Magnolias

The food was fantastic. I started with the crab bisque which was excellent and my wife had the watermelon salad (a special) which she said was the best salad she has ever had in her life. I ordered the shrimp and grits which actually had too much black pepper for MY taste but my wife tasted it and loved it. My wife ordered the seafood bouillabaisse which was very very good packed with flavor and tons of different fish and other seafood. We finished with the Red Velvet bread pudding which was topped with a raspberry cheesecake ice cream....this dessert was OUT OF THIS WORLD good. Other than the food, the atmosphere was very nice, and our waitress was wonderful. I will definitely look to come back.

Not usually one to write reviews, but felt the need to as this was such a lovely experience! Visiting from out of town, we were so happy to be able to snag a last minute lunch reservation. For an upscale restaurant, the vibe is relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious. Our server, Erin, was so kind and attentive from the start and had wonderful recommendations. We had the Fried Green Tomatoes to start, which were out of this world - definitely a more modern, elevated take on the dish. I had the Vegetarian plate & my boyfriend got the Parmesan Crusted Fresh Catch. We were both very happy - the dishes are well seasoned without being overly seasoned and really lean into the natural flavors of the fresh ingredients. Overall, you can really feel how much the staff cares about providing their guests with a good experience. Bonus that they were very reassuring about being able to accommodate food allergies. We are already looking forward to our next Charleston visit so we can return to Magnolias!

One of the high end restaurants in Charleston, tablecloth and all but with some leeway in terms of dress code. No sleeveless nor beach attire but other than that they're not extremely strict. Service is professional and the servers are familiar with the ins and outs. The food is definitely quality. It's Southern inspired, or should I say, Modern Southern. Creative little twists of the classics without losing the soul. The fried chicken was properly done with a very good mildly sweet + tangy collard greens sans the unpleasant smell. Shrimp and grits were definitely proper with a nice BBQ flavor. The Bouillabaisse has a good of seafood and sausages, without the fishy smell and paired with nice corn base. Halibut was mild but the sauce more than makes up for it For appetizers, I would suggest the scallops and fried green tomatoes. The prices are fair considering the place, location, abd serving size. Definitely recommended. No dedicated parking just like most restaurants here, you'll have to find your own

We had the crab cake as a starter and it was delicious and the best we had ever eaten! Should have gotten it as our meal! The steak was underwhelming and I wish I would have tried something else, it really lacked flavor (no salt) and had no crust, from an establishment as nice as this you would expect prime beef seasoned to perfection but it was disappointing to say the least. The service and atmosphere was 10/10! I would recommend this place but to try something besides the NY strip.

This was our first time dining to Magnolias. We had a great experience. We were sat in a back room at the restaurant and it was a much quieter atmosphere, especially compared to the front that we walked through. This was very nice, as it was only my wife and I dining. The service and food were all very good. It ws expensive but for fine dining this can be expected. My wife started with a salad and I got the homemade chips with blue cheese and chives. The chips were very good and I would recommend them. I got a pork chop and my wife got the fish special. It was a very good meal.

We had a wonderful experience at Magnolia! Service, food, atmosphere all superb. The deviled eggs were tasty, the soul food egg rolls awesome and the shrimp and grits were delicious. My husband said that the burger was the best he's had and he has tasted quite a few burgers in his life. It was our first visit to Charleston and Magnolia was highly recommended. We loved it!

This is a high end restaurant in Charleston, and reservations are definitely required. Since I didn’t have one, I opted to dine at the bar. The bar attendant was friendly and attentive, taking my order right away. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast, and while waiting, the waitress brought out some bread and butter. To my surprise, the butter was blended with cream cheese and parsley, an absolutely delicious spread. If you’re looking for authentic Southern food in an upscale setting, this is the place to go. Highly recommended!

Definitely southern at heart. The food was good but the pork chop could have been a little more salt/seasoning. The rest of the food was tasty including the red velvet bread pudding. The service was good just a little stuffy but they still got 4 stars.

Food and service were excellent, as always. Only downfall is they no longer serve the shell fish over grits. Absolutely disappointing. Probably won't be back until they bring back shell fish and grits.

Magnolias was everything I hoped for and more. From the moment I walked in, the staff was so warm and welcoming--it felt like I was being invited into someone's home for a great meal. I started with the East Bay Breeze, a tequila-based cocktail that was refreshing, smooth, and well-balanced--just the right amount of sweetness. The only thing that threw me off was a little graininess at the bottom, but honestly, that was a small price to pay for such a well-made drink. Then came the crab cake appetizer, and wow. Hands down, the best I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned, with just the right amount of crispness on the outside and so much flavor packed inside. The corn and pickled onions took it to another level, adding a little sweetness and acidity that made every bite even better. For my entrée, I got the grilled swordfish special, and let me tell you--it was cooked perfectly. Flaky, moist, and seasoned beautifully. The potatoes were so good, and the mix of spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms was such a great complement to the dish. I don't know who's back there cooking, but it felt like someone's grandmother with years of experience and all the right secrets in the kitchen. And then there was the bread. Soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and served with what I'm convinced was the most perfect whipped butter ever. Whatever cows made the milk for that butter were living their absolute best lives because it was rich, creamy, and just melted into the bread beautifully. I wish I had more time in Charleston just so I could go back before I leave, but if anything, this just gives me an excuse to return. If you're in town, do yourself a favor--go to Magnolias.

All of our meals were delicious (2 had the bouillabaisse, one blackened catfish, and one fried chicken), as well we polished off two bottles of the house Cabernet which was a decent value for a restaurant bottle. Everything on the menu is an upgraded take on southern classics. Focus is seafood, but plenty of land meat options also. Dishes were plentiful, everyone was full, and some still had food to take home. My only reason for not giving a 5 is that I didn't get a large enough piece of catfish, and I had more fried green tomato than actual fish. We were well taken care of by the maitre d and our servers were knowledgeable, friendly, and checked on us reasonably often. The restaurant is larger than we expected, as well walked through the front dining area, past the kitchen, into a large rear dining room. Attractive decor, I wouldn't say it's romantic because it's so large, but it's definitely a place you would be comfortable bringing a date, or a group of friends. Because this place is located on East Bay they get a reputation for being a tourist spot. But this local felt it was a great place at a fair price, and I would return.

While in Charleston, had to try Magnolias and it was very good. Started with the Homemade Pimento Cheese appetizer which was great. For the entree, I decided on the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast. Not disappointed in this selection at all. The chicken portion was large, hot and very crispy. The collards, corn and potatoes were also very good. The cracked pepper biscuit was a bit hard but honestly didn't need that anyway. The service was great as well. No complaints there. Will definitely be back when we go to Charleston again.

Had the braised beef short rib while visiting Charleston, and it was definitely a standout dish! The meat was tender, flavorful, and melts in your mouth. The only thing missing was a touch more salt to really bring out the richness of the dish. Service was excellent--attentive without being overbearing. The staff made us feel welcome, adding to the warm, Southern charm of the restaurant's ambiance. The atmosphere was cozy yet elegant, perfect for a relaxed night out. Would absolutely come back and try more dishes. Just a little seasoning tweak, and it'd be a five-star experience!

Beautiful and delicious experience at Magnolia's! We made reservations months ago, which may or may not have been necessary for "off" season but highly recommend for busy times. The restaurant is beautiful and located in a convenient part of town. We Ubered so I'm unsure of parking but I believe it's street or local lots. My friend and I started out with an Old Fashioned which was delicious. Complimentary bread was brought for the table. For dinner, I had the Shellfish Over Grits which were to die for! A must try. My friend had a salad and crab soup. She loved both! Highly recommend this place. Well worth the price!

My friend and I came here for dinner looking for a place that had some good seafood entrees and found this place. Glad I made a reservation even just for the two of us because it got fairly busy when we arrived. Initially, when we got to the host stand to check in, the hostess working was on the phone and when she got off seemed very frazzled and irritated. She coordinated with her colleague to get us sat. They wanted to see us in their private dining area, but I requested to be sat in the front dining room. Our server, Kayla quickly came by to greet us with some water as we took a few extra minutes to look at the menu. She didn't make any recommendations or tell us if they were any specials, but she did answer all of the questions we had about the menu. We started with the down south eggrolls, followed by the Parmesan crusted catch, which was flounder, and also shared the short rib entrée. We were given a nice toasted and sliced baguette with butter. Down south egg-roll 4/5- they really do only give you one egg-roll that's cut in half. I feel for a $13 appetizer they would at least give you two because it was a small portion to share. However the flavors, texture and filling were good. Market catch 5/5- I was really excited that it was flounder that day. Everything in that dish was great. The dirty rice pirlo, veggies complimented the fish well and that was nice and delicate with sweet mild flavors. Highly recommend! Short Rib 4/5- I love broccolini and the sauces on this dish was unique and helped elevate this dish. The short rib itself in my opinion is as tender, but lacked flavor. It reminded me of just a pot roast and could've used just a bit more seasoning. But the dish overall was as pleasant. We ended our meal with the flourless chocolate cake that was excellent and perfect with ice cream. Kayla was friendly, attentive and was timely with all of our food that came out. We had a great experience and I'm interested in trying other things next time!

I am so glad I found this restaurant! First, the atmosphere is amazing! Great decor and music playing in the background. My husband had the devil eggs for an appetizer and he really enjoyed them. Our service was great! The only negative is that the server didn't refill our drinks. Our meals were delicious!

This is one of the jewels of Charleston. If you're ever in Charleston and only have a day to spend there, this is the spot you need to go to for dinner. We had the fried green tomatoes which are probably the best fried green tomatoes you'll ever have in your life. We also ordered a wedge salad, arugula salad, and split the shrimp and grits. Salads were great but the shrimp and grits was the real star of the show. Some of the best shrimp and grits in the area. Service is always great and the restaurant is always buzzing with customers and has a nice vibe. Perfect for a date night.

I will 100% be coming back! My aunt and I were being tourists around the city and decided to stop into magnolias for a happy hour drink and some appetizers. We have been trying different shecrab soup around the downtown area and this one is definitely in the top running! We also got the fried green tomatoes, which were delicious and came with a little remoulade sauce. My only complaint was that the deviled eggs were under seasoned. Even though magnolias is not located on King Street the parking situation is not the best around the area, but you can find some good two hour parking and walk over. Usually you have to have a reservation to get in, but the bar was pretty open when we went at 4 PM on a Friday. Definitely a fancier place.

Magnolia's is a classic Charleston dining spot. Was down in the city for a few days and wanted to have their weekend brunch. Good decision. Liked their fried green tomatoes (but didn't love them). Liked their shellfish and grits (but didn't love the). And liked their Southern pecan pie (but didn't love it). However ... loved the service and the atmosphere. All in all, very glad we stopped the. But not off-the-charts spectacular from a food standpoint.

This is a nice restaurant. This is a popular place so I suggest that you make a reservation ahead of time or you probably won't be able to be seated. We sat at the tables in the bar area. The person who assigned to work in the bar area tables was quite rude, he didn't bring any waters. He walked right by us. I was saying hello he seemed irritated.. we moved and went to the bar are when someone got up. It was like a night and day experience. We had Brian was wonderful made the experience. The appetizer fried tomatoes is a must try. It's very delicious quite enjoying my meal and my drinks. Apparently Brian is pretty popular and everybody wants to sit at the bar area. He's very positive. Hope they hire more people like him. Definitely recommend and this is a staple to try when in the area. Hope you enjoy.

5/5 Complimentary Bread and butter service. Probably the best bread and butter I've ever had at an establishment 3.5/5 Fried Green Tomatoes: They were good with all the elements served together in a bite. But the portion was small. 4 thinly sliced tomatoes, and the tomatoes weren't hot off the pan. 2.5/5 Fried Chicken: Wouldn't order again. The chicken was not juicy and lacked salt. The corn was great. The collared greens were too salty. And the mashed potatoes were mashed potatoes. Nothing elevated about them. 5/5 Kids salmon was seasoned appropriately. 1/5 The grits served with kids salmon lacked salt and had a pool of melted butter on top. Supposedly had cheese but couldn't taste it. 5/5 Fried fish sandwich was excellent. Great flavor profile and thoroughly enjoyed the spicy tartar sauce. 1/5 Boiled Peanut Hummus: Would not order again. Really wanted some boiled peanuts and this was the best I could find right now in downtown Charleston. Unfortunately, any boiled peanut taste was masked by a heaping pound of red relish on top. Overall, I'd come back for the fish sandwich and bread.

Lived here my whole life and just finding this WONDERFUL restaurant. WHAT WAS I THINKING?! Beautiful downtown restaurant on East Bay where we celebrated my daughter's 41st birthday. Delicious food and accommodating staff. Mac was most excellent. We started with the Pan Seared Scallop Appetizer OMG followed by Deviled Eggs YUMZ. I went with the Blue Crab Bisque and Fried Chicken breast (melt in your mouth) with Collards, Mashed Potatoes n Gravy with a biscuit and delicious corn. It was enough for another meal. Others had the Seafood and grits, Creamy Tomato Bisque, Flounder with Rice Pilaf, Hamburger and Fried Fish sandwich.

Sat at bar Restaurant full even at 230 pm Bloody Mary was good but quite sour Prosecco delicious Fried green tomatoes delectable cannot miss Fries oysters amazing. Must try. SO got shrimp and grits with sausage. Delicious per him. Service friendly and nice Ambiance was fine probably upscale casual.

Magnolias in Charleston was AMAZING for dinner! The food quality and presentation is really outstanding. The egg roll app was indescribable...it was surprising how the flavors came together so well. The short ribs were melt on your mouth, and the flounder special was delicious as well. Easy walking distance from hotels around the French quarter or near the city market. And try the humble hot sauce, made by one of the waiters who used to work at the restaurant.

Expecting a tourist trap, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find regional cuisine served with an upscale flare instead. This place is no trap at all. It is Southern hospitality refined, with a menu that breaks out of the comfort zone for traditional low country fare. We shared an app of Prince Edward Island Mussels which came in the most aromatic and delicious broth! In less polite company I would have scooped the whole bowl up to my mouth to finish off the sauce. Alas, we were in public, so I just used a spoon. For our lunch entrees we went with two variations of fish, the parmesan crusted market catch with a lightly dressed vegetable salad and jasmine rice pirloo, and a grilled salmon with a delicious warm potato salad, asparagus, and beurre blanc. I usually hold back on dessert, but my guy insisted on a slice of the flourless chocolate cake. Every bite was a decadent symphony on the tongue! If you find yourself passing thru, a trip to Charleston is not complete without a stop in Magnolias. Bon appetit!

I don't like starting reviews with something negative. And it's not about the food, the wait staff or the ambiance. It's about the high society clientele that eats here. It's been a while since I was judged by the color of my skin, but this right here was a first. And it's hilarious. Well, not really, but you know what I mean. My wife, her friends and I were waiting for our main entrees when a couple sat down next to our table. I wasn't aware of what was going on, but my wife and friends knew exactly what was happening. The man in the pink, orange and blue plaid shirt and jeans was apparently looking directly at our table shaking his head, while his wife dressed in a tan cow girl outfit with a matching gigantic cow girl hat had a pissed look on her face (according to my wife). Comments about how we were "ruining the ambiance" for them and how he "didn't want to make a scene by turning the table around" so they didn't have to look at us while they dined there were spewing from their table. And how they openly talked (loudly, I might add) about how they were "in the market for a 2 million dollar home but couldn't close in time" or pretending to talk on the phone when clearly you didn't answer the phone because you didn't slide the button to answer... I'm actually quite happy my wife didn't say anything to me until we exited the restaurant. I would have said something I would have probably regretted later. Besides, we were there to review the food and not judge other people's character... My apologies; I digressed, but here we go. Magnolias' welcoming atmosphere for fine southern dining is pretty top notch. The mood lightning and seating areas were breathtaking. My wife and I shared the shrimp and sausage over grits (very tasty) and the blue crab dip (so good). Great starters in my opinion. Next, we shared a Parmesan Crusted Catch of the Day which was a nice piece of Halibut over a bed of rice. The Halibut was cooked to perfection. Nothing was overpowering in this entree. Easily a favorite dish for us. Last but not least, the Deep Dish Pecan Pie. This dessert was sinful. Our favorite pecan pie hands down. Maddie was a wonderful host for us. She gave us great recommendations (including her favorite: Pecan Pie)and inadvertently shielded us from the obnoxious couple next door. It's a bit expensive, but Magnolias backs it up with some really amazing and great tasting food. They are top tier in their food, service and atmosphere. Don't let rich and snobby people like the miss America-wanna-be and her trophy husband get in the way of your dining experience... "They're your tastebuds. Satisfy them!" -Allan Delacruz

I don't say this lightly: the fried green tomatoes were the best I've ever had. So was the fried chicken (although it was not the revelation the FGTs were). My wife loved her blue crab soup and her Shrimp and Sausage Grits. (We both loved the cocktails.) My third trip to Charleston and we only now decided to visit Magnolias. What fools we were: the restaurant is beautiful. And it's friendly. And it's well run. And it's _reasonable_. Our two visits were a delight - and, I'm not kidding, after the great brunch (thanks Christy - you took such great care of us!) we had, I told myself that we need to return to Charleston just to do it again. One word of caution: I found the vaunted Sunday-only cinnamon roll to be meh, and regret having wasted the calories on it. I'm serious. There are not many restaurants that make me want to fly across the continent to revisit them. Magnolias rang the bell - thanks so much!

I chose Magnolias for my birthday dinner while on vacation with a friend in Charleston. I booked my reservation pretty far in advance, though I'm not sure if that was necessary or not. The restaurant was quite full when we arrived on the Thursday night, and we were seated closer to the window in the front part of the restaurant. Our server was friendly and knew the menu well. I definitely ordered too much food, including the deviled eggs (delightful), a ceasar salad (can't go wrong), and their catfish entree (pretty good). I was too stuffed to order dessert, so the server surprised me with some little chocolates in a cute to-go box. It was such a sweet thing to do! The restaurant was on the fancier side; I felt a little underdressed. Next time I'd probably wear a dress. Regardless, everyone we came in contact with was nice and approachable. Bathrooms were pristine too, which is important. I wouldn't hesitate to return if I'm in Charleston in the future.

Not being a Southerner I struggled to find items absent the usual collards and grits but settled in with a fantastic seafood dish with rice and shrimp. The dessert, red velvet cake bread pudding was the lasting memory I will carry with me to my final resting place. Lovely ambience, soft lighting and muted sound were spot on...

The Charleston Crab Cake, with arugula, corn relish, pickled red onions, and Creole rémoulade ($23), was a disappointment. The texture was mushy, as if it hadn't been cooked properly. It didn't seem to have much crab, either. For the entry, we split a filet of beef, a fine cut that arrived undercooked. The manager was standing nearby and saw us checking it and was quick to send it back to get it to medium rare, as ordered, versus ultra rare. It came with melted pimiento cheese, herb potato cake, grilled Roma tomatoes, asparagus, and a demi-glace. We had wines by the glass for $15 and $16 from a short but good list. The service was fine. The atmosphere is welcoming and classic.

This has become our go to lunch spot on our annual trip to Charleston. Replacing another one that we went to for many years. First, let me start by saying book your reservations in advance. They are busy and there is a reason. Parking is available in a lot next door for $12-$15 for an hour or so or in a parking garage a few blocks away. They do serve lunch, dinner and brunch on the weekends, but we have only been for lunch. But my oh my is this place awesome! Lea was our server on Friday and she was great! Upbeat, cheery, happy to answer questions and overall a great server and person. We started with the pimento cheese appetizer with pita chips and it was really good. I chose the fresh wild caught fish sandwich of the day for my lunch and it was perfectly blackened and a very large piece of fish. I chose the sweet potato fries as my side. This dish was wonderful and honestly their spicy tartar sauce was the best tartar sauce I have ever had. I wished they bottled that for sale. My hubby always chooses a cheeseburger, no matter where we go, and he had that with a few substitutions. He requested regular bacon strips (no bacon jam) at an extra charge and no onions or remoulade sauce. He likes tradition burger condiments and they gave him those. I had two yummy Sangrias, though I could not finish the second one, but they are delicious! We brought half the appetizer and half my meal home as the portions are large. I highly recommend this restaurant!

First of all, the service here is excellent. I got here about 45 minutes early from our reservation, they are able to sit us right the way. The sever was awesome and took good care of us. It is a great fine dining experience. The restaurant is beautiful and the decor provided a great atmosphere. Food was great mostly. We were here for lunch and the lunch menu has a lot to offer. We ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes for appetizer it was great, fried to perfection. I ordered the Lowcountry Bouillabaisse, the seafood tasted fresh and the slight hint of spice helped to bring out great flavors. I also tasted the fish sandwich and fish dish that my family ordered. The sandwich was a little salty and the fish was under seasoned. The disappointment comes from the homemade chips, it was too salty. I will be back next time in Charleston to try again. But I can see why everybody would said this is a great place to eat and experience.

boy oh BOY was my meal good. We had Slade as our server and he was so kind and able to work with us -- my friends and I don't eat pork or seafood, so he was very accommodating when it came to our substitutions. I had the Buttermilk Fried Chicken dinner + a side of the Mac & Cheese... very good! I was pleasantly surprised especially with the chicken and macaroni! You definitely need to make a reservation if you're going here on the weekend... but it's worth it!

Had lunch at Magnolias on Thanksgiving day. I booked our reservation for 11:30 AM, right when they opened. Their menu consisted of some of their usual lunch offerings as well as some Thanksgiving specials. My friend and I decided to go with the buttermilk chicken dish and the vegetarian platter, which included fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, mashed potatoes, collard greens, and a fresh corn salad. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. The service was great as well. The warm bread and cream cheese chive butter was to die for. Great way to kick off Thanksgiving!

We went for Sunday brunch. We had a reservation. They bring out warm bread and butter. We started with their amazing Fried Green Tomatoes. Someone told us to order them and we were amazed by them. I had the fish special which was fresh and served over truffle mashed potatoes and broccolini. My friend had the huevos rancheros which was served over two fried tostadas. Service was great.

I'm a little disappointed in my shrimp and grits, to be honest. It's not bad, but it could be better, personally speaking. My local friend recommended this place and I did give it a high expectation, this could also set off my comments. But the waitresses were nice, ambiance is great. Location is also great, it's right across to a parking deck and right next to a parking lot.

Came back after almost 10 years to re-live the nostalgia of tasting southern food for the first time. Unfortunately this time this famous establishment didn't live up to its hype. I ordered the same food fried chicken livers and seafood bouillabaisse. The service was fast the portions were huge but the food didn't live up to the expectations. The fried chicken liver was good but the bouillabaisse was very bland with corn and chewy seafood. The interiors are so beautiful with wooden exposed beams and has a character overall but very dissatisfied with the food, maybe folks keep coming back for the nostalgia though the food standards have significantly fallen.

This was our favorite restaurant experience of our entire Charleston family vacation. I was fortunate enough to dine here with my family for Father's Day and it was wonderful. The staff was great, and helped us out with any needs that we had. The interior of this restaurant is very classy and has a rich, old charm. It wasn't too loud or quiet but just perfect. The best part about our experience here was the exceptional food. We started off with the Spicy Shrimp and Sausage with grits for an Appetizer, which was quite a bit different than your run-of-the-mill shrimp and grits. They used gravy in this recipe which was quite different, but it was very good. For entrees, we ordered the Parmesan Crusted Market Catch, which was flounder, and it was terrific. Additionally, we ordered the special which was a crusted Corvina fish on top of collard greens and cheesy grits. Both of these were very delicious. This was certainly our best meal in Charleston and a wonderful Father's Day, meal. I recommend Magnolias to anybody coming to Charleston.

One of the best meals we have had while in Charleston. The dishes are beautifully plated and there are lot of thought and effort that has been put into the food. Our server was great and welcoming and she gave good recommendations. We did wait a bit for our main entree to come out though. Wonderful crab soup. Fantastic fried green tomatoes. The Parmesan-crusted flounder was delicious. It had a good crust and the fish was fresh-tasting. The shrimp & jasmine rice pirloo was amazing. I love the citrus beurre blanc on the fish so much. It was rich and creamy and not too tangy. This place was a gem.

Magnolias was how we spent our last day in Charleston, and boy was it a great decision. Our reservation was at 11:30a, and the restaurant did not open the doors until exactly 11:30a, so we waited outside for about 10 minutes in the heat. 20 other people were waiting, so we had to all cram inside while everyone waited on the one host stand to seat us all. I thought this organization was poor and did not enjoy sweating - but, first world problems. However, everything after being seated couldn't have gone better. The food was impeccable and so full of flavor. The fried green tomatoes were a WOW. So delicious and definitely worth trying. The fish of the day and scallops and grits had nice southern touches to them. Our server, Chuck, did a great job taking care of us and providing recommendations. The inside had a nice vibe about it and we enjoyed our time. Highly recommend.

Magnolias is a staples and it is a spot to try at least once. Decor and ambiance is romantic... b it also great for friends to dine. Staff were friendly and helpful. The bisque was delicious and was sad that we didn't order more.

I stopped by here and was underwhelmed. I wonder if I just ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I did love the tomato bisque. However, the fried green tomatoes sandwich was a miss for me. I like the components but putting them all together didn't do much for me. Maybe it was the bread. My guy ordered the chicken sandwich and felt the same way. I imagine other things on the menu would change my opinion.

We stopped in on a busy Sunday without a reservation but were able to sit at the bar. We had a great bartender/ server Katie who was super friendly and gave great recommendations. We tried some southern dishes and were not disappointed. The fried green tomatoes were so good, as well as the fried chicken sandwich and deviled eggs. A great vibe on a busy Sunday.

We had a nice meal at Magnolias! It was very busy even later in the evening on a week day night - recommend making a reservation. Service was nice - not too fast or too slow. Pretty full from the generous portions so no dessert for us!

Magnolias is one of my favorite splurge restaurants. The service has always been great and such a great spot for a date. I have only gotten the buttermilk fried chicken breast and grilled atlantic salmon - both were delicious and nice portions. I will say it can get pretty busy so reservations are highly recommended especially for the weekends.

Conveniently located in the French Quarter, Magnolias is a delight. Came in for brunch and had the seafood grits. Delicious! Our server brought us a great IPA beer and iced tea. We also had an avocado BLT which was made to perfection. We had no reservations and were sat on high tables next to the bar, that's my only complaint, as through our meal, no one sat in the 4 tables that were available. Ambiance and decor were top notch. Glad to have stopped by at Magnolias!

We drove from Hilton Head to Charleston because we were here two years ago and just love Charleston. We did some exploring and walking around first. I had made reservations here a month prior. Everything was just flat out delicious! The food is so fresh and well prepared. Chef certainly knows how to treat ingredients. The tuna in particular was just sublime! Unfortunately for us, we had a late lunch at Hyman's seafood so we didn't come close to finishing. We sat way in the back of the restaurant, so I didn't get a good look at the layout but it's an intimate and cozy feeling you get being there. Service was good and timely. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

We chose Magnolias as the only place we'd be able to have dinner, while in Charleston. It's on a lovely street, white tablecloth. We sat at the bar. People sitting at the bar were tourists, all friendly. The bartender served us and she was moderately busy on a Weds night. In fact, I suspect our order didn't make it in. "Let me go check on your order; oh, it's the next one up!" After 35 minutes. Cocktails were good. We ordered the fried chicken and the fresh market catch, which was flounder. Both were very good! Perfectly cooked and flavorful. Large portions, but we hadn't eaten since breakfast.

Magnolias was our second choice for dining during our 2 day stayover in Charleston. Our first choice was booked solid. We walked over from our Church Street hotel with our GPS taking us through the back alley. My girlfriend struggled in her shoes but there was the restaurant sign in the alley. Well, that was not the front but the back! We laughed it off and made our way to the front of the restaurant and checked in for our 7pm reservation. Wonderful decor, happy, and comfortable. The larger bar is centered with dining tables around (and I believe there is dining further back in the restaurant too). We were seated on a large table that was set up for a 4top. Happy to have enough room we soon ordered cocktails and enjoyed the ambiance. Servers were busy so it was a bit till our waitress came back to take our order. We ordered Crab soup and Brussel Sprouts for appetizers and for dinner we ordered Bouillabaisse and the glazed Pork Chop. All were outstanding and definitely recommend. The Bouillabaisse was stocked with seafood and the chop was thick, soft and juicy! Service unfortunately was slow. We waited one hour for our entrees. The quality and taste made up for the wait.

Been once before and loved it. This time, food and service were not up to our expectations. Sausage in the shrimp and grits was so spicy that we couldn't eat it. We were served appetizer dinner and appetizer at the same time. I know, unbelievable

Nice dinner, nice quiet, charming restaurant. Service was good and attentive and the meal was delicious. I looked at the fried chicken but when I saw the size of the meal I opted for a fish special and I'm so glad I did. The meal was delightful, the miso sauce was so good I would've licked my plate. It's a charming Charleston staple, a place people have told us we HAVE to try. I'm so glad that we did and I recommend without hesitation.

Great dinner and great service! Beautiful food - we had the salmon, fried chicken, wedge salad and tomato soup. Everything was perfect. And oh yeah, flourless chocolate cake! 5 stars

My friend and I first went to Magnolias in the evening and sat at the bar. We had 2 glasses of sparkling and the fried green tomatoes with tomato chutney and grits and the deviled eggs. The eggs had such an offensive sulfur smell, it was difficult to stomach, let alone eat. The fried green tomatoes and the service at the bar were amazing. My friend and I rarely eat at the same restaurant twice while on vacation , but we ate here again before we left. When we returned for lunch we tried the down south egg rolls which were fantastic and ordered the fried green tomatoes again. We also shared the bbq shrimp and grits. It was delicious, but the plate was very messy when it was placed at our table. I don't know if the lunch crew is just sloppy at plating or the food expediter is careless. I did not except such a sloppy plate to be delivered at our table. The overall service from the hostess to the server was phenomenal though.

We ate all of the fried green tomato appetizer. We could not finish our seafood & grits and fried chicken sandwich. Service is excellent, many waitstaff to serve you. Our waiter recommendations were spot on! The dining room is true southern for a delightful brunch! We shared all the dishes and could not finish, portions are large people size. Best reason to go, white tablecloth, beautiful table settings, food that does not disappoint, the coffee is really smooth, I loved my visit to Magnolia's :)

Magnolias feels like traditional Charleston. Service is fantastic, the food is southern and delicious, and the atmosphere is charming inside the restaurant. I ordered the fish special when I went most recently and it was divine, my group was all wishing they had ordered the same (try the specials!). I highly recommend checking it out!

All I can say is wow! This restaurant had some of the best southern food that I've had. I love that. It was a little upscale without feeling too fancy. We went for a friend's birthday and it was the perfect place to celebrate. The blue crab bisque and scallop appetizers were delicious. I also had to try their fried chicken, of course, and it was crunchy and perfectly cooked. Their desserts were also very tasty and worth every calorie. I would highly recommend giving magnolia a try when in town.

My first night in Charleston I was on a mission to find liver and onions. (Don't judge me ) I was directed to Magnolias. It's on me for not checking the menu first. They do not have liver and onions and never have! I ordered the friend green tomato appetizer because when in Rome.... I am a big fan of FGT. Grew up on them and in season can even get them in some NJ restaurants if I'm lucky. I was told by my waiter that these are the best in Charleston. They were good, but a little too much on the plate took away from the star of the show - the tomato. (white cheddar & caramelized onion grits, country ham, tomato chutney, tomato butter). These were small slices and a heavier breading rather than a light flour dusting that lets the tomato (especially of summer) take center stage. My entree was the Shellfish over grits (sautéed shrimp, sea scallops, creamy white grits, lobster butter sauce, fried spinach). I opted out of the scallops and had shrimp only). This is an extremely rich dish. The spinach on top didn't work for me. The dish was good, I thought the shrimp were small for this caliber of restaurant. A disclaimer here is that I think we New York/ New Jersey folks come with high expectations when we travel because of what we have at home. This is considered a top tier restaurant in Charleston. A nice "tablecloth" (hello New Jersey- you know what I'm talking about) so my expectations were not quite met. A beautiful interior, good service. My opinion is mine alone - if in town- try it for lunch.