Han Solo said it best "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid".
This restaurant tucked away in the neighborhoods around downtown Terre Haute offers fantastic food, but the presentation and interior could use a little help.
The menu offers a variety of pastas, seafood, and meat dishes. I selected the chicken de Magdy's which also came with a small portion of new york strip and fillet mignon in a balsamic white wine sauce. Accompanying the chunks of chicken and beef were perfectly prepared chunks of potatoes [not falling apart but soft] and green beans. There was nothing left on the plate when I was done. This dish included a house salad made exclusively of mixed greens, not iceberg lettuce, choice of dressing, and nothing else. I had to see what dessert had to offer so opted for the tiramisu. The lady fingers were very moist, perhaps evenly overly so, but the creme was spot on. It didn't stand a chance against me.
Unfortunately the interior of the restaurant is screaming for a make over. Â The tables and chairs remind me of what you may see at a church banquet, and tables to match. The interior of this converted house attempts to offer a Victorian feel, but it seems to fall short. There was one server working, but he did a good job being attentive to the occupied tables. There is no parking lot, but there is more than ample street parking just in front of the restaurant.
This is a hidden gem of Terre Haute, and I will be back .
This place is so awesome!!  This restaurant would be great in any city, so it is very surprising that this is in Terre Haute!  I had the clam chowder and scallops.  The clam chowder was amazing and seasoned perfectly.  The scallops were out of this world!  I'm always leery  when I see a cream type sauce on scallops because usually all I can taste is the sauce.  This sauce was a perfect compliment to the scallops and enhanced their flavor!  They were sweet, very fresh, and prepared perfectly.  The vegetables were seasoned well too.  The salad was a nice dark green salad, no skimping and getting iceberg here!!  We had bananas foster for dessert, and after trying that, we decided to get a tiramisu to go.  This is the absolute best tiramisu I've ever had.  Moist, without being soggy, and the cream was amazing.  I highly recommend this place.  And it's very affordable, especially for the quality!! This is my new favorite place!!
Review Source:I have been to Magdy's several times but not sure if I will return.  When you arrive expect to wait 20 minutes to be seated. Once seated and you place a drink order you will wait about 30 minutes to get it if you do at all.  The food is absolutely wonderful. Magdy himself is an Exceptional chef.  But be warned, if they run out of food they make you order off the  "special menu". Last time we had the option of two entrees.  Neither acceptable for my date's vegetarian needs, but after some pleading, they did make her fettuccine Alfredo, which was awesome.  So if you want great food and don't mind sub par service, give Magdy a try but make sure you can order off the actual menu.
Review Source:Located in Farrington Grove district of Terre Haute, this is an interesting and quirky place. The food and ambience do not match at all. The restaurant is in an old victorian styled house that has never been updated. The dining rooms are large and spacious, but the ceilings are 12" tall which makes for a loud room with anymore than 8 people in it. The walls are covered in OLD SCHOOL floral wallpaper. It's very odd really.
Now, the food on the other hand is excellent. The quality of food that is used and the care in preparation make this a place you must try if you live in or around the area. The menu is diverse and the specials are always worth trying. The house red wine is excellent and reasonably priced. I can't remember if it's on the menu, but you should without a doubt order bananas foster. Magdy himself will prepare this amazing flaming treat!
We had a pretty bad experience at Magdy's in Terre Haute. The service was sub-par, (we waited 7 minutes for a table, without clear direction from the host, and no clear place to stand), the atmosphere was a mixture of super-floral wallpaper (read: Victorian history) with no other decor which gave the rooms an empty feeling, the acoustics were poor -- two eight tops dominated the atmosphere so that my partner and I had to yell to each other across our table. The food was fine -- my fish was a bit dry -- but the flavor was decent, and the portions were plentiful.
My main complaint is this: they allowed smoking in the restaurant. I have asthma. Secondary smoke is also linked to cancer. All of the places I've lived prevent smokers from smoking in the restaurants. I realize this is Terre Haute, Indiana (read: rural) with few options for food other than chains, but it was shocking to discover they allowed smoking inside. This is supposed to be a fancy restaurant!
We asked for our meals to go (after the salads).
One of the owners said that they normally don't allow smoking, but allowed it for the holidays. And, when we explained that I have asthma and both my partner's father and my mother have had cancer, and we wouldn't want to stay in a place that allows smoking inside, he apologized and said he should have checked with all customers before allowing the smoking. Â
But, the owner also didn't remove any money from our bill despite the inconvenience he caused us.
This was not good management, and, Magdy's overall was a disappointment.
Can't believe this place in in the middle of Terre Haute, Ind. I was on business in TH for a over a week. The thought of another bloomin onion or over salted taco platter made me sick! I found Magdy's by a reference from a friend-- and we ATE THERE EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK!
Magdy is a chef trained in New York and God knows why he ended up in TH-- You can ask him personally -- he is also a gracious host.
Every time we ate there, the food was prepared custom for us depending on what he felt was in season and his wine recommendations were spot on too.
The restaurant is in an old historic home, which is a bit strange but totally charming.
My only critique is that the place could use a little music or some background ambiance as it can get a bit quiet with a small party... but the food and charm is so great that by the time the first glass of wine is poured, everyone is so happy  everything else melts away!
This place is a hidden gem and the highlight of our visit to TH!
All our love to Magdy! Please go see for yourself and tell him you heard of it on Yelp!
"i don't like those computers," he says.
Interesting food, leans toward French in the Farrington's Grove Historical District. Quite neighborhood and wonderful for Terre Haute. Service was good and interesting clientele. The night I was there, I met facility from Indiana University and a pediatrician and his family. People are friendly and the pediatrician sent my table dessert.
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