magnolia restaurant branching into downtown
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Downtown’s southern Financial District will be welcoming Magnolia Restaurant, a hip Hollywood hangout at the intersection of Sunset and Vine, in the spring.
Owner Laurie Mulstay confirms the sister location, which took over the shuttered Zita Trattoria at 9th and Figueroa. Though details about the second restaurant are still hazy, expect more information over the next several weeks.
Magnolia is known for its comfortably modern, eclectic interior, as well as a diverse menu of Mediterranean dishes, seafood and updated American comfort food. Perhaps most exciting is the prospect of Sunday brunch, which would provide a much healthier alternative to the Pantry next door.
The restaurant joins Downtown as new nightlife and concert venues have opened at LA Live and several area residential buildings near completion.
Have you been to Magnolia in Hollywood? Let us know your thoughts.
Magnolia Downtown
825 James M Wood Blvd (9th Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Opening Spring 2009
magnoliahollywood.com
29 comments
Yes, went to Magnolia a couple years ago, following an Archlight movie. We enjoyed the vibe and the food, but though it was a bit pricey. We haven’t gone back with the temptation of Hungry Cat being just around the corner. I think Downtown could use some brunch options.
My boyfriend and I had our first date at Magnolia. We recently decided to move in together this April and have chosen downtown as our residence. Needless to say I was thrilled when I saw Magnolia will be there. We love it for obvious sentimental reasons, but the food is great, the service is always outstanding, and it just has a really great vibe. I am very much looking forward to its new location.
more importantly, has anyone else noticed that the McDonalds at 7th and Hill is closing at the end of the month??? i am going to CRY.
fast food joints in downtown come and go. used to be arbys, burger king, dell taco all downtown. gone now. recently yoshinoya on 7th closed too. don’t worry more garbage food will take it’s place. and if not … hell, i saw a woman at 7-Eleven last week buy her two children a bag of fritos each, open the bags, fill them with the pump chili & cheese (normally reserved for the hot dogs) and hand them spoons. awesome.
Downtown LA has bifurcated into two segments in the immediate downtown area - meaning west of Pershing Square and East of Pershing Square.
McD at 7th & Hill is right in the middle, as was their unit on 6th Street across from Pacific Center, which closed maybe 3-4 years ago.
You either need to be on the west side, Flower/Figueroa corridor, or on the east side, meaning historic core, etal.
Everything else is a tweener, meaning neither fish nor fowl, and translated for the arches, not profitable.
Then of course there is the issue of rent, and landlords need to be realistic today - this is not an economy built upon optimism, and the arches can at least be expected to pay the rent when the time comes, unlike many of the pretenders who think they have the greatest concept since sliced bread.
This makes me very very happy. I love Magnolia.
I go to Magnolia all the time, and am thrilled it’s coming downtown just a few blocks away. Pretty much all the food there is great, and perfectly executed without getting terribly fancy. I love the pork chop.
Yeah Magnolia! Awesome restaurant. The Hollywood location is a good watering hole as well. Hope that translates to their downtown branch. With all the bars we have here I doubt it’ll be a problem.
Magnolia is great! I’m not sure how all these restaurants are going to do in this economy, but I’m certainly not complaining about having more great choices.
finally! looking forward to this….magnolia is a great spot. the food is so delicious. what a great addition!! thank you angelenic
Love the idea of another McDonalds closing.
Love Magnolia, too.
i love snobs who pretend mcdonalds isnt deliciouus
ps magnoliaz is pretty good, but we’re not all millionaires.
I’m not a snob, but mcdonalds is far from delicious, at least in my opinion. YUCK!
The brunch here looks appealing, downtown needs a good bloody mary spot for sunday afternoons and the prices on breakfast don’t seem as high as dinner. Fingers crossed for lunch specials as well
Magnolia has just the right tasty-cocktail happy hour vibe for that space. The Sunset space is stylish enough but sans the attitude of some of its neighbors — it happily accommodated our shifting, poorly-organized and indecisive party of a dozen for drinks last Saturday night.
The Magnolia in H-wood is fantastic— been there a number of times. Great scene, great food. Should be a great addition to the area!
Magnolia has turned into my “regular” spot. Love it and I couldn’t be happier that they are expanding. I’m a big fan!!
We need a Hamburger Mary’s Downtown. Now that’s a place to get bloody Marys and whatnot on a Sunday afternoon. You can wear flip-flops if you want, it won’t break the bank but they have good food & good drinks.
I’m not a snob either—I eat at Burger King, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell—just about any fast food but McDonalds is the last f.f. joint I want to eat at. —Justin: I agree, yuck! (except for the McRib!)
Hamburger Mary’s I agree after looking at their menu, it should go somewhere on Bway, or near LA Live, it actually wouldve been cool to have it be in LA live, oh well maybe LA central.
nice to see more restaurants open in the area.
laury!!! yay! cant wait for you guys to come downtown! love love the food and the vibe. downtown needs something new …..and ……. not soo downtown..
I have been to Magnolia for late-night eats and brunch. The mac and cheese is flavorful and brunch was a steal! Downtown can use more mid-priced restaurants that are not overly stuffy or require reservations.
downtown needs to pass that threshold from having too many restaurants if it only caters to the residents to having so many restaurant options that people actually find downtown as a night/weekend destination.
^ very true - the more, the merrier.
same goes for retail.
I’m surprised that Angelenic hasn’t covered the opening of Crocker Club! I remember the first look, but now its open! Can we see some pics of the place? Thanks!
^ I’m not covering the Crocker Club. Sorry!
Rich, good for you! Not sure the Crocker Club needs covering here. Not sure who the market is for and will be interesting in this economy to see if it, or the Association can make it as sort of “hidden” private drinking establishments.
With regard to Hamburger Mary’s, I think the now shuttered Tranquility Base would be a perfect spot for either a Hamburger Mary’s or a downtown version of the Abbey with that great outdoor patio. It has great ambiance. It needs good signage and a gimmick.
#21: I am excited by the news too, but I’m not sure Magnolia is “mid-priced”, is it?
Congratulations Laurie! But wish you were nearer xxAuntie M
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