Such a warm inviting atmosphere. Dinner was so flavorful and the blackened scallop and grits topped with bacon did not disappoint. Dessert was a warm moist brownie served ala-mode with drizzled chocolate, so yummy! Shea slayed the drinks! Staff is so friendly and service oriented. Farm to table and locally sourced- perfect! read more

See all

The whole experience was amazing from the cozy dining room to the relaxed lighting. The drinks were great. The food was amazing. I had the tile fish over the corn, field pea and Lima mix. He had the best pork chop he has ever eaten with creamy mashed potatoes. The blueberry cobbler was the perfect finish along with the cock a tini !! Our server was the best!!! read more

Looking for a date night spot while visiting the beach, we were lucky enough to grab a spot at the bar at this amazing farm to table restaurant. The menu was wonderfully seasonal and everything was cooked to perfection. The employees were friendly and made us feel welcome and walked us through the menu. The hardest part was choosing what to eat! The space is small but big on ambiance. It is a truly charming space with a quaint and welcoming front entrance. Add this to your list the next time you visit Southport! read more

See all

Southern, a Gathering Place is a must visit in Southport. Everything from the service to the drinks and food was amazing. I highly recommend the cocktails and potatoes au gratin. For drinks we tried the Linda Jean 'a Rita, Let's Mule This Over, Take Me To Brown Street and a pour of the tawny port. For food we tried the fried green tomatoes, crab cake, potatoes au gratin, grouper with peach salsa and the crisp for dessert. Just a note about reservations through OpenTable - you will be charged $30/per person for a no show. read more

See all

From start to finish this is one of the best meals I have ever had. Straight Up. I went here with my wife today. Had two appetizers (Hot Honey Hushpuppies & BBQ Pork Belly) which were awesome. My wife loved her entre, and the spicy chicken & cheese grits entre I got was simply amazing. Everything is locally sourced, and most of the menu constantly changes for new/cool options apparently. Service was great, and the vibe inside/on the deck is super cozy. I simply cannot recommend this place enough. 10000/10. read more

This restaurant holds its own with anything in Raleigh, Nashville, etc. They could (and should!) easily win a James Beard award. A bit pricey and hard to get into, but that comes with the territory I suppose. Seasonal menu that changes almost daily, with fresh local ingredients and outside the box creative dishes. 10/10, chefs kiss. read more

If you want an amazing different kind of meal with the price range of Mr. P's, Southern- a gathering place, is the place to be. Honestly, I think that Southern is much better than Mr. P's and unique and delicious. The service is amazing. The ambience ridiculously quaint. It's perfect for a date night and a remarkable experience. Oh yeah, the cocktails are amazing! read more

See all

Food was absolutely outstanding. Service was spot on and not overly rushed, which I feel like is a thing nowadays. Our server was Katiy, and she had such great recommendations which is what we chose from. We got the pork chop, the hanger steak and the fish of the night which was grouper over a bed of corn and bean salad. Everything was so fresh and delicious. When they say farm to table, they mean it!! We will definitely be back! read more

This is an amazing dinner experience. Easily the best restaurant in the area.(yes better than Salt 64!) It's not cheap. It's worth the price. Service, decor, and food is epic. Farm to table folks. It doesn't get better than this. Tough to get in make a reservation. read more

Southern, a gathering place - This is the 8oz filet minion grass fed with mashed sweet potatoes. (Yes edible flower!) - Bars Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

See all

We tried Southern, A Gathering Place and will NEVER go back. We didn't get our food for over an hour, prices are three times the amount charged at other restaurants. Also, I forgot the owners wife runs the kitchen and I complained about the time it took and our orders were wrong. The waitress told the owner and he came over and read me the riot act saying "this is not a McDonalds" and if we were not happy with the food, "don't bother to come back". After I saw red until I almost exploded, we paid $205.00 for the experience and I am still steaming! read more

Great food, wonderful hospitality and tremendous ever changing seasonal menus. Highly recommend.

What a fabulous gem here in Southport! This is my go to for out of town guest, every time! Ashley is such a gifted curator of food! read more

See all

If you haven't made a reservation yet you should !! My family and I tried Southern for the first time this past week and it was nothing short of amazing. We had the pork chop and the duck from their special menu and it was great. The restaurant is small but very clean and beautiful. Definitely will be back read more

Southern, a gathering place - Pork chop, mashed sweet potato and veggies - Bars Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

See all

Not only was the food absolutely amazing, our server paid attention to every detail. The duck and shrimp and grits were fab! We will be back. Reservations a must. read more

Love this place!!! Sunday brunch is our favorite. It's a great way to start your Sunday. The food is always looks and tastes amazing. We love Ashley and Jim so much, they are always so happy to see us. Wait staff is knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Great vibe. An amazing addition to our food community!! read more

Southern, a gathering place - a man in a tuxedo hugging a woman on the steps of a house - Bars Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

I've been here many times with friends, and each time we go, we "joke" about the cost of dinner. Well, last night put me over the edge. I ordered a Caesar Salad with grilled shrimp and anchovies, bread for the table, dessert, and two vodka/tonics. There was no wine. The bread and the dessert were split among the four of us on our tabs. My bill, with tip, was $88.00. The Caesar Salad was $16 but seven shrimp added another $19! The bread plate was $5, and I was charged $3.50 for three anchovies. The dessert was a small cherry cobbler with a dollop of ice cream, and it cost $14.00. Yup, you heard that right. There are many fine restaurants in Southport that don't nickel and dime you and where you pay a fair price for a great meal. Southern is no longer one of them in my book.- read more

Good service. Friendly and helpful. Food was very good. Nice wine list and interesting cocktails. Will be back!

What a cozy, delicious and friendly place to dine. A favorite in the Oak Island / Southport area for my wife and I. The food evolves each week and is farm to table, the desserts are home made and great customer service. The bar is top notch as well. Carl is the man! My personal favorite, Landon's burger. No reason why peanut butter and pepper jelly belong on a bacon cheeseburger but it's amazing! read more

See all

Amazing New Year's Eve dinner. Absolutely delicious beautifully presented food. Wonderful waiter highly recommend this farm to table restaurant. read more

Southern, a gathering place - Crème brûlée cheesecake - Bars Near Me - Southport, North Carolina

See all

Tip culture and tipflation is out of control. They have the nerve to tack an automatic 25% tip for parties of 5 or more. I'm a good tipper and unless service is poor I always tip at least 20% but I've kind of had it with places trying to push that amount up. Yes the cost of living has gone up, but restaurant prices have gone up more than the cost of living so wait staff salaries have gone up without us having to tip a higher amount. There was a note that 5% went to the kitchen staff. Southern is one of the most expensive restaurants I've eaten at. The restaurant should pay their kitchen staff instead forcing their customers to pay them. The food was good but overpriced. Doubt I'll be back and I certainly wouldn't come again with a larger party. read more

Great service, food & atmosphere! We had a party of 4 - each of us enjoyed a different entree - all were exceptional!

Depends on the day. Last time we ate here 3 out of 6 meals had to go back for corrections. Not because they were bad but because they didn't come out as requested. read more

Checked out a new local restaurant tonight. The hostess was so friendly without seeming fake. We were quickly seated. Our server was knowledgeable regarding the menu. The Flatbread with fig was good. In my opinion it needed a little more goat cheese. My husband loved his steak. He had a rare filet with the Mac n cheese. My friend had a thinly sliced CAB sandwich. She enjoyed it. I had the pork chop. It was a beautiful cut of meat; however, it was overdone. The meat next to the bone was delicious. The man n cheese stole the show. We'll go back and give them another try. I didn't think to take pictures. read more

Another fabulous meal! Crab cakes with no filler, perfectly seared and tasty house made tartar sauce, accompanied by cider slaw and crispy small potatoes, SIMPLY DELICIOUS! Husband had the crispy wings with blackberry sauce, so exquisite. Atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. LOVED Tina our server!!! Every aspect of our experience was Delightful! read more

Food was amazing. Have no idea how you could make a tomato sandwich crazy good, but they did. Husband's steak eggs Benedict phenomenal. Service 5 star. Decor 5 star. Drinks 5 star. Food 5++++. Taking our foodie guests there for sure. read more

My husband and I went for dinner last night and it was fantastic! This place is top notch dining. I had the grouper for dinner and my husband had the shrimp and grits. We both said it was the best tasting/beautiful presentation meal we have had in a while. You can't go wrong with this place.. the service was wonderful and we met one of the owners.. he was appreciative and we will definitely make this place our go to! read more

I and a friend went here for an early dinner this week. It was our first time and we had wanted to try this place because it's new and on the outside at least, looked intriguing. The host was somewhat friendly but not overly so. He seated me at our table although I was quite early for our reservation but since they had just opened for the evening it didn't matter much. I scanned the menu and noted that the prices appeared to be quite high and most items were very a la carte with up charges for a basket of bread ($5), sauces for your meat ($6 and $7) and any salad where you wanted to add a protein such as shrimp ($18) or whatever. Posters on another site have commented very negatively about how this restaurant has printed tip suggestions that read in descending order on their receipt as follows: 40%, 20%, 25% 30%. If you do not pay attention it is very easy to pick the 40% tip amount. That's fine if you intended to tip your server that much. Seems a bit opaque. The restaurant also has notices on the menus and on the wall asking for extra $2 or more tips for the kitchen staff. It would seem to me, they should either pay their kitchen help better or the servers should share their very generous 40% or 30% tips with the kitchen staff. I have to say, the burger I had ($19) was very good but even though I really wanted it anyway, it was as well the least expensive while most substantial (for the price) selection on their menu. My dining companion had a salad along with the fig flatbread, both pricy for the portion size and composition although she said they were good. It is due to the high prices and feeling very nickel and dime-d by all the add on pricing that I give Southern only 2 stars. Prices for nice dinners in our area are becoming very high while there are still a few places that have managed to hold the line. It is those spots where we plan to return, certainly for the Summer and again this Winter when all the tourists are nowhere to be found and restaurants must rely on the local folk. read more

WOW. Want to walk in somewhere and immediately feel judged? Go to Southern, "a gathering place" (lol)! If you'd like to gather here, make sure you don't like to have a good time or have a loud voice. I walked in & the male manager in a yellow polo looked at my flip flops and smirked "you're lucky we're not on reserve". He *let* us sit at the bar for a drink. Bartender, LOVELY!!! Our sweet and friendly brunette bartender in braids was an angel, made my drink for me with a smile and turned my night around. Loved the bartender, disliked the manager, won't be back, for sure. Fingers crossed they find new management read more

One of the best meals I have ever had! Service was exceptional and the porch was especially pleasant and peaceful. We'll be back!

This is the best restaurant in Southport. The food is pricey but delicious and one must keep in mind that they source ingredients locally to the extent possible which is something you will not get elsewhere! read more

Delicious food, friendly staff in a charming, beautifully decorated setting. We went for brunch and will be looking forward to trying dinner. f you like southern food, you will want to come check this place out read more

We love Southern!!! Fig Flatbread is an absolute favorite??? Carl is always attentive and knows the menu! We've never had a bad meal. Congrats on an awesome addition to our rotation!! read more

Excellent food and service!! Ambiance nice as well. Definitely will return! I cannot say enough great things about this restaurant.

Everything is perfect at Southern. From the warm greeting when you arrive, to the friendly staff. The food is perfectly prepared every time. The best place to fine, if it's just the two of you, is at the bar. Great conversation!!! But you must make a reservation! read more

We had an amazing meal tonight. The food was delicious and the service was terrific. Highly recommend this restaurant. Plating was 5 stars. Great flavors. read more

Beautiful, charming place; food is amazing, service is great! Love it and highly recommend!

absolutely phenomenal! from the minute we arrived to the end was honestly the best dining experience we have had. the food was so yummy that I'm still dreaming about it. I had the steak our friends had the pork chop and chicken and they all agreed it was fantastic. McKenzie the bartender was so knowledgeable and sweet( just loved her). I feel bad I don't know our waitresses name but she was so attentive and fun. I can't wait to go back! read more

Ok first of all run don't walk to dine here. We have been for brunch and it was so good we just had to try the dinner. It did not disappoint! Britney was a great bartender and everything she recommend was spot on. This was well worth the drive from oak island read more

All good! In spite of short time since opening, my two visit's with guest were wonderful. Good food and service even though servers are hard to find. For anyone wanting quick service, go to Micky D or Bo. want a good dining experience? Southern. read more

Had the wings at Southern last week. The dipping sauce was superb, the service was excellent, and the ambiance was comfortable. Notice I didn't mention the wings themselves and there is a good reason for that. They were terrible. The wings were undersized, overcooked, and overpriced. $16 for 7 wings is criminal, especially for their size. In fact, many of their items are way overpriced, such as the pulled pork sandwich (I had this on my first visit). I realize that this is Southport, but the prices are out of line even for some of the other fine dining restaurants such as Oliver's and Edgewater. This was my 4th occasion to be at this restaurant, so I want readers to know that I've given it many opportunities. Yes, locally sourced....but are sweet potatoes really that expensive? In case you are wondering, I did not express my concerns to the owner or server, as after 3 previous meals there, it was simply the final signal that I should not be dining there. read more