Magdalena offers southern-inspired shareables

• Chilled seafood is heavily featured on the New Orleans-inspired menu, but there are more than enough meat-free dishes to choose from.

What to order: The grilled focaccia with pimento cheese ($9) sang to the part of my soul that I left in North Carolina.

• Yes, but: The crispy Brussels ($18) were the best thing I ate. Fried Brussels sprouts are served atop whipped ricotta, drizzled with olive oil and the whole thing is so dang delicious it's not even fair.
• You can never go wrong with burrata ($16), either. Magdalena tops theirs with a green sauce made of lemon, garlic and parsley.

The vibe: The space that used to be Thunderbird feels totally transformed by paper lanterns, rattan and intimate, candlelit tables.

• The service was attentive and the cocktail list is probably one of the most interesting in town.

If you go: 1127 Shelby St.

• Open from 5-10pm Friday to Tuesday; bar stays open until midnight on Friday and Saturday.