This is the perfect place to take someone special, or your family for a special occasion. The food is excellent, and very well presented. The atmosphere is a nice combination of cozy and classy. Dinner can be expensive, particularly if you throw in an appetizer and desert. If you want to try their flavor without spending so much, go there for lunch. It's just as delicious, and far, far cheaper.
(5)
Andy B.
Really good food, excellent service, Lisa was wonderful, kids loved it. BYOB with no corking fee, so I went back for the bottle of wine in the car. This was an unexpected find for "weary travelers"; only wish it was close to home in Michigan.
(5)
Joy G.
I rarely give 5 stars but I adore this place. The food is always cooked perfectly, served promptly, and I've always had really pleasant experiences with the servers. The atmosphere is great, perfect for casual dining or a dinner out with some friends. Outside seating is lovely on their patio too. Love the BYO option as well.
(5)
Kim S.
I've been a fan of Cafe Magnolia for a long time. I was there last night and noticed it was a new menu. I was glad they still had my favorite appetizer, spanikopita. They've added a fabulous trout almondine to the menu. It was so delicious, I'm ready to go back again today! It was served with crisp string beans and buttery smashed potatoes but the star really was the trout.
(4)
Patrick S.
The service was nice and the food better than average. The decor was somewhat dissapointing. Worth a visit if you are close by b ut we drove out of our way to visit based on other reviews. We would not do so again.
(3)
Samiam H.
I always found Magnolia consistently good, and good value for money. Since my last visit a year ago I notice the prices have gone up. Unfortunately the quality tonight was not up to their usual standards. Service was good. The house salad is very ho hum, served dry with a small cup of dressing, it would be nice to have the option of having the salad tossed in your choice of dressing. My two tenderloins were small. I asked for medium rare. For medium rare to work for me it would need to be seared giving a outside crust. It was not seared and I probably should have asked for medium to get a warm pink middle rather than a cool rare middle.
(2)
Tony D.
This place is the real deal. Friendly knowledgable staff. Delicious food. Comfortable atmosphere. What more could you ask for? Maybe a better location, it's a bit outside the city limits but well worth the time to swing over for a dinner with friends, family or co-workers. They will thank you for introducing them to Cafe Magnolia, enjoy! *Oh, and be sure to place a reservation as seating is limited and it fills up quickly.
(5)
Stephen G.
I've been here a few times, and every time has been excellent. If you like risotto, this is the place for you. You can tell that there is a lot of attention to detail in the food. The menu is incredible, and will have something that appeals to everyone in your party. It's the prototypical small private restaurant that lets their food and service speak for it's self. The waitstaff may be some of the best I've had anywhere. They are knowledgable of the menu, and are very attentive without being interruptive. Cafe Magnolia is one of the best restaurants on the west shore. The only cons I could give this place would be it's size. It can feel a bit snug. Making reservations are also the way to go because everytime I've been here its been packed.
(5)
Mikey B.
Good quality / portions and friendly service.
(4)
Lisa S.
I met a friend there for lunch and it was my second time there. I ordered the Cobb salad with chicken. I got a very minimal amount of chicken, which tasted like it was cooked yesterday. You would think if you charge $12 for a salad they would be more generous with their portions. Also, the service was very slow and disappointing. I don't anticipate visiting this place again.
Best dinner out in a long time! All 3 had great appetite and main courses! Don't miss this place!!!
(5)
Carol W.
Love the Magnolia wrap! A great combination of coconut crusted chicken, strawberries, poppyseed dressing, toasted almonds in a wrap with pasta salad. Very tasty!! We didn't have a lot of time as it was a workday lunch. The food was out in no time, and it was very nice to enjoy the noon hour on the patio. We used the coupon on the website and paid around $14 for both of us - a real bargain for a memorable lunch.
(4)
Sara G.
I was so pleasantly surprised by Cafe Magnolia! It was my mother's birthday on Monday and she kept insisting she knew of this great place called Cafe Magnolia and that it would be great for lunch. Sure -- it's your birthday, why not? Cute decor, super friendly server and delicious food! Everything was so full of flavor and fresh, you could tell the chef really put a lot of preparation into ensuring everything came out perfectly. Oh -- and the mushroom and brie soup was one of the best soups I've had in a long time. Excellent choice! If I lived back in the area, I'd definitely be going back here -- this is a standout.
(4)
Ramona F.
I ordered the Coconut Chicken (to go) but I was ver disappointed with the seasonings. The 'strawberry / pineapple salsa' was more like chopped pineapple & strawberries without any liquid or seasoning. I think a sweet sauce would have been nice with it - maybe something with a mustard / coconut / fruity flavor. I would not order again.
(3)
Mike W.
I've been to this restaurant several times for lunch. Overall, a great locally owned place. Great service and an impressive lunch time menu primarily consisting of wraps, sandwiches, salads, and a limited number of entrees. The sandwiches are loaded and well prepared, however the wraps, while offering a large selection of choices, are served on run of the mill stale Sysco wraps, so steer clear of them. And the pasta salad- just pasta with some oil, 2 small pieces of celery, and some Parmesan cheese on top. They do have other side dishes on the menu to choose from, so you have other choices.
(4)
Carol H.
Love Cafe Magnolia! Food is delicious. Presentation is creative. Staff very friendly. Love BYOB They do need some new carpeting on their porch--won't keep me from coming back! But could be a turn off initally to newcomers
(4)
Kristi C.
Sandwiches are overpriced. Crab melt is soaked with Old Bay and Lemon. AND $13!!! Pasta salad that came with the wrap was bland. Cute place and server was pleasant, but will not return for the food. Much better places (and cheaper) to get lunch.
(1)
Rick N.
Good local place with a slight sparkle. Each time we go though the menu seems in need of more umph, and the cooking needs something more as taste have gotten blander. Still a good choice in an area where Red Lobster rules supreme - also very homey friendly service
(3)
Liz T.
Went to a friend's bridal shower here this afternoon. Our waitress Jackie was really friendly. She was helpful when I told her I have Celiac disease and can't have gluten. Very accommodating. The coconut chicken salad was delicious. So was the Caesar salad. The coconut chicken was modified by grilling it rather than breading it and was very tasty. The ambiance was cheery and cozy. Definitely recommend stopping here.
(5)
Chris L.
Cafe Magnolia is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to. The service is amazing from the time you walk in the door until the time that you leave. The food is awesome. I've had a variety of items from the menu and often times find an excuse to be in the area just so I can stop in for a bite to eat. I would recommend this place to anyone. I do wish however that they had a bar available.
(5)
David A.
Nice BYO in an old house. Even better, it is minutes from our house. I had a great salmon dish and a nice salad to start. Service was knowledgable and friendly and food was paced out well. Prices are reasonable for the portion size and quality.
(4)
Juliana P.
Came here for work and looked up the highest rated places in town. This should not have been one of them. Extremely long wait for food (though the place wasn't crowded) and our food was spoiled/overcooked. Really disappointing since the menu looked so promising. I don't think I could stomach going again after eating spoiled lobster.
(1)
Josh T.
I recently went here for the first time! The service was great, Sam was our server and he was very helpful and made sure we had an enjoyable stay. The food was delicious! We each enjoyed our meal... Will definitely be back!
(5)
Licinia K.
Excellent find. We went here due to reviews and the pictures. Other places in area wasn't as appalling. You drive up as immediate know this is a quality place. It s in a old house renovated and has such charm to it. We just came in not dressed great with kids and they treated us great. Got a private room that was heated well (specially in this cold winter money's of negative degrees). We ordered kids meal and a chefs menu. I had the Greek salad, lobster risotto and chocolate brownie dessert. Hubby had salmon cakes and the sausage with frizzed spinach with the dessert. Kids had pasta with Alfredo and chicken tenders. We also got a chocolate smoothie and magnolia tea. Delicious!! Definitely a place to go to and make the drive to. Next time we re in town we are going here
(4)
Carol B.
Lovely restaurant in a converted house. Great ice tea. The Mac and cheese is a grown up meal The bistro steak sandwich with roasted red peppers was great. Very fresh bread. Hot and fresh fries. Really nice staff. I will go there again for sure
(4)
Raquel M.
I came here while on a trip for business. We were excited to come here because it had great reviews and it was in a cute location. When we get there the menu looked great and we were excited to order. After taking our order we were left at our table for over 30 minutes waiting for just our salads that came with the meal. Eventually, after another 30 minutes of waiting, our food finally comes out. I had ordered the Coconut Chicken and my coworker ordered the Lobster. My chicken was extremely burnt and impossible to eat and her lobster had an ammonia smell, this is commonly a result from spoiled lobster. when we told the waitress about the issue she rolled her eyes and comped the lobster. But with the wait and the poor quality of food I would recommend staying away from this place.
(1)
Brittaney L.
Food was great, I had the California cheesesteak sub, it's not very handicap accessible which is the only downside. Service was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Ben B.
With typical cafe fare, this unassuming eatery with friendly wait staff is a nice spot to meet a friend over lunch or dinner. The southwestern chicken wrap met all of my expectations with a tasty side of pasta salad. The downside here is this cafe doesn't serve any coffee or espresso drinks beyond a diner-like cup of coffee. Would I go back? For their quality and creative food options, yes.
(3)
Kathryn W.
Siracha burger was awesome!! Also the fries were great. All the moms I went with got Jessie's Favorite salad and loved it.
(5)
R B.
My husband and I went to Cafe Magnolia for a late dinner. The restaurant is in a cute house. The parking lot was full but the restaurant was not. We were seated right away but the service was a little slow. It seemed like the only had two waitresses for the whole house. He ordered the soup of the day (gumbo) and a chef's special (ricotta ravioli). I had the bistro tender. Both of our meals included a salad which was larger than expected. The Caesar salad is a $1.50 upgrade. We also received rolls which were really good. My meal was two pieces of tenderloin, broccoli, and mashed potatoes. My beef was good but my mashed potatoes were cold. My husband said he wasn't blown away but his meal was good. Our meal was $54. It was a lot of food so come hungry. There were a lot of good sounding options on the menu so we will definitely be back.
(4)
Christopher G.
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!!! Service was perfect. Atmosphere quaint and cozy. Food absolutely wonderful. She had Jess' Salad, I had blackened chicken mac & cheese. Both were even better than expected. A MUST try!!
(5)
Christina V.
I was in town for business and staying in a nearby hotel. The reviews were favorable and the location was convenient. Plus, the weather was beautiful and I noticed they have patio/deck seating. I also liked the ability to byob without a corkage fee. Portions are large which is tough when dining alone. Great for sharing! The caprese salad, strawberry salad and oysters were all very good. I dined here two nights in a row which is how I was able to try so many items. Service was good - better the second night. Perhaps the A team was working the weekend? I will return. Great choice for this area.
Have had several lunches here. They have been slowly going down hill. I do not recommend
(1)
Bree H.
Food is ok. Would rate higher if the food want so expensive. For the price it's average food. I've eaten here a couple times.
(3)
Maura D.
Ate at Magnolias tonight with a party of 16. The food and the service were great. Our waitress was a delight and she handled this large party expertly. The food never disappoints!
(5)
Lina K.
I had gone to this restaurant a couple years ago for dinner with friends and I was not blown away. I decided to give this place another try and went for lunch. It's a cute restaurant and very intimate. Small tables throughout the rooms of what used to be a house. The menu looks quite good and I had the Magnolia wrap with a salad. Pasta salad is their go-to side but they were fine when I asked for a salad. The server was very nice. The food was excellent. I will return. Maybe it is better for lunch than for dinner? Or maybe the meal I got several years ago just wasn't the best choice.
(4)
Pamela C.
Sooo yummy! I came in for my BF and my 3rd year anniversary. I don't like uppity places, but I also hate chain restaurants. This place is PERFECT! The food is not too expensive. I ordered the scallop entree. It had huge scallops, a nummy risotto, and asparagus. The portions are large enough where if you split an appetizer, you'll probably take some home for tomorrow's lunch. My BF ordered the tuna, which was seared perfectly. He also is not a veggie eater, but he finished the broccoli! The atmosphere is homey and cozy and the waitress was very friendly and knew that we wanted out alone time and checked on us when necessary. Definitely will be back!
(5)
Betsy R.
The Maryland Crab Soup was extraordinary! However, I love seafood and always rate my experience based on how expertly the seafood is cooked. I fell for the description of the Champagne Oysters. When they arrived, however, they were over-breaded and way over-fried, hard-fried, little greasy nuggets. There was no sumptuous, tasty oyster nugget in there at all. What a disappointment! I had ordered two appetizers for my meal, so half the meal was a bust. My husband had trouble finding something he was interested in ordering; his steak sandwich was fine. Our friend did not finish the spaghetti and meatballs, saying it was "okay." The shrimp on my other friend's salad was also over-cooked, hard and rubbery. Why is it so hard to find seafood cooked correctly here in the mid-state?
(2)
Brian R.
Stopped in for a dinner date after hearing good things about the place. I'll have to agree that Cafe Magnolia is a unique find with a creative menu and quality food. The restaurant exists throughout the many sections of the house, with small colorful rooms hosting tables in a quaint setting. Service was great, the menu was small. However, everything on the menu was quite creative and different. I ended up ordering coconut crusted chicken topped with pineapple and strawberry over basmati rice and my date had a similar combination with shrimp. Our meat wasn't cooked perfectly but I can honestly say I've never had a combination quite like that, it was very tasty. The food is in the medium price range and the restaurant was surprisingly very crowded during our visit, but we were seated only after a short wait. I would probably go back and recommend you give it a try yourself. BYOB.
(4)
Jeanine C.
I'll make this short and simple. It's basically a restaurant inside a house. The menu was so hard to choose from because I wanted nothing on there. The food tasted disgusting, I had a Portabello Mushroom sandwich. And tried the pasta that they also served on someone else's plate (that they didn't like). It wasn't impressive enough to come back to. Sorry!
(1)
Andy C.
Came here while in town on business. It was recommended by several people. The decor is nice, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I ordered the following: Manhattan clam chowder - tasty, with plenty of seafood and tomato flavor. Bruschetta with goat cheese - different, with bold flavors. The ghost cheese however was completely lost among the red onions and olives. Not the best pairing, but still good. Scallops with pineapple risotto - the scallops were very large, and there were five of them. Nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. The risotto however was not good. Completely seized up and lumpy. The scallops being as good as they were made it ok. This dish could have been a home run. I need to stick to my rule of not ordering risotto as it is hardly ever cooked right. Would go back for sure.
(3)
Veronica N.
I had dinner here on a quiet Wednesday eve. I ordered the lobster bisque, which was pretty bland. The Caesar salad was very acidic. However, the main course was suburb! I ordered the petite tender and lobster tail. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes with truffle oil and grilled asparagus. The steak was topped with a shallot cream sauce. I didn't see shallots, but there were caramelized onions in the sauce. The cream sauce was light and flavorful & the steak was perfectly cooked. The potatoes were warm and earthy. The truffle oil was the standout flavor. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The homemade bread was also delicious. All in all, a great experience. Byob is a plus!
(4)
Jan F.
Very pleasant place for lunch or dinner. The crowds tell you that we weren't the only ones to find this out. The restaurant is inside a converted older frame home so the rooms are small and can be noisy when full, but it is a happy noise. We went recently for lunch and were pleased that they were able to fit us in when we arrived close to 1PM. Service was caring and attentive as well as responsive to our need to be served quickly. We loved the Greek salad and the crab salad and crab cake. This recently discovered place will be on our list of places to return to when we next return to the area. Go. You will not be disappointed.
(3)
Bob I.
Our new favorite place. Refined flavors done just right. I look forward to exploring the full menu. They do have a child's menu, but the portions are adult-sized. Be prepared to take most of it home with you.
(5)
Matt O.
Great food, great service and a nice atmosphere. While staying in Harrisburg for a few days my wife and I were desperately searching for a place to eat beyond the conventional bar and grill or chain restaurant. After searching on Yelp for a bit we came across Cafe Magnolia. The location is quaint, with a patio and a small dining room. We were seated immediately, and our server approached quickly, despite having half the tables in the dining room. She was attentive, friendly and worked her butt off busing her own tables, running her own food, and somehow still managing to get us everything we needed. I was very impressed. We ordered the seafood chowder and calamari as an appetizer, and they were absolutely fantastic. The calamari was served atop a homemade marinara sauce, and was cooked perfectly, i.e. no rubbery overcooked pieces. For dinner I ordered the crab cakes and my wife ordered the scallops. My crab cakes were huge and they really had little filler, just chunks of crab. My wife's scallops were seared perfectly and were some of the better scallops I've ever had at a restaurant. My only complaint is that the risotto was slightly overcooked, but I'm not a huge risotto fan in general so I might be biased. Overall, well deserving of five stars and if we're ever back in the area I think this would be our first choice for dinner.
(5)
Steve G.
I've been going to Cafe Magnolia off and on for years, and it's been consistently very good. The wait staff is nice and helpful, and the food is fresh and tasty. One thing I should note is with the general style of cooking on the menu. They have a tendency to mix savory and sweet in the entrees. Meats and fish are almost invariably served with some sort of fruit sauce or salsa, or something to that effect, such as scallops with pineapple risotto, tuna with apricot chipotle mustard sauce, or chicken with pineapple-strawberry salsa. It's a nice change of pace from the usual food choices at other places, but I wouldn't want it all the time. The whole menu isn't like that, but it certainly is predominant. I like the location, the people, and most of the menu. Cafe Magnolia is a very nice place!
(4)
Kylie T.
I got a take-out lunch here about a week or two ago and have been thinking about it ever since! I love how fast their take-out works; absolutely no waiting even at a 12:30 rush time. I decided on the Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich, which was FABULOUS. My meal ended up costing 9.25 total, but the sandwich was so large, I saved half of it and had it for dinner later on. The chicken breast was grilled, but still moist, with a lot of flavor, the mozzarella cheese was melted on, and was thick and perfect. They also topped it with fried prosciutto, not the cheap kind either. Finally, a mix off fresh tomato/olive bruschetta. My only tiny little complaint was that it was a BIT on the salty side. I think the prosciutto is so salty, that they could have lessened the salt amount on something else. Other than that, it was a terrific sandwich and I would definitely order it again as-is. There is a separate entrance for the take out, which is convenient. Even though I went to the wrong entrance, the girl there was very helpful and didn't seem put out at all that she had to take me to the correct entrance. Definitely will be coming back here for lunch again soon!
(5)
Steve P.
You wouldn't even think it was a restaurant and before they had the sign out front neither did I. My family decided to take my grandmother here for her 75th birthday and everything went well. A large variety of Pastas, Pork, and Peanut Butter Pies were ordered and no one had any issues with the food other than the Risotto was a tad undercooked and a little crunchy, but it wasn't that large a problem, just worth mentioning here. Very homey and romantic atmosphere here makes it a prime location for a intimate dinner for two. The service staff is very accommodating in making sure you are comfortable for your meal and will gladly put you off to a side table if you let them know you would like some privacy with your date. On the topic of the wait staff they were very attentive to our party of 5 and none of the drinks went empty or waited for a refill, the food came out with pretty decent speed given the amount of people in the location was almost at maximum. Personally I enjoyed my Salmon that I got, it was cooked very well and had a good fresh taste, not too musky that you get when the salmon has been sitting for too long or frozen excessively. The Bruschetta is also something I can comment one due to everyone tasting it, and I wish there was more of it, well seasoned and a good way to start the meal. With it's atmosphere and setting you can understand why things are a little more pricey than your standard place, but sometimes you just gotta treat yourself and be happy with it.
(4)
Keith H.
Great little restaurant for lunch! I recently went to Cafe Magnolia for lunch with a few co-workers. We had 8 in our party and we were in and out in less than an hour with great service. That is great for anyone who is looking for a quick, high quality lunch. The menu consists of soup, salad, sandwiches, wraps, and pasta dishes. A nice variety that should appeal to anyone. For my meal I had the BBQ Chicken Sandwich with chips. The sandwich had seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and a blackberry chipotle BBQ sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it was a good size sandwich. My only minor complaint was I wish they would have put more of the BBQ sauce on the sandwich. The sauce was not spicy at all, instead a little sweet. It was good but I lost it on the sandwich, the seasoning overpowered it. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone for lunch. I would get my sandwich again but the menu offered a lot of other choices I want to try first!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Chad S.
This is the perfect place to take someone special, or your family for a special occasion. The food is excellent, and very well presented. The atmosphere is a nice combination of cozy and classy. Dinner can be expensive, particularly if you throw in an appetizer and desert. If you want to try their flavor without spending so much, go there for lunch. It's just as delicious, and far, far cheaper.
(5)Andy B.
Really good food, excellent service, Lisa was wonderful, kids loved it. BYOB with no corking fee, so I went back for the bottle of wine in the car. This was an unexpected find for "weary travelers"; only wish it was close to home in Michigan.
(5)Joy G.
I rarely give 5 stars but I adore this place. The food is always cooked perfectly, served promptly, and I've always had really pleasant experiences with the servers. The atmosphere is great, perfect for casual dining or a dinner out with some friends. Outside seating is lovely on their patio too. Love the BYO option as well.
(5)Kim S.
I've been a fan of Cafe Magnolia for a long time. I was there last night and noticed it was a new menu. I was glad they still had my favorite appetizer, spanikopita. They've added a fabulous trout almondine to the menu. It was so delicious, I'm ready to go back again today! It was served with crisp string beans and buttery smashed potatoes but the star really was the trout.
(4)Patrick S.
The service was nice and the food better than average. The decor was somewhat dissapointing. Worth a visit if you are close by b ut we drove out of our way to visit based on other reviews. We would not do so again.
(3)Samiam H.
I always found Magnolia consistently good, and good value for money. Since my last visit a year ago I notice the prices have gone up. Unfortunately the quality tonight was not up to their usual standards. Service was good. The house salad is very ho hum, served dry with a small cup of dressing, it would be nice to have the option of having the salad tossed in your choice of dressing. My two tenderloins were small. I asked for medium rare. For medium rare to work for me it would need to be seared giving a outside crust. It was not seared and I probably should have asked for medium to get a warm pink middle rather than a cool rare middle.
(2)Tony D.
This place is the real deal. Friendly knowledgable staff. Delicious food. Comfortable atmosphere. What more could you ask for? Maybe a better location, it's a bit outside the city limits but well worth the time to swing over for a dinner with friends, family or co-workers. They will thank you for introducing them to Cafe Magnolia, enjoy! *Oh, and be sure to place a reservation as seating is limited and it fills up quickly.
(5)Stephen G.
I've been here a few times, and every time has been excellent. If you like risotto, this is the place for you. You can tell that there is a lot of attention to detail in the food. The menu is incredible, and will have something that appeals to everyone in your party. It's the prototypical small private restaurant that lets their food and service speak for it's self. The waitstaff may be some of the best I've had anywhere. They are knowledgable of the menu, and are very attentive without being interruptive. Cafe Magnolia is one of the best restaurants on the west shore. The only cons I could give this place would be it's size. It can feel a bit snug. Making reservations are also the way to go because everytime I've been here its been packed.
(5)Mikey B.
Good quality / portions and friendly service.
(4)Lisa S.
I met a friend there for lunch and it was my second time there. I ordered the Cobb salad with chicken. I got a very minimal amount of chicken, which tasted like it was cooked yesterday. You would think if you charge $12 for a salad they would be more generous with their portions. Also, the service was very slow and disappointing. I don't anticipate visiting this place again.
(2)Michael C.
Ate here last night (10/1/12), the portions were large, we could have split one entrée. Tostada crab salad was huge. Wait staff and manager were friendly. Second time eating here, we're from California and will eat here next trip out this way.
(4)Lisa D.
Best dinner out in a long time! All 3 had great appetite and main courses! Don't miss this place!!!
(5)Carol W.
Love the Magnolia wrap! A great combination of coconut crusted chicken, strawberries, poppyseed dressing, toasted almonds in a wrap with pasta salad. Very tasty!! We didn't have a lot of time as it was a workday lunch. The food was out in no time, and it was very nice to enjoy the noon hour on the patio. We used the coupon on the website and paid around $14 for both of us - a real bargain for a memorable lunch.
(4)Sara G.
I was so pleasantly surprised by Cafe Magnolia! It was my mother's birthday on Monday and she kept insisting she knew of this great place called Cafe Magnolia and that it would be great for lunch. Sure -- it's your birthday, why not? Cute decor, super friendly server and delicious food! Everything was so full of flavor and fresh, you could tell the chef really put a lot of preparation into ensuring everything came out perfectly. Oh -- and the mushroom and brie soup was one of the best soups I've had in a long time. Excellent choice! If I lived back in the area, I'd definitely be going back here -- this is a standout.
(4)Ramona F.
I ordered the Coconut Chicken (to go) but I was ver disappointed with the seasonings. The 'strawberry / pineapple salsa' was more like chopped pineapple & strawberries without any liquid or seasoning. I think a sweet sauce would have been nice with it - maybe something with a mustard / coconut / fruity flavor. I would not order again.
(3)Mike W.
I've been to this restaurant several times for lunch. Overall, a great locally owned place. Great service and an impressive lunch time menu primarily consisting of wraps, sandwiches, salads, and a limited number of entrees. The sandwiches are loaded and well prepared, however the wraps, while offering a large selection of choices, are served on run of the mill stale Sysco wraps, so steer clear of them. And the pasta salad- just pasta with some oil, 2 small pieces of celery, and some Parmesan cheese on top. They do have other side dishes on the menu to choose from, so you have other choices.
(4)Carol H.
Love Cafe Magnolia! Food is delicious. Presentation is creative. Staff very friendly. Love BYOB They do need some new carpeting on their porch--won't keep me from coming back! But could be a turn off initally to newcomers
(4)Kristi C.
Sandwiches are overpriced. Crab melt is soaked with Old Bay and Lemon. AND $13!!! Pasta salad that came with the wrap was bland. Cute place and server was pleasant, but will not return for the food. Much better places (and cheaper) to get lunch.
(1)Rick N.
Good local place with a slight sparkle. Each time we go though the menu seems in need of more umph, and the cooking needs something more as taste have gotten blander. Still a good choice in an area where Red Lobster rules supreme - also very homey friendly service
(3)Liz T.
Went to a friend's bridal shower here this afternoon. Our waitress Jackie was really friendly. She was helpful when I told her I have Celiac disease and can't have gluten. Very accommodating. The coconut chicken salad was delicious. So was the Caesar salad. The coconut chicken was modified by grilling it rather than breading it and was very tasty. The ambiance was cheery and cozy. Definitely recommend stopping here.
(5)Chris L.
Cafe Magnolia is probably one of the best restaurants I've been to. The service is amazing from the time you walk in the door until the time that you leave. The food is awesome. I've had a variety of items from the menu and often times find an excuse to be in the area just so I can stop in for a bite to eat. I would recommend this place to anyone. I do wish however that they had a bar available.
(5)David A.
Nice BYO in an old house. Even better, it is minutes from our house. I had a great salmon dish and a nice salad to start. Service was knowledgable and friendly and food was paced out well. Prices are reasonable for the portion size and quality.
(4)Juliana P.
Came here for work and looked up the highest rated places in town. This should not have been one of them. Extremely long wait for food (though the place wasn't crowded) and our food was spoiled/overcooked. Really disappointing since the menu looked so promising. I don't think I could stomach going again after eating spoiled lobster.
(1)Josh T.
I recently went here for the first time! The service was great, Sam was our server and he was very helpful and made sure we had an enjoyable stay. The food was delicious! We each enjoyed our meal... Will definitely be back!
(5)Licinia K.
Excellent find. We went here due to reviews and the pictures. Other places in area wasn't as appalling. You drive up as immediate know this is a quality place. It s in a old house renovated and has such charm to it. We just came in not dressed great with kids and they treated us great. Got a private room that was heated well (specially in this cold winter money's of negative degrees). We ordered kids meal and a chefs menu. I had the Greek salad, lobster risotto and chocolate brownie dessert. Hubby had salmon cakes and the sausage with frizzed spinach with the dessert. Kids had pasta with Alfredo and chicken tenders. We also got a chocolate smoothie and magnolia tea. Delicious!! Definitely a place to go to and make the drive to. Next time we re in town we are going here
(4)Carol B.
Lovely restaurant in a converted house. Great ice tea. The Mac and cheese is a grown up meal The bistro steak sandwich with roasted red peppers was great. Very fresh bread. Hot and fresh fries. Really nice staff. I will go there again for sure
(4)Raquel M.
I came here while on a trip for business. We were excited to come here because it had great reviews and it was in a cute location. When we get there the menu looked great and we were excited to order. After taking our order we were left at our table for over 30 minutes waiting for just our salads that came with the meal. Eventually, after another 30 minutes of waiting, our food finally comes out. I had ordered the Coconut Chicken and my coworker ordered the Lobster. My chicken was extremely burnt and impossible to eat and her lobster had an ammonia smell, this is commonly a result from spoiled lobster. when we told the waitress about the issue she rolled her eyes and comped the lobster. But with the wait and the poor quality of food I would recommend staying away from this place.
(1)Brittaney L.
Food was great, I had the California cheesesteak sub, it's not very handicap accessible which is the only downside. Service was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)Ben B.
With typical cafe fare, this unassuming eatery with friendly wait staff is a nice spot to meet a friend over lunch or dinner. The southwestern chicken wrap met all of my expectations with a tasty side of pasta salad. The downside here is this cafe doesn't serve any coffee or espresso drinks beyond a diner-like cup of coffee. Would I go back? For their quality and creative food options, yes.
(3)Kathryn W.
Siracha burger was awesome!! Also the fries were great. All the moms I went with got Jessie's Favorite salad and loved it.
(5)R B.
My husband and I went to Cafe Magnolia for a late dinner. The restaurant is in a cute house. The parking lot was full but the restaurant was not. We were seated right away but the service was a little slow. It seemed like the only had two waitresses for the whole house. He ordered the soup of the day (gumbo) and a chef's special (ricotta ravioli). I had the bistro tender. Both of our meals included a salad which was larger than expected. The Caesar salad is a $1.50 upgrade. We also received rolls which were really good. My meal was two pieces of tenderloin, broccoli, and mashed potatoes. My beef was good but my mashed potatoes were cold. My husband said he wasn't blown away but his meal was good. Our meal was $54. It was a lot of food so come hungry. There were a lot of good sounding options on the menu so we will definitely be back.
(4)Christopher G.
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!!! Service was perfect. Atmosphere quaint and cozy. Food absolutely wonderful. She had Jess' Salad, I had blackened chicken mac & cheese. Both were even better than expected. A MUST try!!
(5)Christina V.
I was in town for business and staying in a nearby hotel. The reviews were favorable and the location was convenient. Plus, the weather was beautiful and I noticed they have patio/deck seating. I also liked the ability to byob without a corkage fee. Portions are large which is tough when dining alone. Great for sharing! The caprese salad, strawberry salad and oysters were all very good. I dined here two nights in a row which is how I was able to try so many items. Service was good - better the second night. Perhaps the A team was working the weekend? I will return. Great choice for this area.
(4)Nikki W.
Knew something was wrong when I had a Sat. reservation for 7pm, and the parking lot was only half full. Last time I went, excellent dinning experience and the place was packed. This time, the experience was not great. The service was poor. They were out of three things that I asked for, including something the server suggested. The food was not done well. My soup was cold. The main course didn't look good. My coconut chicken was way over cooked on a bed of rice that seemed mushy. My husbands flounder WAS mushy. Waited 30 minutes between apps, soup and salad to the entrées. Would have ordered dessert, but at that point I didn't have the heart. Manager never bothered to ask how we were, though he did ask a couple of the tables near us. Thank goodness I brought a bottle of wine with me. (Was able to keep myself refilled, as no one else bothered to refill our waters.) Sad.
(2)Tom W.
Have had several lunches here. They have been slowly going down hill. I do not recommend
(1)Bree H.
Food is ok. Would rate higher if the food want so expensive. For the price it's average food. I've eaten here a couple times.
(3)Maura D.
Ate at Magnolias tonight with a party of 16. The food and the service were great. Our waitress was a delight and she handled this large party expertly. The food never disappoints!
(5)Lina K.
I had gone to this restaurant a couple years ago for dinner with friends and I was not blown away. I decided to give this place another try and went for lunch. It's a cute restaurant and very intimate. Small tables throughout the rooms of what used to be a house. The menu looks quite good and I had the Magnolia wrap with a salad. Pasta salad is their go-to side but they were fine when I asked for a salad. The server was very nice. The food was excellent. I will return. Maybe it is better for lunch than for dinner? Or maybe the meal I got several years ago just wasn't the best choice.
(4)Pamela C.
Sooo yummy! I came in for my BF and my 3rd year anniversary. I don't like uppity places, but I also hate chain restaurants. This place is PERFECT! The food is not too expensive. I ordered the scallop entree. It had huge scallops, a nummy risotto, and asparagus. The portions are large enough where if you split an appetizer, you'll probably take some home for tomorrow's lunch. My BF ordered the tuna, which was seared perfectly. He also is not a veggie eater, but he finished the broccoli! The atmosphere is homey and cozy and the waitress was very friendly and knew that we wanted out alone time and checked on us when necessary. Definitely will be back!
(5)Betsy R.
The Maryland Crab Soup was extraordinary! However, I love seafood and always rate my experience based on how expertly the seafood is cooked. I fell for the description of the Champagne Oysters. When they arrived, however, they were over-breaded and way over-fried, hard-fried, little greasy nuggets. There was no sumptuous, tasty oyster nugget in there at all. What a disappointment! I had ordered two appetizers for my meal, so half the meal was a bust. My husband had trouble finding something he was interested in ordering; his steak sandwich was fine. Our friend did not finish the spaghetti and meatballs, saying it was "okay." The shrimp on my other friend's salad was also over-cooked, hard and rubbery. Why is it so hard to find seafood cooked correctly here in the mid-state?
(2)Brian R.
Stopped in for a dinner date after hearing good things about the place. I'll have to agree that Cafe Magnolia is a unique find with a creative menu and quality food. The restaurant exists throughout the many sections of the house, with small colorful rooms hosting tables in a quaint setting. Service was great, the menu was small. However, everything on the menu was quite creative and different. I ended up ordering coconut crusted chicken topped with pineapple and strawberry over basmati rice and my date had a similar combination with shrimp. Our meat wasn't cooked perfectly but I can honestly say I've never had a combination quite like that, it was very tasty. The food is in the medium price range and the restaurant was surprisingly very crowded during our visit, but we were seated only after a short wait. I would probably go back and recommend you give it a try yourself. BYOB.
(4)Jeanine C.
I'll make this short and simple. It's basically a restaurant inside a house. The menu was so hard to choose from because I wanted nothing on there. The food tasted disgusting, I had a Portabello Mushroom sandwich. And tried the pasta that they also served on someone else's plate (that they didn't like). It wasn't impressive enough to come back to. Sorry!
(1)Andy C.
Came here while in town on business. It was recommended by several people. The decor is nice, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I ordered the following: Manhattan clam chowder - tasty, with plenty of seafood and tomato flavor. Bruschetta with goat cheese - different, with bold flavors. The ghost cheese however was completely lost among the red onions and olives. Not the best pairing, but still good. Scallops with pineapple risotto - the scallops were very large, and there were five of them. Nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. The risotto however was not good. Completely seized up and lumpy. The scallops being as good as they were made it ok. This dish could have been a home run. I need to stick to my rule of not ordering risotto as it is hardly ever cooked right. Would go back for sure.
(3)Veronica N.
I had dinner here on a quiet Wednesday eve. I ordered the lobster bisque, which was pretty bland. The Caesar salad was very acidic. However, the main course was suburb! I ordered the petite tender and lobster tail. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes with truffle oil and grilled asparagus. The steak was topped with a shallot cream sauce. I didn't see shallots, but there were caramelized onions in the sauce. The cream sauce was light and flavorful & the steak was perfectly cooked. The potatoes were warm and earthy. The truffle oil was the standout flavor. Our server was very friendly and attentive. The homemade bread was also delicious. All in all, a great experience. Byob is a plus!
(4)Jan F.
Very pleasant place for lunch or dinner. The crowds tell you that we weren't the only ones to find this out. The restaurant is inside a converted older frame home so the rooms are small and can be noisy when full, but it is a happy noise. We went recently for lunch and were pleased that they were able to fit us in when we arrived close to 1PM. Service was caring and attentive as well as responsive to our need to be served quickly. We loved the Greek salad and the crab salad and crab cake. This recently discovered place will be on our list of places to return to when we next return to the area. Go. You will not be disappointed.
(3)Bob I.
Our new favorite place. Refined flavors done just right. I look forward to exploring the full menu. They do have a child's menu, but the portions are adult-sized. Be prepared to take most of it home with you.
(5)Matt O.
Great food, great service and a nice atmosphere. While staying in Harrisburg for a few days my wife and I were desperately searching for a place to eat beyond the conventional bar and grill or chain restaurant. After searching on Yelp for a bit we came across Cafe Magnolia. The location is quaint, with a patio and a small dining room. We were seated immediately, and our server approached quickly, despite having half the tables in the dining room. She was attentive, friendly and worked her butt off busing her own tables, running her own food, and somehow still managing to get us everything we needed. I was very impressed. We ordered the seafood chowder and calamari as an appetizer, and they were absolutely fantastic. The calamari was served atop a homemade marinara sauce, and was cooked perfectly, i.e. no rubbery overcooked pieces. For dinner I ordered the crab cakes and my wife ordered the scallops. My crab cakes were huge and they really had little filler, just chunks of crab. My wife's scallops were seared perfectly and were some of the better scallops I've ever had at a restaurant. My only complaint is that the risotto was slightly overcooked, but I'm not a huge risotto fan in general so I might be biased. Overall, well deserving of five stars and if we're ever back in the area I think this would be our first choice for dinner.
(5)Steve G.
I've been going to Cafe Magnolia off and on for years, and it's been consistently very good. The wait staff is nice and helpful, and the food is fresh and tasty. One thing I should note is with the general style of cooking on the menu. They have a tendency to mix savory and sweet in the entrees. Meats and fish are almost invariably served with some sort of fruit sauce or salsa, or something to that effect, such as scallops with pineapple risotto, tuna with apricot chipotle mustard sauce, or chicken with pineapple-strawberry salsa. It's a nice change of pace from the usual food choices at other places, but I wouldn't want it all the time. The whole menu isn't like that, but it certainly is predominant. I like the location, the people, and most of the menu. Cafe Magnolia is a very nice place!
(4)Kylie T.
I got a take-out lunch here about a week or two ago and have been thinking about it ever since! I love how fast their take-out works; absolutely no waiting even at a 12:30 rush time. I decided on the Mediterranean Chicken Sandwich, which was FABULOUS. My meal ended up costing 9.25 total, but the sandwich was so large, I saved half of it and had it for dinner later on. The chicken breast was grilled, but still moist, with a lot of flavor, the mozzarella cheese was melted on, and was thick and perfect. They also topped it with fried prosciutto, not the cheap kind either. Finally, a mix off fresh tomato/olive bruschetta. My only tiny little complaint was that it was a BIT on the salty side. I think the prosciutto is so salty, that they could have lessened the salt amount on something else. Other than that, it was a terrific sandwich and I would definitely order it again as-is. There is a separate entrance for the take out, which is convenient. Even though I went to the wrong entrance, the girl there was very helpful and didn't seem put out at all that she had to take me to the correct entrance. Definitely will be coming back here for lunch again soon!
(5)Steve P.
You wouldn't even think it was a restaurant and before they had the sign out front neither did I. My family decided to take my grandmother here for her 75th birthday and everything went well. A large variety of Pastas, Pork, and Peanut Butter Pies were ordered and no one had any issues with the food other than the Risotto was a tad undercooked and a little crunchy, but it wasn't that large a problem, just worth mentioning here. Very homey and romantic atmosphere here makes it a prime location for a intimate dinner for two. The service staff is very accommodating in making sure you are comfortable for your meal and will gladly put you off to a side table if you let them know you would like some privacy with your date. On the topic of the wait staff they were very attentive to our party of 5 and none of the drinks went empty or waited for a refill, the food came out with pretty decent speed given the amount of people in the location was almost at maximum. Personally I enjoyed my Salmon that I got, it was cooked very well and had a good fresh taste, not too musky that you get when the salmon has been sitting for too long or frozen excessively. The Bruschetta is also something I can comment one due to everyone tasting it, and I wish there was more of it, well seasoned and a good way to start the meal. With it's atmosphere and setting you can understand why things are a little more pricey than your standard place, but sometimes you just gotta treat yourself and be happy with it.
(4)Keith H.
Great little restaurant for lunch! I recently went to Cafe Magnolia for lunch with a few co-workers. We had 8 in our party and we were in and out in less than an hour with great service. That is great for anyone who is looking for a quick, high quality lunch. The menu consists of soup, salad, sandwiches, wraps, and pasta dishes. A nice variety that should appeal to anyone. For my meal I had the BBQ Chicken Sandwich with chips. The sandwich had seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and a blackberry chipotle BBQ sauce. The chicken was cooked perfectly and it was a good size sandwich. My only minor complaint was I wish they would have put more of the BBQ sauce on the sandwich. The sauce was not spicy at all, instead a little sweet. It was good but I lost it on the sandwich, the seasoning overpowered it. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone for lunch. I would get my sandwich again but the menu offered a lot of other choices I want to try first!
(4)