Southerns — Restaurant in Metairie

The place was packed when we arrived on 8/24/2024, around 3pm. This was expected since they had their grand opening the day before after operating from a couple of food trucks in the past. The line to order was almost out the door, but it moved as quick as you would expect since there was only one cashier taking orders. You place your order at the counter, they hand you a cup for your drink, and then you sit and wait for your food to be brought to your table. Another person was running the food from the kitchen to a third person who was running the food to the tables. There's all kind of hype across social media about this place currently. That said, you would think they would have had more FOH staff on hand. I heard someone tell the cashier that the iced tea dispenser was empty and I don't remember seeing anyone refilling it while we were there - which was about an hour from entering until we finished eating and left.

Parking is behind the building is a small and cramped parking area. Only one handicapped spot that I saw and it's right past the driveway along the side of the building. It a pretty tight squeeze. Additional parking is available on the street behind the business. The dining area is decently sized. As busy as it was, we didn't have to wait for a table to open up. The high ceilings make for a loud environment though.

The layout of the drink station is a little crazy. It's divides the area where you order at the counter and the dining area. It's a little weird placement so close to dining tables. I would have installed it along the outside wall, but that's just me.

On to the food - don't believe the hype!

I ordered the 3 piece spicy tender meal which came with fries and their own tender sauce for $13.99, another $2.95 for a drink. The tenders were delivered to my table in a pool of grease. Not sure what that was all about, but definitely not a good impression. I was expecting a hot, crispy order of tenders, but instead they were warm, soggy, and the breading was sliding off the meat. The seasoning was just ok, nothing to write home about. Might have been better if I received tenders that weren't greasy and were freshly made. The sauce was ok. Kind of hard to describe the taste, but I suppose this is their signature sauce.

My wife ordered the chicken sandwich. She complained about the amount of grease as well. $10.99 for a sandwich that doesn't include a side or drink - OUCH! She ate about half of it and asked if I wanted the rest, which I didn't eat.

She also ordered a side of traditional cracklins for $11.99. Cracklins can be expensive, but what we received was about 8 pieces of cracklin. Probably 1/4 pound, if that. There were not crispy and more fat than skin on them. Not the best and definitely not worth the price.

Speaking of price, I don't think any of their items are worth it. Yes, I understand that inflation has driven prices up like crazy over the past year or so. I've had better chicken tenders and fries from a gas station (Brother's) at a better price.

If you want to experience what all the hype is about this place, go pay them a visit at least once to say that you've tried them. I don't think there's anything on their menu that blows away the competition or that is a must have. For a food truck business that brags about their awards ("best of the fest," best shrimp, best pork and best specialty po-boy, all from the Oak St. Poboy Festival), you would think that they would have at least one of those award winning poboys on their menu. But alas, they are not.

In summary, been there, got the greasy tenders, and likely...

I finally made it to Southerns' brick-and-mortar location on Veterans Blvd after enjoying their food truck offerings at local breweries a few years back. Their chicken sandwiches had always impressed me, so I was eager to see how the restaurant experience compared.

I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich with fries and a drink for around $14 ($11 for the sandwich alone). The sandwich was really good—simple and straightforward with pickles and a quality bun that let the chicken shine. However, the chicken was extremely tender, almost to the point of being mushy. It seemed heavily brined, which reminded me of sous vide cooking. While this makes for easy eating, it doesn't quite deliver the satisfying "meat eating experience" you might expect. Still, the flavors were spot-on, and the fries were perfectly crispy.

The restaurant itself is spotless—impressively clean, which earns major points. The staff was incredibly attentive, friendly, and genuinely engaged with customers, asking follow-up questions and making everyone feel welcomed. This level of service really stood out.

I do have a few minor critiques. First, I wasn't offered their additional sauces at the counter, though I noticed them on the menu while eating. The off-brand, watery ketchup packets were disappointing—spending an extra dollar on one of their house sauces would have elevated the fries considerably. Second, the interior lacks character. It's very clean but generic, resembling any standard fast-food restaurant without the charm of the food truck vibe. Finally, parking is quite limited, with only about 12-14 spots available behind the building.

Overall, Southerns delivers good food in a clinical atmosphere. The chicken sandwich is tasty, the service is exceptional, and the cleanliness is impeccable. However, it didn't quite capture the magic I remembered from the food truck days. Veterans Blvd is a bit out of my way, so I'd probably only return if I'm already in the area. That said, the restaurant was busy during my visit, which suggests plenty of others are finding their way there. I wish them continued success.

Food Quality: ★★★★☆ (4/5) — The chicken sandwich was flavorful and the fries were crispy, but the overly tender, almost mushy texture of the chicken prevented it from being a perfect score.

Service: ★★★★★ (5/5) — Exceptionally attentive, friendly staff who made customers feel genuinely welcomed.

Cleanliness: ★★★★★ (5/5) — Spotless restaurant with impressive attention to hygiene.

Atmosphere: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) — Generic, clinical interior lacking character or the charm of the food truck experience.

Value: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) — $14 for a sandwich, fries, and drink is reasonable, but the off-brand condiments and lack of sauce suggestions detracted from the value.

Convenience: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) — Limited parking and out-of-the-way location on Veterans Blvd make it less convenient for regular visits.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5/5) — Good food and excellent service, but the lack of atmosphere and convenience issues keep it from being...

First time trying Southerners which should have been much sooner than today. Server was very knowledgeable and made sure we didn't have spice aversions. Was undecided so decided to split the southern burger and the original chicken sandwich ( super hot spice level) with an order phucket fries.

The fries were great. Crunchy and seasoned perfectly. The sauce was a creamy aoli with a Thai chili pepper oil.

The original chicken sandwich was crispy and juicy. The slaw surprisingly was a big highlight on it too. It after as great counter to the spice. The spice wasn't too overwhelming. A no gimmick sandwich all the way across.

The southern burger came as a recommendation from the server. He said they serve several options of burgers but the southern was his favorite as it's thicker than their smash burgers which allows their brisket ground chuck blend to shine. He wasnt wrong. If medium and medium rare had an in-between, that's how it was cooked. While it was thicker than a smash burger, it was not a hockey puck size. One of the signs of a great burger is does it drip down your arms... I used multiple napkins so that'll answer that question. I was a huge fan of the crispy onion strips that came on it as well.

This is a great local spot and I'm a pretty great location too. Right on veterans and close to the interstate. If you're in Metairie or Kenner area, this place is definitely a spot you...