If you’re not too familiar with the restaurant scene in Pasadena, you may think Old Town is the only place to get a good plate. You’re wrong, and here’s why. Yes, Colorado Boulevard is home to great restaurants like 1810 and Mi Piace, but there are other streets with eateries for you to explore and enjoy. Gently nestled in a nook on South Lake is Magnolia House, a craftsman house with a gorgeous space and well-rounded menu.

A few friends and I went to Magnolia House for a girls night and Magnolia House was the destination for the evening. After all of the initial girl talk quieted, we finally took a moment to explore the menu and order. One friend got the Korean Fried Chicken Wings ($10), another ordered Gus’s Fried Chicken Sandwich ($11) and Belgian Fires ($4.5), and I got the House Burger ($12) and Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding ($8) which we all shared. Well, shared until we realized how much we loved our own food. To start the meal, the wings were so tangy and sweet. However, if you’re the hungry greedy eater type like myself, this is not the meal to share; order two and everyone will be happy. The fried chicken sandwich was dressed with cabbage slaw, jalapeno, dill pickles, and a sesame ginger aioli. The combination of the whole sandwich was nice: fresh chicken, crisp vegetables, and a sweet sauce to top it off. It’s good, but what’s even better is the house burger! Maybe I’m a tad biased because I love cheeseburgers, but this one was a perfect choice. Topped with American cheese, thick cut bacon, bourbon onions, and dill pickle Remoulade, the House Burger is prepared so well. To close off the night was the dessert dish which was so much fun. Not fun in the sense that it told a joke. It was fun because it started a fight. It was the single dish that caused four women to have a sword fight with spoons! Sweetened by the caramel, smoothed with the vanilla bean semifreddo and drizzled with toasted almonds. It’s a fancy way of saying it was epic.

What I appreciate about Magnolia House isn’t just the menu, but the divine space that is the restaurant. The indoor and outdoor seating, lighting, furniture, well designed menu, and live music all encourage dialogue and friendship over food. It’s the type of place you go to when you have a group of friends who want great food, music, and gentle excitement. Likewise, it’s the type of place to go to when it’s just yourself and a date who want dinner, discussion, and simplicity. Ultimately, it’s just right for whatever your night requires.

Follow Them.

Address: 492 South Lake Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: (626) 584-1126
Hours: Monday to Wednesday – 4:00pm to 12:00am; Thursday to Saturday – 4:00pm to 2:00am; Saturday – 2:00pm to 10:00pm
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.