Garlic's Of London

Wow great pizza and gnochhi

Londonlicious

I visited Garlic's for dinner as part of the Londonlicious event. The menu was part of that event and was a limited menu. I choose the soup of the day which was tomato, along with the beef tenderloin and flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Our table also shared the roasted garlic with bread. Our meal was very good. The soup was flavourful, the beef was cooked exactly to order. The serving sizes were also perfect - we were all contently full at the end of the meal. The wait staff was attentive but also we didn't feel rushed. My only criticism was the lighting was VERY low - we pulled out Iphone apps to shed more light. We should have just asked to have the lights raised - but didn't want to ruin the ambiance for everyone. Also - it was a very cold night and we were seated close to the door, so I was worried we would be chilled - but the temperature was very comfortable.

Who Knows?

I submit this as a comment as I have reviewed it elsewhere. The other day, I went next door for lunch (you know the place) which was crowded and noisy -- a table was cleaned for me -- and after a while a server brought a menu. That's it! I waited for 15 minutes, looked around for a server ... and walked out. Garlic's was noticeably different by comparison. Pleasant greeting -- comfortable table -- just a few customers -- quiet background music -- and a talented chef. And you will need a reservation at weekends. I can not understand the popularity of the 'place next door' (It was my second visit). Are people put off by the white table clothes and wine glasses that Garlic's provides? Is it quantity of noisy customers and a bar that encourages people to visit? Who knows?

Over rated

I had heard a lot of good things about this restaurant and recently gave it a try. I had the gooey artichoke dip, which can only be described as long on choke and short on flavour. I followed that with the Chicken Supreme, which instead was several pieces of chicken jerky on a passable bed of risotto. Someone should remind the chef that chicken supreme needs the drum stick of a wing to qualify for the title. My partner ordered the lamb cannelloni - I passed up the opportunity to taste test this dish. She is more polite than I and offered no negative comment. To top off the meal and wash down the dried chicken, I consumed a mug of the worst coffee this side of an Air Canada in-flight offering. Yum. Don't think we'll be going back any time soon!

Great Chef's Specials

This restaurant could not be better located on Richmond Street, next to the Grand Theatre with St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral across the street, and a short walk from Victoria Park. One sunny afternoon recently, we tried lunch here. We were greeted by a happy server who was able to offer us an ideal setting in a pleasant room capable of satisfying a large party or, as in our case, a cozy table-for-two. The menu has a fashionable side to it, affected by local and signature ingredients, and our appetizers were the delicious signature garlic soup topped with a swirl of cream (which should not have been straight from the refrigerator) and an enjoyable rustic and spicy tomato soup. The entrees comprised succulent roast duck leg and breast with the meat falling from the bone, and three fillets of rainbow trout (described as silver trout, an extinct species) enabling us to taste each delicious dish. Last, but not least, we spoiled ourselves, completely, by enjoying the cinnamon churros with the caramel, chocolate and honey sauces ... delicious. This experience demands that we shall continue to return and to order the inspired Chef’s specials in future. Incidentally, one notices Edo (the owner) walking about the place and checking the reservations book. Permit me to suggest that he, occasionally, acknowledges the customers by smiling.

Bottom of the barrel

Put frankly, this place doesn't have good enough food to warrant a positive review. There are so many better places in London in this pricerange and it seems this place has become complacent in trying to improve their menu. The kitchen really struggles with putting together good flavours that work together. I'm assuming the kitchen is composed of amateurs with little experience or a head-chef that has lost his passion. It just isn't high quality. The service was fine and the atmosphere isn't too bad. However what comes on the plate leaves much to be desired.

We have been to Garlic's on a few occasions and decided to bring our guest who was visiting from England. We were not disappointed. Food was very good, service was quick and we never felt rushed when we lingered over our coffee.

That was the last time! Never going back...

We attended Garlic's for a nice night out tonight. We had received a gift certificate for the last meal we had there months ago when my fiancee's perch came out raw. We had given it a bit of a break, thought we would try it this evening- BIG mistake. Service from the get-go, under par for such a nice place. It was not even that busy for a Sunday night. We had a decent window seat and really wanted to make the most of it. The service table side was lack luster, no enthusiasm whatsoever. We ordered the fusion appetizer and that was not too bad but for $17, there was little to it. Did love the chicken empanadas on that plate. We ordered as mains the chicken supreme and the crab mushroom fettucine. The chicken - RAW. Again? My fiancee was starving and ate what he could around the pink meat but we just did not have the heart to return his dish as I would have had to return mine too. The fettucine was actually a tagliatelle, sloppily "house made" with noodles of all different widths which of course would have made the cooking process uneven. It was all overcooked. I did like the small bits of crab and the mushrooms and fresh corn inside the bowl but I would have preferred the meal to have come out cooked properly and beyond room temperature. A nice touch would be for Garlics to heat their plates for their guests especially when the room can be quite chilly. Small details go a long way. Even the butter (they make a different one each day) was dissapointing and why serve cold bread? Dessert? We just gave up at this point. So, if you like to pay a lot, get served raw food and not feel like a welcomed guest, this is the place for you! We will never come back again, there are far better eateries in London where the Chefs have heart and passion for their food and management and staff care about their customers.