Foley’s Hotel Magnolia Delivers

If you’re looking for a lunch or dinner spot that promises to impress without burning a hole in your wallet, the restaurant at Hotel Magnolia in downtown Foley is one not to pass up. Colleen and I join friends there for dinner SEP 5th 2025. Owner Diana Rohe-Pennington shows us to our table, seating us in an area that has only a handful of diners, which surprises us, given that most places are at their busiest Friday evenings. That’s until we learn what has siphoned customers away on this night: Only a short distance away, the Foley Lions are hosting a home game in which they’ll deliver a 27-7 thumping to the Robertsdale Bears, and–well, we all know about the level of popularity high school and college football holds throughout the South.

Our friends, Steve and Louise, are repeat customers to the place, housed inside the hotel which was built in 1908 and has been elegantly restored. Rohe-Pennington and her husband have created an atmosphere that’s welcoming and relaxed.

Choosing from the menu is not what we would call a simple process. Tempting choices are aplenty. Steve tells me about his previous experience with the sixteen ounce hand-cut ribeye ($38), which he places right up there with places known for the finest steak around the eastern shore. While some of the seafood options are tempting (including the catfish and triggerfish), I decide to put Steve’s evaluation to the test and ask Lula, our server, to bring a ribeye out. Colleen orders the pan seared salmon with dill sauce ($19). Both come with choice of house or Caesar salads, bread and a side.

Before our salads show up, an appetizer of fried mushrooms with ranch dressing ($12) appears. Although our friends place the order, we have to confess that it doesn’t seem right not to help with knocking down some of the supply, especially with one of the mushrooms looking straight at me and calling my name. And then another one and another one. Have to confess, they’re excellent (I guess we’ll pick up the appetizer next time).

House salads that accompany both of our entrees show up next. Freshly prepared and chilled, they don’t last long.

The real feast kicks into high gear when my steak and Colleen’s salmon arrive. I had asked for medium temperature, and the kitchen crew nails it. I realize quickly that I’ll be leaving nothing behind on the plate. Tender and mouth-watering delicious with excellent marbling, the steak is A+/outstanding. As for Steve’s comment about the ribeyes here being right up with steaks from the area’s other heavy hitters, I am seeing the light with every bite. Colleen is very pleased with her salmon.

Between the mushrooms, salads, excellent bread and our entrees, we’re so full that we’re close to needing to be rolled out of the place. Needless to say, dessert is out of the question. But that’s before a surprise bit of news hits: We’re informed that an order of apple and peach stuffed beignets is on the way, courtesy of the owner.

𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒? “𝑂ℎ, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑛𝑜, 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑛’𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑡. 𝐶𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦. 𝐽𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡. 𝑁𝑜 𝑟𝑜𝑜𝑚. 𝐵𝑢𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢. 𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒. 𝑂ℎ, 𝑚𝑦, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑢𝑠? 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙. 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑠𝑙𝑖𝑝 𝑖𝑛 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑎 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑒. 𝑂ℎ, 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡’𝑠 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙, 𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑒…”

Colleen says it best. In a world where you might be trying to avoid dessert, if you’re going to have some, this is the dessert you should get. The beignets are heavenly. Not a complaint is heard from within the group. At least one plate gets scraped to scoop up all the powdered sugar. We’re told that you should eat these by hand, but we know that would mean four adults with powdered sugar on their faces and clothing. Freshly brewed coffee that comes with the beignets offers a perfect conclusion to the meal.

Our total without tip lands at $67.10. Pay with cash instead of charging to a card and save 3.5%. Out of eleven entrees listed on the night’s menu, seven are less than $20. I mention to the owner that we appreciate having a nice spot to dine without having to take out a mortgage to pay for it.

We’ve had not only an outstanding meal, but Lula makes us feel like VIPs by checking on us frequently to see if there’s anything we need. Being repeat customers, our friends are already fans of this place, and we understand why. After a great dining experience with outstanding food and service, we walk out, saying, this place is a keeper. Great for a date night, couple’s night or family meal.

Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday at 118 N McKenzie St, Hotel Magnolia is an easy drive from Fairhope and is in the first block to the north, just off Hwy 98. They can be reached at 251-952-5005…