a pair of blue eyes.

MAGNOLIA GRILL, Durham, North Carolina

When: December 2007 & December 2011.

Occasion: One year anniversary & Five year anniversary

Overview: This place is one of my all time favorites. It landed first place in my heart back in 2007. But, may have lost a few slots in 2011. But overall, that first meal will never be forgotten. And for that, I may have to keep it at #1 in hopes that one day I can get them to recreate that wonderful meal I had Wednesday, December 19, 2007.

Food:

(2007) : Quail (appetizer) & Slow-cooked pork with sage, pumpkin, some delicious bean (entree)

(2011) : Fried oysters with Succotash & Bacon (appetizer) & Slow-cooked pork with some delicious beans

You see, Magnolia Grill has a thing for using large, delicious, weird beans I’ve never heard of or seen before. It makes the dishes very unique from anything I’ve ever had. And I LOVE slow cooked pork. At MG, it just falls off the bone and for the brief moment it’s in my mouth, it feels like I’m in heaven. But I’ll have to say, that first meal with the sage and the pumpkin was definitely the better of the two. I’ll never forget how I wanted to lick the plate clean when I was done. Don’t worry, I didn’t.

Dessert:

(2007) : Dark Chocolate Tort with White Chocolate & Tangerine Ice Cream

(2011) : Apple Crepes, Apple Sorbet with Apple Slices, Cheese & Pomegranate Seeds (See below!)

Magnolia Grill also has this awesome skill of making ice cream/sorbet flavors no one else has ever heard of. Plus it takes a LOT to impress with me with ice cream because I don’t particularly care for it, yet MG made me love both of their distinct flavors. In fact, I wouldn’t mind having some of that apple sorbet right now. And the 2007 one was THE BEST dessert I have ever, ever had. I mean, who can resist White Chocolate & Tangerine Ice Cream. Add dark chocolate and you are hooked. The apples crepes were good too, but they were a little dry and bland. The dish definitely needed more cheese and pomegranate and less apple. But when all the flavors came together in my mouth, it hit all the right spots.

Atmosphere: So it’s not the best. It’s a little crowded and a little loud. It was hard to have a romantic, intimate dinner. And the building itself is not at all exceptional. Come on, it’s Durham. The outside kind of reminds me of a hair salon…a square one-level building, a couple big windows in the front, and white painted brick.

Service: Great. No silly jokes or weird freaky humor. No singing. Simple service. 

Disclaimer: If you go here, you better be ready, willing and able to tip 20% or more. If you aren’t, go someplace else bud. This disclaimer applies to all restaurants where tipping is recommended.

Complaints:

None.

Apple Crepes, Apple Sorbet with Apple Slices, Cheese & Pomegranate Seeds

Posted 1 year ago — 2 notes