Restaurant Review: Magnolia Cafe

I've been here three times already and it's fast becoming one of my favorite breakfast spots. Right when you pull up, the first thing you'll notice is the huge crowd that is always in front of the place. While this isn't an accurate gauge of how good a place is, Magnolia draws out consistent packed restaurants every time I've been there.

Once you're able to get seated, the first thing you'll notice is the unique decor. It's a combo of Davy Crockett era log cabin with tinges of hippy accents. It's kinda weird to describe, but it somehow works. There is also a constant gentle murmur of conversations and various restaurant-y sounds (dishes being stacked, food sizzling, etc) that makes it really comfortable to chill and talk.

Food here is a high quality version of Denny's. Obviously, the place is a cafe, so there are a lot of similarities, but they have a great selection of unique items as well as weekly specials handwritten on the walls. When I went last week, I tried their Texas Benedict and we split their famous Mag Mud.

The Mag Mud is served with a large bowl and freshly made crispy chips that get replenished whenever it gets eaten up. What's in the Mag Mud? There's a base of black beans at the bottom and a hearty layer of mildly spicy queso on top. In the center is a scoop of avocado and a spread of pico de gallo along the side. Typically people mix it all up into a lumpy mud-like mixture. Upon first inspection, the dip looks pretty disgusting, but after your first bite, you're guaranteed to be hooked on it. Typically one order of Mag Mud is too much for 4 people (I would recommend for 5-6) so it is well worth the price.

My order of Texas Benedict was a twist on my favorite Eggs Benedict. Instead of hollandaise sauce, they used a sauce with a light spicy kick and a more tart flavor that made it taste like a totally different dish. The food was served pipping hot and each bite was flavorful and very comforting as good breakfast food should make you feel. The potatoes had a light dusting of seasoning and had that crispy outer layer with the soft crumbly inner goodness that all good potatoes are made like. What surprised me the most though, was actually the oranges. Usually when you get fruit at restaurants they taste pretty disgusting. Sometimes you'll be surprised with a palatable serving of fruit, but more times than not, the fruit seems to be an afterthought. Not here. When I took the first bite, I was blown away by how sweet it was. The juices pretty much rocked my world, and I'm not even that big of a fruit person.

When I combine the comfortable ambiance of the restaurant with the great tasting food along with the great service, it is easy to see why so many people make the trip out to Magnolia even though parking is such a hassle. Even having to wait 30-45 minutes to get seated seems so inconsequential when you get the total fooding experience with your friends.

Definitely a Highly Recommend from me.