I work here, but I can say that the food and service are awesome! Try any mocktail, cocktail, appetizer, entree, or dessert, and you'll see how meticulously each is prepared with love and a botanical touch! read more

Stopped here in the midst of walking in the garden, and this was a great place to recharge. We had the burrata here and it was a winner. It had a delectable balance of grilled peaches, burrata, and what was either juices or honey. But scoop it all when the sourdough and it was one sumptuous bite. I had the cucumber cooler drink and that too had the right amount of fizz and sweetness. Cafe restaurant itself was nice and mostly on par with other museum restaurants. Be careful, there's also an outdoor cafe called a canteen. Service was quick and they followed up, no issues. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Burrata - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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A lovely place to stop in while looking at the flowers, trees and spending time in nature at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The food is always good. Very inventive! This time, we ordered the salmon flatbread and the tuna Niçoise salad. Both were delicious! The Niçoise salad was superb! Service was very good! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Salmon flatbread - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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This is not for the yellow magnolia cafe but THE MAGNOLIA CAFÉ AT THE BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDENS. Very limited menu, fairly pricey, not a lot for vegetarians. The salmon was small. The chicken was large. Beautiful place, good service. The bathrooms are public to anyone who walks in so even if you've spent $100 you still have to wait online for 20 minutes. I wouldn't go back unless I had to. read more

I suspected the food wasn't going to be worth it when I saw the menu with prices. I wanted to wait until we left the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to find something better to eat, but we were hungry. We ended up getting a small bite to hold us over. I got the Pepperoni Pizza ($8) and my friend got the Adobo Empanada ($8). The empanada is not bad, but super small for what you're paying. The pizza didn't look appetizing at all and didn't taste any better. For the price, it's extremely not worth it. I was extremely disappointed. If you can, bring food beforehand to picnic as the food is not worth buying at all here. It's very sad, small, and pricey. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Adobo Empanada, Pepperoni Pizza, and Iced Coffee. - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

While strolling through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we saw there was a cafe that looked perfect for lunch. The inside reminded me of a green house because of the glass windows and roof, the inside was decorated so cutely and very on theme with the botanic garden. Service was good, the food was surprisingly very delicious. Presentation was perfect with lots of vegetarian options to choose from. If you plan on visiting the cafe during your visit to the Gardens, be sure to note when they open/close. We were one of the last customers to enjoy the cafe and saw staff having to turn away a few groups of people because they arrived after closing. read more

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My wife and I enjoyed a very good lunch here. I felt like it was a little overpriced, but the service was good, food was tasty, and the atmosphere was great. We would eat here again. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Menu. - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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While at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, we went to Yellow Magnolia Cafe for lunch. We had a hard time deciding what to order because everything sounded so good, and I chose the Reuben sandwich and pink lentil soup, and my husband had the cheeseburger and corn polenta fries with tomato chutney. While pricey, the food was delicious, and I swear it was the best Reuben sandwich I have ever had. Great food and great service, but be prepared for an expensive bill! [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; NY Summer 2022] read more

I became a member of the Brooklyn botanical garden two years ago- best decision ever as we now frequent the gorgeous grounds often- but this was the first time at the cafe and what a delight! I had the frittata which was soooo light and fluffy - almost like a cross between a soufflé and a flan in texture- paired with a perfectly dressed salad and a potato crostini sort of accompaniment- wonderful! My son had the chicken sandwich which he devoured and my husband just had an inkling for a burger and they did not disappoint. Ambiance is great because the space is so well designed when they repurposed it from the original gift shop . It's a greenhouse but protected with well placed shades in the sunny day we were there. Plenty of cocktails too by the way- we just enjoyed bottle after bottle of their designer filtered water by Vivreaux- it reminded me of the water in Scotland: remarkably good and distinctively better than any other water. I know: it's just water, but it was notable. A wonderful place to bring friends, lovers and family. read more

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Expensive museum food, with more upscale ambience. Food was good quality. Service was very nice. We got a flat bread with vegetables, and speck ham added on ($25) The peas and veggies on the pizza actually tasted very very fresh. And the Gruyère cheese was different and special and provided good contrast. The onion and potato soup ($14) was also good. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Flatbread with ham add-on; soup - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Must be under new management. The chicken soup was way too salty. My wife had to add half a cup of water to dilute to make it edible. I ordered a burger medium, and it came out medium rare, and the very center quite rare. The Mezze Plate was very good. Service was good. Drinks were great. read more

Okay listen, the strawberry ice cream might be expensive but trust me. TRUST ME. It's absolutely to die for. They make it in house, and the strawberries are sooooo fresh! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Salmon Salad - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Great spot, comfortable and flawless service. The food is the best of any "concession" at a popular spot that I have ever eaten at. Appetizer, entrees dessert all first class. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Crab cake appetizer special was fantastic. - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Yellow Magnolia cafe was certainly one of the places I went to in NY, the prices certainly reflected so on my wallet. I came here with a few friends to celebrate my birthday and shared a few apps, the service here was amazing which was unexpected for what I thought was a gimmick restaurant. However with that being said the food was overpriced and although tasty was absurdly small. I would recommend going here only to experience the scenery and getting a quick bite but not much else. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Spring Flatbread - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Biased because I work at BBG but this place is a true hidden gem. The food is as photogenic as it is good. Amazing burger (I don't know why it's so good) and really good hot chicken. Ambiance is kind of unmatched because you are overlooking BBG's historic Lily Pool Terrace, which is particularly verdant in the late summer. Service is great. I'd recommend this for a creative date or bringing parents who are sold on you moving to Brooklyn. read more

WOW!!! Came here on Saturday with my family , so happy they've reopened. Ordered the Yellow Magnolia Fried Chicken and my mom ordered the Reuben , both were fantastic. Service was friendly and professional, the managers Matthew and Bonnie checked on us to make sure all was well , and it was !!! Bonnie even took time out to give my mom a history lesson on the Botanical Garden which my mom loves , so that meant a lot to me. Can't wait to come back next weekend , as BBG is one of my happy places in all of NYC. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - fried chicken, rice, and coleslaw - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Just visited the Yellow Magnolia Cafe yesterday with my coworkers for lunch. It's a great place to grab a quick and delicious bite! I ordered the hot chicken sandwich and it was so flavorful -- everything tasted fresh and cooked to perfection. They definitely grow some of these vegetables in a greenhouse on the grounds. The coffee was perfectly acidic and the fries were cut thin and fried well. The servers were attentive and very prompt. It was overall a great experience to eat in a sunroom surrounded by friends and good vibes. It's very wholesome and bright, so it's a great place to do work or even catch a quick lunch break. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Hot Chicken Sandwich with fries - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Had a wonderful brunch at this Cafe inside the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. After walking around the garden, and enjoying the beautiful cherry blossoms, my husband and I finally made a reservation at this restaurant. We heard so much about this place for their polenta fries, but they didn't offer it today. But they have pretty eclectic menu, which includes vegan options. Their dishes are delectable and reasonable portions. Must try their biscuits with homemade jams and the Mushroom Cheesesteak. Friendly staff and quick service. Will definitely come back here to try the popular polenta fries. Come enjoy the flowers at BBG and then try the delicious food at Yellow Magnolia cafe. read more

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The food is decent enough but the price point is way out of line. But that what happens when you are the only restaurant on the grounds. Listen the staff is great and very helpful. The service is fast. The location is beautiful, especially in the spring. But the food is average and the price is way too much for what you get. read more

We enjoyed eating in Yellow Magnolia Cafe each time we visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens instead of the outside Canteen. We enjoy the interesting menu with its very inventive dishes on the menu. We always know we will receive very good service by a very dedicated staff who will answer any questions about the food and menu selections. We had today the following dishes: mushroom pie with époisses (v), hot fried chicken sandwich, and chocolate budino tart and Hot Beverage (Earl Grey) Tea. Of course, a Brooklyn Lager Beer accompanied my Fried Chicken Sandwich. Each of the entrees were very good and very well enjoyed. And the Chocolate Budino was very good as a treat to top off the meal. Also always, we will return next time for another meal on our visit. Why not try treat the Cafe on your visit. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Interior of the Cafe where we ate. - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This is a lovely little cafe nestled in the heart of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. It did take a little while for my party of 5 to get sat, but once we did service was quick and the food was tasty! Would definitely recommend making this stop if you come to BBG! read more

Had lunch with my family on my birthday hallway around the BBG. It was beautiful, intimate, and food was unique and excellent. Staff was friendly and efficient. I will recommend this place to everyone. read more

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This place used to be amazing . They had the best biscuits and terrific chicken with a spicy green slaw . While we had a terrific waitress today I would say it is nothing like the restaurant I once so enjoyed . My friend sent back her first dish when she saw canned tuna was in her salad nicoise. My chicken sandwich was an overfried chicken breast with some chipotle . Nothing to get excited about . Our food was overpriced and not particularly tasty . You are paying for the location and the view. I'd say bring your own lunch to the gardens or opt for the snack bar . read more

(This review is from a visit in March.) After a great stroll around the gardens - make sure you check out the Bonsai Gardens - my sister, mom and I stumbled into the cafe. In my experience, any cafe at a museum or garden is mediocre at best but this place was delicious. It was clean, very bright (lots of windows) and the food was superb. I'm going to have pay entry fee to the gardens just to go to the cafe! I got the huevos rancheros (which I sadly don't see on the weekend menu anymore). Stop in for a delicious cup of coffee, snack, alcoholic beverage, or meal. The service was good as well! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

We visited Yellow Magnolia Cafe for brunch. We made a reservation in advance and were seated promptly. I'll start with the bad. Service was more miss than hit. Our server first forgot to bring out one of the two coffees we ordered. He also later forgot to bring out one of the brunch drinks we ordered and we had to remind him twice to do so. That, plus the long waits between inquiries as to how we were doing and to refill our waters (a low bar, as we don't want too many check-ins), is the reason I knock a star. Turning to the good, both of our brunch beverages were a treat: the Bloody Mary had a nice spicy kick to it (I almost ordered a second!) and the elderflower and ginger cocktail was great and very ginger-forward. The coffees were less impressive, and I probably wouldn't order them again. On the food, the brûlée challah french toast had a nice flavor and was light and airy. The Catskills smoked salmon had good flavor and an interesting presentation, though it wasn't the most convenient for consumption. And the spinach and Gruyère frittata was good but not mind-blowing. The seating area itself is quite cute. You get a lovely view of the gardens, and it's very bright. The only thing to keep in mind is it's an all glass ceiling, so it can get hot on sunny days. Dress accordingly! Overall, aside from the service hiccups, our experience was solid, and this place is definitely a good option for those looking for a meal to split up their day exploring the gardens. read more

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Last Friday we went to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden after work. I had already eaten, but Brandon was starving so we popped into the Yellow Magnolia Cafe. First, the staff is incredible. We didn't realize we sat down ten minutes to close, but the staff just patiently and politely served us without saying a word! This kind of graciousness is above and beyond, I wouldn't want anyone holding me up on a Friday, but they were all accommodating. Although the service is five star-worthy, this rating is all about the food. We started with a biscuit box, which comes with two large biscuits and two hommade kinds of butter. They came out warm, which is always preferred! They're not greasy or covered in butter, but they're also not too dry, and the butter and jam they provide are delicious. We got the fried chicken with wild rice, it was full of flavor and perfectly fried. It came with spicey honey that I wish I could put on everything. Absolutely recommend this dish, technically executed well and flavors are so on point. Can't wait to come back here for brunch! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Such a nice little cafe in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Great service! Food was also excellent. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - View outside the Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Eating here was a perfect closure to such a wonderful sunny day at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. I was very impressed with the menu selection even though it was somewhat limited. The quality of the ingredients are apparent, with the food presentation definitely refined. The service was on point as well. I couldn't imagine a better day eating a delicious lunch with the beautiful sun beaming through the windows. It was picture perfect! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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After spending Easter in the Garden; we were all hungry and opted to eat here. The wait was pretty long due to the place being crowded. They allow you to check in,give your name, and they will reach out to you when it's your turn. Ambiance: 5 out 5: the ambiance was great here. The side panel windows reminded me of Del Frisco--I would say if you get a sit along the right side you're in for a great view of the garden. Service: 3.75 out 5: the wait was pretty long, I understand it was Easter, but we were told 30 minutes, but seemed way longer. Also, the food took quite awhile to arrive. The initial order was only two cheeseburgers and fruit salad-- the burger was excellent though. So much so, I had to order a third for my daughter who wanted her own. However, two burgers and a fruit shouldn't take 25 minutes! The server was friendly and accommodating, but I did have to request the check three times. Prices: 3 out of 5: it's relatively expensive. The cheeseburger ($16) came with Terra chips, not fries which I wasn't thrilled with. My biggest gripe was the fruit salad; I wish I had taken a picture, it was just mostly grapes and cost $15-- that's outrageous. The entire order came to a little over $100 for three cheeseburgers, fruit salad, two coffees, slice of cake, one Stella and one Pinot Grigio. This wouldn't be bad if it were an outside restaurant, but at the Botanical Gardens?? In sum, good views, long wait, high prices and pretty good service. With everything in life there are pros and cons-- so this place is more of a 3.5 because we had a nice family Easter, but bring your patience and some cash with you for this place. read more

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Where do I go to decompress after a mass casuality incident? The yellow magnolia cafe! Honestly, just wanted to walk in the botanical garden and decompress after a 24 hour tour....this place was beyond a pleasant surprise......prayers for all the folks that were injured yesterday..... read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Flowers .... - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Went on this past casual and sunny Saturday afternoon, one of the first days of the Spring season. Unfortunately, I feel like I had higher expectations that weren't really met. I should have done my research beforehand, but you cannot just go inside to eat here. **NOTE: We had to purchase a $15 adult entrance ticket to the Botanical Garden in order to go inside the cafe, as this is a part of the garden. (Side note: Luckily, it was a nice day to enjoy the walk outside, but not many flowers have bloomed yet to our visibility. Sad D:) Food was pricey considering the food wasn't anything extraordinary. The food tasted light and healthy, but you can get this type of brunch anywhere you go in NYC. The venue is beautiful, but considering it was greenhouse-like, as in floor to ceiling window type of deal, it was VERY warm indoors. Beautiful to eat at, but very uncomfortable to sit through a long brunch to chit chat over. I was sweating while brunching, which probably tainted the experience a little, but that's what you get for all of the incoming sunlight which was very pretty. If ambience is more important than pit stains is for you, then go and take all the instagram photos you want! (Even though, I think that it was not as nice as the photos make it look inside :/ ) On the upside: It was defintely cooler when we stepped back outside to leave! During our meal, one of the cocktail waitresses/servers accidentally knocked over my cocktail glass over the table. She was quick to replace the drink which was kind, but no other compliments were given after that. All in all, the cost per person which was a shared biscuit appetizer, one egg-based dish each, and one cocktail each came to $37 + $15 to enter the garden. It's the price you pay for the experience I guess, but next time, I might just do a picnic at Prospect Park for half the price and probably more things to look at. **Out of fairness, this review is based on the overall experience because I had to pay to get into the venue in order to eat at the restaurant. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Egg frittata - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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So glad that I made a reservation here when we attended Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanical Garden. I love to have brunch at sunny and bright restaurant and this one is perfect. We got the table right away. Pro airy and open - even it had a little rain today, the restaurant still has a fresh and happy atmosphere Coffee - big cup, hot and good with half & half. Also got free refill. scrambled egg with sausage - 5 stars, love the roast petite potatoes steak & egg bibimbap - 4 stars, not very authentic but the beef was really good with Korean rice sweet pea dessert - 5 stars, never considered sweet pea can be a dessert and this one totally works service - 5 stars Con bathroom was outside the restaurant Will definitely come again to try their other dishes such as the ancient grain bowl. Corporate members get 10% discount. read more

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A great semi-upscale place to get lunch or dinner at the Botanical Gardens. You need to pay admission or be a member of the gardens in order to eat here. They have a prefixe price for lunch of $35 for an appetizer, entree and either a mimosa or a bloody mary. It is a good deal if you want to get a drink. They also participate in restaurant week that has a prefixe price for lunch or dinner. I like that they take reservations from opentable. Inside, the restaurant is well lit because there are a great deal of windows even on the ceiling. It is long and narrow. Our waitress seemed annoyed and overworked with us. The salad was my favorite as it was very fresh. The yucca fries are more like 4 portions of mashed yucca that look like mozzarella sticks. read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

It was such a cool experience to eat in a glass atrium. They make scrumptious homemade biscuits. You must try them! The French toast was superb as well. If you are a member of the garden, you also get a discount! read more

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Took the subway from Times Square to check out this beautiful botanic garden. After 2 hours of exploring it was time to eat lunch. There is a "cantina" which is more walk up and go, vs this cafe which is sit down. Cantina line was long and I could use a rest so I opted for sit down. Being a party of 1 they sat me at a high top by the hostess stand with a great view out to the garden. Service was prompt and polite. I opted for Pepsi with a chicken honey sandwich and greens on the side. The salad had a nice dressing on it. Even though the chicken was fried, the whole meal felt light and fresh, a perfect compliment to a morning at the garden. read more

Amazing food!!! Took my mom here on her birthday, was sooo pleasantly surprised by everything. The food is astounding and the drinks are to die for. Especially the garden margarita! Haha The service is warm, and welcoming. The staff are kind and lovely. Ambiance is great as well! Love love love!! read more

Awesome place and a must try! Excellent presentation on all food and kudos to the chef!!! Really clean food. I love the greenhouse effect on the setting so bright and happy. Definitely a high vibe sort of eatery :) - Me and hubby had the tacos and our daughter had a burger. Our waitress was very attentive and the host was very nice. I will definitely return here to try more things off their menu!! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

What an unexpected delight in the middle of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden! From the cocktail, Prosecco with elderflower, to our entrees - perfectly done burger and mushroom sandwich on crusty ciabatta, through to two delicious desserts, the experience was great. Highly recommend! read more

My group of six was looking forward to dining in this cafe during our recent visit to the BBG. We were surprised to find that the room was stuffy, with no air conditioning, making for a very uncomfortable experience. Service was spotty; staff was friendly and well intentioned but very slow. One member of our party was served her salad a half hour after the rest of us. The bill was wrong, too, and one person was double-charged. The food was excellent, especially the desserts, which were unexpectedly generous. Maybe more staff is needed. In any event, please try to do better. This could be a fantastic restaurant. read more

What a gem! If you're coming the the gardens, the sit down café is definitely worth it. We ordered the biscuits for two, the Mac n cheese, a burger, and the ancient grain bowl w/ chicken. Everything was absolutely fantastic! The burger was decent, nothing super special, but I LOVED my grain bowl; it had a ton of fresh avocado and flavor, and was so much food that I actually had it as lunch for the next day, as well. Our waiter (I wish I got his name!) was so kind too, and gave great advice about which food to get. I'll definitely be coming back here the next time I come to the gardens, and can't wait to try the cute drink menu when I'm back! read more

Yellow Magnolia Café - Cafes Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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