55 South — Restaurant in Brentwood

Long. After having seen the Franklin location on DDD maybe the expectations were set too high. Wife and I were in Nashville today and excited to try 55 South Brentwood (Franklin Location closed till 7/16). We got there mid afternoon. Two 2 tops in restaurant, and a 2 top in bar, so it was slow. Waited 5 /6 minutes for someone to appear. Meh, probably doing side work to prep for dinner, no biggie but does make one wonder why no one was watching the door. We were seated, drink order taken and given ample time to order. We decided to eat small, so wife ordered chicken & sausage gumbo, I had the seafood gumbo, and we split an order of the crawfish boudin balls. The gumbos' were average, good roux but the rice was hard (dried out, not under cooked, old) couldn't tell if the crab was real or imitation due having stewed for so long along with the shrimp, one shrimp had a tan that would make George Hamilton look white. The mud bugs had a very tiny role in this gumbo. My wife's gumbo looked to be made with pot roast and vienna sausages. Didn't know Chef Boyardee made andouille. I LOVE boudin, and try it where ever I find it. The crawfish boudin balls were so blended I didn't know what I was eating. The creole mustard was good but overpowered the boudin. The quickled onions were the star of the dish (unfortunately). Very average food and service for the prices, given that a chain restaurant like The Lost Cajun (Hendersonville) does it better. And you get their beignets anytime not just brunch. Hope this...

Terrible Service: Read some reviews regarding poor service from a year or two ago but also saw a lot of recent, good reviews so my wife and I decided to try this place for the first time for our date night. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the food because the service at the bar was so terrible, my wife and I got up and left after she finished her drink. The bar tender was chatting up a guy at the end of the bar and ignored us for several minutes after we sat down. After we got our drinks, the bartender proceeded to go back to chatting up the guy at the end of the bar and fill out her March Madness bracket. I guess the manager was too busy training a new hire because he never acknowledged us at all. Spent most of his time around the corner, sampling beers with the new hire. Luckily, there was one server who helped us. She also appeared to be the only one doing any work. I had to flag her down to get a 2nd beer and again to finally get our check since the bartender was so engrossed. Tried to politely explain why we weren't happy but wasn't going to stick around for food after that terrible service. No wonder the place was practically empty. 1) Will never go back 2) Will never recommend. 3) Went to Ludlow and Prime around the corner where the service was much better and proceeded to spend our...

Parking was atrocious. Waited in the door for 20 minutes for the 20-something hostess to acknowledge my existence. She disappeared when I said I didn’t want to sit at the bar. I waited another 10 minutes which was fine and she seated me at a 4 seater high top IN THE BAR. Dark and had to read the menu under the table glass with my flashlight on my cell phone.

The waiter asked I was ready and took my drink order and acted peeved I didn’t order booze. I was driving so I don’t even have a beer and get behind the wheel in a city I have never been in before.

Everything was “Cajun” and I don’t do peppers so I ordered the 55 South Mahi with cheese grits and broccoli for $17.00. The item description said grilled and it was blackened. I specifically checked that it said GRILLED. They didn’t qualify that 55 indicated it was smothered in a mixture of spices mostly PEPPER. I couldn’t eat it as I have a capsaicin allergy and my lips started to swell after two bites.

The waiter offered to have the kitchen do my a “naked” grilled piece. By the time I got it, the broccoli and cheese grits were gone and my beverage was gone. I ended up eating a dry piece of fish without any sides or liquids.

I did get a beverage when he brought my check.

Been there. Done that. ...