29 Best Southern Restaurants near Bethesda

“Mother’s Day celebration with family was especially great because of the amazing atmosphere and awesome service at Barrel and Crow. It was our first time visiting this establishment and certainly will not be our last. Shout out to the owner and her staff.“

“Went to Kitchen +Kocktails for the first time last night. The decor was very nice, and the music was good and not obnoxious. Our server Ally was terrific! I’m not a drinker, so when I asked her if there were any cocktails that didn’t taste like alcohol, I thought she would look at me like I was crazy, but she didn’t! She seemed to know exactly what I was talking about and immediately had a couple of suggestions. I went with the mixed berry lemon drop and it was perfect for me. The crab cake appetizers and shrimp and grits with lobster tail entree were amazing. We had a great time and we’ll be back!“

“Milk & Honey really impressed me today!
From the front staff to the cook, everyone was pleasant and welcoming. You can tell they genuinely love what they do—nothing but smiles all around.

I placed my order online, and unfortunately one item didn’t show up on their end. Even so, they took the time to try figure out the confusion and made sure I received my missing item without any issues.

Customer service like this is hard to find these days. Location was clean and the ambience was everything.
Everyone was kind, patient, and professional.
I’ll definitely be back!

Thank you,
From CT“

“I had the pleasure of dining at The Hitching Post DC. I ordered the grilled lamb chops, mac & cheese, collard greens. The lamb chops are in my top 2 of the best I've ever tasted. I don't normally order mac & cheese when I go out to a restaurant, but this order was perfect as well. The collard greens could use a little vinegar, however, they were still delicious. I will definitely dine there in the near future. The lemon cake had was flavorful, moist and delicious, too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Great service, delicious food, and an amazing atmosphere!“

“The BEST on the water seafood restaurant in SW DC. The atmosphere was amazing and the all you can eat crab legs and cornbread was always hot and delish. Service was friendly and punctual with the food. Virgin drinks off the chain. Music was popping. I will be back.“

“Our experience at Succotash was exceptional from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly greeted by a gracious hostess who congratulated us on our anniversary. It was a thoughtful touch that set the tone for the evening. Seated downstairs, we couldn't help but marvel at the restaurant's stunning architecture, our eyes constantly drawn to the soaring details and vibrant energy of the space. Our server was attentive and personable, and two managers stopped by during the meal to ensure everything was perfect; a level of hospitality that did not go unnoticed. We began with both varieties of the deviled eggs, each packed with flavor and beautifully presented. Our entrées, steaks, were cooked to absolute perfection and the sides (collard greens and creamy corn succotash) were both delicious. Throughout the evening, we were struck by how Succotash balances the sophistication of fine dining with the warmth and ease of true Southern hospitality. We left thoroughly impressed and already looking forward to our next visit.“

“My family and I were in dc about 2 weeks ago and found this gem of an eatery at the Union Market and it was DELICIOUS 🤤 By far the absolute BEST bread puddin I have ever had in my life and we are from the south and I have eaten a lot of bread puddin. Please let me know when you start shipping because u have a huge fan base in Texas 😊 Katrina Briggs - Dallas, TX“

“Our experience at Milk & Honey (SW location) was absolutely wonderful from start to finish!! Brianna was Our waitress. I asked her for recommendations on the menu and she suggested the Salmon Hash that was phenomenal. The Manager Nakia came over to check to make sure all was well. She was very pleasant and professional. Just perfect!!!! We will definitely return.“

“I do not understand how anyone could give this place under 5 stars!
Last night was our 6th time going. We have yet to have any bites that aren’t phenomenal! It is one of the few DC spots that is truly unique but not stuffy! The entire staff make this place such a fun spot! We will be back for a 7th time!“

“Thank you Ms. Jasmine for your awesome customer service. I love your hospitality as well as your knowledge of your store and it's entirety. I love my chicken and waffles 😍🤤“

“This was a special occasion.. birthday 🎂 and the restaurant joined in with me for the celebration It was a special treat The food was delicious and on point, our server Erin was personable, courteous and very friendly She really added to the overall vibes in our dining experience She's a keeper for certain!!!“

“Delicious and lovely atmosphere.“

“I’m not a southern food expert, but the sweet & spicy chicken and Mac-n-cheese waffles were delicious. The pimento cheese dip was delicious too.“

“l had a good time..luv the ambience..awsome barmaid..would love to come back to celebrate my bday there this month“

“Ordered the wings & lulagria cake on Uber Eats. To my pleasant surprise the wings were still crispy after their car ride. They tasted great as did the curry cabbage & fries on the side & cake 4 desser“

“Chicken and Mac was 🔥 🔥 🔥“

“Excellent food Original recipes High quality ingredients Prices... À bit high but still acceptable Good and friendly staff Very nice and friendly place“

“Marcus DC is a delicious dining establishment in a beautiful, brilliant setting. The open kitchen is inviting and is perfect for watching Executive Chef Anthony and his team perform their delicious edible works of art. Four of us dined at an early 5:15 PM dinner. From the Table Talk scallops to the Nourishers Faroe salmon and the roasted drum fish, everyone in our party expressed extreme delight and satisfaction with their meals. One downside on the menu was the NY strip steak. While it was cooked to perfection, the meat was tough and difficult to get through. A better cut of meat is a bone-in ribeye which provides a luscious flavor and texture. The A big downside is that the restaurant does not allow separate checks. And so, at the conclusion of our delicious upscale dinner, we were at the table with the calculators on our phones out trying figure out who ate what and how much it cost. There were two in our party who did not drink alcoholic beverages. We weren’t even allowed to separate out the alcohol. Nor did we want our non-drinking friends to pay for $100 in drinks. If we had known this in advance it might well have been a reason for choosing another restaurant. I don’t like mayhem around the check at the end of a wonderful dining experience. In the end, the server had to spend time running separate checks for our four different credit cards anyway. So, it would’ve been better to just let us order on separate checks from the beginning. Plus, the restaurant is in the Morrow Hotel. Persons on expense accounts, needing receipts are going to necessarily want separate checks. This seems like a big mistake that can be easily fixed with a policy change. Otherwise, it’s Chef Marcus Samuelson so what’s not to love overall.“

“This place was so much better than I thought it was going to be, sometimes the places at the wharf are pretty but the good is not good. We ended up popping in during a celebration at the Wharf. We got lucky and It was amazing, we didn't have to wait that long for a table and the Food was AMAZING“

“This place is great and fast and the barbecue rib, beef is the best! The no fat and best meat and the most seasoned. I don’t like pork ribs and they offer beef ribs. The best quality too! Grateful for the money spent, I have come back multiple times for it!“

“Best food in town.. Absolutely delicious“

“Consistent well done soul food. Henry's is my go to place for when I need go bring my own food (think summer outdoor events). The portions are good, the food will leave you satisfied and full. My favs are the fried chicken and when they have them the ribs.“

“FOOD IS VERY GOOD AND I LOVE STEVE AND GEORGINA“

“Excellent dinner: Moules Marinières and Salade Niçoise and an inexpensive and tasty Bordeaux.“

“Mid-Atlantic Seafood has become my absolute favorite spot whenever I’m craving delicious, mouthwatering seafood. The moment you walk in, you already know you're about to be treated right. The food is always cooked to perfection — tender, flavorful, and just the right balance of crunch and softness. One the pricey side but the portion sizes are definitely worth it.

My personal favorites are the stuffed tilapia, stuffed shrimp, and the catfish — each bite feels like comfort and quality wrapped into one. The sides are just as amazing: the teriyaki green beans and stir-fried squash are the kind of sides that make you look forward to the next visit before you’ve even finished your plate.

The drinks are mixed just right — flavorful with the perfect amount of strength — and don’t get me started on the desserts. Their cakes and pies are heavenly, perfectly sweet and full of flavor without being overwhelming.

Everything here feels homemade with care, and you can taste the quality in every single dish. If you’re looking for consistently great seafood with satisfying portions and memorable flavor, look no further — Mid-Atlantic Seafood is the place to be!“

“Love the huge veggie selection + high heat level!“

“Went by there today (3/31/25) at 7 am and they were closed.
Mr Young and his wonderful wife are in South Korea and the business has been sold (handed off) to the same owners are the tobacco shop next store. The same workers still work at Youngs (as of 2 weeks ago when I was last in there); but the hours of operation may need to be updated.“