Went to Southern Cafe and overall it was a mixed experience…read more I got the veggie skillet and it was sooo good--definitely the highlight, super flavorful and honestly fire. The frappe was also really good. My friend ordered the avocado toast, which she liked, but her caramel macchiato was off at first it tasted mostly like milk with a little caramel. They did fix it though, so I'll give them credit for that. Only downside was she ended up feeling like she got food poisoning afterward. The egg on her dish had a thin film on it, so we're thinking it might not have been fully cooked, which is concerning. Service itself was good and the staff was nice. Parking was also easy, which is always a plus. Good food overall, but that situation definitely threw things off a bit.

A place like many nowadays, great atmosphere and decor. The food itself like the Nasty Biscuit and…read moreomellettes look amazing. Upon eating, THE WORST biscuit ever though it is dressed up nicely with all types of other foods with with. It's okay. The omelette was just okay, VERY plain regardless of all that was there. Oversized and big for nothing like alot of things in America. Red flag, they didn't do their own fresh orange juice, and usually great breakfast places juice their own juices. There's was again, just okay. And for the prices I can't give em an average rating at all and won't be back. I'm glad that years ago I could from the outside know these types of establishments just by look from the outside. It's the same with alot of things in this world

DP and his entire team at The Southern Cafe were so wonderful to work with, and the food is…read moreAMAZING! When the caterer for our huge event of 120 people failed to show up at 6:30am, we were at a loss. I called around and the only restaurant able to assist on such a last minute-large scale event was The Southern Cafe. Without hesitation, DP said that he would do everything he could and cook not only our breakfast meals, but our lunch and two meals for the next day's event as well! In quick turnaround, he and his entire staffed worked hard and cooked up some great food. Thick bacon, great flavor, and phenomenal service. We nearly everything on the menu, and all of our guests loved everything! I can only imagine what they could do in restaurant if the food was this good and flavorful for 120 people on such short notice. So many people asked where the food was from so they can visit the restaurant and get more! I cannot express enough gratitude for the kind hospitality and delicious food service that The Southern Cafe provided. Truly, THANK YOU!!

We visited on a Saturday morning and were promptly greeted and seated. Our server was very…read moreattentive but not intrusive. He had a very warm and genuine personality. The manager also checked in on us during the meal as well. All of our food came out promptly. Not only was it delicious, they were very GENEROUS portions. I am a bigger guy and I couldn't even finish my pancakes, as much as I really wanted to keep indulging. The place was immaculate and, considering how much syrup gets used, we didn't encounter any sticky floors or surfaces. All around, I am *already* looking forward to our next visit.

Stopped in on Fat Tuesday to take advantage of their Mardi Gras specials. They offer several…read moreCajun-inspired dishes year-round, and for the holiday they expanded the lineup even more. They also feature an extensive craft beer selection. I went with the seasonal Abita Bad Mother Shucker Stout, which was a fun nod to Mardi Gras and a solid stout choice for the occasion. For my entrée, I ordered the Mardi Gras Platter ($32.99). It included: * Choice of soup (I chose the seafood chowder) * Shrimp Creole * Jambalaya * Chicken Étouffée * Crawfish & Shrimp Monica * Broccoli The restaurant was busy, which is understandable for Fat Tuesday, but our food took quite a while to arrive. The soup was delivered at the same time as the platter. In my opinion, the soup should have come out first. Ironically, the seafood chowder ended up being the highlight of the meal--rich, flavorful, and well-balanced. Unfortunately, by the time I finished the soup and moved on to the platter, most of it was only room temperature. The items were layered and grouped together in a way that made it unclear what paired with what. The chicken was noticeably overcooked and lacked depth of flavor. It tasted as though Cajun seasoning had simply been sprinkled on top rather than developed into the dish. Overall, the platter lacked the bold, authentic Cajun flavor profile I was expecting. The Crawfish & Shrimp Monica was advertised as coming in a bowl but was served in what amounted to a cup-sized portion. The menu description listed Cajun Alfredo sauce, crawfish, crab, blackened shrimp, pasta, Parmesan cheese, and broccoli. After mixing in the Parmesan, I searched for the seafood components and found none--no visible crab, crawfish, or blackened shrimp in the pasta. I mentioned this to the bartender, who said they would bring some out to add in. A few minutes later, three Cajun shrimp were delivered. There was still no crab or crawfish. While the Alfredo sauce and pasta themselves were very good, the absence of the advertised proteins significantly hurt the dish. Had I ordered the Crawfish & Shrimp Monica on its own for $24.99 and received the same portion and lack of seafood, I would have been extremely disappointed. Overall, while the concept and menu sounded promising for Mardi Gras, the execution--especially at that price point--left a lot to be desired.

Bottom Line: Very decent value for the buck…read more Haven't been here in some time. This place has gone through a number of makeovers over the years but it is decidedly a sports bar vibe where you enter the space and traditional restaurant in the back area. Overall a very casual and lively vibe. We waited about 15 minutes with a packed house and were seated in the restaurant portion in a very spacious booth. Our server was prompt, courteous, pleasant, and efficient--attentive but not overly so. The food was excellent with very ample portions at reasonable pricing with many options under $20. I will say they could skip the bread basket before your meal comes out and just put it into giving you a side with the sandwiches versus charging you $2 for each side added. That being said the food came out promptly, was warm, and very satisfying. Hopefully Chuck's keeps value for customers' hard earned buck in mind and they will continue to do well.

This is a place where you order in front and sit down and wait to get your food. I felt a little…read morerushed to make a choice due to other customers and decided on the breakfast sandwich. My brother got the shrimp and grits. I will say it felt like the service was a bit slow and we waited a bit for our food and even our drinks. Some people around us ordered the chicken and waffles which looked so good, it kind of overpowered what I was actually eating. It wasn't until I got home and ate my leftovers that I realized the breakfast sandwich was delicious. The egg was fluffy and the jam was yummy! My brother also enjoyed his food. We shared a side of Mac and cheese which I also thought was good. I would definitely return to try other things.

This place is small and quaint with so much charm. I absolutely loved walking in and hearing…read moreold-school music playing on a record player -- it felt like my daddy's music and instantly gave me a wave of nostalgia. The service was great. Our waiter was friendly, attentive, and more than happy to answer any questions we had about the menu. And the food? EVERYTHING we ordered was amazing. The pancakes were fluffy with just the right amount of crisp around the edges. The chicken and waffles were perfectly crunchy and packed with flavor. Such a cozy spot with great vibes and even better food. I'll definitely be back!

Stopped in after a recommendation and was greeted with a friendly staff and crowd. The menu here…read morestuck out, both the bourbon and food menu are well above average. The shrimp and grits are the best I've had in Illinois. I wanted to try three or four other dishes as well but settled on the shrimp and wow what a surprise. A+

I think this is our third time here. The food is alright for what it is, and I've never felt blown…read moreaway by anything I've ordered. It seems like many people love it here since it's always crowded on the weekends. The nashville hot chicken sandwich and nashville hot chicken bao buns are delicious. The chicken is crispy and the flavors are good. The bao buns were so soft and the texture was great. All the flavors from the chicken, slaw, and pickle worked so well together. We've also had their brownie for dessert a previous time and it was delicious. Idk if I remember their mac and cheese being this dry from the previous times because if I remembered it that way, I probably would not have ordered it this time. It basically just tasted like plain noodles. There was like a tsp of thin cheese sauce at the bottom of the plate. For a side that costs $8 I don't think it's worth it, especially because I didn't want to even eat it. It was also served to us cold, so perhaps it was just sitting out for awhile.

The food and lattes are so delicious and the servers are amazing! You will absolutely leave…read morestuffed! If you are looking for some really creamy grits, go here! No instant lumpy gritty grits here! The Banana Anna French toast. Oh my. We decided we will have to go back a few more times to order different things that sounded so good! It is a bit noisy when it's their busy times but we didn't mind!

This is a cute place. We picked breakfast from the reviews and it was very good! They have regular…read moreand specialty coffees. I had the honey pistachio latte. Delicious! The biscuit was big under all the gravy which had good flavor. My husband had the traditional breakfast. It was a lot and he had to take the pancake home. Only item was the potatoes were a little over cooked. Otherwise a good meal. Plenty of choices and space for anyone to be happy if with a group. We here staying at a hotel nearby and wanted a real breakfast. Two coffees and two breakfasts cost us $47 without tip. The service was great and our waitress friendly.

Been going here since I was a kid. Definitely a suburban staple. I LOVE the Priscilla's punch. My…read morego to is the shrimp dinner.

Trash! This place has gone downhill! Ordered a pot roast dinner and the meat (the tiny portion they…read moregave) isn't even fully cooked. It's absolutely disgusting! Threw the entire dinner in the garbage! Idk how this dump is even still operating.

I frequently visit Michelin restaurants. Currently sitting in this restaurant you have to pay for a…read morereservation not uncommon. But it is very uncommon to not receive cutlery when being seated before many other diners and receive the wine you order late on top of the waiter completely ignoring your existence me and my partner received our entries late and the food was cold they automatically add gratuity so NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF SERVICE YOU RECEIVE YOU MUST STILL TIP DO NOT GO HERE.

The service was amazing. Our server was very attentive and the manager was extremely polite. The…read morefood was impeccable and I would definitely recommend this place for anyone who is looking for a soul food restaurant.

We came for dinner. It was our 1st time here. They have a parking lot and we were able to grab a…read morespot easily. Since we did not know the layout, we entered in the bar. We walked back out and found the door to the restaurant. Staff is warm and friendly and we were seated quickly. Our server was Robert and he was great! He gave his recommendations for which sides would go best with our meals and I felt they were spot on. They give complimentary bread and butter. It was warm and delicious. Hubby ordered the rib tips with fries, baked beans, and had the hot and mild barbecue sauce on the side. I ordered the 1/2 dark smoked chicken dinner with mac-n-cheese, spicy Cajun green beans, and spicy honey garlic barbecue sauce. I agree with Robert, that the sauce pairs very well with the chicken. The tips were tender and falling off the bone. He didn't care for the fries and loved the baked beans, even though they were a bit too spicy for him. My chicken was also very tender and I enjoyed the smokiness. The green beans had the right amount of spice although they were not as spicy as the baked beans. The mac-n-cheese was creamy. We were too full to order dessert. Maybe next time. This is a great neighborhood staple and will definitely be back.

Very comfortable and homey atmosphere--this place really knows how to set the vibe. Servers were…read moregreat and friendly. The lighting and décor felt festive without being overwhelming, and the space itself is huge. There's plenty of room whether you're dining with family, catching a game with friends, or just unwinding with drinks after a long day. Speaking of drinks, they're very reasonably priced--definitely worth opening a tab and relaxing for a while. For food, I tried Chuck's Wings with roasted vegetables and Cajun fries. Nothing is ever truly perfect, but these wings came close. The sauce was spot-on--easily some of the best I've had. The vegetables were cooked just right and packed with flavor, and the Cajun fries tied everything together perfectly. Overall, this spot delivers on both atmosphere and quality. Definitely worth checking out.