Magnolia Corner — Restaurant in Burbank

I feel really bad writing this.. But I'm hoping some tough love & honesty will help this place eventually do better..

Sadly, Magnolia Corner was a MESS on opening night. I truly don't feel the staff were ready for an opening night. No one knew what was going on, when they opened the door, there was no host to seat people in an orderly fashion- it was a free for all for, for everyone waiting outside to grab random tables.

After sitting around for 30 minutes outside waiting for a server to come, we realized there was noone serving the outdoor patio (which was fully packed.) 2 of the people at my table got up & went inside to check what was going on. Turned out, they only saw 2 servers inside & 1 bartender.. Everything was a "figure it out yourselves." 0 service.

A massive line started to form at the bar to place drink & food orders.. While the rest of my friends & I sat & waited for our 2 others, no waters were handed out, no utensils, no napkins.. no plates.. Literally, nothing.

About 30 minutes after my friends placed an order, a server came out auctioning off a sandwich.. no idea where she was bringing it. She spent 20 minutes looking like a deer in headlights trying to figure out where this 1 sandwich was supposed to go..

A bit after, our food came out. It was lukewarm.. Probably had been sitting there for a while since it seemed like they didn't have any food runners or even bussers.

The onion rings, looked really promising! But, when I bit into them.. They had 0 flavor?? It was strange. I never had such a bland, watery onion ring. As if the batter had 0 seasoning, not even some salt outside of it...

The sweet potato fries were limp & wet.

The wings were rubbery & seemed to be microwaved. My fiancé described it like.. Airplane food..

The French fries were the best thing, to be honest.

After sitting for a bit, we noticed people were fighting over & stealing the stools outside.. They were a "hot commodity." There was absolutely no order.. Just madness..

When it came time to pay, I had to wait in the massive line yet again... However, it didn't even move. I was standing in the same spot for 20 minutes. One of the friends who had ordered for us earlier, went up & told them they held onto her credit card.. Which was left out in the open at the computer where everyone else was standing & ordering.. Anyone could have grabbed it at anytime..

And not only that, but the food was being left there too! All of the food that came out, was being left right under where people were ordering.. Probably spitting & talking all over everyone's food.

This location has SO much controversial history (if you know, you know), so the new owners were MORE than aware of how highly anticipated this opening would be.

And, not only that, the owners themselves were promoting their opening everywhere. There's no way they thought that this small staff would cut it..

It really breaks my heart to write this, because I've seen how the owners have talked about "putting their heart & soul" into this place.. I am willing to come back & update once they're more settled. But they really need an honest review of their opening night so that they can see what I, and EVERYONE else experienced tonight so that they can be better. I really hope they can get...

I was very excited to try this place. I'm the one who suggested it to my family. We got here around 6pm on a Friday. The place was full, and it was chaotic. I asked if we just sat ourselves and they said yes. We went to the back patio. Everything was full. Then someone said they would help us. Then they walked away. Then another girl said she would help us and guided us a high top. It was dirty but she asked us if that table was OK for us. We agreed that it was ok. We stood around the table for it to be cleaned, since the worst thing you could do as a customer is sit at a dirty table. (Both my husband and I work in hospitality, so we know restaurant etiquette). As we are standing and waiting, another employee asks us if we are standing there because we want that table. I mean, ideally? A dirty table is usually your most valuable table. Once the table was clean, the girl that guided us to the table gave us water. We looked around and saw how busy it was. Some tables were getting their food before getting their drinks. Tables around us were paying out and leaving. At one point I joked, I wonder if once this table next to us gets cleaned and sat, if they will get service before us. We all laughed because at this point it had been at least 20 minutes. Then a man sits down. He gets a menu, a woman joins him and within 5 minutes he gets service. That's when I told my family we are leaving. At this point it had been 30 minutes. 30 minutes of being sat, with waters, and menus. No new silverware brought to the table. Hoping to get the attention of whomever had this section. Not even drink orders were taken. I understand rushes can happen, but it was completely unacceptable to be sitting there for 30 minutes without acknowledgment...

I met the owner, Steve during his construction/remodeling of an existing establishment with his plan to change the name and complete gut and renovate both the interior and exterior brand new, which in my opinion completed very well. It is a welcoming environment with kind staff, beautiful interior and exterior patios with somewhat of a craft brewery kind of look. He kept the front facade and original sign with his name change and he also kept the large western mural on the side of the building though everything else is new. He extends an open critique of his menu, so that he can cater items that the local community wants, which is a huge plus to be able to talk to him directly or send him suggestions via IG or email on your interest. What I was really trying to say is, time for me to sign off so I can go grab me some...