Alfredo Q.
Yelp
My fiancé and I decided to try something new for our 7th anniversary and chose The Garden after seeing a social media post with great reviews and delicious-looking food. When we arrived, we were a little concerned because there weren't many people dining in, but we decided to give it a chance, and we're glad we did, because it exceeded our expectations.
Atmosphere: 10/10
The patio is beautiful, with warm lighting and greenery that create a cozy, inviting environment. The hostess seated us under a heater, which was perfect for a chilly evening and added to the comfort of the night.
Service:
Our server, Marco, was excellent. Even though it was a slower Tuesday night, he was extremely attentive, professional, and helpful with recommendations for our first visit. He paced our courses perfectly, allowing us to relax and enjoy our anniversary dinner without feeling rushed. Thank you, Marco, for helping make our night special.
Food: Overall 9/10
We started with a sampler of the Tzatziki, Baba Ghanoush, and Hummus with pita bread. All were delicious, the cheese pastry was a standout appetizer, and our ranking for the dips was:
Tzatziki
Hummus
Baba Ghanoush
For cocktails, my fiancé had a margarita, and I tried the Oaxaca Old Fashioned. Both drinks were on the stronger side, which we enjoyed.
Our entrées came as part of the Dinner for Two combo, which I highly recommend because you get to try several items from the menu. We received two salads, one was great on its own, and the other paired excellently with the meats. For the main course, we enjoyed chicken, steak, and a steak-and-lamb combination with rice and vegetables. All the meats were cooked well, but the beef and lamb kebab were our favorite, especially when paired with the dips and the parsley-based salad.
Dessert did not disappoint either. I'm a huge coffee lover, so trying Turkish coffee for the first time was a treat. My fiancé, who isn't big on coffee, still enjoyed it when paired with the pistachio honey pastry, a perfect way to end the meal.
Overall:
The Garden gave us a fun and memorable way to celebrate our anniversary. Having the patio to ourselves on a quiet Tuesday night made it even more special. We will definitely be returning to this hidden gem on the Central Coast.
Didn't take many pictures as we were being present with each other on our special night, next time we'll take more pictures.
10/10 -- Highly recommend.