Nice location on the river. It's very popular so there is often a wait. The parking lot fills up but you can find other parking within easy walking distance. We were here for brunch today, which is served until 3:00 pm. Today they said they were short staffed, only two servers for the entire restaurant. Service was fairly friendly but a little slow. Our group of four ordered biscuits and mushroom gravy, fish, chicken biscuit sandwich, grits, pimento cheese omelette, twice baked potato gratin, cabbage slaw and potato bread. We all sampled everything. My favorite was the pimento cheese omelette and potato bread with homemade jam. The mushroom gravy was ok, not great. There was a lot of biscuit and not much gravy. We all loved the twice baked potato gratin and grits. None of us cared for the cabbage slaw. It was very vinegary, so much vinegar that you couldn't taste anything else. I would definitely return for the pimento cheese omelette, grits, and twice baked potato gratin. We liked the potato bread with their homemade jam. I would skip the biscuits and mushroom gravy and cabbage slaw. read more

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We had a nice lunch at the Southerner today. Our service was okay / the bartender was our server and that never seems to be a good combination at a restaurant. We would go back. read more

The Southerner - Chicken and Biscuit - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Good selection on the menu and all have been excellent. Will make The Southerner a regular stop,

My family and I took a trip out to Saugatuck for a long weekend to celebrate my 40th birthday and my aunt's [redacted] birthday. I told my family I had but three requests for the weekend: 1. A good long soak in rental house's hot tub. 2. A trip to the Antiques Pavilion. 3. A fried chicken dinner from The Southerner. We got into town on Friday evening and immediately made #3 happen with a carryout order via their easy to navigate online ordering. A big bucket of fried chicken, biscuits with honey butter, coleslaw, grits, and fries were ready for pick up an hour later. Everything was delicious, as expected. The chicken was crispy and juicy, the fries were delectable and the grits? Oh so creamy! I had read once that bubbly goes particularly well with fried chicken so we also stopped at Isabel's Market to pick up a bottle and I highly recommend the pairing! But we also got some Faygo beverages for a non-alcoholic option as well. While I miss dining there in person the takeout option for a larger group was great! And bonus? Right after eating I could take my food coma and a large glass of bubs to the hot tub to relax. But this summer I'll definitely be back for more chicken and a beautiful riverside dining experience! read more

Hands down best restaurant in the Saugatuck/Douglas area. Nondescript building located on the Kalamazoo River with ample seating and great views of the waterfront from all seating areas. Nice outdoor patio to dine at as well. Service was ideal with prompt and courteous service for everything before and during our meal. For an appetizer had the crab puffs which were amazing with a spicy remoulade. For dinner had there signature fried chicken. You can choose no spice (butter) or go with the spicy "Nashville" hot. Chose the Nashville hot and it had the perfect amount of kick for me while still preserving the amazing flavor of the chicken. This was by far best fried chicken have had in Michigan. On the side came with there buttermilk biscuit and honey butter which was to die for. The biscuit was cooked perfectly flaky and soft paired perfectly with the sweet honey butter. Come With your choice of two (2) sides. For sides had the corn salad which I would highly recommend. It was there take on a creamy Cole slaw. The grits were my other side and were above average. Overall, this was my favorite restaurant thus far in Saugatuck area. Highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. read more

I had the shrimp and grits. It was delicious. I had the greens and fries as a side. The fries were fine, the greens were bland. The pot likker was flavorless. The greens need to be braised with bacon , apple cider vinegar and chicken broth. Oi! I'm not even a southerner but I know how to make delicious greens. My hubby had the fried catfish which came with hush puppies: delicious! The coleslaw was very bland. read more

Went for carry out. Great chicken, some of the best we have had ever. Great service at the bar. Had a great conversation with locals while waiting for my carry out. Tip: Bring a baby as a conversation starter read more

The food was absolutely delicious! I ordered the fried chicken and enjoyed every bite. It was juicy on the inside with wonderful crispy skin. The biscuits, honey butter, sweet corn salad, french fries, and ranch were all excellent. If you like a smokey flavor to your baked beans then these are for you. My family ordered chicken tenders, chicken sandwich, and mac and cheese and all enjoyed their meals as well. The ambiance on the water was lovely and the Pride decorations were wonderful! read more

The Southerner - Fried chicken and biscuit with butter - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Didn't take any pics (whoops!), but we both really enjoyed our meal here. PRO TIP: GET ON THE WAITLIST BEFORE ARRIVING. They don't accept reservations and you WILL wait for a table, so just get on the virtual waitlist. Okay? Okay. We had the chicken and the shrimp and grits. Both solid, but the chicken was the winner. As far as sides go, the biscuits are where it's at. I could have eaten a dozen. We also had the corn salad (yummy) and the fries (not just an afterthought- they're worth ordering). A touch on the pricier side (~$30/person) for more casual themed food, but for waterfront in a resort town, it's to be expected. read more

Drive over an hour to have dinner here with a group of friends. The chicken was delicious. All the sides (mac&cheese, greens, biscuit) were just ok. However, we mistakenly left our credit card. We called the next day and arranged with a manager to have our pastor pick it up in a couple days. When we called the day of to confirm the pick up, we spoke to the director of operations, Mark. Mark decided to override the managers decision and not release the card. Ok cool, but when trying to ask for clarification, Mark then told my fiancé to go "F himself" without provocation. When I called to speak to the owner, Matt to inform him of the unprofessionalism, Mark called back pretending to be Matt and again was a complete jerk and said he shredded the credit card. Worst customer service I have ever experienced in my life!!! I can't believe that is who they have running the establishment. I wouldn't spend another dime here. They need to get anger management for Mark asap! read more

Just get their Chicken and biscuits. It's what they're best at! The sauces run HOT My son LOVEDDDD kids meal chicken tenders and fries. Great view of boats. Indoor, outdoor, and sacred options read more

The Southerner - Bathroom - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

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This restaurant had a great rating but didn't deliver. As a fan of southern food, I had a high expectations; however, the reality was disappointing. The portions were large and our waitress was friendly. Sadly the food itself was another story. The beans and Mac n cheese were not tasty, but the worst part was the chicken which should have been the star of the meal. It was overcooked and dry with the exception being the breast because it was thicker. The location also was disappointing. The sun glare was intense and they had to raise the umbrellas which totally blocked the view. The worst part is the price which was way too expensive for chicken. read more

Well, my friends and i wont be back. We had a big party come in. They were not LGBTQ+ friendly to us. And being the community - they were very prejudice. 9 of us also got food poisoning from the food. Just a bad experience all around and it sucks we were treated poorly especially when it was a recommendation from our air bnb. Dont eat here. read more

All Staff friendly and helpful. We both had the fish dish that came with what they called an etouffe sauce with shrimp and crawfish. It seemed more like a creole sauce to me but regardless it was delicious. Catfish Robert. It comes with a biscuit or other sides. A pleasant spot on an inlet of Lake Michigan. We were lucky with the weather and sat in the screened in patio. read more

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Husband and I arrived in Saugatuck to visit our friend. After a long flight, we were pretty hungry, so our friend suggested this place. I was a bit overwhelmed because I typically don't eat a big meal after traveling, and what they had to offer was definitely the place to come to with a hearty appetite if you are in Saugatuck. I imagine most who have thrilled themselves with a day of water sports come here for that reason. I ordered the braised roast poor boy, and my husband had the catfish poorboy, and we both loved our sandwiches. The service was excellent, and so was the ambiance, as this place is set near the lake. I would have taken some pictures had we not been so tired and hungry. read more

Food was great, service was excellent. The ambiance is excellent. The wait was long over an hour on a Tuesday at 5:30pm. The food was so good, but I don't think I will go back given the wait time to get a table. read more

Poor service waited over hour and half for food. Will not never come back. Server was rude when when ask where our food was. read more

I did not sit down to eat, but I did make use of the walk-up window. Drinks were made fast, my chicken sandwich was made promptly, and the staff could not be any more friendly than they were. This place is a gem an brings some southern charm to one of the best towns in western Michigan. I will be back! read more

Honestly, as a southerner, the food here is good but not blow your mind like back home. BUT. The biscuit and the honey butter is AMAZING. I'd go back to Saugatuck just for the biscuits. Also, they mean business when they say the chicken is spicy. I got Nashville hot and it was serious and tasty. I know good food takes time but service is so slow here so go before you get hungry. Also of note, it's quite loud. Their dining room echos quite a bit. This is my second time within a year and it was loud last time too. read more

The Southerner - Nashville hot strips on mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

This was one of the best meals that we've had in a really long time. It was such a nice surprise. We were starving after a long day of exploring. We had just been to the Saugatuck Dunes and were searching for a good restaurant. We were so lucky to find The Southerner. We came at the perfect time. We were seated within 5 minutes and were lucky enough to sit on the porch. It was around sunset so the views on the water were spectacular. Now the good stuff... the food. We love fried chicken and it was by far one of the best we've ever had. I am so glad that I chose the sandwich on a biscuit option. The best part of it was that there was butter slathered all over the biscuit. It tasted like honey butter and made the sandwich melt in my mouth. The biscuit was so flaky. My husband and I loved the fried chicken. It was so moist, tender, juicy and flavorful. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of the street corn. It didn't have much flavor. Wish we lived closer. We'll be dreaming of this meal for a long time. Definitely go check them out. You'll love it. read more

Whoever " manages" this affiliation is only for themselves and their comfort regarding whatever you set online through their so- called " promised time seating schedule!..if you reply honestly online about anything regarding not being seated as promised, they simply insult you ax they feel comfortable knowing you can't reply back with the truth! So sad...never experienced this before ( ate there 27 years prior).. yet will never return...oh let me add..the so called manager said I was "screaming "... yet how can that be true if her reply was.." i can't hear you "..( which proved she didn't even care to listen..." sigh" read more

We got through the waitlist pretty quickly. They did warn us that the food would take a while. Once we received the food there were no more words, just tummy happiness. The chicken was so juicy and tender but with a great crust. Loved the Mac and cheese and the sides. The fluffy muffins were to die for. read more

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This was my second time at The Southerner. First was just okay but second was fantastic. I showed up around noon on a Monday and sat by the water on a warm day in October. The grits were buttery and delicious. Biscuits super flaky and the butter flavored. Chilaquiles were okay but lacked some crunch. read more

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Excellent eating experience. The food, service and venue were fantastic. Have to recommend the "cat head" biscuits for one of the "sides". We had the amazing Catfish Robert. read more

This place is poppin'! We ordered for pick up on a Sunday night and there was a quite the line. They don't take rezzies either, so plan accordingly! I could see from the host stand that there was a nice river view. There's also a drink/to-go window outside but there was also a long, long line. We ordered Nana's Fried Chicken in both traditional (no heat) and Piedmont (1 chili pepper - which I didn't find spicy at all -- mostly just vinegary). Even though we heated it up in the oven + broil, fried chicken just isn't the best as take-out. So try to eat there if you can (and have the time to wait!). For the sides, we got -- *flaky biscuit - this was a fantastic biscuit! *sweet corn salad (jalapeno, poblano, cilantro) - great flavors! *cabbage slaw (southern boiled dressing) - fantastic flavors! read more

Wow, the food, drinks, service, and staff were all exceptional. Satisfied customers had a wonderful time. read more

Great food such a fun casual place to eat. Best chicken in Saugatuck. We have eaten there many times

There's a reason why this place is highly rated. Their fried chicken meal is a MUST! My husband and I were looking for a place to eat on our way from Michigan to Chicago and we are so glad we tried it! Friendly staff, amazing fried chicken, and we barely waited!! read more

The Southerner - Salad and the Fried chicken meal - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

I feel kind of meh about this place. I came here for lunch the other day while checking out the city and found that the restaurant was right on the river. This could definitely be a lively place come summer. We ordered a few things off the menu to try, including the fried chicken. The service that we received was excellent, the waitress that was helping us was super nice and patient . We had ordered the fried chicken, the boiled greens, grits, and southern fried shrimp. The chicken came out very quickly and we were surprised how flavorless the chicken was (we originally wanted it Nashville style but the extra flavoring costs more). The two sides we ordered were also a bit dull and underwhelming with the greens being on the salty side. The highlight of the meal was definitely the homemade dinner rolls that came with the chicken. read more

The Southerner - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Excellent Excellent Excellent...the best fried chicken I have ever had...the service and atmosphere was top notch...if you're venturing into Saugatuck, and have never experienced this establishment...you are missing out! read more

Do not miss this place if you are in the area. Felt very comfortable having dinner at the bar (solo) though the views at tables looked great! Was able to walk here from my air bnb. Biscuits and honey butter are basically dessert. read more

The Southerner - Catfish Robert - mix in the greens (tip from bartender!) - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Although The Southerner doesn't take reservations, my group of 5 thought the menu was enticing enough to take a chance on a Friday night around 7 pm. We were originally quoted a 45 minute wait time and were prepared to get a drink at their cute outdoor patio/bar but it ended up being way faster than that! As an out of town visitor, I got the vibe that Saugatuck was a sleepy fall town but seeing The Southerner so busy was a great sign! I can't remember our server's name (she was expecting a little one in the near future!) but she was super sweet and knew the menu inside and out. We ordered a whole bunch of food but some of the standouts were the remoulade for the crab cakes (SO flavorful), the macaroni and cheese, the grits, the greens and, of course, the fried chicken. We tried all the different spice levels (both the Nashville and the Habanero are NO joke, this ain't Buffalo Wild Wings!) but I think the group as a whole actually liked the traditional the best even though we overall really like spicy food. The chicken just didn't need anything, it was that good! The drink menu also had lots of variety which was perfect for our varied tastes. The five of us all agreed that The Southerner was the perfect start to a food and drink filled weekend in western MI. Definitely don't miss it! read more

For myself, it has been years 4-5 since I've eaten here. (Just wait.) Anyway, I remember the chairs not being super comfy but the staff was friendly and the food delicious. Pretty confident I had the fried chicken, because how can you not? However, I am writing this review on behalf of my 6 year old niece who came here for the first time a few days ago. Today she just had to tell me all about it, so I will share her words exactly. "You HAVE to go there! It was SOOOOO good!" "The fries were salty and the burger was...(she thinks and makes the Italian hand gesture)... cooked to perfection!" "I didn't like it. I LOVED it!!!" This kid barely eats dinner half the time and even when she does she's usually not so descriptive. So if you're looking for southern charm, delicious food, and a 10/10 rating from a 6 year old, this is the place! read more

So delicious and an amazing whiskey/bourbon list! The server was great! And I ate way too much because it was that delicious

This was the meal we chose to have for dinner the day we found out we had a new president! It was a celebratory dinner, so we wanted to do something a bit special. My friend and I had booked a getaway to Saugatuck for the weekend after the election to destress, and we were interested to find a southern restaurant in Saugatuck of all places. Comfort food for a comfort weekend? Sign us up! But having both had quality southern food in the actual south, I don't think this really lived up to our expectations. It was still enjoyable, I've just had better of everything that we ordered and not just in the south. I've had better chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cole slaw, etc. in Michigan alone. Also the price felt kind of astronomical as well. For two people, we order 2 4-pc buckets of chicken, which came with two sides each, plus a mac and cheese and the total was upwards of $60. Seems pretty steep for the amount of food we got and I'm not even sure if it all fully sat well in my stomach. Full Disclosure: I got a semi-intense form of food poisoning this night and I wasn't sure if it was from Charlie's (because I don't think I'm lactose intolerant) or The Southerner, which we had for dinner. I don't normally get food poisoning, so this was very surprising to me. We went to Charlie's first (had dessert first), and then picked up food from The Southerner to take home, and it wasn't until about an hour after we finished eating dinner that the food poisoning hit. read more

The Southerner - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Why Don't the respond to emails or phone messages!!!!!!!!!! It seems very clear that they only are concerned about taking your money. We were there July 1st, my wife left her jean jacket with an heirloom pin on it at the restaurant. I contacted them the next day and over the past month + have left messages, sent emails to no avail. We live in Massachusetts so not around the corner. It seems that their customer service is non existent and is truly disappointing that we have not heard from them and guess at this point one of their staff is wearing the jacket with the pin that I clearly described to them many times. Heck even sent a picture of where we were sitting and told them exactly where we were...we were the second ones seated on that day when they opened. So buyer beware. Maybe...or not, they will finally respond after over 6 weeks!!!!!! read more

The Southerner - Where we were sitting......not busy so why dont they respond! - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

Before I truly start.... PLEASE GET THE BLUE CRAB CAKES. Omg they are so good - my friend and I split an order, then towards the end we both wished we order our own. Lol! We also ordered their signature hot chicken, biscuit, crab po boy, fries, and coleslaw --- I would give the remaining food a solid 4. Please note they aren't really large serving so we did good sharing our orders so we can basically sample a variety. Restrooms are near the entrance and they are also unisex. Even though you have an option of eating outside - personally i would stay inside away from the bugs since the restaurant is right off the water. Happy Eating!!! read more

The Southerner - They removed tables so everyone can keep a safe space - Southern Near Me - Saugatuck, Michigan

New ownership from the last time I ate there. Reluctantly, I tried out the southerner again. I really didn't want to go back it was just okay last time I ate there. I am glad I decided to revisit this restaurant. The food was much, much, better. The new owners did something right..awesome experience. read more

Manager Mark Breymeyer was over the top rude and verbally abusive to our group of Senior's. Very unprofessional and recommend seniors not visit this restuarant. read more

I'm really not on the same page as some of the other positive reviews. Best restaurant in the area? If that's true, the bar really isn't that high. Food was meh and wow did the menu seem limited. The kids wouldn't even eat their burgers. I read their chicken was supposed to be great but it was average and did not live up to my expectations based on other "rave" reviews. Coleslaw tasted like it was served straight out of a Gordon Food Services can. Almost nobody smiled and the waitress never came back to see how we were doing once we had food (although she did come back to fill water once before food came out). There was an odd musty smell out in the screened in eating area too. Yum. Might be decent for the area but it's definitely not a place I'd seek out or visit again. read more