Secret Garden Restaurant

 

0

4

Eliz R.

Beverly Hills, CA

If you check the restaurant's site, the positive reviews are from 2002 and 2003. I haven't eaten here in a couple of years, but remember the food was OK, not great,  but overpriced. We liked our server, but the service was slow.  There were two of us, and for  a shared appetizer, an entree for each of us, and a shared dessert, we were there more than 2 1/2 hours, which seemed like a long time. The chef did come out to speak with everyone, and was charming, but when I go out for dinner, I want really good food. We didn't find that here. After seeing the TV show, and seeing the health inspections, I will not be back.

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0

1

Mel V.

Sherman Oaks, CA

I was actually married at this restaurant (in the garden in the back) in 2006. While it was a beautiful day, it will forever be tainted by the fact that Michel allowed himself to be embarrassed on national television.  My friends all called me the night that the episode of Kitchen Nightmares aired. I was horrified.  

Leading up to our wedding and dinner that evening, Michel was as helpful as could be. The day of he disappeared and left me with rude servers who only cared about their timetable and not about my experience. I was a server for seven years. I understand what it's like to work in food service. But a place that caters to special events, including weddings, should know better.  

Michel told us we would receive a discount if we came back for our one year anniversary.  We did come back to celebrate our first wedding anniversary at the restaurant.  It was the worst experience I've ever had.  We told our server (who was also featured on that episode) that we had been married in the garden one year ago that day.  She just looked at us and said, "ok" and walked away. Not one person wished us a happy anniversary or acknowledged why we chose to spend that night in that restaurant.  We also received no discount.

The service is wretched.  Rude, slow servers that bicker with each other in front of guests.  The food is never served hot and on our anniversary we waited over an hour for our food to arrive at our table, after ordering.  

Very very disappointing.  It was a few months after our one year anniversary that the episode of Kitchen Nightmares aired.  We've never been back and we never will go back.  I don't suggest having special occasions there, as you will be a laughing stock.  No one will let you forget that your special day was featured as one of the worst restaurants/chefs that Gordon Ramsey has yet to work with.

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Elite '08

224

397

Lilani E.

Los Angeles, CA

Michel is really NICE and charming.  Yes, he's French.  Yes, he's jokes around about being stubborn in his ways.  It is far from what was portrayed on "Kitchen Nightmares" and ended up being a very romantic and lovely evening and the Secret Garden in Moorpark.

Like very many out there, Kieran and I watched the season finale of KM (Kitchen Nightmares) and were really entertained to see a place in Moorpark featured.  "Dirty pig" and being a "stubborn French chef" is what Ramsey slammed on Michel the owner and chef.

When we got there, from the get go, the entrance was perfect for a rainy night, right along the parking lot, while on the show that is what Ramsey had difficulties with...walking around the building finding "locked door" after locked door before finding an entrance.  It's all sadly very dramatized which I am kind of sad to find out because I am an avid viewer and will continue to watch, I just will take it all with a grain of salt.

Michel and one other server worked the dining room.  He went around to all 6 tables and introduced himself and conversed with us.  We told him that we saw the show and he invited us to come in either Wednesday or Thursday for dinner and a viewing of the show, while he gives behind the scenes comments.

He was very nice, and to some it may seem like he's just "covering" his a *s after the show aired, but I really truly believe he is not only a great chef but a very good restaurateur and host.  

A lot of the clientele didn't even know what the show was.

On to the the important stuff.  Michel has both his old menu and an insert for Ramsey's new and updated menu.  

We chose to order from Michel's 'cafe menu'  for 2 reasons, 1) it had better selections and 2) a 3 course meal for 2 with a bottle of wine was only $35 a person.

COURSE 1:
Soup de jour - Spicy Tomato Bisque
Salad - Caesar

Very, very good!  The tomato bisque was very filling and tasted very good.  The bowl was deceivingly deep.

COURSE 2:
Poached prawns with mashed potatoes cooked in a white wine sauce - which was EXCELLENT.  The carrots were perfectly cooked, while the prawns tasted pretty much like lobster.  They were HUGE and the mashed potatoes were excellent.

Skirt Steak entree - Michel communicated that they ran out of skirt but he had ribeye...which in my opinion is better anyways.  Kieran loved his entree and also enjoyed the mashed potatoes as well.  

COURSE 3:
Our server was on top of her game - she came by and offered us coffee just in time for our desserts.

Apricot Bread Pudding - Absolutely one of the best desserts I've ever had.  I don't usually do dessert, but this one was perfect, not too sweet, not too rich, but very flavorful.

Chocolate Molten Cake - Kieran enjoyed this, and I thought the bite I took was really good but I wouldn't order it because I don't like my desserts so rich.

Our dinner took about 2 hours, and never did we feel like we were waiting on the food or service.

I am really glad we went and we might be returning on Thursday to hear more about the behind the scenes.  

Some things he did share with us:  1)  Devon the sous chef was only brought in to film the show with them 2)  When Ramsey and Michel are screaming at each other and all the customers are looking in- the argument actually took place on a Saturday MORNING while there were no patrons in the dining room at all

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21

132

Jennifer W.

Camarillo, CA

I've eaten here twice for lunch on the patio, and I was not impressed with the food. The bread was tough, the salad was warm, and service was slow.

But after seeing it on Kitchen Nightmares tonight, I'll probably give it another try.

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Elite '08

411

834

Lolia S.

San Francisco, CA

Cool, it was on Kitchen Nightmares...I'm surprised that no one has ever reviewed it on Yelp.  I'll check it out the next time I'm in Moorpark.  Poor Gordon has to deal with some tough cases.

I will say that when the chef mentioned being named the top chef of Ventura County, I was not that surprised.  I've not had a truly outstanding meal in Ventura County, with the exception of one restaurant that no longer exists.  I've heard good things about some restaurants in Ojai (my in laws really like Suzanne's in Ojai) and I have to believe that Thousand Oaks has some better options.

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33

215

christina b.

Los Angeles, CA

i went here for my graduation and thought it had a nice, intimate atmosphere. its pretty romantic, but i was with my family... anyway, the salmon was very good. because of the occasion, for dessert, they presented me with some tiny french treat on a huge plate. it looked like a ritz cracker with chocolate sauce drizzled extravagantly over it. but, hey, it was free. the service was not that impressive, but not horrible either. oh, the chef came out to see how we were enjoying the meal and was delightfully french.

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