Housed in a converted grocery store, the Magnolia Grill’s unassuming façade may lack the panache of its more flamboyant peers in larger cities. But don’t be fooled by appearances; for 21 years, husband and wife chef-owners Ben and Karen Barker have been serving up the country’s best New Southern cuisine. With a focus on seasonality and a fearless sense of flavor, Magnolia consistently delivers on its promise of serving unpretentiously good food.

—ANTHONY CROSS