Magnolia Cheese Company

Drove by the other day sad to report it has closed… It was unique but a little pricey for such small portions

Oh. My. God. Becky.
The service was so bad it seemed like they were trying to provide terrible service. Our waitress, besides being smug and judgy for no reason, got several things wrong on our order, walked ridiculously slowly, and generally couldn’t give a shit.
Errors on our order:
–I ordered hot tea that I never received (after getting a judgemental look when I asked what black tea they had)
–my friend ordered a side of grits which she received after we had all finished eating and the dishes had been cleared (the grits were served on a saucer which was super weird)
–another friend ordered the grilled cheese and the soup. She only ever got the soup because the waitress didn’t write down the grilled cheese.
–everyone had to constantly ask for coffee refills. Also no one had spoons to stir, in addition to the fact that there was only stevia on the table. When we asked for sugar we got an asian soup spoon with like 2 teaspoons of raw sugar in it. For a table with six people.
–the gravy on the biscuits and gravy was SO SALTY; almost inedibly so. The gravy was also over-​thickened
–i had the buckwheat crêpe which was incredibly bland. and a very small portion considering it cost $ 14. it was served with a pile of undressed arugula.
–my hubs got the tri-​tip sandwich which was delicious but also kind of small
I can excuse poor service if the server is swamped, running around, serving a bunch of tables. But we were one of 3, maybe 4 parties. And our waitress seemed like she was trying to walk as slowly as possible. This was some of the worst service I’ve experienced in a while. Food wasn’t even that good. I don’t live in Fort Worth, but if I did, I would definitely never come back here.

The menu is eclectic and ever changing… a rare find in most restaurants. I appreciate the chef’s diligence to use local ingredients to create extraordinary dining experiences out of everyday ingredients. When the helpful staff deconstructs the ingredients, it leaves me wondering why I hadn’t thought of the combos myself! Always friendly, attentive, and professional staff. In my experience, Friday afternoons and Sundays are extremely busy! They aren’t kidding when they say «reservations preferred» for brunch on Sundays. I have an extremely «savvy» teenager who loved the veggie sandwich, special German potatoes, and ALWAYS enjoys the cheesecake. I’ve brought my mother and dear friends here and none of them have left without rave reviews. It’s perfect for lunch, brunch, girls night, first date, or casual get together.

I really, really want to love this place because the food is so fantastic, truly the food is something special, but the customer service is truly lacking. After 3 chances at this spot, my husband and I will not be returning. All three times that we have been here, twice for brunch and once for dinner, we were one of maybe four occupied tables and the staff was less than helpful. There are always plenty of wait staff hanging around the register, but getting their attention to check on your mimosa that you ordered 20 minutes earlier is nearly impossible. Again, the food is amazing, but the customer service makes dining here a miserable event.

Absolutely lovely atmosphere, So glad we used our Unilocal-​dar to find lunch this weekend. I knew this was going to be a five-​star experience, but if I’m going to be honest, I have to award Magnolia 4 stars.
The food was really pretty yummy. My sandwich, the Veggie Beat, was scrumptious. How can you go wrong when you pair lemon herbed chevre with beets and tomatillos? Answer: can’t. It’s yummy. And it comes with a sweetly pickled okra, kale chips (smile), and a quinoa salad topped with sprouts, pickled onion, and a chunk of blue cheese. Me: happy.
My kids’ sandwich was the Classic, a grilled cheddar cheese with a slight smear of roasted red pepper purée. The classic came with the same sides mine came with. Cool. But strangely, my kids, who have liked every grilled cheese to ever come their way (and I’ve tested ‘em, ya’ll, I promise), turned their little piggie snouts up and said, «no way.» (Not literally. They were actually quite well-​mannered, delicately telling me that the sandwich «wasn’t very good».) Since the pickled okra and quinoa salad weren’t much of an option for them, I started to sweat a tad. Grilled cheese + fruit was the plan for the afternoon, and it wasn’t cheap! But when I tasted it, I understood. The outside crust of the bread was way too salty. It seemed like maybe the kitchen used salted butter in the panini press *and* added salt. I don’t know what happened, but I’m certain that the kitchen would have fixed the problem had we dined in. Sadly, this was take-​out, and my kids and I were bummed. BUT, someone (not me) had the presence of mine to suggest eating the sandwich inside out, pulling pieces from the inside off without touching the outer crust, and the kids found it much more palatable. Phew.
Finally, and this is what really firmly bumped that final star off (after such a promising beginning :(), my experience with the cheese slate was less than stellar. There are so many wonky things that happened with this order; I’ll try to keep it brief. (Guffaw.) First, the girl I spoke with didn’t understand that I wanted to have slices of cheese to go. I told her which cheeses and the amount (a tasting amount, rather than big chunks), and left her to her work. But she didn’t fully understand, so she patiently came over to ask me to explain again what I wanted. Apparently I made an unusual request (which surprised me, considering the beautiful cheese case), so she told me what they usually do, and that what I was requesting was not usual and not really an option. Upon hearing this service, someone came to her rescue and told her that ABSOLUTELY, if the customer wants to choose her cheeses and make her own cheese plate to go, Magnolia Cheese Company CAN DO! For a little more than the cost of the regular cheese slate. Cool. So we waited patiently for the cheesemonger to do her work, paid up, and headed out with our goods packaged up.
Then, I opened my package. It was a sad sight for $ 20. Cheese is expensive, this we know, but I couldn’t help but feel that it was overpriced.
So, 4 stars. Because you should dine in and let them serve you the way they do. For a special occasion, a first date, a lunch with your bestie. Because the service and the cheffery (what is the word for culinary success?) means very well, and because the place is beautiful, and because it’s on Magnolia St.

I came by to check it out as a low key option for a date. While it didn’t fit my original needs, I’ve now discovered a great new cheese spot! They’ve got some great selections and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. The lady that helped me asked what I was looking for and then helped me find a couple of other cheeses that would pair well with the blue that I got. The menu is pretty small for food but I’ll be back for a quick lunch sometime and try it then.

Been back here a handful of times since my original review in September 2013. And, simply wonderful with each visit. This last time I did indulge in their goat cheese cheesecake (take out)… HIGHLY recommend. Not ‘goat cheesey’ really at all. Silky smooth, with local honey and blueberries. Totally worth the calories!
Also, if they are on the menu, please do try the goat cheese falafel and 5 bean salad. Seriously fantastic.

Really cool new restaurant on Magnolia. Enjoyed the experience today and had good food. It was an absolutely beautiful day and we sat outside and people watched. Since today is a Sunday they were serving a brunch menu. I had the frittata and my husband had their lamb sandwich both were very tasty. The Manager Zach and server Kelly were very nice and made our time there even more enjoyable. We ended our meal with trying their desserts: Brownie, Brittle and Brie Dessert and then their Cheesecake. Each were very delicious and different than mainstream. If I had any issue, it is that their portions are small but the price is not. For example, my frittata slice could have been a tad larger and the salad could have been double the size. The salad seemed like it was a small pinched portion. However, that will not deter us and we are looking forward to returning to try more items on their menu.

Elizabeth, thanks for letting us have our wedding ceremony in your shop! It was perfect and so was the food! As always

We went on a Sunday morning for brunch to try it out — we didn’t realize they have only their brunch items available during that time but that wasn’t a big deal. The place is so cute! It’s a small spot with mismatched tables and chairs and a super friendly staff. My husband ordered their French toast and I ordered their smoked salmon and waffles. We waited for a while and watched as everyone else got their meals and we didn’t. After a bit, one of the staff came over to tell us that they were having difficulties with their waffle maker and if I can order something else off the menu. They were super apologetic and offered us a complimentary dessert. I ended up ordering one of their amazing sandwiches with grilled cheese, bacon and sliced apples. That was the first time I’ve ever had kale chips and I loved them! Very addicting! My husband wasn’t too fond of his French toast but I shared my plate with him and he was happy. We chose the Brownie, Brie and Brittle for our dessert — it was truly amazing! The brie panna cotta was creamy and sweet and it was surrounded by rich brownie bites and peppery pecan brittle! We had a great experience here and we’ll definitely come back again!

Hi. I’m addicted to cheese.
This place is no help to me, but it is bea-​u-​tiful! The menu is fantastic and much larger than I expected (also a hand drawn piece of art). Beyond a great cheese selection they have salads, sandwhiches, small plates, and desserts. They’re also a great source of local and Texan products. The staff is SO friendly and accommodating. They were very helpful in answering questions and were more than happy to give samples of things to try. My advice, start with a cheese plate and sample everything, then branch out — everything on the menu is wonderful! You can’t go wrong at this place… Unless you DON’T order cheese. But why would anyone do that?!

I love cheese. No… actually I lust after cheese. And Magnolia Cheese Company is a fucking godsend.
This was a weekly dinner stop for me the first 6 months they were opened… I would have Magnolia Cheese Date Tuesdays… but would find myself thinking about it every other day of the week. After I fucked up the relationship I was in… I changed my habits and would visit 3. sometimes 4 times a week. It’s walking distance from my house so it’s a dangerous place for me and my cheese addiction.
It offers up some of the best cheeses I have ever had… a lot of it being regional. The cheese planks are prepared without a fault. the accompanying items in the planks are paired to compliment the cheeses well. My favorite is the Traveler.
I have had every single thing from the menu… there isn’t one thing that is bad… but I will tell you that the best thing on the menu is the Texas Chevre (goats cheese) Cheesecake. Like my toes curled… I got tingly and had a hot flash when I had the first bite of this cheesecake.
Besides the cheesecake and and the planks… they also have salads, sandwiches, soups and hummus. The menu changes seasonally so this is a place you need to visit often.
OOOOH one more thing… they have wine delivery… yeah you can order bottles. even cases of your favorite wines from the shop. This place was already perfect but adding this feature just makes them perfectly amazing.

This place is nothing short of revelatory. Okay, maybe that’s a bit strong, but still… I really enjoyed this place and it’s such a great addition to the Magnolia foodie scene.
A cheese place, you say? Yes, a cheese place. But not just a cheese place, it’s also a restaurant that calls itself a «scratch kitchen,» meaning that they make everything in-​house (aside from the bread, which, to their credit, they get from fort worth), from scratch, and without using a freezer. Or fryer. So yeah, their food is fresher and made in-​house. Their menu also adapts to the seasons, which adds another level of legitimacy and awesomeness to what they do. And the ambience and décor of the place – so pleasant and your-​friendly-​neighborhood-​ish. The wooden tables and chairs are all different, drinks are served in mason jars, lots of natural light in the place; in addition, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their food and seem genuinely happy to be working there.
Came with some friends and we started off with a cheese plank, specifically the American Artisan. I can’t remember all the names of the cheeses, but there was a good assortment along with date jam, sliced baguette, curried pecans, grapefruit and other fruits, and some vinegars drizzled on the planks as well. They were really interesting in taste – all of them with various flavor profiles – and elegantly presented.
We all got different dishes for ourselves, I got the Ol’ Spaniard, which is a sourdough sandwich with serrano ham, manchego cheese, house made date jam, and kale. It’s a really creative sandwich and everything in it seems to all make sense and complement the other ingredients. The sweetness of the manchego and date jam go well with the serrano, yet the kale just cuts into the overall taste really nicely.
A friend ordered the Beef and Cheddar. I’m getting tired of writing, but all I gots to say is that this ain’t your normal beef and cheddar yo. You get real good chunks of beef in that sandwich, really juicy, red wine braised chunks of beef.
The cheesecake is also amazing. However, if you like your cheesecakes on the hard side, you’re out of luck, because this is a tad softer than most cheesecakes most of us are used to. But it’s still delicious and its crust has a maple syrup either drizzled on it or mixed into it. Either way, it’s really good.
Can’t wait to come back, Magnolia Cheese is for realsies.

I’m not sure why I hadn’t been here sooner, considering my love for cheese and all. Magnolia Cheese Company is my dream come true and I don’t think I can say enough amazing things about it. I’ll give it a shot, anyway…
First of all, you know this will be a charming and unique venue because it’s on Magnolia Avenue. It’s simple and homey on the inside with giant floor to ceiling windows that fill the entire space with natural light. The tables and furniture are wooden and mismatched, and there’s a large counter in front of a giant blackboard-​menu. You can also read your paper menu, whichever you prefer. Magnolia Cheese Co. used to be an «order at the counter then sit down» kind of place, but now you’ll be waited on. Find a seat anywhere (so laid back) and someone will come to you so you can order 2 glasses of Prosecco, thank you.
This menu is such a beauty. Every dish features some sort of cheese (s), duh, and it’s so hard to pick something! Salads, sandwiches, cheese boards, soup of the day, desserts, small plates… I ordered the soup which was a rich and incredible French Onion (hold the croutons). It was served in a strange little glass bowl/​jar thing which made it much more fun to eat. Then, I had the Drunken Pimento for $ 8.50 which consisted of «Drunken Monk gouda, watercress & jalapeño chimichurri, pecans, and house buckwheat lavash.» Oh my god… don’t knock pimento cheese until you try it… and please, try the gorgeous one you can find here. It was absolutely beautifully presented and so, so delicious. The house-​made buckwheat lavash is Gluten Free, a deep brown, and so hearty. Whoa. And the jalapeño chimichurri was tangy and fresh and the perfect brightener for such a dish. I’d order this again in a second.
For dessert, I enjoyed the fantastic «Brownie, Brittle & Brie» which is a Gran Marnier (buckwheat) brownie, spiced pecan brittle, brie panna cotta, and passionfruit coulis. The panna cotta and passionfruit coulis was out of this world amazing. It was so creamy and light and had just the right amount of lovely fruitiness. It went perfectly with the dark and bitter brownie and salty brittle. Seriously, what an excellent and original dessert. Please order it!
No, Magnolia Cheese Co. isn’t «cheap,» although $ 7-​$ 12 for gourmet sandwiches and $ 8-​$ 10 for small plates isn’t a bad deal at all. I do think the cheese planks (I saw a few around me) are pretty sparsely filled for being $ 16-​$ 20, but there is a lot of thought, fine ingredients, and wonder put into them. I don’t mind paying extra for such an artful and fresh meal. The thing I love the most about Magnolia Cheese Co. is that on the back of their menu, you can see exactly where all of their ingredients come from, and everything is local. The meat, the lettuce, the mushrooms, the vegetables, the olives, the bread… And of course the cheese (and some is made by their very own cheese-​monger!). Plus, MCC doesn’t have a freezer, so you’re guaranteed the freshest of foods!
Love, love, love. Can’t wait to go back.

Wanted to try something new for brunch today. My daughter has a wheat allergy so that can make trying new restaurants, well… trying! Felt like heading to Magnolia, the street, so thought we would give Magnolia Cheese company a try. It way surpassed my expectations! There were several gluten-​free options for my daughter so no big challenge there. We ended up with way more food than we needed but we will know for next time. We started with the Traveler cheese plate. It was exquisite. Great assortment of 5 cheeses and delicious nibbles. She also got the fruit plate which she didn’t need because there was fruit on the cheese plate. I got the grits and the hash with a poached egg. The egg was a bit too done but the flavor of the dish was wonderful!
I appreciate the extras… the lemon, honey and basil drizzled over the fruit. The blueberry compote that paired wonderfully with the Stilton. The curried pecans. The fresh figs… yum!
Staff was very helpful and friendly. Atmosphere is what you would expect in this area. Quirky, charming and beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
Simply delightful. We will be back soon!

I am not big fan of the cheese but even I could not pass by a place with a motto as this:
We are proud to be «scratch kitchen». Everything on our menu is made in the house, expect for the fresh bread we buy down the road. We are locally owned shop, and we buy locally from sustainable farm wherever possible. Our menu adapts with season, and we choose to work without a freezer or fryer. We expect you taste the difference!
I visit this establishment twice, and left very pleased.
I tried the Beef and Cheddar Sandwich: red wine braised beef, cabot clothbound cheddar, horseradish, house bread and butter, pickle-​olive relish, baguette. This plate comes with kale chips (which are freakishly delicious)
My friend had Du Jour — Hommus, it was very good.
I also tried the Fraiche Fish: whiskey cured salmon, chile garlic crème fraîche, cukes, avocado mousse, pickled red onion, lemon oil, baguette. I was tasting different flavors every bite, it was delicious, fresh and light (if that makes any sense)
I had a Chardonnay both times because was very refreshing.
This establishment is very friendly and has a moderate outside seating.
The service at this place was awesome, friendly and nice. I will definitely go back and you should too! :D

If you like Antonelli’s Cheese Shop in Austin or are a fan of Scardello’s in Dallas you will love Magnolia Cheese Company. It is a small locally owned cheese shop in a charming space off of Magnolia Street.
Not only do they have some of the best Texas cheeses they make everything in house an locally source when available. Their motto is fresh over frozen and they do not own a freezer.
They offer a happy hour that includes $ 3 off wines by the glass. While today’s specials sounded amazing, salads gorgeous and as enticing as the sandwiches sound I went with the local cheese plate. The generous board comes with 5 rotating local cheeses, spiced Texas pecans, fruit and a few other accompaniments. Todays board included Bosque Blue, Pratali Girl, Eden Valley Brie, Haute Goat Crottin, Drunken Monk served with thinly sliced baguette and paired with Hughes Beaulieu Picpoul. They thouroughly explained the tasting notes and suggested order in which to consume. Oh and the wine was a steal at $ 4 during happy hour!
Tips:
They make box lunches perfect for work meetings or picnics.
There is limited sidewalk seating (table) that is dog friendly.

I went to Magnolia Cheese Company on the first day I was allowed to have cheese again after 12 weeks of dairy free. I knew my tummy probably wouldn’t be my friend, but I had to have the Cheeeezzzzeee.
It was so delicious. I had the watermelon salad, fresca, and then just some Texas cheese with honey. I love that you order at the counter. I think that makes it faster, and easier for large groups. I waited tables for 8 years and hate having to ask for split checks so this takes that hassle out of the way. The service was great. They were incredibly friendly. and OMG the kale chips. Never have I had such yummy ones.
The prices are a little high. But also I don’t know how much cheese costs. I feel like anytime I’ve gotten a cheese board it’s been pricey anywhere. So maybe they’re on point.

Hot damn this place is expensive. But it’s so good! I love the uniqueness of the cheese boards. I have yet to try an actual lunch plate here because the cheese is so enticing.
I was a little uncomfortable with the seating. I’m a Texas girl so I like a lot of space. These chairs were to antique like and small, and the tables barely fit our cheese board and drinks. It felt like a jigsaw puzzle trying to eat.
But the small quaint seating and tables make for a wonderful atmosphere. It’s such a quaint little coffee shop feel with wine available at the counter.

What a wonderful addition to Near Southside! I went on opening day to check them out. Not too crowded and very cute décor. Everything is various shades of blue, lots of mismatched antique furniture– small tables and large, couches and armchairs. The kitchen is visible from the shop so you can see the guys in the back making tasty creations. You order at the cash register and they bring your food to where ever you have seated yourself.
We had a cheese board– the American Artisan– which had 5 different types of Texas cheeses, honey drizzled all over the board, small apple matchsticks, grapefruit segments, pomegranate, fruit compote and a toasted sliced baguette. We washed that all down with some Pinot Gris. Very very good! One of the girls working behind the counter even brought us a few slices of pepperoni to try.
I really enjoyed the visit. It’s very open inside with huge windows to people watch (one of my favorite past times) I’d like to return and try some of the small plates they offer– as well as the chèvre cheesecake and charcuterie. They have a build your own board option that could be fun too!
I will be found here often I’m sure :)