In Magnolia Grill, husband-and-wife chefs/owners Ben and Karen Barker mine an independent streak in Southern cooking. He handles the savories, taking Southern ingredients beyond regional confines in dishes like smoked trout with avocado and red pepper slaw, sea bass carpaccio with Thai crab vinaigrette, fennel-crusted grouper in lobster reduction, and roasted pheasant with wild rice risotto. She creates the sweets that take Southern comforts upscale, including shaker pie and upside-down caramel banana cake with bourbon praline ice cream. Lodged in a former health food grocery (a plain white brick structure with a beautiful magnolia on the side), Magnolia Grill keeps the vibe casual with wooden floors, white walls, and international artwork on the walls, encouraging neighborhood repeaters as well as special-occasion celebrants.

Magnolia Grill Information:

• American, Southern menu. Dinner. Closed Sun-Mon. Bar. Casual attire. Reservations recommended. Credit cards accepted.