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Magnolia Pub & Brewery
Categories: Nightlife Bars Pubs Food Breweries Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Pubs, Breweries, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
1398 Haight St(between Central Ave & Masonic Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury
(415) 864-7468
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 12 am
Fri 11 am - 1 am
Sat 10 am - 1 am
Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1088 reviews for Magnolia Pub & Brewery
Review Highlights
"Proving Ground IPA is yum:) Tuesdays $3 pints."
(in 33 reviews)
"We tried the Tripel and the Rye for strong beer month."
(in 47 reviews)
"My personal favorite is their "Devils on Horseback."
(in 27 reviews)
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1088 reviews in English
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Review from Shannon H.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
I really enjoyed Magnolia. It seems to be very popular so be prepared to have a bit of a wait when you go. But stop by the bar while you are waiting - The bartender working the night I went in was very nice and helpful. All of their beers are brewed in house! So he helped me find one to my liking.
I loved the look of the place too, the menus are beautiful and the booths were quite nice. My only suggestion would be to add a few more bar stools.
The food was great, we started with some delightful warm marinated olives and I had the whole roasted Idaho trout for my entree. It was a good size trout and was cooked perfectly. My friends also really enjoyed their meals, one had the Fried Chicken which was on special that night (it looked amazing) and the other had the Pub Burger. -
Review from Camille C.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
This place is great. I went here on a Saturday night and it was full (and very loud), but my five friends and I only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. I had the hot Italian sausage, which was served with cooked red peppers and rosemary potatoes. It wasn't particularly spicy, though it was reasonably priced at $11. I didn't try the beer, but my friends had several and loved them. The waitress was extremely helpful.
The real reason I'm writing this review is that the chocolate bourbon pot de creme was one of the best desserts I've ever had. Not much bourbon flavor, but the chocolate was smooth and rich without being overdone. Served with a cookie that somehow matches perfectly. -
Review from Maxwell M.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was excited to finally eat here after Chef Ronnie's return. While service was less curt and lacking, it really comes down to the food.
Devils on Horseback - pretty tasty snack. Hard to dislike anything wrapped in bacon! The sauce was intensely sweet though.
Steamed Clams - clams were cooked nicely, broth was outstanding, but there was only one piece of oven roasted tomato and three dry and overcooked pieces of sausage. The garlic bread was tasty. Wish we had been served a spoon or a bowl to deposit the consumed shells.
Pork chop - the pork chop was medium in the center, but overcooked everywhere else. The meat had not rested, as it was piping hot when cut it open. The pork itself tasted only of salt, which may have been a result from both the brine and it resting on the beans. The beans (not fully cooked either, by the way) and greens were so intensely over salted that it made the dish completely inedible. The dish also lacked acid of any form, and it was just salt salt salt. I like salt quite a bit, but I had to spit the food out and send it back. It was disgusting.
Farmed Trout - the fish was overcooked, and every element on the dish was bland. The fish, artichokes, brussels sprouts, potatoes and greens were all completely under-seasoned, if seasoned at all. My wife had to put way too much table salt on the dish for it to be a solid dish, but it was still better than the pork chop. Had I received that plate, I would have sent it back.
After we returned home, my wife became horribly sick after a few hours and was vomiting all night. I only tasted a couple morsels of her dish, but my stomach became seriously ill as well. I can't necessarily attribute what we ate to the clear case of food poisoning, but in light of the fact that our main courses were flat out bad, it pretty much sealed the deal for us. I will never, ever, eat at this place again.
On the upside, Magnolia's beer is available at other eateries. -
Review from a w.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012
I have been wanting to go here for "fried chicken night" for a while, but can never remember what night it is (it saysThursdays on the menu). I happened to be walking by around lunchtime and they had a fried chicken sandwich on the lunch menu, so I figured - BAM - this could work.
Good news: the space is nice and well-windowed, the service is casual and fine. The fries were VERY good.
Not so good news: The fried chicken sandwich had a few problems - the bread didn't seem fresh and there was just too much of it in ratio to the tasteless chicken inside. Additionally, the blue cheese dressing on the sandwich was sloppy - which frankly I might have enjoyed if it were more blue-cheesy-flavored, but it only had a hint of blue.
So, yeah, I'm not so obsessed with their "fried chicken night" anymore.
Fried chicken sandwich $12 (add tax, tip and surcharge = $16) -
Review from Judy C.
This is my open love letter dedicated to Magnolia's BBQ Pork Belly with Cheddar Grits and Poached Eggs.
I know it's not Yelp's best practice to write a review on a restaurant almost solely based off of one entree, BUT I literally have no desire to order anything else but this every time I come here. It truly is one of the most unique brunch dishes (with a southern twist) in the city!
The leading character of this entree is the oh so sensitive and delicate pork belly. Soaked in a semi-sweet, semi-tangy BBQ sauce, she is laid to rest on top of a hunky portion of cheddar grits. Typically, I am not a fan of grits because of its mushy texture. Magnolia's grits, however, is an exception as I love how it gradually dissolves in my mouth after every bite. With every fork stab of the pork belly, you must have with the cheddar grits! As if that's not enough, there are two poached eggs that compliment and support the protein and starch. My favorite part is slicing them and letting the yolk run through the grits. For those of you who love Eggs Benedicts as much as I do, order Bearnaise sauce (a relative of Hollandaise sauce) on the side. I dabbed a little bit of it on the poached eggs to give it an extra kick of richness.
As disgustingly full I feel after finishing 90% of the BBQ Pork Belly, a side order of Brown Sugar Peppercorn Bacon is mandatory. Sticky, sweet, salty, with a hint of spiciness. It's to die for.
Funny thing is - Magnolia's is very well known for their selections of beers. I'm not a beer drinker so I'll be coming for more of what I love - brunch! -
Review from Len G.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
I have been going to Magnolia for over 7 years now. There have been ups and downs in our relationship, but I always end up going back for more.
The beer is fantastic, the Proving Ground IPA is stellar.
I like the food. I can usually find something that sounds and tastes good.
The service is generally friendly, even though there are occasional missteps.
The vibe is laid back and comfortable. Love the booths.
I live in the neighborhood and this has become one of my go to spots. -
Review from Marika M.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012
I personally love Magnolia. My friend used to be a cook there and that's where my love affair with Magnolia began. Their Devil on Horseback, superb. Actually, anything I've ever eaten here has been a magnificent fireworks show on my tongue. I brought my sister there when she came up to visit and she still craves the burger topped with blue cheese! Oh, and their home-brewed IPAs are to die for. The only downfall about Magnolia is that they change their menu pretty often (for what reason I do not know), so the spinach and artichoke dip is no longer offered (boo to you Magnolia!). But hey, I still give this place five stars. Eat there I say. EAT THERE!
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Review from Richard L. D.
Youngstown, OH
1/17/2012
Your menu says "$3.00 Pints all day Tuesday. Why did I pay $4.00?
I don't want to pay for your health insurance, that's what your employer is supposed to do.
The place just doesn't look that clean and the menu is all over the place and a bit pricey for that neighborhood. -
Review from Christina H.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
This restaurant/brewery is a great spot to meet a friend after work. With their great location in the heart of the Haight Ashbury district, it's easy to get to via MUNI and has ample street parking. Go on a Tuesday, the pints (normally $6 for 20 oz.) are only $4.
I tried the Weather Report Wheat, which is unlike your typical 'wheat' beer. Our friendly server brought it out, and I could basically see through the glass! Which as most of you know, is a rarity with wheat beers. It's much lighter bodied, very crisp, and has subtle hints of wheat. I also tried, per recommendation of our server, the Long Break Bitter. The name is deceptive. It's a very aromatic, floral beer. On the sweeter side. Lastly, the Stout is great if you like something a bit more flavorful. I tasted notes of espresso and chocolate. Delightful!
Go with the beer, it is a brewery after all. But if you enjoy wine, they have a pretty extensive wine list also.
Didn't really try the food...but I did enjoy the Bleu Mont Cheddar and the delicious nutty bread it's served with. My friend order the burger, and raved. There was nothing left on the plate when he was done! It's served with a trio of sauces. The standard ketchup, mayo, and a surprisingly divine but SPICY whole grain mustard!! It'll definitely clear the sinuses!
Overall, had a wonderful experience at Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery. Definitely hope to return and try some of the other items on the menu. Cheers! -
Review from Jennifer T.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/11/2012 8 Check-ins Here
Amazing new menu. Get the brick chicken fo sho. Very reasonably priced. When my boyfriend and I go, we usually get a 4-option charcuterie, a small app, a small plate, large plate, 2 beers each, and it comes to under $100 w/ tip. Not bad.
They brew their own beer as well as carry other brews. The menu changes regularly. Very tasty and cheap on Tuesdays.
Thursday they have fried chicken and its seriously THE BOMB. I haven't tried their desserts yet because I'm too busy filling up on all of their delicious fare. $5-10 for apps/salads, $10-15 for small plates (a light eater would definitely consider this a meal), and $15-25 for large plates.
It's a pub restaurant and has a cool setup. There are 3 washrooms and a communal handwash station.
Word to the wise: The restaurant is a little noisy so if you're wanting to have meaningful dinner conversation then this may not be your spot.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/26/2011
Yum yum yums! Cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon? Yes please. Thick porkchop, cooked to… Read more »
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Review from Kelly W.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
The beer here is great and so is the atmosphere. I have come a few times for drinks and to fill up a growler for a BBQ. Unfortunately I went there last weekend and ordered a cheese burger "medium" and it came to me pretty rare. I really dont like to complain so I ate it and ended up super sick all night and the next day.
I will enjoy the beer here in the future, but Im a little afraid to eat here again. :/ -
Review from Doc Splendid E.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
Brewpub which attempts to do a British gastropub menu. Biggest failing point in this menu: gastropubs in the UK have many times the vegetarian selection and creativity. Magnolia's menu doesn't even have a ploughman's plate. That said, there are some fantastic cheeses always available for a snack.
Like its sister bar, The Alembic, Magnolia often carries a fantastic scrumpy cider, Sonoma Cider on draught, which is served still (no carbonation) and near room temperature. This is the first real cider (going by CAMRA rules) I've found served at a SF bar. This is brewed by Carl Sutton of Sutton Cellars in small batches, so they do run out between batches. Ring ahead if you're going for the cider, as their only other one is the cloyingly sweet Two Rivers pomegranate -- about as far from real cider as you can get. If they're out of it, The Alembic might still have it on.
Unfortunately, it's a deafeningly loud pub, so if you can get a table on the sidewalk; it's worth the quiet in any weather.
Has free wifi. -
Review from Sharon L.
El Cerrito, CA
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Totally made an ass out of myself when I came here with my buddies and left my wallet. But the waiter looked at me and said "you're over 21 right". Of course honey, of course.
Loved look of the place, menus, and overall vibe of the place - it was really weird though.. the floors were vibrating and we kept trying to figure out why. Were the walk-ins right below us? Is there an earthquake? But we kept drinking and forgot about it.
We shared some oysters and a cheese/meat plate. Only thing that was a little bit of a downer were C's brats - the server was either preoccupied/high/too busy and forgot to place his order and ended up ordering it on the fly. We were a bit disappointed since the brats had grill marks, but tasted like they were re-boiled/microwaved. Bummer.
I would love to come back and try their beers. Hopefully the service will be better next time. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh Magnolia it's a pleasure to see you again. Magnolia was hoppin' on a Saturday afternoon. We got to sit and the bar and we had some really good beer. We didn't try the food but we may next time. Bartender was nice and also kept us hydrated.
When we walked out I got a contact high from some type of smoke but what do you expect in the Haight? Good times.Listed in: I Left my Heart in San…
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Review from Stephanie C.
San Francisco, CA
Magnolia is a small gastropub nestled in the unique and eclectic Haight/Ashbury. After passing by this place so many times on the bus on the way to other eateries in the Upper Haight, we decided to finally stop in for a late lunch.
Magnolia's has a very cozy, neighborhood, atmosphere and is a nice spot to grab some drinks and some food and catch up with friends. My boyfriend and I really liked the ambiance and the overall decor of the place.
The menu had pretty standard pub food and we opted for the fish and chips. I've usually had cod when I order fish and chips, but at Magnolia's they use flounder. The fish was great and it was even better when paired with the tartar sauce, which had a ton of lemon flavor. The fries were amazing! We were also given a garlic aioli dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. The only complaint I have is that for the price of the fish and chips, $16, I wish they gave you more than two pieces.
Magnolia's is one of the better places to grab a bite on Haight so you can't go wrong with stopping by here. I definitely want to come back and try something else off their menu and also one of their many beers (which they brew onsite!). -
Review from Gaggan B.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012
If you go to this place and expect a regular ole-"gastro"pub (that is just a gnarly word), then you will be disappointed. I've heard mixed reviews about the beer, and I myself was blah'd by the beer I had- some IPA who's name escapes me. Anyway.
The food is GOOD. My roommate and I had some questions about the menu, and our server good-naturedly answered them. We got this thing called a 'scrapple'- a liquidy pork pate that is breaded and fried, sitting on top of a sweet-n-savory bacon jam (!!!!) with a slow-poached egg. Besides the adventure to flavor heaven that my tastebuds took, the commentary we made about each bite was funny. How many ways can you talk about an oozing, gooey substance? I can probably write a Shakespearean sonnet, but I'll save "Gushing in my Mouth: An Ode to Scrapple" for my literary agent.
My roommate opted for a burger, medium-rare. She was pleased that the burger was cooked to order, as places usually cook to medium even when asked otherwise. Magnolia must take pride in their meats- good on them!
I got the beer braised pork chop with a kale cabbage thing on the side and sweet potatoes. The pork chop was bigger than my head, literally not figuratively. The grill marks made me lust with desire. The kale thing was delish.
So good. But come expecting to pay those dolla$$$ cuz these piggies ain't cheap. -
Review from Kristen E.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2011
This establishment has a bad business model.
We came here this Sunday around 1pm for beers and appetizers and maybe lunch depending on the menu. The hostess was friendly enough but she said we could not sit at a table unless we ordered lunch. When we tried to explain to her that we were planning on drinking plenty, eating appetizers, and were waiting to see the menu to decide on lunch she told us we had to sit at the bar and walked away.
This makes no sense to me. There were no seats available at the bar and my friend is pregnant and her belly wouldn't fit so well in a bar stool even if we got seats. We couldn't help but notice there were more than eight completely open tables and booths. When we tracked down the host again we were refused to be seated in any of the open tables despite the rest of the restaurant being empty with no apparent line of hopeful diners.
I have worked at too many restaurants and never have we ever turned a customer away. A good business model is if you have an open seat you fill it and do your best to make sure your customers walk away with a good experience.
Based on the reviews of the food here and their approach to customer service my friends and I are lucky we walked away. -
Review from Lisa M.
Seattle, WA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Gastropub if you're roaming around the upper haight area. We'd been there before when visiting SF & just really like the ambiance- cozy and inviting. The food is delicious & compliments the beer. We shared the brick chicken & some of the apps. Our friend had the scallops, which were cooked perfectly. The service for us has always been spot on.
New thing we learned is they list the beers in alcohol content & "BU's" which is bitterness level(up to 100).
You won't be disappointed if looking for a good Gastropub. -
Review from N. M.
Morganville, NJ
12/31/2011 4 photos
One of the better gastropubs I've been to. Grabbed a few appetizers and a couple beers. Beers were interesting and the food was full of flavor. We had spinach and artichoke dip with baguettes and it was the best I've ever had. It had chunks of artichokes in it. AMAZING. (The server kindly gave us more baguettes when we ran out.) Also notable were the devils on horseback - the goat cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon. Really incredible, but for the price, I would have expected three or four of them on the plate rather than just two. The decor is neat, with big windows to admire the outside.
If in need of a place to eat while wandering the Haight-Ashbury area, check out this one. -
Review from James B.
Oakland, CA
12/18/2011
The IPA was good. A+ $6 for a 20 oz glass.
The food was good too, but expensive ($20 for roast chicken $6 for two dates wrapped in bacon $11 for one sausage $15 cheeseburger w/ the thinnest slice of cheese I'd ever seen). Yikes. Maybe I need to stick with places within my price range. -
Review from cole m.
Point Loma, CA
Updated - 1/23/2012
Just had the shrimp sandwich with a couple of beers for lunch the other week. Still going strong!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/13/2010
Beers. They brew 'em, I love 'em. In San Diego we are experiencing a renaissance of beer brewing… Read more »
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Review from Andy V.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
The food and the beer here are very good. This would be a five star joint if it weren't for the lameness of the servers. They are extremely preoccupied with socializing among each other. They're just way TOO chill.
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Review from Stephanie F.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2011 1 photo
Meeeh, it's A-OK.
Generally speaking, beer = good. The beer here was pretty good... Maybe it was just the brews we tried, but 4 out of 4 people responded mediocrely to it. I haven't had the food.
It's usually incredibly crowded by the bar and community tables. You're not allowed to sit at a regular table unless you're ordering at least 2 appetizers or getting a meal. -
Review from Tony S.
Durango, CO
Updated - 1/13/2012 2 Check-ins Here
This was for our second visit. Brought two local friends who hadn't tried-out Magnolia yet. While crazy busy, the staff was super nice & friendly. Tried other beers styles like the Pale & Ruby Mild. Outstanding.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/12/2012
Beers were very tasty and the service was friendly and helpful.
Magnolia is ice oasis on the Haight.… Read more »
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Review from Albert S.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2011
Met up with a friend yesterday in the corner of Haight & Ashbury for lunch and after walking around for a while we decided that we didn't want Pizza or Burgers while down there. So we stumbled upon Magnolia's which we've both been wanting to visit for a while and we were quite happy with our selection!
The lunch menu was great, not too extensive and simple southern options. I had a glass of Albariño my friend had an IPA(which had a 7% kick to it).
I had the fish & chips and she had a shrimp sandwich which were both pretty amazing. We experienced great customer service while visiting and we left quite full! I'll definitely come back for lunch again since its convenient and the food was great! -
Review from Tessa R.
Modesto, CA
1/15/2012
OKAY. here we go...
The only good thing I am going to say about this place is that the food is good and they have a lovely selection of beer.. other than that...everything about this place sucks entirely. The hostesses are absolutely RUDE, and the servers are extremely fake. I couldn't believe the experience I had here. It went from getting our name on the board at 8:30pm to not sitting down at a table until 10pm. that was how bad it was. The hostesses there do not know how to multi-task a large amount of people (I get it, the job is hard, but if you're not good at it you shouldn't be doing it, period.) and along with lacking that "ability"...they treat you like crap when you confront them about a table which you've been waiting for, for over an hour and a half....after being told it would only be 45 mins. I have never thought to review anything on here, but I just had to review this place...cause it was literally a jaw dropper as to how I got treated.
There is a man that works at the bar (I think he may be the owner) but he took my mother and I under his wing and tried his best to get us a table on his own (which is the hostesses job)....he got us one and offered us a round of drinks for what we had to go through the past hour and a half - starvation and frustration. in the end, it all worked out nicely thanks to the guy at the bar. but I will whole heartedly admit I was staring daggers at that hostess for how she treated my mother and I when I was just up in the city visiting and we wanted to get a nice dinner together.
I WILL NEVER GO HERE AGAIN. -
Review from Eddie H.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Magnolia has some great beers (cask and tap) and always has really good entrees. It's close quarters, but the overall experience makes this one of my favorite places in San Francisco.
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Review from Wendy S.
11/14/2011 2 photos
Judging from the beer, this place is awesome. I would come back again for Bettie Lee's Best fo' sho. Their IPA is also very solid -- hoppy without destroying your tastebuds (at least initially, but the IBUs are pretty high so I wouldn't recommend trying any other beers if you start out with the IPA). I loved their triangle holder for their beer samples ($10 for 6 samples). Initially, I thought $10 for 6 samples was kind of a rip off, but the samples are decently large, and you can choose any six.
The french fries smelled delicious, and I felt regretful that I didn't get any.
I'm usually terrible about providing pictures with my Yelp review, but this time I thought I would take the extra effort:
Triangle beer sampler holder: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Card that accompanies the beer sampler: http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Shannon M.
Campbell, CA
1/8/2012
We had a great experience at Magnolia's. The food is awesome and the staff is down to earth, and on point! We were happy to know that there's a wheelchair accessible unisex bathroom, unlike many restaurants and pubs along Haight, icing on the cake. This pub is recommended for its unique menu and easiness. You can relax with a great beer, while you enjoy the street view through Magnolia's huge windows. They're even open late night!
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Review from Jordan P.
San Francisco, CA
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Review from Rachel E.
San Francisco, CA
10/20/2011
I met up with a friend for a slightly late dinner tonight here. It was packed when we got there, so we put our name down and headed to the bar. Couldn't find a seat/spot to stand at the bar, so we just tried to stand where we weren't in anyone's way (impossible). The place was so packed I kept getting jostled and so noisy we were actually yelling just to maintain a conversation.
The pomegranate cider was amazing, but that was the only redeeming quality about this place.
We ordered the pickles to start, they never appeared and we had to remind our waitress after we received our meals. She had completely forgotten. The fish & chips were blah, I was disappointed. The portion of tartar sauce was also really small, and I ran out and wanted to get more after one of my 2 fish sticks, but we didn't see our waitress again until the end of the meal.
My friend got the sausage, she said it was pretty good but that the rice/polenta/unknown grain it came on was not that good.
It got much quieter around 9:30 so I think this would be a good place to come grab a drink during non-peak dinner hours. Otherwise, totally skippable. -
Review from David H.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011
Came here for brunch on Sunday (it happened to be 80 degrees that day) and this place is like a sauna. I suppose if you literally want to burn and sweat of calories as you're eating your email, this is a good thing. But I digress...tropical forest conditions aside, this place is friggin' awesome!
Started with the Big Cypress Brown (Cask). Beautiful deep brown color yet very light bodied with low carbonation which a fantastic malty taste...this was uber delicious.
Pork belly and grits - I loved the grits. Lots of texture, buttery, and creamy. The pork belly is served nice and crisp, but the pieces I had were a bit too fatty for my liking and I'm the type who eats all the fat on a rib eye. Eating the crisp pork belly and the grits together is a match made in heaven.
Chicken and biscuits - chicken has a nice, very thick crust. Biscuits were a tad dry however and found myself wanting more gravy. The star of the show was the fried potatoes...without a doubt some of the best tasting potatoes I've ever had.
Will definitely be back for another brunch and a beer or two...okay...maybe three. -
Review from Larry L.
10/2/2011
We stopped by for brunch a few times and overall, it's a nice brunch spot. However, the service seems to be hit or miss. For example, when we stopped by for brunch yesterday, the service was poor. Inattentive doesn't really describe it. The server didn't bother coming by to take a drink order first and I don't remember her coming back to check up on us at all. Also, after we were done, she didn't come by to bring us our check. We had to flag someone else down to grab the check.
All in all, I enjoy the food and beer, but the service could be better.
FYI - duck benedict and the french toast are both good -
Review from Jessica L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/22/2011
I came back here to kick back some beers before checking out the local OtG but I ended up staying for the Fried Chicken special.
Which was... wait for it: AWESOME.
I'm not really a fancy fried chicken person (enter Popeye's, delish), but I have had my share of fancy fried chicken (Mavericks, Foreign Cinema, Farmer Brown, Criolla), and I have to say... this BEAT them all. I can't say if this is a contender to defeat Wayfare, as I have never been, but when it comes to fancy fried chicken... this is pretty damn good.
I love the sauteed carrot sides, the juiciness of the chicken, the savoriness of the skin, the lightness and crispiness, just yum. All of this matched with great beer and service.
My boyfriend, a longtime Maverick fan, did not have as many adulations for Magnolia's chicken, but I personally had a very memorable experience that completely wiped out my last experience, with the mixed experience on sausages.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/3/2009
Move over Monk's--there's a new tasteful pub house moving into my knowledge bank and right now, it's… Read more »
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Review from April rose D.
Pleasanton, CA
12/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Beers are really good. It is a nice laid back vibe. This was our second time here and they were really busy that day so we were pretty much ignored at the bar. We had to flag wait staff to order, get water and to pay our bill. We wanted to order an appetizer but the service was too slow. The first time we went there was for dinner, and we had sardines, a salami platter, crispy scrapple and short ribs. All were quite good except for the sardines. I had to spit it out. I'm filipino so I eat sardines out of a can but those sardines were foul-tasting.
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Review from Jia min C.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was good, but the beer was the embodiment of meh.
I heard about Magnolia a few weeks ago and was intrigued. Their reviews were pretty good too, so I definitely looked forward to trying it out. The place was pretty busy when we got there- it was a late Friday afternoon. We managed to snag a table immediately, though aside from the booths, the seating feels pretty claustrophobic. It also oddly smelled of wet dog-- not overpoweringly so, but still, wet dog. Service was a little slow, but the place was packed, so somewhat understandable.
We started off with the IPA. Neither my friend nor I liked it. We felt that it wasn't hoppy enough and generally not an interesting beer. I slowly finished it while my friend made quick work of hers and gave the stout a try. Also a disappointment. It was a little too tangy and my friend hated it so much that I ended up splitting it with her just to finish it off and we still managed to end up having to abandon some of it (which is basically unheard of when it comes to us and beer). We thought about getting a third beer to split and discussed getting the brown ale, but given the poor showing by the first two beers, we opted against getting another and moved on to another bar.
Despite the disappointing beer, the food was excellent. We got the bacon-wrapped dates with goat cheese. It came as a pair on the plate, which was surprising to us and we'd hoped there would be more. After tasting it, we definitely wished there were more- it was very delicious. Each was about the size of an egg and perfectly wrapped with bacon. The sweetness of the date balanced the saltiness of the bacon well. As we were not too hungry, we split the burger and got it with blue cheese. The burger was very good, very juicy. The server even went ahead and cut the burger in half and served it to us on separate plates complete with our own pickle and fries. It was an unexpected gesture, but very nice of them. We ended the meal with a pot de creme. The chocolate cookies that go with the pot de creme were very good, soft and chewy. The pot de creme itself was good, however, it was a little too cold and a little too firm. Still very smooth and chocolatey though.
I would return to this place for the food, but definitely not for the beer. -
Review from John R.
10/5/2011
Ok folks. This is more of a 4.75 star review. For the four times or so I have been here now (Brunch mostly), it has been consistently awesome. So what have I tried you might ask that made me so carelessly give away all these stars in a struggling economy? Here are a few items...
Kalifornia Kolsch (Beer)
B A C O N C O R N M E A L
P A N C A K E S 1 0 .
peppers, shallots, maple syrup
P O R K B E L L Y & G R I T S 1 1 .
Anson Mills cheddar grits, poached egg,
fried shallots
C H I C K E N G R A V Y
B R E A K F A S T B I S C U I T 1 3 .
fried chicken thigh, cheddar, egg,
homemade biscuit , red eye gravy
M A G N O L I A P U B B U R G E R 1 4 .
Prather Ranch dry - aged organic beef,
house - cut fries or greens salad
add Cheddar or Gruyere, 1 .
add Blue Cheese, 2.
add Hobbs' applewood smoked bacon, 2 .
All of these items were delicious. The beer is outstanding. What else is great?
The location...Haight/Ashbury, you are cool.
The pub decor. Cool style, upscale, yet casual pub type feel. It has it's own ambience that it owns well.
The servers and bartenders. Nice, friendly, sometimes funny and cool.
I like sitting at the higher bar height communal table by the window. I don't know why, I just like it.
Not terribly pricey at all.
So if you are tired of spending $30 -$40 at In-N-Out Burger getting three to four 5x9's, head on over to Magnolia Pub & Brewery. Well worth the trip and highly recommended! -
Review from Allan Y.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is almost impossible to get a table at this for dinner on Friday or Saturday night. Every time I have tried to get a table here, this place is just way too packed and the wait way too long, and I leave head down and stomach grumbling.
I was finally able to grab a table at this place right when it opened at 11am on a weekday. Not the most ideal time for people watching and schmoozing, but it would have to do.
Magnolia is a delightful gastropub located on the corner of Haight and Masonic; the very epicenter of the Upper Haight neighborhood. The streets are live with transients from all over the world. There is definitely a lot of "street culture" on the surrounding streets. Despite that, I find Magnolia to be a very hip place to drink and dine. But I digress.
My signature lunch combination is the Pub Burger and a pint of the Kalifornia Kolsch. The Pub Burger patty is made from all natural organic beefy goodness. Make sure to spend the extra couple of bucks for the avocado and bacon (applewood bacon to be exact!). The Kalifornia Kolsch is a refreshing blond that is not overly "hoppy." This beer rates low on the bitterness scale and high on the drinkability scale. The flavors are well balanced and not overpowering.
Overall, I enjoyed my weekday lunch here at Magnolia. I still would love to come here on a Friday or Saturday night. The liveliness of Magnolia during those nights can only matched by the liveliness of Haight street. -
Review from Michelle S.
Oakland, CA
9/20/2011
I did not set out to visit the Haight on a recent jaunt into SF - my plan was to see the Balenciaga exhibit at the de Young - which was terrific, and then move onto a restaurant I have been wanting to try in the Western Addition. But that restaurant was booked and I veered off course a bit.
When I came to the SF Bay Area over 20 years ago, I was very fascinated by the Haight Ashbury. Largely due to the fact that as a teen I devoured any and all information I could find about the "summer of love". Books, movies, music - you name it - I loved it and it made we want to move here.
Shortly after I arrived, my husband and I got into riding vintage Vespas, wearing vintage clothes and sipping classic cocktails at Club Deluxe. We spent hours just roaming in and out of all the unique shops, having breakfast at the Pork Store and relaxing in Golden Gate park.
Years passed, we moved out of San Francisco and setup house in the East Bay, had a couple of kids and I realized we had precious little time for roaming around any neighborhood - especially one as frenetic as the Haight.
But this visit made me realize the only thing you need to turn frenetic into fascinating again is a well-curated plan or a willingness to just wing it.
Either way Magnolia Pub and Brewery is well worth a visit. This is NOT your typical pub - they say that right on their menu.
It is a very vibrant and warm space filled with an eclectic crowd - just as you would expect in this neighborhood. They brew their own artisan ales on site and source an incredible array of fresh, sustainable ingredients for their hardy menu items. Try the house made sausage and beach fries which are seasoned to perfection with Old Bay spices. You might want to go on $3 Tuesdays when all pints are just $3 all day and night. -
Review from Katie S.
San Diego, CA
10/19/2011
Is every restaurant in San Francisco hot? It is California, it does get hot every now and then. Ceiling fans are your friends. Just a suggestion.
Came specifically for the IPA and the pulled pork poutine. Was not disappointed by either. And, bonus round points, my friend who hates everything, and who took one look at the poutine and gave me the witheringest of all withering looks, ended up eating half of it and licking her fingers. You made Sonja happy - you have no idea what a feat of culinary magic that is.
