Souther Hospitality: Fried Fun
Kayla Hutzler
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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When you first walk you would think that you walked into a regular bar/restaurant somewhere in Oklahoma. That is, until your eyes come across the numerous flat screen TVs and the top 20 hits soundtrack blasts your ears, and you are reminded this is still NYC. If those don't do it for you, the 45-minute to an hour-long wait, and the always polite on the edge of snootiness hostesses will clue you in.
However, for those over 21 they do have a fully stocked bar and fun, capable bartenders which definitely make the wait seem shorter. If you are completely famished you can also order appetizers at the bar. Also, if it happens to be a particularly crowded night, waitresses will walk around with platters of free Soco-Lime shots.
Once you are truly in, that is not waiting by the bar anymore, the best part of the night begins. The food is unbelievable. Warning: Do not skip out on appetizers at this restaurant they are the best part! Personal favorites and crowd pleasers include: deep-fried pickles, southern style fried green tomatoes, and BBQ nachos. ($8-$10)
The platters are huge, and after appetizers, I've never finished a full plate. They have all the typical southern sandwiches, drenched in a delicious barbecue sauce. The most commonly ordered seem to be the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches. They also have a fried bologna sandwich and a house burger to which you can add bbq chili, cheddar and bacon. All our of these are served with a heaping pile of seasoned French-fries.
Southern Hospitality also features a special menu of baked macaroni and cheese plates (a personal favorite). Served right in the pan the platters are more than enough to fill you. Along with classic they have several options including: piggin' out, with pulled pork; chicken little, with bbq chicken; feelin' beefy, with chopped briskent; chili'n'cheese, with a heap of chili; and bacon me crazy, topped with a blanket of crumbled bacon.
For those over 21, while waiting for your courses they have an 8-foot beer pong table in the back room that you are invited to play on. Pitchers of beer are about $12.
If you have room for dessert they over southern favorite such as peach cobbler, bourbon flavored pecan pie, chocolate cobbler, and apple fritter.
Overall, I would have expected nothing less from a restaurant owned by Justin Timberlake. The restaurant is also becoming a spot to see celebrities casually hanging out. The night I was there I saw Heather Matarazzo, better known as best friend Lilly Moscovitz from Princess Diaries 1 and 2. A few days earlier Chace Crawford, Emile Hersch, and Lindsay Lohan were photographed playing beer pong. Not to mention the chance of you running into Justin himself on one of his trips to NY.