Woodward's Garden
(415) 621-7122
1700 Mission St
San Francisco,
CA
94103
37.7697
-122.4201
Neighborhoods: Mission, Central East
What People Are Saying About Woodward's Garden
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
In-the-know-diners seek out this unassuming restaurant located between the Castro and the Mission. Beneath a ceiling fan, the exhibition kitchen occupies as much space as the L-shaped seating that surrounds it. A few old-fashioned portraits of British women hang on pastel green walls, while a chandelier and wall sconces decorate the auxiliary dining room. A lone waitress provides efficient service throughout the restaurant.
The Food
Flavor combinations leap off the plate and will have diners returning to experience all 12 seasonal items. The arugula salad is studded with grilled Adriatic figs, each stuffed with gorgonzola and wrapped by prosciutto for a sweet and savory treat that oozes with every gooey bite. The full-bodied cranberry bean soup swims with house-made fennel sausage and lemon crème fraiche. Photogenic sautéed halibut is dressed with cilantro pesto, and presented atop humus and a ratatouille rainbow of peppers, eggplant and squash.
User Reviews
august26
February 05, 2008
I was very pleased with my experience at Woodward's Garden. The service was great (I am pretty sure it was one of the owners) and the meal was fantastic. It was nice because you didn?t feel rushed through your meal.(mine was a salad, then my entree and we or desert. There was no get out of here vibe that most restaurants put on you once you've stopped eating. That alone makes Woodward's stand out in the crowd.
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graymalkin
January 14, 2008
it all started with making the reservation: they were rather abrupt with us and made us believe that they were bending over backwards to "fit us in" & although we were making reservations the same day of our dinner, i did not expect the attitude. being an optimist, though, i was secure in knowing that the reservation was secure and i was looking forward to the experience. once there, the restaurant was half empty during prime dining hours and i began to wonder what else was in store for us since one would think that they would be happy to have our business. we were greeted very coldly by a woman who turned-out also to be our server. she was very off-putting and really made the experience rather sour as she remained cold and aloof throughout the entire evening -- not even a glimmer of a smile crossing her face. we were dressed well & polite so i was all the more confused by her behaviour but i'm just not capable of being rude and tried to be a pleasant patron. again, though, i thought that the food can make up for the poor service but alas, no. the food was mediocre at best and certainly not worth the cost. also of note: the layout of the space was very peculiar with a tall bar that faces the corner entry & a rather cold "back room" which could really use a little tlc. they really did not take advantage of their very promising space and it's my professional opinion that they should fire their architect. one positive thing to mention, though, the wine was quite delicious. but alas, i will not go back.
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sfmove2006
September 27, 2007
I decided I had to try this spot after seeing this restaurant featured on PBS' s"Check, Please! Bay Area" program. The experience lived up to all my expectations. I agree with the previous reviewer, who felt that the location near the freeway made you feel like you were in an intimate New York restaurant, with the cars whizzing by. My boyfriend and I went during prime time, on a Saturday night but I never felt the service was rushed, or "weird" as some of the previous reviewers had experienced. Perhaps they've just upped the ante, service-wise, since those reviews were written. But the main reason to come to this spot is not the service, it's the food - all of the dishes we had were obviously made with the freshest ingredients available, and with lots of care. I felt the prices were very fair, and comparable to what you'd pay for other restaurants of this caliber. But what I really loved was the wine list - interesting, hard-to-find wines that were extremely reasonable given the quality. The mark-ups were much lower than what I've seen from the competition. If you consider yourself a foodie and haven't already discovered this hidden treasure, you really should go. It doesn't disappoint!
read full reviewThe Details on Woodward's Garden
Know Before You Go:
Save room for decadent desserts, like a smooth vanilla bean panna cotta with raspberries.
What to Wear:
Dress for warm weather. The restaurant can get hot, as the kitchen is located in the middle of dining room.
The Extras:
Each season the restaurant offers a cookbook filled with recipes ($6).
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Date Spot, Group Dining
