Soon, Wichita will have a place to get Southern fare at dinner time. Test runs start now.

Chef Jeremy Wade has been whetting Wichita’s appetite for Southern food since opening his Magnolia Cafe in the former Sweet Basil spot at 2424 N. Woodlawn in May.

So far, though, the restaurant has offered only breakfast, brunch and lunch.

Soon, Wade will add dinner. For the remainder of the year, he plans to put on occasional “pop-up” Southern dinners featuring dishes like Creole chicken, gulf swordfish, Cajun pork roast and grillades (beef) and grits.

He’ll use the pop-up dinners to help the staff get its feet wet, he said, then he plans to add permanent dinner hours after the first of the year.

The first of the pop-up dinners is planned for 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and will feature a list of appetizers, salads, entrees and desserts. (The menu is below). People who want to attend should make reservations by calling 316-260-1356 or emailing info@magnoliacafewichita.com

Wade said he’ll continue putting on the dinners once or twice a month for the remainder of the year. He’ll announce them on his website and via social media.

Dinner menus will include Southern dishes as well as some Cajun flavors, he said, and many of the dishes at the pop-ups will be incorporated into the permanent dinner menu.

“We’ve had so many people ask, ‘When are you going to open for dinner?’” he said. “I think we can do it really well.”

Wade, who also owns Italian restaurant Napoli at 7718 E. 37th St. North, expanded his local restaurant portfolio when he opened Magnolia Cafe this spring serving things like shrimp and grits, pork belly hash, homemade biscuits, and oyster po’ boys. Magnolia Cafe also has a full bar.

For now, its permanent hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

Magnolia Cafe dinner menu for Saturday, Sept. 17