Garibaldi's Restaurant

We had such a great time at his restaurant from beginning to end. Warm, friendly staff greeted us, great bartender mixed us some unique drinks and the food and service were really right on. It's upscale but not fine dining stuffy which I enjoy. Gotta try the lamb and the server took such great care of us.

Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere

Posted 03/25/08

quite and warm ambiance, great serrvice, good average food and average prices. My favorite is still Bacco or Magic Flaute

Pros: ambiance, service, food

Posted 03/04/07

Several months ago my wife & a friend went here for a special occasion. The evening resulted in one of my worst overall dining experiences & wrote an email to the manager. He replied, apologized & hoped we would return in the future. The response was appreciated but I'm amazed that he didn't do anything else to entice our return (free appetizer, etc.). The food was good except for a burned dessert but I doubt we'll ever go back.

Our discontent started when our waiter brought a bottle of water & poured it in my glass. My wife alerted the waiter that the glass was dirty with old lipstick stains. The waiter went to a nearby empty table, picked up a glass & asked if it was OK to dump the water from the dirty glass into the clean one. While I was in shock my wife stuttered "OK" & the waiter did as he had suggested. I realize my wife gave him the go-ahead but I am still stunned that he made the suggestion & followed through on keeping the water from the dirty glass rather than offering to get us a new bottle of water.

After ordering our meals & a bottle of wine, I went to use the bathroom. After washing my hands I discovered the paper towel dispenser was empty so I used toilet paper, which got a bit messy. After returning to my table, the next time the waiter stopped by I let him know about the lack of paper towels & he apologized & mentioned "that shouldn't happen." More than 2 hours later, at the end of our meal, my wife used the bathroom & when she came back she said she'd used the same restroom & that it was still out of paper towels & also had to use toilet paper to dry her hands. Apparently nobody refilled the towels or didn't put enough in the bathroom.

During our meal, I was a bit disappointed with the attentiveness of the staff. After initially filling the glasses with wine, nobody every came by again to refill our glasses. Obviously, I'm capable of filling the wine glasses at the table but I've come to expect better service at nice restaurants.

Pros: Quality of food was good.

Cons: Not worth the price. Lack of attentiveness by all staff (waiter, valet, etc.)

Posted 01/06/07

We were seated promptly. Our waiter Carlos was superb. He made an excellent meal an event to remember. The food was very well presented and cooked to perfection
The entire meal from appetizer to dessert was excellent and the efficient service made it all the more enjoyable. The small things that count, refilling glasses promptly, taking finished dishes away and the nice touch - Carlos took my valet parking ticket and had the car waiting for us when we left. Except for two braying hyenas sitting at the next table, for which the restaurant cannot be held responsible, we had a very delightful dining experience.

Posted 05/12/06

My wife and I were celebrating our 5th anniversary and decided to give this restaurant a try. Even though we were the first customers to arrive at the restaurant, we were seated at the very last table in the back, near the bathroom/storage area. Needless to to say we requested to be moved but were given the once-over before being moved. While we were clearly not from the neighborhood, we are two young professionals and were dressed appropriately for the occasion. We have eaten at restaurants all over the city from lowly taquerias to 5 star restaurants and never have we encountered such arrogant service.

Posted 04/12/06

A friend who visits San Francisco regularly recommended this restaurant, it was the highlight of our dining experience! The staff was very accomodating, atmosphere good, and the food terrific. Recommend the Massachussets Day Scallops or the lamb. Well worth the time & money. Dinner for two + bottle wine $140.

Pros: great food, accomodating staff, nice atmosphere

Cons: none!

Posted 11/16/05

Garibaldis has been around for years and every time I go, the food is well above average. They have a full bar with fun pre-dinner cocktails. They also have an extensive, well priced wine list. I always try and order different items off the menu when I go, but the meals that stand out are their chicken dishes and burgers. They also have an amazing Cesar salad. It's a little loud...not too bad though. Just livens the meal up!

Pros: seated right away, full bar, great crowd

Cons: parking

Posted 09/26/05

Great place for a fancy date with someone you're trying to impress.

Pros: service, luxury atmosphere, food

Cons: crowded sometimes, pricey

Posted 08/30/05

From the minute we walked in the door, we were greeted by a very friendly and accomodating staff. We were right on time for our reservation but asked if we could have a drink at the bar first. Absolutely, was the reply. The bar is very cozy and the drinks were delicious. The wine list was excellent. After we finished our cocktails, we were escorted to our table. Though the tables are very close together and the noise level is high, the atmosphere is lively and comfortable overall. The server took her time to tell us about the menu and explain some of the house specialties. We took her recommendations and had the anti pasta plate, followered by the chicken milanese and mediterranean lamb. Both exceptional. The generous entree portions led us to share a chocolate boudino for dessert. Again, delicious. I will definelty be back very soon.

Pros: food, service, atmosphere

Posted 08/01/05

I went here once a long time ago and recently rediscovered it..It was so good we will definitely be going back. The service was right on time, polite but not in your face..The food was fantastic. The ambience is quiet but not dead. I would absolutely recommend this place- another great restaurant of San Francisco.

Pros: great food, good service, good coctails

Cons: PARKING!, parking, parking

Posted 07/08/05

Stopped in for a birthday dinner and was seated in the smaller back room of the restaurant. Food is california fusion, we started with crabcakes and a manila clam/chorizo appetizer, both decently sized and good. Entrees were about $25, we had the seafood risotto while I had the duckbreast with truffles and asparagus risotto, very nice. Dessert was a bit boring. Overall, the restaurant decor is very understated but things got a bit noisy in the back room on a Fri night. Service was very good, timely but not intrusive, the best part of the meal. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here.

Pros: Service

Posted 02/20/04

A terrific neighborhood place. We only had salads and a hamburger on a Sunday night, but this place was a well-oiled, totally pleasurable machine. Lovely atmosphere - places like this make San Francisco great.

Pricing was SF-aggressive, but I can respect that.

Posted 12/12/03

Everything was as you would hope it to be. We were seated in a back corner at our request. The service was prompt and friendly. The food was quite good, and medium-sized portions. I highly recommend the lamb dish. The staff let us linger for a few hours. It's a dark and narrow restaurant, so it can be a bit of a squeeze, but it was still quiet enough for me to hear my girlfriend's soft voice. I highly recommend Garibaldi's.

Pros: Friendly, Quiet, Good food

Cons: A little cramped

Posted 07/20/03

Decorated in a minimalist tradition with only black and white photographs adoring walls painted in muted tones, the subdued dining room at Garibaldis in Pacific Heights features clean rows of closely-spaced tables dressed in crisp white linens. The California-Mediterranean-inspired menu features appetizers including Tropical Salad, a combination of pomelo, orange, and endive and Leek and Asparagus Tart as well as entrees including Prawn Risotto and Lamb Tenderloin with Pistachio Couscous. The knowledgeable staff is polite and personable, while the fairly priced, California-focused wine list could be expanded to include more diverse selections. Since the tables are closely juxtaposed, Garibaldis is not the place to have private conversations, but the well-executed, innovative dishes, pleasant service, and sophisticated atmosphere compensate for any inconvenience. Fairly priced for a dining experience of this caliber in San Francisco (dinner for two with wine $130), Garibaldis is a California-Mediterranean hidden treasure in our midst.

Pros: Innovative dishes, Romantic

Cons: No parking, Closely-packed tables

Posted 04/16/03

Extremely tasty food and wine, though if you are the type of person who REALLY cares about presentation, this wasn't one of those places that piles it all in one really tall,narrow cylinder on your plate; it's presented simply and hot in generous portions. Pleasant staff and impressive artowrk on the walls. All in all, a comfortable dining experience with a pinch of elegance.

Pros: great food and wine, charming atmosphere

Cons: a bit noisy

Posted 09/24/02

Garibaldi's was the most exquisite dining experience of my life--and I have experienced a great deal of fine dining in SF. The wine menu is diverse and exceptional. The chef tantalizes diners with a unique menu that tantilizes even the most sophisticated palate. We tried the carrot-orange soup, their very special chicken dish, and the most incredible lamb I have ever tasted. Dining here is more than a meal, it is a moment never forgotten! I will be back as often as possible.

Pros: Mid-Range Pricing, Street/Valet Parking, Amazing Food

Posted 05/22/02