Garden Cafe (of Sherman Oaks)

The perfect brunch spot! I went with a few friends, and we all absolutely loved our dishes. I tried the Short Rib Eggs Benedict and The Golden Cowboy—let’s just say the short rib is to die for! Every bite was packed with flavor. The atmosphere was just as amazing—calm, spacious, and perfect for a relaxed brunch. We sat on the patio and had such a great time catching up over delicious food. The only downside was parking—it was a bit difficult since the lot is small and was already full on a Saturday morning. But honestly, the food and experience were well worth it! Highly recommend this spot if you’re looking for great brunch, great vibes, and a great experience! Can’t wait to come back. ☕

My friend enjoyed a big plate of pasta and garlic bread with her tomato soup as well. We shared a $5 chocolate chip cookie, with the value and I would say it was a 7/10 for me. There is no table service other than bringing you your items, they ask for tip at payment which is not something I appreciate.

Rose lemonade-divine!!! Generous portions-filling! My favorites thus far are beet salad and sweet potato fries or truffle fries. The tree lined and vine embraced secret garden ambiance is magical. Table service can be a bit slow and spotty, but the rest of it more than makes up for this. Highly recommend!

I really wanted to like this place but was so disappointed with the food. Took my daughter in law out for lunch, she chose the place. We were told to order at the counter but noticed others were given menus with food descriptions unlike the “board” On the wall. Ordered cob salad the green sandwich and tomato basil soup. The soup tasted like pizza sauce not soup, The salad only had blue cheese, what I later identified as bacon, a few tomato pieces and hard boiled egg. The worse salad I’ve ever ordered in a restaurant! The “bacon” was in chunks, not fresh obviously cheap store bought. The clumps couldn’t even be crumbled and bounced on the table, absolutely terrible salad couldn’t eat it or the soup. The unsweetened tea was ok as was the rose lemonade. Don’t waste your money here! Reviewed your response and will never return! Will tell all my reviewers how terrible your food is!

Normally I love garden cafe. I come here a lot. But I have to say I'm a bit disappointed by the new portion sizes. I ordered the salmon salad and this was the portion of salmon I received for an extra seven dollars. This ended up being about $28.. $17 for the salad alone. I love them for breakfast and pizzas but I won't be back for salads anytime soon.

This place is the perfect brunch spot and place to work! The atmosphere is beautiful with the flowers and outdoor patio! Enjoy their 3 mimosas for $15 with any meal you get! I love the Truffle Fries!!

An unassuming restaurant in Sherman Oaks. Quiet, chill, and rustic. It's a great place to bring your dog. On the night we went, there was a small band playing and singing. Some songs were better than others, but it added ambiance. It seemed like a lot of people were regulars. The biggest downside was that it took over half an hour for our two dishes to be served. (Neither should have been complicated, a veggie burger and another sandwich.) The sweet potato fries were very good. The table next to ours wasn't cleaned the entire time we sat there.

The food was amazing. The rose tea was so delicious. I had the avocado toast and it was sooo good and most important I was able to bring my puppy along.

Garden Cafe surpassed my expectations! Was craving something on the lighter side, this place was on my way home and sounded like it fit the bill. I gotta start with the food. I had the Mean Green sandwich with potato salad as the side. It honestly didn't look like anything special but it was an absolutely DELICIOUS meal- so fresh, so light, so flavorful. I think it was the only vegetarian sandwich on the menu, and it was just dreamy. Now the latte- I had the cafe latte (extra shot of espresso, almond milk, caramel flavor). It is small but it was insanely good! Every sip I was like "yaaaas!!!" There is an actual, free parking lot. Plus outdoor and indoor seating- really cozy with greenery and couches. Great spot to work or just enjoy your meal. And the staff member helping me out was so nice!! Only cons: *I ordered online and it wasn't updating when my order was ready. It had just been a long time so I decided to walk in to see and it was ready. *I do feel it was overpriced but that's been the case for so many restaurants lately. I understand everyone is doing what they need to with the economy. At least everything tasted fab! Can't wait to be back!

Mediocre... Second visit, 1st was aborted due to lack of parking in area. Came back to give them an actual try and we were disappointed. If you are coming only for the ambiance then the garden/patio is very nice. Service and food left us wishing we picked someplace else. Wife had crab Benedict and could barely taste the crab, eggs were overcooked, I had a breakfast burrito and everything was overcooked. Order at the counter and they bring you your food, but you have to get up and get your own water. When they brought the the food they put it on the table, no "can I get you anything else?", just drop the food and leave. $40 for 2. Overpriced, overcooked and disappointing. Limited parking, if you can find it you may have to walk a few blocks.

My husband and I had a lovely lunch here. We found it thanks to Yelp, and it was perfect for our kid free afternoon. When you get inside you feel like you're somewhere completely different with all of the greenery surrounding you. They have plenty of seating options for different size groups. There is indoor and outdoor seating as well. The food was solid. I got the chicken fajitas with truffle fries and I started with hibiscus tea. The fajitas were very flavorful. It had tomato sauce on it which was delicious for the first bites but then the acidity got overwhelming. The sour cream and guacamole were not able to cut the acidity. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't for me. The truffle fries were crisp and delicious though. The hibiscus tea tasted like it was made from a mix of something like that. They let me switch to an Arnold Palmer which was good. My husband got the Brie and fig chicken sandwich with potato salad and rose lemonade. He liked the sandwich enough but said he wouldn't get it again. He couldn't eat the potato salad because it was very heavy on the mayo. He liked the rose tea. When you arrive you go up to the counter to order, then they bring the food out to you. After placing our order we're given the option to tip. I tipped 20% as I usually do at a sit down restaurant. But after our experience I wouldn't do that again, I'd probably tip in the same way I would at any other fast casual restaurant. The staff were friendly enough. But they did nothing beyond bringing the food or picking up our plates. We didn't even get our water refilled. Overall if it wasn't for the beautiful vibes of the place I don't know that I'd pay $75 (with tip) for the meal that we received. But we will go back again because overall we had a lovely time. Oh and there is a small parking lot with 10 spots, other than that you'd have to find metered street parking.

Tried out Garden Café in Sherman Oaks and it definitely earns a spot on my list of cute local cafes. I ordered the potato, egg, and cheese breakfast burrito--it was good, nothing mind-blowing, but solid and satisfying. It was a bit pricey for the size, and in general, the menu leans toward the medium-to-high price range-that seems to be the norm for breakfast in LA these days. What did stand out? The side potatoes. Crispy, flavorful, and addicting. I'd come back just for those. The atmosphere is where Garden Café really shines. The outdoor patio is absolutely lovely--lush greenery, cozy European-style tables, and a calm, tucked-away feel. It's a little oasis that makes you want to linger. There's indoor seating too, but if the weather's nice, definitely go for the patio. The ordering setup is quick and casual--you order at the counter and grab your own seat. Service was fast, and everything came out fresh. Parking is the one tricky part. The lot is small (maybe 10 tight spots), and street parking in the area can be hit or miss, so leave a few extra minutes to circle if needed. Overall, a great little breakfast or brunch stop, especially if you're already in the area. I get my car washed at the salon next door, so I'll definitely be back next time I'm waiting.

Been here multiple times and loved it every time! Such a huge patio seating and indoor seating, which is nice to have both options in this area. We've gotten the chicken kebabs, fig and prosciutto pizza, forest mushroom pizza, broiled atlantic salmon, white truffle arugula fries, short rib fries, chicken kebab wrap, and the roasted beet salad (not all at the same time ;)) Their white truffle arugula fries are to die for!! Can't get enough of it. Atlantic salmon is not dry at all. Beet salad is refreshing and delicious. All of these portions are also pretty sizable, which we appreciate. The line to order can take a bit of time (esp when people don't know what they want), but then you get your number and sit wherever you'd like. I will warn that parking is VERY difficult esp on Friday and Saturday nights. I've spent at least 15 min every time circling for parking since the neighborhoods is permit only from 6pm or so. They have a very small parking lot, so you have to get lucky. This will always be one of my go to places!

Garden cafe is a cute hidden gem away from the Main Street. Their coffee is absolutely delicious and I recommend coming here for a quick brunch. Service was a little slow and I've had the server forget to bring out a beverage a few times but it's not bad because they correct it right away. Haven't tried the food but everything always smells amazing! It's also pretty fresh considering how the turnaround time is. The place is pretty pricey for what it is. Honestly just come here for the vibes and a good time.

Good ambiance, people are nice and the food is yummy. Easy to seat a small group. Beautiful terrace with bougainvillea.

Our kids took us to this out of the way restaurant. Hard to find but we'll worth it. Six of us and everything was good. Employees were friendly and knowledgeable. The food came out quickly. I had their burger which was excellent! Would return if in the area.

Not sure what I was expecting but love the off the street hidden gem vibe. I had the short rib grilled Cheese - dunked it in the yummy tomato soup. The sweet potato fries were some of my favorites alive ever had they had a crinkle cut and were wider and flatter which I loved. My friend enjoyed a big plate of pasta and garlic bread with her tomato soup as well. We shared a $5 chocolate chip cookie, with the value and I would say it was a 7/10 for me. There is no table service other than bringing you your items, they ask for tip at payment which is not something I appreciate.

This was such a great find. My friend had asked us to lunch and I wanted to find some other restaurant instead of the same old place. Read some reviews on this place and decided to give it a try. WOW!!! We all enjoyed every dish down to coffee and cookies. We had Chinese Chicken Salad, Chicken Kabob, Roasted Beet Salad with Salmon, cappuccinos, and some humongous cookies. Be warned - big generous portions. The service was top notch too. It's truly a great find and very quaint. It's tucked away and one can easily pass by without knowing it's there. There's patio seating as well. The owner told us there's a live band at night. We love to dance and will most definitely try one night.

Very understaffed and food was not good. I got the American omelette and it was so overcooked it was rubbery. Also the cowboy sandwich was super greasy and heavy. I'd not return.

Garden cafe seems a bit hidden off the street but it's not! If you know you know! This place is a gem to come get some work done and enjoy some tasty food! Their kale caesar salad and grilled chicken is amazing. Apparently the grilled chicken is what they are known for! The outdoor seating is lovely with big tables and lots of greenery away from the LA traffic. The service is quick and no frills but kindness at every turn when we needed something. Try this place out and thank me later!

We really enjoy coming here, especially when we aim to get work done. It is a nice spot with comfortable seating, a clean room, a couple outlets, and ample parking. The place is tucked away and always has great ambience. I like getting the Iced Café Latte with almond milk and the massive M&M cookie they sell in addition to the sandwiches and pasta. For the pasta, I like ordering the Pesto Pasta, which can be made with linguine or penne and topped with Parmesan cheese. It is also served with a side of garlic toast. The avocado toast is good as well and contains 2 pieces of sourdough toast topped with avocado, onion, arugula, tomato, pepper, salt, and tossed with sweet lemon olive oil. This is good as well and continuously hits the spot!

I have to say I love this place. I have been there many times but I haven't done a review, so it was time. The ambience is great! they put great music. The food is good and the service even more the girls that were there yesterday 08/18/25 were super attentive. If you want to go sit some reading or talk with friends this is the place.

I've had a lot of burgers and I know what I prefer. I give burger a 6 based on the price alone. Flavorwise, I can only say it was OK. I liked the sweet potato fries- they were crisp and nicely seasoned. I like the mimosa deal and the Rose latte, too. I also bought a chocolate protein cookie and I like it. As for the service, I give it a 10. It was slow and they acted like it bc they were attentive and even warmed my latte after our meal. The ambiance is cute, with the plants on the patio. I would love to go back for a brunch dish on a sunny day!

I hadn't been in a few years. I came with my 8 year old. We ordered Mac and cheese for the kid an I had a breakfast sandwich. I observed the person taking my order was not very welcoming. But the individual that served our order was very friendly. My kids Mac and cheese was not very tasty but my breakfast sandwich was. The atmosphere is still charming and lovely as I remembered.

Such a cute hidden gem in the SO neighborhood. A perfect lunch spot for anyone looking to catch up with some friends and find a serene garden vibe within the bustle of the city. The ladies at the counter were really nice and the staff were very attentive, checking on us periodically and clearing our plates as soon as we were finished. I got the chicken kebob wrap which came with a side of your choice - I got the potato salad. Also got an iced latte with oat milk. Everything was fresh and delicious. Coffee was great, too - they use Lavazza. Will definitely come back!

Went here for a late breakfast. Ordered the huevos rancheros and avocado toast. On the menu the avocado toast has an asterisk indicating it came with either potatoes or fresh fruit. However the person at the counter said it wasn't included. The portions were filling. The food was generally bland. The avocado was definitely the type you buy in the store as guacamole and not fresh. The tomatoes were canned. Only fresh veggie was the arugula on the toast and the onions. Our fruit order was forgotten and I had to ask for it. Also had a capuchino and an herbal camomile tea. You order at the counter and find an open table. There were a few people but not overly full on a mid Friday morning. There was not background music and it was not loud.

Came here after taking our daughter to the park for lunch. It was just before noon so it wasn't super crowded yet. You order at the counter and find your own seats. Snagged a seat in the outside area. Place is great - kid friendly and the food and coffee was good!

Craving a healthy salad with tender juicy chicken. Then Garden cafe is the place. I have been craving a Caesar salad lately and have remembered this place. This is my second time getting the "Kicked up kale Caesar" (Romaine hearts, kale, shaved Parmesan with homemade garlic and rosemary croutons, tossed in our Caesar dressing.) Chicken is an additional charge but so worth it. Very tender and juicy. Don't be surprised when you eat them all up quick. Portion size is perfect for a hungry appetite as it is pretty large and will keep you full most of the day. Leaving your body feeling good and satisfied. Service was great and quick bringing out the food. So far garden cafe is my favorite place for a delicious Caesar salad.

I came on a Sunday after mass and I had the Golden Cowboy Sandwich with a side of macaroni salad. The sandwich comes with egg, pulled pork and chipotle aioli. Macaroni salad isn't typically offered at cafes so I HAD to get it here. I'll have to try the potato salad next time. There is plenty of outdoor, indoor seating and is perfect for big and small groups. They have sandwiches, breakfast, mimosas, pizza and a lot more. You order at the front and your food is brought out to you when it is ready. They have parking however, the parking lot is very small.

The people at the counter and bussers were nice. The ambiance is good. The food was just okay. My omelette was dry and the toast was flimsy. The best parts were the coffee and the potatoes.

Chicken Ceasar salad was good. A large portion. The outdoor patio is lovely. I would recommend that the restaurant pay for commercial-free music. Easy thing to do to make the ambiance even better

I've come here a few times with my family now and it's consistently good. Nice portions, friendly staff, and cozy atmosphere. Truly hidden gem

Food was 100/10 all ingredients were fresh and cooked perfectly! The ambiance outside was perfect for a summer lunch and all the staff was very friendly. Had the Greek Salad to start, pesto fettuccine with chicken and the vodka penne for the mains, and the rose lemonade for drink. Everything complemented each other perfectly. You can tell the chefs really care a lot about everything they put on the plate. Truly an elevated eating experience.

I ordered a kale Caesar salad to go. While the salad size is decent, the $7 I paid to have chicken with it was an absolute waste. There's literally 5 bites of chicken. Basically the equivalent of 1 small strip. When competitors like Mendocino Farms offer more at a $10 cheaper price point, I'll stick with them instead for lunch options.

I recently bought my condo and moved walking distance to the Garden Cafe. What a serene, beautiful, festive and delicious neighborhood gem. It's feels like you've entered the secret garden, and are staying for a yummy dinner. We ordered the Primavera Pasta and the Chicken kabobs. The portions are enormous and the food super yummy. We sat in the very large outdoors patio area, relaxed like being on a couch; while twinkle lights and flowers hung overhead and a band played Bossa Nova. They have cozy heat lamps as well. Such a zen and beautiful atmosphere. Parking is eassyyy peaazzzy, drive in and park. I hope to visit more frequently in the near future. It's def my favorite spot here in Sherman Oaks to dine in; esp if you're a nature girl. What a treat and I'll be back, thank you. :)

Loved this little restaurant tucked away. Although it's on a busy street they have made it a place that feels exclusive. The service is great and the food is delicious! The prices are on the higher end but the portions make it worth it. They have a bar as well! Highly recommend. No reservations accepted and you order at the counter and then find a table, there is a possibility that you need to share the table. But great opportunity to make new connections. I ordered the Chinese salad and I would have preferred to have half the dressing be added but that's on me for not asking dressing on the side. There was also live music that started at 6pm on a Thursday evening, a bonus treat!

Amazing food! The outside seating is the best! It is a little pricy ,but good food & mimosas!

First time here and plan to return. The parking lot is small but we went on a Monday right at 5 o'clock and didn't have a problem. There is lots of seating and plenty of space in a pleasant atmosphere . We were greeted immediately with a warm welcome and she helped me make up my mind. The food was delicious and the beer was great! I loved the salmon burger with skinny fries just the way I like 'em.

The food was really good. Have a nice patio. You order from the counter and they bring to your table. We were at a table that was real wobbly. Couldnt get anyone to fix it. They brought a stack of napkins and said here. We asked for a side of ranch. They never came to table with it. So basically after they drop off food, you are on your own.

Good food, good atmosphere, reasonable prices. Great place to hang out with family and friends.

This was surprisingly pleasant and not too bad as far as price goes. Definitely recommend!

Rude service. Bland food that makes you feel sick after eating. No restroom!! No air conditioning inside. Pretty flowers outside, as long as you don't mind eating bland food and deal with hostile rudeness. (Bad salad dressing, boring bland potato salad, and turkey was gross and feeling sick after eating their sandwich.) If it's good enough food, you can ignore rude workers but here, the only positive is flowers in the outdoor seating. Not worth it! Owner gave me wrong sandwich and acted like it was my fault. She never apologized. It was my first time there so how would I know I didn't get what I ordered? I thought I was just eating a bad turkey sandwich smothered in bland fake cheese. I ate half the sandwich and realized it didn't have avocado. Her solution was to bring a slice of avocado. She told me I ate too much of the sandwich for a new one. She had given me the grilled bris cheese and turkey. She told me this is my fault because I ordered the turkey sandwich. I brought her the menu and asked her, "Where does it say there's brie cheese on the turkey sandwich?" And then she pointed to the grilled cheese section to a brie cheese and turkey sandwich. OK I never ordered a grilled cheese, never said brie cheese. I told her I don't even I Ike Brie cheese so I know I didn't say Brie. At this point she knew she made the error but wasn't going to acknowledge that. Clearly not what I ordered even from her own words. it was the most ridiculous situation. So weird. Just apologize because you just made me pay for a sandwich I didn't order, lady. I never even asked her for a new sandwich or refund. Maybe she could've apologized for obviously getting the order wrong. Absurd behavior for an owner. I'm pretty sure this restaurant will fail. Flowers alone can't save bad food and hostile service. I highly recommend going next-door to the much nicer restaurant they have actual air-conditioning. They're super nice and way better food. You have to pay a little more but it's worth the money not to deal with rudeness. I guess you have to pay for polite behavior these days. I'd rather pay for polite behavior than an overpriced disgusting sandwich that I didn't order. Be careful if you have food allergies this lady has no regard for getting orders accurate. No way for me to reply to owners lies in his reply but I think all readers can see how petty they are! Total lie! they certainly didn't offer substitute but as you can see by their reply it would have been the right thing to do. I didn't smear food. If you scroll down you can see many more one star reviews when they didn't get the order right and were hostile. Which was it you offered to substitute my order or decided I ate too much? You sort of just said both. One is an obvious lie. PS for my picture I should post a picture of the sign you have that says no public restrooms! So many lies. And you're lying because you know you should do better.

I actually was excited to try the food but I wasn't impressed it was ok. The service was great, parking on site

I came here for the first time today with a friend and really enjoyed it. I had the breakfast burrito with a side of fruit (the coffee was good too) and my friend had a burger with a side salad and hibiscus ice tea. Her portions were large and the salad looked so fresh. Sorry I forgot to take pictures of them! We opted to sit outside and loved being surrounded by the beautiful garden. There is a small parking lot right in front of the restaurant but we were lucky to get street parking close by. The service was excellent, everyone was gracious and the food came out quickly.

The food was good, friendly staff, and the ambiance was okay... although a pretty atmosphere the music was did not match the ambiance, too loud.

The outdoor ambiance is lovely, and the service was attentive. The salad was okay, the pasta was tasty. I'll definitely return to try more dishes.

Not sure why it's taken me so many years to try this place. Maybe it's because it's quite literally a hidden gem. Right off Ventura and Woodman but slightly hidden, pushed back behind a parking lot, walking into this place takes me to Tuscany, Italy with its cute garden aesthetic accompanied by a matching playlist. We ventured here on a Monday around 7pm. There were only a few people inside. We ordered at the counter and sat on the patio. The gentleman who took our order and the one who made our drinks at the small side bar were so polite and welcoming. They even moved heaters for us to a table of our choice outside since it was a chilly night. Though pricy for a glass of wine at around $17, it was more like 2 glasses thanks to the man's generous pour. No complaints! I haven't had decent crab cakes in years and these were amazing!!! Loved every bite and wanted seconds. The short rib grilled cheese was my next fave along with the Caesar salad and lastly eggplant parm. Everything was delicious. Service excellent. And Tuscany, Italy vibe with a glass of wine made this a perfect night. Can't wait to return and try more!!!

Loved the food and drinks. Spent a Sunday there having drinks with the girls. The music surprised us, as it was unexpected and very nice. The ambiance was very nice, and the service was good as well. Didn't like having to go make line every time we wanted to order additional food and drinks, but it was still a good day.

A beautiful seculed restaurant tucked away off of Woodman Blvd. Casual dinning serving beer, wine and "All American" cuisine. Indoor and garden setting with a very relaxed vibe. You order at the counter and food is served at the table. Easy! Whether your craving salad, pizza, burgers, mac 'n cheese, or blt, there is a little something to please everyone. We ordered the margherita pizza and short rib cheese sandwich. Both very delicious and paired well with our bottle of Melbec wine. Friendly and courteous service which made our experience even more enjoyable. No rush to leave and all the time to relax and enjoy delicious food and surroundings.

The food was actually really good and service was quick. Ambiance was definitely pristine and lovely. It wasn't busy when I got there but 2 hours later it was packed.

Use to come here years and recently came for dinner. First off, the prices have sky rocketed insane!! 3 people $80 easily!!!! They were empty and the wait was about 35 minutes for the food, which was so unlike them. They had a loud band outside playing and had all the doors open so no matter where u sat, even inside , u couldn't talk because the band was so loud. Our pizza came Out cold and everything else was OK. So disappointed as I use to love this place . Will not be coming back.

Mac n cheese with short rib is delish Nice amount of space and seating Parking is difficult

Enjoyed a turkey club sandwich with macaroni salad, it was enjoyable and service was quick! The outside seating is beautiful. Inside is more of a classy vibe but the outside is a very cute place to sit and enjoy a private, comfortable conversation with friends!

This is an update to the review I wrote in 2018 that I felt necessary to post, because subsequent visits have been completely different experiences. I first returned after a morning visit to the lab for blood tests that required me to fast. I was very hungry and in the mood for a quiet place to read and have breakfast. The experience made me wonder if new management took over The Garden Cafe. The food is delicious and the portions are generous. The manager or owner (not sure which) has always been gracious and happy to answer questions and comply with special requests. Since then, the Garden Cafe has become a kind of hideaway meeting place when I've wanted to meet up with old friends and talk. There's no hurrying you along to order, or to eat and leave. I especially love their Mean Green Sandwich that consists of fresh Mozzarella, avocado, spinach, Goat cheese, and pesto on toasted wheat, plus a choice of side ($17.00.) It's a calorie splurge, but delicious and comforting; I've taken half the sandwich home. The salads I've tried have all been so fresh and delicious. The one with a grilled hunk of salmon was so good. Coffee great and other drinks, too. They have a big menu with a lot of choices. Recommended. But beware of their small parking lot. I've only been lucky to get a spot once. Metered street parking is available on Woodman.

Pricing and portions are decent. I absolutely loved the decor here both inside and out. I 100% recommend sitting outside if the weather permits it because it is so nice enjoying an iced drink under the breezy vines.

This is a great spot to bring your laptop and get some work done. There is practically everything on this menu, and you order at the counter. (I do find it pricey for this kind of casual set up) The staff is friendly and they leave you alone once you order. The ambiance is sort of like the inside of an Olive Garden, which somehow works for me. The outside is super cute and nicely lit. I come here often and I will be back for remote work.

Beautiful spot with solid food and friendly service. Pretty good prices for Hawaii! Went twice and enjoyed both meals.