South City Kitchen - Vinings
South City Kitchen - Sophisticated Southern in Smyrna/Vinings
Special Offer:
Message from South City Kitchen - Vinings
South City Kitchen Vinings brings a combination of energy and comfortable metropolitan sophistication to your neighborhood. Executive Chef Chip Ulbrich's training began in a comprehensive, European-style culinary apprenticeship program run by the Rock Resorts Company and accredited by The American Culinary Federation Education Institute. In 2001, The James Beard Foundation recognized Chef Chip achievements. Traditional, fresh ingredients prepared in an open exhibition kitchen are used to create their version of contemporary Southern cuisine. It features an oversized bar with communal tables, cozy booths and a dining room lined with French doors that open to a spacious outdoor patio. There is also a private dining room perfect for your next social or corporate event. Dine the way the new South intended at South City Kitchen in Vinings. A FIFTH GROUP RESTAURANTS CONCEPT
Editorial by Citysearch
In ShortA suburban version of the Midtown original, the Vinings location keeps the Southern feel but in a more spacious and parking-friendly OTP form. Brightly decorated with eleant light fixtures, it lacks the charm of the old house off Crescent, but makes up ground with French doors and a room-dividing wine cellar. The menu is almost identical to the original, keeping all the Southern favorites but adding a slue of new dishes like Coca-Cola braised brisket and the instantly-popular pimento cheese burger. Though it's tough to hit the SCK and not go for the heavyset favorites. Buttermilk fried chicken is as good as advertised, boasting crispy skin, moist meat and bourbon gravy. Tangy chow chow and Creole mustard sauce add zip to meaty crab cakes; sherry provides the perfect grace note to a soothing bowl of creamy she-crab soup. Banana pudding layered with homemade vanilla wafers makes for a proper ending.
Key Points
- Award-winning wine list
- Patio dining in Smyrna/Vinings
- Private dining room
The Inside Scoop
- On the Menu - The fried green tomatoes are a must to start and the housemade banana pudding is the perfect ending.
- When to Go - Because Southern is as Southern does, our Southern-style brunch is the perfect addition to any Sunday; served from 10am-3pm.
- What to Drink - Finally, a drink that's got the pith it needs to be manly, but the sensitivity needed for a lady. How civilized. South City Kitchen Midtown offers a Southern Comfort-fused concoction called the Drunken Palmer that begs for a hot afternoon, a winding wrap-around porch and the wearing of hats and sportcoats.
Insider Pages Reviews for South City Kitchen - Vinings
I had heard great things about their fried chicken and was not disappointed. It's the best! It's rare that a meal lives up to the hype but this surely did.
Posted 05/13/09 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
Although we enjoyed the food on two visits to South City Kitchen (although the second time my vegetables were a little cold and sort of underwhelming), the first time our service was a huge disappointment. The waiter disappeared several times for long stretches, and then when he did show up he was dismissive, but the management did come talk to us and they were very understanding and tried their best to make things right (and we appreciated that they wrapped up a lovely dessert for us). The second time we went the place felt loud and crowded, with kids running around in the aisles and a table full of people who were clearly drunk shouting to one another and complaining about their orders. Obviously it's not the restaurant's fault if the clientele is obnoxious, but the memory of that experience has made us a little reluctant to return.
Posted 05/04/09 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
It is very difficult to find a place that both my husband and myself can agree on. The South City Kitchen fits that bill. They're menu is widely varied, and I've never had a bad meal there! Also a great place to take your in-laws . . . .
Posted 03/10/09 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
We were told this place has the best fried chicken, my husband who is a bit of a fried chicken expert had to try it out. He and I both think that this place had really good buttermilk fried chicken, really crispy.
Posted 02/15/09 | Report Abuse
Was this review helpful to you?
Latest reviews from Citysearch.
Another great evening at SCKV
by troymoga
Went for a wine tasting event on Tuesday night and stayed for dinner. Hands down, one of the best, well-organized events I've been to! A local wine shop provided the tasting and SCK provided some of their signature appetizers! Can't resist those goat cheese fritters!! Had the pappardelle for dinner which was excellent! I had never had it before, a great mix of veggies and pasta. Even though the food was wonderful, I would have to say the most memorable part of the evening was the service. From the waiters serving the event to our waitress for dinner, the service was top notch! They didn't miss a beat and were very friendly! That always makes a difference. Ask for Jennifer!!
Thanks SCKV! A wonderful neighborhood gem!
Pros: GREAT Service!
Cons: Very hot! (Not the restaurant's fault though!)
Posted 06/21/09
Great Place for After Work Drinks and Dinner
by StacieSmith
This is a great place to grab drinks after work and a relaxed atmosphere for dinner. Some of best things that they have to offer are their weekly menu specials and special events. A friend and I recently attended a really great wine tasting event here on June 23. For only $15 you could taste 40 different wines and could even place an order that day and receive a discount on your purchase. South City Kitchen even served some of their signature appetizers during the event and turned out to be a lot of fun. Plus - if you stayed for dinner, you received 15% off of your check. It was a great deal all around.
Michael Erickson - director of marketing - does a great job of promoting and communicating the specials at all of the Fifth Group restaurants. I would recommend signing up for their emails or befriending him on facebook so you can stay up to date on the events.
Pros: Great location, atmosphere, wine list and menu
Posted 06/18/09
Decent Brunch
by BNSupra
We came to SCK for Brunch on a Sunday. The biscuits and cornbread
were great. They were perfectly shaped and cute, little bites. They
also offer a variety of breakfast cocktails, Bellinis, etc. I ordered
the Breakfast Plate which came with grits, two eggs any style, three
pieces of bacon, and potatoes. It was around ten dollars and the
portions were pretty well sized. The potatoes that come with the
breakfast entrees are the most flavorful. The taste of the food was
good, but not anything special that I crave to eat again immediately.
It's a nice place to come with a significant other on a nice weekend
morning/early day. However, if you are looking for breakfast/brunch
fare of the same portion and perhaps same taste and quality, but want
something more casual and affordable, J. Christopher's is right around
the corner.
Pros: Good Service, Brunch Menu, Romantic
Cons: Can be a bit pricey
Posted 02/07/09
Great Brunch! Great atmosphere!
by Otrebortheone
My wife and I can't give it 5 stars this time as we ordered a pretty simple brunch. The atmosphere was great. We were promptly greeted and our waiter Andrew was friendly, attentive, and by attentive, I mean that he kept an eye on us, took care of us and did it without checking in every 5 seconds. The Fried Green Tomatoes were awesome. The biscuits were soft, warm and not all caked up with flour. The corn muffins glorious. The pancakes had subtle, but real flavor, a joy! Wifey had the "Housemade Granola" (an appetizer but she had it as her brunch) and loved it. The fresh fruit it came with was amazing (I poached). Good orange juice too. A broad range of clientele - young urban types with their infants, my wife and I (not-hispanic hispanic people), african americans, and older white folks too.
Sublime.
Pros: Good food, good atmosphere. Could be romantic. Good for well behaved kids.
Cons: None.
Posted 11/08/08
Great Service
by rugarip
i dont know what the people below are talking about, but my service was the best in the city. The food, they have a new chef, is impeachable. In fact the pork chop may be the best I have ever eaten. My server Kevin was fantastic and you should ask for him every time you come in. Not to mention Charlie at the bar may be the best bartender in the city.
Posted 02/18/08
Great atmosphere, great food!
by aklatham
I am new in the area and wanted to find a good restaurant with a hip atmosphere. South City Kitchen was it!! I am from the South, so I love the Southern flare on the food!! It was delicious and we had prompt seating, great service and fabulous food!! I am going again this weekend! It is a great place for a date or a nice dinner with friends or family!
Pros: Cornbread and Biscuits, shrimp and scallops in smoked garlic gravy!
Posted 11/01/07
Wonderful Food, Terrible Service
by tiffany_7
I love to go to South City Kitchen for the ambiance and the food. The service ,however, is always terrible and I knew that going in so I was prepared.I was prepared when the waiter disappeared for 45 minutes after he served our entree.I was prepared when he then suddenly appeared and tried to rush us through our meal.I was not prepared however for him to throw our check on the table and storm off,as if to say , "Finally, I get to clean this table off and go home!" He had other guests at the bar however, so we were not his final guests. For entrees, we ordered the trout and the chicken and dumplings and they were divine,as the food here always is. We enjoyed our meal while looking out over the twinkling patio lights to the charming square and fountain outside. And we were prepared for the snubbing of the servers so that really didn't really ruin the meal.Just come to South City Kitchen ready to be treated BADLY, but I hope you will be treated with greater respect than we were that night.However, if you are into food and atmosphere,this place is for you!
Pros: Food and Atmosphere
Cons: Service
Posted 09/09/07
Slow City Kitchen - ridiculous
by samara7
Be warned - This Vinings location has horrible service. I went for Sunday brunch and it took 2 hours. No one even acknowledged us sitting at the bar for 15 minutes. Not only did they have empty tabletops and still had a long wait, every employee seemed to just stroll through the restaurant, even the cooks were moving slow. There was no sense of urgency or desire to please customers. It was ridiculous. I love the Midtown location but will never go back to the Vinings one. We even expressed our concerns to the manager who didn't seem to care. The only positive note is that the Fried Green Tomatoes are delicious. But definitely don't waste your time at this place! I'll be going back to Houston's where service is impeccable and quick.
Pros: Fried Green Tomatoes
Cons: Horrible service, very SLOW
Posted 03/31/07
Great Place for a Holiday Party!
by jotb
We recently had our Holiday Party at the South City Kitchen in Vinings. We had met with Kelly (the events coordinator) a few months prior to the party. She was such a pleasure to work with. We had discussed our likes and dislikes and she really took over from there.
They did such an excellent job with everything. The food was outstanding and the service was exceptional. Everyone loved the shrimp and grits. The guests were completely taken care of from the beginning of the evening until the end.
Great food, Great Service, Wonderful Atmosphere. Heck.. Why wait for a party??? I want to go back right now
Posted 12/20/06
Off to a slow start
by chaspa06
This is a "far cry" from its cozy, sister location in Midtown with excellent wait staff. Service was a bit slow even though it wasn't busy. Alert management..obnoxious waitress on board. Beef-up your customer service. Food was tasty (salmon with basmati rice and chow chow and fried chicken with mashed potatoes). Try a glass of Quinta port after your meal with raspberry sorbet for dessert.
Pros: Parking
Cons: Watch the salt content
Posted 06/17/06
Great Place
by mcoreo
Good food, great atmosphere... what more could you want? Try the chicken livers and the shrimp corn dogs.. wonderful. Great Fried Chicken and brisket all is good except the speed of service. Appetizers are fast but entree takes a very long time.. but worth the wait. Good addition in a neighborhood that needed a great restaurant. Try brunch also crab hash is delectable!
Pros: Great food, good service, Open late
Cons: food is slow
Posted 05/14/06