Kevin and Stacy Jennings’ newest restaurant, South, opens today in the former Restaurant Savannah location. Excitingly, they have tapped Jeremy Sabo as chef for the Southern-fared offerings while simultaneously promoting him to Executive Chef of Urban Food Group.
Here’s how their press release describes the food:
Lunch and dinner at South begins with warm bacon-cheddar biscuits and hushpuppies. Starters ($6 – $10) range from Lump Crab Cakes with sweet corn relish to Grilled Quail with a Stone Ground Grit Cake and apple slaw. With a nod to the Jennings’ tenure in the Lowcountry, Sabo offers a Charleston style She Crab Bisque with a crispy crab fritter. Entrees ($14 – $21) include Country Fried Steak, Braised Pork Shoulder & Fresh Bacon, Carolina Shrimp & Grits, Frogmore Stew, and a gracious plenty of sides ($3) that will encourage even the carnivore to build their own vegetable plate of Collards, Pole Beans and Mac & Cheese. No Southern meal would be complete without a sweet; Pastry Chef Eric Akbari tempts us with updated classics in his Blueberry Cobbler and cosmopolitan take on Coconut Cream Pie ($7 – $8), though the Peanut Butter & Banana Montecristo is an original, and not to be missed.
Bar side, guests will wash down complimentary pork rinds with cocktails that tell Southern tales – Mint Juleps served in traditional silver tumblers and an artisan bourbon flight showcasing the best from Kentucky. South’s wine list speaks of the South as well, showcasing wines from North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Alabama, and throughout the United States. 15 wines will be available by the glass, and 100 by the bottle.
I personally am very happy they are keeping the Southern theme started by Restaurant Savannah and can’t wait to experience Chef Sabo’s interpretations.
I have to admit, that all sounds really fantastic. I have always enjoyed my experiences at the Jennings’ restaurants, and it’s exciting to consider their take on a Southern theme.
I won’t be rushing off to visit it since they first opened, however. I find that waiting a month or two to try a new restaurant leads to a better experience, since the staff needs that time to get into a comfortable groove and develop the important dynamics between the servers, cooks, hostesses and managers. I do look forward to early reviews by those who will not wait to give it a try.
Sounds great to me! I look forward to trying it out.
Sounds amazing. I hope they get the she-crab soup right, ’cause I’d sure love to have some without driving for five hours.
Great to see a fresh post in the same old vein here at Raleighing!
- L
Frogmore Stew… I haven’t had that in ages. I wonder if they really put squirrel in it like the authentic version. Regardless, South sounds like its on my must try short list.
We are pleased to report that we tried South tonight and it was great! Even though the place had only been open for two days, AND it was Valentine’s Day, the service and food quality was better than places that have been open for many years. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable and efficient (two separate meal/table mix-ups aside). We got there before 6 and the place was at capacity well before the time we left (8).
We asked about the frogmore stew and (thankfully) there is no squirrel included in the ingredients. It was delicious. The she-crab soup was very creamy but it was a little light on the sherry and there was no crab roe that I could see. To me, it wasn’t a traditional version but still yummy. The iceberg wedge was a meal in itself with a huge hunk of blue cheese and creamy buttermilk dressing and no skimping on the bacon. The salad also came with an impeccably smooth and relish-y deviled egg. The flatiron steak was smoky, very flavorful and cooked to perfection. The fried oyster appetizer was crunchy and tender all at the same time. The vat of roumadale that accompanied them was tasty but the proportion was a bit much.
We had ALOT of food, plus some wine and beer (no dessert) and the cost was reasonable at just under $100 for two. Overall, highly recommended.
My wife and I ate there last night. We both thought it was excellent; better than Savannah which I had been to a couple times.
I had the Virginia Peanut Soup, which was as good or better than when I had it 10 years ago in Williamsburg, VA. That soup is truly unique to colonial America and I don’t know any other restaurant in this area where you can get it. It’s one of my favorites. For my main course, I had the pan seared salmon with grit cake and asparagus. The salmon was perfect – crispy on the outside, moist in the center. The grit cake was also very good and the asparagus was good as well but perhaps a bit overcooked. To drink I had a mint julep which was loaded with mint leaves and a bit too sweet and an excellent glass of chardonnay which the waiter recommended.
My wife had the salad with cornbread croutons and buttermilk dressing. She said it was excellent. For her main course she had the NC flounder with oysters and said it was absolutely delicious. She didn’t have anything to drink because she is pregnant – I know I’m a horrible man for drinking in front of her!
The service was a bit sluggish but friendly and helpful. It was their first Saturday in operation so we gave them quite a bit of leeway. But when I have reservations, I don’t expect to stand in the lobby for 20 minutes. The price was reasonable, especially considering the portions.
We will definitely return.
Tried South with another couple last Sunday… South is not nearly up to Jenny’s standards yet. The fried chicken was very average, the chicken fried steak was below average, and the bourbon iron steak was b- at best. The wait staff also needs some experience, but was pleasant. The wine list was the best thing there, but only had American wines… (not a surprise for the South though). Only slightly better food than Savanah’s.
Not impressed.
My mint julip was served in a glass.
The chicken pate was a HUGE slice. Very good and very filling (As a result, I could not finish my entree).
The peanut soup was unusual: so think, I could stand a spoon in it. Tasty, but more like peanut pudding.
The fried catfish with crawfish hash was bland (I should have requested some hot sauce).
The frogmore stew was okay.
The chicken fried steak was okay, too.
But, all three of us agreed: if dining at North Hills, no reason to go South– go to Vivace instead.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….it’s sad to see this site die….or has nothing happened in raleigh for weeks?
We went gave South a try on Friday. I was very curious (we love Fraziers and Porters), I had always thought an upscale Southern fusion concept would perform well here, and we were excited to try some Southern wines (Alabama in particular).
We told the hostess that we were here for appetizers and desert, and were sat at a bar table. We were greeted promptly and started to go over the wine list. Almost all were from California. In fact, there was only one Southern wine available at all- a Chardonnay from Virginia. I asked the server about it, and she said that they were tinkering with the wine list. Then we waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually a different server came back and asked if we had been helped and we said we’d like to order. Then we waited some more. Our drinks were never refilled and the only staff we saw for the rest of the evening was the runner who brought our Fried Green Tomatoes. They were crisp and tart, not greasy, but over salted. This was unfortunate since we had nothing to drink. And then we waited some more. For fun we stacked all our dirty dishes in a pile and set them on the corner of the table to see if any of the staff walking by would pre-bus them. They didn’t. We would have loved to have tried desert, but after thirty minutes my date left to go to Ben and Jerrys to satisfy her sweet tooth. I went to the bar and asked the bartender for my check. First impression was awful, but I might give it a second chance in a couple of months if they haven’t totally revamped the concept.
Wow, those biscuits sound really good. Too bad we didn’t get any on Saturday night.
We were seated at 8, per our reservations. Our entrees arrived at just after 10. I think my flounder must have been among the first prepared and sat under the heat lamp, as it was totally dry.
To his credit, the manager did come out and apologize for our wait. He credited a few people in our party (alas, not me).
Our server was super nice, and half our party had serving experience, so we still tipped her very well.
The experience was very bad for the money, but I won’t say I won’t go back, I’ll just wait a while until they get their groove down pat.
It’s Raleigh in February; give the folks a break.
Or, hell, go out in Raleigh and make some news.
Well if we went out in Raleigh and made some news, it def. wouldn’t be heard on this site!
I feel like I’m witnessing Raleighing on its death bed… I’m sure many of us would love to contribute to help keep Raleighing interesting and informative. Chris, what can we do to pick the pieces up and make this site great once again?
Sweet! South opens today!
I agree with ITBJD, if nothing else maybe we can just take over the comments page?
Does Raleigh need a new Visitors’ Center? Traffic circles on Hillsborough St. a good idea? Post your opinion at raleighphilosociety.blogspot.com
What needs to be done to get this site back on track? Please email me. I am sure there are plenty of use who are saddened by the lack of updates. I am saddened, frustrated, and confused at the situation. I hope to rally supporters and resuscitate this wonderful blog.
Help.
Maybe a Raleighing message board would be a good idea to hold us over between posts.
Quit feeing sorry for yourself!
Ya’ll are acting like little girls.. Post updates or sell the site to someone that cares enough to update!
If you guys are too blind to see the business oppty here then you don’t deserve to capitalize on the benefits…
I wish I had another web address to send everyone to.. this used to be such a good community!
Chris – With all due respect, I think your reaction is off the mark here.
The group here has come up with several viable and helpful offers to keep Raleighing what it’s meant to be: a vibrant, informative and friendly community.
I can help you find a way to integrate some of these help offers – that you’re comfortable with.
How about Raleigh Times Bar, Tuesday at 6:30, Chris, myself, and anyone who is interested in the effort?
Austin has ‘Keep Austin Weird’. We can have ‘Keep Raleighing’.
Errrr, you do realize that the ‘chris’ who posted above is not the Chris who owns this site, right? Why would I berate myself for not keeping the site up-to-date? I try not to make a habit of calling myself a little girl…
When in doubt, just click on the “Chris” in the “Posted by” line. Mine will always link to my TypeKey profile.
Thanks!
Eeks! No I did not realize that. I shall retreat to back under my rock.
For the people who still look here, did anyone see this piece of architectural wonder that passed:
http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_306_200_0_43/http%3B/pt03/DIG_Web_Content/category/Business/Strategic_Planning/Downtown_Planning/Fayetteville_Street_Renaissance/Cat-PG-2007226-100340-Renderings_Of_City_Plaza.html
Sorry about the crazy URL. That is the safest, lamest and boringest design EVER! I mean seriously. Oh … and are they going to provide free skin grafts from June til September for the diners that get seared from the chairs set oh so intimately out on the plaza concrete? Congratulations you’ve just rearranged some furniture in your living room Raleigh.
It is sad to see that after weeks of not having any posts, the only post that the owner of this site can enter is one that criticizes one of the sites defenders. Nice. Explains why this site is D E A D!