Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery Gastropub / Brewery / Pub

The first time I hit Magnolia was for brunch- and oh would I hit it again. Good food, not insanely outstanding but not disappointing at all. A fairly wide selection for a small menu. I find the prices to be a little steep, but I the meals I have had have been copious and sharing is caring. The seats can be a bit hard to come by, but it is worth the wait. It reminds me quite a bit of the cafes I used to hang out in all day in Paris, but it's classier and the waiters are nice and, well, you can't hang out all day on one coffee. My favorite part of this bar is HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY TUESDAY. Wonderful. I definitely respect their changing beer selection. My suggestion: Go with a friend. Drink some beer. Split the pickle plate and the Fish and Chips. Be satiated. Leave happy.

My Take: Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery in the Haight Ashbury district is one of the best restaurants in San Francisco. With its historic décor and large selection of beer brewed in house, Magnolia is one of the many restaurants in SF that is a must try. As you step inside you are instantly awed by the vintage atmosphere with the original ceiling still preserved and very classic furnishings such as antique faucets in the restroom and individual hand towels for each customer upon washing your hands. The menu was not particularly lengthy yet I struggled to make a selection nonetheless because everything sounded so fantastic. While the prices were a bit high (averaging around $20 which for a college student such as myself is fairly steep) the food was well worth it and combined with the atmosphere was hard to beat. The Scene: Owing to its location in the infamous Haight Ashbury District the clientele of Magnolia is very interesting and eclectic. While the prices of Magnolia are fairly high, especially for the Haight, the typical hippies with dreadlocks and grungy clothing were in attendance but the main customer base seems to be young 30 somethings out for a good time. The lighting at night is very dim with candles on each table which only adds to the vintage allure of Magnolia. Classic rock music drifted throughout the dining area yet ultimately the conversations of the diners drowned most of it out. The vibe is very relaxed and comfortable with conversations in abundance and the wait-staff ensuring you are well taken care of the entire time. Cocktails and Cuisine: The food and drink at Magnolia are excellent, reflecting traditional American food that is excellent in quality and not too complicated. My party ordered the rootbeer which is actually hand brewed in house. It blew the socks off any old A&W or Barq’s let me just say. I ordered the chicken habanero sausage with tomatillo salsa with avocado salad. I found the sausage to be pretty spicy but that’s not saying much because I’m a wimp. The meat was very tender and played off both mild and spicy flavors from the tomatillo salsa and the cool flavor of the delicate avocado. My boyfriend and his friend ordered the blue bell brined pork chop which according to my friends is the shining star of Magnolia. The thick pork chop is accompanied by cheddar grits, swiss chard, pork-mustard jus. As a vegetarian I cannot attest to the taste of the pork chop but the cheese grits were incredibly comforting, silky smooth, and delicious. For desert my friend ordered the ice cream sandwich which included two freshly baked cookies with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream in between. It. Was. Glorious. The other desert we ordered was the pot de crème, a type of chocolate mousse that was extremely rich yet incredibly delicious at the same time. Overall I was very impressed by the food and drinks at Magnolia and highly recommend it to anyone who loves high quality comfort food and in-house beers on tap. Prices: As a college student strapped for cash Magnolia is definitely a special occasion type of establishment. Or when your parents decide to stop by and take you for dinner. Overall though for the quality of the food and the ambiance of the restaurant the prices are extremely fair. My handmade chicken sausage was $14 which did not include a side such as rice, potatoes or bread. Prices typically stay under $20 for an entrée and drinks are around $7, which for an in-house brewed beer is an incredible steal. What to Wear: I saw a variety of ensembles and seeing as it is a bar there isn’t a strict dress code. Most diners wore jeans and buttoned shirts or t-shirts. Insider Info/When to Go: Even on a Tuesday night, when my party went to Magnolia, the lines were very long. We managed to snag a table but it was right next to the door and on the chilly night that it was every time the door opened (which seemed to be every few seconds) we were blasted with a waft of bone-chilling air and were slapped by the black curtain right next to the door.