The Southern

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Address:
1840 W North Ave
Chicago, IL 60622

Neighborhood:
Bucktown / Wicker Park

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Cuisine:
Southern

Price: $30 and under

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The Southern Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.thesouthernchicago.com
Phone: (773) 342-1840
Hours of Operation: Brunch: Saturday & Sunday: 11:00am - 3:00pm
Dinner: Sunday, Monday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Friday: 5:00 pm - 11:00pm
Saturday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm

Bar opens at 5pm daily till close and for weekend brunch
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Southern, American, Comfort Food
Executive Chef: Eric Michael
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Delivery, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Late Night, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Catering options available
Private Party Facilities: Contact our event coordinator at parties@thesouthernchicago.com to help book your event from 6 to 250 people.
Private Party Contact: Alette Valencia (773) 342-1840
Special Events & Promotions: We offer event space for parties of 10 to 250, think of us for your next special event with great cocktails and comforting food options.

Getting there

Cross Street: Wolcott
Public Transit: North Avenue #72 or Blue Line Damen stop.
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Street parking (with meters) and residential parking is available (observe neighborhood restrictions).

A word from The Southern

The Southern is a central gathering place where the tallest order of the day is a cocktail, conversation and relaxation.

Taking its cue from the laid back way of southern life, this low-down Bucktown bar offers a deep selection of small batch bourbons, micro-brews, hearty whiskeys… and plenty of specialty drinks.

When hunger strikes - as it always does when people get together – Executive Chef Eric Michael satisfies with a menu that raises the bar on bar food. Influenced by southern cuisine Michael uses ingredients from local farmers and sustainable sources for dishes like fried green tomatoes, Johnny cakes with pork confit slaw and Our Famous Fried chicken served daily. For bigger appetites, expect to find soul-satisfying Pork Belly, Crawfish Roll and grilled Shrimp and Grits.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerOutdoor Dining

The Southern - Best Restaurants in Wicker Park

Diner Reviews

"We walked past this place after having dinner at another restaurant. We smelled and saw the fried chicken on the diners's plates and came back the next evening. The chicken was cooked to perfection. The buttermilk biscuits were like none I've ever had before. Absolutely delicious. You do have to order sides though, as only the biscuit comes with it. Will be back!"
Dined on 7/11/2014
"Always outstanding both in food and service. The southern fried chicken reminded me of back home cooking."
Dined on 7/10/2014
"We really enjoyed our meal. Both the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese were the best, can't wait to come back!!!!!"
Dined on 7/9/2014
"Nashville Wings are spicy and delicious. Fried Green tomatoes. Are awesome. Great evening."
Dined on 7/7/2014
"Being from Texas, I enjoyed the food and ambience. You can tell a lot of heart went into the place. Our server was very kind and friendly and gave great descriptions of the food. My one complaint would be the bar. This is the second time I have gone there and the second time they have served us the wrong drinks. Other than that it was a great experience and I would highly recommend it!"
Dined on 7/6/2014
"We went for brunch and it was fantastic. I ended up getting the fried chicken, which was phenomenal."
Dined on 7/6/2014
"We really enjoyed the food, service and outdoor seating. Will definitely be back, and will recommend it to friends."
Dined on 6/29/2014
"Server was a tad slow, and there was a mix-up as we had requested the family-style chicken dinner, however, they weren't prepared for our group of 7, so while we were able to get the chicken dinner, we had to use small appetizer-sized plates, and they had us crammed at a table that wasn't large enough to accommodate our group. The food was fantastic, but logistically they left much to be desired."
Dined on 6/27/2014
"Overall, The Southern is pretty good, but I can't say that there is anything to truly rave about. The service and atmosphere were pretty good, but nothing about the food really stood out. The hush puppies, shrimp and grits, and collard greens were all good, but nothing that drives me to come back time and time again. Again, I am not complaining, but the food just served to remind me how much better I've had in places in the South. The atmosphere is great, and I'd probably frequent it if I lived in the neighborhood."
Dined on 6/21/2014
"A friend and I went for Saturday brunch and it was amazing. I had the fried green tomato sandwich and she had the asparagus eggs benedict. Both were absolutely delicious! We also decided to try the Odd Couple beverage (vodka, strawberry jam, and Miller High Life!) which was so tasty and not sweet at all! We sat outside on a beautiful day on the beautiful patio and were reluctant to leave! We will definitely visit the Southern again!"
Dined on 6/14/2014
"I went to The Southern with my girlfriend for a date night, and we had a great experience overall. The server was attentive and courteous, though some of the bus boys were a little over anxious to take our plates away. We sat outside and the whole place had a great energy about it. I had the fried chicken and my girlfriend had the risotto. Both dishes were flavorful and filling! The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I also had a couple Sazeracs, which were a little sweeter than I usually like my cocktails to be, but delicious none-the-less."
Dined on 6/13/2014
"Don't go if you want to be able to carry on a conversation with your dining companion, but maybe you will be so busy chewing it doesn't matter. This was one of the best meals I've had in a while. We shared the hush puppies. I had the sangria and the shrimp and grits. My husband and daughter had the risotto and my son had the pimento burger. We shared the fried apple pie. With out exception, every bite was superb. We will return. "
Dined on 6/7/2014
"Initially service was non-existent as we weren't approached for 10-15 minutes upon our seating. We spoke with the manager Ben. Was very apologetic explaining it was a misunderstanding with table assignments and offered free appetizers as an additional apology. Service was attentive thereafter. Appetizers: Fried Green Tomatoes were great. Hush puppies were solid and came in a large portion. Entree: Brisket was the highlight. Much better than a lot of BBQ places popping up all over the place these days. The risotto was tasty as well. Minor complaint: person in our party attempted to order fried chicken but they were out. Drinks: maple bourbon manhattan was delicious. A good reliable neighborhood spot."
Dined on 5/24/2014
"I dined here with a group of 6 on a Saturday night. We all enjoyed the food, with the exception of the chopped salad. The main problem was with the fact that they were overeager to clean our table. The bussers and servers were trying to take food and drinks off of our table that we were not done with. The busser tried to take away my martini twice while I wasn't looking. We also had 3 different people try to take away a plate of food that was nowhere near finished. We felt like we had to be on constant defense. I worked in restaurants for 10 years, so I am sympathetic to the hiccups. To be fair, this was not the entire staff, but primarily one busser who seemed unable to read the cues. Perhaps they were just trying to get us out of there."
Dined on 5/17/2014
"I love this restaurant! Their food is southern, yet accessible, and super delicious. Also they have great cocktails and beer selections. And you can walk in on a Friday night at 7:00 and usually get a table or find a place to hover near the bar. Just over all a great place to have a date or met up with friends."
Dined on 5/16/2014
"We loved the food and drinks. The drinks were expensive and small. But we had a great time."
Dined on 5/9/2014
"Loved it, been back a few times now and each time has been better than the time before. Last time we came for dinner but stayed the whole evening. What a great place! "
Dined on 4/24/2014
"If you like southern food, The Southern should satisfy you, tho I confess that I have not tried the fried chicken, which is the metric by which all restaurants should be assessed. "
Dined on 4/20/2014
"The cuisine at the Southern is truly a great take on Southern cooking; however, our service was a bit spotty. Our server seemed a bit rude and arrogant. Most servers we come across have a polite and informative tone rather than being snarky. Overall, it was a great experience, a must go for the mac n cheese."
Dined on 4/19/2014
"If you're not a foodie, you'll think the food is great. The big disappointment were the drinks. I ordered a mint julep and should have sent it back - it looked like an Icee that was jipped of flavor. It was 1/4 full and embarrassing. I also tried to order a whiskey neat and their selection was limited. Not a whiskey bar like they claim."
Dined on 4/16/2014
"We've been to The Southern for drinks and had some appetizers, but this was our first dinner there and we weren't disappointed. The "cup" of gumbo is practically a meal; well stocked with proteins, although a bit on the bland side. I would have preferred it to be a little spicier, but I eat the peppers in Sechuan restaurants, so maybe it will be perfect for other palates. The fried chicken was terrific, properly cooked with nice seasoning and essentially no grease. The biscuit and gravy that came with it were pretty much perfect, could have made a nice breakfast out of it. I only gave them three stars because it's comfort food, which is not a four-star meal, but definitely worth the trip."
Dined on 4/13/2014
"I never order fried chicken out (because I have southern roots and basically I don't believe most people know how to make fried chicken) but this dish was delicious! You could actually taste the seasoning (so rare)! My boyfriend enjoyed the mac & cheese too. I didn't especially but the risotto was good."
Dined on 4/10/2014
"Wonderful atmosphere, cozy and when warm weather hits has a great indoor/outdoor combination. If not crowded, service was almost too frequent; making it feel like the server was stopping by the table too often. But overall... gem of a spot in Wicker Park with great drinks and good southern grub!"
Dined on 4/10/2014
"This is definitely a neighborhood gem. The food, the drinks, the service, it was all great! I can't wait to go back."
Dined on 3/27/2014
"The Southern, likes the name implies, is based on a southern USA menu. My group numbered 4. We were seated upstairs which was a little strange because I think it is used for open air dining in the summer, and there is no bathroom, and had a birthday party present next to us. I think the downstairs would of been better, since the date was in February. They have an extensive beer, wine, and whiskey list. We started with the fried green tomatoes and the kale salad, which were very good. I had the fried chicken sandwich, which I thoroughly enjoyed. My wife had the shrimp and grits, which she said was okay. It is easy to get to and Overall, I would go back, and take a groups of friends or parents."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Really good food and range of southern dishes to fit all tastes. Price point was right on, and atmosphere was great. A little too loud at the booth we were sitting in. Service was good, and food was tasty."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Tried three items from their "snacks" menu (hush puppies, mac & cheese, bbq pork belly) - all were very good, although also very rich. The Southern also has a small, but very interesting, cocktail menu. The Maple Bacon Manhattan was pretty good, but too sweet. The Good, the Bad & the Whisk(e)y was tart and spicy. Ultimately, the best cocktail that we had was a mint julep, which was excellently made. Highly recommended if you want to feel a bit like you're at the Kentucky Derby."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Got stuck by the door on a very cold night so constantly getting blasted with air - had to wear a jacket for dinner. Mac and Cheese was delicous"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"Great sazuarc - really good gumbo, pork shoulder and kale salad. First time there and will definitely come back!"
Dined on 1/21/2014
"This place used to be great but the last party I had here for a friends birthday service was very slow when hardly anyone was in the restaurant. And the food was no where near as good as it was, everything was very bland. Not sure what has changed but it was a totally different experience than in the past."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"The brunch menu is very short and the party at the next table ordered local oatmeal and the southern was out of oatmeal despite just opening for the day! I would probably recommend the southern when the patio is open-looks a lot like Moonshine."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"The food was great and so was the service. There was a good food selection and the portions were generous. Had a great dining experience here with friends. the Arugula salad was delicious! Will definitely go back there again."
Dined on 12/9/2013
"The great thing about this place on Mondays is they do Mac n Cheese specials. So we ordered their special which had artichokes and goat cheese in it and was AMAZING. I kept telling my friend I could eat two more dishes of that stuff. We also split the Kale Salad which initially my friend said she didn't like kale, but I got her to try it, and she loved the spiciness to it. Again, I could eat that salad every day."
Dined on 11/25/2013
"All around solid experience. Good food with down home southern touch. Drink menu was pretty awesome. Atmosphere is welcoming, rustic, edgy & cozy at the same time."
Dined on 11/3/2013
"I absolutely enjoyed my experience at The Southern this past weekend. The food was great and the service was amazing as well! The only complaint I would have was that we were sat at the table right in front of the door. With it only being in the 30's-40's, it was rather chilly and every time the door opened (which was often) we were hit with the cool air. I'm sure it's not a problem to sit there any other time of the year however in late fall/winter it wasn't ideal. Otherwise, the food and service (which is what really matters) was all fantastic!!"
Dined on 11/1/2013
"There was 8 of us in the group and we had a great time. The specialty drinks are delicious and all the food is great to share. My boyfriend and I ended up splitting the pimento cheese and ham and the shrimp and grits! I'm from the south so I'm pretty picky about my grits but these were spot on! I always love to go here to get my southern food fix."
Dined on 10/12/2013
"Went for dinner with two friends only to find out that that during this time of day, 6:30 p.m. the menu consisted mainly of sandwiches, soups, salads. We all had the catfish po boy sandwich which was very good. Bar be que black eyed peas were different, a slight sweetness and fried green tomatoes were so-so. They were topped with a green salad (good but weird), tomatoes could use more seasoning, bland. Service friendly, courteous and fast. Nice drink lists(beers and wine). Rustic, outdoorsy, 2 large booths and several high tables inside. Outdoor dining area is nice. Dessert options were minimal (only two available) so we passed. Food size portions are filling but we didn't need to take a doggy bag."
Dined on 9/20/2013
"We really enjoyed our brunch here. The menu offerings were very creative and the fried chicken was off the charts! A nice change from the bacon-and-eggs type brunches we normally see back home in Canada. Service was friendly and attentive, and the outdoor patio was a perfect place to enjoy the Wicker Park/Bucktown street scene. We'll definitely be back."
Dined on 9/8/2013
"Great college football bar (Georgia) and amazing food. Service was nothing special, but not bad."
Dined on 9/7/2013
"Came for Sunday brunch and after work on a Friday for drinks and dinner. Both times it was rainy and cold so outdoor seating wasn't an option. It looks relaxed and not too tight on the tables. Highly recommend the bacon bloody mary at Brunch but the rest of the food was just so so except for the mac & cheese which was quite good. Donuts didn't have much flavor. For dinner the food was good but pretty limited menu. The table shared some appetizers - mac & cheese again and mussels which were fresh and flavorful, cornbread was so so. Shot the Breeze and Maple Bacon Manhattan where the cocktail favorites. Nice spot if you are in the neighborhood but not a destination."
Dined on 8/30/2013

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