DaVaughna D.
Yelp
| Great flavor, but the chaos and service don't match the high price
I made a special trip from Columbus just to try South Grace Eats--I'm a Cincinnati native and had heard good things. While the food was definitely flavorful and well-seasoned, the overall experience was disorganized and frustrating, especially for a soul food spot charging premium prices compared to other downtown Cincinnati staples.
Location & Parking
Parking is tricky. There's limited street parking and a small lot behind the building near Chase, but it gets crowded fast on busy days.
Ordering Experience
The entrance and ordering area are confusing. There are two cashiers, which makes it look like two lines, but there's no signage or direction from staff. Guests were directing each other while the line blocked both the entrance and pickup area. Also, there's confusion around seating--some people grab tables before ordering, but we overheard a cashier say tables are assigned after you order. A host or clear signage would fix this fast.
Pricing
Online menu prices are about $1 cheaper than in-store, which is frustrating when you're already paying more than average for soul food in the area.
Ordering & Staff
After a 15-minute wait, we finally ordered. The short male employee with curly hair was on his phone texting while taking orders, which slowed things down. In contrast, the young woman with crimped hair was a total standout--patient, knowledgeable, and basically managing the entire line solo.
We were told they were out of fries (a standard side with most meals), but they offered a complimentary upgraded side, which was appreciated.
What We Ordered
Vegan Philly with mashed potatoes & gravy on the side - unfortunately, the gravy was poured on top even though I requested it separately due to meat content. They corrected it, but later returned with just the vegan Philly filling in a side dish cup, which was a little odd but worked.
Saturday Combo with Whiting, 4 Grippo wings, and mac & cheese
Whiting fish sandwich (no tomato, added pickle) with vegan-friendly greens
Strawberry pound cake by Miley Pooh - dry but flavorful
Watermelon lemonade - amazing! But the refill policy is odd (first refill free, then $1 each)
Dining Experience
We received a table number and were told it would be cleaned "momentarily." It took 15-20 minutes. There are no servers, just a few food runners who also occasionally check on tables. We had to ask for utensils and napkins, and grab our own condiments from a self-serve station.
Food came out one item at a time, spaced about 5-7 minutes apart. The fish sandwich came with no toppings (even though I asked for them at ordering). The Saturday Combo could use better presentation--a slice of bread would go a long way. The Grippo wings had almost no Grippo seasoning and tasted like plain fried chicken. The mac & cheese was mostly burnt cheese with very little noodle underneath.
Refill Situation
The young man with the fuzzy haircut asked our table FOUR times if we wanted drink refills--and then never brought them. We saw him texting, lounging near the back bar, and pacing through the kitchen like he forgot. He even passed it off to another staff member (a guy with ginger locs), who also never followed through.
Final Thoughts
The food is flavorful, no doubt--but at this price point, the service, organization, and attention to detail should be much better. You shouldn't have to chase down sides, utensils, or staff. Between the confusing ordering setup, missing items, slow cleaning, and inconsistent communication, it's just too chaotic for a return visit.
I wanted to love this place, but Cincinnati has too many soul food options that offer both good food and a better overall experience.