My first experience at Magnolia’s on King, a cozy restaurant at Old Town Alexandria was an unconventional one. I was hired to photograph their menu items and event space just before the 2015 holiday season. The best part of the job was to become intimately acquainted with the restaurant, the staff, and of course taste plenty of the dishes I got to photograph. After the shoot, I recall telling myself: “I need to return… for a proper dinner”. Recently, I had the opportunity to have the full dining experience and a few weeks later, photograph their new menu offerings under new Executive Chef Andrew Revere.
The Scene: Magnolia’s on King is an intimate space among the many colorful row houses which line the iconic King Street. The space is narrow yet cozy, with a small dining room downstairs, the Palm Lounge upstairs, and a small outdoor patio area. The décor is of dark woods contrasting with yellows and reds on the walls and furniture. The Palm Lounge has a bar where beautiful craft cocktails designed by beverage director Nick Santiago are served. Start the evening with the citrusy Tradewinds or try Nick’s version of the Old Fashioned. You’re not drinking? That’s ok… He has you covered with mocktail versions of many of the drinks offered on their cocktail menu.
Local Love: The crowd is mostly made of Old Town Alexandria locals who love its familiar feel and fine dining take on the American classics. Many of my friends who live in the area love going to the Palm Lounge for happy hour to get their evening started or for date night.
The Menu: Arrive hungry as you want to make space for the appetizers, which I have to say is my favorite part of the menu. I love the crab dip which is served with toast, with plenty of crab and melted cheese and a hint of spice. Another favorite appetizer for me is the bacon wrapped dates. Just love the crispy savory bacon coming together with the sweet dates. You may not want to share! If you are in a sharing mood though, I suggest the cheese and charcuterie plate with local cheese and meat selections.
As for the main dishes… I am going to make a public plea, right here on this public domain for Magnolia’s on King to bring their savory bread pudding back. Everybody who remotely knows me knows I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving and that side dish tasted like stuffing, but better! However, there are some delicious alternatives on the menu right now: a succulent pork chop served with grilled peaches and a blackened rockfish on the lighter side.
For the Sweet Tooth: Make room for dessert! Don’t worry, just go for a walk along King Street or on the Mount Vernon trail afterwards. There are two I highly recommend: one is the coconut cake and the other is the citrus bread pudding. The coconut cake is light and fluffy but it packs a lot of flavor. The citrus bread pudding is very rich, with subtle hints of lemon and orange. I find desserts with citrus to be tricky sometimes as the citrus can be overpowering, but this one strikes the balance just right.
The Service: What I enjoy with an experience such as photographing a restaurant is that you really get to experience the dynamic behind the scenes and relationships between the wait staff, management, and chef. In order to get good service those relationships have to be solid. I was able to witness that camaraderie during my photo shoots and saw it translated into great service when I dined at Magnolia’s on King.
The Verdict: When in Old Town Alexandria, add Magnolia’s on King to your list. The space perfectly lends itself for a date night or if catching up with friends. The dining space at the Palm Lounge serves as an event space as well, ideal for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or graduation dinner.
