Magic Bistro

I love their food!!!! The only minus is the Return to Mesa it's dangerous last time I went somebody almost hit me

Used to come here very often for lunch and forgot how great Magic Bistro is. Ambiance is gorgeous in a hidden placita with Southwest theme. One of the best salmon sandwiches (perfectly moist) I've ever had at a fantastic price. My hubby really enjoyed his Reuben. Will be frequenting more often for lunch!

A great place to have an event. We celebrated my mother's 80th birthday so we were able to rent out the inside of the restaurant. John the owner of the Magic Bistro was very accommodating. He worked with me regarding the sit down menu for the guests. He also had colored napkins with colored napkin rings. John called me a couple of times before the event to get a final headcount and suggestions on how to handle the drink menu. John did all the leg work. The staff provided exceptional service for about 50 plus people. The food was delicious and well presented. Thank you John and staff for a memorable birthday for my mother.

The Magic Bistro was a tasty, almost small town experience that brought back memories of my home town while also bringing in some new experiences.Food: $$ Decently priced lunch special that came with a soup, house salad, and half sandwich. I got the Reuben which had a delicate taste yet filled with meat and sauerkraut. The sandwich I felt was fairly balanced between both that left me knowing I would definitely be back again. The soup was chicken and wild rice and was decent. The soup consistency was thick and creamy but lacked much in the category of explosive flavor. Atmosphere: Very small town restaurant feel where the inside seems a little claustrophobic and outdated with mural painted walls, old wine cabinets with mirrors to make the restaurant seem larger. The layout inside is a little drab and I didn't really enjoy it much though I will say the outdoor seating area seemed sublime and will definitely come back to try that out.Overall: The food was good and atmosphere was strange but nostalgic. Though most dishes lacked in flavor, they were good enough to make me want to come back. I will definitely be back for the food but will probably try to sit outside.

I cannot begin to tell you how disappointing this place was. I had been wanting to go there for a while and sadly it was not what I expected. The outdoor patio is nice but the amount of time we spent swatting flies killed the vibe. The water tasted like bathroom water.. very grossed out. Must've not been filtered..We ordered the bistro trio which came with a house salad, half a sandwich (I got the pastrami one) and a soup. (Tortilla soup). The salad came with a sweet raspberry style vinaigrette. That was the best thing on the plate. For the sandwich, Walmart pastrami was better, and the tortilla soup tasted very tex mex and flavorless with oversized cubes of chicken and a quarter size tomato bits. For desert I had the chocolate flan and that was a flop too. The custard in the flan was lumpy n curdly. Very disappointing all around meal. Scratch this place of my list and add to the dump pile.

WHEN THE MAGIC WEARS OFFTraverse through the Placita Santa Fe on the edge of El Paso and find a little passage surrounded in more greenery than you have ever seen in Sun City. You pass through a gate and see benches on either side. Patrons dining left and right in the warm desert heat. Enter the Magic Bistro and you are taken into an intimate setting that is every so cozy. Now, was it too good to be true?The FOODGrilled Ribeye: NOW YOU TASTE ME, NOW YOU DONTThe star of the show, a 12oz ribeye cooked to your liking with an ancho rub, herb compound butter, crispy shallots surrounded by roasted asparagus and a green chile cheese corn tart. You can taste the earthy ancho rub immediately, but the ribeye was underseasoned (-2 stars). The crispy shallots were like onion rings, while the roasted asparagus was chewy and dry (-1 star). The green chile cheese corn tart was a masterpiece of enhanced corn flavour, a mildly spicy hint of heat, with creamy and decadent melted cheese. There was a garden salad with a tangy pomegranate vinaigrette and a vibrant and spiced mango vinaigrette. Both dressings were sweet and maximized with fruity flavour. An Aside: I asked for medium rare and the ribeye came half medium and half medium well. The medium well portion had an unusual gray-pink color that I have usually seen with older meat. I tried a bite of the medium rare before realizing the other half was medium well. After I realized this, I had sent it back and I believe the owner checked it away from my table. A new ribeye came that was medium rare, but did not have the ribeye cap and was significantly chewier. I do not believe this replacement was a ribeye steak. Take this with a grain of salt, but I had a questionable dining experience.The VERDICT: PARADISE FOR SOME BUT NOT FOR ALLMagic Bistro offers a unique fine dining experience like an oasis to satisfy the tempted palate. With a beautiful interior and exterior decor embodying the beauty of the El Paso desert, this place offers a unique experience. The highlights of my Grilled Ribeye were the complex green chile cheese corn tart and the pomegranate and mango vinaigrettes. The ancho rubbed Grilled Ribeye was underseasoned and did not seem fresh. I would consider coming here again to try something else, but my experience left a very unsatisfied taste in my mouth.

Just as good as I'd remembered from back in the Magic Pan days when I was stationed here 13 years ago. Excellent, relaxing spot for lunch (outdoor seating). I had their combo special which was a soup, side salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing, and a half sandwich. I got the Reuben. The pastrami was in slices and not minced/thin shavings. Delicious. Jewel of the Westside.

Food was tasty but slightly overpriced considering the small portions. The older restaurant's ambiance and regular clientele were met with the expected level of service.

Used to dine here often while working for the El Paso Sheriff's Department. The gobbler (turkey) salad with pecan cornbread was my favorite plus the Kahlua layered brownie. Best ever!!!!I live in California so don't get to Texas often. Wish they offered recipes!

Great quiche. Lovely in good weather to sit outside. Good service. I look forward to the spring so that I can return and sit outside, but the food is great all year round.