01/17/09

Food, cocktails, staff are amazing....parking not so much.

by bd1234

I absolutely love eating here! It's a cozy place with a wonderful staff, great food and innovative cocktail list. It's always of a mix of couples having a romantic dinner and tables full of friends catching up over a great meal. I have never left the place not absolutely raving about whatever I had for dinner. My friends who I've taken there would agree. Even after moving out of the neighborhood, I still go back once in a while. The only problem that I have is the parking situation. It's bordering a sketchy neighborhood and is surrounded by residential streets with permit parking so finding a place to park is a monumental task. That alone has kept me from going there as much as I would like. If they had a valet, I'm sure my friends and I would be there every couple of months.

• Pros: Food, staff, ambiance
• Cons: Parking

06/29/08

My favorite spot for local high-end dining

by Laura417A

I love Magnolia's. I've been a loyal customer for over 5 years. Part of the appeal to me is that it's just down the street from where I live. You can get a great upscale experience without having to truck downtown. I was sad to see the last customer got poor service. I've always been delighted with the staff -- although I will tell you on a Friday or Saturday nite -- things can sometimes be a bit slow. If you're looking for a speedy place to get in and out this is not it.

My favorite thing to get is the brunch. They have great bloody mary's, fun speciality drinks, and an amazing eggs floretine (I'm not even sure if that's the right phrase) -- think eggs benedict with spinach and smoked salmon. YUMMMMMMM!!! They also have outside seating. I won't say the restaurant is always perfect, but I've always been delighted when eating there. It's a local spot I can take my friends, and they always come away impressed.

• Pros: Eclectic Cusine, Great Atmosphere, Friendly Staff
• Cons: No super-speedy service; limited menu (but what they serve is really amazing)

10/01/07

Disappointing

by paperdoll78

We agree with everyone, the food is delicious and the wait staff was very nice. BUT, there are lots of restaurants with delicious food. Our experience was on a Friday night at 6:45 for a party of six. We arrived and the reservation had been booked for the wrong night - but there was a table available. The menu is very limited and nearly impossible for people who do not eat seafood or pork products. There was no fish without seafood or vegetarian options. So beware - even the chicken was precooked and wrapped in prosciutto. On the special menu was a hamburger which two of us wished to order, but were told that they had run out of hamburger meat Thursday night and therefore couldn't serve it on Friday (nowhere to get meat on Friday?). The entrees took over 45 minutes to arrive and then two came out cold. When the check came there was an extra charge for "rocks" on a vodka on the rocks drink and a charge for cheese that was not ordered. We were told that both were restaurtant policy. Something strange was surely going on!

• Pros: Food was delicious
• Cons: Long wait for food, limited menu, rediculous additional charges

07/10/07

Best restaurant up north in Chicago, MUST TRY

by ncarroll022

I have been to magnolia cafe many times and each time I go there I am equally impressed with the atmosphere, the food, the wait staff and the bar selection. In the summer they have a really cute outdoor area to sit and enjoy some of the best food in the city. The ambiance is quaint, and not too noisy. The food is wonderful especially the lobster bisque in the winter months. It is always one of my favorite spots in summer or winter. I have even spent a new years eve here ringing in a quiet evening. I wish we had more choices as great as this up north. 5stars all the way!

• Pros: Ambience, service, valet, food, homemade bread daily
• Cons: I love their soup so I wish they had it year round. The lobster bisque

06/08/07

Great News for Uptown!

by buffy1976

I live right around the corner from this lovely restaurant. The atmosphere is great, and even though the restaurant is usually busy and somewhat small, we never seem to wait very long for a table. This is a great date night place and/or place to bring your parents/friends! I enjoy both the brunch (try the stuffed french toast!) and the dinner menus. The waitstaff is always very friendly, and when it is warm outside there is even an outdoor patio. Although the menu is a little pricey, it's totally worth it. Uptown still has a long way to go, but I'm really glad that we have Magnolia so closeby! We need more restaurants like it up here!

• Pros: Cozy ambiance, friendly waitstaff, great food
• Cons: A little pricey

03/15/07

One of the best restaurants in Chicago

by magnate

I unreservedly recommend Magnolia Cafe as one of the best restaurants in Chicago.

The cooking is exquisite, the service out standing and the wine list excellent. Each dish that made up our meal was innovative and exciting. The staff are attentive and professional. The restaurant has plenty of space for larger parties and secluded areas for folks who want some privacy. They also have a website www.manoliacafeuptowndotcom

• Pros: Food. Ambience. Service
• Cons: none

03/22/06

A gem of a restaurant

by vulcan1971

I was taken here on a date in late 05 and found it to be a wonderful experience. A new restaurant in an up and coming neighborhood that could use more places like this. I ordered the braised shortribs and found them to be full of flavor, tender and very moist... perfectly done. Drinks and wines were exceptional. A great all-around experience, with friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. I will be back soon.

01/05/06

A favorite neighborhood spot

by paulhas

My partner and I luckily tried Magnolia Cafe right after it opened. We continue to return - and the food, service, and wine selection just continue to improve. The dining room is small and charming, and the owner/chef Kaz is usually around to check on guests.

10/07/05

PERFECT!

by jklivin82

Firstly I must say that I AM VERY PICKY.

I can't believe that I waited this long to go. The service was great. The waiter helped us decide what to go with (everything looked sooooo good). The food was PHENOMENAL, I had the pork loin with the cheddar/bacon rissoto, my date had the braised lamb, both excellent and cooked to perfection. The desserts were delicious and the creme brule was the best I've ever had. The drinks were good, but not great. Overall, a great value for the money (about $60 each). I definitely recommend it.

• Pros: FOOD, Service, Ambiance
• Cons: None

09/28/04

Hidden gem in Uptown scores with intimate atmosphere and a winning menu.

by Contributor

The Scene
Magnolia Cafe's 50-seat room buzzes with couples and groups of chatting friends. Tables are tucked tightly together; exposed brick blends with muted-green walls, and fringed lamps hang from the charming wood-beam ceiling. Warm, low lighting and a super-friendly staff add to the comfort level.

The Food
The eclectic American menu winningly balances flavors and textures: Subtle, delicate sea scallops dance with beet risotto in a blood-orange sauce; a bold, chipotle pork quesadilla plate is zingy with pepper-jack cheese. Other flavorful combinations include grilled salmon with vegetable fricassee and tender braised beef short ribs with spuds and spinach. Brunch is a popular meal here, too, with popular plates like light huevos rancheros, delicious gravlax Benedict, and a mean bloody mary with jalapeno-infused vodka.

• Pros: great foodcozy atmosphere
• Cons: tight space