Last year, the Michelin Guide designated the American South as a region worthy of culinary recognition. And while we’re delighted by buzzy Michelin-starred restaurants and James Beard Award–winning chefs, the excellence of our food is not new to us. We’ve always known it was something special. Beyond white tablecloth dining rooms, it’s the salt-of-the-earth, unpretentious, and longstanding spots that speak to the region’s history, culture, and way of life. They are where you’ll find the locals: a family-run barbecue joint or a weathered seafood shack; a mom-and-pop bakery or a great cheese shop; a neighborhood farmers market or a lunch counter that makes a sandwich with a cult following. Steeped in tradition, these places—and the folks who run them—are what make our cuisine so memorable. On your next journey, stop and experience these gems for yourself—there’s always an extra plate ready.
All Steak Restaurant
Cullman, Alabama
This legendary steakhouse known for prime cuts was opened in Tennessee in 1934 but moved to Cullman four years later. Long established as a cornerstone of the community, the restaurant is just as famous for its complimentary orange rolls served to every diner—a sweet ending drizzled with a glaze of butter, sugar, and orange zest.
Photograph courtesy of Focus Creative
Anthony’s Italian Deli
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Out-of-towners are known to drive to Baton Rouge just for Anthony’s famed muffuletta. Made from a Sicilian family recipe, the homemade bread is toasted and generously stuffed with capicola, salami, mortadella, ham, provolone, and an olive and vegetable mix. Don’t miss the po’ boys and meatball sandwiches, and if you’re there at the right moment, you may catch a staff singalong to The Sound of Music or a Frank Sinatra classic.
Photograph courtesy of Anthony's Italian Deli
Bertha’s Kitchen
Charleston, South Carolina
Anyone who’s eaten at Bertha’s will tell you to order the rich, aromatic okra soup, made from a secret family recipe using fresh okra, onions, and a garlicky tomato broth. Fill your belly with other Gullah-inspired Lowcountry soul food like pork chops, beef stew, Charleston red rice, fried whiting, and hoppin’ John at this cafeteria-style spot that the James Beard Foundation named an America’s Classic in 2017.
Big Apple Inn
Jackson, Mississippi
At this humble joint, fourth-generation owner Geno Lee continues his great-grandfather’s tradition serving up “smokes” (smoked sausage sliders) and pig ear sandwiches with mustard, coleslaw, and homemade hot sauce. The lunch counter also holds an important place in civil rights history: Medgar Evers and Fannie Lou Hamer regularly ate here and held strategy meetings with other movement leaders.
Bonita Fish Company
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Originally called Bonita Fish House when it opened a century ago, this Old Florida gem keeps things simple: fresh Gulf seafood, cold drinks, and live music overlooking the water. Chase down some smoked mullet dip, fried grouper sandwiches, and Cajun shrimp baskets with a craft beer, and be sure to go back for brunch to try the shrimp and grits and a Bonita Mary with a smoky honey habanero rim.
Photograph courtesy of Bonita Fish Company
The Bright Star Restaurant
Bessemer, Alabama
Founded in 1907 by Greek immigrant Tom Bonduris as a 12-seat bar, this family-style eatery is still operated by his descendants. Classic entrees include crab claws, oysters, and salmon, but its claim to fame is fried snapper throats—once the “leftover” food for staff in the 1930s, it’s now an iconic dish. Serving in the same dining room since 1915, the restaurant was named an America’s Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2010.
The Bubble Room
Captiva, Florida
Rainbow colors, bubble lights, and Hollywood memorabilia are all part of the charm at this beloved destination. Start with a Tropical Tiki Cooler (featuring three different rums) and the Bubble Bread (the signature seven-cheese bread) for an appetizer, then dig into the Marilyn Mignon—a filet mignon, named for the midcentury bombshell, wrapped in bacon. Top off the kitschy fun with a slice of the popular Orange Crunch Cake.
Photograph courtesy of The Bubble Room
Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue
Durham, North Carolina
There’s a lot more than barbecue on the menu, but the wood-smoked pork and beef brisket are mainstays. Order the pork plate with your choice of two sides: baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, or fries (though collard greens and black-eyed peas are available on Fridays and Saturdays). Bring cash—it’s the only payment accepted.
The Colonnade
Atlanta, Georgia
The Colonnade is the singular sort of place where customers dine on crispy fried chicken while sipping a stiff martini. This culinary landmark has hosted business deals, date nights, and family dinners for nearly 100 years. Classics like pot roast, salmon croquettes, rainbow trout, and fried catfish are accompanied by dozens of sides worthy of grandma’s Thanksgiving buffet, including a nostalgic nod to midcentury dining: tomato aspic.
Doe’s Eat Place
Greenville, Mississippi
Eighty-five years ago, Dominick “Doe” Signa and his wife turned a modest family grocery into what later became a renowned regional restaurant chain. The original location is a bucket-list stop for foodies who come for the grilled steaks and hand-rolled hot tamales. Made using the same all-beef recipe since 1941, the savory pockets are a true taste of the Mississippi Delta.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
New Orleans, Louisiana
It started as a bar in 1918, with a lunch counter added a few years later when Sophie Domilise began making plates for longshoremen and riverfront workers. Today, this corner shop still run by the Domilise family has locals and tourists lined up down the street at lunchtime to score its famous po’ boys stuffed with shrimp, oysters, roast beef, and sausage served on crisp, locally made Leidenheimer bread.
Photograph by Bobby Altman
G&O Grill
Paducah, Kentucky
Grab a counter stool at this former 1950s drugstore and order a stack of pancakes or some sourdough French toast for breakfast. The lunch crowd comes for made-to-order burgers, satisfying salads, chili cheese dogs, hot sandwiches like the tuna melt and pimento cheese, and the fan-favorite homemade banana pudding.
Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant
Shiloh, Tennessee
Is there any meal more quintessentially Southern than a platter of cornmeal-crusted catfish fillets with hush puppies and coleslaw? Come to this rustic eatery along the Tennessee River for the signature catch, and stay for the desserts—especially pies made from owner Jim Hagy’s family recipes. Try his mother’s German chocolate, his dad’s caramel, or his grandmother’s lemon rub pie to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
Marianna, Arkansas
Considered the oldest continuously operating Black-owned restaurant in the country, this James Beard America’s Classic is run by fourth-generation owner James Harold Jones. Order at the window of the cinder-block building, take a seat at a picnic table under the carport-style awning, and indulge in the one item Jones serves: mouthwatering pork piled on two slices of Wonder Bread. It’ll come fork-tender after being smoked over smoldering oak and hickory logs for 12 hours.
North End Tavern & Brewery
Parkersburg, West Virginia
Known by regulars as “the NET,” this tavern’s roots date back to 1899, with the brewery portion opening nearly a century later. A favorite gathering spot for sports fans, it lures locals and tourists with multiple TVs, substantial appetizers, and German-influenced favorites like Braunschweiger (smoked liverwurst) and bratwurst made with Roedy’s Red, its signature amber ale.
Photograph by Sara Reeves
Oark General Store & Cafe
Oark, Arkansas
Once a remote Ozark trading post, the building also served as a post office, gas station, and convenience store. Walk through the sticker-laden front door and back in time for satisfying Southern breakfast plates with biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs, and sausage. Lunch favorites include cheeseburgers like the Angry Hornet (named for the local school mascot), with grilled jalapeños, chipotle mayo, and pepper jack cheese. Don’t leave without trying the scratch-made coconut cream pie.
O’Steen’s Restaurant
St. Augustine, Florida
A staple since 1965, O’Steen’s is famous for St. Augustine–style fried shrimp—butterflied to the tail with a light, crispy saltine-cracker coating and served with the signature pink sauce. This is also the place to try Minorcan clam chowder, a spicy tomato-based soup containing local datil peppers and named after the indentured settlers from the Spanish island of Minorca who settled in the city in 1777.
Stax’s Original
Greenville, South Carolina
The original 1950s soda fountain counter is still in use at this nostalgic diner run by the Stathakis family, which once operated as Shaw’s Pharmacy. Come hungry for classic American fare such as meatloaf with tomato sauce, mac and cheese, green beans, and bread pudding, not to mention traditional Greek favorites (think gyro and souvlaki platters) that nod to the owners’ family heritage.
Taylor Grocery
Taylor, Mississippi
The menu is extensive at this former dry goods store turned celebrated dining destination, but make no mistake, catfish is king. Lightly breaded, whole catfish fillets are fried to perfection and come with hush puppies and two sides. Pro tip: Try Big Deb’s World-Famous Brown Rice or the french fries smothered in Rotel sauce. It’s BYOB, so prepare ahead, settle on the porch while waiting for your table, and listen to live music offered on most nights the restaurant’s open.
Texas Inn
Lynchburg, Virginia
Called “T Room” by its regulars, the Lynchburg location is the flagship of four. Popular for hot dogs, burgers (especially the Cheesy Western, a smashburger with an egg, cheese, relish, and onions), and traditional diner fare, its claim to fame is the chili, made with a recipe that founder Nick Bullington supposedly bought for $5 in San Antonio, Texas, in 1927.
Photograph by Catherine Grace
Wagner’s Pharmacy
Louisville, Kentucky
Just steps away from Churchill Downs and operating for over a century, Wagner’s is no place to rein in your appetite. Peruse photos of past race winners alongside jockeys, trainers, and locals digging into breakfast and lunch specials. Try the Derby sandwich with Kentucky Legend ham and Swiss cheese, or the Hot Walker platter, offering a choice of fried or grilled chicken or a burger, topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and spicy ranch sauce.
Photograph by Bobby Altman
Waterfront Seafood Shack
Calabash, North Carolina
In the self-proclaimed “Seafood Capital of the World,” it’s not unusual to see fishing boats pull up to the dock to unload their fresh catch directly to a restaurant—it’s a daily occurrence. Fill up on baskets, handhelds, or platters of scallops, shrimp, grouper, mahi-mahi, steamed littleneck clams, and Carolina blue crabs, along with waterfront views and a relaxed vibe.
WifeSaver
Augusta, Georgia
Founded 60 years ago, WifeSaver serves plates piled high with Southern comfort specialties like fried chicken, black-eyed peas, okra, and biscuits. In 1998, it was tapped to produce the legendary pimento cheese served at the Masters. Pick up an eight- or 16-ounce container of the famous spread at any of the five locations—but know it sells out fast, especially during the tournament.
Photograph by Matt Ray
Winnie’s Tavern
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington native Winnie Swanson opened her tavern in 1962, and today the nautical-themed space is run by the third and fourth generations of her family. No visit is complete without ordering the cult-favorite Trailer Park Burger (the site was once a mobile home park), towering with fried green tomatoes, house-made jalapeño pimento cheese, hickory-smoked bacon, lettuce, onion, bread and butter pickles, and chipotle mayo.
This article appears in the Fall 2026 issue of Southbound.
