Magnolia Cafe — Restaurant in Austin

We came to Austin for Spring break. We Googled the top places to eat in Austin and this popped up; it was either this choice or the pizza shop but this was open 24/7. We were seated fairly quickly even though it was a full house, which is a good sign. When I opened the menu I was a little bummed and wondered if we should have picked pizza instead because we didn't see anything we were excited to try. But boy were we wrong and completely surprised when our food arrived. I wanted a salad and pasta but couldn't decide, so I got both. The blackened fish salad with the yellow crown emoji next to it was delicious! It was spicy but not overbearing. Full of flavor and freshness. Those cherry tomatoes had a crunch to them as they burst in my mouth. The little things get this foodie excited lol The fish was seasoned well and the salad was enough to share for two. We had that as an appetizer. I ordered the Alfredo with shrimp, my husband got the fish tacos (mahi mahi), and my son ordered the tuna melt. Let me tell you, each entree was very delicious and we were very excited that we stayed and chose this restaurant. We would definitely recommend it and will for sure return. Everything was very flavorful! Our waitress was friendly, attentive and helpful with the menu items. They were not greedy with the amount of shrimp they had in my pasta. Some restaurants only put in a few shrimp in their pastas but this restaurant had a good amount. They were also very good sized shrimp. It was a little bland to my tasting, but the sauce was very rich & creamy. Nothing a little salt and pepper couldn't fix. Most of their items are also gluten free according to the menu. They have a lot of options for vegetarian dishes. I'm not a vegetarian but the descriptions of their meals sounded appetizing. They're Cajun and red bean sausage soup was very good as well. Overall we really...

We’ve been goin’ to Magnolia since 2011. It’s been one of our favorite spots in Austin—a real gem we’ve always bragged about to friends and family. But this last visit? It left us heartbroken and downright disappointed.

We showed up with my in-laws, our toddler, and my pregnant wife—so yeah, it was a big group of five. We got there earlier than other folks, and at first, the staff seemed like they were helpin’ us get a table. Then, outta nowhere, they told us we needed to join the waitlist. Meanwhile, four other groups who came in after us somehow jumped ahead in line. Y’all, how does that even make sense?

We asked for a table inside since our little one wasn’t feelin’ great, but they said all they had was the heated patio. We tried to explain why that wouldn’t work, but after waitin’ way too long—while we watched empty tables sit there—we ended up on that patio anyway. At that point, we just gave up tryin’ to figure out what the heck they were doin’.

What really got to us, though, was the lack of leadership. The manager never even bothered to come out and check on things, which made it clear the staff were just left to fend for themselves. They didn’t seem to care about us or any of the other folks in there—it all felt cold and robotic. Definitely not the warm, friendly vibe we used to love about this place.

It’s a real shame. Magnolia used to feel like home, but now it’s like they’ve forgotten what made them special in the first place. Austin’s known for takin’ care of folks, and this kinda service just isn’t what we’re about here.

Honestly, next time we’ll just head to Kerbey Lane or Phoebe’s. They’ve figured out how to grow and still make you feel like you matter. It hurts to say this about a place we’ve loved for so long, but somethin’ needs to change over there. Austin deserves better, and so do their...

This cafe was perfect!! You join the waitlist virtually via the QR code and can do so prior to arriving at the restaurant which is always a plus. Parking is available to the side and rear of the building. Seating is available both indoor and outdoor. We had a party of five and were accommodated rather quickly. Service is quick, friendly and attentive but not hovering. But the food - the food! - is what you come for. We had a a spinach and artichoke dip as an appetizer. It was served with bread and toasted chips. Our entrees for dinner included something from each part of their menu: a chicken quesadilla served in four quarters, a blue cheese voodoo burger, fettuccine Alfredo and pancakes- plain and chocolate chip. Everyone enjoyed their meals with no need for take-home containers. The Voodoo burger had a flavor profile that was different from any I’ve seen before. The voodoo spices and blue cheese crumble gave this burger a distinct taste. It was served with home style fries that equally distinctive and flavorful. The quesadilla was packed full and yummy. The pancakes were large and fluffy and delicious. They were cooked just right and hit the spot. But the star of our dinner table was the fettuccine Alfredo. This dish was not your normal Alfredo noodles. It had more garlic and butter than most Alfredo sauces and it also had mushrooms. I’m not sure which item made the meal more outstanding but I do know that everyone at the table concurred that it was the best fettuccine Alfredo we’d ever had. I will be back and I will order this for sure! We did not take advantage of the drink menu except for a homemade hibiscus tea - which was brewed perfectly. I highly recommend this restaurant and will be...