Magnolias — Restaurant in Charleston

The great food hits keep coming on our tour of the south...as vegetarians, we always want to eat in a place that gives a true experience of the region we're eating in, without feeling like second-class citizens. We had that experience at Magnolias...a restaurant serving up classic southern dishes, in a fine-dining atmosphere. Honestly not the first place anyone would think of when it comes to getting a vegetarian meal, but, check out their menu, "The Magnolia Classic Vegetarian" is the very first item they list. We felt right welcome.

We didn't have a reservation which is an issue at this popular French District restaurant but seating at the bar is first-come-first-serve, and they do offer full service there, so if you're okay with not having a nice table cloth and your table being a little smaller (if you're not at the bar-counter) then you're in good shape. We found a 2-top in the bar area immediately and it overlooked the main dining area so we felt like we were part of the whole thing.

Okay, full disclosure, my wife does not always eat vegetarian so she wanted to have an authentic "best of" shrimp and grits experience in town, which is what led us here. She liked what she got and I was thrilled with the "Magnolias Classic Vegetarian" – A very filled plate with fried green tomatoes, corn asparagus, mashed potatoes, melted pimento cheese (not too melted), and green beans...so so many southern flavors on my plate really gave me an authentic sampling of a southern palette.

We especially loved our server, the bartender Carrie. She was super friendly, knowledgeable about the food, and took very good care of us. Based on her recommendation we came back a second time, later, on a different night to have the Pecan Pie. This fabulous creation on a plate, topped with ice cream, was undoubtedly the best slice of pecan pie we'd ever had.

If you want a perfect fine-dining, authentically southern meal, with a fantastic vegetarian dish, Magnolias is the place for you. Don't skip...

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...

Magnolias – A Charleston Gem with Unforgettable Service and Cuisine

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Magnolias in Charleston, and from the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. Our server, Steven, was nothing short of exceptional—warm, knowledgeable, and attentive. His recommendations were spot-on and truly elevated our experience.

We started with an incredible selection of appetizers: fresh oysters that were perfectly chilled and briny, crispy egg rolls packed with bold flavors, rich and creamy pimento cheese, and mussels bathed in a flavorful broth that had us reaching for extra bread to soak up every last drop. To pair with these, we enjoyed the expertly crafted Grand Fashioned, a bourbon lover’s dream, and a selection of fantastic wines that complemented each dish beautifully.

For our entrées, the pimento cheese filet mignon was an absolute standout—perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and topped with a decadent Southern twist. The flounder was equally impressive, light and flaky with a delicate yet flavorful preparation that showcased the freshness of the seafood.

Then came dessert, and let me tell you—it was legendary. The bourbon pecan pie with vanilla ice cream was hands down the best I’ve ever had. The rich, nutty filling had just the right balance of sweetness and a subtle bourbon kick, all nestled in a perfectly buttery crust. Topped with a scoop of smooth, creamy vanilla ice cream, it was pure heaven. The crème brûlée was equally flawless, with a beautifully caramelized top that cracked to reveal the silkiest custard beneath.

Magnolias is everything you want in a fine Southern dining experience—impeccable service, an elevated yet comforting menu, and an inviting atmosphere that makes you want to stay a while. If you’re in Charleston, do yourself a favor and make this a priority. An overall 10/10 spot, we’ll...