Cancel

Open app

Search

The Stinking Rose

3.8 (619 reviews)
Closed 12:00 pm - 8:30 PM

The Stinking Rose Photos

THE STINKING ROSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Touristy
Moderate noise
Good for kids

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - The Stinking Rose

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

Reviews With Photos

Lasagna Al forno
Ann V.

Isaí treated us so well. He was kind and helpful. Highly recommend this spot. The food was delicious. We ordered the lasagna al forno, and the chicken sandwich 10/10.it was cool that you can sit outside, people watch and enjoy your food. Very cool place. We went on a Monday evening and we got here just in time before it got crowded. Loved it!

Garlic steak and mash potatoes
Donyae L.

Definitely a staple in San Francisco Always good food Always a good vibe Always hellaaaaaaa busy The food never disappoints from appetizers to the main courses and the cheese bread is always a must! Parking is sketchy (but we always find a spot on the street) - Happy Yelping

Fettuccine
Ashley V.

What a fun place! Great vibes and lots of garlic! Service was great and the food was pretty good. The ambience is garlic! So lots of cool things to look at. The vampire killer pizza is to die for! Loved the garlic cheese combo. Fettuccine was okay, not very creamy. I also didn't love the garlic lovers salad. More vinegar than garlic. I recommend checking this place out at least once! Patio seating but I might leave my pet at home because the walkway is very busy.

katrina a.

This is an SF staple. I grew up coming to this restaurant. This is one restaurant that everyone has to come and visit. If you are a garlic lover, this is the place to eat. Reservations are recommended. The ambiance is fun and festive. They play great music in here too! The food is exceptional. Comfort food. Everything is made to please your pallet. Loved every bite!

Bagna calda
Egan B.

This was my first visit to SR since they switched locations. I'm not sure what I was expecting but the meal overall was pretty lackluster. I wished the restaurant would lean into the garlic theme in a more interesting way. Everything felt kind of lazy where they just slap some garlic on something and that's the end of it like the Gilroy garlic festival. Bagna calda was alright. Some of the garlic cloves were not soft and they offered one piece of dense bread with an additional piece costing extra. It seemed like the 40 clove garlic chicken was their most famous dish so we tried it. It was just okay and came with a sad side of mashed potatoes. We tried a gartini and other than some small pieces of raw garlic in the olive didn't taste any other garlic.

Bagna calda
Thaila N.

Super cute restaurant! I absolutely adored the outdoor seating that reminded me of Paris. We were sat upstairs, which gave us a different view and experience of the restaurant. Despite the restaurant being a little small and bustling, I did not feel cramped. The menu had a variety of options for any taste buds, so it was a great spot for a big group. We shared the bagna calda, which came with only 1 piece of bread so we had to pay extra for additional bread. The bread was soooo soft and tasty. Everyone in my group was pleased with their orders! I ordered the short rib ravioli with the garlic lovers sauce. My only critique was that it was just a tad too salty for me, but it wasn't horrible. The service was amazing from start to finish. Someone constantly checked on our table and never let our water glasses sit empty for more than a couple minutes. It's easy to make a reservation online. For a party of 6 or more, an automatic gratuity is included. There are clean bathrooms.

Happy anniversary
Sean G.

Was happy to come by and finally check this place out growing up in the bay area. I had always heard about it but every time I had walked by it felt too fancy or more of a date place to me. Finally checked it out for our anniversary dinner and happy that we did. The service was great, our waiter came over and checked on us multiple times and made sure that we had everything that we needed. We will definitely come back and check it out next time we're in the area.

Inside Decor
Kristina M.

We haven't been in over a decade, but it didn't disappoint. The decor is garlic inspired, the food tasty, and the people watching beyond compare. We had dinner last time and lunch this time. It was delicious and worth the stop.

Sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake medium
Kimberly D.

Vampires won't get you here!!! We've been trying to try this place out for a long time and finally made our way. Be prepared to have garlic breath & garlic farts xD Starting off with drinks - I got the blueberry lemon drop ($14.99). It really packed a punch, I wouldn't say it was the best but it was definitely strong. Very vodka forward hold the lemon & blueberry I guess... idk if it was cheap vodka used but taking a sip was like taking a shot. For appetizers we ordered the bagna calda ($12.99) which is like an oil & garlic dip with bread. The bread we initially got was hard as a rock on the bottom, I literally couldn't take a bite out of it. We liked the bread where it was soft, but couldn't enjoy it so we asked for a new bread and got a baguette instead. Would've preferred the other bread if it wasn't so hard. LOVED the dip, there's a crap ton of garlic in it so there was sooo much flavor. Light but very flavorful. My bf ordered the sizzling garlic prime ribeye stake medium ($49.99). This plate didn't come sizzling so that was a bummer... but came with mashed potatoes which were a hittttt! Pretty sure there was also garlic in there but the mouthfeel was light, airy, and mushy all at the same time. Paired well with the steak which wasn't so bad! Thoroughly enjoyed the steak, was cooked on par for medium, easy to chewy, and marinated well with ofc their secret garlic sauce. I ordered the short rib ravioli and the garlic Brie & mushroom sauce ($26), which of the sauces is the most popular. I loved this dish. I'm a huge pasta lover and having the short rib in the ravioli than the traditional ground beef/pork, made the burst in flavor so unique and different. The sauce was almost like a stroganoff flavor, not too heavy, not too salty. For dessert, never had garlic ice cream ($9.99) before so we had to try it. It tasted more like hints of garlic rather than a weird garlicky flavor. It definitely pops out the more you eat it, but I think the chocolate sauce also distracts from the garlic taste. I enjoyed it, but maybe a one and done for me. Service was great, can't complain, they were polite and checked in often. Made sure everything was good. This is located in little Italy and parking can be tough, unless you're lucky.

First time !!
Bri A.

Loved everything about this place !! Fast service maybe a little too fast lol but everything was delicious! Staff is so friendly ! The atmosphere is such a vibe!

Carrie G.

We tried a few items but we weren't hungry for a huge meal. I didn't realize that the pizza was more like a flatbread and not a circle. It was good still. We also had to try the garlic ice cream which was worth it. The chocolate sauce on top mixed very well with the garlic flavor. If we were to come back I'd want some of the fresh bread with the roasted garlic. Service was great.

Garlic ice cream with chocolate sauce on side
Lily Z.

Overall fun concept! Seemed a bit gimmicky as we just walked in having no idea of the theme or anything after prior dinner plans did not work out but was pleasantly surprised. Fun date with partner you know well. Got seated easily and quickly Sunday night with no res during peak hours Food: Best item was dessert so let's start there! The garlic ice cream was to die for! Ask for chocolate sauce on side. Unexpectedly one of my favorite ice cream experiences...creamy not too sweet, huuuge portion enough for two Bagna calda: yummy but ask for red pepper flakes on side. Creamy, flavorful( the perfect app) Basta pasta short rib ravioli: get the mushroom and Brie sauce! Not overwhelming, red pepper flakes were a nice addition Prime ribeye steak: meat was alright, fat cap was huge and despite it being cooked rare upon request there was some grizzle. The potatoes though! Definitely took the cake with this dish. Hefty portion. Paired nicely with house wine which I was surprised by as normally my experience with house wines isn't the best but this one had a rounder flavor and cut through the steak well Drink: - house wine had a generous and is $5 cheaper than the rest of the wines on the menu. I liked the flavor too again to my surprise! - expresso martini: I didn't try it but apparently it's strong! Service: quick, professional Ambiance: we sat outdoors and didn't feel cold at all as there's strong heating outside. Indoors the decor is funkyyyy in a fun way :D

Jammer R.

Meh. It was all hype. I got pasta...garlic in the description, but no garlic in the flavor. Also, what self-respecting Italian food establishment serves food without any bread. We were not even offered bread. I had to ask the waiter for it and then it was an extra charge. Crazy. I'm glad we went, but I'll never go back.

Pasta

See all

Photo of Jon B.
21
133
58

1 day ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

24 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 days ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

24 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

25 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 1

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0
Photo of Rosie B.
3
114
138

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Dragomir K.
136
68
245

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 day ago

Only tourists that don't any better eat here. Microwaved food. Soft sprouting garlic, yuck

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 4
Photo of Diah I.
1
35
31

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 16

The Stinking Rose Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - The Stinking Rose

Can I order food delivered? Uber eats?

Not yet, but check back soon.

Is this dog friendly? Can we at your patio table with our dogs?

Yes, we are dog friendly. We have heated outdoor tables for you and your doggo!

How much is corkage? I saw on an old post that it was free. Is that still the case?

Hi, corkage is now $9.99. We look forward to seeing you at The Stinking Rose.

Is there only street parking here or is there a private parking lot also?

Street parking only

How big is the prime rib?

Hi Victoria, we no longer have prime rib on our menu. We now offer a Sizzling Garlic Prime Ribeye Steak which is around 15 oz. You can view our menu on our website at www.thestinkingrose.com.

Are there any gluten free pasta options?

We do not have any gluten free pasta options. We offer a few gluten free entree options. Please visit our website to view our menu.

If I don't like a dish, can I send it back and have it removed off the check?

That's a sort of surprising question. Are you nervous that you won't like something that you still want very much to try?… 

Will the prime rib be offered again? The ribeye isn't quite the same.

Unfortunately, we do not have the facilities to do prime rib, but we do have many other garlicky entrees for you to try!

Is Garlic Dungeness Carb still available on the menu?

We are unable to have the crab at our new location (due to the much smaller size of our kitchen). We do, however, have the same Garlic Dungeness Killer Crab at our sister restaurants - Franciscan Crab Restaurant (Fisherman's Wharf), Salito's… 

Do you still have the romantic booths that were offered at the previous location, here at the new location?

We do not have the same romantic booths as we did in our previous location. We do have cozy outdoor heated tables at our new location that many couples enjoy together.

Would you be able to accommodate a large party of over 10 people?

Please email us at sfcomments@thestinkingrose.com and include the day and time you are interested. Thank you.

We have gift cards from before the shutdown - specifically from Costco. Are you still accepting these at the new location?

Yes, The Stinking Rose gift cards purchased at Costco are accepted at the new location. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Are vaccines still required for indoor dining?

No- visited 4/16/22 and not needed

View All 15 Questions

You might also consider

Itria

Itria

4.3
(444 reviews)
3.3 mi

absolutely incredible meal I could not recommend more…read more i came here for the second time and tried their tasting menu for our anniversary and every single thing was a impeccable. they started us off with some complimentary champagne and even had a non alcoholic version! the appetizers were absolute stars. each bite was so thoughtfully curated and the flavors of each complimented each other so well. you know everything is competitively delicious because we thought we knew which ones were our favorite but our order completely changed upon our second bite. different flavors and combinations shine the more you savor each app. the pastas were so delicious and the amount they give you is perfect. the service was also incredible and the interior is both so cozy yet elevated, perfect for date night! we ended the meal with their panna cotta which had a wonderful contrast of creamy with a delicious crunchy topping! i again simply could not recommend itria more and i will absolutely be back to one of the best dinners in the city!

Came here for dinner and really enjoyed the atmosphere. We were seated at the communal table, which…read moreended up being a fun place to people-watch. The standing area next to the bar was also a cute spot to wait while our table was getting ready. Food-wise, we tried the crudo tasting while the other crudos were fine, they didn't stand out nearly as much as the scallop. The corn and mushroom pasta was very tasty, especially the sauce. We also tried the pesto pasta, which also had excellent texture, but the sauce tasted a bit more charred than I would have liked. Overall, I thought the atmosphere and dining experience were stronger than any individual dish. The communal seating and lively dining area gave the restaurant a great energy. I can see why this place is popular, and the tasting menu is a fun way to try a variety.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Glazed Lamb Belly w/ date mostarda, warm panzanella ($45)
Glazed Lamb Belly w/ date mostarda, warm panzanella ($45)
Crochette Di Patate w/ roast pork belly, fermented radish, calabrian chili aioli (3 pc - $25)

See all

Crochette Di Patate w/ roast pork belly, fermented radish, calabrian chili aioli (3 pc - $25)
Luisa's Restaurant

Luisa's Restaurant

4.7
(184 reviews)
3.1 mi

My friend snagged a same-day reservation at Luisa's Restaurant for Saturday evening. This was…read moresurprisingly easy, considering we were a party of 6. The interior had simple decor and a swirl of little lights across ceiling. For drinks, we shared a bottle of Chianti, which was excellent. We also ordered a few appetizers for the table - Garlic Bread and Buratta. The Garlic Bread wasn't particularly memorable for me, but the Buratta was very tasty with the fresh pesto on top. I loved that most pasta dishes could be prepared with a choice of sauce, and ordered the Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce. This was so tasty and surprisingly filling! My friends all enjoyed their dishes as well, including the Linguini Tuttomare, Penne Gorgonzola, and Chicken Parmigiana. Service was friendly and quick. Would happily return for more!

Really solid Italian restaurant with surprisingly good gnocchi…read more Caesar salad: 3.5/5. To "anchovy" for my taste. Next time I will ask them to leave out the anchovies or pick a different salad. otherwise the salad was quite good. Spaghetti carbonara: 3.5/5. A solid version of this dish, but not exceptional. Great pasta, nice texture, but the meat could have stood out better. It sort of hid in the shadows. Gnocchi: 4.5/5. Since I make my own gnocchi this is a very high rating from me. Excellent texture and taste for this gnocchi and the vodka sauce complemented it really well. I would definitely have this again.

Photos
Luisa's Restaurant
Garlic Bread
Garlic Bread
ORTOLANA PIZZA

See all

ORTOLANA PIZZA
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

4.2
(990 reviews)
3.8 mi
$$
Outdoor seating
Large group friendly

Okay, so firstly I apologize, I did not take any pictures of the food. I was so dang hungry that I…read moreimmediately dug in to the shrimp scampi toast and the chicken parm. Both were chef's kiss great, and the portions were just right for two hungry people. Our server, Atilla, became my best friend. He was super attentive, very honest, and had a great sense of humor. My friend and I sat outside in the patio (we got there at 6ish), it was a nice day and we were the first ones to sit in there. Him and I like to talk over each other so I can imagine that when the patio is full, convos are the rage. Inside is super vibey, very dark, and decorated with nostalgic pieces. The price point is very generous, considering the portions and quality of the food. This is also a late-night spot, so either way, come hungry. I ordered the basil sweet tea (deep breath), and it was so refreshing and tasty. My bonus kid texted me after I got home to ask me of any dinner spots I would recommend and I IMMEDIATELY sent him my recommendation of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack.

Me, my husband, and 2 of our friends came on a Monday for the "Monday is for Lovers" deal - $60…read more(CASH ONLY) for two appetizers, one entrée, one dessert, and a bottle of wine. Each couple did the deal and it was a perfect amount of food! You really can't find anywhere with this great of a deal - such a bang for your buck. We ordered the spicy caesar, cauliflower arancini, meatballs, and semolina garlic bread with sauce for the appetizers. I think the cauliflower arancini was my favorite out of the 4! It came out so fresh and the parmesan and marinara dips went perfectly with it. SO GOOD! For the main we did the rigatoni bolo bianco and chicken parm. Both were so good - I think the chicken parm might've been my favorite out of the two. The chicken was so flavorful. We ordered the house white for the wine, which went perfectly with our meal. It was light and refreshing. The meal ended with a peaches and creme panna cotta with some bread crumbs on top. SO DELICIOUS! Our waiter was amazing - it was our first time and he pretty much gave us the rundown on what he would get for first timers doing the Monday is for Lovers deal, which we ended up doing just that. He was so attentive and friendly. The ambiance was so cool, it felt like NY vibes in there - I loved it. This will definitely be a spot I'll take friends who are visiting out of town. Overall, I had a great experience!

Photos
VIBE
VIBE
Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp Scampi
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack

See all

Arcana

Arcana

4.4
(272 reviews)
3.0 mi
$$

If you love plants you'll adore Arcana in San Francisco because it's a beautiful sanctuary of…read moreplants and cool vibes. Located in the legendary Mission District of San Francisco, this wine bar is a great spot to catch up with friends and enjoy small bites and yummy crafted cocktails. Their decor is very chic and I especially loved all of the hardware, glasses, tables, and benches. This place was styled by a great design artist. Even though the place was pretty packed and can be kind of noisy, I still felt very calm amongst all the healthy plants and loved the sophisticated 70s inspired glassware. Another great feature of this place is that you can buy most of the plants because they have some for sale so after a couple of cocktails, I was ready to redecorate my whole house with all the plants. I ordered a yummy Rose blend that was super crisp. Also enjoyed the Truffle Fungi! A delicious Shiitake and oyster mushrooms with parmesan and arugula on toasted bread. Their Spanish inspired potatoes were delicious with their dipping sauce. They have lots of gatherings there and DJ sets on the weekends. Lastly, a photographer would die to take pictures here. There is no bad shot as the design artist made sure every section of this cute wine bar was picture perfect. Loved all my photos and videos. I look forward to returning to this exquisite wine bar!

Clearly says 9:30pm for the cover/ticket charge. I am uploading this at 9:19pm, but the whole…read moreinteraction started maybe 10 minutes prior. Charging the $10 event fee on discretion before the posted event start time seems... shady? illegal? My two friends got in a few minutes before with no cover. I was dealing with a bike lock while they went in. We were not there for the event but rather as volunteers from the weekly cleanup refuse crew in the Mission. You get perks as a thank-you for doing your part in making the City a cleaner place. We had just had a lovely time at another participating business (Beehive) and planned on Arcana being our final stop. Thankfully I was able to use the restroom without a fee, with my gear held up outside by the security team. While waiting in the restroom line, I told a staff member about all this, and the worker seemingly went up to the front to find out what's going on. The line took a few minutes, my friends also bumped into me, and I told them I'd likely wait for them outside the business post-restroom while they finished their wine. Already reported to the Mayor's Office. Maybe I'll add BBB. Should be honest and equitable! Four out of 200+ reviews by me have been one star, so I rarely share negativity. It's all rather unfortunate as other visits here went off without an issue. I warned a group of four about all this while I waited out front, and after talking to the front door folks, they left and thanked me for the advice. Please be careful if you visit here. . . .

Photos
Downstairs
Downstairs
Arcana
Arcana

See all

The Stinking Rose - italian - Updated July 2026

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