Magnolia’s Kitchen & Cocktails — Restaurant in Sandy Springs

My best friend and I went to Under The Cork for our birthdays last weekend. She was in town and wanted to try out a new place and I'd never been there before so we were excited...I like to consider myself a foodie. She made reservations and when I arrived she was already seated. Here is my breakdown...

The good - the ambiance. The restaurant has a very nice vibe. Dim lights (we were seated inside) but not too dark that you cannot see the restaurant. The decor is wine friendly - which means it makes you want to order a glass...or bottle...of wine - and very inviting. I looked outside and the deck was nice as well, seemed like a good place to enjoy dinner and people watch.

The bad - the food was just OK. I ordered the Saffron Braised Mussels and Clams (appetizer) and it was hit or miss. The taste was not bad but there were a few mussels that were very small, almost like an empty shell. The dish had a strong fishy smell, we smelled it as soon as it was put in front of us. For dinner I ordered the Wood Oven Roasted Leg of Lamb and while I thought it was going to be an actual leg of lamb it was slices of lamb. I wish it were a cook to order dish, had I known it was coming out in slices I would have asked, because it was too well done. The lamb was tough, so tough I could barely cut it with the knife given to me. The taste was bland and it needed more seasonings. The spinach was good and so were the prunes that accompanied the dish but I did not like the couscous. Actually, I ate a few bites of the couscous and pushed it to the side.

The ugly - the service provided by our server, Dennis. It was awful! First, when I arrived Dennis came over and asked if we were ready to order. I did not have a menu so I asked him for one. He went to get it and said he'd come back. He came back 5 minutes later and asked if we were ready to order. My best friend asked him if there were any specials and he said "no, not really". OoooK. I told him this was our first time at the restaurant and asked what he would recommend. His response "it's all good" and then he seemed like we were bothering him by asking these questions. So I asked about his opinion on specific dishes and he said "they are different but both are good". OK, fine. We ordered and he left. He did not come over again until he removed the plates from in front of us. Seriously...Dennis NEVER came to check on us! Someone else brought us our food, not our waiter. A young female waitress was checking on her customer next to us, providing great service, and we asked her if she would mind filling our empty water glasses and she obliged. I tried to cut into my lamb with the knife given, I barely could so I looked around for our waiter and he was nowhere to be found. I made do. My friend finished her food and he popped over and picked up the plate and disappeared again. I finished my food and he popped up with the check. Dennis did not ask if we wanted dessert or how our meal tasted. My best friend asked him for a dessert menu and he sighed and said "ok, hold on". Dennis comes back about 30 seconds later and says "don't worry about a dessert menu, I picked out the best dessert on our menu and I'll bring it to you. Free of charge". Nice gesture BUT we'd asked for a menu to see what they had to offer so we could decide ourselves, he did not know if we had any allergies to what he had picked. Dennis finally brought a menu and we decided against ordering, for various reasons. He brought out the creme brulee he'd ordered for us and it was...creme brulee, nothing special, but my friend did not like it.

We were excited to try this restaurant but we both agreed we would not return again, thanks to the horrible service we received from our server Dennis. Would I recommend this place? I would say 'yes' but you might get Dennis and I wouldn't wish...

Updated (8/2022): We had a dinner reservation for a party of 8 at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, 8/30/22. There is a free parking lot, but I would get there a bit early to give yourself enough time to find a spot during busy times. Overall, we liked what we got.

We stuck with vegetarian dishes. We got Walnut Salad, Caprese Salad, Fig & Farmer’s Cheese, Fire Roasted Ratatouille, Spicy Broccolini, Truffle Cacio e Pepe, Crispy Artichokes, and Patatas Bravas. The Walnut Salad was the star of the show. Soooo good. The Truffle Cacio e Pepe was disappointing with not that much flavor. The Fire Roasted Ratatouille was just not that good. Oily, could’ve used bread. The Patatas Bravas weren’t the best I’ve had.

We also got dessert and we were really impressed! The Warm Date Cake was a delight! We were very pleasantly surprised. It looks like it’s chocolate, but it wasn’t! The Spanish Almond Cake was also really good. The Basque Cheesecake was fine, but the other two were better.

Good food, but not the best tapas I’ve had in Atlanta. Cool atmosphere. Good for a date or for a group of friends.

Original (3/2018): We were with a party of 15 in the private room and our waiter was so attentive and on it!

We got the Parrillada entree, which hangar steak, pork chop, chicken and sausage. They were more than willing to put the chicken and steak on a separate plate, since I don’t eat pork. They were very accommodating! We really enjoyed the dish. The pita and sauces were amazing too. It was a lot of food for 2 people, and we had so much leftover! For $30, this is a great deal!

I got the Gypsy salad. The greens and veggies were delicious. I usually love goat cheese, but this was a different kind than I’m used to, and I personally wasn’t a huge fan of it.

We also got a side of Brussels sprouts, which were perfectly crispy and seasoned wonderfully.

We were debating getting another side, but our waiter told us that we didn’t need to, as we would already have a lot of food, and he was right. We appreciated that he was honest and not trying to upsell.

The ambiance is fun, but also romantic. It was hopping on a Friday night! We would definitely recommend this restaurant for dates, a night out with friends, or a place to celebrate...

From the moment I walked through the doors at Magnolia’s Kitchen & Cocktails, I was greeted with warmth and hospitality. To my left, I spotted the upscale, intimate, designer-style seating area—perfect for a date night, special occasion, or even booking out for a private event. To my right, I found the laid-back lounge vibe, the kind of space where you can kick back after work, whether you’re rocking your blue-collar grind or sitting at the table as a business boss. Magnolia’s makes everyone feel welcome.

✨ The Food & Drinks My server, Liv, was absolutely amazing—knowledgeable, attentive, and quick with great suggestions. She recommended the Guava Key Lime Martini, and baby, let me tell you—it was it! Smooth, flavorful, and refreshing. My taste buds were already doing a happy dance before the food even arrived.

First up, I tried the smoked trout dip with handmade chips. Light, fresh, and seasoned just right—never over-salted. It was the perfect starter. Then came the mushroom ravioli, and listen… even if I were vegan, this would be the dish. Flavorful, satisfying, and proof that Magnolia’s has something for everyone at the table. I’ll travel back just for this.

Next, I indulged in the prime rib, and tender and juicy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Every bite melted in my mouth with the right balance of flavor that didn’t overwhelm my palate. Paired with a fresh side salad, it was pure perfection.

And then, baby… the grand finale: the OMG Banana Pudding. Fluffy, light, not too sweet—just heavenly. It had me ready to curl up in the parking lot for a nap in the best “food coma” way possible. My taste buds were literally jumping for joy with every bite.

✨ The Vibe Magnolia’s is one of those rare spots that’s cozy, stylish, and versatile. Whether you’re stopping in for cocktails and small plates, sitting down for a full dinner, grabbing takeout, or planning a celebration, this place fits the bill. Exclusive enough to feel special, yet affordable and inviting for everyone.

Trust me—this is a spot you’ll want to experience for yourself.

— 🌟 Review by LaKeyshia Hampton Brabham Find me on TikTok @SweetNadineTheBoss Facebook, and IG:...