Magnolia Cafe

I am a vegetarian and knowing that this is sometimes an issue, I checked the menu online before we made our reservations. Their menu clearly states "Vegetarian options available." My negative experience started the minute we hit the door. The host was rude and didn't even look at us. The menu had NO entrees without meat, all but one salad had meat, and NO appetizers were vegetarian. When I asked about the vegetarian options I was told by an equally rude waiter to read the menu and pick out some stuff I liked from the real menu and the chef would put them on a plate for me. This restaurant has a well known chef. I want a carefully thought out entree just like everyone else. This is ridiculous. I won't go back. And the rudeness continued throughout the evening. I paid $15 for three pieces of bib lettuce, 12 pine nuts, 1/2 an apple and 15 pieces of asparagus. This was the best they could do.

My husband and I had dinner at Magnolia recently and none of my expectations were met. For the amount of money they charge for their food, I went there with high expectations. I ordered the scallops, which were burned and the dish was overall too heavy. The only redeeming part was the haricots vert but I didn't pay 25 dollars for some greens. My husband ordered the braised beef. It was cooked really well but the sauce was just odd and pungent. The mac and cheese that it came with tasted too much like bacon. Then we ordered the vanilla creme brulee, which they didn't have ready for dinner service, so I ordered the coffee creme brulee. It was just pudding. If they charged even 15 per plate, I wouldn't be so disappointed. But comparable to other restaurants that charge this much, the food was disappointing.

My husband and I had brunch at this place. We thought the food was quite good and the atmosphere was warm and friendly. The only negative was that the portions were too large - in true Chicago style, I suppose.

magnolia is simply lovely. the food is yummy, the atmosphere is cozy and upscale, the waitstaff is polite but not stuffy.

I'm constantly surprised that Magnolia stayed open through the darker years of Uptown. It always seemed a little too nice to live for long. Amazingly, though, this lovely little gem still remains open, 6 days a week on the north side of Wilson at Magnolia St. in Chicago. The atmosphere is great, with pictures of Magnolia flowers decorating the walls. The food is also excellent, although there is usually only one vegetarian entree. There is a creme brulee "of the day," which has never been anything but scrumptious. The extensive bar will serve anything you desire, but the Effen Cherry Martini is a personal favorite.