Southern Bistro Awards

Southern Bistro Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Operating for several years as Nancy G's, Southern Bistro represents a relaunch of the operation. Inexplicably, the restaurant's sign calls the place "Bistro Chastain Park," but its official name is Southern Bistro.

Food & Drinks: Southern staples include a house-made pimento cheese made with aged cheddar and fried green tomatoes. Southern notes come in the form of cornmeal-crusted calamari. We like the shrimp and grits made with Georgia-grown Logan Turnpike stone-ground grits, andouille sausage and a light tomato pan sauce. Fortunately, this version of the low country classic hasn't had a plethora of disparate ingredients or cheese inflicted on it. At brunch, opt for adding a poached egg. Other dishes include fried chicken, but only at lunch or brunch; it’s done the right way with bone-in chicken. The wine list is serviceable; try the Chapoutier rosé with the shrimp and grits. For dessert, the caramel-iced pound cake and the toffee bread pudding will likely find fans, but we're not sure they're worth the calories. Banana pudding is a possibility, too. Expect a good kids’ menu.