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    The Southerner

    4.3 (725 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, Sandwiches
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Southerner Photos

    Business Info

    THE SOUTHERNER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - The Southerner

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    Fried chicken with two sides - corn and pickles
    Katie L.

    Incredible! Food, atmosphere, and service were top notch. The space is very casual and cozy, and it overlooks the river, so your views are quite tranquil. We split the half chicken and it was the perfect amount of food. It comes with a biscuit and two sides. Biscuit was flaky, warm, and its texture was exactly what you'd expect in a solid southern biscuit. Fried chicken was cooked perfectly. The texture was both crispy and moist when you bite into it. Easy to cut through and split. The pickled sides go best with this. We got it crystal hot, and it wasn't that spicy so next time I'd go up another level. Our waitress Hayley also was the kindest person ever. She checked in on us and was so easy to talk to. It all felt so familial. Protip: They have a waitlist you can join online if you're not sure about the wait!

    2025 June | Menu
    Mya A.

    7.5/10 | June 2025 | This was our second time back to The Southerner and gave it another go. I feel like our first time there was the same experience, but busier because we went during dinner time probably late summer. We got the Southerner Half Chicken (8/10), crab & langostino (lobster) poor boy sandwich(6.5/10), and the sides of (collard) greens(5/10), baked beans(5/10), and slaw(5/10). I wish I got a picture but we were too busy splitting our food after waiting ~30-40 minutes. Probably 5-10 flies flying around our area and one even landed on my food. Spent $75 with tip for two, one soda and zero appetizers. We were seated immediately with the restaurant maybe at half capacity. We went around 3pm with no reservation. Our server arrived within 2-3 minutes, and we had water, no appetizers, and ordered main courses right away. Our server checked on us ~5 minutes before the food arrived, I wish they had checked on us sooner since it had been 30-40 minutes of waiting. Our water was lukewarm which we are not used to and wasn't the biggest fan of. We got a glass soda the time our server asked if we needed anything before our food came out. Our server said she would bring us extra napkins when pur food arrived, but were never brought to our table. I was so hungry and anticipating for food I forgot to take a picture! The chicken looked S P I C Y. I'm talking RED even though that was (level 1 spice) flavored "crystal hot." Our poor boy came on a sub-like bread with lettuce, 2 slices of tomatoes, and mushed up crab and lobster. The 3 sides plus bread/butter came on a separate plate in little bowls. The Southerner Half Chicken (8/10): it was a breaded fried chicken with a liquidy-hot thin red sauce. By texture, it seemed fried and then dipped in the sauce. None of the sides we had complimented the chicken well. Our chicken with the poor boy complimented eachother because of the poor boy's spiceless flavor. It was good, and I would MAYBE come back for the chicken if I was really craving it. The Crab & Langustino Poor Boy (6.5/10): I was craving a lobster roll and this was the closest item I could come to satisfy my cravings. It was a tall crunchy sub with lettuce and tomato. The crab and lobster was shredded, tasted and mushed up like tuna. The poor boy was a high fishy taste that attempted the mix to taste more flavorful. I would not eat this again. The sides (5/10): I was hoping I could leave the plates empty. Collard greens (5/10): was not a fan. Having previous greens from other restaurants, I would not rank these top. They were lukewarm when they came out as well. Baked Beans (5/10): tasted a bit like metal(tin can)? Couldn't take more than two bites before setting them to the side. Slaw(5/10): Unseasoned, I was highly disappointed. I was hoping I could eat it all, but it was two bites and I was done. Overall I gave The Southerner another shot after our first experience, and I have to say the first time around I remember me enjoying it a little more.

    maple old fashioned
    Lydia W.

    Very yummy!! Came in because of the reviews and people recommended it to us and they were correct. Everything we got was so good and tasted fresh. The restaurant from the customers to the drinks to the staff were lively and fun. Would definitely drive 2 hours to get another bite of the chicken biscuit sandwich!!! Next visit the hush puppies will be eaten :0

    Love the "no hate" and no discrimination message of this restaurant.
    Rian L.

    Make sure this is on our list when you are in the Saugatuck area. It is not hard to see why it was a James Beard nominee. The fried chicken is truly the best I have EVER had and despite it being a HUGE potion I could not stop eating it. We also ordered the Sausage and Greens which as also delicious. The dining room is simple with views of the waterway. Within 15 minutes of us arriving right around 5pm it became packed with a wait. So plan ahead but don't hesitate to wait for this meal. It is a mainly traditional southern menu with great flavors. Another bonus is the hate free zone and decor. In a world that we live in now we need more places like this promoting love, acceptance and equality.

    Courtney P.

    We waited about an hour on a Saturday night. But it was soo worth it!! We sat outside by the water and boats and it was so nice. I got the catfish platter with slaw and fries. It also came with a few hush puppies. It was all so delicious!!! I highly highly recommend going here!! So good

    Chicken Biscuit Sandwich with honey butter and a side of Baked Beans
    Mark T.

    Had dinner here February 7th and even during the off season the place was busy before 7pm. We were lucky to grab a couple of seats at their small bar. Seats six at the bar. My wife had the CHICKEN BISCUIT SANDWICH with honey butter. I had the FRIED CATFISH PLATTER. My wife loved the chicken biscuit which was so big she had to eat it with a knife and fork. My fried catfish was nice and spicy, just the way I like it!

    Honey butter biscuit sandwiches and fries
    Chelsea R.

    The server was super kind and helpful but it took WAY too long to get our food. Food was delicious

    Bloody Mary with a sidecar of the cutest beer
    Ha N.

    Service: awesome attentive service Food: The hot chicken and sides were amazing. Hot chicken had the best seasoning and it had the good amount of spices. The sides were amazing, especially the corn bread. And the drinks were on point. Really loved the Bloody Mary with the devils eggs and the cute mini beer. Ambiance: we got a table outside by the dock so it was nice to see the few boats that passed by. Our fellow neighbor at the next table were also fun. Really enjoyed this hidden gem!!

    Donna J.

    We arrived at prime time on a Sunday - 12:30 pm - and were promptly seated overlooking the gorgeous marina on a bright sunshiny summer day . Abby, our delightful server explained the menu and plethora of drink options to these first-timers. Sadly, we were just passing through and still had about four hours left on our road trip, we couldn't sample any of the delicious sounding options which included wine, mead, whiskey (oh SO many types), beer, soft drinks, and cocktails. It all sounded so dang good! By the way, you *have* to love a place (and support it financially) that goes out of its way to be inclusive. Love IS love after all. The ambience of this incredibly busy restaurant is 'boathouse chic , it is a tad bit louder than average, but it was really busy so I'm willing to overlook this because of the gorgeous view, the delicious food, and the fact that the owners appear to be good human beings who are supportive of everyone in the community. I ordered the fried chicken biscuit sandwich (original seasoning). I chose sauerkraut as my side dish and it did not disappoint. The chicken was well seasoned, tender, juicy, and very flavorful. The sauerkraut was as expected, and I am a sauerkraut lover = delicious. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant without hesitation. One star deduction for CRAZY prices, I mean c'mon- $18 for a chicken sandwich! That is INSANE.

    The Patrick Starfish
    Rey B.

    We had such a great experience at The Southerner! Yes, the wait was long--but absolutely worth it. While we waited, we were able to grab drinks and relax on their patio, which made the time pass quickly. Once seated on their outdoor deck, we were treated to a beautiful view of the water--such a perfect setting for a summer meal. We started with the Little Gem Salad and shared an order of their fried chicken, which was hands down the best fried chicken I've had in a long time: crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. We were able to do half dipped and half not which was nice. We paired it with baked beans and slaw--both delicious--and of course, we couldn't pass up their delicious biscuits. They're truly to die for. We ended on a sweet note with a slice of their chocolate chess pie, which was rich and comforting. Another nice touch: our drinks were part of their Pride specials, and a portion of the proceeds went to charity. Love to see businesses giving back! Big shoutout to our server, Briana--she was super friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. All in all, a wonderful experience. We'll definitely be back next time we're in Saugatuck!

    Fat Tuesday, Southerner style!
    Jayson D.

    Southerner just gives and gives and gives! If you haven't eaten here you haven't eaten. Nashville hot spice was *on* tonight! Tingles the taste buds oh so good while you sink your teeth into the juiciest, tenderest chicken. I usually add sides like slaw and baked beans so the sweet balances the heat. Add a maple old fashioned from the ample drink menu. Never tried dessert but that's mainly because the mains are just--so--filling! I'm already dreaming of my next visit!

    PJ S.

    Nice view of the river. Mac and cheese was tasty (needed a little salt). Beans were undercooked, spice was nice. Sauerkraut was yummy but I wish it had been warmed. Service was fine, water wasn't ever refilled. The weirdest thing was that the metallic smell of the tables was so strong that interfered with the taste of the food.

    Broasted chicken
    Matt M.

    Waitress was awesome. Fried chicken is the best we have ever had!! We have tested fried chicken from coast to coast and this chicken is the cock of the walk! Henny Penny broasts the most tender juicy chicken imaginable. This place is out of sight!! We sat on the deck and watched the yachts float by.

    Fried chicken dinner

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    They've perfected fried chicken. Biscuits are to die for delicious! Service always great

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    Ask the Community - The Southerner

    Is it dog friendly?

    Without a variance, dogs are prohibited by the state of Michigan from being on restaurant patios, with the exception of service animals, which are allowed everywhere. To my knowledge, the Southerner hasn't requested/received a dog variance.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Omg I'm drooling just thinking about this spot…read more We were starving after mini golf nearby and initially tried to stop in at a nearby full service restaurant (which we quickly realized was too busy), so we diverted here. We joined the line and chose to dine in. Selections of ours included egg salad and turkey and even PB&J! I tried multiple sandwiches and while they took a little while to get (they were also very busy!), we found a seat quickly, started eating our chips and did a bunch of people watching. There's water if you don't want to buy drinks but the food. Wow! The egg salad was delicious - so delicious. Turkey was also. Everything was freshly made, with high quality bread and toppings. Spot was bustling but clean and quick service considering how busy it was. Bathrooms were clean (they must have quick cleaning due to the amount of people). Quality food in a quality atmosphere. And I think they do events - the spot on one side had a sign that they were going to be closed for an event. That must be a great area for a party!

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    My friends and I came here as our last stop on our little weekend trip and it was almost our…read morebiggest mistake. When we got here, we were very confused on how to order so the takeout people told us to go to the hostess at the front of the restaurant, so we did. Then when we got to the front, they said that the patio is takeout only so we had to go back. Whatever no big deal. We go to the back and we order. One of the baristas was not nice. She was wearing a mask and had her hair cut short. She just was not nice to us. Didn't want to give us mugs or silverware because we were eating outside... umm ok??? We are waiting outside for our food and we see that one of the waitresses is taking people to be seated on the patio.... Ummmm what? I guess the other barista (her name was Anna) noticed and started bringing us silverware, ketchup, salt and pepper. Normally that would have been reserved for people dining in but she felt bad that the hostess lowkey lied to us. We ended up giving anna a tip because she was just so kind to us even tho she wasn't a waitress or anything.

    The Southerner - southern - Updated May 2026

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