The Garden Club

1144 Mission Rd, South San Francisco, CA 94080, United States
$$$ American restaurant
(678 Reviews)
Price Range $20–30

Welcome to The Garden Club, a delightful American restaurant nestled in the heart of South San Francisco at 1144 Mission Rd. With a homey atmosphere that invites you in for a hearty meal, The Garden Club is a hidden gem that perfectly balances comfort food with a warm, friendly ambiance.

Step inside, and you’ll find a dining space that feels both inviting and relaxed, featuring recent updates that have enhanced its cozy vibe. Guests have noticed the intimate lighting and the rustic charm of bar stools returning to the bar area, making it a great spot to enjoy a drink or two. And while the outdoor parklet was temporarily closed during a recent visit, the engaging indoor dining experience is sure to captivate your senses.

The menu at The Garden Club is a testament to classic American cuisine, with standout dishes that will leave you savoring every bite. Start your journey with their famous Prime Rib: choose between the impressive Club Cut at 18 oz for $30.95 or the Garden Cut at 12 oz for just $11.95. This prime rib is prepared to your desired doneness and is recognized by guests for being cooked perfectly, capturing the essence of comfort dining—much like a meal at grandma's house. Another highlight that you can’t miss is the Daily Specials: indulge in Tuesday's hearty Liver & Onions or Friday's tender Braised Lamb Shank, promising a melange of flavors that keep diners coming back for more.

Pair your entrees with delightful sides such as the Crispy Fries for just $4.95 or the vibrant Grilled Vegetables at $4.85, both of which add that satisfying crunch or freshness to your meal. And those looking to finish on a sweet note, be sure to try the Spumoni, still a fan favorite, though you might want to skip the bread pudding, which has received mixed reviews for its dryness.

Guests rave about the service at The Garden Club, often mentioning the friendly and accommodating staff that make your dining experience even more enjoyable. As one satisfied diner noted, the restaurant captures that familial warmth that makes every meal feel special. The community feel is palpable as families, friends, and locals gather for a bite, making it a fantastic option for any occasion.

Although The Garden Club may appear as a simple bar from the outside, don't let preconceived notions deter you. With delicious comfort food served hot and with care, this establishment has rightfully earned its place as a beloved local dining spot. So why not pay a visit? Whether you’re craving a sumptuous prime rib or just a cozy spot to relax with friends, The Garden Club awaits with open arms and a truly satisfying menu.

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Offers kerbside pickup
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Good for watching sport
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves spirits
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has gender-neutral toilets
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Historic
Crowd
Family friendly
Good for groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safe space
Planning
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Usually has a wait
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Tuesday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Wednesday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Thursday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Friday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Saturday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Sunday

9:00 AM - 12:00 AM

678 Reviews
Jeff Ho

03 Sep 2025

Updated review: Garden Club has changed a few things this year. I noticed the dining room is much darker because they changed the light fixtures. The bar stools at the bar are back. The social distancing table arrangements are gone and the old table arrangements are back with more seating for guests. The outdoor parklet was closed when I was there at 10am. Indoor dining only. Garden Club has not been traditionally known for their breakfast/brunch menu. This is my third time having brunch here. Their breakfast burger was delicious. It was just a regular bacon cheeseburger with an egg added. I liked how they used romaine lettuce instead of the iceberg lettuce. Service was excellent. Original review: Indoor lunch today 3/19/2021. At noon, the outdoor dining tent was full and the indoor dining hall had two other parties. The bar stools were removed and you can no longer eat at the bar because of COVID. We had the lunch 14oz prime rib $22, New York steak with garlic and butter $20, garlic fries $6 with a Stella Artois beer $6 (not served in a traditional Stella chalice but rather a regular pint glass.) The new waiter was kind of a rookie even though he was an older gentlemen. I had ordered a Guinness beer when he took our order. The salad and soup came and my beer haven't arrived. When I asked him about it, he told me they didn't have Guinness. Wouldn't it be a common courtesy to let the customer know when he found out they didn't have it, to let me know then? Instead, I was sitting there thirsty for 15 mins. Regardless, I settled for a Stella instead. Weird that a bar wouldn't have Guinness beer. When my entree arrived, it was wrong entree. I didn't order a lamb shank. Then I had to wait some more for them to remake my food. The New York steak with garlic and butter was good. It was better than the rare prime rib I got. I ordered medium but didn't want to waste more time for them to remake it... AGAIN. The garlic fries were meh. It was missing that garlic burn you get from the ballpark garlic fries. Pro tip for the rookie waiter: use a pen to write down orders if your memory is failing you, especially at a new job. I really miss the old bartender lady that used to work there during lunch time. I would sit at the bar and she would remembers what I ordered from like two weeks ago. Both food and drinks. She was such a sweetheart. My bill for lunch today was $70 with tax and tip for two people.

Dee T

15 Jul 2025

My girlfriend recommended this spot a long time ago telling me I gotta try their food but I never got a chance. She said it's a gem, a little hole in the wall but you gotta catch it because the hours are changing so I came one time but it looked like a bar, it definitely didn't look like a place to eat so I never went back. I was surprised now they actually serve breakfast lunch and dinner and this time I opened the door it has one side a restaurant and the other side a bar which I was shocked. The atmosphere was cozy and the table setting was nice. We were told by the owner (very friendly) that there have been changes made and that they actually started serving Breakfast. We came as soon as they opened at 9am. We normally don't like ordering Steak and Eggs for breakfast because for some reason every restaurant we have breakfast their NY steak never comes out good it always ends up dry. Normally when we try a new restaurant we would order Steak and Eggs for the first time and always end up being disappointed however, I can tell you these guys medium well Steak was so tender and juicy and well seasoned that I didn't have to add steak sauce. My husband's medium Steak was the same. We also ordered two hot pancakes and it was fluffy and tasted pretty good. Our server Veronica was great (sweet and friendly) and very attentive and always kept checking up on us if we needed anything which we like and appreciate.

E Lee

09 Jul 2025

Very friendly service. Ordered medium rare lamb chops that were more medium. Otherwise good. I was not a fan of the mash potatoes. The vegetables are the similar frozen variety steamed up. We came on a Tuesday and the special was liver and onion which was prepared as a slab and pretty good. The spumoni is still good. I would not get the bread pudding again since it was a bit dry even with the ice cream. Cocktails are more like a dive bar, strong but not exact

Hncadre Nconcur

08 Jul 2025

Man, it's tough to find a place that really knows how to do prime rib right! But let me tell ya, this spot nails it. Had a great experience – they cooked it exactly the way I wanted it! Couldn't ask for anything more, it was just plain yum. It's got that comfy, family-friendly vibe, but they've also got a bar connected if you're lookin' for that. It's kinda like goin' to your grandma's house... if your grandma was a top-notch cook

Colin Huang

01 Jul 2025

Nice little local south San Francisco bar/eatery. We came here on a Friday night with 10 people and they accommodated us we'll (I called in for reservations but did not need to since it was pretty empty) The appetizers were a bit overpriced for what they were but still tasty. For the main course I got the rack of lamb which was cooked pretty well and came with a side of fries and vegetables. The fries were one of the best things here. Overall decent for a local spot but most of the items were over priced for what was offered. Still a nice place for a quiet dinner. Outdoor seating is available.

Dan Belick

01 Jul 2025

This is an older restaurant, but has had the furnishings recently updated. Mostly comfort food on the menu, to the right when you walk in. Kathy was our server and she did a great job. Our food was delicious and was served piping hot. Don't judge a book by its cover, you will enjoy eating here.

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