Elite Event: Magnolia Tap & Kitchen

Oh wow, I seriously thought I reviewed this event! How could I have forgotten!!!
Glad that this event was only 1 block from the BF’s office so easy peasy getting here! Check-​in was a breeze and we were greeted with yummy libations — Moonshine Mules. Honestly, this was my fave cocktail of the evening. I made it through 1 whiskey shot and another cocktail and I was done for the night… WOW, super strong drinks!!!
Our group sat at a large table and Mike served us. He was awesome!!! He came out to introduce himself and he certainly treated us like royalty ensuring we had all we needed. We were offered a long list of cocktails and appys, and he just kept coming out with them.
The best appy was the burger. MOOOOOOOOO!!! So good!!! I was so stuffed with them bringing more and more trays out. What I appreciated was the fact that the chef came out to talk with us and spent some time with our group. He’s super cool!!!
Lots of newbie were in the house, and I got to making my way to the next table who most of them were their first event. WELCOME!!! Look for me, MARIA C!!!
Thanks Brad for putting this event together. It was great to see the usual Unilocalers and can’t wait to see you all again soon!!!

We Über-​ed it down to this party… and I’m glad we did! With so many amazing drinks to try, it was hard to choose. Between four people, we got to try them all! My favorites were the moonshine we were served when we walked in, and a strong gin cocktail called The 1887. I liked how they also had wine and beer tasting. Finally, getting served at our table throughout the night felt very classy, and relaxing, as there was no fighting over half-​empty cocktail trays, and we were able to enjoy time with friends at a cozy table. The bartenders were great, and despite the complex cocktails they were making, the wait at the bar was short. My favorite bites of the night were the wings and cornbread.
I’m a bit late with this review, but I really enjoyed this party!

Brad tried to keep me out, but I finagled my way into the event anyway. Thanks, Dan! And I’m so glad I wasn’t DD for this event — there were so many delicious cocktails to try! The Winchester (bourbon/​lemon/​lime/​vanilla/​egg white) was definitely my favorite. I was sad to see Bareback leave, but Magnolia is a completely acceptable replacement.
And yo, Bang Bang is now the unofficial location for the Unilocal downtown elite event afterparty!

What a great event! Thank you Brad and Magnolia Tap & Kitchen for an awesome night of eating and drinking with other Elites + 1s.
The food came out every 15 minutes and according to the menu that was on the tables. I tried ALL the BITES… Yup my fat butt ate it all! =)
The Habanero Cornbread /​Smoked Peach Butter was least of my favorites.
But my favorites were the Baby Back ribs that fell off the bone and the yummy delicious pecan pie. It wasn’t overly sweetened like other pecan pies I’ve had. This is by far the best pecan pie yet.
I tried majority of the drinks however since I’m a Bourbon — WHISKEY drinker I opted
for shots. Oh my good gawd! I was a very happy lady.
I was able to speak to Chef Michael and he’s just the sweetest guy ever. Glad to hear that he offers several dishes that are gluten free.
The staff were so attentive and always checked up on everyone seeing if they could bring us more drinks. It was such a nice and comfortable setting that I would definitely return.

Oh geez, not another one of these… :p Okay, enough with the BS, it was awesome. B-​Rad was at it again, bringing the best of food and booze right into the hands of Unilocalers and getting Magnolia Tap & Kitchen some recognition with another Elite Event.
Right at the entrance you were hit with moonshine, Hess Brewing and wine stations. I only tried the Hess Cream ale which was a nice balance of smooth and strong taste. I can’t wait to try some of their dark beers. Scott, who was working the station was extremely cool as well.
The food made it’s way out in waves and on trays. First it was the Habanero Cornbread (which was great), then Bacon Burger Sliders (I missed this one), Pulled Port Sliders (Excellent!), Rib (Pretty good but I’m not a huge rib eater) and then the Pecan Pie dessert (really good). Total carb load day.
The staff was friendly and professional while taking care of us ravenous Unilocalers. It did get a little packed but overall it was a great venue. The music was great too. The reinterpretations of classic tunes definitely fit the atmosphere. Simply, outstanding.
It was good to hang out with the regulars and also nice to meet some new friends. I swear I saw more new faces this time around which must mean people are breaking the first rule of Unilocal Club… Anyway… definitely a good crowd.
What can be said that hasn’t already been said? Brad is awesome. Magnolia Tap & Kitchen is awesome. Everything was awesome. See you suckas at the next one. Come up and say hi.

Moonshine… who knew it could be so damn yummy!
Pork Ribs were my favorite, fall off the bone type deal. Monkey and I are already talking about going back to this place this weekend. Friendly cool as F staff and I really liked the layout of the place.
Cheers to B-​Rad for putting on another stellar event… you nailed it.

The timing of the August SD/​NCSD Elite events could not have been more coincidental. Between this event and the Unilocal Does Dive in Harrah’s Rincon Dive Dayclub on Sunday, I had an interview and a board exam. Thanks to Brad and the staff at Magnolia for hosting and letting my nerves relax for a little bit.
Note: I ended up passing my board exam and I remembered enjoying the food so much I wanted to come back here to celebrate. Here’s the review of my visit several days later. (
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***
Prior to this event I had never eaten Southern or Southern-​style food; this was a perfect way to break that cherry. It was also another first for my friend/+1 who was a former Elite but could never go to any of the Elite events because she always closes late on Tuesdays. I’m glad that I was able to break her Elite event cherry and that she had a fun time; she also enjoyed the food and would take her fiancée here next time.
CONCEPT/​VENUE: See my restaurant review. Conserving space so I can talk about things specific to the event. The list containing what was to be served for the day was written in pretty good-​quality paper that also reflected the theme and time period of the restaurant.
SERVICE: A big THANK YOU to the staff for treating us well, especially the waitress in charge of my section (near the WC). I was always asked what drink I wanted if I didn’t had a drink in hand. They also did rounds to clear the tables if we wanted anything cleared.
TASTINGS! (Other vendors)
Kill Devil Moonshine Mules: After IDs were checked we were immediately greeted with the vendors of the moonshine and given samples of the mules. Moonshine is another liquor in itself, didn’t taste strong. The ginger flavor was a little subdued than mules I’ve had in other places. Looking back, this was a GREAT way to start the event as this was the weakest of the drinks offered.
Angel’s Envy Bourbon: The bourbon is aged up to 6 years in charred white oak barrels and finished in port wine casks. Alongside the samples were samples of wood they age the bourbon in and the grain mixture that bourbon is made of. Wow, this bourbon was STRONG.
Hess Brewing Vienna Cream Ale: This particular beer is one of my most favorite beers but there was something a little off this time… I guess maybe due to the size of the sample there wasn’t much room for the thick head to form; the head is what makes this beer so creamy and the creaminess of the beer is what made me fall in love with it in the first place.
Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011: The vendor said that this particular vintage wasn’t a good year. This cab tasted like any other young cab: there’s the bite in the back of the mouth but it only lasts for a couple of seconds — doesn’t linger as much as older cabs.
LIBATIONS! (These are the in-​house cocktails. Grampa’s Medicine, 1887, Spanish Fly, Winchester and Gullywash were served specifically for us and are not listed on the regular restaurant cocktail list. We also got 3 other options added that ARE on the regular menu: Magnolia Sundown, Scallywag and Vieux Carre).
All these drinks were STRONG.
Magnolia Sundown (vodka/​st. germain/​chambord/​lemongrass/​cucumber): See restaurant review, though the one served here was stronger.
Spanish Fly (tequila/​crème yvette/​campari/​rhuby/​lime): Think of a bitter berry margarita, which is pretty unique for any margarita.
1887 (gin/​rhubarb/​chartreuse/​domain de canton/​lemon/​black pepper): Didn’t like the herbal taste of this drink. Must have been the gin and chartreuse.
Winchester (bourbon/​lemon/​lime/​vanilla/​egg white): The sweetest drink of the bunch. I like how the vanilla softens the bourbon to make this cocktail a lot more palatable.
CULINARY CONCOCTIONS!
Habanero Cornbread: The peach butter was on top of the cornbread. This was also one of the best cornbreads I’ve ever tasted, even though this is definitely NOT your average cornbread. It is slightly sweet due to the butter and buttery, but what hits you is the habanero.
Magnolia Bacon Burger: Garlic aioli was prominent in the burger, burger was pretty juicy.
Dry Rub Chicken Wings: Salty rub with crunchy skin yet soft meat.
Pulled Pork Carnitas Sandwich: The mustard bbq and guacamole made for a good sweet/​savory sauce combination. Pulled pork was flavorful and went well with the brioche bun.
Baby Back Ribs: Made with a sweet sauce, the rib meat easily fell off the bone at first bite.
Pecan Pie: The dessert presentation was cute, it was served in individual mini-​sized portions with whipped cream on top. I dunno if it was just me but I also think that the pecan pie was also infused with bourbon. This was by far the best pecan pie I’ve ever tasted.
***
After two visits to this restaurant I’ll be sure to recommend this place to people that like Southern-​style food or want another dining option that’s cheaper than the typical restaurants lined up along the main Gaslamp drag.

This event delivered…
partly due to my punctuality.
I LOVE it when I’m greeted with a drink, and moonshine at that… It was by far my favorite thing all night.
Plus one and I were able to get a table and enjoy our beverages comfortably… I was shmammered by the time the food started coming out.
And can I say that this was very organized… A HUGE difference from past events when peeps are attacking the poor servers like vultures on a freshly abandoned carcass…
I was offered everything on the menu. sadly I had to turn away some of the items… Our server was awesome, she kept our water glasses full and checked on us often.
Countless drinks later, I was able to stumble around and mingle… All I remember is something about Vine and cheese and psy… Good times. Great event.

I have never been to this spot when it was Bareback Grill (think Australian bbq i think). It’s around the corner from the Hustler store so it’s a convenient visit if you were so inclined.
But this Unilocal Elite Event was wonderful. Double Fisting has never been so great as to go to an event where they encourage to enjoy all the libations. One hand with a drink and another empty, here you go!
There were several food items brought out for tasting and this was actually a good way for everyone to get a taste of the food offered in this venue. For the event, a musician was singing and playing which added more to the atmosphere.
I raise my glass (es) to the hosts, Magnolia Tap & Kitchen and to Unilocal CM Brad for another wonderful, drink rich event. I saw at least 50 percent new Unilocal Elites that I have never met and met some new ones who are new to San Diego (Welcome Staci and Chris). I saw old friends who moved away.
Unilocal is a great social network of people that share, discuss and enjoy the newest places in town.
Until next time. SALUD!

Another magnificent event put together by Brad. Craft cocktails made to order were coming out all night.
Food:
Habanero Cornbread /​Smoked Peach Butter — Sweet but definitely had the habanero kick to it.
Dry Rub Chicken Wings /​Maytag Bleu Cheese — These wings were delicious! The Bleu Cheese had a slight hue of blue too! Will definitely come back for these
Baby Back Ribs /​House BBQ Sauce — Ribs that fall right off the bone. Done the way it should be.
Bacon Burger Sliders /​Roasted Garlic Aioli — Very tasty! Reminds me of a smaller version of slater’s ⁵⁰⁄₅₀
Carnitas Sliders /​Guacamole — carnitas was flavorful but I wish there was a little more meat.
Pecan Pie /​Bourbon Whipped Cream — it was a mini pie. like the size of those asian egg tarts. I like Pecan pie, but there was just too much crust.
Booze:
Vieux Carre — rye/​cognac/​benedictine bitters/​sweet vermouth — This one was my favorite. It was a stiff drink but had lots of flavors from the cognac going on. It was a chilled drink but I liked it on the rocks.
1887 — gin/​rhubarb/​chartreuse/​domain de canton/​lemon/​black pepper — easy to drink and could barely tell there was gin
Winchester — bourbon/​lemon/​lime/​vanilla/​egg white — the egg white didn’t work out well for me.
Spanish Fly — tequila/​crème yvette/​campari/​rhuby/​lime — originally, this drink came unmixed and yo ucould see the tequilla and the red layer which was very appealing. but it didn’t taste good until you mixed it.
Grampa’s Medicine — jameson/campari/fernet/peychaud’s/cherry — smelled like medicine and didn’t taste good.
Gullywash — coconut gin/​coconut water/​sweet cream/​nutmeg — I usually like coconut drinks but this one just tasted bland and watery.
The moonshine, shots of bourbon, and beer were also nice additions to the event.
Thanks for Magnolia for hosting and Brad for coordinating an awesome event. «Tasting» all those drinks on a Tuesday night makes a rough Wednesday workday. Magnolia is a definitely a great addition to gaslamp. I’ll definitely be back.

What a great experience for my first Unilocal Elite event!
The greeters were super nice and made us feel welcome.
First we sampled the Ugly Mule cocktail which featured locally made MOONSHINE! It was really terrific. My favorite cocktail of the night. It was surprisingly smooth — for me, I prefer it over vodka!
The staff was efficient and friendly, and they just kept bringing out the food!
Habanero Corn bread — DELICIOUS! with a latent kick of spice.
Dry Rub Chicken Wing — was my favorite food tibdbit. Super crunchy skin (rendered perfectly — NOT FATTY!) I could had ordered this all night. It was juicy, the dry rub was savoury… perfect! And the maytag bleu cheese sauce was a wonderful creamy foil
Pulled Pork Carnitas Sandwich —
Juicy meat here! I am not sure I’m such a fan of the guacamole on it, but the meat was really excellent.
Baby Back Rib — WONDERFUL! My second fave savoury bite. Tender tender meat. We picked that bone clean.
Pecan Pie with bourbon whipped cream — decadent and wonderful. I’d order this again!
The cocktails were flowing, (Spanish FLY was especially kickin and pretty) but best of all, we sat next to two groups of wonderful Unilocalers who readily shared their previous elite experiences with us and had some great tips for me. It was lovely to have such lively conversation in the Unilocal family. Thanks for making it a wonderful event!

Another awesome event! Thanks to Brad B. and all who organized and ran the show.
We arrived a little late, so my plus one and I weren’t too sure how the hosted food and drinks were working. We eventually figured it out once we sat down at the bar.
The food was all great. We missed out on the burger, but we had everything else and really enjoyed it. The chicken wing was moist and the bleu cheese sauce that came with it complemented it really well. Meat was falling off the rib like it should and the guacamole that came with the carnitas was a nice touch. The cornbread was a little too spicy for my taste, but the pecan pie was absolutely delicious.
The drinks were definitely flowing. It was a great idea to have different tastings. I really enjoyed my Ugly California moonshine mule by Kill Devil Spirit Co. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try the Angel’s Envy bourbon…(I went to the restroom they were still there and when I returned, everything was cleaned up! boo!) The drinks served at the bar were also all very interesting and really good. My favorite was the Magnolia Sundown. My least favorite was Granpa’s medicine… it really did taste like Grandpa’s medicine!
Service was great. One gentleman working at Magnolia asked if we needed anything and he brought us out the cornbread and the carnitas sliders since we had missed them. The bartenders did a pretty good job of keeping up with drink orders and the servers who brought out the food made sure that everyone got the tasty bites.
The musician playing was also really good. Overall, an awesome event with attentive servers, delicious food, and flowing libations. I’ll definitely be back at Magnolia to try some of their other food and drink.

Can’t believe we found parking close by… Maybe it’s because I didn’t drive, which I probably a good sign (Asian, female, and of short stature do not go well together). Tony N. knows.
The bartenders and staff are very generous for accommodating all of us. I had a drink that had coconut gin and coconut water in it — damnnnnn was it strong! Samples of food were continuously flowing. The baby back ribs were very tender and didn’t require a lot of sauce (unlike a certain extremely popular BBQ joint — hint, it rhymes with Chills).
I really have to hand it to the bartenders — they were swamped, but were very professional and efficient. The mason jars of water are a nice refresher, reminiscent some amazing brunch restaurants I’ve been to.
Love how the bar wraps around, with a patio area to relax in. Brad really knows how to choose the. venues! Maybe I’ll stumble on by after clubbing the next time I’m in downtown SD!

What a WONDERFUL event! Thanks for getting everything setup Brad and to Magnolia for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of Southern soul and spirits of the past.
The Winchester specialty cocktail was amazing– egg white in the drink is always a treat and this was done perfectly.
The pork sliders were spot on and the guac really had a unique flavor. The cornbread was way too spicy for me– but to be fair… i’m pretty week when it comes to exciting spices.
The pecan pie was a delight and not to mention the staff– top notch! Our waitress was so helpful and attentive and continuously went our of her way to be on top of everything.
It was so nice to be able to meet so many Unilocal eliters and their friends and I cannot wait for the next event! The hubby and I loved it!

You scallywag! Don’t fire that Winchester at me. Not while I’m eatin’ me vittles. Give a lady a fair chance. My Habanero cornbread with peach butter is still smokin’ in my belly. My Magnolia Bacon Burger has sunk all the way down into my hollow leg, and I was just saving room for my Chicken wings & Carnitas. Jack M, you scallywag, now is NOT a good time for a photograph. Oops… too late. (-;
Luckily for you, Jack, my ornery nature has been mellowed by the 90 proof spirits that I drank as I came into the Magnolia Tap. Those devils at the door handed me something powerful. It was concocted with rye whiskey, and I spied a bottle of Ugly California Moonshine. I don’t know what I drank, but it wasn’t Grandpa’s Medicine. They slipped me some whiskey & bourbon The music played louder, and I found myself seated next to a pleasant fellow, Joe G, and a lovely woman, Carmen G. They drew me deeper into conversation, and I nearly forgot my duel with Jack.
There was a plot to keep me at the table for a long spell, because a very attentive server kept presenting me with trays of temptations, including Pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream.
Then just as I remembered my duel with Jack, along came Juan R, who is always good-​natured and huggable. The Magnolia Tap serves mighty powerful spirits, and I enjoyed drinking every last drop. I may have drank too much, as I began to meet people who I had previously believed lived only inside my Iphone. Chun P and Conrad R appeared before my eyes, in the flesh. Those 2 fellows are real! I’m serious! They are both fun fellows, and Conrad R even has a real wife who is very nice.
Did I dream all of this? No, It really happened at the Elite event at the Magnolia Tap & Kitchen on E Street in the Gaslamp district… where the owners are proud, the kitchen is skilled, the staff are amazing, and the liquor flows. I had a pleasurable evening at Magnolia. I highly recommend that you stop by for a drink and a bite to eat.
Now, was there something I’ve forgotten? Something about a duel? Nah. I’m happy. (-; G’night, Jack M. Sweet dreams, Colleen. Randy, I remember you. (-; And THANK YOU, Brad B. Vin S., I love you. XXOX

Mmm Cocktails And Cornbread!
My first event in a ling time and its a blast already!
Parking sucked bit it was all worthwhile.
Thanks brad for filling me with soul food and booze … I should NOT have had a snack before.
Double fisting was encouraged… i had a drink in each hand all night long!
food was brought out in the order listed and they made sure everyone had a taste! so organized =)
1^st — jalapeño cornbread… yum and it even had a spicy kick! love…
2^nd — bacon slider… i wish i had taken a 2^nd (it was offered but i wanted to save room for other things)…so juicy and delish
3^rd– chicken wings… yummy …moist…flavorfull…but the maytag blue cheese dip took it to another level… i loved it!
4^th — ribs… moist fall off the bone yumminess …
5^th…pecan pie… it was good… really good… but too big for me… i ate ½ and left the rest…
i really wish i had another slider =(
thank you Brad for inviting me! too much fun to be had!
looking forward to another year of Unilocal fun

In 1887 the Magnolia Saloon was opened on 6^th and E and offered imported and domestic libations for the locals. (
Today, it has reopened to continue the traditions of the original Magnolia, but with a modern twist with not only the libations, but also with an array of scrumptious eats they offer.
Those who were lucky to attend this event were treated to a mêlée of drinks, but the one that caught my eye was a the 1887, and gin concoction flavored with rhubarb, chartreuse, domain de canton, lemon, and at the end, an onslaught of black pepper that would not be forgotten. An interesting but pleasantly effective spirit.
The food was not to disappoint, and after the offerings of well thought out drinks, the food just to pleasure the palate. Our first offering was a moist rectangular corn bread speckled with habanero and laden with a light smooth smoked peach butter was just enough to get things started. (
) An amuse bouche have you. Next, we were onslaught-​ed with a tray of bacon burgers sliders with a creamy, and quite tasty roasted garlic aioli (
), and for our enjoyment, it was heavily slathered onto the sliders. (
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The timing was good because after some time for a drink and for the slider to settle, dry rub wings were delivered with an aggressive blue cheese dressing that set me back a minute to process its flavor. (
) Strong was the first word that came to mind, and if you are fan of strong cheese, well this one make the cut. After that came the «holy moly» carnitas sliders with guacamole. (
) This was a treat indeed. First you had the succulent shredded pork mixed with a mustard base tangy BBQ sauce with a slight kick at the end, and then the cool smooth guacamole registered and balanced the slider in a manner that made me sing «yippee!» Very successful slider.
…and just when I thought it was enough, on came the baby back ribs with house made sauce. What the heck! (
) These babies had meat so tender it literally just fell of the bone. I mean, I bit into one, I say one because I had several… shhhh, and the meat gently fell onto my container below. (
) Thank goodness there was small container there. The sauce was was great and those ribbies were fantastic! Finally, we were treated to a petite pecan pie with bourbon whip cream. (
) The whole thing was terrific, but what I enjoyed the most was the expertly made pie crust. It was buttery rich, flaky, but dense enough to hold the rich pecan filling and the a top sexy velvety cream. (
) You know you want some.
The evening was a smörgåsbord of creative drinks and great eats. I had the opportunity to see well known Unilocalers, but meet new Unilocalers I have not met such as Tracy L. and Erin C. Nice meeting you two. Also, Isabella B. had to much fun, glad she had a DD, driver that is, and it was good to see Shirley, Angelo, Maria, Chun, Angelo, Conrad, Mel, Natalie, and Shalini… good people indeed. Toonces find me some of those Unilocal Mints!
Thank you Magnolia and Crew. The bar keeps and servers were absolutely fantastic. They kept my glass filled throughout the evening. Great job Chef on your combination of flavors. I will be in for brunch for sure…

Luckily my wife was DD tonight… I’m pretty drunk… woooooo!
To be continued… ZZZzzzz…
Amurr’ca…FUC yeah!

5 stars. Without a doubt.
Brad is da man for making this happen. Chris orchestrated a kick ass party. Michael kept the grub coming (delish!). Aaron and crew kept the drinks coming (thank you, thank you!). Courtney made sure we weren’t hungry or thirsty (a must at every party).
Kick ass. Will be back (maybe tomorrow).

Oh Shalini, you stole another FTR. I guess I should upload 19 photos then.
I dig the venue at Magnolia Tap & Kitchen. Cozy atmosphere and the open area bar is so nice, especially on a warm SoCal summer evening.
The staff are top notch and working hard. Servers check on our table several times. Food trays are flying out of the kitchen and the bartenders are shaking & pouring fancy drinks. Delicious and potent? A dangerous combination. My faves tonight were the Vieux Carre and the Kill Devil Moonshine Mules.
Congrats to the lucky raffle winners 648 & 650, since we were holding 649 :-/​Oh well, we’re all winners with all this delicious food and drink and good friends all around. I was fortunate enough to sample everything from the kitchen, but that baby back rib, with the tasty kickin BBQ sauce was sooo good.
I suppose taking a break from the last couple Events made a difference, and it was great on see so many familiar faces (y’all know who you are). FUC yeah in particular to Bev & Shalini for saying I lost weight. I love you guys fo life! Also got to meet Mel J in person, so yay!
Thank you, Brad, for coordinating yet another premium quality event and also to the gracious folks at Magnolia Tap & Kitchen for allowing us Unilocalers to overwhelm your space in the Gaslamp.
Cheers!