as we arrived at the restaurant. Hostess was very friendly. Our group ordered a variety of dinners. The ones I would recommend are: Porterhouse steak Short ribs Baby back ribs Forty clove chicken Not reco: Pork chop The service was great throughout. Garlic and garlic bread are plentiful! Parking is valet only. $4.50
(5)Adam M.
This place was good. I wouldn't say the best garlic place I have had but its not something I would crave. I would choose Garlic Jo's in Newport over this place when I have my garlic cravings. I had the prime rib that was well cooked and was fairly tasty. I also had the oil bulbs but I was expecting more garlic in everything. I think my expectations might have been set a little high before coming.
(3)Jay J.
Party of 25, Wednesday night birthday dinner. They were nice enough to seat us with half of our party present after waiting and drinking at the bar. I had a Basil Lugosi and Neck Bite. Not bad if you're into those kind of drinks. When seated, they brought us bread and recommended the bagna calda. It was delicious. My first time ever having garlic like that and I loved it. I had the short rib with mashed garlic potatoes and creamed spinach. The short rib was delicious and flavorful. I didn't even need a knife to eat it, it was fork tender. Downside, I didn't taste any garlic at all. Reading the other reviews beforehand, I expected this, but still enjoyed it. The mashed potatoes were garlicky and had a very smooth texture. The creamed spinach was ok, nothing special. My all time favorite is still Peter Luger's. I also tried the garlic prime rib, tender but also non-garlicky, the garlic rack of rib was yummy and flavorful with spices and a strong garlic taste. The garlic ice cream was strange, and tasted just like the garlic bread. It wasn't awful or anything, I'm sure it would have become an acquired taste if I had more than one spoonful. My friend wore the garlic hat all night. They provide a head cover/washing cap with it, but we still couldn't help but notice the stains on the cap. It was like an episode of 20/20 when we took pictures of the him with the flash on and this huge pink-ish stain shows up. Erg. Yummy? The staff was cool and took care of us pretty well, especially for a party this size. It helped that our half ordered first while the other half (the laggers) ordered much later and had to wait longer for their food. I guess some people are too dense to know that 8 pm means 8 pm...but I digress haha...The staff sang happy birthday to my friend and gave him a cup of garlic ice cream on the house. Overall dinner was good. It's definitely one to cross off the list. Would I come back? Probably not, while the food itself is good, about half of the items I ate were lacking garlic.
(3)JR M.
Do you like garlic? I do. What do you do when you like garlic and lots of it? You go to The Stinking Rose of course. I'll start of with the actual location. We used valet which was quick and simple. Yes I would have preferred a lot but what are you going to do? Walking in you get a nice whiff of the food and the garlic. Obviously the garlic. It is a very nice decor. This place has its own personality. Lighting may be a tad dim but it isn't obstructive at all. It adds a sort of mystique to the place that just adds to the experience. Now to the important part, the food. Upon sitting at our booth we are given a platter of bread. Yes it sounds simple but the bread was very very good. I added a little bit of olive oil onto the bread and addition garlic and boy was I happy. It is a very nice way to welcome us diners to the restaurant. I ordered the steak. It comes in three sizes; standard; large, and the slab. You can guess which one I ordered. The slab of course. What can I really say about the steak? It was very good and admittedly a very nice size. Cooked to perfection, juicy, and tender. I can't really find anything to complain about in regards to the steak. The same can be said about the spinach and mashed potatoes that accompany the steak. I had a taste of the other dishes that my party ordered and all of which were delicious. From what I tasted you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service was top notch. The wait staff was very polite and attentive. Empty plates were removed accordingly and in a timely fashion, we didn't feels rushed, and honestly it was just a joy being there. I can easily recommend this to garlic lovers and furthermore food lovers in general. Come and eat!
(5)Vanessa T.
If you love garlic then this is not the place for you. I was excited about this place and once I was there the excitement died. You do not smell garlic what so ever outside or inside the restaurant. This should have been a clue... I ordered the Garlic Chicken and it did not taste a thing like garlic. They give you all the cloves of garlic but they were so over cooked that they didn't taste like anything. The pork chop was very flavorful but..no garlic taste. If you are "not" a fan of garlic then this is the place for you...all others, save your money and make the garlic items at your house for free!!!
(2)Grace A.
I've been to this place twice now. . And walking in. . You get a little feel of walking into circus? Anyway. . My friend and I started with a martini. . Which came with a cute little shaker and 1/2 a martini more. . We had the chilled asparagus (which was just alright) and the calamari (which was good. . But not extraordinary). I had a filet minon medium (which came with creamed spinach & garlic mashed potatoes) & my friend had the prime rib. . Which also came with the same sides. Both were very very on point and delish! If your a garlic lover.. than you gotta give it a try. .. Ohh! I have to say I was NOT fond of the garlic martini. . And for that reason. . Did not and will not try the garlic icecream.
(4)Taquoia S.
I love this place. Every time I visit i get the the sizzling skillet its awesome I can never find anything wrong with this place.
(5)Sophie S.
This is not a place for first dates or business meals -- but it's damn good. Aside from the obvious garlic breath, I am partial to the surf and turf (half a crab and a petite filet) and let me tell you - I wear the plastic bib. It can get messy, but is totally worth it. (Side note: also try the garlic potato soup w/ pastry cap.) At first I wasn't a fan of the Dracula theme, but admittedly it has grown on me -- at least it's something different and unique on restaurant row. My boyfriend and I have been going here for years as our "special occasion" spot. There are plenty of reasonably-priced options, but the surf and turf will cost you about $50, and of course the boyfriend also gets a big ol' steak and we share a bottle of wine and dessert, so, you know, our bill gets up in the $150-$200 range on a good night. For what it's worth, Morton's is just a stone's throw away and we always choose Stinking Rose over it. I really like the private booths inside. If you're a party of 4 or less, see if you can get seated in one of the canopy-ed tables. It's a cute and intimate environment. +Delish food +Garlic ice cream! +Decent wine list +Large dining room, but with intimate nooks and crannies and private rooms -Valet only ($4.50 and they never give you change) -Pricey
(4)Vanessa V.
I loved the mussels and fries. Delicious ! Loved the little mints at the end. You could buy a bag on your way out. Even though it's in BH it's pretty chill and there's a comfortable environment. came here for my bday . Was a surprise to me and I loved the food.
(4)Edward C.
this is the perfect place to take a date. from the outside it doesn't look like much, but then you pull itno the valet, and when you walk in... very romantic setting. the tables are very private. the menu is not very selective, but any choice will be good (everything will have garlic) keep that in mind on your date. full bar great tastin food good portions great art
(4)Kaila S.
I loved the hottub of garlic cloves, soaking in butter! So delicious! I also got the garlic lasagna, which was heavenly and so large that I wasn't able to finish it. Next time I will definitely be trying the garlic wine and I have heard that garlic ice cream is amazing!
(4)Kai B.
unimpressed. 2 stars because my meat was tender but taste couldve been improved. wouldnt go back. the black linguine my sister had was overcooked imo.
(2)Hailey H.
Went here last night with my boyfriend and his parents. It was right out of a Tim Burton movie with the decor so that made it very fun in the spirit of Halloween. It was NOT what we were expecting but for the out-of-towners it was a really cooky and carny Hollywood experience that they loved. The food was also really good! They obviously know how to cook with garlic. It was well done and fresh. The parents had the 40 clove chicken which they raved about and we split the seafood combo and that was so tasty and good. The crab, mussels and shrimp were all sweet, juicy and well cooked. Definitely somewhere I would go back to!
(4)Shawna S.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! The food, the atmosphere, the service, the food... all amazeballs! My husband and I are considering going here again for our anniversary dinner.
(5)Vanessa L.
Date night. Destination The Stinking Rose. Hands down the best part of the meal was the Prime Rib which was huge, and juicy and mouth watering. Loved it. My boyfriend is Basque, and therefore well experienced with Bagna Calda. I am not, but coincidentally we had a very similar reaction to this dish. I get that it is a garlic dish. But there is a difference between cooking garlic in oil until it is soft and serving it, and actually cooking garlic, and adding in other flavors, and making it a well rounded dish. We love garlic. And we came here BECAUSE of the garlic feature, and because of the Bagna Calda. However I would recommend that The Stinking Rose adds more Anchovy to the dish to give it a salty balance. I would argue that most people who eat it probably didn't even know that it had any anchovy in it because it was so few and far between. Chopping up the garlic and mixing it in with the other ingredients would make it more delightful as well. Here is a 5* recipe to give everyone an idea of what it should be like: epicurious.com/recipes/f… I am all about taking a traditional recipe, and making ones' own of it, as long as it is still delicious. We couldn't eat most of ours because it was just too much. That being said, we loved the mixed drinks that we got. The wine list is not so great but the mixed drinks will not disappoint. The Prime Rib was 5 star, and we had an amazing date night. I guess I am a harsh critic because if the dish that is supposed to be the main feature of a restaurant, and what they are known for, isn't done well, then it is easy to lose credibility.
(3)Morgan A.
So. Much. Garlic. Deliciously overwhelming and kitschy. The inside looks like an Italian circus and the short rib is homey and fantastic.
(4)C B.
Love this place. The calamari for appetizers was yummy.We ordered the porkchop and prime rib. Both were so good! The juiciest porkchop I've ever had! The garlic on the side of the porkchop isn't what I expected at all. It tasted kind of sweet and sour, like pickled. It was a good surprise. You'll have to try at least one. And of course, you'll have to try the garlic ice crea5m. You'll be pleasantly surprised. We finished ours!. Just make sure you have gum or mint right after.
(5)Katrina Y.
I absolutely adore garlic and do everything in my power to work more garlic cloves into my food. So when I heard about this place, I knew I had to try it! First off we ordered the bagna calda-- basically a pot full of garlic cloves sitting in olive oil. This was really good.. probably the best thing I had that night. The garlic was so soft and spreadable atop The Stinking Rose's fragrant and delicious bread.. I really wish I had more now! My boyfriend ordered the short ribs. These were okay, it seemed like part of the short ribs were a little dry while the other half was perfectly moist and tender. I think the portion for this was pretty small for $20. I got the baby back ribs. These were pretty good, as I really enjoyed them with the barbecue sauce. I smothered a lot of the garlic from the bagna calda on top of my ribs, and it made it taste really delicious! The mashed potatoes (with some of the garlic from the bagna calda) and creamed spinach were really good though! My boyfriend didn't really care for the creamed spinach, which was fine with me because I gladly ate it all. We ended our night with the garlic ice cream. This was a REALLY expensive scoop of ice cream for $7-- after eating all the garlic we had, it was hard to taste the garlic in the ice cream. It pretty much tasted like a vanilla ice cream spicy garlic aftertaste, if you will. I liked this place, but mostly for the bagna calda.. I'm not sure if I'll go back here to order the same things again, but I think I'll be making another trip to try the other items from the menu! We wanted to get the mussels/shrimp/clams but our bill was already at $60. Pretty pricey, if you ask me!
(4)Judith G.
Good food...the chilli as starter is amazing the flavors are just perfect, not overcooked beans and meat, it is thick and full of flavor. I had the basa fish in garlic butter capers and green onion. It was also very good. The prices are very reasonable and they do not charge an arm and leg considering the location of the restaurant and it's popularity. Their service from the hostess, waitress, busboy, and valet parking, every was extremely courtious, and efficient. I know I will be coming back, the restaurant is totally worth it in all aspects.
(5)Ignacio P.
1st time here and had great experience. The staff, service, food and concept was great. Will be back.
(5)Zebulon W.
It's an old favorite, but they don't really do reservations and sometimes they're not consistent.
(4)Brainz D.
The Stinking Rose is an unusual take on cooking with garlic. It was amazing!!!! Had the crab,shrimp and mussels platter with a house salad and it was fantastic. The garlic ice cream was unusual but tastes amazing. I highly recommend..
(5)Sophie P.
I absolutely love garlic, i use a lot of garlic in my own cooking, so we had to try this place. Came for dinner with my boyfriend. He had the prime rib, I had the crab. Both plates were amazing! Also the bagna calda as a starter was great. Drinks were so-so, the bartender was terrible though. However our waiter was very attentive. On the pricey side, but worth it. Great ambience for dinner date.
(5)Victor S.
A good place to bring tourists out of town but the quality of the food is just ok and not really special.
(3)Linda K.
Hubby and I ordered the filet mignon and the salmon with lemon sauce. Food was good, ambiance was good, service was good. Nothing extraordinary though. For the price, I did expect a bit more. I ordered my steak medium and it came out well done. I was too hungry to gripe or send it back. I don't regret coming in but we probably won't be back.
(3)Kayden H.
First time there, have been wanting to try this place since seeing this restaurant on TV and hearing about it from friends about how good it is. Love anything with garlic in all my food, so of course would love this place too. So good and delicious. Had the bagna calda, forty clove chicken, new york steak, mixed seafood platter and garlic ice cream. Love the ambiance of the place, the restaurant doesn't take itself too serious. I mean it has guests wear garlic hats on there birthday. Service was excellent, waiters check on us often. Everything tasted great and worth what we spent. Definitely will be coming back again to try other items off the menu.
(5)Alan Y.
If you can't live without garlic, this is the place. Everything is garlic. The chairs, the tables, the waiters. JK. The food is excellent and not too expensive. Beware you will smell, taste, and feel like garlic for about a day after eating there.
(4)Sangwoo H.
Well, if it's come down to love it or hate it, I have to say I LOVE IT! I love this "chain" so much as a matter of fact, I've frequented both the SF and LA locations on many occasions and the LA location is by far the superior. The food of course is great and quite frankly, the interior doesn't bother me at all. Then again, unless a ceiling tile falls off and cracks my head open, interior decor doesn't really enter into my assessment of restaurants. If anything, fancy shmancy decorations are suspect in my book. If you do decide to visit this place, you must try the GARLIC ROASTED CRAB! (Which came first? Crustacean or Stinking Rose? Who cares!) The steak is pretty good too. The prices is pretty steep so don't be stingy and buy the roasted garlic dip appetizer for your rolls. At these prices what's another five dollars, right? Besides, the extra bucks will make sure your friends know for sure tomorrow where you ate today.
(5)Cherie C.
I LOVE garlic, probably more than the average person. But that doesn't mean I need to put it in every dish and in such quantity. They took the gimmick so far that they sacrificed flavor. The restaurant itself is garish. Someone likened it to a technicolor bordello style, or something like that. It's ridiculous. I was seated with my friend at a table with only a bench on one side. A bench along the wall provides seating for a number of tables for two. We and the others at these tables looked like a panel of judges waiting for a parade to pass by. The roasted garlic appetizer was fine, but that's such a simple thing that they can't take credit for it.
(1)jen m.
good food but i'll never go again. you want to know why? the valet in the parking lot stole money from my car. i've seen valet people take change from your change pocket in the car but not actual bills. that's just wrong. never going again for that reason. but if you can get past the stealing valets, the meatloaf is really damn good. and get some garlic ice cream. it tastes much better than it sounds.
(3)Nina C.
I love garlic and so while visiting, I was taken here. The food was good, but I really don't remember my pork chop dish being extremely garlicky. The forty clove garlic chicken my friend had, I remember! Yummy! We were also adventurous enough to try the garlic ice cream. It was good, but I wouldn't crave it or anything... Overall, average.
(3)Steve K.
Order their Pork Chops! The best pork chops I've ever had. I've been to both locations (SF & LA) and this one has much better service. If you wanna be really adventurous, order the Garlic Ice Cream. Don't blame me tho... : )
(4)Stephy S.
The secret to the Stinker of a Rose is to either come with friends, come with someone you love or have swapped spit with before this dinner or go with someone you completely dislike and order the 40 clove chicken and then whisper loving words into their ear. Works like a charm. Unless it's your boss, cuz then it gets kinda weird and awkward. But I digress. If you are there with A or B, I still recommend the 40 clove chicken. Good lord, they easily must put a vat of butter in the sauce, but who cares. It is the stuff palate dreams are make of. I also will have to kick you if you don't try the Bagna Calda (Garlic soaking in a hot tub) for a mere $4.95! Okay now read it slowly with me people...Oh and can someone cue the softcore porn music, please....okay ya ready.... Garlic cloves, oven-roasted in extra virgin olive oil and butter with a hint of anchovy. A wonderful treat for spreading on our house-baked focaccia bread. Served at your table in an iron skillet. Umm, need i say more. If you are craving meat, I say go with the Prime Rib. It is tah deye foour. Finally if you are looking for an excellent priced and tasty wine, go with the house Pinot Noir. So good and only $24 a bottle. Not too bad. And remember the rule. As long as you are both chowing down on Gahhrleek, then the smell is okay, because you cancel each other out. Totes. PS: This place has the lamest local cable commercial around, but don't let that stop you :)
(5)Christina W.
Throw out your Irish Spring and prepare to bathe yourself in garlic. Rub the bagna calda (roasted garlic dressed in olive oil ... so soft that it spreads like butta) all over that focaccia. Then stick your hands in some forty cloves o' garlic roasted chicken, bone-in. *Bone can double up as a back scratcher. Next, braise your fingers in some garlic mashed potatoes. All of the above are scrumptuous and carry a heavy garlic taste and scent. Finally, mask your tongue with some garlic ice cream (this cream should be applied sparingly.) Overall, a Stinking Rose is good for digestion, but may cause heartburn for days after your garlic gorge fest. Someone smelled my garlic fresh odor TWO DAYS after I ate here. No Caress can beat that. We came here once with a girl who was visiting from out of the country. She didn't read or speak English. The following is the conversation that ensued between my friend, Mike, and the girl, as translated by me: Mike: What do you want to order? Girl: Anything, except for the rabbit. Mike (to waiter): She'll have the rabbit. (After the dinner entrees arrive and the girl tastes the rabbit.) Girl: What is it? Mike: It's chicken. Girl: Mmmm, it's so good. Mike (speaking in English to the rest of us): Ha, ha, ha. She's eating her little rabbit. How cute. See, even the foreign broads like the Rose.
(4)Sida B.
I can't believe on a random weekday night I call up my friend and I go "hey let's check out that garlic place you always tell me about". We decide to call up 2 more friends and drive alllll the way to BevHills. Btw, parking is a b*tch. There's parking a lot the streets, but the restaurant is located in a hotel structure looking thing, so the parking is valet only. It's not that bad, $5 for tip. We had a reservation prior, and we came a little late, but the maitre d' was really chill and seated us immediately. I noticed little "romantic booths" for people who want dim lighting at a one-on-one dinner table. Quite sexy. The smell of garlic in this place is fantastic. Our waiter gave us complementary bread, and there's garlic dips on the table as well. We ordered the: 1. GARLIC FISH & CHIPS 2. GARLIC BRAISED BONELESS SHORT RIB 3. GARLIC STEAMED CLAMS 4. GARLIC ICE CREAM Lemme say, the steamed clams were possibly THE BEST clams I've ever had in my life. The sauce was so abundant, the flavor was so rich, and the clams were so well cooked! Plus they didn't sucker you out by throwing in a bunch of shells to make the dish look filling. Trust me. It's a winner if you like seafood and garlic. The boneless short ribs were pretty decent, although I felt like the garlic-y taste didn't quite sink in. Felt like regular short ribs to me. That also applies to the fish and chips, although I gotta say, THE FRIES!! were amazing. I think the atmosphere, the smell (of yummy garlic) and the service as well as that to-die-for clam and fries I had, just made this place a favorite in my book. I'm definitely going to bring people here the next time I have guests from out-of-state. So it was also "someone's birthday" that day, and we got a free complimentary dessert. I'm sorry for lying to you Stinking Rose!! But their garlic ice cream was, who knew, delicious. It leaves a slight aftertaste, but it definitely grows on you, so it's kind of an acquired taste. And they make you take a picture with this GARLIC HEAD. AWESOME. I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm in the area. Great place.
(5)WinnieThePooh T.
Awesome food! The hubby and I always go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. The service is always attentive but not intrusive. I always get the garlic roasted crab. It is the best crab every. Way better than Crustaceans black pepper garlic crab. The hubby orders the prime rib which is tender and yummy. The garlic ice cream is worth trying.
(5)Gabrielle F.
The Stinking Rose was awesome! After a mishap at another restaurant across the street- the Manager at The Stinking Rose accommodated me and 7 of my girlfriends with no wait! Dinner was delicious and Matthew- our server, was very charming! A great experience overall- thank you!
(4)Jose C.
The attire is casual/dressy. The food is amazing and soooo fresh! The place is amazing and has a beautiful and elegant atmosphere! This is a great place to go on a date with because it is classy yet relaxed with great food and drinks. Everything is made with a lot of garlic hence the name. A must try is the garlic ice cream which is so good and not at all overwhelming. The service is good, but not great. I would expect better service but the food is delicious! They also have a full bar and valet parking. If you would like to try something new and different try this place you will not regret it. The menu is on-line!
(5)Jon N.
Much cooler than their SF location... the Stinking Rose on La Cienega has multiple themed rooms that are done really nice. The food is great if you love garlic -- the bagna calda is something to definitely order. An all around fun place to go to dinner...
(4)Pasha V.
Decor is interesting, but food is not. Btw, garlic presence is not overwhelming. Soup was good
(3)Dow L.
Boyfriend and I had reservation for lunch and was immediately greeted by a really friendly staff. The food here is AMAZING!!!! Everything tasted so fresh. Service was wonderful as well. Came here on a Sunday and parking is free up until 4 pm. That's always a bonus considering parking is always cumbersome around here. We had such a lovely time and will definitely be back soon.
(5)