Gardenia — Restaurant in Los Gatos

Discriminatory Treatment by Restaurant Staff!! 10/26th afternoon 2:30PM-3PM

I visited Gardenia with a few friends 10/26th afternoon 2:30PM-3PM, and unfortunately, we had an experience that left us feeling unwelcome and uncomfortable. While we were taking some photos in the sofa area (1st floor), a middle-aged, white male staff member in a deep red shirt approached us with a loud, sarcastic comment: “TikTok ban USA!” The tone and words he used were clearly meant to belittle us, implying that products from our country were not welcome here, and, by extension, neither were we.

This kind of discriminatory attitude from staff was shocking and extremely unprofessional. We were simply enjoying our time, and his comment had no place in a professional setting. It’s disappointing to feel singled out and treated with disrespect in what should be a friendly dining environment.

I hope the management addresses this issue to ensure every customer is treated respectfully and kindly. Discrimination has no place in the hospitality industry, and I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone until they take steps to prevent this kind of behavior.

This is Discrimination we have been suffered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And my friend was sent an email to reflect on this situation, and how Gardenia avoided responsibility for how arrogant told the customer: there is no discrimination ? ?? ?!!!! I remember clearly, this white middle-aged guy asked did: "Discrimination" plz check on camera if you guys feel such a wonderful welcome customer? ??? then public all videos when we had lunch at your restaurants. if not, means it is discrimination!!!!

So as a customer taking photos of your restaurant are there any problems, if we didn't take photos to post on social media, who would come to your restaurant? To be frank, I saw other Chinese ppl post on Xiao Hong Shu ( red: Chinese social media), that's why we came to your restaurant. So many restaurants in the Bay Area, it's not necessarily come to your restaurant!!!!! with such bad customer service.

Let me clarify: if the owner is Asian American/ Chinese American, why do we still have to hear of these white-middle age men who had discrimination, so you trying to say: that 4 customers are physio? and try to slander GARDENIA employees?? ?? ? It's true no employees asked us to stop taking photos, but also its true your employees did discriminate behavior and hurtful words!!!! This is how Gardenia business values??? ? Are you guys ever training employees to NO DISCRIMATION and welcome different backgrounds people from around the world? ? ? ? ?

Plus, due to we have two dogs, we sat outside, and we asked a white male waiter can we could visit inside, he said: YES!!!!!!. WE ARE ASKED CAN DO AND NOT CAN DO BEFORE WE ASKED RESTAURANT EMPLOYESS!!!!

So shameful how a restaurant Evading responsibility and shields employees

if we can not wait for any apologies, then I will report police and come to your restaurant this sat, If you think there is no discrimination, please provide surveillance to the police.

I was trying to be nice, until this white-middle -age men, did the second time discrimination when we went to the restroom told us: restaurant closed!!!!. We didn't reflect to the restaurant on time due to our friends had to go home, but my friends did write an email about this situation...

Got to visit Gardenia , and it was an absolutely delightful experience. Nestled in a prime location, the restaurant boasts stunning architecture that is both welcoming and elegant. The theme of the place invites you to relax, soak in the ambiance, and truly enjoy your meal.

We were fortunate to get a lovely corner table on the second floor, which offered a cozy and intimate setting. David O., our host, made our visit exceptional. His courteous and kind demeanor left a lasting impression, and he went above and beyond to ensure our comfort. When our table became a bit cramped with all our dishes, he thoughtfully brought over a side stool to help manage the overflow, sparing us the hassle of balancing plates. He also took the time to explain the menu in detail and provided fantastic recommendations. A big shoutout to David for his stellar service!

Our order at a glance:

Lobster Deviled Eggs: These were a delightful twist on the classic deviled eggs. Topped with wasabi flying fish roe, the eggs had a subtle kick that paired beautifully with the creamy filling. The touch of lime added a zesty freshness, while the micro herbs elevated the presentation and flavor. Every bite was a perfect balance of richness and brightness.

Gardenia Omelet: Crafted with organic Glaum Ranch eggs, this omelet was a masterpiece. It was filled with summer asparagus, tomato confit, Sonoma County Alba mushrooms, and boursin cheese, creating a creamy, earthy, and slightly tangy medley of flavors. The fresh, high-quality ingredients shone through, and the omelet was cooked to perfection—soft, fluffy, and incredibly satisfying.

Avocado Toast: This was anything but ordinary. The base of the dish was a perfectly toasted country boule, topped with creamy Brokaw avocado and a unique miso tapenade that added depth and umami. The cashew cream and truffle honey brought a luxurious touch, while the micro citrus and hemp seeds added texture and brightness. To top it off, the over-easy egg added richness, making it a wholesome and flavorful dish.

-Coffee: We complemented our meal with a couple of batch brew coffees, which were smooth, aromatic, and just the right pick-me-up.

To sum it up, Gardenia is more than just a restaurant—it’s an experience. The stunning ambiance, thoughtful design, and impeccable service make it a must-visit. The attention to detail in both the food and the overall experience is commendable. A big thank you to David for making our meal so memorable.

If you’re in Los Gatos and looking for a place to relax and savor exceptional food, Gardenia should be at the top of your list. We are already looking forward to...

We recently had a very nice dinner at Gardenia Los Gatos. As an appetizer, we had the charcuterie board on the Happy Hour menu. It was much more substantial than we expected—two types of cheeses, a very nice aged goat cheese and a sage cheddar, neither of which we had ever had before. Both were very good. The board also had two types of thinly sliced salamis and some prosciutto, plus grapes, raspberries, and strawberries, with a berry compote and a truffle-infused honey as condiments, along with some wafer crackers. If we had ordered a couple of other appetizers, we would have had enough for a full meal. Instead, we ate half of the charcuterie items (we eventually took home the rest) and then we each ordered the scallops risotto, which appears to be one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. It had four sea scallops on a bed of some type of exotic mushrooms, all on top of a beautifully cooked risotto, accompanied by some braised Brussels sprouts, maybe with a hint of balsamic vinegar. The scallops were cooked to perfection. Given the hearty appetizer, we both had leftovers of the main dishes to take home. For dessert, we shared a dark chocolate mousse, which was dome-shaped, with some sort of internal brûlée filling, housed under a cap of dark chocolate. We shared one mousse, but in retrospect, I would happily eat a whole one myself next time. The waiter was attentive, and to his credit, not excessively so. As a nice touch, the restaurant owner visited our table partway through dinner to ask how our meal was. We’ve more often experienced that sort of personal attention in restaurants in France and Switzerland, but not so often in the US. The restaurant was a new find for us. I think they’ve only been open since 2023. We will definitely return. P.S., we found free street parking about one block from the restaurant, which was an added bonus. Most importantly, we could carry on a quiet conversation at our table without excessive background noise. That’s a rarity in this...