TRUE SOUTHERN STYLE IN SAN DIEGO
San Diego Buzz Magazine
As hot as Jazz as cool as Jazz and as smooth as Jazz, Magnolias offers up some of the best of New Orleans (noo-AW-linz) cuisine in true southern style. Named for the Louisiana state flower, the roots of Magnolias run deep. There is love in this food. The Johnson family’s Magnolias will immerse you in the history of a truly American cuisine and soothe your soul with a smooth Jazz lullaby. The spirit of the south is evident to the senses the second that the door is opened. That spirit that welcomes you to stop what you’re doing and “rest a spell”. Let the outside world fade away as you indulge in the inheritance of the south; it’s food.
Generations of southerner’s have gathered together to celebrate and support one another in the custom of sharing their family’s recipes. Now, Magnolias continues this legacy for all of us to enjoy.
From the simple cornbread muffins that come to the table to whet the appetite to the complex flavors of the Combination Filé Gumbo, with it’s rich dark brown sauce loaded full of chicken, shrimp, sausage, and crab, these recipes are geared to satisfy. To begin with the Deep Fired Oysters are lightly breaded and carry the flavor of the sea to perfection. BBQ Shrimp are actually broiled in a spicy herb butter sauce and served with toasted baguette to “sop up” every delectable drop of that sauce. From the menu, under “Old Southern Favorites”, comes the Southern Fried Chicken, here is the pure truth in the term “mouth-watering”. This has got to be the best, fried chicken in town. The outside is as crisp and as crunchy as you can get and without a hint of oil, while the inside is as juicy and as tender as can be with an abundance of secret herbs and spices popping out all over. So Good!
Along with the fried chicken, as well as other dishes on the menu, comes your choice of two lagniappes (LAN-yaps). Lagniappes, meaning “a little something extra”, include Hush Puppies, Collard Greens, Red Beans, Candied Yams, Black-Eye Peas, Coleslaw, Green Beans, Mac & Cheese, Fried Okra, Rice and Fries. It’s very hard to decide on only two of these so fortunately they are offered on the menu separately for only $2.50 or as a sampler where four are $9.00. Then, of course, sharing with table-mates is always a good option as well. Jambalaya with its unique spices can be ordered from the menu with Shrimp and Sausage or Chicken and Sausage but no matter which is ordered either will be equally enjoyed. In fact the menu is packed full of choices and variety and will happily take many visits to explore. There comes a point in the middle of your dinner when you are truly transported to another time and place and I swear I could see lightning bugs outside the window as the Jazz musicians started to warm up their instruments. The velvet music wraps around you and the food fills a part of your soul that you weren’t aware was empty. This is the magic of Magnolias. When dinner is finished and it’s time for dessert the southern hospitality remains shining brightly. Out of the kitchen comes a Sweet Potato Pie that will make you weep with joy, a Bread Pudding that will leave you breathless and a Peach Cobbler that will magically create new “old memories”.
Magnolias offers a full bar and has some pretty interesting drinks like the Bayou Lemonade that is as potent as it is delicious. Magnolias Hurricane and the Scooby Snack are rum drinks and there are a wide variety of Martinis including the Georgia Peach made with Stolid Persil (Peach), Peach Schnapps and Cranberry Juice. The wine list is compact but of note is the Coppola Diamond Series a Napa Valley vintage. Of course there are some dishes that would just be better with beer so ask about the selection available to find a good match. With just over 100 seats in the two dining rooms and plenty of space in the bar area, Magnolias is well equipped to handle private parties and banquets. There is a wonderful patio as well. The live Jazz ensemble entertains on Friday and Saturday nights and on Sunday afternoons you can enjoy classical Jazz harp. The restaurant is open Tuesday – Thursday 11 am-10 pm, Friday and Saturday 12 pm to 9 pm. Closed on Monday. Magnolias is located off Euclid Avenue in the Market Creek Square and is accessible by trolley. Once discovered, Magnolias will become a favorite on your restaurants to frequent list. You simply will not be able to stay away from the southern charm that exudes here. The Johnson family has made it a home way from home for all those in need of a little restoration. Personal service, great music and stellar food combine to bring a felling of joy to the soul. Drop in for a visit, relax and stay for a while.
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