525 Magnolia Tavern

Don’t Get a To-​Go Order.
We’ve had several great meals there in-​house, but tonight ordered to go for the first time, truly a disappointment. We’d ordered food with potatoes & gravy on the side (which didn’t happen) and desert, with ice cream specifically requested to be packed separately.
No gravy. A pie slice I can’t warm up because it’s in a pool of liquid. A manager who said «so what you ordered isn’t what you ordered?» when we called to let them know.
They’re good for drop-​ins, but aren’t really set up for take-​out.
Lesson learned.

I ate here tonight after seeing a review in the local paper, otherwise I would never have known it existed ! Wow what great food. The potato chips are a must have but I also saw some nachos being delivered and they are a definite for next visit. Just a real modern, clean vibrant atmosphere hidden off the beaten path. Salads are fantastic and fresh fish was perfection. Irish coffee with pumpkinbread sundae made the night. I grabbed a rewards card because I knew I’d soon be back. No brainier-​just go!

I went to the 525 and had such a delicious steak. It was cooked perfectly and the service was great! I will definitely be going back, I heard there pizza is great too can’t wait to try it!

I’ve only gone here once so far, but I will definitely be back!
Bryan/​Brian, our waiter, was extremely attentive, fun and helpful. The atmosphere is great.
They do not skimp on the alcohol in their drinks! And there is a nice selection.
The wings have some kick, but they are so good you don’t want to stop eating them.
There were four of us and we all enjoyed our meals and service. The portions were great, I think we all went home with leftovers.

Return visit and I believe under different management. Menu change, good selection if you want to eat fairly healthy… or not. We visited for brunch, live music, comfortable seating at the bar. Family place is nice but not when there are too many yelling kids.

Magnolia, I miss the old Magnolia where did it go. I was happy to see the 525 in the old Patio however the service was awful we waited so long for the food I stopped being hungry. When we complained they said well it takes half hour for haddock to cook, really cause when I make baked haddock it takes ten minutes. Anyway we won’t be back, The funniest thing was when we asked to talk to the manager our waiter was the manager. My guest still said you didn’t serve us well, we waited to long and we won’t be back. He said sorry and gave us the check with somebodies else drinks on our bill, ugh!

Nine fish tacos — HALF a CUP of FISH among them? That’s what three of us found when we ordered fish tacos here. If there’s no fish — take it off the menu! Sauce was nice. That’s what we had nine sauce tacos for $ 45 total.
This place keeps trying, and Magnolia needs it. Prior visits, the food was fine but overpriced for a village restaurant seeking locals. Looks like they’ve adjusted the prices to appeal more. Nice staff.

I had the chicken, bacon, and pesto pizza, and the wife had the chicken pot pie. My pizza was pretty bland, and the crust was overly tough. Her entrée had an artificial flavor, and there were no peas, but green beans, unlike what was in the menu. I’ll be adding some marinara sauce to my leftovers, and she’s planning to add poultry seasoning and peas to hers.
On the positive side, my Down East cider was served in a chilled tumbler and was delicious, more a testament to the brewery than the restaurant. But do the math before getting the Thirsty size (22 oz) at $ 8, as the regular size (16 oz) at $ 5 is cheaper per oz than the tall…

I went on a date here the other night… It was such a cute little spot with a great atmosphere. The drinks were good and I got the Margarita pizza. It was to die for.
There were a few «hiccups» in the service. but it was nothing too bad, given that I knew the server was training someone else and must have gotten distracted. It was nothing that I couldn’t laugh about and brush off. I could tell that he must usually be wonderful otherwise. That’s why I will still give 5 stars.
Overall, I was delighted to make the trip to this restaurant and will do so again. The bar looks like a great spot to hang out at and I’ll be looking forward to finding out for sure!
Thanks for a great experience! :)

This place got off to a bit of a rough start but for the last 7 – 8 mos they have hit their stride. Food is good and staff very friendly. Special kudos to Amy the bartender who is very warm and attentive to guests and Julie, one of the waitresses who always has a smile to give.

Went with a friend for a drink and food on a Thursday night. We sat at the bar. Bartender was very upbeat and kept glasses full. She was great!
The crab cake appetizer was perfect! Can with 3 cakes nice sized to get a great crunch on the outside but nice and soft on the inside.
My medium burger was juicy and awesome! I even asked for my fries crispy and they were great.
My friend had the haddock sandwich and really enjoyed it.
Will def be going back!

A little pricey, but soo delicious. Get the poutine. I don’t know what sauce they put on it, but it’s incredible. It’s savory without being too heavy. I also had one of the burgers, which was perfectly cooked medium rare. My only complaint is that the service was a little slow, but it could’ve just been an understaffed day. Definitely recommend.

Great changes since the owner of the Franklin got involved. For those who don’t know our the owners of our Cape Ann beloved Franklin bought into this restaurant. She knows her food and is making this place great. It is NOT the same as when it opened.

I am so happy that 525 has turned things around 180 degrees! I was not happy with pretty much everything when they first opened. Living down the street I was very disappointed with the fact that the food and drinks were just plain awful. 3 underwhelming visits and I cut ties with the place. Fast forward to my latest visit and its a miracle! Food, prices, drink selection and sizes, service… all fantastic! There is so much effort now to make sure everything about your visit is perfect. And you can’t beat the easy access and parking, no traffic! Well done 525, congrats!

tldr: good for a beer and nachos, meal quality and service not (yet?) worth the prices
Ate here on a Friday night, 7pm. Semi busy. Nice interior, clean, and casual but modern décor. Nice bar, multiple good beers on tap. Upbeat atmosphere.
Group of 7 for dinner. (1) Initial drink order was quick. Thereafter, waitress was really inattentive. It’s a small place and at least 3+ servers were on duty — apparently including the manager. But the meal took about 30 minutes longer than wanted while we waited for service between courses and the check. (2) Our server dropped a puddle of water on the floor — common and real hazard for patrons and other servers — but after mentioning it to two separate staff members we let it go. (3) BBQ chicken with mac/​cheese and kale, first two were fine. Kale was in edible — cooked fine but drowning in vinegar (?). Avoid it. (4) Wife had salad with candied walnuts. Nuts were literally solid rocks of sugar that could not be bitten. This should be 1^st year cooking school. (5) Other meals were fine but nothing remarkable.
All of these were minor issues — but at the prices charged the food quality and service needs a notch up. Good for a beer — but until they improve the food and staff training, there are many other choices in Gloucester.

$ 16 Hamburger? It better be great, right? Just sent it back. Awful. Wife’s burger was way over done. Won’t be back.

First time. Was really looking forward to it. We sat at the bar with no wait on a sat night. The sangria was very good. Beer steamed mussel app was pretty good but the broth wasn’t bread dip worthy which is good because we were never offered bread. Mains were the clam spaghetti and seafood étouffée. Both were just ok. The clam spaghetti pales in comparison to what anyone could make at home with canned sauce. The étouffée was ok. The rice was no fully cooked and the sauce a little clumpy. Everywhere in the place the rewards card was advertised. In the bar. On the front door. In the bathroom. So I asked for one and was told «we’re out». Hmmmm.
Unless I’m in the neighborhood and very hungry I see no reason to return

I’ve been here 4 times since they’ve opened and the 525 is doing a great job! I’ve had the Pizza twice. I love pizza, and this thin crust pizza is enough to fill you up, but doesn’t leave you feeling like there’s a lead weight in your stomach which happens when I eat too much pizza… which happens whenever I eat pizza.
The cheese was mellow and stays consistently hot throughout the entire pie. The sauce is a combo of sweet/​spicy but not overpowering.
My GF, her daughter and I went out for brunch and all our meals were very good! I had eggs over pulled pork hash, and cheese grits. YUM! The girls had French Toast and Pancakes and said the same.
On a Friday night my GF & I each had the Fish & Chips with fritters. Amazing. I think they use a beer batter crust, and the fish, besides being tasty, was pleasantly moist.
The servers are delightful and really seem happy to be there! I am tired of going to places where the help just seems to be «phoning it in», and that is NOT the case here.
The place is beautiful and if you get a booth, you’ll be surprised at how comfortable they are, even after sitting in one for quite a while. I think they have memory-​foam seats.
I wish they were open more hours of the day!

I just had the country fried steak and after being a resident in the south for a while I had a hesitant feeling. That was probably the best country fried steak I have ever had! It was made with steak tips! Amazing! The oysters excellent and we debated after stuffing ourselves whether we wanted to attempt the oatmeal crème pie and we licked the plate clean. Our server was a sweet heart and dead ringer for Emma Stone. It looks beautiful, the food was excellent and the service great! Highly recommend! So glad this is so close to home!

I went on Sat. For brunch and had the Eggs Benedict. It was delicious, with home fried potatoes. If you’re trying to place the rub on these, think BBQ potato chips, but better — tangy and a little sweet. The coffee was fantastic tasting, only wished they offered iced coffee ’cause I could see myself chill in’ on the outside patio in the afternoon with a nice cool iced coffee and dessert.
I have tried two drinks and can recommend the rum-​based Sailor’s Knot. It was smooth and delicious, but a little on the small side. The other drink was intriguing, called Salute to Iceland with Reyka vodka, lime, and Blue Curaçao, it’s a great idea, but I think they need to work on the balance, a little too tart and acidic for me, but could be refreshing for someone else. I have to say, the color was spectacular, like the Caribbean.
The service was top-​notch, and I really liked the atmosphere, so I will be back to try other menu and drink items, and of course the allure of outdoor seating in the good weather.