SouthGate — Restaurant in Philadelphia

We were pleased upon arrival that they had a set up for outdoor seating that seemed distant, warm, and not fully enclosed - qualities we look for during COVID when we want outdoor seating. We had a reservation and when we checked in, they set up a new table for us beyond original configuration. This new table didn’t have any heat source and when we asked about heat, they assured us that they were working to bring something out. A few minutes later, they brought out a small heat source no higher than our ankles that couldn’t supply enough warmth for one of us let alone both of us and wind had burned out the fire from it twice. While waiting, we had witnessed several couples after us be told to wait to be seated in warm areas, something we were not given an option of. When we tried to talk to our waiter about it, he didn’t listen and walked away from us in the middle of us explaining that we had a reservation and would have rather been told to wait 10-15 minutes for a warm seat rather than be seated in the cold. After we had watched four couples finish their meals and leave and two new couples be sat down, we had asked our waiter if we could move to one of the remaining two warm seats. He had told us people had reserved those tables, which we argued we had reservations and should’ve been treated in a similar way. Eventually we were finally told we were able to move to a warm table, though this was after our appetizer was finished and one and a half of our two meals had been eaten. Appreciatively, they did comp our appetizer when the Bill arrived, though this was the first and only indication of an apology for the situation.

Overall we were pretty disappointed with the wait staff and their way of handling our situation, especially since we had a reservation. The food was good, but due to sitting in the cold and wind (factors avoided in the original configuration of seats), we had to eat quickly or our food was cold - another issue we faced when our entrees were brought out before our appetizer was done meaning it was already colder than we would’ve liked prior to...

Despite economic changes and rising material costs, I still believe that the flavors of the food at South Gate are always special to me. This weekend, my friend and I went there for dinner on Friday. We arrived around 8 PM, and I understood that it was peak hour, so waiting was inevitable.

My friend and I have visited the restaurant a few times and we have a special impression of their bulgogi burger. We ordered a medium rare bulgogi burger, tried the spicy pork dolsot bibimbap (Korean stone pot rice bowl), and an appetizer.

Once again, I was disappointed with the rice dish. Firstly, there was a lot of oil at the bottom of the bowl after mixing (so much that it was almost inedible), even though it was beautifully presented. I tried a spoonful, but the rice had become mushy due to the oil and no longer had the proper taste of Korean mixed rice.

Secondly, the distinctive flavor of the bulgogi burger had changed; it used to be juicy and very fragrant with the smell of beef, but now it was quite dry. I feel like the taste at the restaurant has changed compared to the previous times I visited.

I hope the restaurant can adjust the kitchen's performance, keeping in mind that they are cooking Korean food and not fast food, and bring back the original distinctive taste of the bulgogi burger and...

Did we enjoy our meal? YES! I found the menu simple but interesting enough to literally want to try everything. Although we didn't do that this go round, we tried enough to return in the near future.

I can't speak much on ambiance considering outside seating was the only option due to Covid. We arrived early for our reservation and we're were lucky because it started filling quickly for a mid-afternoon and unfortunately patrons waited anxiously while we stuffed our faces.

The quality? Well, I really want wanted to give them a 5 but we both settled at a 4. The shrimp in the tacos were kinda "scampi" (and I ain't talkin about butter, garlic & wine either lol). There were other disappointments that aren't worth mentioning but the highlights overshadowed them all. The flavor was YUM!!! No need for additional condiments at all.

Service? With 10 being the highest I'd give them an 12! Evan, did his thing! Okay Evan actually gets an 11 because he didn't warn me that my Bibimbap bowl was piping hot and I touched it lol, but other than that we were happy with the above and beyond service (despite having to sit outside *cough cough lol).

We definitely eye-hustled everyone's else's plate that sat around us and their stuff looked even better than ours. I can't wait to come...