Magnolia Cafe — Restaurant in Durant

Edited for obvious typos. From the week that I started working in Durant, early March 2021, I've frequented the Magnolia Cafe. The food was always of great quality and prepared better than you might have hoped. The service had been pretty much horrendous so the money I saved in reduced tips has afforded me the premium cost of the the good food. This changed recently when I encountered the one member of the wait staff who is a proffessional, Racie. Unfortunately, she doesn't live there so I can't eat there as often as I used to want to. I say, "used to", because the owner, who used to do a great job in the kitchen and his wife, who manages the floor have made the place less attractive. On my next-to-last visit, Racie had ended her shift by the time I arrived but vouched for one of her co-workers who would have taken her place serving me. The other waitress didn't get the chance because the manager went off on them while Racie was advising her replacement on what it takes to get a great tip from me. At that, I walked out. The last meal I had there was prepared by the owner, as was often or maybe always the case. By this time, I had noticed that the portions were becoming smaller but not so much that I left hungry. This time, my hash browns were undercooked after the owner was informed of how I like them. I sent them back and they were retured a while later in the same state of undercook. During this same meal, I received the worst tasting cup of coffee I'd ever had in a cafe restaurant. I asked for a replacement cup from a freshly brewed pot. It was no better so I didn't get to drink coffee with my chicken-fried steak and eggs with hash browns and buscuit and gravy. The steak was cooked to my satisfaction but was barely covered with a thin layer of gravy. The buscuit had just barely enough gravy so I couldn't supplement the steak. I got charged for the whole meal with the price of the coffee that I wouldn't drink if it were the only kind of coffee on the planet. I gave Racie the best tip I've ever given as a solo diner and let her know that it was my last visit to the Magnolia Cafe for the...

Prepare yourselves, Durant, because I just had an absolutely mind-blowing experience at The Magnolia Cafe and you NEED to hear about it.

From the moment I walked through the door, I was greeted with a warmth and genuine hospitality that is just SO rare these days. The service wasn't just good; it was spectacular! Every single staff member I encountered was on their A-game – attentive, friendly, and incredibly efficient without ever making you feel rushed. They clearly love what they do, and it totally shines through in their interactions.

And the FOOD? Oh. My. Goodness. The food is simply divine. Seriously, every dish that came out of that kitchen looked like a work of art, and tasted even better! You can tell they use the freshest, highest-quality ingredients because every bite was bursting with flavor. Whether you're craving a comforting classic or something a little more adventurous, The Magnolia Cafe delivers on all fronts. I'm still dreaming about their perfectly cook Famers Skillet.

If you're in Durant and you're looking for an unforgettable dining experience – fantastic service, incredible food, and an atmosphere that just feels right – you must run, not walk, to The Magnolia Cafe. This place is a true gem, and I'm already counting down the minutes until my next visit.

Five stars isn't enough; they...

Updated Review: Below I shared my initial review of Magnolia Cafe. I was a big fan of their food and I am still a fan of their food. However just today I went to Magnolia and as my wife and I were waiting in line to pay for our bill we started watching the chef cook. We soon realized that he wasn't wearing a hair-net, wasn't wearing any gloves, and was grabbing the food with his bare hands and placing it on the stove then grabbing the food again with his bare hands to put it on the plate. I am not sure how they passed the health inspection with these kind of unsanitary practices. Unfortunately my wife and I no longer feel comfortable attending Magnolia. We can not get the image out of our head of a person grabbing our food with his bare hands. Tongs are not an expensive item so I'm not sure why they are not being utilized. I understand that it is not required in Oklahoma to wear gloves or use tongs but it is a personal preference. I also don't see it to be unreasonable that they wear a hairnet.

Here was my initial review: "A really nice place with good food. I have never had a bad experience here thus far. They have really good customer service and they bring your food out pretty quickly. Their sausage patties are...