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    Hankering Southern Kitchen

    4.7 (54 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Hankering Southern Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

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    HANKERING SOUTHERN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Hankering Southern Kitchen

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    Matt M.

    We recently visted one of our old favourites in Aurora Indiana at Hankering Southern Kitchen. As the name implies they focus on southern cooking with smoked meats, fried catfish and made from scratch sides. They have a small menu but they focus on quality over quantity so everything they have is excellent. On this occasion I got their Hickory Smoked Pulled Pork Entree with 3 sides which for me were mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and kettle chips. The meat was excellent with a great bbq sauce really bringing out the flavour to it. The 3 sides were good too particularly the mashed potatoes. We also got a side of jalapeño cornbread which honestly may have been my favourite part of the meal. I've had some good cornbread before but this was next level delicious with the addition of the little jalapeño bits in there. Our waitress was excellent and took really good care of us so yay for that. The restaurant seemed to have grown inside from the last time I was there which was really great to see and everything was extremely clean. I can't speak highly enough of this gem of a restaurant. Very high recommendation.

    Catfish
    Adam E.

    The food was outstanding and great service. Had fried catfish. It had corn meal breading. Very flavorful. Ribs are also great. Now about the sides. Peanut slaw, yum. Indiana thing. Greens perfect. And Mac and cheese. Very Friendly and helpful server.

    Pulled pork
    R Z.

    Ok, shocked that this restaurant has been in Aurora for 4 years and we never had been there! This place is awesome, and now ranks top for BBQ we've found in the tri-state! Now for brisket, still Pig Candy, but for terrific baby backs and pulled pork, Hankering is it. Large portions, very fairly priced, awesome bbq sauce, nice sides, highly recommended!

    Smoked meatloaf sandwich with carrot salad with bourbon raisins.
    Lee L.

    Was really surprised. Barbecue places tend to get inflated reviews, but this place is fire. The fried green tomatoes are excellent as are the deviled eggs with ham. The smoked meatloaf sandwich is on point. Cheddar biscuits are great as well. The service was friendly and attentive. The place has been remodeled nicely and it has cute little patio. Everything was top notch. I am picky on barbecue, but everything was quality and well presented. Coming back.

    Applewood Smoked Chicken - Mac And Cheese - Mashed Potatoes - House Salad
    Samantha L.

    I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and I'm super glad that I did! It's a super cute place. Everything was DELICIOUS!!!!! I didn't get any pictures of the deserts I got the cheesecake was the best!!

    This is 2 orders of tomato soup.
    Amanda B.

    My dad had surgery recently and has t had much of an appetite but he really wanted tomato soup from Hankering's. I went in and asked for 2 orders of tomato soup to go This is what they got for $15. My mom said it was a much smaller container than they have got in the past and it was barely 1/2 full. We love supporting small businesses but will not support a business that is okay with treating customers this way.

    "Grown Up" grilled cheese, smoked tomato soup and collard greens
    Jocelyn X.

    Stopped by for a quick lunch, in and out in 25 minutes which was awesome. The green tomato pickles on the grilled cheese were a great addition. I'll probably order extra pimento on the sandwich next time simply because I love it. The smoked tomato bisque blew my mind, such a unique take on tomato soup. The greens and sweet tea were classic, and also very good. Staff was very kind as well.

    Little bit of everything!
    Andrew M.

    Best food and service! Absolutely delicious and we'll be back! Catfish was a winner and the cornbread was some of the best we've ever had.

    Catfish, Mac & Cheese, Peanut Slaw, Baked Beans, Cajun Tartar Sauce
    Emily H.

    Food was excellent and the service was great!! Everyone in the restaurant was super attentive and very nice. Some of the best catfish I've had in a long time. I literally ate it until I thought I was going to burst. The Cajun tartar sauce was a cool twist on a classic and we all really enjoyed it. The baked beans were very good and the mac & cheese was basic but tasty. Cole slaw was not my favorite- it was really salty. Made me wonder if it might have been an off batch? I'll give it another go next time because everything else was so good. Those jalapeño corn muffins though... wow. They came out piping hot and absolutely melted in your mouth. I'd make the trip back just to have those again. Can't wait to go back!

    Meatloaf
    Amber S.

    What a hidden gem! You could easily walk past this place and not realize it was there, but don't make that mistake. I was so pleasantly surprised. If you're looking for southern home cooking, this is the spot! I ordered the BBQ meatloaf with Mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes and mashed potatoes. All of it was delicious. And the sweet tea is spot on! I stole a bite of my brother's apple cobbler and immediately regretted not ordering some for myself. We were the only guests in the dining room on a Saturday night which was hard to believe. The prices are also fantastic given the amount of food you receive. The owner, Tammy, served us and she was incredibly sweet. I'm telling everyone in the Aurora area about this spot and can't wait to go back.

    Smoked meatloaf with sides
    Ted R.

    It's been about a year since I've visited this restaurant on their opening day, and all I can say is WOW! This place has got it right. Service still friendly but this time most of the tables were full. That tells you all you need to know. They've got something special. Home cooking and at an affordable price! The portions and options you get to select from are huge. I mean...3 sides with your entrée? That's unheard of and definitely makes for sampling heaven. The smoked meatloaf was tender, fresh and with just the correct amount of smoke flavor. Collards with hamhocks was melt in the mouth delish! Hell! they have a commercial grade smoker parked just outside the side of the restaurant so you know they're coming correct. I can't wait to go back. And for sure it won't take another whole year to do so. Give this place a visit quick, fast, and in a hurry!

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    2 months ago

    Food is seriously good and you get plenty of it - they're not stingy here. Everyone was very friendly.

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    2 years ago

    Small place with outstanding food! A first time stop for us but we will be back when passing through the area.

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    2 years ago

    Pleasant surprise off US-50. We are driving US-50 across the country and this was a welcome change from diners and fast food.

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    Tousey House Tavern

    Tousey House Tavern

    4.3
    (359 reviews)
    9.8 mi
    $$

    Wow what a wonderful find! Parking was easy, location and history were great! Service was top…read morenotch and the food was OH SO GOOD! Beautiful sitting in and outside. Tough decisions as everything looked and smelled so very good!! Fried pickles were great and had a fantastic garlic mayo sauce!! Green beans just like mamaw's!! Chunks of ham! Butch's bean soup was so flavorful, cornbread, HOT SLAW YUMMY, crispy chicken thighs were delish and the Tousey Pasta was spot on! Cherry cordial crème brûlée and blackberry cobbler to top it off!! Rebecca was out server! Fantastic personality and warmth! Great meal experience!

    We thought Tousey House Tavern was fantastic for lunch. There were five of us with a 12:30…read morereservation on a Wednesday. The place was hopping! We sat upstairs. The building is beautiful as is the interior. There are lots of little rooms and the tables are pretty tight. It was a bit difficult for wait staff to get around, but the service was still attentive. Two of us ordered the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich w/ fries. That darn sandwich was delicious!! It was sticky as all get out, but it was delicious! I'll apologize now; my pic is so blurry I hesitate to post it, but I'm going to anyway. The other person having the Pork Tenderloin also enjoyed it. Mark ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown. He said it was loaded with ham and it was salty. He finished every bite, but he did say he wouldn't order it again. One person loved her Cod (she didn't eat the bread) and another said the shrimp and grits were very good. The menu has lots of options. I mentioned we would be happy to come back sometime for dinner. We bought some chocolate cookies (they are by the hostess podium) on the way out. They had a nice chocolate and salt flavor, but should have had more chips.

    Photos
    Main dining room
    Main dining room
    Tousey House Tavern
    Upstairs renovation

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    Upstairs renovation
    Southern Grace Eats

    Southern Grace Eats

    4.6
    (102 reviews)
    24.2 mi
    $$

    I reserved seating for a large family party and was not disappointed in the least!…read more From the ample and available seating to keep us together, to our wonderful and attentive server (Ms. Rochelle), the fantastic menu and drink options, lunch, dinner and individual pricing and those that later assisted in our many to go orders, everything was fantastic and on point!!! The menu consists of numerous protein and vegetable options including vegan. The Mac N Cheese was a baked homey delight, the fried Okra was a well seasonend crispy goodness that tingled the taste buds with every bite, the collard greens cooked with smoked turkey and cornbread were perfection, the fried catfish was a visual delight; seasoned well and crunchy to the touch. My family members cooed over the cabbage, the sweet potatoes (not from a can), the chicken tenders, chicken wings with multiple sauce selections and the fried, flakey cod fish. I highly recommend the Watermelon Lemonade! Desserts were also on the menu without a doubt. A selection of pies, cakes, banana pudding and I must say the cookies and cream cheesecake cup was a chef's kiss at the end of a wonderful meal. This establishment knows homedown Soulfood and took us on a return journey to the kitchens and tables of our grandmother's and big momas. I can't say enough great things about my previous experiences at this establishment nor my most recent. Hats off and kudos to the owner, Nicky Nicole Stevenson; her staff and their knowledge of Soulfood cooking with great restaurant service needed in Cincinnati. I plan to frequent & bring more large parties in the future.

    Black-owned & doing the damn thing! Great customer service from the moment we walked in! You can…read moretell the staff is genuinely happy to be there. The restaurant was clean, though there were quite a few items near the front that probably shouldn't be visible to customers. The food was good overall! The yams and green beans tasted a bit like canned vegetables, but they were seasoned and "doctor'd up" really well. I'm definitely glad we stopped by and would come back to try more items on the menu!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Grippo, wings, fried fish and fries
    Grippo, wings, fried fish and fries
    Fried wings

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    Fried wings
    Juniper on Main

    Juniper on Main

    4.4
    (583 reviews)
    91.1 mi
    $$

    My husband and I ate here for the first time today and we are SO UPSET! Not at the restaurant, meal…read moreor service but at ourselves for waiting so lonnnnggggg to try this delicious gem! We had the crab cakes and crab & artichoke dip for apps and our lunch entrees were the fried catfish sandwich with fries and the filet with mashed potatoes and collard greens. For bevvies, we tried their rosé and red zeppelin English ale. All of it, every bit and bite, was 10/10. Food breakdown: - Crab cakes: succulent lump crap meat within a lightly battered and flash fried coating. They come on a bed of arugula with a light dressing and dipping sauce for the cakes. Super yummy! - Crab & artichoke dip: ooey gooey deliciousness, perfect balance of cheese sauce too. You don't have to search for the crab or artichokes. And the fried naan chips were sliced long and thin, and could've been called naan fries actually. Perfect companion for the dip. - Fried catfish sammich: the piece of fish was huge and the batter was good. It came on Texas toast with fixins and tartar sauce. Won't lie, the only thing I wanted for was some hot sauce. That's a me problem... just gotta have hot sauce when I eat fried fish but I didn't ask for any while I was there (they may offer it) and still very much enjoyed the sandwich. - Filet: it was great... hubby got it medium and it arrived perfectly cooked. The Demi glaze sauce was so good and so were the sides. Their collard greens are seasoned up! I said does my auntie work here?! This cuisine is so comfortingly southern and didn't disappoint. Shoutout to our friendly and helpful server, Dan... our food and drinks came out quickly and so did our to-go box. His service was truly top notch. We have been living in Carmel for 5 years and this is one of the best restaurants here. If you're on the fence about trying this place, jump off and make a reservation. You won't regret it.

    We were visiting family who live nearby and wanted to take them somewhere they had not been…read morepreviously and we chose Juniper based on their menu and reviews and we were not disappointed. Our server was attentive and friendly. We ordered the pimento dip and crab cake to start. The dip was not quite as good as we expected based on prior reviews. It was good not great. We enjoyed the crab cakes more which were full of crab. The entrees were the stars though - I had the peach glazed salmon which was cooked perfectly and the glaze was super flavorful. The collard greens were tender and had a tasty smoke flavor. A couple folks had short rib entrees and one had one of the shrimp and grits options. The servings were very hearty especially for the prices. All in our party agreed they would definitely return and happily order the same dish although there are many items on the menu we all want to try. We had seats inside and it was fresh and clean and not too loud despite being busy. Great place!

    Photos
    Southern coastal plate with low country crab-cake, grilled shrimp with sweet chili sauce, pineapple salsa, and lemon aïoli
    Southern coastal plate with low country crab-cake, grilled shrimp with sweet chili sauce, pineapple salsa, and lemon aïoli
    Outdoor dining
    Outdoor dining
    Indoor dining

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    Indoor dining
    Libby’s Southern Comfort

    Libby’s Southern Comfort

    4.1
    (433 reviews)
    21.1 mi
    $$

    Came to Cincinnati for a concert, initially planned to go elsewhere to eat but couldn't find…read moreparking anywhere. We stumbled upon Libby's and we're so glad we did! They had parking, and although they were full on reservations, 2 spots at the bar opened up and we grabbed them happily! First, the food was FANTASTIC! I had the Willy Burger and my husband had the fried bologna sandwich and we both loved what we ordered and vice versa. The sauce on the burger was phenomenal! The drink menu was extensive and looked so good but we were in a bit of a hurry and I'm 6 months pregnant so we settled for waters. Second, the service was excellent. Everyone was so kind and helpful. The ambience was great, I loved the big open garage door and patio seating they offered. The decor was so cute! We are bummed that brunch reservations for tomorrow are full, but we will absolutely be back!

    Went to Covington for a wedding and the party stopped by for lunch. I was pleasantly surprised as I…read moream not a huge fan of Southern food. (I'm pescatarian and southern cuisine does not mesh well with a no red meat diet) but the fish here was delicious! There were a wide array of options for different diets and everyone at our large table loved their food. The atmosphere is very cozy but still stylish enough to warrant wearing casual but cute clothing. Definitely bring your family on a nice afternoon and enjoy!

    Photos
    Dining room and bar
    Dining room and bar
    Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding and Key Lime pie
    Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding and Key Lime pie
    Strawberry basil smash

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    Strawberry basil smash
    Purple Poulet

    Purple Poulet

    4.3
    (258 reviews)
    22.1 mi
    $$

    Food was great and the service was great. I was celebrating my birthday. It was an amazing…read moreexperience!

    We read about how good the fried chicken is, so we called to make reservations for a Saturday night…read more(you must call). The place is small and had a very weird vibe between fine dining and kitschy. White tablecloths, but then lots of purple and pictures of roosters everywhere (I realize the name, but hmmm). Our server was lovely but would disappear for too long between times when she should have been present. We ordered our drinks at 745pm, and I watched them sit at the end of the bar. Finally, at 805pm, I went to the bartender and said, "those are our drinks that have been sitting there for a while". Our server brought them over like we ordered them 5 minutes prior. But the lovely owner/manager came over and said the "drinks are on me" because we waited so long. We appreciated that! The fried chicken was good, but the breading was very salty. The green beans were almost inedible because they were so salty. The mashed potatoes were average. The biscuits were fantastic. The fried deviled eggs were okay. A regular deviled egg is better. The shrimp and grits had a lot going on. The shrimp was lightly battered and fried (?) and the flavor of the dish was bold. I think sauteed shrimp and a little less gravy would make it perfect.

    Photos
    The bar!
    The bar!
    Pork Belly Bruschetta
    Pork Belly Bruschetta
    Very clean and well remodeled older establishment!

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    Very clean and well remodeled older establishment!

    Hankering Southern Kitchen - southern - Updated June 2026

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