How is Gardenias restaurant rated?

Gardenias

4.7

769 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Top Tags:

We would like to welcome you to Gardenias - a neighborhood spot in the best sense of the word. Locally sourced and seasonally influenced, our menu pays respect to the unique bounty of Northern California.

Newly added outdoor seating, as well as patio in back.

Mentioned in current Michelin Guide.

Open Table Diners’ Choice Award winner every year since we opened.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Californian, Contemporary French / American
Hours of operation
Dinner Thu–Sat 5:30 pm–8:00 pm
Phone number
(415) 621-7122
Website
http://www.gardenias-sf.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Owned/operated by
Women
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate event, Gardenia's can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Margie Conard: (855) 402-3197

Location
1963 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Neighborhood
Pacific Heights
Cross street
Fillmore Street
Parking details
Parking lot 1 block away at Fillmore and Post, under the AMC Kabucki. Metered spots in Fillmore street not enforced after 6pm.
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Crispy Mixed Onion Cake, Cucumber-Radish Kimchi Yogurt$15.00
Winter Squash, Leek Soup with Chickpeas and Rosemary$13.00
Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Figs, Burrata, Grapes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil$17.00
Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Chicories, Dates, Hazelnuts, Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese, Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette$15.00
Roasted Kabocha and Delicata, Squash, Quinoa, Roasted Peppers, Cashew Cream, Pomegranates$14.00
Leeks, Dijon-Vinaigrette, Hardcooked Egg, Breadcrumbs$13.00
Scallop Crudo, Mango, Chiles, Radish, Citronette, Herb Oil, Toasted Seeds, Aleppo Pepper$17.00
Bread & Butter$8.00
Castelvetrano Olives$6.00

Entrees

Gnocchi, Cremini Mushrooms, Peas, Pea Shoots, Cream Reggiano Parmigiano$29.00
Duck Leg Braised in White Wine, Shallots, Root Vegetable Gratin, Long Cooked Red Cabbage Caraway$30.00
Roasted Escarole, Sunchoke, Mash, Golden Raisins, Lemon, Castelvetrano Olives, Breadcrumbs$25.00
Beef Short Ribs, Star Anise and Red Wine, Brussels Sprouts, Soft Polenta$36.00
Sauteed Black Cod, French Lentils, Tahini, Roasted Beets, Tarragon$35.00
Grilled Pork Porterhouse, Gigante and Navy Beans, Spinach, Tomato-Chanterelle Ragout, Gremolata$33.00

What 769 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

769 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful staff. Pretty space. Food was very good. We had a movie to catch and they were able to get us through quickly. Restaurant wasn’t very full.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 6, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Attentive staff, friendly and helpful. Food was amazing- succulent scallops for an appetizer, spring veggie salad and melt in your mouth braised short ribs. A true neighborhood gem and excellent choice in SF!
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p
pam642
San Francisco
45 reviews
vip
5.0
45 reviews
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous gnocchi! Beautiful restaurant and wonderful staff
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ZL
ZenLady
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is my favorite restaurant. So sad it is closing!
Is this helpful?
J
Janice
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on July 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
THE BEST. Intimate and thoughtful, Gardenias is a gem in the world of San Francisco dining.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We stumbled into Gardenias while walking near our hotel and we feel so lucky we did. Our server (Jeff, I believe?) was phenomenal and made us feel so welcome even though we had a 5 and 8-year-old in tow. Our 8-year-old has special needs and dining out is very tough for our family but Jeff made our experience seamless by offering a minor modification to the meal without us even asking, which we were so grateful for. This small thing made the meal peaceful and supremely enjoyable after a week of travel and restaurant arguments. The best part of all is that all of these small kindnesses allowed us to enjoy one of the most delicious meals of our trip. Thank you to Jeff and all at Gardenias for lovely food. Well wishes in the future.
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SG
SeanG
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous food, wonderful wait staff. Please go while you still can.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on July 2, 2023
overall5food5service3ambience5
Great experience in one of my favorite restaurant. Unfortunately the owners hVe sold the space and Gardenia is going to be a different restaurant in s month.
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ET
ElizabethT
San Francisco
3 reviews
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on June 30, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience5
This is a rare spot that is warm and cozy and quiet! You can actually hear your tablemate's conversation while enjoying your meal. My meal of the short ribs was described as having brussels sprouts and soft polenta as sides. My only issue was that the portion of polenta was generous enough, barely covering the bottom of the dish. Please consider increasing the portion.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Inedible food as always and great wine collection.
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AL
AnneL
Baltimore
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 10, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience5
This place appears as a gem. Beautiful ambiance full of potential. The food was fine, but nothing outstanding. So much potential!
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MS
MrsSun
San Francisco
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on June 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service were excellent. Gardenias offers a good selection of wines by the glass, better than most restaurants.
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s
saucy
San Francisco
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Lovely outdoor patio with heaters and cute garden vibes - will def be coming back!
Is this helpful?
j
jeremy
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful service, intimate ambiance, and superb food!
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L
Lokitrickster
San Francisco
29 reviews
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on May 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Again, a solid mix of front of house savvy and a well-developed kitchen. Tight menu of fresh ingredients and excellent technique. Great waiter, personable and professional.
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R
Rose
San Francisco
4 reviews
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall2food2service3ambience2
Neighborhood spot, wine list needs a lot of work and is laughably overpriced for the quality. Server was lovely and engaging.
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L
Lisa
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Interesting and delicious menu which changes according to seasonal foods. Friendly and personal atmosphere, attractive space, helpful and courteous wait staff. This is the type of restaurant that becomes a mainstay in the category of restaurants that you will want to return to over and over with local friends and out of town guests.
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BA
BrynAndKevin
San Francisco
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Another great meal in their cozy outside dining area in back.
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AD
AidanD
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience3
Food was really not as good as it should have been for the price. I had a pork chop that was really overcooked
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K
Kendal
New York Area
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a wonderful atmosphere and unbelievable fresh food
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ML
MattL
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Great food and location. Would definitely go again!
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TK
TeresaK
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing and we appreciated the attentiveness of our server.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 4, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service were fantastic. Great meal before a show at the Fillmore.
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NL
NatalieL
Washington DC
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience4
Gardenias is such a great neighborhood haunt. Perfect for a casual evening out.
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PB
PaulB
San Francisco
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on February 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Lovely intimate bistro. Our soups were hot and delicious the salads spectacular.
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L
Lauren
San Francisco
15 reviews
vip
4.0
15 reviews
Dined on February 17, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
The ambience of the restaurant was cozy and intimate. Service was excellent. Good was very good. Will absolutely go back. Food portions are good. Can't ask for more.
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TD
TheDoctor
Chicago
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service. Wonderful wine list.
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AH
AlanH
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
Really great atmosphere and relaxing place for dinner. Smaller portions so you will have room for an appetizer and dessert too.
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HT
HeidiT
Central Coast
20 reviews
vip
5.0
20 reviews
Dined on February 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service were fabulous.
Is this helpful?
LM
LornaM
London
9 reviews
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic setting, even better food, and customer service that surpassed even those amazing experiences! I’ll definitely be back!
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LJ
LJ88
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
3.0
9 reviews
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Everything was just ‘OK’ apart from the price - for which I would have expected everything to be better. Cod needed more seasoning and none on table for us to add our own. Pork was delicious in places but dry in others. Patio outside could do with some quiet music as it’s cramped and impossible not to overhear other tables’ conversations. Just a bit of a strange ambiance. We found ourselves in a hurry to leave.
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LK
LauraK
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 20, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
it is a bit pricey but the food quality is excellent as is the service and their willingness to accomodate special requests. It is also a fairly small menu so might not be for everyone- but every entree is delicious! as are the starters!
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RR
RRRR
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on January 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We went for our birthday dinners and it was just lovely! All the food was amazing and the desserts! Such a sweet spot!
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GD
GregD
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love to come here. A wonderful neighborhood restaurant with good food every time.
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c
craigolas
San Francisco
21 reviews
vip
2.0
21 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2022
overall2food2service3ambience2
This is the third time dining at this restaurant. I had good experiences in the past, but this time we thought the food was uninspired and a poor value. Also, the restaurant manager/owner was quite cold and unwelcoming, not really great for a small neighborhood place. In any event, we won’t bother with this place again.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We had a lovely time! Charming service and excellent food. While it is definitely not the loudest restaurant I’ve experienced in SF, the noise level did get a bit high for us to easily hear each other as a group of 5. I will definitely be back but book on the early side.
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b
bethb
San Francisco
57 reviews
vip
5.0
57 reviews
Dined on December 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Such a great local spot. Great atmosphere, service and vibe. The food is delicious, fresh and creative. Will be back!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Charming ambiance and great service. Delicious food without high end prices. Ordered the duck and black cod which were prepared nicely. Scallop crude and Brussels sprouts salad appetizers were perfect.
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EO
EllenO
San Francisco
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We shared two appetizers, the warmed leek in vinaigrette and the fig, grape and prosciutto with buratta. Both were delicious, but the standout was the fig dish. Just a perfect combination of flavors and textures. So good! We had two dishes that were just the thing for a cold Fall night-- the duck with root vegetable gratin and red cabbage and the short ribs with polenta. My husband asked for a substitute for the Brussels sprouts and had the red cabbage and loved it. The duck was the best I've ever had; tender, delicious, and perfectly paired with the vegetables. We got the pricey bread and butter (8$!, but hot, crusty, and delicious) because the sauces were too delicious not to mop up. We both had their one pinot noir by the glass which paired perfectly with both dishes. We took home dessert--no room! Our waitress was both attentive and helpful. She answered questions very well and made great suggestions. The room was quite chilly! We both kept our coats on during dinner, but still the atmosphere was very pleasant. It would have been worse if it were hot! All in all a wonderful anniversary celebration at a delightful restaurant. Note that the restaurant is small and so is the menu. This is not the place to go if you need many options. There were no specials. Still, we felt there was lots to choose from in terms of variety.
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s
sfeater
San Francisco
138 reviews
vip
5.0
138 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We've been here before, but it seems much improved over previous visits when the service was spottier. The food is excellent. There are a number of inventive and delicious starters and entrees so that a variety of.food preferences are available. The back patio area is cozy and just the right combination of fresh air and comfort. You're protected from the wind, and the heated lamp is more than enough to warm up the contained patio area. We are still sticking to outdoor eating right now, so having this option (as opposed to a blustery parklet) is greatly appreciated.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Gardenias is rated 4.7 stars by 769 OpenTable diners.

Permanently Closed

This restaurant is permanently closed.

1963 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115

Additional information

Cross street
Fillmore Street
Neighborhood
Pacific Heights
Hours of operation
Dinner Thu–Sat 5:30 pm–8:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
American, Californian, Contemporary French / American
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Parking lot 1 block away at Fillmore and Post, under the AMC Kabucki. Metered spots in Fillmore street not enforced after 6pm.
Payment options
AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
Owned/operated by
Women
Additional
Beer, Corkage Fee, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.gardenias-sf.com/
Phone number
(415) 621-7122
Private party facilities
Whether celebrating a special occasion with family and friends or hosting a corporate event, Gardenia's can accommodate all your special event needs.
Private party contact
Margie Conard: (855) 402-3197

Gardenias

Permanently Closed

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Discover the Top Women-Led Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco

Menu

Main

Crispy Mixed Onion Cake, Cucumber-Radish Kimchi Yogurt$15.00

Winter Squash, Leek Soup with Chickpeas and Rosemary$13.00

Grilled Prosciutto Wrapped Figs, Burrata, Grapes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil$17.00

Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Chicories, Dates, Hazelnuts, Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese, Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette$15.00

Roasted Kabocha and Delicata, Squash, Quinoa, Roasted Peppers, Cashew Cream, Pomegranates$14.00

Leeks, Dijon-Vinaigrette, Hardcooked Egg, Breadcrumbs$13.00

Scallop Crudo, Mango, Chiles, Radish, Citronette, Herb Oil, Toasted Seeds, Aleppo Pepper$17.00

Bread & Butter$8.00

Castelvetrano Olives$6.00

Entrees

Gnocchi, Cremini Mushrooms, Peas, Pea Shoots, Cream Reggiano Parmigiano$29.00

Duck Leg Braised in White Wine, Shallots, Root Vegetable Gratin, Long Cooked Red Cabbage Caraway$30.00

Roasted Escarole, Sunchoke, Mash, Golden Raisins, Lemon, Castelvetrano Olives, Breadcrumbs$25.00

Beef Short Ribs, Star Anise and Red Wine, Brussels Sprouts, Soft Polenta$36.00

Sauteed Black Cod, French Lentils, Tahini, Roasted Beets, Tarragon$35.00

Grilled Pork Porterhouse, Gigante and Navy Beans, Spinach, Tomato-Chanterelle Ragout, Gremolata$33.00

What 769 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is Gardenias restaurant rated?

Permanently Closed

Additional information

Featured in

100 San Francisco Bay Area Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Discover the Top Women-Led Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Women-Owned and -Operated Restaurants to Support in San Francisco