Southern Chicago

I visited Southern for the first time and I can say the ambiance is amazing. I initially was met at the door with a bouncer saying I couldn’t come in as I had on open toed sandals. I was about to leave when i was met by executive chef Xavier who kindly greeted me and told me to please come and dine with them. Other then that little snap foo things went pleasantly well. At this point there early in the restaurant process so they have a limited menu but the items me and my friend tried we definitely enjoyed. Super excited to see how this place becomes a staple in the neighborhood. Comments about food the collards were amazing one of the best things I had there. The chicken was seasoned well. We also got the prawns there were fried i wish there were sautéed so we could really enjoy the full flavors. Our server was amazing and very hospitable.

Ambiance: 💯Food: amazing!!!!!! Customer service: top tier! Y’all have got to try the sticky cake! Chicken was a hit. Best Caesar salad I’ve ever had. This is going to be a hit and very busy place in the south loop so hurry up and get there. Andrea out waitress was amazing and the owners Xavier and Troy were attentive to us and everyone else in there. I would have eaten more but I just didn’t have the room but I surely took my food to go 🙂

My wife and I decided to celebrate our anniversary and try Southern Chicago for the 1st time. The food was good, and the service was excellent. The only thing I wish they had was a few more dessert choices. We'll definitely will be going back to try more.

I had the pleasure of dining at this newly opened, Black-owned gem and was beyond impressed from start to finish. Every dish I tried was a hit—starting with the fried green tomatoes, which had the perfect crunch and seasoning in the breading. The chargrilled oysters were incredibly fresh, and the buttermilk biscuits (a new addition to the menu) were so buttery and soft, with a spread that tied everything together beautifully. For my main, I had the salmon with mashed potatoes, which was light, well-seasoned, and cooked just right. I ended the night with key lime pie and peach cobbler—both desserts were outstanding. The cobbler had fresh peaches, not canned, and the ice cream alongside it was the perfect complement. The atmosphere was just as memorable as the food: spacious, beautifully decorated, and thoughtfully lit. I loved that the music was at a perfect volume—you could actually have a conversation without raising your voice. Stepping out, I almost forgot I was still in the South Loop—it felt like an escape. Chef Xavier made his way to each table and showed genuine care and professionalism. Owner Troy and the entire staff were polished, welcoming, and truly elevated the dining experience. Our waitress was knowledgeable, friendly, and gave spot-on recommendations. This place is a true standout—I’ll definitely be back. Congratulations to Chef Xavier and Owner Troy. Wishing you many years of well-deserved success. 🍾👏🏾

My girlfriend and I were genuinely excited to try Southern Chicago . it’s beautifully designed, located right around the corner from our home, and the energy from the outside looking in was everything we hoped for. A luxury vibe, stylish ambiance, and a dining room full of my beautiful Black folks dressed to the nines. It felt like it was going to be a great night. But what happened next was deeply disappointing. We arrived for a walk-in around 6:55 PM and were told it would be a 30–45 minute wait. That was understandable we were happy to wait. But it quickly became clear that something was very wrong with the operation. Even guests with actual reservations were stuck in limbo, many waiting just as long, if not longer. As we waited over an hour to be seated, we noticed that food wasn’t coming out of the kitchen only drinks, and even those were slow. To the manager who offered champagne to guests waiting - thank you. That was a classy gesture in the midst of chaos. We were finally seated at 8 PM and ordered everything at once, per the server’s recommendation, to avoid further delays. Our drinks didn’t arrive until 8:40. Our food or rather, part of it didn’t come until 9:30. The rest of our meal didn’t show up until nearly 10 PM. At that point, we weren’t even hungry anymore just tired and frustrated. To make matters worse, the food wasn’t worth the wait.The menus were dirty with grease and dried up water , My burger was bland, visually unappealing, and underwhelming in every way. Honestly, Wendy’s would’ve done a better job. My girlfriend’s pasta was flavorful, but clearly sat under a heat lamp for too long the sauce had thickened into a paste by the time it hit the table. The service team? Completely overwhelmed. We could hear servers talking about being yelled at by the kitchen, and you could tell they were doing everything in their power to keep the experience afloat. It looked like some servers were even taking each others orders just to get something out. It was chaotic and sad to witness. What upset me most was watching the owner and executive chef walking around the dining room greeting guests while the entire operation was crashing behind them. That was not leadership. With the kitchen drowning and the staff barely keeping it together, it was hard to watch the two people who should’ve been helping… We even saw a table of 15–20 women get to-go boxes after waiting two hours for their food. We spent $170 on a night that felt more like a test of patience than a celebration. I say this with love and genuine hope: this restaurant has so much potential. The concept is powerful. The aesthetic is beautiful. The community wants this place to succeed. But what we experienced tonight was unacceptable. If there’s any hope of surviving in Chicago’s restaurant scene especially with such high expectations the leadership needs to fix the internal chaos immediately. I want to come back. I want to root for this place. But something has to change. Fast.

We were really excited to try this new place—and it absolutely lived up to the hype! The ambiance was amazing to start, and the service was top-notch. But the real standout? The food. Everything was delicious, but the star of the meal was definitely the steaks. Perfectly seasoned, beautifully cooked, juicy, and served at just the right temperature—truly impeccable. Thank you for an incredible experience. We’ll definitely be back! Highly recommend giving this restaurant a try.

This is such a beautiful restaurant, but the service I have to say is top-tier. Our waitress was so attentive. She made sure we didn’t need anything & the food is some of the best food that you will eat. The steak and Frites & that Cajun chicken and pasta was amazing!

Food, Service and Ambiance is AMAZING! As soon as we walked in we were greeted with warm smiles and such professionalism. The restaurant itself is absolutely stunning and the Chef came to greet us which was really nice. My food was delicious, I have no words. The fried chicken and Mac N Cheese was literally cooked to perfection . I can’t say enough about this place. Can’t wait to go Back!!!