We spent the first day in Waco exploring Magnolia Market, but I could not wait to dine at Magnolia Table as it hadn’t been open long and people were buzzing about it. To quickly summarize my experience there, it was better than I anticipated.
It’s clear from the moment you walk through the doors that it’s a true labor of love. They put their heart into every little detail – beautiful, timeless decor, a well-planned and executed menu, and that southern hospitality the Gaines family is known for. I don’t recall getting thank you cards at my table from any other restaurant!
Okay let’s get to the good stuff…the menu and what I ordered. They have a number of breakfast dishes like your classic eggs and bacon, eggs benedict, pancakes, and french toast. Besides breakfast items, they have sandwiches, burgers, salads, soups and desserts. I must say I was a little skeptical on how good the food would be, but it was delicious!
When I checked reviews before our visit, it seemed that everyone enjoyed the biscuits, so I ordered those first. Wow, they were good. The strawberry butter is what took them to the next level. I didn’t know I liked biscuits that much until I had these. Please, do yourself a favor, and order the biscuits!
The main item I ordered for my meal was the avocado toast with a poached egg. It’s a simple dish but it came with the perfect blend of seasoning, a lemon wedge and a small salad. I’ve ordered avocado toast at several popular brunch spots in Minneapolis, and Magnolia Table’s avocado toast is easily one of my favorites.
They are definitely a farm-to-table type restaurant as their website explains that most of the produce and the eggs come straight from Joanna’s garden, so you know it’s fresh and locally produced.
Aside from the great food I had there, what blew me away even more was the service – southern hospitality at its finest. Our server was friendly as can be, seemed very excited about working there and he knew the menu and ingredients in and out.
I have to say what an amazing job they did renovating and bringing their vision to life at Magnolia Table. I loved the design and functionality. They did an excellent job branding the walls, coffee mugs and menu with the quotes: “where everyone has a seat at the table” and “the gold ol’ days are still to come.” I would definitely make a trip back if I was a Texas local.
Visitor Tips
Come early or be prepared to wait. We showed up shortly before opening and there was already a line. They do not take reservations (for any party size) and operate on a first come, first served basis. Be aware that their current hours are Monday – Saturday
6:00am – 3:00pm, so don’t expect to eat dinner there.
Grab a coffee and wait on the patio until your table is ready. If you have a longer wait time, head over to the takeaway market where they sell Magnolia Table merchandise, pastries, prepackaged food items, and kitchen items like mugs and tea towels.
