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Magnolias

185 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401-2126 (Downtown)
843-577-7771
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Ranked #8 of 558 restaurants in Charleston
Price range: €24 - €27
Cuisines: American, European, Continental, Contemporary
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Restaurant details
Good for: Romantic, Business, Local cuisine, Special Occasion Dining, Entertaining clients
Dining options: Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch Spot, Dinner, Reservations, After-hours, Dessert
Dining style: Casual Elegant
Neighbourhood: Downtown
Cross street: located between Cumberland & Queen Streets
Transit: Charleston CARTA to and from Visitors Center can be picked up 1/2 block from the restaurant on the quarter hour. There are also local cab companies and Charleston's famous Rickshaws that will transport guests to their hotels.
Description: Igniting a culinary renaissance upon opening in 1990, Charleston's most popular restaurant is located at the site of the city's original Customs House (circa 1739). Led by Executive Chef Don Drake, Magnolias remains a forerunner in upscale Southern cuisine, blending traditional ingredients and cooking techniques with a modern flair for artful presentations.
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1,495 reviews from our community

88% Recommend
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Rating summary
    Food
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    Value
    Atmosphere
Date Rating
North Carolina
Top Contributor
109 reviews 109 reviews
68 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 44 cities Reviews in 44 cities
28 helpful votes 28 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2013 NEW

While in Charleston for one night we knew we could not miss a chance to return to Magnolia's. We had a delightful table and server to match. The wine list is quite extensive with good quality brands available. The menu changes but keeps some old favorites. Each evening offers several specials also. I chose a Caesar salad which arrived fresh,... More

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New Bern, North Carolina
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2013 NEW

Waitstaff great, food awesome. Can't go wrong I ate there on a vist about 10 years go and remember it as being great. It still is.

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See 2 more reviews by Katherine M for Charleston
Washington, DC
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
11 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
42 helpful votes 42 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 18 May 2013 NEW via mobile

My wife and I had a tremendous meal at Magnolias. The service was great and our waiter was extremely helpful. I couldn't make up my mind about what to order and the waiter picked out a meal based upon what flavors I like and he made brilliant choices. The food was great. The restaurant has a cool laid back but... More

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See 5 more reviews by PMarquez76 for Charleston
Sharon, United States
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2013 NEW

Great food. Great Service. Great location. Waiter has been working there for 16 years and he was number 4 in seniority.

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Saratoga Springs, New York
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
5 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 7 cities Reviews in 7 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2013 NEW

Magnolias was recommended by a number of friends who have visited Charleston. The full dinners were way too much food for us. We tried the small plate options of spicy shrimp - good but not that spicy - and pork belly - definitely an acquired taste! The blue crab bisque is very good. We were seated immediately with reservations -... More

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See 5 more reviews by Quasi229 for Charleston
Grandville, MI
Contributor
13 reviews 13 reviews
3 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
27 helpful votes 27 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2013 NEW via mobile

My husband & I just returned from dinner at Magnolia's....OMG...it was outstanding! From beginning to end ,everything was so so good. I also want to mention our waiter Steven, really one of the best waiters we've had! He steered us to EXACTLY a perfect meal. We would definitely recommend Magnolias.

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Tiger, Georgia
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
11 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 May 2013 NEW

Our family, including two toddlers, ate at Magnolias for lunch. We called ahead, and they were able to seat us right away. The staff was very attentive and efficient, bringing the toddler order quickly, which we greatly appreciated. The food was, as expected, wonderful-----Southern cuisine at its finest. My husband and I had eaten at Magnolias on previous trips to... More

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Atlanta, Georgia
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 May 2013 NEW

Need a reservation which we didn't have, but the hostess said we could sit at one of the tables in the bar....fine with us! We didn't need the white linen tablecloth...it's about the food. The food is excellent, the restaurant is beautiful with Magnolia decor of course. It's not a huge restaurant..hence the reservations. We had an excellent waiter, so... More

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Cincinnati, Ohio
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
6 restaurant reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 May 2013 NEW

Food and service is superb . One of our favorites in Charleston. The sauces make the meals and I like the location.

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See 2 more reviews by CincyPhantom77 for Charleston
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 15 May 2013 NEW

My wife and I spent a lovely weekend in Charleston and had a very memorable meal at Magnolias. We had a short wait at the bar and the restaurant was hopping. We sat down to a wonderful caesar salad and bibb salad. I had the spricy shrimp and sausage, the small plate portion, which was the perfect portion. She had... More

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