South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor Reviews

Ah.....it's so much fun and so inspiring to go to a restaurant that has the food down. South has a lovely atmosphere...down to the very last detail care has been shown. And the food was excellent. Really. I am always so impressed when fried food is light. Yes, normally "light fried food" is an oxymoron...but not when done properly. Yum is all I can say.

Great music, service, food and infrastructure! We really enjoyed every minute! We will be back very soon!

We came to see a tribute to Frankie Beverly with Weas Newton and Gerald Beasly. Had so much fun, the music was fantastic, back up singers were queens! The food was also excellent. They do include 20% gratuity in the bill which I really appreciated but even better is they actually told you they did this. Will def come back.

We’ve been to all the Jazz clubs. If you combine the quality of talent, food and service, South is the best. We would return just for the food. It was excellent. Great room. Perfect size. Our server, Jessica, was efficient and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. The place to go in Philly for great food and Entertainment.

Wow! we did not expect what we experienced. A warm greeting as we walked in the door and a garden rustic atmosphere that put us in mind of the best restaurants in New Orleans. There does not appear to be a bad seat in the house either in the dining room, bar area or music area, We had tickets for a 9pm Jazz trio and decided to go early, have dinner, and move into the music room. The food was unexpectedly outstanding. We tasted, BLUE CRAB & FRIED GREEN TOMATO crab ravigote ● avocado ● pimento puree. CRISPY ROCK SHRIMP buttermilk marinated ● baby tomato relish ● comeback sauce. CHICKEN FRIED OYSTERS Texas toast ● bacon - red eye gravy ● mirliton coleslaw. BERKSHIRE PORK spoonbread ● creamed collards ● boudin croquette ● sorghum mustard. CRAWFISH STUFFED FLOUNDER country potatoes ● mushrooms ● spring onions ● saffron lemon thyme sauce. AND,Gumbo of the Day. Each of these had a wow factor that will make us return again and again. Simply put this is well done creative food with a southern charm. I am going to spare you the accolades and breakdown of each dish and tell you to just come here and enjoy. Of course great food is only made better by great waitstaff. Reubin was our waiter and we could not have had a more knowledgeable and helpful waiter. The bar needs to also be mentioned because the Sazeracs, and Hampton Manhattans were delicious. After dinner Reubin paved our way to a good table in the music room where another friendly and capable server, Sarah, took dessert orders. Of course you could have ordered food as others around us did and drinks. This was a great night out, the ambiance, staff, food, drinks,and music will keep us coming back. If you are visiting Philadelphia and want an evening of food and jazz music this is the place. Check the website for up to date details.

Went to hear our nephew play with Michelle Lordi. Had a great dinner, and enjoyed great music. Hope to come again. Beautiful ambiance.

First of all, the decor is amazing. A bottle tree on the ceiling with Spanish moss and dozens of bottles hanging down, whitewashed clapboard cupboards filled with gem-toned preserves and pickles, soft jazz in the background. It felt like you were eating in a real, old mill of something-sugar? molasses? cotton? So cool! Then there was the food! Michael was our waiter, very knowledgeable and willing to split up our bills since we were all in Philly for a conference. The hush-puppies and cornbread were perfect, I could have eaten them all night. I also ordered the fried green tomatoes, they were crispy and a little spicy, just right! I had the fried catfish with cheesy grits, the batter was so crisp and the fish was so fresh. One of us had the steak, she gave me a bite that melted in my mouth. Others ordered snapper, octopus, duck breast, chicken. Everything was so delicious, not one bad bite! We were so full we couldn't get dessert, but I saw the pie at someone else's table and it looked amazing. Our cocktail-something with bourbon that I could have had 10 of-was really flavorful. I think I scared the owner's son? nephew? when I accosted him at the end of our meal to say that it really was one of the top 10 meals I have ever had. Cannot wait to go back!

Love the atmosphere here, warm and inviting. We celebrated our anniversary here. I had shrimp and grits, which was so good, then we went to the Jazz Parlor ordered some drinks and listened to some great music. This place is not too big or too small, it was comfortable for a party of 9. Staff was friendly, nice.

It's TGIF and you want to find a place that you dont have to fight to park, has a nice open bar and a great drink menu and oh yea a raw bar. This place which was once Route 6 is now South Kitchen. Sit or stand at the bar or grab a comfy seat across, relax and enjoy. Perfect, place to let GO! DJ

Just north of City Hall is a venue that will satisfy the most sophisticated diner and the most avid jazz aficionado. As you enter you'll find a comfortable lounge with welcoming sofas & cocktail tables across from the full service bar. Greetings by the friendly hostesses will immediately make you feel at home. The main dining room is a couple of steps down from the lounge & is accessible by stairs or a ramp. The "Southern Cuisine Friendly" menu is available in the main dining room and the separate jazz venue. From drink friendly bar starters to the main entrees, sophisticated diners and music lovers alike will enjoy the southern flavors exploding on their palates. All the the dishes are prepared fresh and creatively plated by the skilled kitchen and presented by the knowledgeable and welcoming servers. There is a very reasonable cover charge/ticket for the music venue which has a full & varied event schedule throughout the year. There are usually 2 live music sets at 8pm & 10/11pm.

We had a WONDERFUL time at South Kitchen last night! Attended the 9 pm jazz set with Eric Darius and The Gerald Veasley Band. Good service for the large crowd, food was great - I had fried lobster, husband had catfish. Atmosphere was relaxed and casual. Tickets for jazz area are separate and must be purchased in advance. Restaurant / Kitchen side can be enjoyed without entrance into jazz stage area. We will be back soon!

Loved it - food was excellent and we enjoyed the live jazz show. Friendly staff. Need to find parking on the street.

Music was great in the jazz parlor. Food was ok. Service was slooowwwwww. They appeared to be understaffed. Would not order the oyster po boy again (oysters were not the freshest). Blackened salmon was overcooked. Go for the music and stick with the appetizers.

A wonderful experience. Took my wife in March to celebrate her birthday. We absolutely love going to Philly. Parking in Philly is always a bit challenging but did not deter from the experience. Didn't mind the crowd as it was Friday night. Had great seats for the show. Food was a wee bit pricey but WORTH IT! Cornbread, mac-n-cheese, crabcakes, everything was on point. Hospitality was excellent. Didn't finish the wine though but we took with us to Sofitel (wrote a review on that as well). Looking forward to the next great experience. There is a great NEED for this type of establishment in the NYC metro area. Thanks again for a wonderful time.

Get the biscuits and gravy... and a cocktail. That’s really all you need to know. Southern charm in the heart of Philly. I’ll be back soon!

This was my first jazz show and the experience was flawless. The food was incredible. Our seats were perfect. The service was excellent. I highly recommend this fantastic venue.

This was our first visit to South & it will not be our last. We made reservations for a Saturday evening, right a 6:00. We ordered cocktails & watched the band get ready for the show. The waitress was wonderful, we decided to slowly order a few appetizers before deciding on our entree. They never rushed us to make a decision, we ordered our entree right before the show started at 7 and it was perfect to have our meal while listening to the beautiful music. We didn't save room for dessert but I am going to make a point to order it next time. Love it!

I have been looking forward to dining at South ever since I heard about it 3 months ago. Let me tell you, this place is everything and more than. My wife and I finally made it up there yesterday for our Anniversary. From the ambiance to the performance was phenomenal. The service was very friendly and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. This place is what you would imagine a modern upscale jazz house would be. Now, the food was amazing!! For appetizer we ordered the shrimp deviled eggs. Now, I normally scrape out the yoke in deviled eggs, but I knew this had a twist and wanted to try them... I'm glad i did. Very delicious.. On to the entrees. My wife ordered the jerked chicken and I ordered the beef short ribs... Oh my god... First, my wife's jerked chicken, it was plated very well and it was healthy portions. The flavor was nice, little to light on the jerk for my taste, but she really enjoyed it. If I order it next time I will ask them if they can slice it up. She also loved the cornbread.. same as warmdaddy's.... Now on to the short ribs.... man oh man, these short ribs were phenomenal.. now I like my ribs cooked extremely well on the grill. The waiter told us that the ribs we cooked for at least two hours, so I was curious to what they would taste like.. I found a new love for how these ribs were cooked... they were so tender and the bbq sauce was great, very light and favorable. I swapped out the greens for the garlic string beans and they were cooked perfectly.... we enjoyed every bit we could eat. Could finish it because the portions were plentiful. Now the entertainment for the night was Papo Vazquez Quartet. They were great!! They played music from they new album, very, very nice. We got to meet Papo afterward and bought his CD. Very personable guy and his wife was great too. We will definitely be back to partake in some good food and entertainment..

Came here with a group for a friends birthday last weekend. We had 8pm reservations. The restaurant was a little loud as it was a Saturday night and we had trouble hearing the server from one end of the table to the other. Service was a little on the slow side, but for 9 people it was expected. We were there for three hours enjoying each others company. The food and cocktails? Delicious. I ordered the shrimp pappardelle pasta and I almost licked my plate clean. It was absolutely delicious. I looked at everyone around the table and nearly everyone finished their plates. I had the strawberry cucumber lemonade cocktail and that was also to die for. I would highly recommend South if you're in no rush.

5 star experience and service. I was very excited to come to this black owned restaurant in Philadelphia. It was me and my partner 2 year anniversary so we thought we would enjoy the live Jazz show as well. As soon as we walked it we were greeted with by warm smiling faces which made us feel very welcome. The ambience was amazing and decor was very unique We arrive about 30 minutes before the show and headed over to the bar to grab a drink before the show , the cocktails were very good and the bartender was very friendly and attentive. The bar is very small , all the seats were taken so we had to stand. Once we were seated in the jazz lounge area by our waiter he suggested somethings and went over the specials. We started off with the devil eggs and cornbread. For our entrees I had the Fried Chicken and my partner had the prime rib. Everything came out quickly and at the perfect temperature. The manager, host, waiter, and the band were phenomenal. They were even nice enough to give us a shout out and complementary dessert for our anniversary. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone. The hospitality here is exceptional.

Another great show and another over the top meal. It’s not your everyday Catfish, sweet potatoes, collard greens and cornbread at Soul. I was too full to taste my husband’s salmon. I just know he ate the entire entree. Oh, did I say how great the sangria was!

For fans of the old Zanzibar Blue, Robert & Ben Bynum are back with a vengence and you'll love South! One doesn't typically rave about the bread served before the meal, but Pastry Chef Andrea's Gouda Biscuits and honey cream cheese butter alone are worth a visit! My wife had the Shrimp & Grits which were outstanding. The Georgia Crispy Trout was cooked perfectly - crispy yet moist. The house specialty Liberty Cobbler cocktail combining whiskey and blueberries was a delicious surprise. Our waiter Rick, who also worked at Zanzibar, was friendly, informative and attentive. Oh yea, the jazz... Can't wait to come back!

We took my wife here for her birthday in December with the whole family, and we have a big one. The service was incredibly warm and accommodating from the moment we walked in the front door until the time we left the establishment. Our server was exceptional, attentive, prompt, and skilled at her job. She was so friendly she felt like part of our huge family for the night. The food exceeded our expectations! It was that sing while you eat kind of good! The flavors went so well together. If you go, you want to consider the grouper fish dish. It was so delicious, I stopped eating it, while at the restaurant, so I would have some for the next day. Everyone in my family felt the same way about their dishes. The ambience is perfect for any occasion. It's cozy, but not small, and the live music is a huge plus. It's just not your typical soul food restaurant that intends to bore you with predictability. We're foodies and South ranks highly on our list of places to go in the city. Do yourself a favor and go if you've not been yet. You won't regret it and you can thank me later!

South is a great place to see live jazz and eat good food for a reasonable price. We saw Marion Meadows here with a very good trio of backing musicians. The jazz is held in a seperate area from the main restaurant and bar. We eat from a set munu for $35 dollars which had a good choice of food across 3 courses. Recommend a visit. Only gripe is that you have to book tickets via ticket fly with a Facebook account..WHY south?

Great atmosphere, good lighting and setting. Interesting contemporary take on soul food. The food is good and a diverse menu to choose from. The Jazz was great and made the whole night unforgettable. The service was friendly although could improve in efficiency. I’ll be back next time I’m in Philly for sure!

We made a reservation for 7pm and arrived on time but our table was not ready. We had to wait at least 10-15mins to get a table. We sat in the Jazz parlor which is $10 extra per person. The space in the jazz parlor is tight , dimly lit area with small stage for the band. Our server was not very pleasant and had a bit of an attitude. The restaurant was participating in restaurant week so we had a limited menu. The food was mediocre but the band was great.

Besides having wonderful music 6 nights a week , the food is fantastic! The catfish was so good and the Mac & cheese was the best I have ever had in a restaurant. The staff are friendly and the entire vibe of the place is just great. Highly recommend.

Went for an evening of jazz. The place was very elegant and the music was awesome. The food was very good and staff was very nice.

Solid southern-influenced American menu in a great setting. Located on North Broad, street parking can be a little rough, but fortunately they do have a valet service. The bar area included tables for dinner only, but I thought it was worth the $7.00 cover charge per person to sit in the room where the musicians performed. What's nice is that unlike other jazz clubs the seating is not cramped at all which makes for a much pleasanter dining experience. Complimentary bread basket with cornbread & biscuits served with a honeyed butter. Our party of 6 liked our cheese board, gem salads and oysters for appetizers. For dinner the chicken and trout entrees were favorites. Portions were a decent size and I think if you stick with the basics you will be fine. Desserts were the weakest of the courses with the warm Strawberry Rhubarb turnover the best of the bunch. Great cocktails and very warm cordial service.

Was taken out for my birthday to South Kitchen and was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the meal, service, and music. Had a great meal of catfish, hush puppies , and collared greens. We'll prepared and bee tasty. Music was great. Three live jazz bands to groove to. Great time. Recommend the restaurant.

My husband and I ate here before going to a concert at the MET. The restaurant was not busy when we ordered, but it took about an hour to be served. The decor was rustic which was fine, but this makes for poor acoustics. Hence it being very loud. As I said the food was very good. We won't rush back to eat.

Philadelphia's hidden Gem. At first site I knew I wanted to visit this place. IT WAS PERFECT. There place offers three different sitting areas. They even supplied me with a vase for my flowers. My waiter Guy, Gman, Gmoney was very informative and offered great suggestions off the menu. Great tunes could be heard in the main dining area. I ordered Lamb, fell right off the bone , perfect. There cornbread and pear cobbler is a must. These place is great for both business and dates. We moved to the Jazz entertainment area, low lighting very intimate and amazing artist. I cant wait to return.

Great Southern Cooking in North Philly. The chicken gumbo was very tasty but not spicy. The cornbread skillet is a good appetizer. The main entrees were very filling.

This restaurant and jazz spot was very crowded on the Saturday evening we attended. We saw Alex Bugnon and it was AMAZING. The jazz part is lovely, small and intimate, maybe 25 tables or so, and they cram people in for sure. We did not eat dinner here, just dessert, but the service in the music space was spotty. We had to ask for drinks multiple times before they were brought to the table. We ordered the cornbread which was just ok. Raspberry sorbet was a tad sweet. Aside from that, the space is wonderful and I would definitely return and try the food as well as take in more jazz.

Great place. Beautiful interior. Great staff. Good music. Food was delicious. Had the chicken which was wonderful. Dessert were absolution delicious. I sampled everyone one. You have got to check this place out. I will do again on my next trip to Philadelphia. Philly is known for great food and this place is among the top of the list.

I found South to be one of my most enjoyable meals of the past year. To start, the inside setting is very comfortable and well designed. For my taste the food was absolutely delicious. We shared appetizers which were all very good. My entree was the "pressed lamb" which was a stand out. Simply excellent. We do not normally order desert but here we needed to try; again very enjoyable. The service was warm and friendly. South would be a great case for a 4.5 star rating but given that option is not possible I'm going with a 5. I'm already looking forward to going back

First, I want to say that the host and the management staff are very professional. The ambience of the establishment is awesome. I started with a old cocktail ( Between the sheets) made with Hennessy VSOP. It turned out great. For our appetizer I ordered the mussels which was just amazing! My guest ordered the short ribs sorry to say she didn’t like them. However, that amazing staff returned that order and we both had the butter milk fried chicken dishes. They where amazing. The music was also, amazing they did a tribute to the great Nancy Wilson the where awesome as well. South Keep Doing What You Do! May God continue to bless you all!

Excellent service and great food! We arrived at 8 without a reservation. They had a show that night that was sold out, but when we told them we were just there to eat, the manager found a table for us. Had the curry chicken dish and the fried chicken dish. Both were awesome!!!! Our server was very personable. We are from out of town for a concert and this was a great find and walking distance from The Mint House.

This restaurant is located in a quieter area of center city on the corner of Broad St and Mt Vernon. The shabby chic exterior, with small informal dining patio, understates the vibrancy inside, where in addition to the sizable main restaurant (split into distinct areas creating a more cozy ambience) there is a bar and also an annex which functions as a jazz club. We were too late to purchase tickets for the main event and sit in that area, but we're able to enjoy some of the music which drifted through the doors. Arriving just before 7 we were able to purchase our first cocktails and snacks at happy hour pricing, very reasonable. The creole lemonade with Pimm's and white rum was delicious, with a spicy kick. Hot cornbread served in the skillet with honey butter seemed to be everyone's go to but the pulled pork flatbread was great too. The seafood gumbo with scallop, shrimp and oysters was big and tasty, the wood roasted salmon was cooked to perfection and much lighter. We'll return soon for shrimp and grits, which looked mouthwateringly good, and buttermilk fried chicken. Service was a little on the slow side (rushed off their feet) but very pleasant and helpful.

We actually came trying something different for my wife’s birthday. What a pleasant surprise. It’s a very nice place the food was good and the staff was attentive. I would definitely go back .

We attended a great concert in an incredibly unique venue. There are very few places you can see nationally/Internationally recognized acts in such a cozy environment. We had dinner afterwards - the Redfish and Fried Chicken were both wonderful.

The Jazz Parlor features the areas best Jazz Musicians and an appreciative crowd. At the start of the show guests are asked to refrain from conversation and keep voices low. For us, this is a welcome change from the many venues where you can barely hear the music over the din of loud chatter and laughter. Tables are in close quarters, but its a cozy feel. We were there for the band more than the food and not having had soul food before, it's a bit difficult to rank it. However, the blackened salmon and the roasted chicken were both delicious. The staff is perfectly attentive. Hostess Courtney held our table for us when we got stuck in traffic and arrived more than an hour late on a crowded Friday evening. They offer valet parking for $18. They'll park you right on Broad St. So, if you see a spot near by, you might as well self park. We will definitely be going back.

Had some Broadway type folks visiting my wife and we took them here for dinner on a recent friday night. We had reservations but they could not seat at us at a table but could seat us at the kitchen counter which was not great for conversation but so what? The service was great and based on the review in the Inquirer, I tried a rum drink prior to dinner. I am a light-weight so if you can handle strong drink, ok but for me, couldnt handle it...as to dinner I had a lamb shoulder and a duck and sausage gumbo.both were top notch...my wife had chicken which was according to her"just right " . IN and adjoining room is a jazz combo (it was sold out for the night) but it would be great to sit in there and listen to some good jazz. We finished with a piece of pecan pie and ice cream which was nicely prepared and talking about baking, the biscuits served with dinner were great as well. This restaurant is by the Bynum brothers , who i understand , are well respected in the Philadelphia restaurant scene. I would go back and next time go for the shrimp or the pork for two. Oh, one other thing, if you sit at the counter, there is a 3 course prix fix menu that you can have which is worth looking at. I am not sure if that menu option is available at the tables.

My first visit was fabulous. I am celebrating my birthday month and this was a great start. Great service, drinks, food and entertainment. You must add South to your list when visiting PHILADELPHIA.

Best Fried Catfish filet I have eaten in years. Cleanly fried and tasty. Friends visiting from NYC loved vegetarian options and salmon filets. Good work Chef! Service was attentive and timely. I will continue to make South my go place for taking my out of town friends.

The Bynum brothers have been a household word in Philly for years and when I visited recently, I had high expectations for this venture. However, I was disappointed with the ambiance and the food. The venue isnt large and because it's in an open space, noisy. We sat at the chef's counter. Service was sporadic and not fluid as they had a large group so we were neglected. They have shrimp in a lot of dishes so I was linited in my choices since I am allergic to them. The fried oysters were best and should have been a meal and not appetizer. Since I like their other restaurants, I might give them another chance. However, I was sorely disappointed this time.

We go to lots of jazz concerts and like seats up front. South staggers reservations for the “listening room” by the half hour, starting and hour and a half or even two hours before the first show. So to get seats up front, our best strategy would seem to be to make our reservation for the earliest available slot – which we do. But there’s another consideration. Priority in a time slot depends on order of actual arrival. We live in the burbs. It takes us forty-five minutes to an hour door-to-door. So if want seats up front, we have to leave our house as much as three hours before showtime! Earlier still to get priority. That chews a lot out of a day. Saturday night we learned - the hard way - that we can follow the “rules,” and blow all that early departure time. South had unilaterally “suspended” their seating priority policy. And they hadn’t bothered to let us know before we came down, let alone before we bought our nonrefundable tickets. They had given people attending an “engagement party” in the jazz room front rows of tables and the front side tables, regardless of their arrival time. To make matters worse, several of the people at the party tables didn’t even stay for the much of the performance. So we were not only pushed to the back half of the room, but pushed back in favor of empty seats! To add insult to injury, South claims to have a “no-noise” policy in their “listening room.” But they didn’t seem to have much of one last night, as it was violated by the remaining party-goers. We understand that the restaurant wants to encourage large parties to come. But they shouldn’t do so to the detriment of other guests who, unlike random members of a party, are clearly coming for the music. And, as revenue is the primary business consideration, who are also more likely to be repeat customers. The priority seating and no-noise policies imply that they appreciate not only the music, but also their patrons’ passion for it. Why would they put a party in a “listening” room in the first place, then seat them where they could cause the most disruption? Why frustrate your most passionate core audience? The answer is, they shouldn’t. But If they’re going to “suspend” their policies to accommodate parties, they should warn guests before they buy their nonrefundable tickets. Or you give the party a block of seats on the side or in the back, let those who are there for the music have the best seats – and still enforce your listening policy.

Birthday dinner/show 8/6 3 people Slow service, salmon served as crab appetizer, food salty bill rang up twice, spent $400. Now have to contact bank. Nice decor, show ok I will not return.

I actually feel badly giving only 3 stars so let me say, right off, the food was EXCELLENT! Let me explain my disappointment. Friends and I made a reservation for dinner before a show at the Met. I looked at the menu on line and planned what I would get. When we sat down, we were informed right away that there was no chicken and waffles. Not a problem, that isn’t what I was going to get anyway. I ordered the ribeye. Oh, so sorry, they don’t have that. (??). They were changing their menu so some items on the menu that we were given were not actually available. (A little “heads up” would have been nice). OK, plan B, the Lancaster chicken. Nope. Plan C, the sorghum roasted hen of the woods. Ummm....the waiter left to check. Nope, again. So, of the 9 large plate options, 4 were not available, 4 were fish (I don’t eat fish) and the “Lamb belly”??? Just, NO. So, now what? “We have buttermilk fried chicken”. Well, how would I have known that? I can understand that you’re revamping the menu and it doesn’t make sense to print new ones until ready but, really?? A chalk board at the entrance? A piece of paper insert in the menu? SOMETHING make diners aware of their options. One of my party spoke with the manager, who was apologetic. I will try South again (after their new menu is established) because, as I said, their food was fantastic and portions large.

Food was AMAZING! The staff really work together as a team! Great menu idea for people such as myself who were going to the show at the Met! Great idea to get people in and get people out!

If you like real jazz and good food and drinks then look no further. This was a recommendation from a friend and they did not disappoint. The atmosphere is nice, the food and drinks were great and the music was excellent. This is a nice spot for a date night or just an evening on the town with good music, I would definitely return.

This spot was suggested by a local friend as we were day-tripping from NJ. So We didnt know what to expect. But this place delivered 5 Star service all around. We did not have reservations during Valentines Day weekend. But The host has very informative on how walk-ins work for reservations and that we could wait at the bar. The decor is great. Very well thought out and gives you southern charm. The drinks were excellent at the bar. Our table was ready within 15-20 mins. Our drinks & appetizers were easily transferred to our table in the jazz lounge. The music was entertaining & the artist where top-notch. The food we ordered off the dinner menu were very tasty. Hands down, one of the better dining experiences we've had in a while.

The best part of South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor besides the yummy comfort food (order the skillet cornbread!), the comfortable layout which can handle different types of guest experiences from a date night, to solo dining or to a larger group seated with out anyone feeling crammed is; of course, the excellent musicians performing each night. The performers change, so be sure to check their schedule for dates, times and ticket prices. All our food was delicious, with our one nitpick: the broccolini portion being noticeably smaller than the other veggie servings. Entree portions are large and satisfying and the kitchen was very accommodating in adjusting some items to meet our guest's dietary needs. Highly recommend the Sweet Potato Cheesecake for dessert along with their hefty and not too sweet warm Apple Crumble. The vibe is laid back and the service from kitchen to tabletop is sometimes a bit slower than you may be accustomed to; but it's a jazz venue, and it really is time to sit back and relax and enjoy the music.

Was here for a wedding shower. Bartenders were extremely rude for no reason. Food was pretty good but the experience was ruined. If you work in the service industry, you should at least ATTEMPT to provide good service. I understand employers have a tough time finding quality staff post pandemic but they were awful. We'll never go back.

Had the 3 course menu for 30 dollar. In 5 weeks the States hands down best restaurant for this price Ive seen. Super nice staff, haute cuisine style (creole American fusion) food, American portions, what else do you want? ;)

I booked at this restaurant/Jazz Parlor 2 weeks ahead of time because I was attending an event in nearby walking distance at a certain time after that with my husband which we rarely ever get to have a night out because of having a young child. Two days before my reservation, they call to cancel my reservations noting that it was a ticketed event and if I didn't purchase a ticket already that the show is sold out. Had I been informed this at the time of my booking, then I could have made the choice to pay the fee or I would have switched to the restaurant only side. Now there is nothing available at the times that would work for us and no other nearby restaurants at this time have any availability either. I'm just so very disappointed in this place as I was really looking forward to everything.

I am always shocked a how Philly has too few eateries with live music, it's a damn shame. With our rich musical history (and ongoing one), we should have more places like South, where cuisine and music merge together beautifully and deliciously. (rant over) A few things about the place irk me, but it's mostly about the space which is something the restaurant can't do much about.The restaurant itself is designed a little wonky. Obviously SOUTH inherited (former restaurant) Route 6's design so that might be the limitation? Either way, the bar and lounge area is awkwardly designed and the flow of people and service is a little congested. Wish the bar was bigger and had more seating. If you attend a show in the jazz parlor, you have to wait in this very space, so depending on how large the crowd is, the wait game isn't fun if you have to fight for space and to be able to order a drink. Also the system by which you are seated in the jazz parlor, is first come and first served. Assigned a number and then waiting for your seating block and having the hostess call out your number (and hearing her if you're lucky) - The jazz parlor is also not designed well, congested, small, and the sight lines are pretty restricted unless you're sitting at one of the cafe tables in the middle (and even then depending on the crowd). Also if you're more than two people dining at said cafe tables, the table gets small and fast as far as plate and glass space. That being said, service was friendly and attentive while not drawing attention away from the show. The food is extremely good, extremely rich and each time it is devoured in its entirety. Plates wiped clean. Menu is well thought out, courses are parsed out well (even in the parlor!) and wines aren't overpriced (what a shock!) Shrimp deviled eggs and chicken fried oysters are exactly what the doctor ordered. And for your main, go with fish - it's cooked on point, every side and accompanying item well placed and intended. This is soul food with a capital S, but elevated, which I love. As for the music, well that is the very big cherry on the ever lovely sundae. Amazing jazz and good food, it's perfection. If it's tunes and expertly prepared soul food you seek, SOUTH is the place.

I enjoyed this restaurant my son and I went to dinner and I cannot say how impressed I was with the service. Everything was amazing and fast the band they had performing was awesome. The food was outstanding I definitely will be back.

I visited South last night for the late Jazz set at 11pm which was amazing! It was pretty late so I decided to just have cocktails and a dessert. The mojito was good but the pineapple upside down bread pudding was to die for! Omg I pray they keep this on the menu so when I come back I can get it again! The staff was good also! This is a great establishment. I will be back again soon!

We went to South in hopes of having a few drinks and appetizers before our show at The Met. We were seated at the counter. Our waiter came over, asked if we were going to The Met, when we said yes, he promised we'd be out in plenty of time. It took almost 15 minutes just to get our drinks (a restaurant signature cocktail and a glass of wine on tap). After 50 minutes, we still had not received either of our two appetizers, one of which was just a cheese board! Our waiter never communicated anything to us about the hold up. When we said we were leaving ,his response was ,"nothing else I can do". Terribly disappointing. We waiting until our show was over after 10pm to go somewhere else to eat.

Lovely main bar, overall great ambiance, interesting menu and good happy hour -- should have been great, but the food missed its mark each time. The crawfish and boudin apps ended up just being fried balls without much distinct flavor. The pork porterhouse, is really disappointing, dry and not that flavorful. Cocktails at least we're quite good. Lots of promise without delivering where it counts: flavor. By the way please make sure what you point on your website for happy hour is correct - it's not (oysters)!

This place is Black excellence. Wonderful food, staff and ambience. I will definitely come back when in Philly. The place is just awesome!

Every year my girlfriends and I come to Philadelphia for shopping. This year we included a jazz concert in our plans. We saw the live performance of Greg Karakus. It was fantastic. South has a wonderful atmosphere and the acoustic was on point. While there I met Gerald Veasley and even toke a picture with him. I will always include a visit to South every year on our shopping trip.

Attended a jazz concert here on 1/3. The restaurant is located on the corner of Broad and Mt. Vernon Streets. There is a green soul restaurant located next to it. The parking is scarce but after 6:00 it is free and is beyond the two hour limit. There is a garage located on 17th and Spring Garden if you do not mind the three and a half block walk that is $10 to park. The atmosphere is very intimate. The lights are dim and the decor is sort of whimsical. There are colored bottle and branches along the clueing that reminds me of an intimate country backyard on a warm summery day. The service is very good and the wait staff is very attentive, genuine and professional. I enjoyed how attentive everyone was. The food. There are plenty of menu choices. From small appetizers to larger meals. The menu went from sliders to more elaborate meals such as gumbo and short ribs. There are plenty of drink options and their happy hour offered plenty of choices. The seating felt on par with the side of the restaurant. You can do anything from a business meeting to a date night here. All and all, a great experience.

I knew I'd like South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor when I first arrived and noticed the garden painting that reminded me of the movie poster for "Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil." That tale of southern intrigue and magic suits this restaurant and music spot perfectly. The beautiful white wash wood that frames colorful mason jars of preserved food (from the process of canning) at first wets your appetite. What follows is an eclectic menu boasting of succulent duck, buttery scallops and crawfish that can have a collard green complement with the tastiest cornbread around. The ample space allows for table seating as well as a Chef's counter where you can observe the cooks work their magic in the kitchen. Did I say "magic?" The magic hovers with spirit bottles suspended from skylights as cool jazz filters the air. And if you want to experience good live jazz, just step into the neighboring room -- but reservations are highly encouraged because jazz great Gerald Veasley always brings the best artists to South.

I visited Philly for the first time apparently this restaurant has a dress code. I was told I couldnt be seated because my pants were considered sporty. The hostess suggested I go shopping and purchase new pants. In terms of customer service this restaurant gets an F. The hostess could have handled the situation better. She could have apologized for the confusion and offered for me to return the next day. She was very dismissive no type of compromise. A deer without headlights. Its a shame as a black owed business and a person of color myself that is the experience I had. I would never recommend this restaurant to anyone that is visting Philly.

Great decor, ambience, menu, food, and service/ a new favorite spot when visiting our son in philadelphia

We walked in without a reservation. We were greeted warmly and accommodated even though the restaurant was crowded. Great atmosphere, attentive and friendly wait staff - but the food choices are rather heavy. Fish is deep fried, and well, what did I expect? I ordered lamb belly. Very fatty. We weren't able to listen to the jazz but will definitely go back to listen to the great lineup.

Had a great time at the Matthew Whitaker concert! The management & staff are friendly & welcoming. We were invited to stay for the 2nd set in this intimate club & had dinner there as well. The drinks were on point, service a bit slow, but nicely presented, good portions, & tasty. Great place for a couple's or friends' night out.

I wanted to enjoy this place so much since I have been to Relish and Warm Daddy’s and enjoyed both. I’ve been to SOUTH one other time for a small birthday celebration and enjoyed it but this time was disappointing. I was hosting a group happy hour and started trying to contact them a month in advance. I sent an email on the website. I called and left several messages with the morning host. I got the email address of the reservations manager (Ms. Sarnoor) and messaged her directly. I never got a response. On the day of I came early and spoke to the manager. She acknowledged that she had received my messages but stated she had been busy (for a whole month) and never got back to me. She said that after the tables seated in the lounge got up, we could have them and that we would be “well taken care of” This never happened. A table got up and two women who came in after I did were seated. I spoke to the host who told me that Ms. Sarnoor had never talked to her about giving us the next lounge tables. When we finally were seated the service was awful. We had a young lady with red hair who kept forgetting our food orders and confusing our drink orders. My group requested that next time we go back to the last venue or to somewhere new because the service was honestly terrible. I would try the main dining room with a dinner reservation but will never again hold an event there.

The restaurant interior is worth the visit. A comfortable bar,interesting divider of glass cabinets between restaurant and jazz club. The bar has comfortable couches, I feel as if you could be in a Southern Bar (think Savannah) I tried the fried macaroni with beets and green tomatoes and green goddess dressing . Excellent but the portion was tiny, my friend had a salad and they modified it for her. We split a sirloin because we were both not that hungry. We had to ask to take it back to kitchen to split as the table was tiny. A number of items on the menu sounded worth returning for. Choice of cocktails were somewhat unusual but my choice was dull cucumber, jalapeno margarita (no liquor to speak of that could be tasted). My friend had wine. We were going to the jazz so we had dessert in the club. A totally different look and feel, a warehouse look with brick and high beamed ceilings. We had the cobbler which was great and martinis. Not a price point for children. My only complaint was that I felt that the wait staff was a little too invasive, picking up my drink when I was not finished. But overall the staff was great making sure our dinner was finished on time and getting us to the club before seats filled up.

This is a great venue to hear jazz and have some great food! The room is small enough so that you can see and hear from any table but large enough you don't feel jammed in. They get a great variety of musicians. There is also a restaurant separate from the jazz venue, so if you're going for the music, make sure to specify where you want to sit when you make reservations. Awesome place to hear great jazz!

I wanted to surprise my little-boo-thang for his birthday and this venue hit the spot!!! My first time as well as some of the other members of our group. We dinned during Philadelphia Restaurant Week The food was incredible, and the performers, V Shayne Frederick & His Quartet gave a remarkable performance. This place has Southern charm, sophistication, and funk all rolled into 1.

So I have to say that I needed to wait 24 hours before writing this review. I was at South before going to the Met. We arrived at 5:30pm and we had a 8pm show. Plenty of time for most restaurants to get you in and out... NOT at South. Even though they are catering to the theater crowd by offering a 2 or 3 course theater dinner, I have never experienced such disorganization. It took 30 minutes to get our drink order, an hour to get our appetizer and after raising hell with the manager, who was very nice but the damage was already done. We had 20 minutes to scarf down our dinner and forget the dessert. So, I wish I could rate the food but it seemed ok I was to aggravated to really concentrate. My only concern was to get the hell out of there and walk up to the Met. I must say, while the manager was very apologetic our waiter was a complete failure. He should have known what was going on. There were people that came after we were seated and received their food before us. These people were also upset and spoke with us before we left saying that it looked like a complete disaster. CAN NOT RECOMMEND IF YOU INTEND TO GO TO THE THEATER AFTER

Started with corn bread which was delicious. Then for drinks we order red wine, raspberry lemon and straw Brett lemon drop and sangria which was great. Next we got Cesar salad which was good. Next for our meals there was a special menu for lamb chops and what was suppose to balsamic rice and plantains ended up receiving yellow rice plaid what a disappointment. Food was cold we had to send it back. When they bought it back from reheating it was still room temperature Then the other couple with us and had catfish and shrimp, which the shrimp is small like you buy in the frozen section in a bag of the market. Just awful. Next I got the crab cake which was great with corn and asparagus. No complications with my food. Food was a 3 ambiance was a 10. Beautiful, cozy cute place. Manager did discount the cold food half price but that was not enough but appreciated. Will I return yes but for the drinks and live band only. Oh, the service was so pretty good as well.

Dinner and jazz music...loved the vibe of this place. Nice menu selections, food and service were good.

My sister and I wanted something fun to do on a Thursday night in Philly and found this jazz club. It was a great experience and worth the money. The food was delicious (short rib and mac n cheese especially!) The musicians were talented and loads of fun to watch. Beautiful decor. Friendly staff as well, full of smiles. We recommend it!

We were at South tonight with friends to have dinner before a show. It was our first time there and we had heard good things about it. I have to say that the food and drinks were delicious but we sat for an hour before we even got our drinks. Only after we complained about the wait did our food come but not because of the waiter. Even knowing we were going to a show, I think he showed no interest in getting our dinners out in a timely manor. The manager gave us a discount, which was nice, but even with good food, bad service will keep me from going back.

I was not impressed with the food. The bar service took me about 15 minutes with only 3 people at the bar. The food is not that great and I was not impressed. It just did not taste good, to make this simple.

We planned to eat here and enjoy some music. The dress code on the door turned us off. It was the type of code typically used to eliminate POC. Though we would likely have passed the test, we didn’t want to spend money in that kind of establishment.

We came to South based on a friend’s recommendation. The food is excellent and can best be described as upscale soul/southern food. I had catfish which was cooked to perfection. Our friends were pleased with their meals as well. Our waiter, Brook, was friendly and attentive. Be sure to try the skillet cornbread. Overall, I have no complaints whatsoever!

The food is excellent and the service superb. They make you feel like a V.I.P. I attended the Grand opening and had to go back

We came in early for the Roots Festival weekend. We saw this restaurant and wanted to try something different, little did we know that this restaurant is the same owner of Warmdaddy's. At first we thought it was closed because the outside didn't have any lights, finally when we turned the block we realized it was open. They did a get job with the decor took me back to New Orleans. We wanted to see the live Jazz but was unaware that we needed tickets for the show, which of course was sold out. I wish that the website was a little more informative about the jazz (times and tickets are needed). Things to try are the fried green tomatoes with shrimp and any of the drinks are delicious. Next we will plan better and have dinner...stay tuned.

My husband and I decided to check out this restaurant on a Friday night. We made reservations a couple day prior. As soon as we walked in, I was amazed at the ambiance! They have a restaurant area away from the where the jazz band plays for more intimate and quiet settings and they have a room specifically for the jazz band that you can sit in as well. We chose to sit in the jazz parlor. It was packed but we didn't wait long to be seated, we just sat at the bar while we waited. The hostess was super nice and she accommodated our request to sit at a booth. We weren't too close to the stage and weren't too far, it was perfect enough to see everything! The jazz band who played, were out of this world! The music was so soothing and we enjoyed every bit of it. We ordered pretty much everything and loved every single thing lol. Please try the cornbread! You won't regret it! If your looking for a romantic jazz spot, you have to check this place out!

My main reason for coming here was to listen to jazz music. It was during the Philadelphia Restaurant Week so I went for a three course meal. The starter was a grilled vegetable salad. Lovely presentation, good taste, unfortunately I was looking for the vegetables on the plate and could only find a total of about three pieces of one of a kind, the rest was salad. The main course was a southern style meat, which was very good and the sides were creamy grits (without cheese), which were great and some green vegetable which unfortunately was seasoned too hot. Dessert was a peach and blackberry cobbler, which disappointed me as the dough tasted like corn bread and not like a butter, flour and sugar dough, which is what makes a cobbler so tasty. The ambiance in the restaurant room and the jazz room are very nice. The servers are friendly. Different bands play nightly or play two nights. There is a cover charge of usually USD 10.- to listen to the music. If it is full, you stay for one set and others come for the next set. The website is not easy to use from a mobile phone and reserving tickets for the concerts from the mobile phone has not worked for me. For the music, unique ambiance and also to try the food again I would definetly return. Their website is: southrestaurant.net

We arrived to celebrate a birthday. We’ve been there many times before. We were turned away because several of the guests wore high end tennis shoes with our dress shorts and dress shirts in the 95 degree weather at 4 PM. Won’t be coming back here again!

Honestly, I was really looking forward to this dinner/show on March 16 at 8:30pm, but it fell short in my opinion. Service was extremely slow, were were placed in the back, where our line sight was blocked constantly by service staff or AV Techs. The food and drink was amazing, but my experience suffered by the lack of service. It almost felt like it would have been faster to go to the bar to get my drinks. If those things can be fixed I would strongly recommend.

Really great atmosphere. Dinning experience was wonderful. Food was excellent. Not to mention the Jazz performance.

WOW! Decor and atmosphere Extrodinaire! Sazarac not on happy hour special but worth the price. Catfish sandwich was giant size, crispy and served on delicious roll. Oysters perfect. Will return for dinner and jazz!

My husband and I were at South for a concert in the Jazz parlor. The staff was wonderful... very welcoming and friendly, the restaurant decor was very romantic. Very nice ambience for a romantic evening out… Specifically in the jazz parlor. The food was really good.

I was very excited to eat at South. I made reservations 2.5 months in advance. Approximately two weeks before our reservation South called to tell us the menu was changed for New Years and it was a price fix. I was amenable that. Although I really wanted the fried chicken. When we arrived we were seated immediately. That was wonderful. We ordered drinks and corn bread. The corn bread came out in minutes. Drinks took 30 minutes to arrive, and at that point I was approached and told they don’t carry the type of scotch I ordered. I found out later that they did carry it they were just out of it. ARE YOU KIDDING ON ONE OF THE BUSIEST DAYS THEY ARE out of BRAND LIQUOR. We ordered two more rounds and they were not expeditious in the order, in spite of the managers promise that the drinks would come out in an appropriate amount of time. Conclusion, great food, service needs some lessons in how to deal with guests, especially guests that are first timers. The people next to us were regulars arrived after us and were served before us. First timers should be impressed not treated like insignificant customers. Would I return? Yes but with some of my guidelines which most good restaurants comply with in their taking care of customers.

First time visiting. The Restaurant, the service, the atmosphere, the food, the decorations and just about everything about the place rates a 10 plus. If ever in the neighborhood please stop in for service at the bar or the restaurant. I'm surely going to visit there again.

We walked from Temple Univ (2 miles) and felt a bit underdressed in shorts...but great service, friendly staff that explained the reasoning of their menu, he did a great job describing menu! Fried Chicken was amazing! My boyfriend got the halibut and cleaned his plate..raving about the tomato's! Overall worth the walk! If going on a weekend would recommend making reservations!

I was in Philly for business. After a long day, I mentioned to my business associate, who lives in Philly, that I was starving. She said she had the perfect restaurant to take me to. The atmosphere was inviting and warm, the sounds of jazz was a perfect pitch, but best of all was the food. Being a true foodie, I'd give it a 10. We shared the skillet cornbread that was hot and buttery. The beet salad was light and refreshing. As a rule, I normally don't order chicken as a main entree; however, due to my diet from the week, the Wood Grill Chicken was a healthy choice, and trust me, it did not disappoint. It was moist and full of Peruvian flavors. The creamy greens were well seasoned, as were the potatoes. The entire dish taste like a home cooked meal. My associate had the stuffed redfish, that was cooked to perfection and very tasty. We finished our meal with a shared apple and pear cobbler. The fruit was plentiful and the homemade biscuit was tasty. Although I live in D.C., I would take a 2 hour drive, on a nice day, to dine once again at South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor.

If you want to have a good time, with Jazz live music this is the place! You will enjoy every minute!

I don't believe in mincing my words, so when I say that SOUTH is the premiere establishment in Philadelphia, far from the over priced, stuffy crowds at other venues; believe it. From the ambiance, DECADENT entrees, to the detailing, professionalism and jazz performances, this place is AWESOME! Ask for Mr. Sylvester, Jeff the waiter and Rian the Jazz Parlor manager!

I've been to South Jazz twice...and both times were pleasing. The gumbo & devil eggs are my favorites. I also enjoy the creative drink menu they have. I will definitely go back for a 3rd visit soon.

A family member recommended this place for a date night. We called ahead for jazz seating and dinner. It was a wonder night. I enjoyed the salmon and my date had the catfish. The waitress was very attentive and the management also came to check on the guests. The music was great. Please try the sweat potato cheesecake. It’s the best. Overall this is a great place to gather with friends or with your special someone. The next time I return to the city, I will certainly visit again.

I have been to South for dinner and jazz performance on several occasions. I've never been disappointed. Good food, lovely setting, what more could you ask for.

My wife and I went to South yesterday and the experience was awesome! I reserved a jazz table and we saw a excellent jazz show. We ate a good cornbread with cream cheese and we drank a lot of beers. Excellent choice for saturday night. Plus, we had a good service there too.

My friends and I had a very enjoyable experience at South. The food was good and the vocalist was fantastic. Our server Keira was fabulous . We were celebrating my friends 50th Birthday . I like the vibe at this restaurant . I ordered the salmon and it was pretty tasty. I like the crabmeat on toast and the shrimp on the deviled egg as appetizers. My friend enjoyed her shrimp and grits . The cornbread was tasty as well. Must see in Philly

I went to see Gerald Veasley play with Alex Bugnon. The Jazz Parlor is a small intimate room and in the rear. I had shrimp and grits and my friend had catfish. The food, service and music was excellent. I will be back!

I came for dinner and the Jazz show in the parlor. I have been here before and each time the music is incredible and the staff is impeccable. It’s a little close quarters in the listening room for the Jazz, but it doesn’t matter cause everyone is there to listen to the music and are very friendly. On my latest visit, I enjoyed the shrimp and grits and since my spice level tolerance is low I was thankful it wasn’t too spicy. Overall, a great experience and I overwhelmingly recommend South! And the unscripted jazz series!

A friend from college was playing with some of his friends at SOUTH Jazz Parlor. I brought my family with me to experience the restaurant and enjoy the music. We arrived about 15 minutes before our reservation time of 8:30 PM. The maitre d' sat us in the lounge and told us we would be seated when the guests from the first set left. We expected to be able to order drinks while we waited. It took us speaking to the hostess and then the maitre d' twice before we had someone come over to take our drink order. The second set started at 9:00 pm. We waited in the lounge until a little after 9:00 pm. The seats we were given were close to the stage giving us an unobstructed view of the stage. The music was outstanding. I enjoyed listening to Louis Fouche and his group. It took a while for our server to take our order for food. She did a good job of letting us know that she had not forgotten us. From what I could see, she was trying to quickly service several tables at the same time. The food was outstanding. We had the cream cheese hush puppies (light and fluffy), skillet cornbread (cake-like and spongy), Geechi Boy Grits, Fried Lobster and Grits (great upgrade to traditional shrimp and grits), and Duck Two Ways (excellently seasoned). There is a $10 surcharge per person when eating in the Jazz Parlor. We will most definitely return to SOUTH because the food and music are excellent.

Can I tell you that I have been to this restaurant and just parlor six or seven times already and it's only been open maybe four months. They have the most amazing live entertainment six nights a week including local and national Acts.. The food is amazing with eight emphasis on Southern cuisine which includes shrimp and grits, Lamb, chicken livers, and some amazing cocktails new versions of old traditional drinks. I have good going here with my husband and I have also gone here with groups of friends .. The restaurant is beautiful inside and out now that the weather is getting warmer they have this beautiful marble communal table outside. Last week I went and I had for dessert a banana fosters bread pudding Yummy.. I highly recommend if you were in Philadelphia that you don't miss out on this great new restaurant and jazz parlor

The decor is tastefully done, a suggestion of where this cuisine originates. Our table of four loved our experience at South Kitchen. Menu suggests a flair of southern tastes coupled with creativity. We began with starters of Crispy Rock Shrimp and Pickled Vegetables/ Pimento Cheese Spread. Note that different vegetables had there own unique brine. We were told that the restaurant actually hired a pickler. Might that explain the many canning jars on display? The warm flavors of biscuits and sweet cornbread melted in our mouths. The steak entree and flounder stuffed with crawfish were nice. Chocolate cake and banana pudding were great. Most memorable was the pecan pie with buttermilk ice cream. The slightly sour taste of the ice cream was the perfect compliment to the sweet pie. Our only regret was that we had to catch a train otherwise we would have stayed on to hear the jazz band.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to SOUTH they were very accommodating. the food was delicious even though the jazz act we were supposed to see canceled due to covid we still had a great evening,

We dined here with a large party of approx 15 people and a variety of dishes were ordered. Only one dish was enjoyed which was the catfish and cheese grits. The majority of our group was very disappointed. Overall portions were small and food was flavorless w/ high salt content. For the record, soul food consist of more flavors besides salt. Fried chicken was ok but other items should be revisited by the chef specifically the creamed collard greens (bad idea) and regular greens (way too much vinegar), the vegetarian jambalaya (expected jambalaya with rice and vegetables but received a plate of mush instead), the hush puppies (taste better at long john silvers), the bread (taste like a combination of cake and a biscuit) and the wood fired chicken (only taste of salt and was undercooked) I could go on but I'll leave it at that. Soul food is best kept simple and original. Not sure what they are trying to do here but it just didn't work for us. I will give credit to the wait staff for their patience with our large group. Service was very pleasant. Ambiance is lovely as well. Band is nice but you are automatically charged $10pp on your check for it. I do think if you are dining and spend over a certain amount you should not be charged for the band. Maybe worth another try for drinks and entertainment but the food has to significantly improve for me to spend $25 + on a plate.

We came here to celebrate my in laws birthday. It was a wonderful place to celebrate. Excellent top notch service. The waiter really could explain the different options on the menu. The food was great. I had fruit platter as my first course, chicken and waffles for the 2nd course, and chocolate mousse for dessert. I had the blackberry lemonade. Price is reasonable. The jazz band was the icing on the cake. Really great band with different styles of jazz played. This is a gem in the city.

We celebrated a birthday here on a Sunday evening and enjoyed most aspects of the experience. Although we were warned that we would not be able to hear the live jazz in the main dining room (which we opted for instead of being seated in the jazz lounge itself because we were told that we would not be able to talk during our dinner if we sat there), we were pleasantly surprised that we could hear it, and it was terrific. The ambience is charming, service was good, and the menu options were interesting. Although everything we ordered was pretty good, the food quality wasn't as good as we'd hoped, given both the prices and the high standards of other Bynum brothers restaurants in this area. We wouldn't rush back for a meal, but if a jazz performer we wanted to see were coming, we'd like to try the lounge next time.

What a wonderful Southern dining experience, and, if you love jazz, this is the place for you! The food tantalizes the taste buds. The cornbread ($8.00) is so sweet it's like dessert. The gumbo was so tasty and service was perfect, always there when you needed him but not a noying. Expect to spend $100 for a drink and dinner for a couple.

Southern comfort food with a little twist. Everything was outstanding...from the gouda biscuits that we had to force ourselves not to fill up on, to the cherry bread pudding that was absolutely worth making room for at the end. The staff was super-friendly & couldn't do enough to provide great service. Loved the decor, including the wall of pickles! My only callout is the wait-list reservation that was lost, so we couldn't even check status. But, luckily, they had room at the chef's counter, so we were able to have the opportunity to try this amazing restaurant during our visit. It was totally worth the twenty minute walk from our hotel! Cannot wait to return!

My daughter surprised us all with gift certificates and a family holiday celebration at South. As always, the food was wonderful and the jazz simply superb! I can’t resist the catfish entree even when I attempt to try something new. The up front seats and cozy atmosphere makes it seem like the singer and band are just there for you. If I lived in Center City Philadelphia, I’d probably eat at South every night. The Bynum Brothers have done it again!

We were here a few evenings ago for dinner and to hear David Benoit. This was our first visit and we will definitely return. The staff were very nice, both hostess and wait staff. The food was good, particularly my catfish and grits. The peach salad was a little skimpy for a shared salad. Love the decor. An overall nice evening.

Tried this restaurant today & the service is excellent. The waiter checked on us several times. The hostess also checked on us. Very attentive staff, keep up the good work! The food was also yummy, and very nice ambiance. I would sugggest adding Mac & cheese to the menu.

The Bynum Brothers do it again! The Bynum family does the restaurant/jazz club thing in a fantastic way. If you are looking for fine dining and/or quality jazz go "South" young man, go "South"! LOL On one side there is fine dining and on the other a jazz parlor with a full menu. If you just want to dine without the music you can. If you are looking for an evening of live jazz you can have that as well. The menu is unique & delicious southern cuisine with a twist! Their cocktails are tasty & exotic! "South" is great for date night or an evening on the town with your close friends or business colleagues. Try it, you won't be disappointed.

Three of us went. The Jazz parlor seating is very tight but the music & food are well worth it!!! We happened upon restaurant week and the fixed price selections were superb.

If you like southern cuisine and enjoy fantastic jazz, there is a terrific new venue in Philadelphia. We enjoyed the pickled vegetables and pimento cheese spread, duck gumbo, hush puppies, fried oysters, crab toasts and shrimp and grits. The bourbon pecan pie was a perfect ending to a great meal. Topping it off was a nightcap of cappuccino and jazz. Both the singers as well as the musicians were first-rate.

We originally had reservations at Osteria, but after a surprisingly cold welcome, we decided to walk out and try our luck elsewhere. Just down the block, we found SOUTH—and what a serendipitous switch it turned out to be. Despite having no reservation, we were seated at the Chef’s Table, which gave us a fascinating view into the workings of the kitchen. Watching the culinary team in action added a whole new layer to the experience—impressive, precise, and full of energy. Our server, Bryn (Taylor/Tay), was exceptional. She knew the menu inside and out, offered thoughtful recommendations, and made us feel genuinely welcomed. Her warmth and professionalism elevated the entire evening. We started with drinks: I had the watermelon sangria—refreshing and perfectly balanced—and my husband enjoyed a classic sweet tea, which was just right. For appetizers, we chose the Spiced Shrimp Deviled Eggs and Bayou Chicken Gumbo. Both were flavorful and comforting, with just the right amount of Southern flair. For entrées, we had the Charleston Shrimp & Grits and the Eastern Shore Crab Cakes. The shrimp and grits were creamy, bold, and beautifully seasoned. The crab cakes were delicate yet packed with flavor—no filler, just fresh crab and thoughtful seasoning. The atmosphere was lively and elegant. Though we weren’t seated in the jazz room, we could still hear the music drifting in, adding a soulful backdrop to the evening. The vibe was festive, with guests clearly enjoying themselves. SOUTH strikes a rare balance: upscale without being pretentious, soulful without being heavy. If you're looking for a place that delivers great food, warm service, and a touch of magic, SOUTH is it. We came in disappointed and left delighted.

We went here for Valentine's Day so there was a pre-fix. I had the duck confit gumbo as a starter and my wife had an appetizer with avocado (I think). My gumbo was good but not overly hot. Her appetizer was okay. She then had the Carolina trout which was very good and tasty. I had catfish with hush puppies with potatoes. Having lived in South Carolina, I am familiar with good catfish and hush puppies, these were average. The potatoes were enjoyable. Desserts were nothing special. My wife ordered a decaf and I had a coffee. Both were brought at the same time, My coffee was hot but the decaf was a bit colder than lukewarm. The waitress did take it off the bill when we mentioned it. Jazz was very enjoyable. It is a very small intimate setting and while it was full for Valentine's Day, it did not feel cramped. The building itself was very unique as we walked through the separate restaurant to get to the jazz parlour. I really liked the atmosphere and jazz so We may be back to try the larger menu or brunch or just go for drinks and jazz.

My daughter and I went for Center CIty Restaurant Week. The service was spot on and our server; Joseph was well-timed in his appearances and responsiveness. The cornbread was delicious; though slightly over cooked, causing the edges to be a little dry and compromise what should have been a more fluffy interior. The Fried Green tomatoes with Shrimp Remoulade was fried well and the remoulade generous. The Lobster Bisque was rich in flavour and creamy. The Chicken and Turkey Andouille Sausage Gumbo was well flavoured and a decent portion; though there could have been some okra or a little more rice included. The Salmon was okay, but had a nice sauce and the accompanying black eyed peas and rice, and the shredded cabbage was very good. The dessert sampler of red velvet cake, lemon tartlet and the creme brulee bar was less than impressive and neither of us really ate it. The Jazz Ensemble that performed was lively and entertaining; however, the $10 cover charge per person seemed a bit much for the hour in which they performed. I'm not sure if they performed again since we left shortly after the set, but I think a longer set would have been nice. Overall, we enjoyed our respective meals and ambiance of the establishment and would go back. **Note to others: The seating is very tight in the Parlor - dining/entertainment area and you can literally rub elbows with the person seated next to you.

I loved this place so much! I’m from Las Vegas and was visiting Philly for my birthday. My man took me to this place where we sat at the bar and then went to the jazz parlor side to listen to music. Charlie, our waiter, was great and so was one of the restaurant managers. The chicken was so yummy and the cocktails too. We saw Art the Saxophonist and the evening was perfect. Highly recommend when in the city.

Visiting from the UK and had a meal for two in the jazz parlor. The music was fantastic and very cheap compared to clubs in NYC - definitely one of the best gigs I've seen in the USA. As a bonus, the food was also lovely and the service was first rate. Would highly recommend.

My colleagues were in town searching for an easy evening meal. They found South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor in their online search. It turned out to be a stroke of luck for us all. We all went with the $25 special consisting of a choice of 3 starters, the main course (which for us was a chicken jambalaya) and choice of 2 desserts. loved the Jambalaya and the gumbo (one of the the starters) Actually everything was good..the pimento cheese toasts, the green salad. I was particularly impressed with the wine selections. While is isn't extensive, it did offer enough choices to accommodate our tastes. With this visit, South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor is now on my go-to list of places to take out-of-towners and locals alike. Pretty room, attentive service, and affordable prices make this a winner .

We have been going for years to see jazz. When we arrived Saturday I was told I wasn’t adhering to the new dress code because of my shoes ( Cole haan) they let me in after a 10 minute hassle. I checked 6 other men’s shoes and every single person did not adhere to the policy. The show was phenomenal. If the dress code regarding shoes persists we will not be returning. It’s a shame.

The first time I went was December, because we threw my father a surprise birthday party since he loves jazz so much. The venue was so impressive and had really good food that my mother and I went to catch a few more shows after that. Now, I will introduce my new husband to it as soon as the weather isn’t so hot. It’s the best place around. It’s so nice that I almost forgot about Warmdaddy’s...lol.

Went for the jazz & got a side bar of drop down on your knees creative delicious food. The riffs on traditional Southern cooking were notes that resonated all night. To further our comfy satisfaction was a small but perfectly tuned wine list. Tuned-in staff that didn't need to interrupt us all night with their need to be reassured that we were happy.

Went here with friends on 12/15/19 before a show at the Met. You will not be seated until your whole party arrives - FYI. Good drinks, our waiter Guy was fun and friendly, the let down was the large plate portion of the menu. A guest I was with you doesn't eat seafood first wanted the rib eye to which we were told we are out of the rib eye and the chicken and waffles. She then selected a chicken entree to which she was told, we are out of those too. The reason was they are switching over their menu so they stopped ordering foods on the current menu. Excuse me??? What?? They accommodated her with a Fried Chicken entree (but no chicken and waffles). The food was tasty but it was a major let down to hear 4 entrees were not available. What would be so wrong with ordering your menu items to the end and then doing something fun with any left over foods? It was just odd to me.

My husband and I tried South for restaurant week and absolutely loved it!! We were 30 minutes late for our reservation, but they still held our table for us. The biscuits and corn bread served complimentary before dinner were so yummy. Fried green tomatoes and mini pot roast were the highlights of our dinner, and the apple and pear crisp for dessert was amazing. Wine was very reasonably priced, and the service was great. To boot the ambiance is so nice! We will definitely be back to catch a show and eat again!!

I had this place on my to-do list for probably a year. Then yesterday I made reservations for my boyfriend and me. We had 6:15 dinner reservations for the 8:00 show. I felt like we were going to spend the night. We didn't know they had valet parking (which is $18) so we parked on the street and walked over. We had to wait in the lounge about ten minutes to be seated. The restaurant is beautiful. You can just come in for drinks. The round tables are small. We were tightly fitted. The show room is intimate. The food is great. We had the Cajun shrimp deviled eggs. Delicious! Their biscuits are just alright. Salty due to the cheese. I had the fried lobster with lobster grits and asparagus. Excellent! Except there was a lemon sauce that messed it up to me. My BF had the sirloin strip steak with veggies and potatoes. He said the steak was chewy but he enjoyed his meal as well. The singer, Laurin, did a very nice set. We enjoyed the entertainment as well. We will return for a nice night out.

The atmosphere is gorgeous! I was impressed with the garden setting as we approached the entrance, and once inside I was truly blown away. This is the type of place that immediately engages you and makes you want to spend an entire evening. There were four of us and we didn't have a reservation, so we decided to have dinner at the bar. It was just as pleasant as what we would have experienced if we'd been seated at a table. The servers at the bar were pleasant and attentive, and the food was delicious. This is a very classy place, and I will definitely be going back. We weren't there at the opportune time to hear the jazz, but that is now on my to-do list.

Excellent dinner / atmosphere- jazz music was excellent , looking forward to the experience again. Highly recommended the jazz parlor and dinner. Excellent drinks

Just had a yummy brunch with cornbread to die for, fried green tomatoes-oh, my- catfish, waffles, fried chicken, and so much more. Very generous servings of delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts in a bright, attractive setting with great music. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Came here for my 70th birthday in search of good Southern food. The food here was sort of upscale southern with New Orleans sensibilities. For example instead of sweet potato pie, they had sweet potato cheesecake. The food was delicious, well prepared and presented. We were in the main dining room next to the music venue but could still hear the music which was great. It wasn't so loud to drown out conversation. The place does get noisy though due to the amount of glass walls and cabinets which bounces sound back. Service was very good and attentive. The decor was very pretty - even has some Spanish moss (real or fake, couldn't tell). We had a great time.

Creative, imaginative southern cooking with a live professional jazz. Two rooms-one solely the dining room and the other with same menu and live jazz on stage. Entertainment charge ($10.00 per person) in jazz room. Excellent, friendly knowledgeable servers.

Terrific Music and Food. Tuesday nights is devoted to local artists sitting in the audience and invited to play with equally talented Jazz musicians on stage. Highly entertaining and refreshing that this venue exists. Excellent happy hour drink and food menu-great value.

My husband and I consider ourselves "unofficial" members of South jazz parlor and for good reason. The entertainment and food are top notch. The atmosphere, location and all around ambience of this place makes it our #1 go to spot for our date nights. South restaurant and jazz parlor oozes class, with a touch of southern charm and attentive staff. Together and sometimes individually depending on our schedules, we have been here more than 20 times since their debut and each time has been great. The jazz parlor is small, intimate and no seat is really bad but if you want the better seats up close especially if it's a sold out show, I suggest getting there an hour before the show starts. There is a bar as you enter the restaurant which makes for a nice place to unwind with a drink before the show. We've eaten of plenty meals here and one of my favorites is the collard greens and braised short ribs. But their menu does change at times. Don't expect a large menu like you find at chain restaurants, but what they offer is just enough to satisfy the pickiest eater,9 with a good selection of appetizers, entrees, side dishes and desserts. There's even a bar menu! Are there some flaws? Yes, but what good place doesn't have a few things that could use a bit of tweaking here and there. The only pet peeve I really truly have with this place, are reserved seating, especially if the artist performing is very popular. We have tried several times to get a reserved table but it never happened. It seems the guests who reserve these front row tables are close friends of the owner or musicians, not sure; One night in particular one of my husbands favorite musicians was there and although he arrived 90 minutes before show time, he was unable to reserve us a table. He was so disappointed that night, but nevertheless, it will not stop us from returning. We are looking forward to many more date nights at South and what a great addition it is to our city.

I Can't say enough about how cool this place was! There was a $10 dollar per person cover to eat in the Jazz room, but we'll worth it! The food and drinks were delicious. It's pricy! But worth a visit. I would recommend the duck breast. So yummy.

I rated South as average because of the ambience. This restaurant is divided into two sections - one dining area in which there are far too many tables for the size of the room, and the jazz club which is also a dining area with all table facing the stage. We were seated in the crowded dining area which was so loud we could not hold a conversation due to an extremely loud party of six at the next table. The food was Philadelphia's take on Cajun fare. I'm from the south and eat Cajun and southern comfort food on a daily basis and was anxious to see how authentic the dishes would be. Our waitress was excellent. The cornbread we ordered as an appetizer was very good as was the gumbo ordered by one of our party. I ordered shrimp and grits. The shrimp were delicious, but the grits were too runny, and there wasn't enough sauce. Also, this dish was topped with a very large serving of sautéed kale. This was odd and unappealing. That would never happen in a true southern kitchen. Overall, it was an interesting experience.

Broad Street, the main longitudinal artery of Philadelphia, carries blood from the center to the ends of the city’s northern night life. As you take it from City Hall toward Temple, the first cultural checkpoint (around Green Street) supports a healthy mix of excellent restaurants. Best among these is South Kitchen & Jazz Parlor. Upscale enough to host an important date, yet accessible should you choose to go alone, South pulls off the ambitious combination of bar + dining room + event venue without committing the usual errors of sprawl or pandemonium. I went by myself and enjoyed a fairly priced meal at the bar. While I didn’t attend the “jazz parlor” part of the experience, I did appreciate the cordoned off room that features two performances per night on the weekend. The traffic and background noise circulating from the stage area to the restaurant infuses the room with a spiked oxygen absent in most comparable places. Just be careful getting there. Better to ride share than to walk.

Great service! I dined with friends before seeing a jazz concert in the next room, and it was wonderful. From the maître d’, to the bartenders, to the manager, everyone was so friendly and very attentative. Our server, Francesca, was wonderful. And the food was outstanding. The cornbread was superb, and the little bacon biscuits were wonderful. We had the gumbo, Jambolaya, and the beef short ribs, all of which were great. Then, we step next-door and here superb jazz concert. It was just a wonderful night all around. I highly recommend this restaurant.

We were going to the Met Philly for my birthday. The restaurant we thought we would go to, and sit at the bar, was closed for a private event. We went to South and it was amazing. My husband and I both said how well managed it was. We felt so welcome and cared for. Our bartender, Aliyah, was so sweet and attentive. They even had vegan jambalaya which was excellent. I asked Aliyah if they had any chocolate desserts and she said they have special brownies for birthdays. She don’t even know it was my bday! I even got a bday card personally signed by her. Highly recommend! Such a cool vibe.

We came here for the music, which was good maybe just a little too hard jazz for our taste that night but we were very pleasantly surprised with how good the food was! My skillet corn bread was excellent! The oysters were very fresh. Service excellent too.

I visited this place on a Saturday night with a friend from out of town. We went to the 10pm set. The music was very good. The food was also very good. The service was attentive, timely and professional. Venture north of city hall a few blocks and experience.

My sister and I started going to this venue at the beginning of 2025 and have since become regulars. The food is fantastic, the staff are incredibly kind and welcoming (from the front door to the wait staff) and the entertainment is over the top. The jazz artists they manage to get are the best! I cannot wait to see what 2026 brings to this fantastic venue. And a shout out to the emcee Mr. Kenny - he is a very cool person.

This place was totally awesome. The atmosphere, the food and the music was something you would never expect to find in this part of Philadelphia. The jazz group Place a wonderful mix of new and old classics. The young musicians played very skillfully for talent of there age. The food was wonderful and very skillfully put together to keep the authenticity of The southern cuisine they were trying to capture. I can’t wait to go back to this place and to take many of my friends along with me. Oh the prices of the food was very reasonable for a restaurant of this type.

A trip to Philadelphia would be incomplete if we don't go to South. As usual the experience was top notch. See you next year!

The show was Fantastic, the service was very good. The entire night was wonderful and I will return soon.

Very eclectic Southern inspired menu. Nice setting inside and out, delicious food and good music. I tried this place during restaurant week. I sprung for the Jazz parlor - there's a different jazz performer each night and you pay an additional fee to be seated in the jazz parlor. It's well worth if you like jazz. I tried the duck gumbo, Beef short ribs w/anson mill grits and collard greens, pineapple upside down bread pudding for dessert. All was delicious! I'll be checking out which performers are there and having dinner at South again. Not saying I wouldn't go just for dinner without the jazz but it's a nice touch. It's hard to find good jazz and in a nice setting.

This place is very cozy, but open. The atmosphere is casual, the drinks are fantastic. I went here with the girls in August to celebrate some birthdays - we sat in the Jazz Parlor section. The food was "on point"! Fresh cornbread, blue crab toast appetizers; chicken and waffles - fresh, seasoned chicken, fluffy waffle - served with fresh honey butter syrup and chicken au jus - The BEST! Our recent visit to celebrate another's birthday on December 23rd - not so good...drinks were still fantastic, but the new chef has changed some things, and not for the better. Burnt cornbread, dry chicken, overcooked waffle, jarred maple syrup and too-thick chicken gravy. We sat in the open dining area this time and the waitress spoke so softly we could barely hear her and then she spilled a drink right into one of diner's lap's...just UGH! I don't know if I'll go back...maybe....probably not.

Great atmosphere with good food. Be sure to try out jazz set while you dine. Food is eclectic and works well with the environs while also satiating your palate. Bar staff could be more engaging but they serve good drinks and the alcohol selection is quite diverse. Try the honey based gin and mis bee-have!

This was fantastic from start to finish. We arrived early, checked in for the 8:45pm show to see C. Anthony Bryant & 5th Sunday. The staff let us know to have a seat at the bar, & they come get us when it was time. We tried the skillet cornbread while at the bar, it was delicious. The server was super prompt & friendly. The line for the club had formed, but the gentleman who checked us in made sure they pulled us back first. They sat us right up front, best seat in the house. For dinner- The North African lamb chops were flavorful & cooked perfectly. The Mac n cheese… knockout punch. My friend had the mango salmon, enjoyed that and we ordered the fried chicken entree to split, just because. The band, the mood, the food, well just right. If you are in Philly, do yourself a favor. You’ll enjoy it. Thank you to the staff who were all wonderful.

If you like Jazz and you are wondering where you can see it live in Philly, this is a great place. They bring different groups and you can enjoy not just the music, but also appetizers, dinner or cocktails while you do it.

Nice spot, parking close by, reservations needed for dinner, show. Dinner pricey for what is served. Nice atmosphere. Seafood disappointing. Oxtail, Mac n cheese good, cornbread very good. Wait staff good but busy. Music a bit too loud, seated in back but still loud.

Our 1st visit to SOUTH and what a an experience! We enjoyed great southern food from hush puppies to New Orleans style duck gumbo and watched an amazing Latin jazz show performed by Pablo Batista!! The parlor is very intimate and the staff was exceptional. We plan to return again and highly recommend!

I finally got to have brunch here, after many many visits for the jazz shows on Thursday nights; Myself and 2 girlfriends decided to try the Sunday brunch in honor of our friend Tracey who passed away last fall. Why did it take me so long! The food was simply amazing; I had the chicken and waffles and for dessert the Lemon meringue tart; Now I have eaten chicken and waffles on several occasions at different restaurants but this was by far the absolute best I have had anywhere; I especially appreciated the chicken portions; I had a piece of breast that was cut into 2 pieces and it was the perfect size. The waffles were delicious but what really set it off was the gravy used for the chicken and/or waffles; Amazingly good; I don't know how that they make it, and you don't get a lot, but just enough to dip your chicken pieces or waffles pieces in and oh my goodness, it was awesome. The lemon meringue tart was unlike anything I have ever eaten. It was also amazing! Although my 1st course (small fruit platter) was good, I could have did without it, because by the end of the meal, I was exhausted;I was quite full so I actually took the tart home for later. My 2 girlfriends very much enjoyed their fried green tomatoes, and catfish with grits! I am very much looking forward to returning here for brunch again, this time with the hubby since they have Oxtails on the menu, which he loves. Bravo to the Chefs on this great brunch! and please do not get rid of the chicken/waffles! ever!

I had been when this place was Route 6, so with it closing and this new restaurant being owned by the Bynum Brothers, and having been to some of their others....I was looking for some good food. Went with some friends for our usual every other month outing. Everyone was looking forward to going. Unfortunately the menu had changed from when we had looked at it the month before with the change of season. We all got the crawfish bisque soup which was very, very good. We got 3 sides for the table...cream collards, crispy potato dumplings, and south hush puppies. When they were good as well. I didn't taste the creamed collards, but the rest of the table said they were ok, definitely different. Onto the main course where the disappointment comes in...3 people ordered the shrimp & grits, of which only 1 person in our party thought it was really, really good. The other 2 said it was good/ok. Another person got the Berkshire pork, which was just ok. Three others got the sirloin strip steak...which again they said was just ok... I had the pressed lamb shoulder, and I did not like it at all. I left over half of it on the plate. First off it was a square piece of something. Yup, that's what I'm calling it...something. Lamb has a very distinctive taste, and I could not put any taste with this square piece of meat. The creamy farro verde had a good taste, but again I was very, very disappointed in this square thing they called lamb. The service was good, and we had a great time even being disappointed in the meal itself. May give it a 2nd chance to check out the jazz, and when the menu changes back to the seasonal one that we were all looking forward to.

Went with friends on a wed night and sat on the jazz room. Good location with easy on street parking. Acoustics in room are wonderful and the music sounds great. Tables are comfortable, service was a bit slow considering the room was not full. Food. It is really a meat based restaurant. Those who ordered meat dishes were very happy - good flavors and good sized portions. A neighboring table ordered the pork roast for two and it looked like it would feed four. I ordered Amberjack. Firstly, the waiter didn't know what is was and then after an internet consultation we found out it is grouper. He said they keep changing the name on the menu. When my plate arrived there was a very small portion of fish with a few teaspoons of pureed veggies and a dusting of greens. While it was well prepared and very tasty there wasn't much value for the price and as a result i ate more parmesan biscuits than i should have eaten. My husband ordered some extra "family style" side dishes to augment my dinner. Maybe if your family consists of one person it was a family sized portion. My husband ordered some raw oysters and had to ask for sauce which took a long time to arrive. So, go for the music, enjoy a drink in a beautiful sounding room. If you are ordering food, order meat dishes and skip the seafood.

SOUTH Kitchen & Jazz Parlor, owned by the welcoming Bynum Brothers on the Avenue of the Arts North is everything! The ambiance is intimate and inviting, plus they serve a new Low Country Southern fare menu, delicious appetizers and the best drinks! Expect a "Good & Grown" crowd and if you are a jazz lover like me, you'll get to hear top notch local and international chart topping performers like Gerald Veasley, Carol Riddick and Alex Bugnon. Great hang spot for Philly Brotherly Love & Sisterly Affection!

We stopped by for happy hour and had a great time. The food was delicious and the drinks were strong. It had a nice mixed vibe with professional and relaxed all going on at the same time. The catfish was great and I loved the shoestring fries too. I will definitely be back the next time I am in philly.

Out on the town with a few of my southern friends so I chose South for dinner. The restaurant is very inviting with a lovely southern décor that also has a romantic feel to it. The background music is jazz and is at the perfect volume, and it is one of the few restaurants I have been in that is not too noisy. The hushpuppies and herbed butter spread appetizer was delicious. I got the shrimp pappardelle entrée and it was very flavorful and cooked to perfection. My friends were all very happy with their entrees and the portion size was again, perfect, leaving room for dessert. The service was excellent as well. This was a great ending to our business trip and we will make sure to visit this fantastic restaurant again when we are back in Philly.

Had brunch which was excellent. Also ate in the Jazz room where a live band was playing for $5 extra. Well worth it!

We have dined at South twice, and attended a set in the jazz club once. The legendary Bob James. This is a great venue. If you like jazz and live in the Philadelphia area, or are just a visitor to Philly, you want this place to succeed.They have delivered the Blue Note to your doorstep, without the 2 hour drive. We will be back, suggest you check it out.

My husband & I enjoyed South last night while visiting in Philly. We are actually from the South grew up in Texas & Louisiana. First off the atmosphere of South is adorable & well thought out. Different from anything else we experienced in Philly. It felt Sunday afternoon homey. If the weather is right the patio, small but full of character would be ideal for a big group of friends. Menu is limited I felt, we tried the fried chicken & shrimp/ grits. Would love to have had the short ribs but collard greens were sold out and I they were subbing out green beans instead. Honestly, I didn’t think the same flavors would coexist so I opted for the shrimp/grits. They were just ok- grits were almost cold, but flavorful and had 4 shrimp. The fried chicken was a large portion- hubby said it was good. Service was great- very attentive not too overbearing. If this place were in Dallas I would give it another shot but didn’t feel it to be that amazing other than the interior.

I went to South on 12/30 on my birthday . I reserved through resy global dining access with my American Express Platinum Corporate Card. The pros of this restaurant was that we really enjoyed great handcrafted cocktails. I’m very particular about what I drink and the artistic abilities of the bartender started our night off on a veryyyyy pleasant note. However my date didn’t enjoy her fried catfish meal. It wasn’t pleasing to her palette. She didn’t really touch it. They had a manager named Michael that came out. He has long dreads . He immediately came to the table and stated “I heard there’s a rumor that you dont like your food….” Then proceeds to ask my friend if she read the ingredients on the menu after she specified that’s the reason why she ordered it. Because of the ingredients and setup of the meal she thought it will be good but it tasted bad. The sauce with the shrimp taste like the tortilla salsa they sell in ShopRite. It was an overall bad way to represent southern fried catfish. The broccoli was barely cooked. Not seasoned well. We offered suggestions as both of our families are from the Deep South and know a thing or two about southern food. But for some reason Michael found some sort of sick pleasure in making us feel small because their dish was horribly plated. He unfortunately put a dark cloud over our dining experience because the lack of care he displayed. We are foodies and have eaten around the world so we thought this restaurant could be a great choice to spend a special occasion and felt like it would provide a sense of belonging. Unfortunately it turned into a nightmare full of ridicule and condensation for absolutely no reason at all. By a manager at that! He showed no display of proper professionalism. He seems like a terrible mistake the owners at South chose to operate their beautiful restaurant. I was going to take my mom here for their jazz night but I’ll never step foot in there again until they get rid of that Michael character.