Magnolia Cafe: User Reviews

45 minutes for hash and french toast?
By g3herman from lakeview, May 10, 2009

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A friend and I had seen this place in the neighborhood and decided to try brunch. What a mistake. We ended up waiting 45 minutes for an order of hash and french toast. The food was just okay. The french toast had some too sweet pasty filling. The only time I saw the waiter was about 20 minutes into the wait when he came over to assure us that our food would be right out, which it wasn't. This place needs management that knows how to run a restaurant.

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Excellent Brunch
By Dawn from Lincoln Square, January 4, 2009

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My husband and I had brunch there today and it was excellent. He had the crab cakes benedict and I had a lobster benedict with spinach. The flavors were wonderful and the portions were considerable. The prices are also very reasonable. We are looking forward to having dinner there next.

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Always good
By Kathy from Sheridan park, December 8, 2008

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Magnolia's is one of those "go-to" restaurants for me that is consistently wonderful. The food is always amazing, the atmosphere is great, and I have never been disappointed. I always look forward to the next visit.

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Always amazing!
By Fine diner from Andersonville, June 9, 2008

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We are definitely regulars because this place rocks!! Food is always A++++ fantastic, service is great - we are always recognized and enjoy the staff and owners. Nobody gets our regular business like this place because they never let us down. Can't say enough good things about this place!

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awesome
By jt from uptown, February 16, 2008

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Excellent dining experience would recommend to anyone. Great food and service.

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Choices...no
By owen from River West, February 11, 2008

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Our table for 5 was configured so that one person was isolated at the far end in the dark. Upon being seated we were offered a variety of juice choices by our friendly hostess. Our youngest member. age 5. chose Mango. After waiting some time we reminded our waiter we had oredered the mango juice. We were informed that we could only order orange or apple juice as all of the other juices were for the champagne. Another member of our party ordered hot tea. He was presented with a box filled with herbal infusions.no tea to be had. I ordered the Gravlax Benedict. It really had huge potential! Alas it was covered with a fine dice of raw garlic. Perhaps this was mistaken for the fine dice of onion one might expect. Fortunately we saw very little of our less than friendly waiter. Bad table, fair food and bad service do not add up to a repeat visit.

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Very nice, will go again
By Eester from Lakeview, January 29, 2008

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I went with a friend early (6pm) on a Friday night. The service was really top notch, very homespun and friendly. I had the bone-in ribeye which arrived perfectly charred on the outside and pink and juicy on the inside. The only negative was its accompaniment of mac & cheese. We all know it should have been ooey gooey cheesy, but I really couldn't find any presence of cheese or cream. It was as if the macaroni had been tossed with oil and salt, then broiled. However the fab service, great desserts, and pomegranate matinis more than made up for this minor disappointment. I'll definitely be back.

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Brunch was Terrible
By annette from Lincoln Square, January 19, 2008

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This place had one of the worst brunch menus. While the presentation was inviting the taste was regretful. I do not recommend this place for brunch. My boyfriend had the French Toast which tasted more like Cake Frosting! I had this veggie crossaint omlet that was nothing special. Not worth it for Brunch but dinner here is a whole different experience.

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Always exceptional
By UptownMilwaukee from Very north suburbs, October 27, 2007

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I have been going to Magnolia for almost four years now and they still never fail to impress me. My partner and I dined there two weeks ago after being away for a while and it couldn't have been better. Food was fantastic and the service was just as good. They even bought a serving of passion fruit sorbet with rasberries to our table to celebrate my birthday. It's really good to see a restaurant that was a gamble several years ago, grow and thrive and become part of the neighborhood.

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Magnolia is a real find....
By Curran from Chicago, IL, August 19, 2007

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Magnolia is a real find. It's on the pricey side ($28 entrees on average), but it's a cozy dining room and the food is wonderful. Try a salad (the heirloom tomatoes are great). Our group had the brioche wrapped sea bass, grilled salmon with English pea risotto, pan seared duck, and sausage stuffed veal. Worth another trip!