Upon entry into Magnolia House (LINK), you’ll find yourself dining in an antique home. The space was built in the early 1900 and was a speakeasy during the prohibition era. Appropriately, now it’s the hottest cocktail bar in Pasadena.
Magnolia House is known to have a wait list and is vibrantly filled with an eclectic well-dressed crowd. They serve tasty small bites for your delight, but the specialty is in their drinks.
Magnolia House
We dined on a Friday night at 7 pm and let me tell you, the place was popping.
The ambiance is intimate and comfortable. It’s the perfect place for a casual hangout with good friends or date. Try to sit near the front of the restaurant so you can get a view of lake avenue.
We jumped into the deep-end of Magnolia House and enjoyed our evening of food and drinks. Here’s our photostream showcasing their lovely delights.
Start your meal with a house cocktail, tasted, tested and perfected. They have a wide assortment of artisan cocktails to suit your mood.
Try the Notes from Granny, a delicious concoction of gin, Granny Smith Apples, basil, cucumber, blue cheese and a note from Granny Smith.
The fun part of this drink is that it comes with a note from Granny herself.
El Fugitivo is a strong drink filled with tequila, raspberry, lime, cacao, amaretto and a dash of Anise.
We began our meal with kale and quinoa salad topped with red grapes, pomegranate seeds, pickled radish, red bell pepper and Dijon vinaigrette. It was light and savory, perfect for a summer day.
Next, we had the ahi tuna sashimi with ponzu, smoked salt and crushed wasabi peas. The crunch of the dried seaweed complements the fresh tuna.
The house burger is a delight. With house-made American cheese and thick cut smoked bacon, it is as savory as it is succulent. This takes the cake!
The Belgian fries are cut fresh and laced with smoked salt and pecorino cheese. Brussell sprouts are covered with cilantro pesto and smoked bacon.
We completed our meal with the braised short rib which sat on a bed of baby kale and risotto. The short rib literally melted as we picked it up with the fork. This dish is mesmerizing and definitely topped our list.
The cocktails are flowing. Try the Marigolds at Magnolia, pisco, lemon, Marigold flowers and honey. The drink is perfectly balanced with a great combination of lemon and sweetness.
The American dream is house-infused strawberry bourbon with lemon, simple syrup and mint. It’s so refreshing and feels like almost tastes like a hangover cure.
For such a reasonable price, the Magnolia House is the perfect place to come for some incredible cocktails as you nibble on light bites. Their drink selection is extensive as they have a wide selection of wine and beer.
We topped off our meal with a classic old-fashioned with rye and a Mag’s House badass coffee – rum, ancho Reyes chili, cinnamon and Holland Red Chili.
The coffee has a spicy kick to it with a creamy sweet texture, the perfect dessert drink to end the evening.
Whatever your mood is, it’s always a good decision to have a cocktail at the Magnolia House.
Magnolia House
http://www.themaghouse.com/
492 S Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 584-1126