South Kitchen & Spirits

South Kitchen & Spirits in Ponte Vedra Beach has become one of those restaurants Susan and I keep finding ourselves coming back to. What started as a casual local dinner spot has grown into one of our true “Favorite Tables Around Town,” consistently reminding us why locally owned restaurants are such an important part of a community. One of our all time favorite comfort food dishes anywhere in Northeast Florida is their Chicken & Waffles, which earned our Culinary Duo “Best of the Best” award. Coming from the Northeast, I never understood how fried chicken and waffles belonged together on the same plate, but one bite here completely changed my mind. The crispy fried chicken, fluffy waffles, and sweet syrup create the perfect balance of savory, sweet, crunchy, and comforting. Since first trying it at South Kitchen, we have ordered chicken and waffles around the country, and none have matched this version. During our latest visit, the kitchen surprised us again. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes topped with pimento cheese, crispy bacon, and lemon vinaigrette. Even as someone who normally is not a fried green tomato fan, I loved the balance between the smoky richness and bright acidity. The Fried Shrimp appetizer also stood out because the shrimp were large, lightly battered in house, and cooked perfectly without hiding the natural sweetness of the shrimp itself. The homemade tartar and cocktail sauces made it even better. Susan ordered the Shrimp & Grits, and it was Southern comfort food done properly. The andouille sausage was sliced on an angle and crisped perfectly, allowing the smoky spice to fully develop. The grits were creamy and soulful, exactly how your Alabama grandmother would make them, while the sauce remained silky and consistent from start to finish without separating, something many restaurants surprisingly struggle to achieve. But the real surprise of the evening was the Barney Burger. Built with a fresh hand pattied brisket blend burger, it comes loaded with avocado, smoked bacon, melted American and cheddar cheese, grilled jalapeños, tomato, and smoky chipotle aioli on a soft locally baked Village Bread bun. The rich beef flavor and smoky bacon are perfectly balanced by the cool sweetness of the avocado, while the jalapeños slowly build heat with every bite. The melted cheese and chipotle aioli tie everything together into one messy, indulgent, flavor packed burger that easily ranks among the best we have had anywhere in Northeast Florida. The restaurant also has a strong full bar program and excellent happy hour offerings. Peter especially enjoyed the Chocolate Peanut Butter Martini, which should surprise absolutely nobody who knows him. If you are looking for Southern comfort food, creative burgers, strong cocktails, and one of the best casual dining experiences in Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee, South Kitchen & Spirits absolutely deserves a visit.

I was here after work enjoying the atmosphere but took food to go. I ordered a $17 chicken and dumplings and after taxes it was more like $19 without tip. But it looked absolutely terrible. Just dry chicken, no seasoning. No gravy. I’m not sure what has changed internally, it’s been over a year since I’ve been here but the whole menu changed. Everything used to feel very elevated even the braised beef stroganoff which was delicious but no longer on the menu. The food here now feels very hospital like and the prices are insane for something like this. Very disappointing.

James at South Kitchen is absolutely amazing! I brought my dog with me for lunch today and it unexpectedly started down-pouring rain. Since my dog isn’t a service dog she wasn’t allowed inside the restaurant, but James sat with my dog Linda for almost 20 minutes while it was still storming so that she would feel safe and comfortable. He was so nice and caring and it really meant a lot to me and my family! It’s experiences like this that really make you want to come back! Also, the food was amazing :)

This is the second time we have order take out from South Kitchen and the food has been horrible. First time my wife and I ordered steak and eggs, my wife order her steak medium and her eggs over easy. The steak was well done, without any juices and had no flavor and the eggs were over cook. My steak was over cooked my steak was medium well without any juice and no flavor. (Salt and Pepper) And tonight's take out (see pictures). My wife for chicken tenders with seasoned fries. The chicken tenders were cooked in old dirty oil. My son's shrimp and grits, we can't see any of the grits it all sauce. This place has gone down hill.