The Southern's Hospitality

I'm amazed that Chicagoans still ask me, "Where can I get shrimp and grits?"  There's been a long wait, but we finally have a place with fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, Mississippi mud pie, and every other southern delicacy I devour when visiting my grandparents in South Carolina.  The Southern serves this soul satisfying comfort food and more, steps away from the six corners in Bucktown/Wicker Park.

In a space formerly known as Chaise Lounge, executive chef Cary Taylor offers patrons a relaxed, laid-back setting, while being backed up by the most genuine wait staff I've ever met.  I usually go to dinner expecting to spend 2-3 hours socializing and sharing countless physical manifestations of a chef's passion.  My first visit lasted five plus hours on a Sunday night before having to wake up at 4am for work--and it was worth it.

Between pours of Matilda and Numbers Ale, I dined on johnny cakes (pictured), fried green tomatoes, braised pork, duck orleans, carollina mahi tacos, and a southern take on bangers and mash, while making new friends and discussing where to eat in Paris.  My favorite dish, the johnny cakes, are served with gunthorp pork and chow chow, a relish of green tomatoes and cabbage that varies between Southern households.  The braised pork is large enough to satisfy a Stash-sized appetite, and falls off the bone into a bed of wheatberries and kabocha squash.  The duck orleans is another must, presented by chef Taylor with a burning twig of rosemary.  Every time I detect that distinct aroma, I smile, knowing what fellow patrons are about to indulge in.

To accommodate those of us who demand 'morning food' at one on Sunday, The Southern offers one of the best brunch menus the city has to offer.  The best shrimp and grits this side of the Mason-Dixon (but you know that already), beignets, chicken and biscuits, 'bacon/chocolate,' and a personal favorite, 'Ode to Waffle House.'  Thankfully, these hashbrowns aren't the culmination of a night of bad decisions--and they taste a lot better than the original too.

Chicagoans--you know where to get your southern fix now.  If you've got southern visitors going through culture shock, bring them here and they'll feel at home.  Don't have plans on a Saturday night?  Come by to indulge, relax, and sort out the best of Paris.