Returning back to the roots of my food reviews (cafes and coffee shops), we find ourselves in Belle Fourche, SD to examine the cafe, Wild Magnolia; a small building nestled on State street, covered in windows, including one for a convenient drive-thru. During the summer, there is outdoor seating, but in the dead of winter, most patrons prefer to stay inside and away from the cold.
Most of the interior follows a white, beige and grey color scheme, with wooden accents and green potted plants scattered around. Although the dining area is small, the space takes on more of a cozy feeling, rather than cramped, making the cafe feel very inviting, and like a great place to sit and enjoy a drink or meal. Not only is the interior decoration inviting, but the staff is as well.
The crew that works at Wild Magnolia is friendly, hospitable and welcoming. They’ll have a great conversation with you, or, even if they’re busy, make sure that you are taken care of. They also make some incredible coffees and teas.
For my first visit, I got an iced honey latte with oat milk, and they did a very good job with the proportions of the flavoring and the making of the espresso. It had a nice, mellow yet rich flavor, but it was not bitter or burnt. I’ve also had one of their iced americanos with a splash of oat milk and, while stronger in taste, the espresso was still palatable with distinct flavor, which can occasionally be a difficult feat to accomplish.
Wild Magnolia also carries a variety of teas, both herbal and caffeinated. My favorite of their selection is the Egyptian chamomile on ice; however, it’s also delicious warm. The chamomile they are supplied with seems to be of high quality and is naturally sweet enough to not need honey.
Another of their tea drinks that I’ve recently come to enjoy is their medicine ball. This is a mix of peppermint tea, honey, peach and lemonade. This homemade play on the Starbucks secret menu classic is a drink that can truly pick you up on a cold day. Personally, it reminds me of when I make mint lemonade in the summer, so it brings me a little piece of summer in the middle of winter.
Along with their great selection of drinks, they also have a wide variety of food options. Wild Magnolia has well-stocked breakfast and lunch items, with bagels featuring on their breakfast menu along with yogurt bowls, scones, keto bowls, oatmeal and their mouth-watering biscuits and gravy.
The biscuits and gravy is absolutely my favorite dish on the breakfast menu, available in half and full orders depending on how hungry you are in the morning. The gravy is rich and creamy, chock-full of breakfast sausage, and served on fluffy, moist biscuits that are pleasantly crunchy on the outside edge.
As far as their lunch menu, the Turkey Bacon Swiss panini, which is served on focaccia bread with ranch, is another must-try. I personally like to pair this sandwich with a pickle, to shake things up with some acidity, and some of the kettle chips that they offer as a side.
The Reuben is also a good option, with pastrami, sauerkraut, swiss cheese and thousand island dressing, served on rye bread. As a sauerkraut fanatic and rabid Reuben-enjoyer, this Reuben is one of my favorites that I’ve had in a while simply due to the simplicity of the sandwich. However, I believe that the sandwich could be elevated just a tad by either replacing the pastrami with a more traditional corned beef, or adding both meats to the sandwich to make it more dynamic in texture and flavor.
In both consumables and atmosphere, Wild Magnolia has won over my heart, so if you ever find yourself in Belle Fourche in need of a good meal or drink, Wild Magnolia is the place to go.