Woodward's Garden

06/28/10

Fresh full flavors

by StephanM at Citysearch

I am not one to bitch about price. No I am not rich I just feel that you pay for quality and we live in one of the most expensive places in the world to do business.

But this place is a bit high.

That’s the one -. The rest. This place is awesome. I go back time and time again for great food, cozy atmosphere and excellent service. Don’t hesitate to try this place with you and your significant other or possible another couple. I don’t think it’s the best place for a large group. Your not doing yourself or the other diners any justice by taking a large group here.

• Pros: quiet and romantic
• Cons: a bit pricey

02/05/08

Romantic restaurant and great food!

by august26 at Citysearch

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.

• Pros: fresh flowers on each table, great food, wine, service
• Cons: parking was a bit hard.

01/14/08

alas, a disappointment

by graymalkin at Citysearch

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.

• Pros: potentially amazing space if someone else were to take it over & remodel it.
• Cons: cold & aloof staff.

09/27/07

Attention Foodies

by sfmove2006 at Citysearch

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!

• Pros: The wine list, and the amazing food

09/24/07

What a find - great food and wine

by newenglandtransplant at Citysearch

Looking for a great restaurant then you should try Woodward's Garden. It's tucked away under the freeway overpass which makes it an interesting spot. We sat by the window and the cars buzzing by was reminiscent of a busy New York street and added to the ambiance. OK on to the food and wine. There were 2 of us dining and we thoughly enjoyed the experience. Try the salad with shaved cheese and the figs with prosciutto, the north american halibut and finish your meal off with the creme brule with dark chocolate. Yummy. We had a bottle of the Fort Ross Chardonnay which was reasonably priced and very tasty. Looking for a new spot? Try Woodward's Garden.

• Pros: reasonably priced wine list, ingredients, deserts