Il Garage

A step into the past. Enjoy the old jazz atmosphere in Parkside’s pub before being called for your (must have) reservation at Il Garage next door. Have appetizers and a fine tuned cocktail in the lovely, low lit Parkside’s restaurant. Waltz through the banquet area and take the lantern-​lit walk to Il Garage. Upon entering the hedged area, I’m certain you will enjoy the gardens outside of the open garage. This is where true Italian food lives in the U. S! They use their «home grown» vegetables and herbs in their well-​thought out meals with a twist. Some of the best dining in Southern California. Don’t let their «Stanton» address keep you away. Once you step inside, it is a whole new world.

Have been going here for a few years now. Love the atmosphere, but the prices are getting to be a bit unreasonable ($ 15 for a glass of wine). Another person in my party ordered a scotch and water — it was the smallest drink I have ever seen (can’t recall the price). Also, my $ 28 chicken dinner was supposed to come with fresh veggies from the garden — it did not — i had to ask and then they were brought to me. Hesitant to return in the future because there are many options with just as good food and atmosphere at a more reasonable price.

I made a reservation a month and a half ago to celebrate Father’s day. Today I received a call 3 hours before my reservation time informing me that they had to cancel my reservation due to a large party booking the full garage. Very disappointing and very unprofessional.

It really is in a garage! Located at the back of Park Avenue restaurant sits Il Garage. After you try to find parking or valet, you must walk through Park Avenue and past a lovely garden to get to the garage. This was the perfect setting for our Secret Santa/​Alphabet dinner.
Il Garage is very intimate and the lighting is very dim. I had to pull out my phones flashlight to read the menu clearly. My plus one and I ordered the following:
Meatballs — a tomato basil sauce with carmelized onions. They were fantastic. These are the kind of meatballs you would want in a meatball sandwich. Oh man the sauce and tenderness of the balls were great!
For my main, I got a pasta dish with greens and cauliflower. It was light and refreshing. I really loved the freshness of the ingredients.
My plus one ordered the Lasagna al Forno. It had Beef Bolognaise, Grana Padano, and Bechamel. It was absolutely delicious and filling.
Since it wasn’t on the menu, we pressed our waiter to ask the staff if the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake was available. Luckily they still had some! Served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, the cake was a great way for us to end the night.

To not be writing a 5-​star review for Il Garage saddens me.
Ever since having eaten at Park Ave. one evening and taking a quick tour of next door’s Il Garage, I’d planned on coming. Because at night, amidst their outdoor vegetable garden, the red and white checkered tablecloths, and the sparkling lights, it just looked so peaceful, so romantic. Months and months, and even more months and months, had flown by until I had finally called for a reservation, one for two on Valentine’s Day. Il Garage, I thought, was going to be perfect!
(I think you know where this is going.)
I’d called over a month in advance for my reservation; even the host seemed a little surprised that I was calling so early. Anyway – and, look, I’m sure I could have easily asked for another table instead of the one we were taken to – but, anyway, our table for two was the one on the far right side, the one sitting back in the corner. I took the seat facing the wall, no view of what was so romantically appealing in the first place. (But complaining and asking for another table would have meant waiting.) Other parties of two were seated in four-​person tables, both guests afforded wonderful views. Mine, however – ours, really – left much to be desired.
Because, you see, Garage’s menu is really nothing more than what you would order inside the main restaurant, Park Ave., except that it’s focus is Italian. From the Valentine’s Day special menu, we’d ordered the Swedish Meatballs ($ 14.00), the Linguini ($ 24.00), and the White Fish ($ 38.00). We’d also tried a couple specialty drinks: a Mojito ($ 12.00) and the Dolce Vita ($ 12.00). And while I’m sure much of my poor response stems from the fact that we had the worst seat in the house, both of us weren’t as impressed as we would have liked to have been, especially me, the Unilocaler.
But that’s life, you know? When you set high standards and have high expectations for people – and even restaurants, in this case – and they aren’t met, you feel let down, disappointed. And so we were. And so it is.

The food was so fresh. I started with the Crispy Greens Salad. They like flash fry to the greens, which are like Chard and Spinach. It’s dusted with some kind of cheese on top. They also add a lemon on the side. I used it as my dressing. The acidity made this dish come together so well.
The Lasagna was the best I’ve ever had. They bake it to perfection. With just the right amount of crispness on top. I will be back. The ambiance is everything. The food is everything. Make it a special occasion, because this place is special.

What a unique restaurant! They have a herb garden where they grow some of their own produce. And its setup so you get a evening view of the garden, the sky, and that’s it. Very private for being right on beach blvd. I had driven by this place many times and Unilocal finally got us to come and try it out. Not a huge menu but everything we tried was amazing. Really good place to come with a date. We walked around the courtyard and garden before and after the dinner, there isn’t too many places where you can do that without it being loud or busy.
Don’t confuse Park Ave for garage when you come in. They are located more towards the front and are more of a fancy indoor steakhouse. Next special event we will be back.

The ambiance is fantastic, but the food was not that great! We had the pasta primavera and it was a bit too dry. My husband had the bone in rib eye and he loved it! But, I would go there more for the ambiance that I would for the food!

Was really surprised to find this place out in Stanton Its a converted garage but on park like grounds. You sit inside with a view of a great vegetable garden, I assume they use these in the preparation of their dishes. We ordered several sides and two pasta entrée’s.
First salad was a Caesar salad, 2^nd beet and goat cheese. Both tasted good but nothing special. We also ordered the pasta with seafood and a lasagna dish. Both dishes where good again but nothing special.

Had reservations for park ave but ended up being seated here. Whereas park ave feels a little stuffy & dated il garage is beautiful amidst the garden. Food was good unfortunately our service was lacking… the BF & I don’t like too much attention when we eat out & don’t mind being left alone but when he wants butter you better get us butter! When we asked about the special GERARDO stated they had no specials (um what about the fish of the day???) no butter & how many times do I have to ask for the crushed peppers!!!
In the end food was still good (sans butter & peppers) but I do expect more from an establishment like this.

To continue on with out alphabet dinner, Il Garage was the pick for *I*. I wasn’t quite sure that I was going to be able to join my friends because I knew it was going to be a super busy day for me, but the stars aligned and I was able to join them for dinner.
Il Garage is literally the «garage» of Park Ave. It’s very cute. You check in inside Park Ave, and they walk you outside past the garden and into the ‘garage’ which totally has the garage doors and everything. There isn’t a ton of seating inside, so reservations are highly recommended.
As we walked by all the seated patrons at Park Ave, we all commented that maybe we need to come back for *P* to Park Ave. Looks like a really good steak house.
Il Garage is italian food, so it is definitely different from Park Ave which is a bonafide steak house.
I split a burrata with Trina, which was just perfect. We did wish they provided more toast than the few small pieces they put around the place, but we just started using the bread at the table. Then picked Lasagna for myself. The focaccia bread was a bit dry, but the regular french bread they provided was just fine. Two got the special of lamb chops which was quite a portion. Another pair decided they were going to get a bunch of different appetizers so that they could try a bunch of small bites.
Chocolate olive oil cake on the board inside the garage as a listed dessert but the server told us that they probably didn’t have any since they weren’t really serving that anymore but that he would check. Luckily they had some so we got two slices for the whole table of 8. It was very moist and worth the purchase.
Parking is pretty bad at this location. They do offer valet though.

For «I», our group decided on Il Garage. Yes, I know, «il» doesn’t really count but we went with it. I called in advance to make a reservation for 9 people and the hostess asked if I wanted to dine in the Garage or Park Ave. I inquired what the difference was and was informed that Park Ave is more a steakhouse and the Garage is more Italian. Well that’s perfect for «I», right?
Upon arrival, we checked in with the hostess and weren’t seated until our entire party arrived which was fine because they walk you through Park Ave through the garden to the Garage. So it’s best to make sure your party is prompt!
The Garage is dimly lit but is suitable for groups because it literally is dining in a converted garage. They have a clear tarp/​curtain to keep the cool air out and heat lamps. We requested the heat lamp by our table to be turned on. It took them about 15 minutes to do this and we had to ask a few times.
The menu is simple but they offer daily specials as well. Grace and I shared the burrata appetizer which was all sorts of perfect. It came with lightly dressed arugula, blistered tomatoes, grilled crustini, and soft burrata mozzarella. For my entrée, I went with one of the specials: grilled lamb chops with spaghetti squash and roasted potatoes ($ 40). The lamb chops are grilled to order and I asked for medium. They were perfect and the spaghetti squash added an unexpected sweetness to the dish as well. I thoroughly enjoyed my entrée. I also ordered the limoncello mojito ($ 12) which was not only refreshing and light, it also complemented my meal nicely. I did try Grace’s lasagna ($ 19) and it was really tasty.
For dessert, we shared the chocolate olive oil cake that was written on the chalkboard. Our server wasn’t sure if the chalkboard was correct so he had to check with the kitchen if it was still available. Upon hearing the other dessert choices, we were set on the cake, which they did in fact have. We had two slices to share ($ 10/​ea). We also did a secret Santa gift exchange which was really fun too. Despite the minor mishaps, we did have a great evening. Happy holidays, everyone!

After being married on this property, the wife and I come here often. I love the lasagna from the il garage and whenever I get an email that it is on the menu, I am tempted to stop in. I had the email special of salad, lasagna and cannoli. Jessica had linguini with shrimp which was delicious. The service here is amazing and the managerial staff makes you feel known. The bar is also a great attraction inside the Park Ave location. Great garden and grounds.

Omg what a terrible place haha. It’s hilarious how terrible this place is.
To be very clear, this place is geared towards the 62+ crowd. If you’re not looking for bland food, a waiter to read EVERY SINGLE THING off the menu, and conservative conversation borderlining on racist every other sentence… then this is NOT the place for you.
The décor, is pretty, but don’t be fooled… this is not an ironic hipster garage restaurant. There’s nothing ironic about it. This place is like a literal garage restaurant.

This place is located inside Park Ave. You go into Park Ave. and they lead you outside to Il Garage. You’ll pass a garden area decorated with lanterns and trees surrounded bistro lights to get to the restaurant. Very romantic. The restaurant itself is small, intimate and quaint. It’s literally in a garage overlooking their garden, which is where they get their fresh ingredients from.
Started off with their bread basket. Their garlic bread was soo good. We also ordered their meatballs and prosciutto as appetizers. The meatballs were delicious, but could have definitely been hotter. I had the seared ahi tuna with risotto and the two tasted great together. The risotto was cooked just right. My friend had one of their pastas (can’t remember the name) and it was a little bland in my opinion. However, the overall experience and ambience was pleasing. I would try again.

This place is awesome! Ideal location for a date/​intimate dinner. My boyfriend took me here for a surprise birthday dinner and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I was so shocked to even discover this hidden gem in such a random area.
We initially walked into the other larger restaurant «Park Ave» which is a fancy retro 60s themed restaurant run by the same owners. We were then kindly walked around the restaurant through the scenic garden to the cozy, candle lit Il Garage. The restaurant is actually inside of a garage (where they get name apparently) and overlooks a small but plentiful garden (nice photo opportunity!) where they pick some of the fruits and vegetables used in their menu. Looking at the menu we were some what surprised to see the prices not as high as we expected, which is good! We ordered a seafood pasta, ravioli, a meat and cheese dish (which I highly recommend getting) And delicious tiramisu to finish off our meal.
Overall this was a fantastic restaurant and a great overall experience. I highly recommend Il Garage!

Il Garage is a very quaint and unique setting. Located in the back of Park Avenue restaurant right on Beach Blvd, you would never guess it was there. You don’t notice that you’re next to a busy street or even behind another restaurant, but feel like you are in a private garden oasis. The tables are literally inside a converted garage. You look out upon a garden of flowers and vegetables. Feel free to wander around the garden and observe the crops you will soon be indulging in.
This is a great date night spot because it is slightly secluded, intimate, and the ambiance is dim. I actually brought my mom here as her birthday gift because I wanted to treat her to a special meal. The menu is Italian, and changes frequently based on which veggies are available in the garden. It is noted on the menu which dishes contain garden ingredients. We started with the Portobello Mushroom. This dish was incredible! We loved the rich and meaty portobello, topped with creamy cheese and lightly-​dressed, fresh greens. It was a perfect start to the meal and didn’t fill us up too much. We both chose the same entrée, the Parpadelle al Vongole. This dish consisted of perfectly portioned thick parpadelle pasta noodles, an abundance of clams, a light white wine sauce, thick cut pancetta and wilted leeks from the garden. Perfection.
Our waiter was gracious, and although he often disappeared for long periods we were never lacking anything. We each chose a glass of wine to accompany our meal and he was knowledgable about each of the wines we asked about. I would love to come back the next time they change the menu and I want to treat myself. Walking around the garden made the experience terrifically special.

If your guy hasn’t taken you here, then he clearly doesn’t love you, and he’s probably cheating on you with someone from work.
Hands down, Il Garage is the CUTEST RESTAURANT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. Or at a minimum, in OC. It is the antithesis of every over-​manufactured and pretentious restaurant out there. It’s charming, intimate, original, full of personality, and almost as adorable as my puppy Ginjer C.
A find like this reminds me of why I started using Unilocal.While some are using it to troll for attention and many others are on here desperately creeping on any female that’s of legal age, I’m just over here looking for the next great spot to eat at. I had actually gotten a sneak peak of Il Garage a couple years ago when dining at Park Ave (the restaurant, not the street), but it was through Unilocal that I came to realize what I had stumbled upon.
Il Garage is basically a converted dining area through a secret garden behind Park Ave, similar to how a restaurant or hotel may have a speakeasy. Except here, if you look down you’ll notice that the ground really is a garage floor (mostly covered by rugs) and if you look up, you can see the garage door is open.
They serve Italian and the menu changes daily in order to ensure freshness and utilization of their resources, as some of the items are literally taken from their garden. To take advantage of that, order something like the crispy greens or the squash blossoms. If you’re looking for pasta, I’d recommend going for the pasta a la vodka. If you’re seeking meat, then you can’t go wrong with Chicken Parmesan, although they also offer things like fish and pork chops. Despite the $$$ classification on Unilocal,most entrees are priced reasonably.
KEY TIPS:
–only open at night
–setting is dim (so it can be hard to snap quality food porn pics)
–reservations by phone (not online)
–show up at the front at Park Ave to get seated
No visit to Il Garage would be complete without a post-​dinner stroll through the garden. It’s probably even better than a «long walk on the beach.»

Wow, what a fun find! We kept trying to find the entrance to Il Garage, walking around the front side, back side. We didn’t realize we were to enter through the Park Avenue doors, where the host escorts you to Il Garage.
What a different atmosphere from Park Avenue. We enjoyed the peacefulness, being among the first seated for the evening. The heaters did a good job keeping us warm during our cold, winter dinner. Service was great: friendly and comfortably attentive; the bussers were diligent in clearing plates and refilling our water glasses.
The complimentary basket of warm, soft breads with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar made for a nice start. The Burrata appetizer was very tasty; the Bistecca was amazingly tender and flavorful; and the Pappardelle was nice, too, but not as impressive. The excessively high-​priced ($ 35 over cost of our wine choice) bottles of wines was our only disappointment; regretfully, they don’t allow people to bring in their own wines. Other than that, great evening and fun experience. Casual elegance.

Il Garage is very special to me.
Hidden behind another restaurant, you can find Il Garage embedded within a garden of what reminded me of one of my favourite films, The Secret Garden. Country side, organic gardens, intimate ambiance, and exclusive, I fell in love instantly.
Romantic is the appropriate word to describe Il Garage; dim lights made our dining experience more than just intimate, but personable. This truly meant significantly for me as I indulge in anything that allows me to embrace the most absolute trait about another human being, and quite possibly their most private trait ever. At Il Garage, it was the most perfect opportunity to learn more about my date on a more personal and intimate level.
I don’t know if it was by luck or my date arranged our table viewing the garden, but it was probably one of the most prettiest dining views I had. Little white Christmas lights wrapped around the walls that improvised a romantic and subtle experience. Here is one of my favourite qualities about the restaurant; their menu changes every few days, AND they use fresh vegetables straight from the garden! How charming is that?
Looking at the menu they indicate which items came from the garden and which ones did not. We started with the squash blossoms, and yes they came from the garden, oh was I in heaven! They were little butternut squash that were tempera battered just too cute to even eat! But anything stuffed with cheese usually gets consumed immediately by me. This was an excellent choice. As per my main dish I had the Penne di tomati; although none of the ingredients came from the garden for this one, what stood out to me was the eggplant and various vegetables along with it. For someone who doesn’t like tomato sauce, the ingredients used was surprisingly really light that focused on chopped light tomatoes than a thick paste. My date had the pollo di parmigiano, but I couldn’t stop having his for the delicious, buttery, cheesy grits that came along with it. In fact, I possibly could have had that alone instead.
Service was attentive and I really liked how our waitress checked up on us frequently. She didn’t interupt our evening when she checked on our table, and I really appreciated that gesture as she was aware this was a special evening for me.
At the end of dinner it seemed appropriate to tour the gardens so we absorbed the living vegetables that were harvesting in their little beds of earth. It was cute, quaint, and exactly what I loved. Although I have to mention, If you’re the queen in walking in 5 inch heels, maybe you will be able to make your way to the hidden restaurant with ease, but for those who are not, be aware that you will be walking on little rocks that may sink your stilletos.
Il Garage is May not be first date appropriate, but wear your finest dress and heels, and let the night sway you away into the little garden of happiness. My date clearly read me well enough to pick such a fantastic spot for our first little evening Xn