Gertrude's by Tarbell's Introduce
Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of the Desert Botanical Garden, **Gertrude's by Tarbell's** offers Arizona diners a unique and unforgettable New American culinary experience. More than just a garden cafe, this establishment is a destination restaurant, renowned for its commitment to fresh, clean, and creatively plated food. It perfectly blends a beautiful, natural setting with a refined, yet casual and cozy atmosphere. From the moment guests arrive, they are greeted with an environment that is both visually stunning and comfortably welcoming, making it an ideal choice for a romantic evening, a stylish brunch, or a refreshing stop after exploring the gardens.
Under the influence of the celebrated culinary team, Gertrude's presents a menu that is innovative yet approachable, focusing on high-quality ingredients and contemporary preparations. While some loyal patrons note changes in the menu, the commitment to "clean food" and exciting new items remains constant. Favorites like the highly-praised **avocado fries** and the delicious **pulled tacos** showcase the kitchen's talent for elevating casual dishes. Beyond the food, Gertrude's is equally celebrated for its beverage program, featuring a **Great wine list**, impressive **Cocktails**—including local specialties like the **prickly pear marg**—and a great selection of **Beer**. It truly is an oasis of culinary excellence in the heart of Phoenix, catering to locals and visitors seeking an upscale, yet unpretentious, dining experience.
The unique location of Gertrude's by Tarbell's is a major part of its charm. It is situated right within the grounds of one of Arizona’s most iconic attractions, the Desert Botanical Garden, providing a dining backdrop that is unparalleled in the Phoenix area. The exact address is:
1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
This location is easily reachable for Phoenix and surrounding area residents. The restaurant ensures a welcoming and effortless visit for all members of the community by providing excellent accessibility features:
- **Wheelchair accessible entrance** for smooth entry.
- **Wheelchair accessible parking lot** for convenient arrival and departure.
- **Wheelchair accessible restroom** facilities, including a **Gender-neutral restroom** for inclusivity.
- **Wheelchair accessible seating** throughout the dining areas.
In addition to these amenities, parking is made simple with both a **Free parking lot** and **Free street parking** available, allowing guests to relax and enjoy their experience without the stress of parking fees or availability. Its prime location next to the garden also makes it a perfect place to "refresh after touring the gardens."
Gertrude's by Tarbell's offers a full suite of dining services tailored to meet the needs of the diverse Arizona clientele, from a quick meal to a planned celebration:
- **Dine-in:** Full table service available for Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner.
- **Outdoor Seating:** A highly sought-after feature, with the beautiful **back patio** providing a "perfect evening" setting.
- **Takeout:** Convenient option for enjoying the food at home or elsewhere.
- **Reservations Accepted & Recommended:** Due to its popularity, reservations are highly recommended for all dining options—Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner—to secure a table.
- **Private Dining Room:** Available for special events, meetings, or large private gatherings.
- **Full Bar Service:** Features a well-stocked **Bar onsite** with a dedicated staff known for their helpfulness and expertise.
- **Family Accommodations:** The venue is **Good for kids**, offering a dedicated **Kids' menu** and providing **High chairs**.
- **Inclusive Environment:** Known as an **LGBTQ+ friendly** and **Transgender safespace**, welcoming all members of the community.
The features and highlights of Gertrude's by Tarbell's elevate it beyond a standard restaurant, establishing it as a premiere dining destination in Phoenix:
- **Exceptional Ambiance:** The atmosphere is described as **Casual**, **Cozy**, **Romantic**, and **Trendy**, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Desert Botanical Garden.
- **Award-Winning Beverage Program:** Highlights include a **Great wine list**, impressive **Great cocktails**, and a **Great beer selection**, with options for **Hard liquor** readily available.
- **Focus on Local & Specialty Items:** The restaurant **Serves local specialty** drinks and ingredients, embracing the flavors of Arizona, such as the famous **prickly pear marg**.
- **Menu Variety & Dietary Flexibility:** Offers a wide range of options, including **Healthy options**, **Vegan options**, **Vegetarian options**, **Small plates**, and comforting fare.
- **Dessert & Coffee Excellence:** Recognized for having **Great dessert** and **Great coffee**, ensuring a satisfying end to any meal.
- **Attentive & Excellent Service:** Patrons consistently praise the "excellent" service and the kindness of the staff.
- **Dining Versatility:** Popular for **Lunch**, **Dinner**, and **Brunch**, accommodating every dining desire from a quick solo visit to a full group outing.
- **Speed and Efficiency:** Offers **Fast service** without compromising the quality of the upscale dining experience.
For Arizona residents and visitors planning to experience Gertrude's by Tarbell's, the essential contact details are provided below to facilitate reservations and inquiries:
- **Address:** 1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA (Located within the Desert Botanical Garden)
- **Phone (for reservations and inquiries):** (480) 719-8600
- **Mobile Phone (for direct dialing):** +1 480-719-8600
Given the restaurant’s popularity and recommended reservations, especially for patio seating, calling ahead is the best way to secure your preferred dining time.
Choosing Gertrude's by Tarbell's offers a dining experience that transcends the ordinary, making it a must-visit for any Arizona local or visitor. What makes it truly worth choosing is the powerful combination of its spectacular location, exceptional New American cuisine, and high-quality service. Few places in Phoenix offer the chance to enjoy a fine meal on a **beautiful back patio** set amidst the unique desert flora, making it a truly **romantic** and memorable setting.
The kitchen's philosophy of "clean food" and its dedication to creative execution means every dish is prepared with care and attention to flavor. While the menu is dynamic, you can rely on finding unique, satisfying options, and the chance to discover a new favorite, whether it’s the savory **pulled tacos** or a chef-driven small plate. The restaurant is a haven for those with dietary needs, offering robust **Healthy options**, **Vegan options**, and **Vegetarian options**, ensuring everyone can find something delicious.
The bar program is another key reason to visit. From the carefully selected **Great wine list** to the inventive **Great cocktails**, the beverages are a highlight. For an authentic local flavor, trying the **prickly pear marg** is a highly recommended experience. Furthermore, the commitment to excellent, friendly service—from the helpful bartenders to the attentive servers—ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience from start to finish. If you are looking for an elevated yet unpretentious dining spot in Phoenix with a focus on quality, atmosphere, and inclusivity, Gertrude's by Tarbell's is the premier choice.
Gertrude's by Tarbell's Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Takeout
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great beer selection
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
- Great dessert
- Great wine list
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Private dining room
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safespace
Planning
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
- Kids' menu
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- Parking
Gertrude's by Tarbell's Photos










Gertrude's by Tarbell's Location
Gertrude's by Tarbell's
1201 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix, AZ 85008, USA
Gertrude's by Tarbell's Reviews
botanical gardentamalescactuswild boarfried cauliflowerrice noodlesenchiladascorn frittersbraised beefcarrot hummus
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1It was a perfect evening. We sat outside in the back patio very pleasant. New owner/menu. We are going to have to get useto it. I would say clean food. Smaller portions. Slightly disappointing they removed some items, but as I say we'll keep giving it a try. If at all possible, please bring back the fried cauliflower with the thai sauce. 🙏 The service was excellent. I would expect to pay a little more for clean food, so the price was fair. Overall, we really enjoyed it. We will be.back. Try the Cha Cha Mouche. It will turn your cheeks red. 😃
October 06 · Jimmy GriffinBeautiful restaurant, great place to refresh after touring the gardens! All the staff was lovely, the bartender Adam was particularly kind and helped me pick out what to have. The avocado fries were so good and then I had the pulled tacos-so good! Great prickly pear marg too!
October 13 · Louise PumaI’ve been to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens a number of times, and I’m really embarrassed to say that I never even knew Gertrude’s was here, and that I could have an upscale dining experience at such an affordable price point.Our server was awesome, and the Tamales plate was absolutely fire. Everything was so fresh, and the ingredients were thoughtfully combined. I was expecting museum cafeteria and I got fine dining (minus the pomp and circumstance that the rich love to get off to). Forgive my crude comments, y’all, and give Gertrude’s a chance. Enjoy the garden, devour a delicious meal, and impress your significant other with your superior tastes.
March 12 · RyanAfter having taken a leisurely stroll through the Desert Botanic Garden, we decided to have a bite to eat at this on-site restaurant. Wasn’t expecting to find such a great restaurant with the best meal, Hot Mess, recommended by the wonderful server! The atmosphere was delightful, seating choices inside at tables, at the bar or open air seating, covered. Easy access for all. Lots of fun menu choices, none of us were disappointed, quite the opposite! I’ll come again, just to eat here! Prices were very reasonable considering the quality was high and the portions were ample.
February 02 · Verena AibelLet me just say we love the staff here, especially the server who has been on since they had the previous owner. The host was so sweet and accommodating. That being said I know it is there soft open, or was supposed to be. But management has some deep cleaning up to do. I’m not sure if it’s management or the garden itself, but the website was still supposed to say that Gertrude’s was closed.It was supposed to be a soft launch for members only. It was not, they were slammed at every table. All staff was running around as fast as they could. The bar was so backed up that we waited 20 minutes to have our drink orders filled and another 10-15 to get a Diet Coke and a lemonade. The staff was royally stuffed this opening and it’s not their fault.Being fully open for business when not all the kinks are worked out will not only kill morale, but it will kill your customer service too.The food was extremely lacking. I miss old Gertrude’s menu. Extremely tiny portions where the tacos are the size of a tiny table coaster for 22$ and a salad that had no dressing and stiff kale. I miss the cheesy corn wontons and the good cuts of meat they had.We caught them on a bad day since there seemed to be a glitch in the system with saying they were having their grand opening today.Staff did the best they could but you could tell they were exhausted and understaffed. Management event sent a server home prematurely that led the others to be completely overloaded later on. One female manager dropped our food off and didn’t ask if we needed anything, say anything, just walked away. I think everyone was over what had happened today. This poor staff was completely overloaded and overwhelmed. I hope the website gets fixed so they don’t keep overloading their servers.It seemed a little tone deaf that some managers were out taking pictures of the tables and settings while the bar was completely backed up to the point where servers were making their own N/As in plastic cups.Until they can iron out the kinks with the food and portions and all managers on deck helping so that there’s not only one running her feet off trying to get out food, I don’t think we’ll be coming back for a while, unfortunately. Their customer service is usually amazing. If someone from staff sees this no we don’t want a refund, we just want the menu fixed. I don’t think a 70$ meal should have plastic cutlery. I’d definitely try to fix the website and fully soft launch so your staff doesn’t get too tuckered out!
October 16 · Morgan Hunsberger
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