Magnolia Bakery Cafe

4 stars for location and service. I was skeptical coming here after reading several bad reviews. We came in early January on a Sunday about noon after Mass for brunch (we first went to Boundary Street Café which was packed!)…
This restaurant is family friendly for young kids. Large parking area which is nice. They have plenty of seating inside although we sat outside since it was crowded inside. Location is nice as you can see the River in the distance and is a short walk to Bay Street in downtown Beaufort.
We were warmly greeted at the front door and our waitress, who looked frazzled from being busy was really nice. Service was great.
I only gave 4 stars for the food. I ordered the «smoked chicken» sandwich and chicken was spongy and not prepared well. Although I ordered the soup-​lobster-​corn chowder and it was delicious. My wife ordered the mexican crêpe and it was good as she liked it. We ordered a scone for our kids-​current along with fruit, which was average.
I would come back again as service was good and is a great location. Food is not great but good and would order something different next time.

The food was bland and no seasoning. It seems they just threw fancy foods together because they sounded good. The staff was not much better. I ordered shrimp and grits to go and they gave me a bag of a spilled mess! I would never destroy the food before I get it to the patron. I will never return!

Ordered take out and the hostess as well as cook were unfriendly, making us feel awkward. Food was average, nothing special. Breakfast sandwich was microwave quality. Iced coffee plain and came in cheapest quality plastic cup that folded and bent when trying to replace lid after adding sugar! Honestly the staff were just the worst making the whole experience bad. Will not return or ever recommend.

On a slow Wednesday, we stopped for lunch with our dog. We had the patio to ourselves, yet service was slow and not attentive. Magnolia’s Famous Shrimp Salad and Ham & Cheese Crêpe with ham and cheese were good, but nothing above that. Cobwebs on the chairs, flies galore and a garden sorely in need of care made the al fresco experience one we’ll avoid next time. The dog did get a nice big bowl of ice water. ;)

I got the oatmeal batter French toast and it was one of the better French toasts I’ve had. Not just down there but anywhere. Only real complaint was lack of attention on coffee refills but I will be back.

I’ve had Unilocal for a while and this is the first time I felt that I should post a review. Usually when something goes wrong at a restaurant, I give them the benefit of the doubt. We were visiting Beaufort from out of town and this looked like a promising café for lunch and came with a recommendation from our hosts. Unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. From the seating area, we could hear microwaves beeping. The quality of food was definitely not worth the price. It was bland and not fresh tasting. I couldn’t eat more than a few bites. The wait staff was friendly, but they did not inquire as to why there was so much food left on our plates at the end of the meal. It was a disappointing experience. I would suggest spending your money elsewhere.

Sweet little place with great food & a view of the water. Fresh baked bread & sweets. Recommend eating outside.

Cutest little café tucked away on the curve of Boundary Street! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Sunday brunch and the $ 3 mimosas. I had the Mexicali crêpe with a side of perfectly ripe fruit and my husband had the Mediterranean omelet. The oatmeal molasses toast tasted great as well. All the ingredients were fresh and the service was prompt. I can’t wait to come back to try dessert and their coffees!

Beaufort is a very lovely town and the Magnolia Bakery Café is in the one of the prettiest areas. We sat outside and enjoyed the view of the water and the big old trees with moss hanging from them. Service was slow, and the food was fine. All in all, we were glad we stopped and will probably stop there again, next time we are in Beaufort.

Have only tried Sundays after church but wonderful food and mimosas! They have beautiful outdoor seating with views of the broad river. Highly recommend

My friend and I really enjoyed the food here. We stopped here when we were pretty hungry and the tuna salad and the roasted chicken breast sandwich were great. My espresso drink was subpar and I would not return for the coffee. The staff was great and the food came out pretty quickly. I think it’s a great place to grab a quick meal.

I got the crab cake salad but I wish I ordered an extra because it was absolutely delicious! Love their homemade dressing and sauces as well! Sat outside with a perfect view of the water. Service was super friendly. Loved it here!

I’ve had lunch twice and breakfast once at the café. The service and food was great! I typically don’t care for cuban sandwiches at other restaurants but now I look forward to visiting the café for their Cuban sandwiches and Black Bean Burgers. It has become my standard for when going to other restaurants.

The negative reviews below didn’t jive with my experience. I ate here twice and the food was great (soup, salad, sandwich, and dessert) with a good selection of wine and beer. The patio offered nice views of the bay, the service was friendly and efficient, and the place very clean with an interesting gift shop.

I went on a Saturday morning because I was told this café was great for a breakfast/​brunch time meal and there were only 2 other people. The sausage biscuits tasted cheap and frozen. The bagel was good but it was small for the price. There wasn’t anything else special about the rest of the menu. Danish was small and over priced as well as their strawberry and toast. AVOID THIS PLACE!

A party of 7 on a Sunday afternoon arrived to basically an empty restaurant/​gift shop, hungry and ready to eat. Recommended by a local for their sandwiches and salads, the menu selections showed promise. Despite being only one of three tables being served, the service was sloooowwww. The recommended salads were pretty sparse and wilty. An order of French toast at the table was laughable. Very disappointed with Magnolia Bakery and will pass by on next trip to Beaufort.

Hands down, best patio in Beaufort. Oh, remaking on a earlier post, it’s a crab crêpe it’s not supposed to be spicy. Lol
Staff is super nice and the food is grrrrrrreat!

I was a little disappointed :(
I got the crab cake crêpe and it was a little bland. I had to add hot sauce to it.
Service was just fine, though. And we got there only about 15 minutes before they closed. There are some items available for purchase — flip flops, baskets, gifts, etc.
Hate to say it, but there are better places to eat in Beaufort.

The Magnolia Bakery Café saved my life last week, metaphorically speaking. I was on vacation with my extended family and desperate for alone time, Internet and alcohol. Magnolia offered all of the above. And pie!
On my first trip, I had a perfectly lovely pinot grigio. I had arrived around 3, only to discover that they closed at 4. The staff could not have been nicer or more accommodating — especially considering I was primarily there to use their wifi. I did end up getting three slices of key lime pie to take back to my family, and it turned out to be some of the best I’ve had. No whipped cream though.
I returned a few days later, this time for lunch. The staff recognized me from my previous visit and immediately set me up at a table where I could plug my computer in.
I started with a cup of gazpacho: it was both creamy and chunky, with a healthy dollop of sour cream on top. It could have used a shake or two of Tabasco, but I’m not complaining. I also had the Cubano sandwich. It was good, though there was a bit of a heavy hand with the mustard and it was not great mustard. We’re talking French’s yellow mustard, the mustard of my childhood that is only appropriate for family reunion potato salad and my dad’s (God rest his soul) fried bologna sandwiches. But I was delighted to find that in addition to ham, the sandwich also included razor-​thin slices of really succulent pork loin. Yum! And the bread was nice and crusty, and well toasted.
Magnolia is located just off the main stretch of road that runs through Beaufort, SC. I had never been to Beaufort before, but it’s quaint and cute and a nice excursion if you happen to be in that part of the world. And while you’re there, why not stop in for a glass of wine and a piece of pie at Magnolia?

A delightful little spot situated right across the street from the water, this was the perfect place for a quick lunch to start off my vacation right. They’ve got a great patio under the shade of magnolias and live oaks as well as a cute (but seriously kitschy) café indoors.
The menu is an assortment of salads, sandwiches, and crepes: typical lunchtime fare. I went with a capri crêpe: stuffed with pesto, sundried tomatoes, and mozzarella. It was tasty but not quite what I was expecting: the ingredients were pureed together, which I found a bit odd. still good, though! My side salad was delicious: the poppyseed dressing was awesome.
I hear great things about their baked goods and while they certainly looked delicious I’m on vacation and therefore have to be in a bathing suit tomorrow, so I opted out. Next time, though… next time.