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    The Southern Cafe

    4.0 (455 reviews)
    Open • 6:30 am - 3:00 pm

    Order The Southern Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    The Southern Cafe Photos

    THE SOUTHERN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Southern Cafe

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    Cinnamon roll latte and cookie butter latte

    The food and lattes are so delicious and the servers are amazing! You will absolutely leave stuffed! 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!

    Breakfast The Nasty Skillet plus extra meat
    Cole R.

    This breakfast was stacked! I started with the Nasty Skillet and added sliced sausage and chorizo. The box was heavy and I immediately knew my lunch plans were ruined. However, this skillet turned out to last me all day. I also got a side of their excellent sausage gravy which made it even better. Next time I come thru, I may get 4 eggs and split into a multi day breakfast prep.

    Chicken Fried Chicken
    Maggie M.

    Went at noon and we got seated right away on a Saturday. Our waiter was very friendly and came by to check on refilling our coffees. I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken came with hashbrowns and eggs. The chicken was very delicious and wasn't overcooked or dry. Was fried and juicy. There was a good amount of gravy on top. Chicken was on top of a biscuit and it was about the same size of the chicken. Large portion and took half the dish home.

    Georgia Catfish & Jalapeno Cheddar Grits catfish filet on a bed of cheese grits with egg chunks of bacon and mushrooms.
    LaShawn S.

    First time dining here. I thought it was a family friendly restaurant with a comfortable ambiance. They offer a vast amount of dishes to suit many appetites. I had a Catfish filet on a bed of cheese grits with eggs, chunks of bacon and mushrooms. It was delicious just lacking a Cajun flavoring to make it really pop! Lisa was the host and she was kind and attentive. I am looking forward to returning and trying another great selection from the menu.

    Nasty biscuit!!
    Angela G.

    Love this place. The food is amazing. Get the nasty biscuit. So freaking good. Little of everything. Lisa was amazing this morning. I was a little hungover and not feeling well at all but she made my breakfast experience wonderful! We connected with our matching tattoos lol Food came out super fast and was so delicious. Reasonably priced too. Things be so expensive these days

    We ordered eggs over medium with sausage. Eggs came over easy. Sausage was raw and literally cold. Sausage was sent back and re made, burnt. Our server Raquel was wonderful. Manager was rude

    And this is probably the other half
    Raffaela G.

    My daughter and I and her boyfriend went in there and it just seems when you find a good spot you just want to keep going back and let me tell you I probably ordered half the menu. We paid $130 just for three people.. Believe me, I'll order a lot of food. I wanted to try everything the fried green tomatoes. The country fried chicken and those little pearl waffles. They don't even need any syrup. Just delicious

    The Sugga Baby
    Karl P.

    Second time here so had to bring my introvert sister in law...she loves chicken and waffles so she for the Sugga Daddy. First picture. Loved it. Wife ordered the Southern chicken sandwich and had to being half home. Third picture, yes it is that big! I had the Southern Skillet and had to bring some home as well. I couldn't finish this delicious breakfast. Tips: -The menu is big. Decide if you want breakfast or lunch. - Be hungry for home cooking. - be prepared to bring home food Ambiance is like a noisy family gathering! Fun to watch what your neighbors are ordering and second guessing your decision . Fun place, great food. And the leftovers reheated great in an air fryer.

    Matt P.

    We stopped in for a late breakfast the other day. Everything was really good. My wife had the waffle and I had the Tex Mex Pollo Loco. Belgium waffle was pretty standard and properly crispy on the outside but tender interior. Tex Mex Pollo Loco was fantastic. Roasted jalapeno on the side was the perfect addition of heat to the fried chicken, biscuit and chorizo gravy...I drizzled a bit of maple syrup on it for a sweet and spicy flare. Also had a side of grits that were properly cooked. Service was great too. We will definitely be back again when in the area.

    The B&G
    Monse T.

    Stopped here for Sunday breakfast and it was very good. Had a southern vibe to it. It was crazy busy, packed! But we were seated after a short waiting time, our waitress was hustling! The cooks were putting in work because our food came out faster than we expected. Now for the food... eggs and bacon cooked to perfection, the hashbrowns looked questionable and lacked flavor. Very sad about that since I love me some hashies. The biscuits and gravy was delicious!!! Gravy was thick and hearty. The s'mores pancakes tasted like s'mores! It had marshmallow fluff. Warning: lots of chocolate! So if you don't want your kid bouncing off the walls, don't get it. I'll be back I'm sure.

    Best breakfast I have had in a very long time! Pearl waffle didn't need any syrup! Highly recommend!
    Laurie E.

    Busy place but as it should be! Food was great! Portions huge!!! Priced just right! Staff was excellent! I would be back...

    Sugga Mama!!

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    11 months ago

    Food was very good , the service was also very good. I Wii definitely come back to the southern cafe!

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    1 year ago

    Fast friendly service , food was good. We were there for breakfast,would go back. Plenty of parking as well

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    1 year ago

    Food is great. Excellent quality and larger portion sizes. Staff very pleasant and great service

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    2 years ago

    Service was sloooow and food was very basic. I wouldn't return. Restaurant was a little in the dirty side.

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    Page 1 of 12

    The Southern Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Southern Cafe

    Do they have a kids menu?

    I have not seen a kids menu. Maybe give them a call.

    How often do you add new menu items?

    4 New special items once a week (every Friday), new menu changes maybe every couple of months?

    View All 4 Questions

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    The Southern Cafe - Carolina Benny and Grits

    The Southern Cafe

    3.9(516 reviews)
    30.2 mi
    •$$

    So good I had to return for brunch. The portions here are huge and you'll have enough to share or…read morebring home. I love that there are unique Southern dishes like chicken and waffles, Southern fried chicken, and shrimp and grits. The coffee is hot, strong and accompanied by cute little baskets with individual creamers. The pancakes are super fluffy and served with a warm bottle of syrup. I am not a big fan of hot sauces as I don't eat spicy foods but had to dip a bite of chicken in the jalapeno hot sauce. It was really tasty and a tolerable amount of heat. I look forward to returning and trying even more versions of waffle or egg dishes here.

    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.

    Photos
    The Southern Cafe - Dining area

    Dining area

    The Southern Cafe - The Nasty Biscuit

    The Nasty Biscuit

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    Maple Tree Inn - Fried Oysters

    Maple Tree Inn

    4.2(792 reviews)
    23.7 mi
    •$$$

    It's no exaggeration when I say that my dining experience at Maple Tree Inn was one of the best…read morerestaurant experiences I've ever had! My niece and I couldn't believe this was our first visit, especially after hearing so many great things. This place is incredibly popular, so I definitely recommend making reservations. After checking in, we waited less than five minutes and struck up a fun conversation with two lovely ladies who were also first-timers. It was the perfect start to the evening. The atmosphere is warm, lively, and inviting, with Mardi Gras beads and colorful carnival masks throughout the restaurant that give it so much character. Our server was fantastic. Unfortunately, I didn't catch his name, but he was friendly, attentive, and extremely knowledgeable about the menu. His recommendations made choosing from so many tempting options much easier. Now let's talk about the food... EVERYTHING was absolutely delicious! To kick things off, I ordered the Creole Voodoo Zombie, and my niece had the Hurricane. Both cocktails were fantastic and set the tone for an amazing meal. My niece is an excellent cook herself and has dietary restrictions, so dining out can often be disappointing. That's what made this experience even more special--she genuinely loved every bite. We started with the crab cake appetizer and the BBQ shrimp appetizer, and both were packed with incredible flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the blackened ribeye, swapping the broccolini for the collard greens (worth the $3 upcharge!). The steak was perfectly cooked, and those collard greens were phenomenal. My niece chose the blackened red snapper étouffée, and she couldn't stop raving about it. Even though we were completely full, we couldn't leave without dessert. We shared the Mississippi Mud Turtle Brownie topped with marshmallow fluff and the strawberry shortcake. Our server suggested pairing the brownie with a butterscotch liqueur, and I'm so glad I took his recommendation--it was the perfect finishing touch and complemented the dessert beautifully. We've been talking about this meal ever since we left...and that's probably the biggest compliment I can give. In fact, we were so impressed that we made reservations for next weekend before we even left--and we're bringing two friends with us! Perfect for: Date nights, celebrations, or anytime you want a memorable meal that's worth planning ahead for. Maple Tree Inn absolutely lived up to the hype. 10/10--highly recommend!

    We stopped at Maple Tree Inn for a pre-concert dinner, and I found myself asking: why did I wait so…read morelong to come back? My last visit was when they were still on Old Western Ave in Blue Island--way overdue for a return. Let's start with the food--absolutely delicious. The three of us kicked things off with the Cast Iron Cornbread, and trust me, don't skip it. Perfectly done and a great start to the meal. For mains, we went with the Pitmaster's N'awlins Gumbo, Hickory Buttered BBQ Shrimp, and Burnt Ends. Every dish was spot on--flavorful, well-executed, and clearly made with care. The restaurant itself is pristine--clean, polished, and classy without feeling stuffy. Service was just as strong. Our server, Nick, was attentive, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience smooth and enjoyable. Safe to say, it will NOT be another 30 years before my next visit. Highly recommend.

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    Maple Tree Inn - Dining area view from the end of the bar

    Dining area view from the end of the bar

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    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store - Biscuits and gravy

    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

    2.8(125 reviews)
    4.9 mi
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    I stopped in here for a quick lunch on a work visit to Joliet…read more The service was solid - respectful, sweet, and classic Cracker Barrel. I ordered breakfast because breakfast is an all day kinda meal haha Usually when I order at Cracker Barrel I will customize what I want because they have everything I want, it's just not always on the menu in one simple thing to order; that's what I did again this time. I got my 2 eggs, 1 slice of sourdough French toast with sugar free syrup, turkey sausage, and some fresh fruit. It came out exactly how I ordered it - classic Cracker Barrel. Then the sweet lady that checked me out talked me into signing up for the Cracker Barrel loyalty card thing - I can't believe I hadn't done this before. I'm looking forward to racking up points on every road trip/work trip Cracker Barrel visit from here on out.

    Ordered a carry out meal...the CampFire Chicken. This what I got looked like they Really did place…read morethe food on a Fire! You will see by the photos. Even though the cashier was very nice, I couldn't get over the "packaging". The food is wrapped in foil however there was no plastic dome (as a previous time I'd ordered the meal I was impressed). Because of the over done darkened food the "juices" were just as dark and the entire meal was excessively salty. This was a big let down this time. If I had not done a carry out I would have had the manager replace the meal. Doesn't someone check the food before serving it?

    Photos
    Cracker Barrel Old Country Store - Bacon Mac and cheese.. freezing cold.. yucky wet croutons..where was the bacon?

    Bacon Mac and cheese.. freezing cold.. yucky wet croutons..where was the bacon?

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    Luella's Southern Kitchen - Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles

    Luella's Southern Kitchen

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    34.9 mi•Irving Park
    •$$

    Went to Luella's Southern Kitchen on a whim and I'm already figuring out when I can go back. The…read moreroom has an easy hum to it. Nobody's performing, everybody's happy to be there, and the staff treated us like they were glad we showed up. Start with the sweet tea. It's the real thing. The Nashville hot chicken and waffles is the move. The heat has actual flavor behind it instead of just burn, and it builds in a way that keeps you going back for another bite. Then I tried the shrimp and grits and had a small crisis about which one I liked better. Still haven't settled it. The grits were creamy, the shrimp had real seasoning, and I cleaned the plate. Fair warning: none of this food is for anyone on a diet. That's the point. Come hungry, wear the forgiving pants, and let somebody else count things for the day.

    We ordered our food and sat down to wait, and the biggest issue was one of the young employees…read moreworking around the dining area. He had curly hair, was light skinned, and appeared to be either a waiter or busser. While we were seated, he bumped into my chair at least three times and even hit me in the back of the head while trying to move around the area. He apologized each time, but after it kept happening, it became frustrating and uncomfortable.He was also spraying 409 heavily at the table right next to us while we were eating. It was so much spray that I genuinely felt like it may have gotten on my food. On top of that, he repeatedly dropped things around our table and seemed to have a difficult time maneuvering through the dining area. It honestly made me wonder if the table placement itself was part of the problem The food service was also disappointing. My meal came out first, and I had to wait quite a while for my sister's chicken biscuit. When it finally arrived, the chicken was not cooked all the way through. My pancake and bacon were both good. I just wish the overall experience had matched the quality of those items. Between being repeatedly bumped into, being hit in the head, cleaning chemicals being sprayed next to our food, and undercooked chicken, it made the experience difficult to enjoy.

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    The sign of start of something great

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    Salmon Cakes with Fried Grits Balls

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    Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria - Collard Greens

    Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria

    3.2(402 reviews)
    24.3 mi
    •$$

    I want everyone to know how great this resturant is! We gave them a HUGE carry out order on a one…read moreday notice. The order was huge!! Let me tell you, it turned out WONDERFUL!!! Fresh, hot, seasoned very well! All of it was great!! All of it!!

    Ok. I'm officially done. Before I start, yes I know Sundays are busy for any restaurant especially…read moreafter church. I came in at 330 on a Sunday to order cornbread. That's it. But I entered the soul food circus. The parking lot!!! As much money as they bring in it is night time to refigure the parking situation. It's cramped, no flow of in and out and it takes forever to get out. Or in. Once in, I waited to place the order but there was so much chaos! Wrong orders, orders never made, customers ordered items, waited only to be told the item they had been waiting on was sold out, changed the item and wait some more. Door dash and pickups were extremely chaotic and the waiting room was crowded. One woman was literally waiting 30 min on an extra order of potato salad. It seems like ordering ahead did not help cut down on anyone's wait time. I had no issues with staff. They remained professional in the midst of this chaos but I would just like to see more organization to their set up!!! I truly want to support local, especially POC, but I can't waste any more time hoping for them to get it together or revamp their systems. I can't speak to the taste of the food because I only order cornbread. After today, Jiffy Mix will be back in rotation because I can't handle this much chaos and stress.

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    Picture shared by Gino W that persuaded this visit

    The Southern Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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