I had high hopes based on the glowing reviews.The person who took the reservation asked if we had dietary restrictions. I said no, but I highly dislike cilantro. He said that wouldn't be a problem at all. When the 2nd course was brought up, guess what was on top... cilantro. I mentioned this to Helen, the server. I asked if any other dishes would include cilantro. She said she didn't think so, but would check. The chef came over, said he didn't get the note about cilantro, and apologized. Sure enough, the next course included cilantro, but at least my dish didn't have any. A restaurant need not ask about dietary restrictions, but why bother to check if that doesn't get communicated.The service was mediocre at best. Previous reviews mentioned gracious hospitality. Our server merely placed the food on our table, explained what it was, and cleared our plates. No one once asked how the food was. And it wasn't because they were busy. There was plenty of time to chat with patrons who seemed like regulars or friends. When my husband asked what beers they had, she pointed to the beers across the room and brought over only 2 of them to show us. They probably carried at most 5 or 6 beers, not that hard to remember and rattle off the list. And to boot, my husband wasn't asked if he wanted another beer. The food was also mediocre. On the salty side.We also would've had a hard time finding this place had I not read reviews about its location. Why not tell me when I'm making the reservation? And the open kitchen and closed door meant we walked out smelling like food. We love supporting local, small businesses and really wanted to like this place, but it was a disappointing experience overall.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Bob Dutcher
Love this place. The chef’s menu is very unique and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle Huang
Had a delightful Friday night indulging in fine dining with my family. The venue was cozy and pleasantly uncrowded, with excellent service. The set menu provided a worry-free experience, and I particularly enjoyed the tasty scallops and fusion flavors of the cauliflowers. Despite not being a fan of chocolate cake, I was pleasantly surprised by its deliciousness!
Chef was incredibly nice. Food was cooked with care. What a cute little restaurant hidden in Saratoga!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Brady
Awesome Chef Brad Turley who creates Spectacular Dishes!Also knows his wine pairings !A must try !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celeste W.
We enjoyed GOGA. Excellent service and each course was delicious. The price fixe dinner was reasonably priced.
Geoffrey L.
If you can find it, prepare yourself for a meal where you savor every bite. My favorite spot - BY FAR.
Lauren Farrell
We’ve been here twice now and the food/wine is phenomenal! The chef and his wife are lovely hosts and make you instantly feel welcomed when you walk in. The space is intimate and laid back with an open kitchen so you can see and talk with Chef Turley. On both occasions, we had the pre fixe dinner menu. All courses were beautifully presented and meats (we’ve had scallop, duck, sea bass and veal across both nights) were perfectly cooked. We were impressed with the chef’s execution and can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elena C.
I'm torn writing this review because I want every new business to succeed. Times are tough for many people, so a place that charges $80+ per person for dinner must be special and memorable. Both my husband and I agreed that for us, it was just an ok experience. Reservations (4.5/5): There is no website, no Yelp or OpenTable reservations option. I learned that you must call to book a reservation from a fellow Yelper. My call was promptly answered, and making a reservation was easy. Since the menu frequently changes and isn't posted anywhere, I asked about the chef's menu to make sure this is what we wanted. While the ingredients seemed less exciting than other items I saw online, we decided to go because we could always fall back on the a la carte menu (or so we thought). Finding the restaurant was an adventure. While there is a sign off the main street pointing to an alley that takes you to a parking lot in the back, there are no signs that tell you whether to go left or right. So we had to walk around a bit to find it. Tip: Go into the alley, turn left and the restaurant is next to Art Students' Atelier. Ambiance (3/5): The restaurant is small, with minimalistic decor. There's an open kitchen that can be seen from every table, which I liked. The wooden chairs have no cushion, which makes it quite uncomfortable to sit on them after a while. The napkins are essential paper napkins from Target. They played some background music, which was very nice. Service (2.5/5): There are no hosts or servers, just the chef and sous chef. This wouldn't have been an issue, but the only time when we actually got service was when we entered and were welcomed and when we were leaving. Some other instances left a bad taste in my mouth... -I asked about the a la carte menu and was told this wasn't an option and that they were only doing a chef's menu that night. However, a woman who stopped by for takeout got soup (not on the tasting menu; she seemed to know the owner), and the table of older patrons did receive an a la carte menu after they requested it. Not cool! -We didn't receive any special cutlery for our main course (meat) and assumed they didn't have any special knives. The table next to us was served steak knives. We couldn't even ask for a knife because they never stopped by to check on us while we ate. Only to drop off the food and clear it when the plates were empty. -Our menus were taken away, and no explanation was provided as each dish was served. It would have been nice to hear what we were about to consume. Food (3.5/5): Their ingredients are very fresh, and most items were perfectly cooked. But their dishes needed to be more consistent. -Blackened Tuna Tataki (5/5): Wow, this dish was sublime. The tuna was super fresh. The miso mustard sauce was nose-tingling delicious. My husband and I loved every single bite and wanted more. -Cesar salad (3.5/5): The fresh and crips romaine and crunchy croutons were delightful. I love dressing, but there was way too much of it. The acidity was so overpowering that I couldn't even taste the capers (which is good because I don't like them). -Surf and Turf (3/5): The butter-poached king crab piece was solid, and the mushroom demi-glace was phenomenal. We had expected beef (bone-in striploin), but after our first bite, we thought it tasted like lamb. The meat was very tough and didn't taste right. Both of our meats were overcooked. We didn't finish those. -Chocolate cake (4/5): It was a well-prepared chocolate cake, and the vanilla cream and fruits elevated it. The bottom line is this: Between the lack of service and the so-so food, I doubt this will become a regular spot for us. But if you're willing to take a risk and money is not an issue, give this place a try. It seems that they already have some regulars, so we wish them the best of luck.
Shawn R.
Food was outstanding but the chef and overall intimate experience was top notch. Black Cod and wagyu dishes were amazing! Will definitely be back soon.
We tried Goga for the first time a few weeks ago and ordered the Prix fixe menu. I spoke with the Chef a day or two before our reservation as we wanted to substitute the lamb for beef. Chef was able to accommodate and the beef was so delicious; in fact, the entire meal was wonderful. Pacing was relaxed. There is also a small bar area in front of the kitchen. Low key casual ambience, terrific food - great addition to Saratoga. We will be trying brunch next.
Ellen R.
Great food, the prefix menu is perfect. Friendly people and want to go again soon. First time we went there we had the prefix menu and everything was cooked perfectly. Second time we went we ordered off the bar menu because we wanted to try different things. The poke is perfect and enough for two people.
Donna H.
GOGA deserves five stars! The food was excellent and the chef made sure to explain all the dishes to us. By contacting ahead of time, I was able to have a wonderful gluten free dinner. A first that a restaurant could offer me such a delicious meal that I could eat without worrying about my celiac disease. Many thanks to the chef. I hope more people find your restaurant. Much success in the coming year.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Traci S.
GOGA, created by Brad Turley is one of the most incredible dining experiences in town. Every single item on the menu is more delicious than the next. From the ahi tuna to the cod to the burger, you can't choose wrong.
Marjorie D.
Each visit to Goga (most recently to celebrate a birthday) is better than the last. I can't believe this place remains a secret and while I love knowing it along with a few other select, lucky diners, I wish more people knew about this incredible gem in downtown Saratoga. It's a secret delight, full of astounding food and service. The back alley entrance is reminiscent of all the best, cool, "in-the-know" type of restaurants. Chef Brad and his wife and partner Helen make up a tremendous team who deliver a spectacular meal and experience each time. The vibe is as comfortable as the food is spectacular. For this birthday dinner Chef Brad supplemented our meal with delicious off the menu (hopefully soon to be on the menu) tastes of a incredible white truffle oil infused mushroom soup and a surprise chocolate cake for dessert. His combination of flavors and foods always, always delight. Goga deserves to delight more people so I'm telling this secret: it is not only one of the best new restaurants in downtown Saratoga, it's one of the best new restaurants on the Peninsula. Be one of the lucky ones, go and enjoy. (My picture is of the dinner menu, which changes weekly. The bar and brunch menu are consistent and also consistently delicious!).
I had high hopes based on the glowing reviews.The person who took the reservation asked if we had dietary restrictions. I said no, but I highly dislike cilantro. He said that wouldn't be a problem at all. When the 2nd course was brought up, guess what was on top... cilantro. I mentioned this to Helen, the server. I asked if any other dishes would include cilantro. She said she didn't think so, but would check. The chef came over, said he didn't get the note about cilantro, and apologized. Sure enough, the next course included cilantro, but at least my dish didn't have any. A restaurant need not ask about dietary restrictions, but why bother to check if that doesn't get communicated.The service was mediocre at best. Previous reviews mentioned gracious hospitality. Our server merely placed the food on our table, explained what it was, and cleared our plates. No one once asked how the food was. And it wasn't because they were busy. There was plenty of time to chat with patrons who seemed like regulars or friends. When my husband asked what beers they had, she pointed to the beers across the room and brought over only 2 of them to show us. They probably carried at most 5 or 6 beers, not that hard to remember and rattle off the list. And to boot, my husband wasn't asked if he wanted another beer. The food was also mediocre. On the salty side.We also would've had a hard time finding this place had I not read reviews about its location. Why not tell me when I'm making the reservation? And the open kitchen and closed door meant we walked out smelling like food. We love supporting local, small businesses and really wanted to like this place, but it was a disappointing experience overall.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Love this place. The chef’s menu is very unique and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a delightful Friday night indulging in fine dining with my family. The venue was cozy and pleasantly uncrowded, with excellent service. The set menu provided a worry-free experience, and I particularly enjoyed the tasty scallops and fusion flavors of the cauliflowers. Despite not being a fan of chocolate cake, I was pleasantly surprised by its deliciousness!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homemade Chocolate Cake, Seared Hokkaido Scallop
Chef was incredibly nice. Food was cooked with care. What a cute little restaurant hidden in Saratoga!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome Chef Brad Turley who creates Spectacular Dishes!Also knows his wine pairings !A must try !!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoyed GOGA. Excellent service and each course was delicious. The price fixe dinner was reasonably priced.
If you can find it, prepare yourself for a meal where you savor every bite. My favorite spot - BY FAR.
We’ve been here twice now and the food/wine is phenomenal! The chef and his wife are lovely hosts and make you instantly feel welcomed when you walk in. The space is intimate and laid back with an open kitchen so you can see and talk with Chef Turley. On both occasions, we had the pre fixe dinner menu. All courses were beautifully presented and meats (we’ve had scallop, duck, sea bass and veal across both nights) were perfectly cooked. We were impressed with the chef’s execution and can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I'm torn writing this review because I want every new business to succeed. Times are tough for many people, so a place that charges $80+ per person for dinner must be special and memorable. Both my husband and I agreed that for us, it was just an ok experience. Reservations (4.5/5): There is no website, no Yelp or OpenTable reservations option. I learned that you must call to book a reservation from a fellow Yelper. My call was promptly answered, and making a reservation was easy. Since the menu frequently changes and isn't posted anywhere, I asked about the chef's menu to make sure this is what we wanted. While the ingredients seemed less exciting than other items I saw online, we decided to go because we could always fall back on the a la carte menu (or so we thought). Finding the restaurant was an adventure. While there is a sign off the main street pointing to an alley that takes you to a parking lot in the back, there are no signs that tell you whether to go left or right. So we had to walk around a bit to find it. Tip: Go into the alley, turn left and the restaurant is next to Art Students' Atelier. Ambiance (3/5): The restaurant is small, with minimalistic decor. There's an open kitchen that can be seen from every table, which I liked. The wooden chairs have no cushion, which makes it quite uncomfortable to sit on them after a while. The napkins are essential paper napkins from Target. They played some background music, which was very nice. Service (2.5/5): There are no hosts or servers, just the chef and sous chef. This wouldn't have been an issue, but the only time when we actually got service was when we entered and were welcomed and when we were leaving. Some other instances left a bad taste in my mouth... -I asked about the a la carte menu and was told this wasn't an option and that they were only doing a chef's menu that night. However, a woman who stopped by for takeout got soup (not on the tasting menu; she seemed to know the owner), and the table of older patrons did receive an a la carte menu after they requested it. Not cool! -We didn't receive any special cutlery for our main course (meat) and assumed they didn't have any special knives. The table next to us was served steak knives. We couldn't even ask for a knife because they never stopped by to check on us while we ate. Only to drop off the food and clear it when the plates were empty. -Our menus were taken away, and no explanation was provided as each dish was served. It would have been nice to hear what we were about to consume. Food (3.5/5): Their ingredients are very fresh, and most items were perfectly cooked. But their dishes needed to be more consistent. -Blackened Tuna Tataki (5/5): Wow, this dish was sublime. The tuna was super fresh. The miso mustard sauce was nose-tingling delicious. My husband and I loved every single bite and wanted more. -Cesar salad (3.5/5): The fresh and crips romaine and crunchy croutons were delightful. I love dressing, but there was way too much of it. The acidity was so overpowering that I couldn't even taste the capers (which is good because I don't like them). -Surf and Turf (3/5): The butter-poached king crab piece was solid, and the mushroom demi-glace was phenomenal. We had expected beef (bone-in striploin), but after our first bite, we thought it tasted like lamb. The meat was very tough and didn't taste right. Both of our meats were overcooked. We didn't finish those. -Chocolate cake (4/5): It was a well-prepared chocolate cake, and the vanilla cream and fruits elevated it. The bottom line is this: Between the lack of service and the so-so food, I doubt this will become a regular spot for us. But if you're willing to take a risk and money is not an issue, give this place a try. It seems that they already have some regulars, so we wish them the best of luck.
Food was outstanding but the chef and overall intimate experience was top notch. Black Cod and wagyu dishes were amazing! Will definitely be back soon.
Restaurantji Recommends
We tried Goga for the first time a few weeks ago and ordered the Prix fixe menu. I spoke with the Chef a day or two before our reservation as we wanted to substitute the lamb for beef. Chef was able to accommodate and the beef was so delicious; in fact, the entire meal was wonderful. Pacing was relaxed. There is also a small bar area in front of the kitchen. Low key casual ambience, terrific food - great addition to Saratoga. We will be trying brunch next.
Great food, the prefix menu is perfect. Friendly people and want to go again soon. First time we went there we had the prefix menu and everything was cooked perfectly. Second time we went we ordered off the bar menu because we wanted to try different things. The poke is perfect and enough for two people.
GOGA deserves five stars! The food was excellent and the chef made sure to explain all the dishes to us. By contacting ahead of time, I was able to have a wonderful gluten free dinner. A first that a restaurant could offer me such a delicious meal that I could eat without worrying about my celiac disease. Many thanks to the chef. I hope more people find your restaurant. Much success in the coming year.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
GOGA, created by Brad Turley is one of the most incredible dining experiences in town. Every single item on the menu is more delicious than the next. From the ahi tuna to the cod to the burger, you can't choose wrong.
Each visit to Goga (most recently to celebrate a birthday) is better than the last. I can't believe this place remains a secret and while I love knowing it along with a few other select, lucky diners, I wish more people knew about this incredible gem in downtown Saratoga. It's a secret delight, full of astounding food and service. The back alley entrance is reminiscent of all the best, cool, "in-the-know" type of restaurants. Chef Brad and his wife and partner Helen make up a tremendous team who deliver a spectacular meal and experience each time. The vibe is as comfortable as the food is spectacular. For this birthday dinner Chef Brad supplemented our meal with delicious off the menu (hopefully soon to be on the menu) tastes of a incredible white truffle oil infused mushroom soup and a surprise chocolate cake for dessert. His combination of flavors and foods always, always delight. Goga deserves to delight more people so I'm telling this secret: it is not only one of the best new restaurants in downtown Saratoga, it's one of the best new restaurants on the Peninsula. Be one of the lucky ones, go and enjoy. (My picture is of the dinner menu, which changes weekly. The bar and brunch menu are consistent and also consistently delicious!).