South Kitchen + Bar

10/20/2025. After my visit to the eye doctor we treated ourselves to the South Kitchen. Our waitress was very pleasant and poised. We had a hamburger (cooked perfectly - 5 Stars) and a Fried Green Tomato Sandwich which was delicious - 5 Stars). Beautiful building. Hope you enjoy my pictures. Very relaxing place to go. Hope you will give them a try!

Quaint with some good southern charm. Food was good and delicious and we were seated very fast! Parking is weird. The meters on the street barely work, they’re probably southern fried by the sun honestly. There’s not really any parking decks nearby that we saw. I’d recommend this place for a chill lunch or dinner for sure other than the strange parking meters!!

Absolutely INCREDIBLE food. My fiancé & I stumbled upon this place for the 1st time in February and have been back here 3 more times since then. The restaurant’s atmosphere & decor makes the place feel super high class but the prices are decent. We always start with the Duck Fat Tater Tots (10/10 recommend) and then each get our own entrees. I stick with the fried chicken (Nashville style) & sub the sides for new ones each time. We’ve tried other entrees as well but i still like the fried chicken the most!! We also order drinks each time & I think the drinks are alright & super strong for my taste. But overall, 11/10 restaurant & definitely one of my fiancé & i’s staple.

Beautiful restaurant with a fantastic menu selection. I was somewhat disappointed with my roast beef sandwich however the hot chicken sandwich and omelets were delicious. I’d also like to mention our service from Reece was above and beyond.

South Kitchen + Bar is a great spot in a cool historic building. The shishito hush puppies were a standout, and I also really enjoyed the Caesar salad and the shrimp and grits.

We came here for the first time tonight. This place is AMAZING!! This will be on my list of rotation in Athens now. Came for restaurant week and didn’t even know. Wait time was over an hour but we managed to grab a seat at the bar.

Folks I must disagree or was or dining experience a fluke? Service with two individuals was extremely poor. Asked several times for condiments as well as additional aïoli and our two waiters were no where to be found. Appetizers were somewhat unappealing ss we opted for the specialty hush puppies . Dry on the inside and crispy and oily outside. Not interested. We ordered salad with a Vidalia onion vinaigrette that sounded delicious. Unfortunately it just tasted like vinegar and it was served with the main course. Dinner selection was the bar burger and the chicken, brussels sprouts with a tomato and potato dish. Brussels sprouts,were good but the chicken lacked flavor. The burger was ok but not over the top. Dessert that was recommended was peach cobbler and coffees. Peach cobbler in Ga should be great . It's like going to Key west for key-lime pie. Unfortunately, the peach cobbler was a terrible failure. If you close your eyes, you could not tell what type of cobbler you were eating. Whipped cream should have been on top of the ice cream on the cobbler. . Honestly, if this were s the best you have to offer I would not eat out. Cook with love and flavor or stay home!

Really cool place with great food. Of course, the tator tots are amazing! Must have! The Caesar chicken wrap was great and my son loved the goat cheese omelet. The creamy grits were the best I ever tasted. I'll be back!

This was our first stop in Athens... we were fortunate to catch them before they turned over from brunch to happy hour, and everything was just divine. After spending all day in the car, it was lovely to stretch out in a beautiful space (because the architectural space is gorgeous), and enjoy a delicious meal. I went with a fried green tomato sandwich and a side of macaroni and cheese, which was simply heaven in a bowl. The sandwich was perfectly sized, and well flavored. Great service and great vibes! I would love to go back for cocktails and more snacks.

Ok I have a new favorite restaurant... for more than a few reasons. If you don't want to read the whole review about how great this place is from top to bottom I'll put the TLDR right here. Big party 10/10 Best brunch 10/10 Without a doubt best service HANDS DOWN 11/10 Beautiful building 10/10 Ambiance 10/10. Ok so on to the meat. I scheduled for a party of 10 for my mom's 76th birthday party. She had other plans and invited over 30 people. When we arrived at the time we were supposed to be there there were already 15 people outside. Crap. I go inside and explain to the hostess that we have screwed up the logistics of the rest of their brunch. Indy was an angel. She said no worries. What do you mean no worries??? We are going to have 10-15 MORE people. To say they were accommodating is an understatement. My mom is in a wheelchair and there were steps. I let Indy know because my mom and the rest of her guests were stil outside. Queen Indy again says no worries. I'll bring you to the elevator in the back. Whaaaaat??? As she walks us back she begins to tell us the history of the building and is just so friendly. Even asked if I needed her to PUSH MY MOM. WHAAAAT??? She could not possibly be any sweeter. So we get off the elevator and she tells us that there will be a short wait while they prepare the table for the extra guests. Of course that's no problem. Our server Emily shows us to the table and it's gorgeous. *sigh* people are still showing up . Mom is happy as a clam. So glad to see all her friends. I'm stressed because HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING? Guess what Indy said? No worries, we can just add an extra table. Can you?!?!? Sure of course, we can also add these 2 high tops for extra guests. CAN YOU?!?! Suffice it to say brunch was amazing. Emily worked these tables or 30+ Picky eaters made me feel like she HAS to have ownership in the establishment. How else could she be any more perfect. Food came right out. HUGE portions. I don't think anyone could finish. My mom had shrimp and grits. I never order that for myself when I go out because it's always kind of basic. NOTHING about this place is basic. When we got home I ate her leftovers. Yep. All of them. The shrimp were huge and they had GREENS on them. WHAAAAT?!?! So we all know that the hardest part for a waitress is when a large party wants separate checks. Not for Emily. She's bringing out Togo containers, checks, change and topping off drinks like she had a clone. I've never EVER been this impressed. A superstar. Mom wanted to sit and talk to her friends because we moved from the area so she doesn't see her friends and family as much and at no time did we feel rushed. Rockstar Indy checked on me in particular at least 5 times. In essence I want to open a restaurant and steal her and Emily away to come work for me. I will patronize South Kitchen and Bar every time I visit Athens.

I saw the fried chicken thighs on the menu and really wanted to try them. You get two large pieces. They looked really good. As you can see in the picture. Problem was that there was no seasoning. I added salt but that didn't help. It came with sides that reminded me of baby food. The Mac n cheese was good but the amount is so small that it's not work getting. I was so disappointed. Also the mashed potatoes were salty and had no flavor at all. I must say that the chicken tasted better cold after I added some seasoned salt and pepper. Service was great. Atmosphere great. This just fell short of my expectations. I will probably return

Get the frozen espresso martini with the foam, it is SO GOOD. Get the Okra as a side if you're a fan of pickles.

This is one of my continual favorite restaurants here in Athens! Always great service and a great meal! I came in without a reservation on a busy Saturday night and we were seated relatively quickly! The restaurant was really relaxed but still intimate. I tried their new menu item which they change seasonally which was the lamb and grits. My server was amazing and was stating that I should try it. I really did love it! So amazing! It didn't look appealing to the eye but the flavor is amazing! The cornbread was decent it was more dry than I would've preferred but the butter did help! The dessert was amazing! I really enjoyed my meal! I encountered a slight problem during my visit but my server and the manager were amazing! It truly wasn't even a problem as they fixed the situation so quickly and just went above and beyond. My server was Madi and the manager was Katie! Both were so helpful and I'll definitely be back! Thank you South Kitchen!

Loved this downtown Athens restaurant! It's in a great spot, just a short walk from the theatre where the GA state chorus was. The food and service were top-notch, and we enjoyed sitting outside. We did get a little chilly towards the end, but it was worth it!

Very interesting setting. This is a former bank and there are a lot of period gilded features to it. We came for brunch right at opening. Note: GA alcohol laws do not permit sales before 11am, so if you're looking for that 10am Bloody Mary, better luck later. The food and service were very good. Decent street parking. Recommended while in Athens.

South kitchen is so cute! We had a brunch here and the vibes were spot on. Service was super nice and right on time. The food was to DIE for. They really hit the mark and is a great place to spend a special occasion or grab a brunch after church. Our favorite item was the salmon cake Benny.

Fantastic restaurant. Service was good, I ordered a Nojito (refreshing and heavy on the mint), duck fat tater tots, and a fried chicken blue plate. Ambiance was pretty upscale. The tater tots were fried just right, although very hot when they first came out. The mustard and hot sauce that came with it were really good. The chicken plate was perfect because of the combinations of southern flavors. I really enjoyed the jalapeño cornbread muffins, even though I don't typically like cornbread. The pickle was okay, the peppers had a sneaky kick to them.

I was in Athens for Athfest and decided to stop by for dinner with my friends. Athens always has good food so I was excited to check this new place out. We walked in around 6 and they were able to seat our party of 8 pretty much immediately which was awesome! I got the frozen espresso martini which was so fun! The cold foam had hardened so we had to crack it first to be able to drink, but it was delicious and super cool. For my entree, I split fried pickles with a friend and got a grilled chicken Caesar salad. The pickles were fine (the breading was a little loose), but the salad was absolutely delicious!! The portion size was generous and I loved the blackening on the chicken. The salad also had bacon and their house Caesar dressing was so tangy and yummy. Overall, loved South Kitchen and can't wait to check out on my next trip to Athens!

Had a lovely brunch experience here. The duck fat tater tots were an absolute hit at the table. The Bloody Mary was delightfully spicy. I had a wonderful salad topped with grilled shrimp. Located in quaint downtown Athens, the only concern honestly is finding parking. Server was very kind and helpful.

To start, the atmosphere was great, the waiters were very friendly and food came out with great timing. The beignets were outstanding, tasted similar to funnel cake as they were more doughy than airy. The croissant breakfast sandwich was OUTSTANDING. The sausage was perfectly spicy, and the croissant perfectly buttered and flaky. Only complaint is I wish the egg was less overdone. But that can easily be requested for the next time I definitely come!

We dined in for brunch right as the restaurant opened. We were seated immediately. Our server (Olivia) was kind and attentive. The beignets were light, fluffy and delicious. The duck fat tater tots were hot and crispy. The biscuits and gravy was good but we felt like there could have been more gravy. The gifts were creamy and delicious. The omelette was good but could've used more filling. We got the mimosas which had a good ratio of orange juice to Prosecco. We were seated by an a/c vent which was too chilly for my likings but others in the group were fine with it.

We visited South Kitchen + Bar on our recent trip to UGA and it was a lovely brunch spot! The building is pretty and featured stained glass windows and chandeliers. We got the French toast, spicy chicken sandwich, and a "build your own breakfast" plate. All were good. The bacon was super super greasy but it's bacon, so that happens! Fruit sides were tiny, but refreshing. The waitress was friendly and we might be back next time we are in the area.

Um this place was amazing!! I had never been here before and they were the best. First thing, they say our party of 8 down immediately at 6pm which was honestly amazing without a reservation. Our waitress was patient and amazing with our group. I got the frozen espresso martini to drink and it was delicious! The cold foam was hard and made it a little funny to drink but once broken up it got easier and it was delicious. For my main, I got the fried pickles and a grilled chicken Caesar salad. The pickles were okay with some loose breading but still delicious. The salad was stunning and had plenty of chicken and was HUGE!! There was plenty of bacon too which was amazing. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and this was delicious. 10/20 and would definitely come again.

My friends and I were on a girls trip this weekend, and South came highly recommended for good reason! This was a very cute southern kitchen with brunch options for all my favorite southern dishes like shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy, bbq and Mac and cheese! Instantly felt like I was back in my hometown of Macon! If there is one thing South got absolutely right, it's their tater tots! These might have been some of my favorite tater tots I've ever tasted! They were flavorful and well-seasoned and came with three amazing dipping sauces! In addition to the tater tots, the shrimp and grits were also good! On top of the great food, the service was great! Our server was very friendly and attentive! I would definitely recommend!

I had such a simple, but delicious meal here. I sat at the bar on a Sunday very early evening. Both bartenders I spoke with were super friendly, attentive, and seemed to work very well together. I loved it all. Again, I ordered quite a basic meal, but it was done so well. Starting with the seasonal cocktail that was so so good. The Caesar salad was a perfect fresh pairing alongside the tater tots. They were SO GOOD- absolutely mouthwatering. I love a good condiment and this came with three that were so good that after my tots were eaten, I dipped some salad croutons in there too. They should bottle these up to sell! I've done a lot of reviews now, and I don't say this often, especially for what I chose to eat here. However, as I write this review, I'm dreaming about this meal again and hope I get back to Athens soon to be able to repeat it.

We stopped in on a Sat. Evening before a concert. Wait time was less than we were told. We had a pomegranate mule, wine , fried green tomatoes, and 2 salads, added shrimp to one. The staff, food, and atmosphere were all excellent and we will definitely return.

We had a good experience for Wednesday date night. We're sharers, so we shared a bottle of Pinot Grigio, the Cobb salad and the salmon. The description of the corn they paired with the salmon was creamed, but it was not. I do believe they used fresh corn, but it in no way resembled or tasted like creamed corn. The okra and tomato's paired beautifully with the salmon and cheese grits I ordered separately. The Cobb salad, called something else, was delicious. The fried chicken thigh, candied bacon and egg were delicious together. Their ranch tasted homemade. The Brûléed cheesecake that our server suggested was simply cheesecake with melted sugar on it as the Brûléed part had melted to a syrup. It didn't stop us from munching it, the cheesecake was silky and smooth. We took the chocolate torte home, it was the true winner and was absolutely divine. We sliced strawberries to go with it. 10/10 reccomend. Worth the reservation!

The food was amazing! Everything was delicious. The server was amazing. He was attentive. The place was clean and had a nice vibe. A great recommendation! Great for date night!

Great restaurant! Nice waitress and good food in a cool, old bldg in Athens Here for my nieces Vet school graduation and had a great time. Athens is a wonderful town!!

Today was our second visit to South Kitchen + Bar for Sunday brunch. Erin was our server and boy did she hook us up with stellar recommendations. Her first pointer was to absolutely get the tater tots fried in duck fat. Holy cow were these ever good. Im not usually a fan of tots but these were amazing and came with three dipping sauces. Erin also recommended the chicken salad on a croissant. What sold me was the fact they make their own croissants and YUMMM! Perfectly flaky and buttery. We also had the french toast which was a fan favorite, pimento omelet, bacon egg and cheese biscuit and a build your own breakfast which included a delicious piece of fried kitchen. Upon hearing it was my boyfriend's birthday she quickly brought a piece of one of the best pieces of cheesecake Ive had in a while, with a candle. Another fantastic experience at South Kitchen!

I first want to say our server, Erin, was absolutely wonderful. She was so kind and attentive! Her recommendations for food were delicious. I had the pork tenderloin and it was amazing! Venue is beautiful, food was lovely and the staff overall were so inviting. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Athens!

Atmosphere is awesome! Drinks are awesome ... especially old fashioned's. HOWEVER, 2 years ago this was the best restaurant in downtown Athens. The tots and pimento cheese were outstanding. Tonight we got pimento cheese and it's served with stale crackers. It used to have toasted pita chips that were off the chain. I would not serve this to my dog. Whoever made this change should be fired. I've been coming to Athens on business for four years and this was by far the best restaurant in town two years ago. Even the fried chicken is not good anymore, and the tots have lost their great flavor and the lamb chops went from the best meal I've ever had ,to equal to McDonald's. Not sure what happened, but it all needs to be undone.

This place is fantastic! I love the casual, upscale atmosphere. I had visited previously for lunch and dinner, but this time we went for Sunday brunch. I had the goat cheese omelet and cheese grits. It was delicious and the service was on point even with our large group of 10.

We had a great time at brunch at South Kitchen and Bar! If you're planning to go up to the host stand on a weekend during brunch just to ask about the wait, I recommend calling ahead, as the space is pretty tiny and gets hectic when a lot of people are waiting in line. The restaurant has a text system for the wait, which is great for weekend brunch, as it allows you to explore other parts of downtown Athens while you wait for your text. Once we sat down, we ordered mimosas - there were several juice options, plus a special apple cider mimosa which my husband ordered. I got the classic orange, which was exactly what I was hoping it would be, but my husband's apple cider mimosa didn't have as strong of a flavor as he would have liked. We also got the tater tot appetizer, which came with three different sauces. They were all pretty good, but I couldn't stop trying the mustard jam! In terms of the food, I got the fried green tomatoes benedict, which was perfectly cooked and a unique twist on the eggs benedict. The grits were entirely too salty, though, and I couldn't finish them. My husband got the fried chicken poutine skillet, which was also extremely salty, but he ate it all and said it was great post-gameday hangover food. We will definitely be back, and can't wait to try more on the menu!

Excellent food and Cocktails. Braised lamb was terrific Very Friendly service. Very casual atmosphere

Great location in downtown Athens. Attentive service, food is always delicious. Great for casual family meals or business lunches

A solid THREE ... The location is nice, small, but very easy to feel relaxed with a good food menu. On paper everything's sounds good, a bit pricey for Athens, but ... We each did the build your own breakfast - green, chicken, grits, eggs. The chicken was good, the eggs were eggs (hard to mess up and egg). The greens were hard with an off taste and oder (old?). The grits had no flavor. The service very slow, we were one of three tables seated - no need for slow service.

Somewhat disappointed. The burger I ordered was overcooked and the side was cold. Additionally the wine and beer list has been greatly reduced since the last time we were here and the service was slow (and we were there before anyone else).

Food and drinks here are always amazing! The servers are friendly. Cool vintage details here. A favorite in Athens!

Fantastic food and drinks! Love the smaller atmosphere and the service has always been great.

10/10 order tater tots - great food and vibes - had the shrimp and grits, salad, and tots. Shocked how cheap it was relative to the food, service, and ambiance.

I visited this location for a work lunch. Our party of 5 was seated quickly. The restaurant's interior was clean and visually appealing. We all ordered from the new brunch menu. I had the brunch burger; the pimento cheese BLT was the other popular meal at our table. The burger was delicious and very filling. I did not care for the Georgia hot fries, but the burger all but made up for it. I'd definitely return!

Amazing food and ambience! Shrimp and grits is so good. Service was excellent as well.

Food was amazing. The service however was lacking, but it is a busy GA football Saturday. I don't know if they give drink refills, but we never got one.

We loved brunch at South Kitchen & Bar! The food and cocktails were excellent. We also loved the atmosphere of the beautiful old hotel. But what really made our visit special was Indy! She was so friendly and knowledgeable about the building. She even took us on a tour and told us all about the building's history. We can't wait to bring family and friends back!

After reading the reviews, we decided to check this place out on a recent day trip to Athens. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by very welcoming staff who shared the history of the building. The server was also super friendly and gave great recommendations. And the food was incredible! We had the deliciously decadent Duck fat Tater Tot appetizer with a trio of dipping sauces to start followed by entrees of the Good Ole Boy salad with house made fried chicken thigh and the Angus Beef burger with Georgia hot fries. The salad did not skimp on produce quality and the fried chicken thigh was amazing. The burger was juicy, flavorful and cooked to perfection. Great food, exceptional service, good value and a memorable dining destination out!

My husband and I have visited South Kitchen several times whenever we're in Athens. The decor is very charming, love that it was converted and vintage features were saved. I highly recommend the small plates, fried green tomatoes are a particular favorite. Unfortunately my husband had a mediocre hamburger on our last visit.

Really tasty food in a very cool space. Got the hangar steak and it was so yum. Brussel sprouts a must. Next time I am getting Gool Ole Boy salad!

Beautiful setting in an old, restored Georgia hotel. Simply incredible food too (my wife and I went for both dinner and brunch). The staff was truly amazing and cheerful both getting. Kudos to Indie for capping off a great experience with her enthusiasm and generosity. I recommend South Kitchen + Bar highly! Try the bread pudding!!

It was OK. I was there quite early, so the restaurant was empty, but still a pleasant atmosphere. The staff was cheerful, friendly, and efficient. I ordered the pork belly after seeing its photos here, and it was underwhelming: it seemed like the sprouts had been marinated in molasses (they were brown and sweet) while the park had not been (it was tender but pale and low on flavor), while it was supposed to be the other way around. I will probably go again next time I am in Athens, but maybe with slightly lower expectations.

Service Great!!! Food ... MEH! We happened to this place while we took a road trip to Athens! Wife ordered a drink and the grilled cheese. My first instinct was to order the salad because no one could mess up a salad, but I wavered, and when you waver, you learn! Which I did. I ordered the skillet. The description doesn't really describe how lackluster it is. You have to really dig to find the potatoes, and the sausage seemed like a hot link cut up and indiscriminately placed in the dish. Slathered in gravy, which really took it over the top with its lacklusterness! Long story short we had another issue with the restaurant and our waitress, who's name I don't remember was spot on with her service came back to tell us the whole bill we didn't have to pay. We didn't want that we wanted to bring to their attention something that we observed nothing more nothing less but we wanted ro pay our bill she wouldn't accept, so we tipped her what she was owed plus 5 percent so 25 percent. It wasn't her fault the things she had noncontrol over. Would I try this place again? Maybe, but I would be strategic with my order by looking at the menu ahead of schedule to find something safe, and if that was good, go from there. The drinks are definitely something to go back for, as well as the decor of the restaurant.

A delightful experience in Athens, Ga where my daughter attended college. We visited one of her closest friends to see her and her baby. The space was really nice and the service exemplary. But the food!!!! A modern twist on Southern cooking. Who wouldn't love fried green tomatoes, blue crab deviled eggs and duck fat tater tots?? There was nothing on the menu I wouldn't have loved. Talk about flavor explosions. Some pictures I cannot post because the baby is in them, but it was a wonderful experience! My daughter took away half a star because they only had mashed sweet potatoes. But she loved the fried chicken and okra! We will definitely return !

We were walking the commercial district of Athens and stumbled upon this restaurant. The day waitress was cleaning the lunch tables and engaged us in looking at the dinner menus. We booked for 5 and are so glad we ate here. The waitress Jackie was excellent. Went over the building history and had great food suggestions. We both had the shrimp and grits. Very very good. Great drinks.

Always love the food here. I like the bar area seating best. The fried chicken and shrimp and grits are delicious!

Tater Tots in duck fat were pure fire! Crispy crunchy on the outside with a warm soft potatoey filling. Duck fat gives it just the right amount of "flavor funk". Love the fried green tomatoes as well with that amazing ranch dressing and spices mayo! Need to come back and really explore the menu.... Got my eye on the Shrimp and Grits!

The food was absolutely delicious. The services was wonderful. The space was beautiful.

I had pretty mixed feelings about this place. The customer service was exceptional and I absolutely loved the building it was in. The stained glass windows really made the building and added to the ambiance. As for the food... the cornbread was salty and dry, the grits were solid and chunky, and I personally didn't care for the whipped sweet potatoes. The fried chicken thighs were truly the best thing on the menu. They were perfectly crispy and flavorful just quite small.