I don't write reviews often, but Southern Grace absolutely deserves one. The food here is already well known for being amazing, so that part isn't a secret. Everything is seasoned perfectly, cooked right, and served hot. The fried fish was crispy and flavorful, the mac and cheese was rich and comforting, the greens tasted like they came straight out of someone's family kitchen, and the candied yams were sweet and done just right. It's the kind of plate that reminds you why Southern cooking is so special. But what really stood out to me wasn't just the food. It was the customer service. In most places, you either get incredible food with average service, or great service with food that's just okay. Southern Grace somehow manages to deliver both at a very high level. From the moment you walk in, you're treated with genuine kindness and respect. The staff is welcoming, attentive, and you can tell they actually care about the experience they're giving their customers. I have to make a special mention to one of the team members LaDon for his exceptional professionalism. That kind of consistency between food quality and customer service is rare. It makes the entire experience feel personal rather than transactional. If you're looking for authentic Southern food paired with top-tier hospitality, Southern Grace is absolutely worth the visit. Places like this remind you what real customer service is supposed to feel like. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Grippo, wings, fried fish and fries - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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busy, busy, busy at lunch time........we lucked in to arriving just before the rush, but it was something to see. Fried fish was wonderful, okra top notch and the cornbread, oh my. Definitely will be back to try more Great friendly service. read more

Another amazing meal at Southern Grace Eats! We had the fried catfish, and several sides: the most delicious cabbage I've ever had, fried okra that was perfectly crispy, and amazing collard greens and black eyed peas! It was a busy night, but we still had amazing service! Everyone who stopped by our table was friendly as could be. This place is a GEM! Best Catfish in Cincy (so nice to have catfish as an option during Lent). read more

Food was excellent as well as the service I was a little disappointed the last time I went by there they were closed for some kind of family situation. read more

I'm literally never disappointed when it comes to Southern Grace, only if there's a line I don't have patience to stand in. I've only ever ordered to-go but it's always hot fresh and delicious. I highly recommend. They are friendly, the food is delicious and the quality for me has been very consistent. I typically order fish dishes and have never had a problem. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Catfish, greens, mashed potatoes to go - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Have been here once and have some mixed feelings. Customer service was good overall. The staff are friendly. I did take out and my order was taking a long time to get out, the owner(?), took care to check in on me and see that my order was then prioritized. We got a couple of dinner platters, one with white meat chicken and the other with fish. Loved the chicken - fresh, hot, crispy, flavorful - all the things you would want. The fish had a lot of positive attributes as well, however, one of the pieces of fish I fear was used on the border of freshness and, therefore, the meat wasn't eaten. The sides were amazing(except the one we didn't get, more below). When we got home, we noted an error in order accuracy, we ordered an extra side of collard greens. This was missing, and we paid the full cost of a side. I called and spoke to the owner who didnt want to give me a refund and rather give it to me next time I dine there. Problem is I won't come for months, and I explained that. Still no refund for the item I didnt receive. Overall pretty great with friendly service and good food. I am guessing the fish is a one off but notable for our experience. The lack of refund is inexcusable in my book; if you mess up, you gotta own it. read more

Just came to update my review. I've probably been here a dozen times and I will say...the food has been consistently good each and every time. I don't mind spending when I know my food will be piping hot and consistently good. I brought my grandma this time and she gave a 10/10 for everything. I love love that you can now order right from your seat and be served. Good call. I love this place. Definitely "a blessing in every bite" grandma approved. read more

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| 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. read more

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A friend of mine recently took me to Southern Grace, and it was a much-needed experience. For a while now, I had honestly lost faith in restaurants and eating out in general. This experience reminded me that there is still good food and good energy in the world. The food was amazing, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff treated each other like a healthy family. Even the wait time was extremely reasonable. I ordered the fried whiting fish sandwich with fries, and the fries were probably the best I've ever had from a restaurant. Thank you for the experience. I'll definitely be sharing this with everyone I know. Please keep doing what you're doing, the world needs it. read more

In town for a funeral and family who lives in Cincy recommended Southern Grace Eats! We were not disappointed. The food and service was amazing. I had the fish and chicken combo with fried okra. #Yum. The restaurant is bright cheery and modern. 10 out of 10 stars read more

There is a parking lot in the back of the business. We came when Xavier had graduation unintentionally, but it wasn't packed just a bit crazy just to get to the parking lot. Once inside, there's a menu right above the cashiers. You place your order with the friendly staff at the counter and should you decide to eat in, they point you to a table and someone brings you your drinks. There are TV's set-up inside, music playing and they also had outside seating should you want to be outside. There's a counter with condiments set-up should you need any. We didn't have a long wait for our food and when it came out, it was pipping hot, steam still coming from it. First bite into that chicken nearly took me out, I was surprised that it was flavored and cooked perfectly, that golden brown. The greens were good, my preference is a bit more spice but got sauce tried to help lol. Those yams, were delicious. That Mac and cheese isn't kraft,that's some for real baked Mac n cheese with the burnt top that I love to pick at and eat. This was actually really good macaroni and cheese, almost like my granny's. Oh and we had lemonade, if you're not used to sweet lemonade order a water. It reminded me of a hot summer and it quenching your thirst. I would definitely come back for some comfort food. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Fried chicken, yams and collard greens - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I met some friends at Southern Grace Eats for lunch today. It was my first time there and they did not disappoint. As soon as I walked through the door, I was greeted with a smile and taken to my table. I loved how the restaurant was decorated and how clean it was. I liked seeing how many staff that were on hand and how helpful everyone was. If you go, hopefully you will be blessed to have Angela as your waitress. She came to the table smiling, talking and joking with me and my friends as they arrived. Seemed like we were all family. Oh! The food was so good. I had the combo - the Jamaican bourbon wings and fried cod...Mac n cheese...fried okra. I can't wait to go back to try something else on the menu. I pray they continue to provide great service and great food. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Combo - Jamaican Bourbon wings, fried cod, Mac n cheese n okra. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I'm a little biased because I've known the owner since the early conception of Southern Grace, but I hadn't visited the restaurant since opening. It had been on my list to visit for quite some time because I've had catering from Southern Grace many times which ultimately built up anticipation for this visit. The warm welcome I received when I first walked in made me feel like I was already a regular and they were glad to see me . I checked out the menu and was so excited by all the offerings, but I didn't let my eyes overdo it so I ordered the blackened catfish, cabbage, and pinto beans. I can honestly say the meal I had soothed my soul. Every once in a while you want that home cooked meal that you don't have to prepare yourself. This meal definitely brought the southern vibes and made me feel like I was home in my granny's kitchen. I stopped in as soon as they had opened for lunch so they weren't quite busy just yet, but as I was leaving the lunch rush was starting to pick up. I'll be back to try dessert and sample more on the menu. read more

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Place is pretty good kinda pricey for the amount of food but very well made. Service is always amazing and it's like 50 feet from me

So I have been wanting to visit here for a while and I had a taste for some soul food in my city. When we arrived to the place it was packed and it smelled good so we were excited to try the food. We waited for about 30 minutes for table and were soon seated. We came hungry. I ordered the cod fish meal with green and macaroni cheese. My date ordered the salmon patties and rice with a side of both collard greens, Macaroni cheese and sweet potatoes. We also ordered some chicken wings sprinkled with barbecue grippo seasoning. The food came out hot fresh and the wait wasn't long. The collard greens were really and delicious, flavorful and tender, some of best one I've ever had at a restaurant my date drunk the collard greens juice.lol. I wasn't a fan of the macaroni cheese. I feel they put nutmeg in the Mac and I didn't like that it was just a ok. The cod fish nuggets were decent. Sweet potatoes were decent and the salmon patties I didn't care for all the seasonings that was used. The chicken wings I could barely taste the grippo seasoning but the wings were hot and crispy . We would gave this place a 6.5 out of 10 not the best soul food I've had but a decent to go if you have a craving for some and don't want to cook it yourself. The staff were friendly and the place was nice and clean. I would definitely come back for the collard greens and maybe just some friend chicken wings. read more

We had lunch here today with a party of six. I read many reviews before going and I must say the food is very good and hot as the reviews have said. The quality is tops and the service too. Our party had, cod strips, fried chicken and turkey tips. Sides were collard greens, fried okra, cabbage, yams, Mac&Cheese, green beans and potato salad. We shared sides for tasting and everything was excellent. Our top 3 sides are collard greens, yams and fried okra. Some of us got black-eyed peas to go. I look forward to going again. Hats off to the owner and her team, especially the chef. read more

Food: The Good, Bad and Ugly. The Good was the Friied Chicken, catfish, cabbage, bourbon wings, candied yams, macaroni and cheese. Candied yams were sweet and juicy. Mac and cheese was cheesy and delicious. Cabbage was sweet and savory. Bourbon wings were on point but the Fried Chicken and Catfish were the stars of the show. The breast was crunchy, succulent and well seasoned. Catfish was coated well and crispy, perfectly cooked. The Bad: Salmon Croquettes and rice were both bland and exterior coating was well done. Palatable after adding mustard but can't stand alone. The Ugly: Cornbread was the consistency of a cake. Taste was bland. Attitude of some upper management I would describe as hostile. Servers were great I left them a $20 tip. Upper management needs to be more hospitable when serving customers. read more

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Nice quaint location near/on Xavier University's campus. The night before this restaurant was recommended to me by the concierge at my hotel. The next day as I was heading back to my hotel, I got a bite to eat as I waited for the traffic to die down. Wise choice. The restaurant is very cool. The servers were very nice and friendly. When you come here get the $23 special. Very filling. I got lemon pepper wings, whiting, and cabbage topped off with some cornbread. All of the entrees I saw looked good. Portions were huge too. So much I had to take half of my food to my room. Oh and make sure to get tea with lemonade. IDK if I'll be coming back here but if I do... I'll swing by again. read more

Returned next day with family. Service was slightly delayed because of the crowd but they seemed to make it work. Tried the next day and couldn't get in. People outside waiting to get in. read more

Southern Grace Eats - She had Mac n cheese and I did Candied Yams - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The service was excellent, and the food exceeded my expectations. I ordered the plain wings and catfish, with candied yams and green beans as my sides. Let me just say--nothing disappointed. Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. I'm visiting from California, and I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a delicious and satisfying soul food meal. read more

Food and service was really good and we enjoyed the vibe of the place. We will definitely be coming back. Make sure you order the cornbread.

Sometimes a restaurant will really surprise us. Usually it's when it has a great reputation and our experience doesn't live up to it. Not Southern Grace. The unassuming little restaurant on the edge of the Xavier University campus was an extremely pleasant surprise. The only real issue we had was with the young lady taking orders. She stopped in the middle of taking an order to help someone else who just walked in. She also disappeared right after she asked us if it was to eat in or carryout. She left us, mid-sentance, to prebus a table. Huh? She did eventually come back. I noticed throughout the visit that she was frequently missing as a line would form to the door. However, this not so great introduction to the place was quickly forgotten when the food arrived. We both had the special of the day, smothered bakes chicken with 2 sides. The chicken, bone in was 2 wings and breast. It was tender and juicy and tasted great. The sides we chose, both of us had mac n cheese and cabbage, had me raving before I even got to the chicken. We also had the corn bread for 50c extra, a add on fully worth the price. The menu is pretty simple. A special of the day ($16). Meat and two combos ($21). Wings, burgers, and a chicken sandwich. If the rest of the food is as good as our experience, this place should be a hit. The restaurant is very clean, there's street parking in front and a side lot just a bit south off Montgomery Rd. They are not open early in week. Do yourself a favor, if you live within a comfortable drive from Xavier, check this place out. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Smothered baked chicken with cabbage, mac n cheese, and cornbread ($16.50). - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was delicious. Our server, Nikki, was amazing and attentive. First timers and she explained their menu and specials in detail. Not a long wait for our food after we placed our order. Clean and nice facility. Nice location (near Xavier University). We are definitely planning to eat here again. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Friday's special: 5 Bourbon Jamaican Honey Sauce with chicken wings, whiting fish, fries. - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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New spot right on Xavier's campus. Ordered ahead and walked into a bright clean space with friendly staff and took my tray home to eat. Fish was fried perfectly. Breading on the wings was amazing; they forgot to put the sauce on my wings and I still loved them. Be prepared to take a nap after finishing the whole plate read more

Southern Grace Eats - Fried fish & wings combo - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Came to Souuthern Grace eats on a Saturday visiting from Chicago and the food was great. I ordered to go so didn't experience the full service, but the women who took our order were very patient, courteous, and polite. They brought a great energy to the place and that energy rubbed off on the customers who were either dining or waiting on food. The food itself was pretty good. The fried chicken was seasoned well, and fried hard, which made the eating experience great. The candied yams were banging. I'm a Big Mac and cheese guy and that could have been a bit more flavorful, but it was still pleasant. Overall would recommend Southern Grace Eats for anyone looking for some solid soul food in a great city. Will definitely be spinning the block next time I'm in Cincy! Hope this review helps. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Fried chicken, Mac and cheese, corn bread, candied yams - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I went there yesterday for the first time. First, the server Angel was very nice and helpful with our decision on what to order from the menu. Once we ordered, the owner came over to make sure everything was going well. The whiting fish was cooked to perfection, and the cabbage (no meat) was excellent. read more

I went yesterday with family, and I got the salmon croquettes, collard greens, & yams with cornbread and a strawberry pound cake.... The food was delicious and the seasoning was just right not too spicy or salty, & freshly cooked while waiting.... I recommend this restaurant 1000 stars read more

Southern Grace Eats - My lunch with - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Let me just say, the place was nice, clean, great customer service, and food was delicious. We heard about this place on Tik Tok and it did not disappoint. The manager greeted us as if we were family. His name was Del. Thanks for the great meal!! read more

I had been hearing a lot of good buzz about this place, so decided to check it out today for lunch (Saturday.) Parked right out in front on Montgomery Rd. You order at the counter and they bring it to your table. I had a weekend combo with 2 large catfish filets and 4 Grippo chicken wings. It came with one side, so I chose candied yams. Also ordered a couple other sides, collard greens and green beans, plus a piece of cornbread. That was enough food to completely fill me up. Food took a while to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. Everything tasted magnificently--best example of Southern cooking I've had in years. Counter servers were friendly and fairly attentive.A clean and modern place. If you need a good Southern food fix, check this place out. read more

I've been having a hankering for whiting so I chose Southern Grace Eats to handle it, TO GO. For my sides I got greens and mac and cheese. REGRETFULLY, the mac and cheese was watery and tasteless. There was no cheesiness whatsoever. Cheese flavoring, MAYBE!?!?! The greens were ok, at least they weren't watery. The cheese water leaked inside the black take-out bag. Fortunately, they use bags that don't have holes on the bottom of them, otherwise the leak would have been disastrous in my passenger seat. The fish was a little thin, like tilipia instead of meaty whiting. It was crispy, though. On a 1 - 10 scale, the seasoning was about a 5-6. If they're not feeling like working or afford the correct kind of fish, they really should close for the day(s) needed. They started off great, but with this particular order I'm going to have to say this is going to hurt them in the end. Consistency is key to a successful restaurant. read more

I took my son to celebrate his birthday dinner at Southern Grace last Friday, his first time there. We drove from the Springdale area, definitely worth the drive. My son was surprised there was a soul food restaurant on Norwood's main Street. The menu is great! He was happy to see turkey tips with rice on the menu, placed his order adding candied yams, collard greens and cornbread. I ordered fried chicken wings, same vegetable, but with their wonderful mac n cheese. Our server was friendly and informative regarding our questions on food preparation (neither of us consume pork) drinks were brought and our dinners were delivered promptly. The food there leaves you with a warm, down home cooked taste. The smells entice you, reminiscent of being in your mother's kitchen. I've never been disappointed with my meals at this restaurant and highly recommend Southern Grace to any and all looking for great food, great service and a wonderful atmosphere. My only negative take aways would be ensuring all in the food prep area are wearing hair nets (especially anyone with long hair) and limited parking (street) near the establishment. We'll definitely return and bring others. read more

The food was delicious and our service was outstanding. I would go back again when in the city

Great food! Great service! Strongly recommend!Definitely will come back the next time I'm in town.

Me and my husband were in town for the Cincinnati Music Festival and we found this restaurant on TikTok and decided to stop by. The staff were very friendly when we entered, they explained how to place your order and gave us a rundown of the menu for the day. My husband and I both placed our orders for fish, I with a side of Mac n cheese and greens. My husband ordered the sides of Mac n cheese and sweet potatoes. I enjoyed the sweet potatoes over the other sides but all sides were good! We were given a number to take with us to our table and could sit either inside or outside. We chose to sit inside, as it was pretty warm outside. The restaurant was pretty spacious, very clean and had soft music playing in the background. When our food arrived everything was good, the portion sizes were just right for me. The food was season to perfection. read more

Southern Grace Eats - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Literally everything was delicious. We had the salmon croquettes, fried whitefish, Mac and cheese, green beans, potato salad, yams and cornbread. Probably the best soul food we've had in the country. A must. read more

oh man all the food here Is sooooo good. the gravy is out of this world and I could put it on anything! everyone is so nice and accommodating there's even a cute outdoor seating space read more

Flavorful food with good portions. The fried fish was made to order; crispy and hot. Price for a meal with 2 sides was $23 on a Sunday. Restaurant can be considered medium size with 10 or 12 tables. Street parking is very limited and spaces behind the Restaurant is supposedly for apartment residents. Customer service was friendly with a courteous young lady who acknowledged Customers entering the restaurant. Ambiance is casual. read more

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Everybody should go, real FAST! Service was great, and the ambiance here is simple. Nice music playing, plenty of parking right in Norwood! Big menu so you share a few items or not! This is soul food which I can a appreciate. You walk to the counter order, they bring it to your seat. It's Priced well, especially since I didn't have to cook. This is a family night or girls night. I'm a French fry connoisseur, and they didn't let me down. The grippo wings cooked crisp how I like, and don't leave without trying the Mac and cheese. You're welcome! read more

Southern Grace Eats - Fried wings - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I've been wanting to try this place and once I walked in I knew it was a smart choice. All the tables were full and there was a line to order. I chose the fried chicken with mac n cheese and collard greens. I splurged and got a banana pudding as well. The flavor on every item was fantastic! I would have added a little vinegar to the greens if I was the chef but still loved the flavor. The chicken was a great crisp even after the drive home. I'll be back! read more

Southern Grace Eats - Fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and collard greens and a piece of cornbread - Southern Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Nice place, clean great customer service. It's got a sewer smell but I'm sure that's not the their fault, so I got it to go. The cashier gave me water while I waited. The food was really good, but I cook better. But for take out, it's a definite try. I got the Friday special so I could try a few things wings and fish, substituted for mashed potatoes instead of fries, one dollar more, then the chicken and green and Mac and cheese, third side four dollars more, corn bread fifty cents more addition twenty five cents more, total 40.75, so a bit pricey, but worth it. Enjoy. read more

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