I ended up visiting two “modern southern” restaurants in the same weekend. Watershed, and after the symphony on Sunday, South City Kitchen. It was actually an interesting comparison. South City Kitchen has a decidedly “midtown” feel to it, and it’s part of an Atlanta group of restaurants owned by The Fifth Group. I happen to like most of TFG’s places.
Raves: The bread basket ruled. Tiny buttermilk biscuits and cornbread muffins are the best. The pimento cheese was solid and the buttermilk fried chicken knocked it out of the park. This was some of the juciest fried chicken I’ve ever had with an amazing breading. Only one bone in the whole thing. I couldn’t believe it.
Rants: Our server was kind of awkward, and the restaurant felt oddly empty (then again, it was 5:30 on Superbowl Sunday, so I can’t really take points off there). Also, the chicken and dumplings wasn’t the best.
This picture blows, but the banana pudding was also great. They make their own vanilla wafers for it, so major points there for updating a tradition.
While the food was certainly good at South City Kitchen, it lacked the heart of Watershed’s food. SCK felt corporate and routine, good but easy. Watershed felt experimental and soulful. (I just found out from Christine that we might be going to Watershed again this weekend when her friend is in town. I honestly can say I’m looking forward to it and will gladly go again.)
food- 18
decor- 17
service- 15
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