Southbound

We had a birthday party upstairs. There is no 1 bad thing you can say about this place. The food is GREAT! The event coordinator is easy to work with. The service is great. Definitely will come back.

The atmosphere and food were great. Starting with the BBQ peanuts roasted on the Big Green Egg. :) Our server seemed to rush us which was unfortunately, but I will go back and hope that he was a newbie.

This is my favorite! Great service and their food is always amazing! Definitely recommend the Burger for an entrée and octopus appetizer. Make sure to try the French 75 for a refreshing cocktail!

Nestled and hidden in downtown Chamblee, Southbound surprisingly charmed me with its old-​school surroundings and cozy southern decorations. The ambiance was comforting, relaxing, and romantic. The building itself oozed southern comfort. I really enjoyed the ambiance, and is a great location for date nights.
We decided to share and try:
Smoked wings with celery Gorgonzola salad:
First of all, I have to say it was really salty. However the pairing of the celery salad helped cut through the salt and overall had a great complex flavor. Despite being in the smoker for 6 hours, the wings were very tender. A couple of our wings were black and slightly charred.
Braised short ribs with mashed potato and collard greens: this dish was highly suggested by our waiter, Brian. He told us that the short ribs were smoked in the Green Egg grill for 10 hrs. The ribs were packed with smoky flavor, but it was pretty dry. I have to say the side dishes were perfect. The pairing of the collard greens with bacon is a southern staple and was cook r really perfectly. The mashed potatoes were a delicious side to the short ribs.
Chicken sausage with gnocchi and mustard greens: this was our favorite dish because it balanced out the heaviness of the short ribs. The sausage had a hint of smoke, and was perfectly seasoned. The bed of greens finished the dish. I felt as though the gnocchi (although it was really good) seemed like an afterthought.
The service was great! Just took a long time for the food to come out

The definition of hipster restaurant. All you needed were servers wearing beanies. The interior is pretty well done. They went for the modern rustic look and executed it well. The bar is pretty stacked although I didn’t try anything there. There have 2 TVs there as well. The servers were all friendly and helpful.
I got the SB Burger ($ 12). It was cooked well and juicy and the bun held up. It wasn’t one of the best burger I’ve had but it was one of the better ones. I opted for the salad but it was completely covered in dressing. I would ask for no dressing or on the side at least. I had a bite of my friend’s Braised Pork Melt ($ 13). It was pretty good and not dry like some places. It came on toast.
Their menu is small so I’m guessing they specialize on a smaller menu. I would have like some more choices though. And the food took a long time to bring out (about 25 mins) but it was pretty packed and I’m also taking that to mean they make everything fresh, which is a good thing. Just gotta have friends to keep you company. The prices are kind of high but not unexpected. That was probably my biggest complaint. It’s located in a very unassuming location. It’s not like the surrounding is all restaurants. More like warehouses. The parking spots are a little tight in an attempt to squeeze in more spaces so I parked on the end.
Overall, it’s a good restaurant but maybe the prices are a little high for lunch.

Big disappointment. First, the two dollar signs should be raised to three $$$. This place is NOT moderately priced (the menu is clearly more than 11 – 30 dollars). The ribeye alone is 33 and the salmon is 24. You can’t eat here for 11 – 30 per person. That’s a lie. It’s more like 45 and without a drink.
I grew up in the south and at my family meals, we never had portions this small. It’s not much food for the money. I like that it is healthy and the menu is unique but it’s supposed to be soul food. You don’t get cute with soul food, you stick with the tried and true basics. This place took classic dishes and just got way too cute… and expensive

Cool interior but a miss on the food. Fried green tomatoes were bland, thinly sliced and over cooked. Fried chicken was seriously over cooked chicken, it was so dry. Collard greens were bitter and really sour. Mashed potatoes were dry and under seasoned.
Presentation was great but the food was barely edible. Totally not worth it for the price.

Southbound is definitely a unique experience in Atlanta.
In a strange location – a hipster-​y enclave in Chamblee – you’ll find unique food and a relaxing, casual experience.
My wife and I have actually only been here for brunch, on Saturday usually, which is a nice touch. It is for some reason extremely rare for good restaurants to be open for Saturday lunch in Atlanta, especially ITP. I have no idea why this is, but it must work to Southbound’s advantage. They usually have a pretty steady crowd that starts filing in around noon, at least in our experience.
The food portions are «just right.» Not too big, not too small, and extremely flavorful. My favorites have been their smoked chili, which unfortunately I don’t see on the menu anymore. Please bring it back! They have a couple of smokers outside which they do make some magic with. My wife enjoys the short rib hash, and I love the chicken biscuits. They have a hot chicken biscuit on their menu that I most recently tried last weekend which was delicious. The portions are large enough so you don’t really need any sides.
The only thing that actually takes away one star is one funny quirk: the food is kind of messy. Whether you’re ordering a sandwich, roll, or standard dish it’s a challenge to keep everything together and get that one bite. This is particularly true of their burger and their biscuits, which are very flavorful and delicious but you have to keep them from getting all over you. I usually just eat what I can with my hands and then resort to the fork and knife.
But you should go to Southbound and enjoy it. Definitely quality food, portions that satisfy without knocking you out cold like a lot of southern food can, and a great environment for having a drink and enjoying company. Prices are solid, too. Food here is frankly dirt cheap compared to other establishments of the same quality. Drinks will make up for that difference on your check as they use high-​quality ingredients and make some great cocktails.

I went to Southbound for the first time last night with a friend and we both enjoyed our meals. The place wasn’t too busy for a Saturday night (although it was the night after Christmas) and we were served quickly.
We shared the pimento cheese with bacon jam for an appetizer – the cheese was tasty and the bacon jam was more like bacon pâté. not my favorite but OK. I got the fried catfish and grits and my friend got the burger. My grits were well seasoned and tasty and my fish was crispy. Overall, a pretty good dish. My friend’s burger, however, was de-​freaking-​licious. The meat was juicy and grilled just right – after taking a bite of her food, I wished I’d ordered that instead.
This place is uniquely upscale without being too haughty for the Chamblee area – I’m digging it.

Southbound, so hot right now. Southbound.
I’ll admit, I didn’t think I would ever find a beautiful and delicious Southern resto like this one up in Chamblee, but for sure in hoods like Virginia Highlands, Decatur, and Inman Park. Anyways, what you need to know that Southbound is worth checking out, wherever you may be.
*****
I. FOOD
Their menu is robust, yet not overwhelming. From what I saw, they have plenty of shareables (snacks), entrees, and desserts. Our dinner party tasted a good number of dishes.
*Bread Basket: Don’t sleep on their fresh baked bread. Take a trip to #carbcity and stuff your face with a few slices. Their butter is fantastic.
*Charcuterie Board: House pickles, mustard, preserves, and ciabatta — super fun for everyone to dig in to and taste. If you like charcuterie boards, this is a great option.
*Hot Chicken: Ugh, this is Cinemax, NC 17 sexy. The chicken itself had crispy skin and truly succulent meat. (I like that, although fried, it didn’t taste dry.) The hot spice provided plenty of heat, without being overwhelming, and tasted more unique than other hot chickens I’ve tasted in my life with cilantro, arbol chili, garlic, and lime. This is a must.
*Cauliflower: I’m not exactly sure how they cook it, but damn did it taste wonderful. I wish all veggies could taste like this.
*Wood Grilled Octopus: Best non-​Asian style cooked octopus I’ve had. Ever. This small plate comes with crispy potato, green tomato, and crème fraiche, but really, I could’ve eaten it by itself. I’m adding this to my «Best Things I’ve Eaten In Atlanta» list.
*Wild Georgia Shrimp: Yes. Yes. Yes. Get this. With lemon, garlic, wine, and butter, you definitely can’t go wrong.
**Braised Pork Shoulder: Melt in your mouth meaty goodness. Comes with sage polenta, roasted veggies, and other greens.
***Apple Crumble: It was A-​OK, for me.
For drinks they have a robust wine list and plenty of drafs on tap. Oh, and if you love spirits (especially for bourbon and whiskey), you won’t be disappointed. You really can’t go wrong with anything here.
II. SERVICE
For a crowded restaurant, I thought the food came out at reasonable time. They did forget an order or two, but it’s not that big of a deal. No pretentiousness here, either. Very friendly.
III. ATMOSPHERE/​DÉCOR
It’s a large space with plenty of tables for four people or more, and they have a sizable bar. Definitely make reservations.
IV. PRICES
At first glance, they seem a bit pricey. But when you realize how large the portions are, then it’s really nothing to fuss about.
V. OVERALL
I would absolutely return to Southbound, again. And if you haven’t been, you should definitely give this restaurant a try.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with this place given the good reviews. I went for lunch on Friday ¹²⁄₁₁
Pro:
The décor is very rustic and nice. The hostess was quick to greet us and get our table.
Cons:
Service:
After being seated, it took about 15 minutes to get drinks and that’s b/​c I flagged down the bartender. She did apologize for the delay and advise our waitress was busy with a big group. The bartender gave us drinks and placed our orders. (never saw her again).
We did see our assigned waitress who did refill our drinks and gave us the bill. She also fail to even greet us or even apologize for her delay in serves.
Food:
We ordered the lunch catfish and spicy fried chicken sandwich with fries. We definitely loved the fries. The co worker was not a fan of her catfish and I felt like my fried chicken sandwich was wayyyy to fried and hard. The chicken also lacked flavors but the toppings on the sandwich such as the pineapple sauce and fried green tomato were good.

After having it bookmarked, I decided to give Southbound a try for brunch with my boyfriend the other day and I’m really happy I did!
Located in historic Chamblee on old train tracks, the building housing Southbound was formerly a fabrication and warehousing facility. The fact that it is now an upscale Southern restaurant just adds to its charm. The atmosphere and ambience of the restaurant was definitely a plus –Very southern, rustic, yet modern.
I got the biscuits and sausage gravy, and it did not disappoint. I love the bacon jam on top that they added. The creamy rich taste of the gravy, with the sweet and savory from the jam complimented the buttery biscuits really well.
My boyfriend got the steak and eggs AND the short ribs and eggs (I know, what a fattie). Both of which he was fairly satisfied with. He did commented that the short ribs n’ eggs was slightly greasy, but that didn’t stop him from leaving the restaurant pleased.
I’ll be back again to try their chicken biscuit, and possibly the highly raved fried green tomatoes!

Ah, the rustic lodge feel of Southbound; the reclaimed woods, the copper wash buckets fashioned into lamp shades, the worn brick… a bearded, flannel-​clad lumberjack would feel right at home here. At the bar, one drinks whiskey and regales the bar folk about all things manly — like pulling a covered wagon with one’s teeth, or using an open wound as an extra pocket, or getting pulled over by the police and letting them off with a warning. On second thought, perhaps not.
We were actually here for brunch. The wife ordered the Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. She reports that it tasted good but was missing something. She wished that the biscuits and gravy would’ve included some fried eggs. Perhaps they could’ve been added by request? The «bacon jam» on top though was a nice touch and the biscuits were clearly made in house with care. I ordered the Short Rib Hash. Generous hunks of braised short rib, lots of peppers, onions, and potato. Two sunny side up eggs on top. Good, but not great. Like my wife’s plate, mine was also missing something. Perhaps it was just a matter of balance and refinement. Overall, I’d say that the menu options sounded very appealing — it’s just a matter of how well those dishes are actually executed.
Service at the bar was very friendly and approachable. They attended to our every need with a smile. They have about ten beers on tap, a number of others in the bottle, about 30 different whiskeys, a decent selection of wines, and other spirits — a typically stocked bar.
Note: Abundant parking takes a lot of the headache out of dining out.

Finally made it to Southbound for brunch. I heard a lot of hype about it is a great atmosphere. I had the french toast and it stayed together much better than your typical french toast. Also very tasty. I definitely want to make it back for lunch or dinner.

I was excited to come here with a friend for her birthday. The décor was so old southern rustic. Loved it. The hostess who greeted me at the door? Even more delightful!
Now, let’s get down to it.
The food choices weren’t lengthy. But that’s fine because we were there for lunch and I don’t think a restaurant needs a long list of choices as it only overwhelms the customer because they feel like they have to try it all. Especially me. Not the best decision maker. Especially when it comes to menus. Anywho, our waitress was not the moat attentive. She wasn’t rude or anything (aside from reach over a few of us and our plates numerous times). I just feel like she may have been overwhelmed, although a few of my counterparts felt more strongly. I ordered the pork melt and as a side fried cauliflower. The sandwich looked and tasted great. The cauliflower, however. Nah. Nothing on their part, it just something about greasy veggies I guess. They were fried beautifully though. But I wish I had the fries. they looked yummy. Another diner at my table ordered fried green tomatoes, which I didn’t like. They were slimy and had this sauce on them that made them sweet.
The problem came in when some people at my table felt the waitress was rude and lacked attention to detail. We did have to ask other waitresses for water and condiments, but nothing huge. Some of their food was overcooked in used grease, the spicy chicken sandwich, and some of it lacked flavor. So we asked to collectively speak to the manager.
I’m impressed by how great the owner handled our table. He was understanding of our plight, as well as respectful of his waitress. He didn’t make excuses and attempted to remedy the problem. He had two of the plates re-​made and comp’ed them on our tickets and provided discounts and free dessert.
I would not allow this isolated experience to deter me from coming back and trying their dinner.

I love when I get to clear off a bookmark. I visited Southbound as part of a birthday celebration. There was adequate parking and the location was easy to find. Just look for the Big Green Eggs. The host made a reservation for 1pm and we were seated probably 15 minutes later. The hostess did apologize for the long wait and seated us as soon as the table was available. I love the décor of the restaurant including the brick finish and the lighting fixtures. The table settings are also very appealing.
Our waitress, never got her name, was not the most pleasant. I’m not sure of it was because we had a large party and sometimes servers have preconceived notions about larger parties or if she was new. She disappeared for long periods, she continuously reached over food almost grazing the plate, and was very nonchalant about issues such as wrong orders or burned food. Whenever we wanted to get refills we had to actually ask other waitresses.
We had a range of meals including the pork melt, spicy chicken sandwiches, fried green tomatoes, fried cauliflower, fried catfish, house salads, etc. Unfortunately, a few of the dishes fell short. We were greeted by one of the owners and explained the issues we were having. The owner did correct the dishes and comped a few of the meals. He even offered dessert.
I appreciate the owners willingness to listen and his assistance on the matter. I would like to return to Southbound especially for the dessert and to try the dinner menu. Hopefully I will have a better experience.

Visited here with a few friends for a work lunch. Since this was an early lunch (11:30), we had no issues with a wait or with parking. Though when I left, the parking lot was pretty full. A party of 6 arriving at different times was no problem. They sat us at a table for 4 next to another empty table so that others could join late.
Their spicy fried chicken sandwich is quite the popular dish. Our waitress told us that it is one of the only (or only) menu item that continues to survive the menu changes. Unfortunately, I had a Chik-​Fil-​A sandwich earlier that week and wasn’t interested in another chicken sandwich. I opted for the BLT as our waitress recommended that over the catfish and chips.
I rather enjoyed the BLT. Though I wish it wasn’t served on a bun. It was just too much bread. Sliced bread would have been preferred. Our first serving of fries had been burnt to death. The whole party. So we complained and they had to give us all new servings. The new ones were much better. I didn’t try it, but my friend raved about the chicken sandwich. I will have to try that the next time I stop in.

####10.10 2^nd Visit within a week, just can not wait to explore more about the menu. Sit on their 2^nd floor, it’s quite a sport bar feeling area, since it was UT vs UGA game day, they set up a big TV screen and there are quite a few tables were eating and watching the game at the same time. Smart arrangement!
Oh, btw, the vintage style tables and chairs on this floor are all by its own piece, no matches! Again, I can see how devoted the owner put into his heart to the restaurant, pretty sure he got a wide collection from the antique stores near-​by, even include the bar stand.
************Large Plates***************
NY Strip, still a huge plate, again this dish is enough for two girls! Love how they prepare the potato chips — in a rectangle cake! feel crispy and soft! We ordered medium, which totally works, since I prefer 70%, my friend prefer 30%, so got most of the out layer of the steak, quite good quality meat! While my buddy got the pinky juicy inner part, he loved it as well. A MUST TRY.
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I live 2 miles away… feltl so shamed that only visited until tonight after its opening in May last year. Southbound is so far my best Southern food dinning experience (considering the traffic –5min drive from mine, food quality –tasty with huge portion, coziness –nice and warm service, environment –chic design/​décor and of course the price –good money value) all around ATL. Now I understand, why Southbound is voted as the Best Newbie 2014 in Chamblee area by Atlanta Magazine.
I came here with two good friends on this Wednesday evening, for my belated B day treat. We were impressed by the trendy/​rusty/​southern but welcoming décor once stepping inside, nice and neat! Since all three of us like to try new stuff, we decided to share very dish, and our waitress Rose was really sweet and patient about it. Here are what we ordered:
************Small Plates***************
— the size is like normal dish at other restaurants
Cauliflower, it’s a new dish on their fall menu, well baked veggie with brown butter vinaigrette! It got some real pomegranate seeds as part of the topping!!! We really loved the cutting edge idea to mix all these ingredients together, you can feel the autumn warm but also some crispy freshness busting from the pomegranate! A MUST TRY.
Wild GA Shrimp, the best shrimp dish I have had so far. It 100% maintains the sweetness and freshness of those shrimps while you can see and taste the fine spice alongside the dish, fantastic source and exotic seasoning (reminds me some southeast Asian flavors)! A MUST TRY.
************Large Plates***************
—I mean, they are really really LARGE! thought I were in Texas… ;-p
Fried NC Catfish & Grits, maybe the shrimps were so hard to forget, the flavor was still lingering around your tongue and dancing in your mouth; still we liked the fish — its crispy fried layer was a little bit dry (since we’ve tasted and been spoiled by so many good layers on fried chickens) but the fish inside was so tender and juicy that melting in your mouth immediately. Surprisingly, there’s not so much grits in it, wish I could taste more of this southern charm. Overall, a bit plain. But if you are into seafood and grits, try it.
Smoked Short Rib, it’s the largest portion of meat I’ve ever ordered… a single dish can easily feed up 3 persons! From this plate, you can feel the truly friendliness by the owner, they are catering your appetite! Meat lovers, order this, you would be 120% satisfied by this big chunk!
Spinach Fettuccine, another highlight of the night. The hidden fall mushrooms with a bit hint of sherry were well blended with the light and chewy noodles, it was indeed a very seasonal fine feel! A MUST TRY.
************Sweets**************
—Only four choices, but all home made
Bourbon Pecan Pie, a large slice of the pie with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can feel the booze, the pecan and the icy creamy richness blended all together as a fall carnival in your mouth… it’s not a typical sweet to death desert, which all 3 of us love it, no crumb left =)
Chocolate Almond Mousse, in a Chobani cup sized lovely glass, one spoon taste was just so rich: the smoothness of the mousse, crunchy bites of diced almond and the hint of savory taste mixed with the orange oil. The chef took care of a lot good details. I suggest 3 or 4 guests share one order, otherwise, you may fall in too deep with this deathly chocolate devil. A MUST TRY.
Food: 4.5
Décor: 4.5
Service: 4.5
It is really tough to find some place with a simple yet smart design menu, roomy and cozy décor, sweet and nice service nowadays. Glad I found the hidden gem in my neighborhood tonight! We spent 2 hours sitting here, eating and chatting, all wished staying longer, this was a memorable night of food and fun with friends. =) Next time, I will definitely try their cocktail menu, brunch (Sunday 11am-​3pm, sitting in the sun shine on their nice porch).

Definitely the best place I have hit while in the Atlanta area. The place is very cool, the ambiance is relaxed, rustic and hip. The service at the bar was as good as it gets. The bar staff took great care of me. The Bourbon cocktails were made to perfection and they had some fantastic beers on tap. These guys are not just filling drinks, they live for the craft.
The food menu was also very interesting which made for some difficult decisions. I started with the wood grilled octopus which was fantastic and followed up with the smoked pork chop with grilled asparagus and creamed turnips. Both were large portions that I couldn’t get enough of. Just like the drinks, you could taste the passion from the BOH team putting out some great food.
When I return to ATL, I will be returning to Southbound for the food, drinks, and most importantly the amazing service!

Much hyped, we were excited to try a non Asian restaurant in the Chamblee area. It’s the ultimate American southern restaurant, with a hip and preppy vibe in décor and atmosphere. I believe we were the only non Caucasians in the entire restaurant, which never happens in Chamblee…
We were seated at a table near the outdoor patio, but not quite outside. Green Eggs sit near the patio smoking meat.
I ordered a grapefruit raspberry mimosa, per recommendation of our server, which was not on the menu. It was sweet and bubbly, I just wish it came with refills! My friend ordered a spin off of a Bloody Mary, and it was not good…
The lunch menu was small but had some great options of multiple meat entrees, salads and sandwiches. I ordered the wood grilled ribeye, which came with a small slab of meat, some mashed potatoes and onions. The portion was tiny but it was still delicious. For $ 15, I guess I shouldn’t have expected a large hearty steak.
My companions ordered the salmon, the fried chicken biscuit, and the pan roasted chicken. The garnishes were amazing and the meats themselves were cooked well, just not much to rave about. The plating and presentation was beautiful, but I was still hungry after my entrée…
Overall, I wasn’t altogether satisfied with my lunch but I hope that if I ever come back for dinner, I can get more to the meal. I’m struggling between a three and a four, but until Southbound can prove its value in service and food during dinner since I wasn’t seeing it at lunch.