Review: Magnolia Thomas

There is some controversy over the origins of the word, “brunch,” a portmanteau of the words breakfast and lunch. It is said to have originated in Britain around 1896.

Another rumor has it that Frank O’Malley, a newspaper reporter for the New York Morning Sun coined the word to reflect the typical mid-day eating habits of those in the newspaper business. But wherever it came from, I am glad the concept held.

I am also glad the  has brunch on Sundays. The place and the food is a respite from the hustle and bustle of the week and offers a time to relax and enjoy the well-appointed ambiance of the property.

Sunday brunch at the Magnolia is a buffet service. When I visited, the menu was comprised of a vast array of delicacies prepared and served in elegant southern style. The food is the star and the offerings were stunning.

For starters, a lovely mesclun salad with three dressing choices including ranch, balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese, plus a Tomato Basil soup with hand cut croutons, Buttermilk Fried Chicken with black eye peas and dried cranberries, mini crab cakes in a lemon sauce, a Vegetable Frittata, Grilled Vegetable combination (carrots, artichokes, broccoli, squash), cheesy grits, grilled bacon and sausage, and eggs benedict made to order, belgian waffles, and omelets, a sliced pork loin, and a plethora of beverages and assorted pastries to round out the morning menu complete with “bottomless Mimosas.”

For dessert, you can choose from homemade peach and blueberry cobblers, and chocolate mousse with strawberry and mint garnish. The price for Sunday Brunch is $20. Elegant food in a price oasis.

The buffet is opulent and generous. The service was attentive and easily forthcoming with answers to my questions. The seating around square, cloth covered tables make for an elegant meal for special occasions like Father’s Day or any other special time to celebrate—or for just a wonderful time to stay in touch with your “inner tourist” in downtown Woodstock.

A showcase of southern classic dining, the Magnolia Thomas Restaurant will feature a special Wine Dinner on June 23 where everything they will serve will be “Georgia-themed.” This is surely something to look forward to.

Stay tuned as I report back after I visit and taste from the regular dinner menu. I am dying to try the Eggplant Pancakes. But for now, I can linger over the memory of an elegant brunch, in an elegant old building in a restaurant named after a famed African-American teacher and community benevolent from Woodstock.