{"id":3456,"date":"2016-08-11T15:59:10","date_gmt":"2016-08-11T15:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=3456"},"modified":"2016-08-11T15:59:10","modified_gmt":"2016-08-11T15:59:10","slug":"behind-scenes-magnolias-on-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/08\/behind-scenes-magnolias-on-king.html","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Scenes: Magnolia\u2019s on King"},"content":{"rendered":"
My first experience at Magnolia\u2019s on King, a cozy restaurant at Old Town Alexandria was an unconventional one.\u00a0 I was hired to photograph their menu items and event space just before the 2015 holiday season.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 After the shoot, I recall telling myself: \u201cI need to return\u2026 for a proper dinner\u201d.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n The Scene:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Magnolia\u2019s on King is an intimate space among\u00a0the 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.\u00a0 The d\u00e9cor is of dark woods contrasting with yellows and reds on the walls and furniture.\u00a0 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\u2019s version of the Old Fashioned.\u00a0 You\u2019re not drinking? That\u2019s ok\u2026\u00a0 He has you covered with mocktail versions of many of the drinks offered on their cocktail menu.<\/p>\n Local Love:<\/strong><\/em> \u00a0The crowd is mostly made of Old Town Alexandria locals who love its familiar feel and fine dining take on the American classics. \u00a0Many 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.<\/p>\n The Menu:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> Arrive hungry as you want to make space for the appetizers, which I have to say is my favorite part of the menu.\u00a0 I love the crab dip which is served with toast, with plenty of crab and melted cheese and a hint of spice.\u00a0 Another favorite appetizer for me is the bacon wrapped dates.\u00a0 Just love the crispy savory bacon coming together with the sweet dates. You may not want to share!\u00a0 If you are in a sharing mood though, I suggest the cheese and charcuterie plate with local cheese and meat selections.<\/p>\n As for the main dishes\u2026 I am going to make a public plea, right here on this public domain for Magnolia\u2019s on King to bring their savory bread pudding back.\u00a0 Everybody who remotely knows me knows I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving and that side dish tasted like stuffing, but better!\u00a0 However, there are some delicious alternatives on the menu right now:\u00a0 a succulent pork chop served with grilled peaches and a blackened rockfish on the lighter side.<\/p>\n For the Sweet Tooth:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 Make room for dessert! Don\u2019t worry, just go for a walk along King Street or on the Mount Vernon trail afterwards. \u00a0There are two I highly recommend:\u00a0 one is the coconut cake and the other is the citrus bread pudding.\u00a0 The coconut cake is light and fluffy but it packs a lot of flavor.\u00a0 The citrus bread pudding is very rich, with subtle hints of lemon and orange.\u00a0 I find desserts with citrus to be tricky sometimes as the citrus can be overpowering, but this one strikes the balance just right.<\/p>\n The Service:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em> 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.\u00a0 In order to get good service those relationships have to be solid.\u00a0 I was able to witness that camaraderie during my photo shoots and saw it translated into great service when I dined at Magnolia\u2019s on King.<\/p>\n The Verdict:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 When in Old Town Alexandria, add Magnolia\u2019s on King to your list.\u00a0 The\u00a0space perfectly lends itself\u00a0for a date night or if catching up with friends.\u00a0 The dining space at the Palm Lounge serves as an event space as well, ideal for a rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, or graduation dinner.<\/p>\n My first experience at Magnolia\u2019s on King, a cozy restaurant at Old Town Alexandria was an unconventional one.\u00a0 I was hired to photograph their menu items and event space just before the 2015 holiday season.\u00a0 The best part of the job was to become intimately acquainted with the restaurant, the staff, and of course taste […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":3457,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[131,39,7,159],"tags":[522,521,343],"class_list":{"0":"post-3456","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-alexandria","8":"category-dc-life","9":"category-food","10":"category-virginia","11":"tag-magnolias-on-king","12":"tag-old-town-alexandria-restaurants","13":"tag-virginia"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
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Magnolia’s on King, 703 King Street, Washington, DC,\u00a0http:\/\/www.magnoliasonking.com\/<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"