This is an outstanding restaurant for its ambiance and service. The recommendations by Dannon (yes, like the yogurt) were outstanding. The owner (who is such a nice guy) was on the floor and visited our table. I loved their spin on fried green tomatoes with the lump crab on top. The steak was cooked as ordered and quite tasty. Some of the mussels were a bit small and the crispy brussel sprouts were a bit chewy. I didn't try the cornbread but the tables next to us raved about it. My daughter is not a fan of sticky date cake, but she loved theirs. She also ordered a whiskey sour with Angel's Envy and it was superb! It was a perfect place for her birthday. Oh, and they have the best bathrooms I've seen in any restaurant I've visited. I highly recommend this South Loop gem! read more

Really enjoyed the overall ambiance here. It felt like they aimed for a high end physical environment with a laid back attitude and created (whether intentional or not) something uniquely....Chicago? All I know is that I haven't felt this overall comfortable in a restaurant, maybe ever. I'm tired of typing this on my phone but of our party of 5, 3 loved their main courses - 2 just liked theirs - and everyone loved the cornbread starter. All had a good time. Look forward to coming back. read more

Came in today because I heard about the food here. Sitting for an hour plus to get the food and every appetizer came out cold, waiting another 30 minutes for my pasta to come out cold. When I go out I go for the experience. And now waiting on my food to simply be boxed up and I havent received it back. It's not many things I get upset about but food is some I dont play about. read more

Ambiance fantastic, service is beyond slow. Our food took forever then it was cold once received.

Food was good but waiting 45 mins just for my food? That's crazy. Server was nice and the ambiance in there is smooth. I think they could've just sped up the food process because now you just sitting there waiting and waiting read more

Super excited to try Southern. The food was great, minus the greens which were way too salty. Also really enjoyed our cocktails. Our server was very kind but service was slow. We probably would've left at least 30 minutes earlier if not for the slow service. Overall good experience if they can improve the service. read more

Let's start by saying we were very excited to try Southern Chicago since it's blocks away from our place. We called and they said that we could just walk in since it was 9:15 and that they closed at 10. We arrived at 9:32 and we were told by the host we could not have a table and had to sit at the bar. We asked for a manager and the host literally rolled her eyes in our face. Now just for context half of the restaurant was empty. The manager finally came over and told her to seat us and give it to "?" I would put her name but unfortunately her service was forgettable as well. We immediately placed our order and told her we would order wine. She went and entered our food order and never came back. Food hit the table fairly quickly which was great. Chicken was hot but dry inside, the sauce was perfect. The branzino came out cold but the taste was great. The sides were the best part of the meal 10/10. We got the Mac & Cheese, Spinach, and the sweet potatoes. I had to ask the food runner if I could place my wine order with them but they asked who the server was I told him what she looked like and he got her. I finally placed my order for a simple glass of wine which took 10 mins to get to the table. But let's get to the part that really ruined our meal. We were seated right in front of the host desk, so we had to endure her continual glances at us while she discussed what happened with us to other servers. Never have I ever had a meal ruined by a host in my life. They are the first and last person we as guests see. They set the tone for everything. Mind you, we placed our order immediately, yet the manager came over and asked us if we placed our order rushing us unnecessarily. No food check until we were almost done and then finally the manager asked is everything ok guys... umm at that point yeah I guess. Server did ask for feed back at the end while dropping off the check and we did give it to her but after everything that happened we decided to just leave without getting dessert which we were also looking forward to get. Just a reminder your host set the tone for your guest I really hope this is taken and actually used to coach them. If you don't it will kill your business which would be unfortunate since you just opened and you have so much potential. Ambiance was beautiful. read more

Our reservation was for 6:00p, we were seated right away. The wait time to get some water was at least more than an hour. The wait time to put in the food and drink order was at least 1 hour to another hour and a half. So we didn't order our appetizers or food until almost 8p. It took the waitress another 20-30 minutes to bring the drinks and another 30-40 minutes to bring the food. The food was lukewarm to touch. The manager came by the table and was professional and willing to hear the concerns, and offered to make the meal again and stated it would come out good the second time. When the food came back out it was slightly warmer than the first time. The truffle fries were ok, but the steak was under seasoned and not flavorful. The meal totaled $600+ for 7 people including the drinks. Definitely not worth the money or the wait time. read more

As longtime frequent travelers for both business and leisure, my wife and I have enjoyed countless exquisite meals in fine dining establishments worldwide, hence our culinary standards are unusually high and we expect flawless cuisine, outstanding libations, and impeccable service whenever we dine upscale. Happily, our expectations were exceeded during our recent dining experience at newly opened Southern Chicago located in the city's vibrant South Loop community. This stunningly elegant epicurean paradise is easily one of the most inviting and romantic restaurants in Chicago, and it is impossible to not be impressed by the obvious effort of the owners in creating such a gorgeous environment. And I cannot overstate waitstaff professional Connor's role in our superlative dining experience. Indeed, his immaculate service was the pie'ce de re'sistance for us. Restaurant manager Mandy was equally laser-focused on providing excellent guest service. Simply stated, Southern Chicago's menu is expansive and outrageously delicious, its bar offerings are totally amazing, and the waitstaff is absolutely superb. But don't just take my word: visit this incredible restaurant and treat yourself to culinary perfection. Kenny read more

I keep betting BLACK and winning. Outstanding Fine Dining Experience From the moment you step through the doors of Southern Chicago, you're transported into a world where elevated Southern cuisine meets contemporary sophistication. This South Loop gem at 2000 S Wabash Avenue has masterfully redefined what Southern dining can be, delivering an experience that rivals the finest establishments in the city. My table experienced the Oysters, Crisped Green Tomatoes, Salmon, Barrel Aged Maple Fried Chicken and Branzino with sides of greens, spinach and macaroni and cheese. From the exquisite craft cocktails to a culinary experience beyond compare, you will be wowed. This sophisticated space creates an atmosphere that's both elegant and welcoming. This combined with the excellent service of the knowledgeable staff offers a most elite dining experience. 10/10. I said it! 10/10. Highly recommended for special occasions, business dinners, and anyone seeking an exceptional fine dining experience. read more

Welcome to the neighborhood, Southern Chicago! This new restaurant provides a "must do" for foodies and its destined to become a huge Chicago icon! As a former restaurant review columnist, I tend to notice all the details, so, after their long anticipated grand opening, here's the dish on Southern Chicago: We went on Tuesday July 22nd at 6pm--it was already packed! The vibe stands out immediately. It's like a big, happy celebration with happy, well-dressed people enjoying life and great food. We ordered a selection of appetizers and an entree to split--crab cakes, crispy green tomatoes, lobster bisque, and a wagu burger. This was all topped off by a slice of key lime pie. That's a lot of food. Kudos to the chef and to our server, Nyla--she is an excellent customer ambassador. The food, atmsphere, and excellent service gets a rare "10" from me! Reservations are needed, so get one, dress to impress, and go! Thom Whitehead read more

We're always supportive of new restaurants, particularly Black-owned establishments. We were excited. But we drove nearly an hour to just be majorly disappointed. A waste of time and money. First red flag $17 valet parking? No thank you. We found parking easily, directly across the street for about $2.00 for the meter parking fee. The greeting by the hostess was absolutely proper and the ambience was fair. The so-called uniformed doorman was on his cell phone a lot standing supposedly at the ready to be the first person to greet incoming customers. We arrived early for our reservations so we were graciously directed to visit the bar, which was full, no available seating, but they have a nice comfortable seating area to cool your heels while waiting for your table. The second red flag was trying to get a bartender's attention to take our drink order as we stood behind seated customers at the bar. A bartender looked at me and she then quickly ignored me. A simple "Hello, I'll be right with you", would have been nice and adequate. It took a while to place an order for drinks. Third red flag happened when we were seated, a party of three, at a tall boy table in the bar area, and the tall boy table was wobbly, like seriously wobbly. After telling the hostess about the uneven table thing we were moved to another high boy table several feet away. I only have so many red flags to give out but the fourth red flag was the tasteless calamari with bland mayonnaise-like sauce and uninspired lukewarm mussels as our appetizers. You got it, the fifth red flag went to the how the three ordered entrees were delivered. The two so-called "fried chicken" entrees came first, delivered in some sort of metal bowl and then we waited over ten minutes and the third entree never showed up until we spoke with the Manager. Also, we never received new utensils, sharing plates, or serving spoons. Fried chicken cold, skimpy sides dishes (soupy collard greens & three sweet potato medallions)...cold....nothing Southern about this spot except being south of the Loop. This criticism could continue but suffice it to say, we were not impressed. The manager was very helpful, the waitstaff was nice but not well trained as a fine dining server, and the chef & the co-owner were on the floor, but neither one of them came to our table to address any of these issues. It's a very new spot (several weeks maybe) and we hope nothing but success for them. We'll revisit at some point, everyone deserves a second chance, and we look forward to a true fine dining experience that is worthy of the high end cost they are charging. Onward and upward. 1 Star this time, 4 Stars the next time? read more

such a beautiful establishment very pleasant and professional staff food was amazing food came out hot and fresh season well the entire establishment is definitely a top tier vibe. I will be coming back over and over and over again. Don't do yourself a diss service. and not support this black establishment amazing amazing amazing! read more

Southern Chicago - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Alot of excitement when it come to new Black-owned spot in the South Loop. Stopped by on a weekday just to take a look at the menu because they didn't have one online, but to my surprise, they had available seating. My girlfriend and I pulled up around 8:15pm with no reservation and still got seated right away. The ambiance was really nice, as well as the workers. Our waitress was very friendly, walked us through the cocktail menu, but 2/3 of the drinks were sold out -- not a huge deal, it's their 1st or 2nd week opened. We put in our drink order -- 20 minutes go by, and nothing. Staff noticed the delay and apologized. Then we ordered food, but again, a lot of stuff was unavailable. Inventory clearly must have been a challenge, and we ordered what we could. The cocktails finally reached our table, and they were pretty good. Around 8:45-9:00, our server let us know one of the sides we ordered was also out. At this point, we're just adjusting as we go. We got the maple-glazed buttermilk chicken, which was pretty good and flavorful. I noticed that more time was going by, and my steak didn't come out until almost 9:50pm. When it finally did, it was well-done and dry, even though I asked for medium. At that point, it was too late to send it back, so I just ate it, but was pretty disappointed. The place has a lot of potential, but you can tell there will be challenges, as many new restaurants go through their first weeks or months. Inventory wasn't where it needed to be, food came out way too slow, and the kitchen is clearly still trying to find its way. First impression is it didn't live up to the hype, Because of how many great options there are in Chicago, I can't yet recommend spending your money here, yet. However, I'm looking forward to the improvements they make, as I will be revisiting once they're more settled in. read more

Southern Chicago was excellent, the service, the ambiance, the music and the food was delicious. Everything we ordered from the appetizers, the cornbread the lobster bisque and the calamari were delicious. We really enjoyed the food and the music. It was a beautiful experience; I recommend everyone to try it! read more

The atmosphere was pleasant and the staff was friendly, but the food and pricing just didn't make sense. We ordered dirty martinis -- one gin and one vodka -- and asked for three blue cheese olives. Not only were we charged $3 per olive, but they also used sweet vermouth instead of dry, which completely threw off the drink. The ribeye lacked flavor, and the mussel appetizer was $26 for just ten mussels. We were also told we "had to" order the greens, which never even arrived. Overall, the experience felt wildly overpriced and disappointing. Also why would everything be fried in peanut oil. read more

My wife, granddaughter and I visited for the first time to celebrate our 53rd wedding anniversary. The doorman and receptionist were very pleasant. The ambiance of the restaurant was outstanding. The food was great but the service was EXTREMELY slow. The prices were extremely high. Will not return. read more

The food was incredible, and the entire experience was truly one of a kind. I'd absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for amazing dishes and great drinks! read more

I had a wonderful anniversary dinner here. From the moment we walked in the service was friendly and intentional about making sure we enjoyed our experience -- letting us know the expected wait time for our food, recommending favorite cocktails. I had the Steak Frites along with a side of collard greens since the side had great reviews online. I enjoyed both. I must add, I love the music selection and overall decor of the place. Not sure if it was just a coincidence that 'Anniversary' by Tony! Toni! Toné! was playing as soon as we sat down, but it helped earn them this 5 star review. I will definitely be back. read more

Supporting a local African American business never felt so good. The service, the food, the ambiance were a delight to the senses as well as to the appetite. Truly enjoyed the experience. Hats off to you all. read more

First off the Staff was super Friendly and the waitress we had outstanding! The food needs whole lot of work, especially for those prices. We had the creamed spinach and a few other sides never had dry creamed spinach before on top of that it was extremely salty..the wagu burger too salty,I couldn't enjoy it. the mac & cheese..salty, the au gratin potatoes were not up to par, not good, salt should enhance the flavor not over power. The only dishes that came to our table that were decent was the maple glazed chicken the salads and the drinks. We also had Calamari for appetizer one of our guest complained that it did not taste fresh. Food would get zero stars. But the service was Four stars. Very disappointed especially for the money. read more

Do yourself a favor and have Amy at the bar make you a drink. I've been here a few times and every time I sit at the bar, I let her make me whatever she wants and every time it's the best drink I've ever had. Great service, food and ambiance. read more

Beautiful restaurant, staff amazing , food was mediocre, everything needed flavor, Mac and cheese could've been baked longer, no flavor, greens not seasoned, I had better canned greens. The kale salad AMAZING . We spent $478 the restaurant overall is a Vibe, but they most definitely need to work on the food, my husband had 1 bite of the calamari and was disappointed. Shout out to the amazing waitress Jessica, she was knowledgeable, professional, and amazing. I would only go drinks, staff, and vibe read more

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful. It has such a welcoming presence as soon as you walk in the door and the food was amazing as well as the service. Highly, highly, highly, highly recommend! Can't wait to go back. read more

Went here with my partner. Ambiance was incredible but that's where it stopped. Before being seated the front house staff informed us that we had 1.5 hours at our table. They specifically said "let us remind you" that reservations are 1.5 hours, even though this was no where stated when the reservation was made. Regardless, we couldn't adhere to that because the mean itself took over two hours to come out. When seated the table cloth and glasses were dirty. The drinks were watery and it was clear the bar tender was not taste testing as they didn't just taste watery but like someone should have workshopped that idea before putting it on the menu. Again, the food took over two hours. The fried chicken was decent, as was the cornbread. Everything else just tasted fine. There was nothing upscale or nuanced about the way they did southern cooking. Would not return or recommend, there are too many better restaurants with better food and organization read more

Food, atmosphere and service matched the hype. Definitely going back! Great spot for date night or gathering of family and friends. Grateful for the experience of elegant dining and feeling I belong. read more

My husband and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary. We made reservations. I absolutely love the ambiance, the waiter was gracious and very attentive. Our food was great. The cornbread was awesome. The General Manager came to us and wished us a Happy Anniversary and dessert was on her (key Lime pie) You won't be sorry make a reservation to be on safe side. read more

Had dinner with 3 friends. The place is very beautiful, they wouldn't seat us until the entire party arrived which was fine a couple Sorors got drinks from the bar and we sat on some a couple couches next to the bar until the last person arrived. We were warmly greeted and our waitress explained the concept, made suggestions and warned of a few dishes not available sorry can't remember her name but she was nice and actually told a staff member who was our sorority sister we were here and she came over and introduced herself Kelsey, very nice. We almost all had different entrees but all ordered the same side, the greens which were very good and jalapeño cornbread which was delicious which we shared. Two of us got the garlic prawns for our entrees which was very good, well seasoned and 4 nice sized pieces. One got the lamb chops and another barrel maple fried chicken, both of which they liked a lot. Ambiance was nice and it was a Thursday so don't know if that had anything to do with it but we were not rushed. It's a very lovely looking place and music was played (I saw the machine or whatever) but it was at a just right level as not to be too loud where you can't hear conversation at your own table. It's definitely not cheap price wise but for us it lives up to the standards. It was the second visit for one in our party who really wanted to return. read more

The customer service was amazing! Smiles on every face! The chef came out to greet us and Kelsey was ther best! The food was excellent. Everything was fresh and fried food was minimal. The ambience was one to behold, beautiful black people enjoying an upscale outing! Please do yourself a favor and support this black owned business. Chefs Kiss! read more

What a gem! Our first taste was last evening (Friday), and it was full of customers and energy from the get-go! We were dressed nice casual, but next time we'll dress up a bit more, as the ambiance is definitely more of a classy casual. We sat at the bar, and Jaesen was our awesome server and master bartender. She was a one-person show herself, making custom cocktails with flair and providing funny and witty conversation with us all the while. She was very enjoyable, and all the staff were welcoming and warm. We had the grilled prawn app (ridiculously delicious...and the prawns were quite large!), my wife and niece both had salmon (which they loved), and I was determined to have the fried chicken (barrel aged maple fried)...all I can say is I'm glad my grandma has passed, as this beat hers by a country mile! Maple glazed, firm crust, and MOIST MOIST MOIST! Accompanied by collard greens and cornbread skillet...if I were on death row, this would be my last meal! But wait, don't give me the injection until I finish the peach cobbler!! OMG, we will be back, FREQUENTLY!! 5 stars without reservation! PS. This place just opened, and of course they are ironing out staffing and challenges of pacing service and orders. With that said, I have no doubt management will rectify over time. When they match this component to the quality of their food, watch out!! Welcome to the South Loop SC! read more

I was at this restaurant on Saturday first off the ambiance was amazing, the fried chicken was delicious and the Mac and cheese was creamy and very flavorful, and I can't find words for the collard greens delicious,the service was on point!!! me and my friends will definitely be back soon. read more

First off the place is absolutely beautiful. The atmosphere was great and the customer service was second to none. Food was cooked to perfection. No condiments needed. We met a gentleman name Joe who was so nice and accommodating. Hopefully everything will work out for him. .. I can't wait to go back! read more

We were SO excited to support this place and so very disappointed by the experience. We arrived on time for our reservation and still had to wait almost 40minutes to be sat. Once seated we waited 20 minutes for our server to come over and bring water. The server was new but kind and courteous. It took 45 minutes to receive one entree. Another 20 to get the rest. You could see servers lined up waiting for their orders because the kitchen was so dysfunctional. The food was terrible and overpriced. The salmon entree and side of Brussels were overcooked like they'd been under a heat lamp. The roast chicken was undercooked and the medium steak frites were tough and overcooked to well done and missing the listed ingredients. The frites were soggy. The manager was responsive, apologetic and accountable but there were so many complaints from other customers she was spread thin addressing them. Took another 30 minutes to get our check. We finally were able to settle our bill (heavily discounted because of the horrible food) 3 hours after our reservation and one hour after they closed. This place is BEAUTIFUL and it's so sad that the kitchen and food doesn't live up to the interior and price. read more

What a lovely Dinner last night was. My friend and I were so excited to walk to a new local restaurant. WOW! We were not disappointed! Our server was so kind and attentive to us. We asked her for her personal recommendations and boy was she spot on. We started with a delicious cocktail "Southern spritz", it was made to perfection. We went with one of our servers recommended appetizers, Crisped Green tomatos, let me just say the plate looked clean when we were done. The tomato was so fresh and tasty with a perfect crisp on the outside and SOOOOOOOOO much flavor! For my entrees I ordered the "Steak Frites"- cooked to perfection, little fatty but as expected with the cut of meat and I seriously dont mind just trimming what i don't want- Flavor was BOMB, came with crispy, skinny seasoned fries and a dipping sauce i could just drink! My friend ordered the lamb chops which were also cooked to perfect, juicy and filled with flavor. We shared both entrees and sides. For our sides we ordered the lobster mac n cheese(prob one of the best Ive ever had) and the brussel sprouts. Brussels sprouts had an exceptional flavor but I do wish they had some crispy to them but that's just my personal preference. We ended with the recommend key lime pie. Can I rename the pie to Key Lime pie crack because DAMN it WAS SO BOMB and a nice size piece for sharing. All in All this place was great. ALL the staff was extremely friendly, the ambiance was so cozy, clean and sexy, we didn't feel rushed and the velvet chairs and benches were so comfy!!! If i can just add, even the bathrooms smelled amazing as odd as that sounds. This place is a great date night spot or a spot where even your kids would be happy with all the different menu options. I would highly suggest and I cant wait to go back. read more