Magnolia Bar & Grill

This place has the BEST brunch. I've eaten brunch here maybe 3 or 4 times - food is consistent and fresh. There is a wide spread as well. I'm usually hesitant to do the buffet-style dining (who knows how long it's been sitting there? and who wants to pay a little more for "old" food), but every time I've been I've noticed that the kitchen changes out the items very frequently... especially the seafood and fried items.

Waitstaff is wonderful. Unlimited mimosas were never less than half-full. This is a great place to read the Sunday paper and eat,drink, & be merry.

Pros: Brunch, outdoor patio, food, coffee

Posted 01/13/09

We went to Magnolia Bar and Grill for a going away celebration for a friend. This was our first time going there. The wait was horrible. We waited nearly an hour for our food. One lady at our table ordered a salad, and it still took her an hour to get her salad. She asked for some extra vinagrette, but she never got it. My drink was seldom filled. All in all, the service was terrible. The waiters were not polite or courteous. Yet, the prices were a little pricy. I certainly would not recommend this place for a friend. However, this place does have potential. I hope the owners will invest in a better staff.

Posted 08/13/08

A friend and I went to Sunday brunch at Magnolia pretty early--around 10:45. I don't like that it's outside the loop, but I definitely think it's worth the trip. It wasn't crowded so early in the day and we got a great seat by the buffet. Everything I had I enjoyed, and I wish that I had superhuman eating abilities so I could eat more. I tried almost everything. A few notables were the etouffee (yum!), gumbo, jambalaya, raw oysters, fried shrimp, creme brulee, and cheesecake. They were all delicious! The mashed potatoes were not that great--they seemed like they were made from a mix. Most of the salads were so-so. They also had waffles and omelets available I think, but I didn't waste room on them since I wanted the cajun and creole foods.

Since it was buffet, we didn't experience the service much except that refills were pretty prompt and that there was an obnoxious server laughing loudly the whole time, which was very annoying. The atmosphere is nice--we sat indoors and were able to enjoy our conversation in comfy booths but it was still classy. We missed the live band unfortunately.

There is complimentary valet and I think that the all-you-can-eat brunch is a great value for about $25--I would definitely return.

Posted 07/23/08

I give Magnolia only 4 out of 5 stars because of the new management. I frequent this establishment weekly and if it weren't for the great waiters that work here (all except for one TERRIBLE one), this place may go out of business. The new (young, male) manager seems to focus and put more energy into his comaraderie with his subordinates, watching sporting events on the television or hanging out with the bartender, rather than making sure things are running as they should be (i.e., making sure customers don't wait for over 5 mins upon entering and waiting to be seated or that the one dreadful waiter isn't creeping out the patrons). However, anyone who knows me, knows that I am a total lover of crawfish and all things gastronomic. I continue going for the CRAWFISH, amongst other favorite dishes and wonderful desserts. I have taken visitors from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and everywhere else around Louisiana here for the mudbugs and they all agree that they are cooked to perfection... Quite impressive, actually. Keep it up, Magnolia, and shape up the manager you've got! I'd hate to have to find somewhere else to get my crawfish!!!

Pros: crawfish, banana bread pudding, crawfish, key lime pie, crawfish

Cons: poor management

Posted 05/12/08

I have been a long time patron of this place but won't be going back until I hear of a new management taking over.

Their Crawfish are the best in the city I think but what good does that do when you are left waiting 20 minutes and the place isn't even busy.

Head on out to the patio, nice music NO SERVICE! One poor bartender in charge of the whole outdoor area and he cooks the crawfish too!

This place has it all. Great food, great location and NO SERVICE!

Posted 04/06/08

Some friends and I (one of which is from Louisiana) wanted crawfish and that's why we went here. First we ordered calamari and it was cooked to absolutely perfection!! They served butter french bread as an appetizer and it was also delicious. But the crawfish, this is the BEST crawfish I've EVER had at a restaurant. They were so hot, that after sharing 4 lbs w/ my friends, my mouth was on fire, but it was so good we ordered 8 more lbs between the 3 of us. Even after thoroughly rinsing my fingers with mild, my fingers were STILL too hot to take my contacts out. HIGHLY recommended for crawfish! The atmosphere is a little stuffy for a place that sells crawfish but I'd compare it to the Pappas environment minus the fish tanks.

Pros: crawfish crawfish crawfish crawfish!!!

Cons: dress code posted on the front door (nothing strict, just silly to have at all in the 21st century)

Posted 03/11/08

I took the time to sign up for this account JUST SO I could leave my comments.I was looking to try something new as I have been to what seems like almost every restaraunt in houston - I personally eat out almost daily- . Where do I begin? How about where our nightmare began - We got there and had to wait 10 min BEFORE a hostess came up to tell us that there was a 30-40 wait. OK fine . After the 45 min wait, we got a table and was attended by a RUDE - SARCASTIC - IDIOT of a waiter. All he brought us was water and left without even asking what we wanted to drink !! After another 15min. of waiting for him to come back, I had to flag him down to get a alcoholic beverage- which was light on the alcohol ! ! Wow ! ! The menu was ALMOST THE SAME as the menu at Pappadeaux - The food at pappas is well worth the money however long wait ! ! Not like this overpriced junk they served us ! ! The food food was BLAND and NOT HOT . The fried seafood entres we received were not fully cooked on the inside! ! I informed the waiter of the issues and he acted as if he did not care. Enough was enough ! ! I informed him to get his manager and wow how a personality can change ! I had him stand there while our ENTIRE family ONE by ONE said what needed to be said.. The Manager offered to comp our meals but we all declined and just decided it would be worth leaving and eating somewhere else.. A couple sitting on the opposite side saw us leaving and started complaning to us also about how bad the place sucked ! ! They wanted to complain to but did not feel it was worth the hassle... Well screw that, if I am going to pay good money for food ($21.95 for a seafood dish, $13.75 for a mixed drink) I expect the food and service to be equal. Bottom line for the same prices and food, save the trouble and EAT AT PAPPADEAUX ! ! ! Pappas food is EXCELLENT and the portions match up with the prices even on super busy nites.. This is where I was going to go at first.

Pros: The free valet - Live band- Clean restrooms

Cons: Menu un-original, food not flavorful, rude service

Posted 03/07/08

Nice size and satisfying, but.....crawfish are too dry and don't seem to be soaked as they should.
There are some folks very near by that boil em good, fast, spicy, and best of all...the price is right!!

Pros: service

Cons: crawfish are dry

Posted 02/28/08

The Magnolia Bar and Grill is an interesting place. An older restaurant at the corner of Richmond and Fountain View with an understated southern elegance. The furniture and decor are not flashy, but the atmosphere is of New Orleans. The wait staff dressed in white shirts and aprons, a pleasant concierge and everyone smiling. The Sunday buffet was excellent. Crayfish etoufee, oysters on the half shell, an extensive offering of vegetables, salad, fruit and hot and cold meats, omelets, waffles and a great range of deserts. Plus Bloody Mary?s or bottomless Mimosas and unlimited coffee. Excellent and highly recommended.

Pros: Excellent food, great service

Posted 01/05/08

I'd heard about Magnolia from a few friends of mine who recommended the crawfish. Unfortunately by the time i got around to going, the crawfish had long run out. I ordered the seafood gumbo, but the bartender suggested the chicken & sausage, so i gave it a try. It was delicious, the flavor was amazing. The bartender explained it was because the roux is made with the chicken & sausage in it, or something i don't know. Try it.

Pros: Service, Gumbo.

Cons: parking was a little awkward.

Posted 08/31/07

We were recentlly given a gift certificate to the Magnolia for a dual birthday gift. We choose to go for Sunday brunch and were not disappointed. Although there was a small wait, we were able to start our brunch with bottomless mimosas at the bar. Once seated our waitress, who was very knowledgeable, took us through each item on the buffet and kept the mimosas coming. The food was very good and there was a wide range of items including breakfast and some vegetarian dishes(only thing missing was the gravy for our biscuits) . We would highly recommend the Magnolia for brunch, for the value it?s the best bet in town.

Posted 08/22/07

Surprise visitors from California prompted an impromptu get-together. Having a somewhat large party (8 people) and no reservations on a Friday night we made several phone calls to local restaurants. With wait times ranging from one or more hours at other places, the manager at Magnolia assured us that we could get seated promptly and also informed us of a live band playing on their patio. Though they couldn?t promise us seating outside (they don?t take reservations for the patio), they did however seat us immediately upon arrival at a very nice round table in the back room, which allowed for great conversation while enjoying our dinner. After dinner we proceeded to the patio only to find one small table was available. Not being large enough for our party, the manager quickly ask an employee to help him move another table from elsewhere on the patio. We enjoyed the remainder of the evening listening to great music and dancing the night away. I highly recommend this restaurant and will return due to the great service by the staff and the wonderful food.

Posted 08/02/07

When I first read reviews on CitySearch, I was excited to go to the Magnolia Bar and Grill. I am from Louisiana, and the food was nothing like home. My food was not hot when first brought to me. It was at the temperature when you know the food has been sitting around for a while. The taste of the fish was bland. The veggies that were on the plate were not cooked completely. Even if my food would have been hot and cooked, the taste of the food was bland bland bland.

The service was also poor, but every restaurant has an off night for service.

Pros: parking

Cons: bland food, poor service, slow and rude service

Posted 07/11/07

I have enjoyed Magnolia for a number of years.
I recently stopped by for some Crawfish and I tell ya I think they were certainly some of the best I have ever tasted.
I have personally boiled thousands of pounds of Crawfish over the years and I am scared to guess how many I have eaten. I have varied my Grandfather's Recipe at different times to accomodate one person or another, but I am yet to outcook Magnolia's Crawfish.
Better git ya sum!!!

Posted 07/02/07

I had driven through the night and arrived in Hopuston around 7:00 on a Tuesday. In the rush to make it to town I found myself quite hungry and from personal experience I had faith that Magnolia Bar and Grill would have the ability to accomodate me. I had not been to Magnolia in almost a year since I had relocated away from the Houston area and I found it to be the great cajun seafood joint that I remembered. A band called the Guzzlers played to the large crowd, some dancing to the music the band pumped out.
I found the food to be the same great taste I had last experienced in Magnolia's dining room. The crab meat stuffing is obviously full of real crab, and the trout pecan, a newer dish, made my taste buds somersault. The main bar area was quite loud and after being allowed to sit in the backroom I found that the environment was exactly what I was lookiing for.
Only drawback was finding a place to park, yet after a few times around the lot I was able to find a spot. I should have used the valet service.

Posted 06/14/07

Great Food and service, parking hard to find on Sunday. Great crawfish & gumbo, long term customer. What happened to the WIFI ? Be back soon you can count on it.

Posted 06/13/07

Food was excellent, the waitstaff was very attentive and the restaurant was extremely clean. However, I was wondering when WiFi was going to be installed.

Posted 05/31/07

I don't understand the other reviews. This place has awsome food, and I have never had bad service. The boiled crawfish is as good as I can boil at home. My wife and I went last week and she had the soft shell crabs. I was lucky to get a bite. I had the Opelousas baked duck, which is my favorite. I highly recommend Magnolia Bar & Grill to get authetic Cajun Food done right.

Posted 05/28/07

I took a colleage here for his birthday lunch. The waiter made a mistake in my order and said it was my fault. He corrected it but for the rest of our lunch he was rude and insulting to me. I reported it to the manager but I will not be back. The ambiance is nice, but the food is overpriced and so-so and the service is AWFUL. I do not go out to be insulted.

Pros: Good ambiance

Cons: Insulting waiters

Posted 05/01/07

I don't really know who said this place has good crawfish, but I've been here many times over the years, and there are a few things that have occurred on every occasion.
1. Slow service
2. Weak drinks
3. Overpriced
4. TINY crawfish
Go there if you like...but prepare yourself for a huge let-down!

Pros: There is valet

Cons: If you don't valet (payment is required), you need to bring hiking shoes!

Posted 04/28/07

We live in the neighborhood and decided to try the restaurant after driving past it in the past few years. WHAT A TOTAL DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!! There are so many good Cajun/crawfish places in town, all within 10 minute drive of this place....

If you are interested in a restaurant with no self parking, long wait for a table, minimum service, chaotic management style, weak drinks, and below average food, Magnolia is the place for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Their website said for table of six or more, must make reservation. When we showed up for our 7:30pm reservation for party of 6, we waited another 45 minutes for a table... (A note to restaurant management, if you are busy and can't hold reservations, DON'T TAKE THEM). As we were waiting for the table, the front of the restaurant was total chaos. The host was not there at the stand most of the time, and no floor manager took care of the customers coming in. Finally, the host set up a table for us in the bar, right next to all the smokers.

The food quality certainly did not justify the wait.... brief summary of our orders: the crawfish was tasteless and lukewarm, the gumbo and etouffee were too salty, the steak was burned (when it was asked to be cooked medium), the frozen margaritas were a chunk of ice.... Our waiter had no clue how to serve a party of six as our entrees were all brought out separately, with no less than a 20 minute gap in between.
All in all, we were so embarrassed for taking out of town guests there, never again!

Pros: can't think of any

Cons: bad parking, lousy food, bad service, long wait for table, weak drinks,

Posted 03/24/07

Well, it isn"t all bad. They do have a decent patio, live music. The crawfish are boiled in plain water, and then seasoning is sprinkled on top of the shells (yuck).
The service is well, bad. Chaotic is an apt description. There appears to be no direction, no management?
All in all, there are much better choices for cajun in Houston.

Pros: Decent patio,live music

Cons: Bad crawfish, bad service

Posted 03/24/07

I have just tried the crawfish here because it is great. Sitting out side with a live band, drinking a cold beer, talking with your friends, it does not get better than that.

Posted 10/31/06

In response to the review by erickson I would like to mention my experience at Magnolia Bar & Grill. If you go to any crawfish resturant in May, expect to wait even if you only just call ahead. Magnolia Bar & Grill offers some of the best Cajun comfort food in Houston. I eat there regularly and am always impressed with the food and service. Try it during crawfish season and sit on the patio and enjoy the music and food. Keep on cooking Magnolia I'll always be loyal.

Pros: Fair priced, Good parking, Great music

Posted 12/25/05

Bar None the best boiled crawfish in town. They are a little bit more expensive than most places, but you're not going to find a tastier place. They do have happy hours for crawfish during the season which makes it a better value.

Pros: Best Boiled Crawfish

Cons: Price

Posted 10/20/05

I called ahead and still waited 20 minutes to be seated. We arranged the tables ourselves. After that, no wait staff came to our table for another 10 minutes and we were never given menus. The lone waiter that ventured near our party brought water and did not even say hello. At the end of the meal we received our check. The price of the buffet was offensive and insulting. $20.90 per person! Not only was the food average at best, but nowhere, observable to customers, was the price listed or stated that beverages were included in the price. Worse yet, five members of my party actually bought iced tea at the bar since no beverages were brought to our table. Believe me, you don't want to go there, unless you like overpaying for average food and suffering through intolerably poor service.

Pros: Live music, Clean bathrooms, location

Cons: horrible service, average food, WAY overpriced

Posted 05/01/05

Little slow service. Can be very romantic with the right person. Great food, reasonable prices. Live bands on weekends.

Pros: Great Location, good patio, Live Music

Posted 06/16/04