Gardenia

While exploring Northern California, I stumbled upon a truly enchanting spot: Gardenia in Los Gatos. Even without dining, I was completely captivated. The ambiance is pure romance — think twinkling lights, lush greenery, and elegant touches that make every corner feel like a scene from a movie. The photos and videos I captured barely do it justice… just wow. It’s the kind of place that instantly makes you want to plan a special evening. Though I didn’t get the chance to try the food (this time!), I was thrilled to learn they offer a full menu and a Sunday brunch. Whether it’s a cozy date night, a girls’ night out, or a celebration of something big (or small), Gardenia feels like the perfect backdrop. I’ll absolutely be back — and next time, I’m staying for the meal.

The Food was good we got a steak, the asparagus was so so, but the steak and the potato were good! We had a reservation so we were seated shortly after we arrived! Everyone was attentive and friendly The atmosphere, the inside was okay but we loved the outside and the potential this place has. We just weren’t such big fans of the music playing (it was pop music).We were just expecting something more classy to fit the visual. It would have gave it more of a charm. Food: Crispy Calamari 8/10 Grilled Flat Iron 6oz Steak 8/10 Drinks: Midnight bloom Espresso 10/10 The Gardenia Fog 10/10

Ambiance: A charming house turned into a restaurant with a beautiful, cozy vibe. The patio is lovely, though the tables are so small we could barely fit two plates. The bathroom is adorable. Customer Service: Staff were nice and friendly, making the experience warm and welcoming. Food: Fantastic! So many great options, with delicious drinks and outstanding brunch dishes.

🍽️ Food: The food we had for brunch was generally okay. It wasn't exceptional, but it was satisfactory for a celebratory meal. 🐢 Service Speed: The service was unfortunately very slow. This was particularly frustrating as it was a special birthday brunch, and the delays impacted the overall flow of our meal. 🤔 Inconsistent Service: We observed that service seemed inconsistent across the dining room, with some tables appearing to receive much more frequent check-ins than ours. This made our slow service even more noticeable. 🗣️ Staff Communication: There appeared to be some communication issues, especially with the front desk team, which contributed to the disjointed service experience. 🙏 Management Response: A positive note was the manager's handling of our concerns. They were very understanding, took the time to explain the situation, and offered a sincere apology, which helped alleviate some of the frustration. 🎂 Overall for a Birthday Brunch: While the food was acceptable, the very slow and inconsistent service definitely detracted from what was meant to be a special birthday brunch. Despite the manager's efforts to address the situation, the overall experience was challenging. I might consider giving Gardenia another try, but with tempered expectations for an improved service experience.

Wow. Speechless at the service of this place. The owner Carol Wang personally introduced herself to us. Their mission statements are Honesty, Hospitality, and Community, and you can feel it when you’re here. The Service was phenomenal. The Coffee was some of the best we’ve ever had. For the coffee snobs out there, they have a single origin espresso option. Food was delish. I am a picky eater so I always have a few adjustments that could be made. We will be back, not just for the food, but for the service and the coffee. So good. Thank you Gardenia! Happy 1 year Anniversary, and Cheers to many more.

Here’s a polished, clear, and still honest version: Review: It’s a beautiful restaurant with aesthetic décor and stunning presentation, but unfortunately the food just doesn’t taste good. We’ve tried several different dishes, hoping it would get better, but it never did. I really wanted to like this place, but I won’t be coming back. My latest order was the deviled eggs — they looked gorgeous, but the taste was honestly unpleasant. Other dishes we had - gardenia salad, gardenia breakfast, chicken and waffles , egg Benedict. Nothing was delicious. Very unfortunate. We paid almost $200 for the party of 4. without alcohol or deserts. We did not enjoy our food at all.

Loved the atmosphere—chill, welcoming, and beautifully styled. The food was just as impressive! I really enjoyed the Asian fusion with Hawaiian influences—such a refreshing twist. I ordered the loco moco and it was absolutely delicious. Rich, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Definitely a great spot to grab a bite and some drinks. Will be coming back for more!

Had a lovely brunch at Gardenia! The outdoor seating area is spacious, green, and beautiful, and the interiors are just as charming with a Victorian touch. We sat inside, enjoying the mix of high tops, regular chairs, and cozy sofas. The food was delicious with thoughtful presentation, and the overall atmosphere felt warm and inviting. Coffee and tea choices were good, and there was a nice mix of cocktails and mocktails. While vegetarian options were limited, I was satisfied with what I ordered. Also, a great spot for photos, every corner is picture perfect!

This was my Girlfriends and I's, now fiancé's, first time to Gardenia, and it did not disappoint. I made a reservation asking if they could help me propose to my girlfriend, and they more than delivered. Our server, David, did a phenomenal job and did a great job taking photos and videos of the proposal. We were seated in this beautiful Victorian mansion and were given a table in a private area that was perfect for the proposal. There is also outdoor seating as well, and every part of the restaurant is beautiful. The food was also really good and it came out quickly too. Thank you so much to the staff at Gardenia for making the experience for my fiancé and I memorable. We will definitely be back!

Gardenia Los Gatos is now serving dinner, and it's such a charming spot to unwind in the evening. The ambiance is cozy, the decor is beautiful, and the live pianist creates the perfect dinner atmosphere. They recently launched their new dinner menu, and it's an impressive extension of what they're already known for -- fresh, creative dishes and a warm, inviting space. What I recommend ordering: * Crispy Brussels Sprouts - Verjus hot honey, crispy bacon, toasted sunflower seeds, and shiitake mushrooms. LOVED this * Beef Tartare - Cornichons, capers, shallots, fine herbs, quail egg, and grilled levain, served with toasted garlic bread * Bone Marrow - Rich, buttery, and perfectly roasted for spreading on bread * Tempura Fried Green Beans - Crisp, light, and perfectly seasoned (off-menu special), SO GOOD! * Crab Dip - Creamy, cheesy, and served with crunchy taro chips. * Gnocchi - Soft, pillowy, and paired with peas in a rich, creamy sauce (off-menu special). * Gardenia Bistro Burger - Onion rings, arugula, gruyère cheese, smoked bacon jam, garlic aioli, brioche bun, and seasoned fries. Overall, Gardenia offers a beautiful dinner experience with creative dishes and a relaxing atmosphere. Service was also great, we loved our server! I'm excited to see them expanding into dinner service beyond their popular brunch menu!

I've been here twice now. The food is good! They do a number of 'elevated' takes on classic brunch items, and their benedict is one of the better ones I've had. It is costly, but I looked around and noticed that I was in Los Gatos so I was prepared for that. Both the garden and indoor seating are beautiful, and garden seating is dog-friendly. Service is variable. Some staff are super attentive and sweet (the bussers especially) and others seem to be interacting with humans for the first time. There's a manager/owner type who cares a lot and is constantly asking her staff to do obvious service courtesies; she rocks and improved both visits. The haphazard outdoor table layout seems to be paired with haphazard server assignments; on both visits I was somehow seated in nobody's section and thus got very sparse service (as in orders taken, tab closed after a super long wait, and absolutely zero check-ins in between). I would rather wait for a table that can get attention vs being sat quickly in a void zone. The location and ambience do a lot for Gardenia and the food is just good enough to justify the price point. The service has me wondering how many more times I want to try.

Food was not what I expected and for the price could have been better. Interior is cute and cozy. The service was decent, everyone we came into contact with was super friendly. We were only the second group in the restaurant for brunch and it took half an hour before someone took our order. Everything came out one at a time. My dish was served cold and the last dish was hot. I ordered the loco moco and the patty was dry with barely any gravy. I had to ask for extra. The hash dish was the best. Eggs benedict was the other dish but it was OK. For what you pay and what you get, meh.

Quite a nice place for brunch! feels very fancy, with comfy couches to sit on while waiting, two floors that accommodate big group reservations, and the food was good too. the inly negative is that the menu was pretty short for food and much longer for drinks.

Gardenia Los Gatos is all about the ambiance. My boyfriend and I must not have been dressed fancy enough or maybe it was the gawdy plastic bag we were holding from the plant stand at the farmer's market that made us look not so Los Gatos-esque, but the hostess sat us in the far back of the outdoor patio, next to another table, squeezed between a bush and facing large machines of the Victorian house (the main restaurant). As I carefully squeezed into my seat, my foot swiped a dog bowl left under my chair, thereby soaking my foot. OMG. Can this seat get any worse? A view of nothing and there was not even enough space for my feet. When I looked around, I saw roughly a third of the tables were empty and no one else was waiting to be seated. Why oh why did they seat us back here? We asked to be moved to a table where we had more space and could sit up without hitting a bush or dog bowl. They oddly had to think about it for awhile and then obliged. The food was tasty and plated beautifully... once we got our plates, that is. The wait was a one hour! The server apologized for the delay, but did not do anything to compensate for it (ie, more water, a free drink or appetizer). We just waited in the hot sun. Thankfully I liked talking to my lunch companion - haha. But waiting this long after ordering is pretty bad. (The table behind us got their food even longer than us, and we heard their meal got comped because of the delay, so it seems this isn't that unusual.) **TIP** There were a lot of large parties at Gardenia, and sitting outside in the front lawn seems to be the way to go. Just make sure you ask to be seated in the front lawn, or dress nice enough that they'll seat you there (sad, but true). The food is good and plated well. Just make sure you aren't in a rush.

Wow. Speechless at the service of this place. The owner Carol Wang personally introduced herself to us. Their mission statements are Honesty, Hospitality, and Community, and you can feel it when you're here. The Service was phenomenal. The Coffee was some of the best we've ever had. For the coffee snobs out there, they have a single origin espresso option. Food was delish. I am a picky eater so I always have a few adjustments that could be made. We will be back, not just for the food, but for the service and the coffee. Such a peaceful atmosphere. Thank you Gardenia! Happy 1 year Anniversary, and Cheers to many more.

Went to Gardenia for brunch today and it's a cute spot! The set up and decorations were very cute. Outdoor seating looked lovely, especially as it was a sunny day. We had a reservation and sat inside. Service was quick, and once we ordered our food it arrived very shortly after. I had the avocado toast with tempeh which was good. I really liked the tempeh- I was surprised to see that as an option since it's not very common. The avocado sandwich itself was pretty average. It was good but nothing too special. My friend had the chicken sandwich and said it was delicious. As for drinks- I ordered a chai latte which was pretty milk-y. The spices were too weak for a chai latte. Overall, cute brunch spot right in downtown with a lot of good options! I would go back and order something else.

The ambience and set up of the restaurant is truly beautiful. Service was ok, not amazing. I had to keep explaining things and following up. But the waiter was super nice. I ordered a meal (can't remember name) but I'm adding a photo of it. Too many different flavors mixed into one. Would not get it again. My daughter did like her burger. Never got a refill on my Diet Coke. Overall would go again but wouldn't order anything that sounds too complicated. Stick to the basics.

Came here with a friend on a Thursday for lunch. We did make reservations. Parking- a little harder for something right in front of the restaurant. No handicap parking in the front. There are parking lots a little farther. Ambiance- it is absolutely beautiful. It's a Victorian house. The garden in the front is very beautiful. There are indoor and outdoor seating. Service- Elizabeth was our server and she was very attentive. Checked on us regularly. We sat inside. The decor matched their name- with Gardenias everywhere. Loved the quiet atmosphere, we were able to have a conversation without all the noise. Dishes- "Escargot" Octopus and bone marrow plate- it was well seasoned. The marrow was wonderful on the bread. The octopus were huge pieces. Eggs Benedict- added the kalua pork for extra $5. The egg was made perfect. The potatoes were so crispy and flavorful. Return Factor- YES! Because they did everything with excellence. The restaurant itself is beautiful. The service was great and the FOOD was excellent!

Saw this place and had to try it because of the cute aesthetic outside and inside. The outside patio looks amazing and so fancy. I took my family out for food here and we were so excited. I didn't think a restaurant like this would be in Los Gatos because it STANDS OUT. Upon arriving, we got our waters and were deciding what we wanted. Probably waited 15-20 minutes and got inpatient with no one coming up to us to say hello or welcome us or take or orders, nothing. So we asked the employee filling up our waters and the busser took our order. Out waiter didn't come to us once until the very end to close us out. We had no interaction and definitely the worse service I've ever had a restaurant. I was shook that this happened and pretty annoyed. We noticed that he was talking the host the whole time!!! Not going to mention his name but it wasn't the best experience. Most of the negative reviews here are all revolved around their service too so thats what I encountered too. As for the food, I got the loco moco and it was okay. Nothing too special and the portion was decent. The hamburger patty was a bit tough. I tried my dads curly fries and they were really good with parmesan. My mom loved her almond flour pancakes so I was happy.

We went for Sunday brunch today and really wanted to love the place, but things just got gradually worse through our visit. When we sat down, the table was complaining about service and I honestly didn't think much of it. I thought maybe they may be having a one off experience but soon I fell into their steps. We sat outside and the ambience was great. Our little toddler loved the setting and the fountains. Honestly, that's the best part of this place. Food was alright. We for the kalua hash browns and it was way too spicy. Loco Moco was good, and so were the drinks. The meat was a bit bland but I actually am okay with food less seasoned. The service was what really got to us. We sat down, a man named David said he would be taking care of us and we wanted a bit more time on the menu, so he said he would be back. Few moments later, another man comes introducing himself telling us he's our server. Okay, whatever. We order and I ordered à la carte for my daughter. Later in our meal, we saw another table sit down and the server gave them a kids menu and crayons. We wondered why we didn't get the kids menu and the hostess says "oh, I don't know who sat you." We told the manager, and we basically didn't get a real apology. She never said "sorry." It was more dismissive behavior telling us the servers are like children too and they're still learning. She brought a keychain and some marshmallows for my child later but that was really it. We could've ordered from the kids menu and saved a few dollars but that wasn't even the point. The amount of disregard they give to the customers really got to me. We loved the ambience but I don't think we'll be back.

The staff was super friendly and welcoming. I like how attentive they were of my friend and I. The food was delicious! My friend and I shared almond pancakes that had hint of lemon in the batter and it was fluffy and airy with every bite. It was topped with blue berries and strawberries which was a nice touch. Also, shared the Wagyu French dip sandwich. The sandwich it self had so much flavor you didn't need much of the dip. Along, with my meal I was also craving a coffee. I got vanilla iced latte. The coffee was really good! It had good blend of coffee with vanilla. I'd definitely get it again. I definitely be back again.It's such a cute atmosphere.

A really cute restaurant in Los Gatos. Both inside and outside have a very esthetic look and feel. Our waiter was very attentive and polite. I was a little disappointed on the food, the actual menu is very small for dinner, however I would want to give the brunch menu a try.

The outdoor ambiance has always attracted us so when we had an excuse to go, we took it! Make sure you call to double check when the brunch time is because they do close food and only serve drinks inbetween brunch and dinner! It was 4 of us plus baby in a stroller and our Shiba Inu! Service was OK. It was busy so no fault on anyone. Drinks came out quickly after we placed our orders. Chai latte and matcha was yummy. The appetizers really stole the show for us! Grilled tako, gardenia salad and the Kalua pork hash brown was really delicious! Both had really nice flavours that blended well together. We also got the katsu sando and another burger. It was ok. Would love to dine inside at least once with the apps again.

Went here for my son's birthday. What can I say? Excellent ......excellent experience excellent food and excellent service. The wedge salad was big and tasted fresh with all the expected toppings. The blue cheese dressing tasted homemade The fried calamari was fried to perfection was not chewy but fried to a light crisp. The dipping sauce was a squid ink aïoli... that was kind of different. The burger fries were excellent. I asked for medium. It came out medium. The fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Great dinner overall I would definitely come back. We sat inside, but outside there was a live band playing, and the environment was festive. Not too loud (on the inside anyway.)

First time at this newest iteration of this classic Los Gatos eatery. The patio is fantastic...great for Friday night people watching and we enjoyed the excellent band playing, Dolce! My small group had several appetizers including the charcuterie board, calamari, cauliflower and tuna. All were good and the portions were generous.

Overall rating: 4/5 A super cute and cozy brunch spot with different kinds of seating! Gardenia is in downtown Los Gatos. Street parking can be difficult but there are plenty of parking lots around the area. What I ordered: 1. Gardenia Omelette (4/5): tasted tasty but pretty standard - not anything too mind blowing 2. Strawberry Sangria (4/5): also good but not anything memorable While the food was good, Gardenia nails it better with the vibes and aesthetics. The servers were nice and very attentive, making sure our water glasses were refilled and making sure any of our other needs were met. Would I come again? Yes, if I'm in the area or am with friends who want a super cute place to take cute pics and hang

I would give it 5 stars because of the juiciness of the chicken in the huli huli sandwich, as well as for the beautiful decor. However, my group and I had a reservation and we were running late but not totally out of the grace period. They had to give our table away when we had 3 minutes left in their advertised 15 minute grace period and we were seated upstairs instead of where we wanted to be outside. Luckily we were able to talk to them and they moved us outside. But yah the food was amazing and I enjoyed the outdoor environment much better.

My son and I decided to talk a walk this morning to join into the Los Gatos Art and Wine festival. We hopped on a light rail and took it to its end in Campbell, then jumped on the Los Gatos Trail. 2 hours later, we were ready for lunch and decided to stop in at a familiar location. We got a table in the garden and enjoyed excellent service and fantastic food / drink with a beautiful outside experience and perfect weather. I am recharged sufficiently to walk back home after we enjoy the festival.

Beautiful setting with outdoor and indoor dining. We came here for lunch on Tuesday and it wasn't busy but I liked the relaxing atmosphere here. Services were slow and the foods took awhile to come out but it is okay as we are not in rush for anything. The egg Benedict with add make salmon was good, the Brussels sprouts was flavorful, the pancake was excellent as the jam was not overly sweetened. The octopus was good. Almost all of the dishes were average and some stand out the other one. The coffee was the most disappointing as it was overly sweetened and almost all of the tastes and look the same. I recommend coming here for lunch with no rush times because the foods and services can be slow.

Fantastic place to have a group or celebratory lunch. We came late to our reservation but they were very understanding and still seated us immediately. Food was good all around and drinks were presented very well. There is dog friendly patio seating that was very beautiful but we opted for indoor seating because of the hot weather, which was just as nicely decorated.

I took my parents here on Mother's Day and we thoroughly enjoyed it! :) The staff was so kind to take us in right at opening. I was nervous about if we'd get a seat right away, but to my surprise, no customers were there until around 10 AM. The interior was very cozy with lots of tables (including some accessible seating for those who use wheelchairs). It's important to note that while they open at 8:30 AM, their breakfast service doesn't begin until 9:30 AM. However, they have a small "Breakfast Bites" menu from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM that offers three items. They also serve coffee and pastries from Fleur de Cocoa at this time. My mom and I ordered the quiche while my dad ordered the breakfast muffin. They were actually the perfect portion size and we were satisfyingly full afterwards. The quiche was super soft and just very well made in general. My dad also seemed to enjoy the muffin. For drinks, my parents ordered the Americano which they loved. I had a chai that had just the right flavor at the beginning, but could've used more spice near the end. Overall, this was a solid choice for breakfast with my parents. This is such a cute place to visit and I would 100% come again with family and friends!

Beautiful ambience, excellent friendly service and delicious food! We loved everything about our brunch experience at Gardenia. We made a reservation via OpenTable - we have tried walk-in before and they do not even open the waitlist because they are usually very booked so a reservation is a must! We also opted for an earlier time (10:30) as it starts to get very crowded after 11:30 and that takes away from the calm garden setting and ambience. We ordered a variety of dishes and they were all delicious! The deviled eggs were perfect! So flavorful but not overly spiced or sour. The Brussel sprouts were crispy and soft at the same time. The garden omelette was very different because of the boursin cheese - very tasty. They have a kids menu and we ordered scrambled eggs off of that and that was pretty standard. The star of the meal was the Kimchi Saimin - a fish broth with noodles and shrimp and kimchi toppings - the kids surprisingly loved this too. Although this is not a breakfast item but we ordered it based on the recommendation from the server and it did not disappoint. Street parking in the area is tricky as the day goes on but at around 10/10:30 it wasn't too bad. The service was prompt, friendly and informative. Overall - we were very pleased with the entire experience and will definitely be returning again to try the other items on the menu.

This is a little tough to rate. The people were really nice and the service was great all around. Ambiance nice, classily decorated. The food, however, didn't really do it for me unfortunately. It wasn't bad by any means. Part of it was that two (ribs and Brussels sprouts) of the four dishes were deep fried when they didn't need to be. So instead of the meat being tender on the ribs, it was light, crispy. . .and dry. The Brussels sprouts were also crispy - they tasted good, but one of those situations where you think you're ordering something moderately healthy, but it's deep fried. Perhaps the clue should have been the "Crispy" in the name. Personally, I just prefer a light touch with the seasoning and cooking methods, subtle layered flavors. This was a bit more forward and aggressive with regards to cooking methods and flavor profile. The fish tostadas and sliders were less aggressively seasoned, which helped balance the other two dishes. The fries that came with the sliders were very good, btw. It should be noted that 3 of the 4 dishes were from the bar bites menu. But my thought is that if you can do main dishes well, you can do appetizers well, and vice versa. The prices for what we ordered were perfectly fine, but the dinner entrees were considerably more. So based on our experience with the bar bites, we'd be hesitant to make an evening out of it (and spend the couple hundred $) for a full dinner. Bottom line, we enjoyed the food well enough without thinking it was special or noteworthy. So if I were rating by category, the food would get 3.5, the service 5 stars. So I'll go with 4 and hope that people read the review so they know what the food preparation style is and can decide whether this matches what they're looking for. I do wish them the best of luck in making this restaurant work though. There's been a lot of turnover over the years at this location and it would be nice to have a business have success here and develop a history at this cool location. And again, the people we came across were all very nice.

Trying Gardenia for the first time. The hostess was nice and welcome. Sat on the inside and ordered katsudon. Food showed up 20 minutes later. Katsu was dry and lukewarm (must have been a reheat instead of a fresh fry). The rice was not cooked all the way. The sauce tasted weird, good thing they put it on the side. The egg was the only saving grace. Overall, the bowl was flavorless and katsu very very dry and tough to even cut into. My water glass was not refilled even once. Credit card machine listed 20% tips by default as minimum. Lunch for 1 person comes to $43. I can easily have 2 katsudons at a Japanese restaurant (eg: Demiya) at this price. Ridiculous!

What a nice relaxing spot to chill and have a cocktail & some great food. The service was great. The food we had was very fresh & really great. Will definitely be back.

This is the spott!! We came here for a cute girls lunch that ended up being dinner with how long we stayed, we just couldn't get enough! Food is well portioned and super delicious. We didn't know what coffee to grab, so our server brought us a surprise drink (almond lavender) that ended up being perfect.

Was easily able to make a reservation on a Sunday for 1:30 pm. The ambiance is beautiful, both inside and outside is very nice. The servers were friendly but definitely slow to check on us and do simple things like refill water or ask if we wanted refills on our drinks. There was an issue with our order and the staff seemed inconsistent with communication. I ordered the pork Benedict and I enjoyed it. The temperature was good and it tasted fresh. My husband did the waygu french dip and he enjoyed it as well. I like the options they have on the menu and feel like the prices are fair. They also have a coffee bar if you're looking just to get a coffee and go. The inside would be super cute for a girls brunch or celebration brunch.

It's such a beautiful spot right on Santa Cruz in LG! Happy Hour, Tuesday-Sunday, 3:30-5:30. If it's nice out they have tables outside and you can enjoy HH bites and adult beverages on their gorgeous patio! $10 dirty martinis with friends....perfection.

Made a reservation online a week before coming here. Glad I did that because there were a lot of people waiting in the lobby when we arrived. It's a beautiful spot. An older Victorian home, very nice outdoor garden area with a fountain. Lotsss of seating inside and out. Inside is two stories, unique decorations in each area, not all uniform decor/theme which I loved. Our servers addressed us quickly. We ordered the lobster egg rolls (very good), pork hash browns (not bad but wouldn't order again), smoked wagyu brisket French dip (so good!), smash burger (also good and their jalapeño hollandaise js a good add), kimchi saimin (pretty good too) and their banana bread cappuccino (seasonal). I'm not a huge banana bread fan and was worried this drink would be super sweet but it had the perfect hint of the banana bread. I would not recommend bringing kids here. While I was a fan of their menu and food, the flavor combinations probably wouldn't be appealing to most children.

I woke up at 6am to my grandmas distressing calls about her heart pain. Earlier this week we had gone to the hospital already for abdominal obstruction, which happens periodically throughout the years. Scared that the ambulance won't make it I offered to drive to El Camino in Mountain View. Hearing my grandmas distressed cries my mom said to reroute to Good Samaritan because it is closer. I was already driving and had to quickly change the route and wasn't able to look at other hospitals on the map. Good Samaritan wasn't really closer. But we end up there since I'm already on the highway and I didn't want to stop and search. Hungry after an emotionally draining morning and anticipation at the hospital, I decide to look up places to eat and remember that I need to pick up something from petroglyph in Los Gatos, so we end up in downtown Los Gatos. I showed up at Gardenia with messy hair, eye boogers, in PJs around 11am Saturday. At first I was just going to get food to go, but then an Asian gentleman in a Patagonia jacket (thought he was a customer at first, but maybe he was the owner) offered to seat us. Although embarrassed, I said yes because my uncle and I were hungry and taking it to go and eat in the car/at the hospital is not great. They were fully booked, but had an opening on the couch or bar which is full service. The kind hostesses and servers quickly took our order and served us immediately. Light roast: 10/10, my uncle liked it without any cream or sugar Banana milk latte: 10/10 I'm not a big fan of coffee but figured I could use it for my drive back home after not sleeping much. Not too sweet and cute latte art Kalua pork hashbrowns: 10/10 honestly this was all we needed to order to be full after our stomach shrank after not eating breakfast. Love the addition of kimchi hash brown and will do it at home. Well cooked and seasoned pork, super tender Gardenia omelet: 100/10 my expectations are so low for omelets but this one has a creamy white sauce inside with a lot of vegetables Kimchi Saimin: 100/10 this should come with a spice sign!! Didn't expect an American style place to have a flavor packed noodle dish. It included 3 perfectly plump and charred shrimp. Lots of vegetables in this one as well. Although the service was fantastic the food actually was amazing as well especially for Asian taste buds. Both customers and the servers were looking posh. On our way out, there was music playing and lots of families having a good time at the outdoor seating. Thank you Gardenia for serving us in a stressful time. Sorry we didn't fit the vibe but will come back properly next time to enjoy!

I would have rated this restaurant a 3.5 but rounded up! My partner took me to Gardenia for our anniversary, and we were greeted by a beautiful restaurant in downtown Los Gatos. They have tables outside, a fountain, and a coffee bar. Inside is a different vibe, kind of like a mix of art deco and shabby chic. I really love the look of the place, which made up a bit for the food which I found more disappointing overall. We ordered the lobster deviled eggs, loco moco, chicken katsu sando, and ube gelato. I didn't love a single item :( in fact I found then all underwhelming but out of everything the chicken katsu sando was the best one. The lobster deviled eggs has the tiniest pieces of lobster at the top of the eggs with row, the deviled yolks completely overtake them in flavor that it feels pointless to include them. Taste-wise it was average and tasted like any standard deviled egg. The chicken katsu sando was pretty good, but I enjoyed the fries more than the sandwich. I felt a bun was an odd choice at first, as when I think of Japanese sandos I think of shokupan and not a burger bun. The bun had a nice sesame flavor from the seeds though. Chicken was a generous portion but was very oily. I know, it was fried so of course it is oily, but the oil flavor overpowered any flavor of the chicken. I forgot it bland overall. The loco moco was very underwhelming. While it looked really nice when it came out, the flavor fell a bit flat. I found the gravy to be lacking flavor despite its appearance. I didn't love the taste of the meat either. The crispy onions at the top was a nice touch though. I was really hoping dessert would make up for the disappointing meal, but it was also underwhelming. When I saw "seasonal gelato, flavors rotate I figured their gelato was somewhat of a specialty. It tasted like it came out of an ice cream box, and it was icy. You can see a couple of ice chunks in my photo. I was sad about the food given how beautiful the restaurant is. Staff is also very attentive and kind, hence the bumped up rating.

I've been to Gardenia several times now for brunch and for dinner. The food is good and the fusion dishes are interesting. My favorite dish has been the Brussels sprouts. I love the outdoor patio dining, it's charming and spacious and perfect almost year round.

Got a reservation for brunch here with my friends and upon checking in, we were brought right to our table - it was upstairs and the ambiance was so cute, super cottage core like. We got the Kalua Pork Hash Browns to start and the hash brown was crispy and tasty. We wished there was more pork with it but the flavor was delicious. We each got a cocktail as well and they were all very pretty but had a heavy lime/lemon taste to all of them so they were a bit sour. I got the Gardenia Omelet and it came with potatoes on the side. The omelet was pretty large and filled me up. It had lots of mushroom and other vegetables. I felt there was a little too much cream cheese though, it overpowered the rest of the omelet and made it feel too heavy.

Getting an eay dinner for an early anniversary. We were initially going to a different restaurant, but they hadn't open yet and decided to get coffee beforehand. I saw Gardenia along the walk and decided to stop here. People looked like they were enjoying their early evening in the outside courtyard area of this beautiful Victorian mansion. Since it was late brunch there wasn't a lot of people so I was able to walk around and view all the rooms, including upstairs. Definitely tea-party garden vibe. From the moment we sat down until we left, everyone was super helpful and friendly! The staff members came around frequently to ask if we needed anything else or if service was up to par. We came just before dinner was served so we were able to enjoy anf utalize their happy hour menu. Items were very reasonable. By the end of our 3 plates and dessert, we were good to go! We had an amazing experience and would totally recommend Gardenia for brunch. Can't wait to try their dinner menu!!

Today we came for brunch and had a wonderful experience! We were seated promptly outdoors. It was a bit chilly, but they offered us blankets, which was perfect. The view of the mansion from the patio is lovely, and the interior of the mansion is absolutely beautiful as well. Natalie, our server, was very attentive and made sure we were well taken care of. For starters, we had the beet salad, which was not only visually stunning but also delicious--the beets were perfectly cooked, and the beet chips were top-notch. For our main dishes, we ordered the Loco Moco, which had perfectly balanced flavors, and the Gardenia Burger, which was tender and juicy. I added an egg to the burger, and it made it extra delicious! This is definitely a perfect brunch spot in Los Gatos, and I'll be back!

3.5 stars. Pros: Atmosphere is gorgeous inside and out. Extra touches in the bougie restrooms are very much appreciated. Wait staff is very nice. Iced Matcha was delicious. The lovely Owner came to the table. She was sincere in wanting feedback and let us know of specials for their anniversary month. Cons: Food wasn't great. Loco Moco didn't have much flavor. More gravy was also needed. Basically tasted nothing like an authentic loco moco. Pancakes were dry, flat and had no lemon curd flavor. This was our first experience here and might try coming back for apps & cocktails to see how those are.

This restaurant is set in a gorgeous venue. Inside and outside decor is beautiful. We came for brunch and had a hiccup with our order. The staff went above and beyond to make it right. This is true customer service. The food was amazing and so were the drinks. Can't wait to return when I'm up that way again. Thank you to Chef Christian, Chef Victor, and Ronald.

A lovely spot for brunch! The outdoor patio is gorgeous on a warmer day. Gardenia's building is a cute Victorian style mansion surrounded by a small garden with fountain. Eating here makes me feel like I'm visiting royalty (or a rich relative haha). The menu consists of typical brunch fare but with a unique twist such as lobster deviled eggs, Kalua pork hash browns, Napa cabbage tofu scramble. Some dishes have Asian origins like Coconut Mochi Stuffed Pandan Perdu or Chicken Katsu Sando. Overall, I thought everything was delicious, especially the Loco Moco. The patty is Wagyu and the rice is "bamboo rice" which is slightly green! I love the drink options as well, especially the extensive mocktail selection. The drinks are all so colorful and so pretty to take photos of. We met the owner and she was incredibly nice and welcoming. One of our teas came out very watery and she apologized and was very efficient with the replacement.

Great food and excellent atmosphere! The wait staff was great. We ate there twice once indoors and once outside. So beautiful.

I love all the food, drink, and seating options Gardenia has to offer. We got a french onion soup, avocado toast, and burger for brunch. For drinks, we got a cappuccino and a latte. Usually, I wouldn't be raving this much about coffee at a restaurant, but it was truly so smooth and delicious here. I would come back just to enjoy some coffee as well. Food was great and a hefty portion too! Our waitress was very attentive and sweet. I would highly recommend a latte with almond milk and the french onion soup, but I'm sure everything here is delicious :)

I want to start off by saying that this restaurant is beautifully decorated inside and outside and their brunch menu looks both stunningly beautiful and delicious. However, my friend and I made the mistake of coming here for dinner instead of brunch. Upon entering, we were given brunch menus by mistake which made us assume that we were still able to order brunch items. The dinner menu was a lot pricier than their brunch menu, which was expected, but the food was lacking for its price. London Fog Latte: 3/5 It was brewed with a large tea bag and it had a nice Earl Grey flavor but overall, the drink was quite bland. Crab Beignets: 4/5 These were quite delicious! You could really taste the crab meat without it tasting too fishy. The creamy sauce paired extremely well with it! French Onion Soup: 1/5 This was flavorless. The onions were not caramelized enough to bring a sweetness to the soup. The bread on top tasted like bread soaked in water mixed with cheese. Although this wasn't the meal we expected, our server was incredibly friendly and the service here was excellent! We do plan to come back to try the brunch menu but the dinner left us feeling unsatisfied.

Service was amazing! Everyone was so nice and our waitress was so sweet to us. We sat upstairs in the Princess corner and it was such a beautiful little nook with cute windows and decor. Restaurant interior is gorgeous! Food was SO delicious. I loved the tako escargot so much. It was so flavorful and it had a shallot bacon jam that came with it and paired so well. Bone marrow was super delicious with the toast too! I would comeback just for this dish alone. 6/5 The Brussel sprouts were well seasoned and the dressing/sauce that it comes with is so delicious. I wish that it came with a slice of toast to help soak it up and eat it! 6/5 There's so many dishes I would love to try or just comeback for coffee. Food came out pretty quickly as well. Staff was attentive too and offered great recommendations! Would definitely comeback in the future and do recommend getting a reservation! Street parking is available.

cute high tea/vintage brunch spot in the bay! reserved and got seated withint 5-10 minutes. order + indoor seating. absolutely loved the ambiance, vintage decor inside + outside. food was okay. deviled eggs were rich, umami, good sharing plates. the ube pancakes were small, didnt taste much ube. good one time experience but wouldn't come back regularly. ordered the matcha strawberry latte and a coffee that were sweet and delicious but nothing special.

Finally got to try Gardenia, and it was a pretty experience. The menu had some interesting options, and the owner has done a great job making the space bright and inviting. We started with the French onion soup, Kahlua hashbrowns, and lobster deviled eggs, and they were all pretty tasty. I went with the Coconut Mochi Stuffed Pandan Pain Perdu, my wife had the Loco Loco, and my son chose the Smoked Wagyu Brisket French Dip. Each dish had a nice twist on the original, which we appreciated. I also ordered a flat white because I'd heard the coffee was worth it, and it definitely didn't disappoint. Overall, we thought the food was pretty good, and we'd love to come back to try more items. The only letdown was the brisket French dip--it was a bit bland and felt more like a pot roast sandwich, plus the bread was a bit hard. But aside from that, the service was decent, and most of our meal was enjoyable. Looking forward to our next visit!

The place is really cute and the hostess was super nice. Sat on the patio which was very pretty. I ordered the honey rose latte and wow...I would come back for that. I ordered the Benedict but instead an omelette arrived. When I asked the server about the mix up he seemed annoyed but offered to fix it. I was hungry so I ate what was there. It was ok, nothing amazing which was disappointing. Perhaps it's because it wasn't what I ordered and the poor reaction from the waiter. The bill came and still no apology or adjustment. I left a nice tip because the hostess and everyone else were so great. I might come just for the coffee in the future but will skip the food.

Cute spot for breakfast on the Gardenia patio in Los Gatos, well shaded and perfect for a morning start. Coffee? Good, nothing outrageous. Inside is super cute and cozy, and the bathroom is well-maintained, clean, and cutely decorated. The staff made the experience--simple, welcoming, and warm. I ordered the lobster bisque (okay) and the grilled "escargot," which turned out to be grilled octopus with bone marrow, drowning in garlic butter that overpowered everything (even the bone marrow!). I tried scraping it off, but it was still too much. But here's the thing: David, our server, saved the day. He actually listened to my feedback, disappeared for a second, and came back with lime wedges. Game changer! The lime balanced out the butter overload, and it was refreshing to see real hospitality and curiosity in action. Great service is rare, and David nailed it. My boyfriend had the eggs Benedict with tri-tip, and he liked it (clean plate club!). To wash off the garlic marathon, we ended with the seasonal strawberry basil lemonade, which was fantastic--bright, fresh, and a perfect to-go treat as we strolled down Los Gatos Main Street. Also, fun fact: there were only three gardenia flowers in the whole garden--maybe a rare treasure hunt included in your visit. I'm giving 4 stars because of the garlic situation--great for those who love garlic at 10 AM and want that flavor to last all day, but just a heads up for those who don't. Would I come back? Yes, especially to see what else David recommends next time. #LosGatosEats #GardeniaCafe #BreakfastGoals #BrunchInLosGatos #FoodieFinds #BayAreaEats #BrunchTime #FoodieAdventures #YelpElite #WeekendEats #CoffeeAndBrunch #FoodReview #EatLocal #PatioDining #BrunchVibes

We went here this past weekend for my sisters birthday and it was a great experience. The restaurant is this big Victorian looking home with landscaped gardens and cute decor. Although, we did notice there were no gardenias growing. It would've been nice to see :) We walked inside to host stand and they sat us outside on the patio. Not typically seated as you would for brunch since our table was like a coffee table, but we enjoyed being outside especially with the kids and the weather got sunnier :) The kids loved being able to walk around in the gardens too. Our server was very sweet and we noticed we had multiple people check on us throughout our brunch. It was very nice and we were well accommodated. I enjoyed the lobster deviled eggs and the gardenia omelette. However, I wish they had used different mushrooms. It would've made the meal a bit heartier. The egg itself was nice and fluffy. I didn't really enjoy the country potatoes, but the fries were great! I loved my chai latte! It was nice to be able to adjust sweetness and spiciness. Next time, I do want to try their mimosa flight. I didn't see it on the menu, but I'm hoping we can still order this next time. Also, what I really loved was the pandan French toast. It was delicious and we're glad we saved it for last as dessert :) I would love to come back and try their dinner and other brunch options as well!