Southern Comfort: South House | Jersey City

My friends and I headed to South House for some Texan-style southern comfort food. It was a feast to say the least!
First impressions… high ceilings, brick walls, a lot of open space and music-inspired décor with a rustic feel. The bar area was larger than usual.

South House features new aspiring and established artists of today who have been inspired and influenced by the iconic Delta Blues greats.
Downstairs you’ll find the Rec Room with a pool table, foosball, dart boards and two screen TVs where you can catch the games.
The service here is friendly and the atmosphere lively. A neighborhood gem in the heart of downtown Jersey city.


Cocktails:
Midnight Mojito – My friends and I started with the Midnight Mojito comprising of Rum, muddled strawberries, orange, mint and lime … created by Norman! Succulent and smooth! 



Appetizers:
Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings – Although I rarely eat bacon, this appetizer was quite delicious, but it consisted of more bacon and barely any onion. The creamy Siracha sauce to the side was also delicious. A filling appetizer and one you definitely wanna share.
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread – Pretty good, however the cheddar flavor wasn’t quite prominent.
Biscuit & Gravy – I found the biscuits to be a bit tough and chewy on the outside, but they were soft and tender on the inside. The sausage gravy was delectable though.
Guacamole – considering South House isn’t even a Mexican restaurant, their guacamole is off the chart and beyond delicious. Fresh, flavorful and citrusy, this was my favorite item at South House. A must-do!


Entrees:
Texas Frito Pie – I’m not a big beef eater, but this dish was to die for. The combination of beef chili, cheese, sour cream, scallions and frito chips was exceptional. I felt as though I was eating a big warm bowl of comfort!
Buttermilk Fried Chicken – Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the fried chicken since it lacked flavor and spice. Additionally, the potato salad had way too much mayo. A forgettable meal for me, however my friend who ordered this dish loved everything about it.
Wildfire Chicken Burger – I substituted grilled chicken for a beef patty and was pleasantly surprised with the generous portions of meat. With that said, I found the chicken to be slightly chewy, however the combination of pepper jack cheese, spicy fried jalapeno and chipotle aioli made this dish. The fries on the side were seasoned and perfectly crisp. Overall, I was satisfied with my entrée.


Dessert & Coffee:
Coffee – the coffee wasn’t hot enough, but other than that it was okay.
Banana Bread Pudding – I was really looking forward to the Banana Bread Pudding, unfortunately the pudding contained way too much pudding and cream, and not enough banana and wafers. Still good, just needed more texture and flavor.
Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding – Warm Chocolate Bread Pudding in a Bourbon sauce with whipped cream to the side was pretty good. I found this dessert too sweet for my liking and not warm enough.

RESTAURANT REVIEW: South House
COST: $$
CUISINE: Texan-style Southern Comfort
FAVORITES: Midnight Mojito | Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings | Guacamole | Texas Frito Pie | Fries

VERDICT: 3.5 / 5
Although some of the dishes were hit or miss, I truly enjoyed myself at South House. The atmosphere  there is lively and it is a great place to grab drinks for Happy Hour. There is an element of nostalgia associated with South House… the chandeliers, the eclectic decor and dishes being served up in vintage plates, you know, the ones with the pretty little flowers – something you may see at your Grandmother’s home. Overall, the food here is pretty good, but there were some dishes that could have been seasoned better to help achieve those authentic flavors of the south. Come here hungry because the food here is heavy. I left South House feeling satiated, and I look forward to visiting for brunch!
Food: Good | Drinks: Very Good | Décor: Eclectic/Rustic | Service: Friendly/Attentive | Value: Good


LOCATION 
149 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ
(historic downtown)





Have you been to South House? If so, what were some of your favorite items?