Roc South Cuisine — Restaurant in Brookhaven

I want to preface this review by stating that my feedback is specific to this establishment and is not a reflection of Black-owned businesses as a whole. As someone with a background in Small Business Organizational Development Consulting, I’ve visited numerous restaurants and understand the importance of business structure, customer service, and pricing strategy.

During a recent visit to town from Texas, my sister (who traveled from North Carolina for a conference) and I decided to dine at this restaurant based on a recommendation from my brother-in-love and a review from Keith Lee. Unfortunately, while the restaurant clearly attracts a crowd, the overall experience was frustrating due to a lack of organization, excessive policies, and subpar food quality.

The Check-In Process

Our party of five was not allowed to be seated until all members arrived(total-7). While I understand policies regarding complete parties, the additional restrictions—such as a 90-minute dining limit and a $25 charge per person for no-shows—were excessive for a casual dining experience. What made matters worse was that we were not allowed to order drinks or appetizers while waiting.

Service & Food Quality

Once seated, our server was professional and attentive, which was a positive aspect of our visit. However, service delays were evident. Our appetizer took 15 minutes to arrive, and we then waited an additional 35 minutes for our entrées—despite the restaurant enforcing a strict 90-minute dining limit. When the checks arrived, the waitstaff hovered over us, rushing us to pay, which created a tense dining experience.

The food itself was underwhelming given the price point. The chicken was dry, lacked seasoning, and was fried poorly. The waffles—advertised as strawberry cheesecake—were nothing more than a regular waffle with drizzle on top, with no real infusion of flavor. My granddaughter, who is a notoriously picky eater, barely touched her fruit cup and mac & cheese, which was a clear indicator of food quality. For a veggie plate that stayed behind due to its poor taste & quality, a drink, and chicken and waffles, my total came to $82—including an unnecessary service fee. My brother in love took the yams home. Nothing was being left behind on his watch! He deemed it edible (He is an Army Vet).

The Atmosphere: A Club or a Restaurant?

One of the biggest issues was the excessively loud music. It was so loud that we could barely hold a conversation. While lively environments can be enjoyable, this felt more like a nightclub than a dining experience, making it difficult for groups looking to engage with each other over a meal.

The Bigger Issue: Unnecessary Fees & Business Structure

From a business perspective, charging high prices for a subpar experience and adding unnecessary service fees reflects a lack of operational structure. Many Black-owned restaurants rely on service fees rather than incorporating those costs into their pricing model, which can drive away customers rather than fostering loyalty. A better approach would be refining the menu, improving service efficiency, and ensuring that the pricing reflects true value.

Final Thoughts

While the restaurant does attract a mixed, party-oriented crowd, it alienates those who prefer a balanced dining experience where conversation is possible. Establishments like this often struggle to obtain funding allowing them to sustain beyond 7 years because they focus on short-term profit rather than long-term customer retention.

Would I return? No. But I sincerely hope this restaurant reevaluates its structure, because the right changes could make it a successful long-term business rather than just another trendy spot with an expiration date like most black establishments across the country.

If you’re ever in the Atlanta area- check this place out for...

We arrived between 6pm and 6:30 on a Friday with a 7pm reservation. It was a perfect time to arrive. Not all the tables were full and there was plenty of space at the bar. I am giving a 4 because we only have 90 mins to sit and dine. Though I understand, it breaks up a great conversation with a great date in a place where you're enjoying the vibe. We had a table of two. Our server was Amina. She was pleasant, knowledgeable about the menu choices, attended to our needs in a timely manner and clearly took pride in what she was doing and was able to manage her section. Ask for Amina. She was spot on recommending the seafood dip. Aw man, it was cheesy goodness with lumps of shrimp, salmon, crab and crawfish inside of a cream sauce. It was served with garlic bread that had a buttery bottom and parmaean on the top. Perfect portion for two. Then came the lamb chops with mac n cheese and cabbage. My friend had the collars greens. They are made with Turkey and did have a good taste but I loved the cabbage more. The mac was mackin and those lamb chops were cooked to order top with this cognac glaze with roasted red peppers. GREAT choices. Big up to the chef and those that help the food get to its designated tables. All the food coming out looked picture perfect. The whole snapper will be my next choice when I go back. The drinks were good. My Old Fashioned was ok. Ive had better. We also ordered the Man of the Hour which was Dusse and Grand Mariner premium side car with fresh lemon. That was a nice combination. And the water was good. Am I going back? YES, YES and YES. I will also say that the price point matches the quality and portions given. Did I mention they have complimentary valet parking? I will also mention that the music was poppin, the restroom was clean and I loved their team approach to making sure each guest had a...

I would’ve gave this restaurant a higher review if I didn’t experience an issue with the valet parking attendant when I first got there. When we first entered the parking lot the valet attendant stating charges valet and there was not another option. He did say it was for tips and there was no set amount. We gave him $10 but my husband didn’t want no one to park his car, so he did it himself. When we parked I thought to myself, “ why did we just give a tip and we were not provided with an actual service?” So when we walked up to the restaurant we stopped the attendant and asked if he can give us our money back since we parked our own car. He refused and stated that he informed us on the parking situation when we entered. I explained to him that on the site it says that parking is complimentary and since we parked our own car we really don’t feel like a tip was necessary. I decided not to argue with him and decided that I would speak to a manager inside the restaurant. I did tell our server about the issue and she said she will talk to the manager about the issue but I am guessing she forgot.

To be honest I forgot also because the food and service was so good. I would also add that the prices and portions were good for what we got. We were celebrating my sister’s birthday dinner and we were all pleased with our food. We are pretty picky when it comes to food, so the fact that the food was delicious was definitely a plus! I got the catfish dinner with mac and cheese and collard greens as my sides. The Mac and cheese were flavorful and cheesy. The catfish was crispy and the honey hot sauce was good touch.

The only recommendation's I have is to remove the valet service, especially if the attendants are rude. Also, they had bottle soda and did not offer refills. They only provided free refills on...