Went on a Saturday for brunch around 1pm. Great environment. Enough space. Looks good. Ordered a drink and it was smaller than I anticipated. Still good though. Ordered blueberry pancakes, eggs, and fried chicken. Pancakes and syrup were amazing. Eggs were ok. Fried chicken was good and juicy but could've been better with a little more seasoning. My friend ordered the French toast and enjoyed it. The place can get a little noisy when busy. Outside seating available. read more

We chose South Kitchen & Bar for the wedding rehearsal dinner for our Son's wedding. Everything was perfect for our 30 or so guests. From the initial contact, through the planning, the food, and the event. They actually made it easy for us! Food was fantastic. Bar was fantastic. Service was fantastic. Strongly recommend working with them for your event! read more

Everything is always EXCELLENT at South Kitchen + Bar! We reserved the back room for a group of 30 people. The service was excellent, the food is even better, and somehow they deliver all the food together! Just wow! Definite A+! read more

Ambience was nice and the menu was innovative. We liked the pimento cheese appetizer and the tomato bisque soup were especially good. My bar burger was burnt and inedible due to fact that medium well was charcoaled! The blt sandwich with fried green tomatoes was ok. The service was slow due to Friday being a very busy lunch crowd!! read more

Great service and great food. We got the salmon dip. It was fantastic. Wish the crackers they had with it didn't remind me of wontons from a Chinese place but still good. Then we had the crab cake sandwich. It was great. We also had the shrimp and grits. Different take on it. Not a cream sauce but definitely still recommend. Fantastic dinner and although I forgot our waiters name she was very sweet and courteous. read more

South's duck fat tater tots are my favorite thing on this planet! Sooooooo good! My boyfriend also said that their Mac and cheese is the best Mac and cheese he's ever had. I will say I pretty much only get the tator tots when I go there so that's pretty much the only thing I can review but they really are the best. read more

Come hungry! Good food that is a twist on 'comfort' cooking - for example: not just tater tots, but duck fat tater tots. And not just served with ketchup, but with homemade ranch, mango pepper sauce and raspberry mustard as dipping sauces. Be sure to get these! Our group also had a salad, the hamburger and the pancakes. Everyone agreed that the food was great. The service was fast and friendly. My only complaint was noise - it looks like an old business building reclaimed as a restaurant (maybe a former bank?), so the acoustics were not favorable to table conversation. I would return and be happy to bring people I want to impress! read more

I have eaten here many times and it used to be my favorite place in Athens. We had out of town friends staying and we tried to get drinks at the bar and were completely ignored although other people were getting served. Tried to get a table but the wait time was just ridiculous. read more

Some of the best I've had in Athens! Great drink menu, nice atmosphere and fabulous food!

Talk about a 5 Star experience all the way around! For our 11th anniversary, my husband and I wanted a romantic but casual night out. Being 33 weeks pregnant with twins, posed a few restrictions; couldn't be far away, needed a relatively short wait, and quite frankly, wanted comfort food in a semi quiet environment. Well, we found all of that along with a phenomenal waiter who made the experience that much more enjoyable (thanks Johana!). With two starters, (why not?!) we literally took Johana's word for everything. And every recommendation was spot on! From the duck fat tots to butternut squash fries, to pan seared grouper over grits. We came home with doggie bags and our waiter even slide in a tiny slice of chocolate cake as an anniversary and impending twin arrival treat. We love Athens for so many reasons, just added one more to our list. Trust us, this little off beat gem will treat you and your tummies right! read more

Great little spot downtown. I could pass on the biscuits and gravy next time, just because they were not as well cooked as I expected. They were a little overcooked in my personal opinion, but delicious nonetheless. Girlfriend had eggs Benedict and they were excellent. We will definitely be back as the menu is very diverse and we're looking forward for more to try! read more

Woah!! This place really changed the Fried Green Tomato Game!! I've always typically had my FGT thinly sliced. This was the first time I've had a FULL TOMATO on my plate. The tomato slices were about 1/2 inch thick. And believe me I've had a ton of FGT. THEY WERE SOOOOO GOOD! The spicy red pepper on the side was a nice twist to the classic dish. Accompanied by ranch as well. Next on the play was another twist, this time on the classic shrimp and grits. They added freaking collard greens....and hot sauce! Mind blown . Now I will be the idiot who will try to put collards in my shrimp and grits until I make my way back to Athens again . read more

South Kitchen + Bar - FGT with red pepper dipping sauce - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

The atmosphere and service were ok, but the food we ordered was terrible. We ordered shrimp & grits. The grits were completely cold and the greens underneath were so loaded with vinegar it was hard to taste anything else. Waitress was understanding, and offered a complimentary dessert, which we declined. No repeat visits to South Kitchen. read more

THE best restaurant in Athens for EVERY.SINGLE.MEAL. I graduated before my boyfriend and moved to Savannah, so we are doing long distance now. I come back to Athens every other weekend to see him, but more importantly...to eat at South Kitchen + Bar. Brunch? Bloody Mary and their pancakes are the best!! My boyfriend always gets the BBQ skillet. Well, he gets BBQ everything really, it is his favorite on their dinner menu as well. They make a great burger too! And have a good drink menu. Definitely give it a try! read more

Beautiful space! The ceilings, trim work and tile floor were amazing! An employee gave me a tour of the whole place and I was take away by its beauty! The food is as great as the building! Had grits with Cajun shrimp and sausage! YUMMY!!!!! I will be back for sure! read more

See all

First time visit. We went for dinner before a show at the Classic Center and enjoyed the convenience of parking in the Courthouse deck and walking to dinner AND the show. We didn't have reservations, but arrived early enough to be seated pretty quickly. Our server, "Caroline" was prompt with her introduction and getting beverages out. She was adorable, pleasant and very familiar with the menu. I had the Bar-B-Cue plate. The 'cue itself was tender, smoky, and slathered in a sweet tangy sauce. The brussels sprout slaw was fresh and crunchy, but could have used a hint of vinegar and sugar in the dressing. A bit bland. On the other hand, the Brunswick Stew was way overboard in the vinegar and hot pepper department. I would recommend avoiding it if you have a "tender tummy." My date had the "Good Ol' Boy" salad. It was a meal salad, very fresh, and tasty. All in all this is a good spot to grab a bite before (or after) a show or just for fun. Bon apetit! read more

I have not been able to make it to the restaurant for sit in dinner but we get food catered from our pharmaceutical reps and their food is always good. I highly recommend the shrimp and grits and duck fat tater tots! read more

Disappointed that after reading South only takes reservations 30 days out, I wait till 30 days out only to find out half of the restaurant is booked for private so they won't take reservations for that particular day. If only that had been noted I would have moved on ,but instead I waited and now other restaurants are booked! Ugh!!! read more

Shrimp and grits with duck fat tater tots! The sweet red pepper sauce was to die for, shrimp was so juicy, grits were creamy, and the banana cheesecake with creme brulee bananas melted in my mouth! Will be back again! Highly recommend! read more

South Kitchen + Bar - Shrimp and grits with duck fat tater tots and mac n cheese! Banana cheesecake with creme brulee bananas were to die for! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

I am in Athens for the weekend and this place checks every single box. The vibe when you walk in is perfect and they even have a lobby if you have to wait which really made the space less crowded. The service was quick and the server was very polite and had excellent recommendations. We had the Nashville hot fried chicken and the pork chop and both were TO DIE FOR. The mac and cheese with the chicken was mediocre but the coleslaw and bread were phenomenal. I would defiantly recommend it to anyone. read more

service was terrible. still waiting for our food-we have been here an hour and a half already.

An indulgent take on southern classics. The famous tots live up to there name and could easily be the single best appetizer I have ever had. The Nashville hot chicken is as delicious on the eyes as it is in your mouth. I recommend getting it with the grits so as to balance the heat that you definitely get from the chicken. The atmosphere of the place takes you back to a time of real elegance while still being a pretty casual restaurant, and you can really feel the history of the building you are sitting in. And finally, the service, truly a five star staff that work together to provide a great experience for the guest. Make a point to dine here, you will not be disappointed! read more

The food was good, however, there weren't very many menu options. I ordered a cosmo from the bar, which was a little strong for my liking. The building itself is beautiful. read more

Great food!! I just wish the service was as good as the food, our server didn't even cracked a smile. Anyway we may go back sometime BUT South Kitchen is NOT on top of our list. read more

South Kitchen + Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Had apps and drinks at the bar to watch a game and was pretty pleased. Our old fashioned was SO good and the bartender was very nice and gave us extra cherries - my favorite part :) We also had the hummus and tater tots. The hummus was surprisingly good but the tator tots were mixed. Good but not great. I liked the ranch sauce with it was the red pepper was too sweet. read more

South Kitchen & Bar has the most romantic ambiance in town, and I had a great experience at Valentine's day Prix Fixe. Get the duck fat tater tots! Other areas of their menu are a little hit or miss, especially the house cocktails, which are mostly miss. But this is still one of the best date spots in Athens and I'll be back! read more

This was one of the first restaurants I ever visited in Athens, and is still my favorite. I constantly want to go back and love that they are always changing things up. I also love that they still have their staple items (speaking of, you MUST get the duck tater tots or you didn't really go). Not until after visiting Trapeze a few times did I realize that the two were owned by the same people! No wonder they're both so good! Service at South is always great. It has a cozy, but not too small of an atmosphere. One of the most unique dishes, in my opinion, is the BYOV (build your own veggie) plate. It allows you to choose any 3 or 4 sides so that you can sample a little of everything! Wide menu variety as a whole, and amazing drinks!!! They also have a gluten free menu for anyone that needs it! read more

South Kitchen + Bar - BYOV plate! -duck fat tater tots -fried pickled okra -brussel sprouts - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

It's more like a 3.5 for me. The food is good. But, if you're from the south and you have family that cooks great southern food, this is not the place for you. It's often over-cooked and under-seasoned. It's a cool vibe, so I still come because the food isn't bad by any means, but it's also not great. Nice bar menu, though! read more

My mom and I are staying in Athens for a UGA tour and found this cute place on yelp. We were very pleased with everything. The inside is very unique and cute. We ate at the bar and the bartender was fantastic. The food was amazing! I had the burger with tots and my mom had the barbecue plate. We couldn't stop talking about how great it was! Would definitely come back read more

South Kitchen + Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

This place is so great! I love to come here for various occasions. I visited most recently for their Sunday Brunch - and was not left disappointed. While the portion sizes are smaller than what you can get at other brunch spots in town, the preparation that goes into each dish is incredible. The tots are a must, as well as the fried chicken. I've also had their burger several times before and loved it! One thing to note - their mimosas seem to be a bit orange juice heavy for my taste (especially when compared other spots in town). Don't let it stop you! Next time, I'd probably order a different cocktail for brunch. read more

Last night was our first time eating at South. It was a robust 45-60 minute wait on a Friday night so by the time we were seated we were ready to order. Ordering everything at once our service was exceptionally prompt. The hummus platter was a fun starter. The ratio of veggies/pita to hummus was a bit low but our waiter asked if we'd like more pita, which was appreciated and thoughtful. For our meals two of us got the tempeh burger and I got a veggie plate. The tempeh burger was a very good idea in theory but both of my sisters fond them heavy on the liquid smoke flavor and the pickled onions still pretty intense on the onion flavor 7/10. A veganese chipotle mayo would be a nice addition if they dialed back the level of smoke in the patty. I got the chicken fried tofu. Asparagus, and brusel sprouts. Both the broccoli rabe and asparagus are no longer listed on the menu as side options but I saw the asparagus listed under another entree and asked for a swap. The Brussel sprouts were a 10/10. Shockingly delicious. If I go back I'd do a veggie plate with two helpings. I'm weird about my sprouts but those things were delicious. The asparagus portion felt a bit light for the price but it was well done and there's only so much asparagus most people want to eat in one setting 9/10. The chicken fried tofu was a very unique item with a great crust but it really needed some sauce or something on the side 8/10. I'd probably come back for lunch but for a vegetarian or vegan it's a long dinner wait for fairly slim pickings. What is there is good though and I think it has the potential to be remarkable but some small tweaks are needed. read more

South Kitchen + Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

See all

Came here after the UGA/Kentucky game with family so there was a long wait but we were hungry and other restaurants had similar wait times. I had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were large and flavorful and I didn't feel like they skimped on the portion size like some restaurants do with this dish. The grits were creamy and the collards were so good! I'm wish there was more. The other people in my party had the burger with the pimento cheese and they all throughly enjoyed it. I had a little taste of the pimento cheese and it was quite good. We also had the duck fat tater tots as an appetizer and they were the perfect combination of crispiness and flavor. The red pepper sauce that went with it was amazing. After waiting for more than an hour, I can honestly say the wait was worth it. The service and food were great and I look forward to trying other dishes when I come back to Athens. read more

I lived in the South for 15+ years and was looking forward to my visit in Athens and the chance to have some good regional food. The Yelp reviews were very convincing about South so I headed there within an hour of arriving. It was so disappointing. The first source of disappointment happened right when I walked in. It was 6:00-on a Sunday-so not a lot of activity. I told the hostess it was just me, eyeing empty tables behind her. She blinked and said "Our only availability is the bar." Hmm. "Really? There are tables behind you. What about the two-top?" She said, "Oh, no. We have a wait of at least 20 minutes for tables. But we have the bar." Hmm. Where are the people who are waiting? Whatever. I went to the bar. The bartender was wonderful. Attentive but didn't hover. Had some lovely wine that was the highlight of the meal. The food was so forgettable. The collards had the funkiest sweetness to them that even hot sauce couldn't offset. The grits were under seasoned and lukewarm. The fried chicken had been cooked much earlier and reheated. Oh! And when I left more than an hour later, the empty tables I saw when I arrived were still empty. Guess all of those people who were waiting for tables decided to go elsewhere. (Restaurants should NEVER assume that a solo diner is a bad deal for wait staff. By the time you add drinks to my bill, I often pay [and tip]more than an average table of two. I've eaten at some of the top-rated restaurants in the world and they don't even blink at a solo diner. They treat solos as well as a 2- or 4-top.) read more

Average food. Could be much better with a little fine tuning. Duck fat tots, no duck fat!? Herb mashed potatoes, no herbs!? Grouper with grits, chicken with grits, Grits with Grits. Six entrees and three of them have grits on them. Great beer and wine menu though. 90% local and good contrast of types. read more

South Kitchen + Bar - Good Grouper dish - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The food is usually good, but do not go here for martinis or beers. Seriously, they say that most beers are a half pour due to the alcohol %. So they serve a half pour for a 7.3% beer. And...they have a tiny 2oz martini which is mostly mixer and comes up to 1/3 of a small martini glass. The martini taste was ok, but certainly not better than a Marlowe's Tupelo Honey Martini, refreshingly irresistible in a beautiful martini glass sparkling and full to the brim. I sent it back. Meanwhile, the martinis are $12-15 unless they are on special at $10. So I ordered an $8, 16oz. Beer. The server, Indy, was as sweet as could be, but came out to say they were out of the Weed Beer that I ordered and brought free small samples of IPAs. I was looking forward to that grapefruit martini with my dinner...Just saying... How hard is it to pair good food with a beverage that delights? I took my dinner to go. read more

Seriously people? Where are you coming up with 5 star ratings? I depend on Yelp and here I am sitting in this pretentious loud excuse for a restaurant being served an awful White Russian while waiting 40-minutes for simple pasta dishes. WTF. I get this is a college town, but come on! Menu specifics: Brussel sprouts were undercooked, the truffle Mac & cheese was bland, and the pasta dinner was so mediocre and mushy I wouldn't serve it to my kids. On the plus side both the mashed potato dish and tater tots were tasty. Stick with those and a beer and you should be fine. read more

Food was fantastic! We got the roasted chicken and Nashville hot chicken and everything was super flavorful. Service was excellent and pricing was great. Highly recommend! read more

Appetizer menu for the WIN! Wife and i did a foodie trip and stopper here on our first appetizer run for the night. We got some crazy deviled eggs that was amazing, some grits that was amazing, and duck fat fried tater tots. The tots were a bit hard to eat as they were so rich, but overall this would be a place we would hit again for some appetizers! read more

Hosted an event in back room, Amazing! So my sister and I hosted a Engagement Party for a good friend. Initially my sister spoke with Zack, he was helpful and understood her request. We were planning on approximately 30 guest and the price was the best in town. The small room in the back was perfect decor and right next to the bathrooms. The day of event our point person was Hilary and Anna. They were great! They turned the room over from brunch and helped us set up. When our guest were running late they REDID some food items! Above and beyond! Dylan our server was attentive and polite, he insured our needs were meant. They even got our Bride and Groom a special treat! Overall, the food was tasty. Our guest were picky but enjoyed! read more

Great food, great drinks and great service. A favorite stop any time I visit Athens.