Taste Test: Magnolia House

Pasadena has gained a delicious new hot spot: John and Chris Bicos’ Magnolia House. These are the gents that brought us Gus’ BBQ, FYI. For their newest restaurant venture and first craft cocktail establishment made up of a 1912 craftsman bungalow on South Lake Avenue, critically acclaimed mixologist Evan Zimmerman has developed the cocktail program and Executive Chef Kyu Yi has created a small bites menu, complete with a selection of eclectic bar food. We recently destined the space and tasted an array of dinner selections that won us over—like the sesame ginger aioli-boosted shrimp toast and for our sweet tooth, the Loukoumades, or Greek Donuts with a Lumberjack’s Breakfast (scotch, applejack, and maple syrup!) as a chaser. Tasteful explosions are in your palette’s future.

Magnolia House is located at 492 S Lake Avenue in Pasadena, California and is open Monday-Wednesday from 4:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m., Thursday- Saturday from 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. and Sunday from 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Happy Hour is offered Monday-Friday from 4:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.