The Dirty South — Restaurant in Hamilton

After an underwhelming experience with The Dirty South food truck several years ago, I decided to give their brick and mortar establishment a chance, and I'm thrilled to report that it was an entirely different and delightful experience. The transformation from the food truck to the restaurant seems to have worked wonders, as the establishment exuded a clean, inviting, and rustic Southern charm that immediately caught my attention.

Walking into The Dirty South Restaurant, I was struck by the bright and cozy atmosphere that effortlessly combined southern warmth with a modern touch. The inviting ambiance set the tone for what turned out to be a flavorful culinary journey.

Dining with a group of four, we eagerly placed our order, selecting a variety of dishes to sample the diverse offerings of the menu. The selection included Pulled Pork Wontons, Fried Chicken Skewers, Mac and Cheese Balls, Poutine, the formidable Big Pig Mac and Cheese, and a generous serving of 1 pound of Brisket.

The Brisket, served with a saucy glaze and thinly sliced, showcased a promising foundation, but as a meat enthusiast, I yearned for a bolder meat flavor and a thicker cut. Personal preference might guide me to order it without the sauce next time, seeking a more authentic meaty taste and a heartier texture.

While the overall experience was superb, a few minor imperfections did make themselves known. The Mac and Cheese Balls, while undoubtedly delicious, leaned slightly towards dryness, which detracted from their potential indulgence. The kitchen's mastery over flavors was never in doubt, yet a touch more moisture could elevate these bites to perfection.

Now, let's talk about the stars of the show. The Pulled Pork was a genuine triumph, and its place as the highlight of the meal was undeniable. The pulled pork sandwich, piled high with tender, succulent pork, was a symphony of flavors that harmonized perfectly. The revelation, however, was the Pulled Pork Wontons, marrying the delightful essence of the pulled pork within a crispy shell. Each bite was an explosion of textures and flavors that was nothing short of delightful.

The Fried Chicken Skewers were an unexpected delight that left us craving more. The only complaint among us was that we hadn't ordered extra servings. The interplay between the seasoned, crispy exterior and the juicy chicken inside was a testament to the kitchen's culinary prowess.

In the end, The Dirty South Restaurant provided an overall memorable experience. The transformation from an unimpressive food truck to a thriving restaurant has clearly been a fruitful journey. While there were minor hiccups, such as the slightly dry Mac and Cheese Balls and the brisket's thickness, the undeniable highlights were the Pulled Pork creations and the Fried Chicken Skewers. The restaurant's inviting atmosphere and Southern charm make it a place worth revisiting. With a few tweaks, it has the potential to be an undeniable...

Gotta say very disappointed by our visit to this location. This is my second visit to the brand, the first being at the Barton location, where I tried the mac n cheese with spicy chicken which absolutely floored me with how good it was.

Tonight we went out with my gf's father, we ordered a brisket sandwich, the mac n cheese, the pulled pork Sandie and fries. It took about an hour to get our food (truthfully this was following ordering deliberation)

They brought out the fries, brisket and mac n cheese (which immediately looked like a significantly smaller portion than Barton st)

The fries were stone cold. As was my mac n cheese. Furthermore the chicken was dry, (Barton was very saucy and spicy, this was neither)

When the server brought out the pulled pork we informed her of the cold food and she quickly apologized and said they would remake it. 4 minutes later the manager (I assume, he was sort of the host) brought it back out and said it was comped, but I could immediately tell the fries were refried (incredibly greasy, dark, and unappealing) and my chicken was white (refried also) and the macaroni I don't know, maybe that was fresh I'm not sure. Either way it still nowheres near as good as their Barton quality which is surprising as this location is more of a dine in restaurant.

The two cold dishes were ultimately comped which was nice, but I wouldn't have paid for them if they weren't, as it just wasn't good and unfortunately we won't return to the location knowing that the other is so much better.

The staff was very friendly, which is nice, but I would have preferred not to listen to loud country music personally.

Overall pretty...

Ordered two apps and two sandwiches from the Concession St location Sunday evening 6/5/22. Picked up half hour later when they told me it would be ready and waited approximately fifteen minutes inside. There were only two tables occupied when I arrived. One inside and one outside. Lots of staff but poor execution.

First sandwich was the beef brisket on a cheese bun. Flavour was good but it was cold as if it had been just taken out of the fridge and put on a cold bun. Second sandwich was the Louisiana Love which is supposed to be chicken and waffles with bacon. The waffles were not waffles. They were bland, dull, soggy, pancakes that tasted as if they sat for a day or two in a fridge. And not good pancakes either. The chicken was also soggy and cold. There was one lonely, pitiful looking piece of bacon that was, you guessed it, soggy and cold.

The apps were the pulled pork wontons and the pretzel bites. The wontons were actually egg rolls. While the flavour of the pork was good, these too unfortunately were soggy and cold. The pretzel bites were delicious and well done. The dipping sauce was good but could be thicker.

Overall, the experience and food was very poor. I have had Dirty South a few times and it was good enough that I recommended it for a friend yesterday and we were left disappointed. However, this was the worst execution of a potentially great menu and we would have been better off with a sandwich from a chain...