Rose Garden

As winds and rain from the approaching typhoon thrash outside, I'm cozy inside, dreaming of the restaurant featured in this weeks article, sent in by reader Elizabeth De Jesus. If you're anything like me,  you'll be tempted to run out the door *right now*  for one of Rose Garden's hearty breakfasts! 

Thanks, Beth, for sharing with us this week! 

One thing my husband and I missed when we were stationed in Europe was a big, greasy American-style breakfast (think IHOP). The best we could get at a European breakfast café was some coffee and toast. Oddly enough, now that we are here in Japan, we found just the type of breakfast we have been missing at an Italian restaurant.

The breakfast at the Rose Garden was recommended to me by a friend who left the island last year. My husband, kids and I went for a Saturday brunch this weekend and it was great!

My meal came with the French Toast, scrambled eggs, seasoned potatoes and bacon. It also came with iced tea or coffee to drink, along with water. My husband got the Eggs Benedict and my kids got the bacon/sausage with scramble eggs. Everyone liked their food and we would definitely go back there for breakfast again.

Menus were in English and is more extensive than the one menu in the picture. However, the prices were a little high which took me by surprise since it was a breakfast menu. Each menu item cost about 1000 to 1200 Yen. We ordered orange juice and apple juice which was 300 Yen each not realizing the meals came with free coffee or iced tea and water. Next time, I’d just drink the iced tea or coffee with my meal and skip the juice. 

There was no kids menu but my kids could have easily shared off one plate and still not finished their food. The portions were huge! Neither my kids nor I could finish all of our food although I wanted to savor every bite. For my family of 4 we paid 5600 Yen. But this included my kids getting separate plates and all the juice orders. Next time, knowing what we know now, I think we could probably easily spend only 3500 Yen.

They bake their bread fresh every day and I did see some bakery items for sale by the register to take home and one American family sitting next to us looked liked they had ordered some kind of bakery item (a muffin? scone?) for their kids but I didn’t see anything like that on the menu. One cool thing –they serve breakfast from 8AM – 5PM! They also have a lunch and dinner menu but I can’t comment on that since we did not eat off that menu.

You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, US Dollars or Yen.

Phone: 098-932-2800

Breakfast: 0800-1700
Lunch: 1100-1700
Dinner: 1700-2400 (last order taken at 2300)

They have a website http://www.rosegardenokinawa.com/index.html for more information.

Directions: (taken from their website) From Kadena gate 2, go to 330 and turn right. Straight shot approximately 5 Km passing Awase Golf course on your left. Down the hill A&W on you left side The Rose Garden is just prior to crossing under the large Okinawa Expressway overpass. From Camp Foster exit out the Legion or PX gate turn left. Straight shot approximately 2 Km passing McDonald's on the right then coming up to the large Okinawa Expressway, The Rose Garden is on the right side. You need to go to the first light and make a U turn then back to The Rose Garden on the left.

Have I mentioned before how much I love readers writing in to share their dining experiences? If you have a favorite eatery that hasn't been covered on Okinawa Hai, please tell me about it. Share the love: toeatinokinawa@yahoo.com

Comments

[Tiffany]

My family met up with some friends here once for breakfast. The food was pricey but I've been dreaming of their scones ever since we went. They were amazing!

[Heather]

Mmmm, my family and I LOVE Rose Garden.

To add to this review, I usually get a lighter breakfast when I go: 2 eggs, 2 strips of bacon, the equivalent of Texas toast - huge pieces (or English muffin or scone for added fee), and home fries. If you can call that 'light'. I order my kids a plate of just French toast, and we all share. My husband usually orders one of the HUGE omelets that even he has trouble finishing. The coffee is the Real Deal. I normally drink decaf at home, and after one cup here I get the jitters. They also provide real heavy cream to put in it.

We tend to go for brunch, because that way it fulfills both our AM and noon meal requirements. As a warning, this place is almost always packed on weekends, so either get there early or be prepared for a wait. It's not quite as busy on weekdays, though, if that's an option for you.

Also, there's a limited amount of parking right out front of the restaurant, but if you drive to the intersection just past it, take a left and follow until you come up on a lot on your left with a sign for Rose Garden Parking. It's about a quarter mile away from the restaurant, and a little bit of a hike up a small hill.

[Alicia]

I've eaten here a couple times and I know people who eat here more than once a week. You definitely do get a huge amount of food. I love their sausage and jellies.

[Jared]

Food was decent but the service was terrible, even by Western standards.

[Cherie Rowe]

We went there for dinner and it was the worse Italian food I ever had. No Italian flavor at all. And we all got sick after eating there. It might be good for breakfast but I would not go there for dinner. If you want a great Italian meal, with homemade pasta and sauces I would go to Italiono's by Araha beach.

[JDSchroeder]

The problem I have w/this restraurant is how impersonal the waitstaff is. Especially, after they take your order, I felt that they were relieved like they don't have to deal w/you anymore. No refills unless you take your glass/coffee cup up to the main barista station. Even more so w/dinner tonight, with a waitress named Tangy. Drinks were delivered, meal was served and that was it until we paid for our meal at which she was also our cashier. Very expressionless, very impersonal. Will not return for dinner, and may not not even return at all. Rose Garden left a very negative impression on me and I know it prides itself on good service along w/great food, but have not experienced this on last two occasions.
If you are new to the island, definitely go elsewhere unless you've $40-50 to burn on a unpleasant experience.

Very disappointed from JDS in Okinawa City