If the intention is to weed out the a certain type of clientele, they have failed and only enacted a classist, racist and ridiculous policy. There is a distasteful atmosphere of pretentiousness over sneakers... It should go without saying that clothes don’t define class. The man who works as their gatekeeper is exceptionally rude and frankly takes a disturbing amount of pride and joy in turning well meaning customers away. My husband - a sous Chef from Europe - was so offended by this establishment that he will never set foot near it again. I am a professional architect. I dress well and have money to spend in the right places. To insinuate that I am not of the right “caliber” to enter because of tennis shoes is beyond me. There are people entering with their bodies falling out of their unfit clothes and REEKING of weed, but because they have on cheap heels, they can enter. Clothes do not define class, behavior does. I’m not sure if the staff know this, maybe this is new information, but casual clothes, even sneakers, can be far more expensive than a tacky set of heels from amazon.The dress code is defunct and defeats the purpose entirely. The sort of “clients” they’re looking for frequently dress down, too. It’s a jazz restaurant in North Philly, not a Michelin star experience by any means. The “dress code” is nothing but a racist way to exclude black and brown people specifically, but unintentionally excludes plenty of well paying clientele who prefer to dress down for a relaxing evening of jazz and food after working hard and long hours to be able to afford it. I did not witness an ounce of class or respect from the staff enacting a frankly racist and exclusive policy, namely the three individuals at the front desk working Friday night at 9pm. As a black woman, I know exactly what this policy is intended to do and it is nothing more than thinly and poorly veiled racist classism. We paid for tickets and we’re anticipating to provide a LOT more business purchasing food and drink. Unfortunately because it seems the staff here are unable to differentiate a good customer from an unwanted guest, they lost a considerable amount of business for the owners. I have better, classier and more professional places to spend my money. I will not return, my husband will not return, my mother will not return, and I will make sure all of my well connected jazz musician friends know about this experience and consider it the next time they’re asked to perform. Unbeknownst to the gatekeepers, I have LOTS of important friends in the music industry who play here frequently, and I live in the neighborhood. Used to come here all the time, frequently invited by the talent playing. Lost an important customer today, and many more, over tennis shoes.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Raymond Arroyo
Didn't go to this location because a dress code is ridiculous. What are we trying to achieve with this type of classist policy? Who are we actually trying to exclude?There are plenty of other restaurants and for southern soul food, NYC has better, less pretentious options.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Brenda Moffatt
Love this place.. everything is 5*
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
carlos p
Great food and atmosphere ?
Skylar
The only “issue” was the Catfish was definitely Whiting Fish… it was delicious and fried to perfection tho so it definitely made up for it lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Fried Catfish, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp
Carmen N
Decor was lovely! Staff was very friendly and present! Food was everything, get the corn bread...get the corn bread had to say it twice!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Green Tomatoes, Catfish and Shrimp, Chicken Gumbo, Skillet of Cornbread
Jo-Ann Marie
Best spot I visited in Philly. The live musicians were amazing! The food was delicious! The service was excellent! Highly recommend this venue. Very clean and beautiful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melvin Pullen, Jr
Great place to listen to jazz and has great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Business of Becoming Me
Make sure to make reservations because this place is the spot!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Skillet of Cornbread
Vanessa A.
the ambiance is amazing! live music. The food is good and the environment is very classy.
Wonderful food and amazing music. The cornbread was so sweet and delicious I couldn't stop eating it even when the entrees came out! The service was also impeccable they were very kind and quick.
Jordan D.
Recently moved to Philly from NY & looked forward to a reservation at South. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience where I was asked to remove my non-offensive designer hoodie in the bathroom or tuck in the hood (which is uncomfortable & extremely tacky.) The host & manager preferred me to wear a plain white t-shirt (undershirt) at the table. Upon making reservation via RESY, nothing mentioned hoodies not allowed (see photo attached.) I decided to leave because there were 3 other individuals in the restaurant with hoodies/hooded sweatshirts. Typically more of a polo guy but it was fairly cold out.
Renee “Nee's Nee's Cafe'” Payne
The atmosphere, service and food is awesome and it is such a great VIBE. Altogether.AmazingAnother evening at Jazz South, this evening was just the dining and as before, they are excellent. The food, music, service, all around an excellent dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Charred Jersey Corn Pudding
Dominick Donato
It was my birthday ? and we had a great time with our new girl Ashley❤️ "LIKE THE FURNITURE STORE" ? -JUNE AND
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Jasmin Milligan
Amazing experience & service! Went for a birthday dinner. Immaculate and an amazing atmosphere! Will come again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Deviled Eggs
If the intention is to weed out the a certain type of clientele, they have failed and only enacted a classist, racist and ridiculous policy. There is a distasteful atmosphere of pretentiousness over sneakers... It should go without saying that clothes don’t define class. The man who works as their gatekeeper is exceptionally rude and frankly takes a disturbing amount of pride and joy in turning well meaning customers away. My husband - a sous Chef from Europe - was so offended by this establishment that he will never set foot near it again. I am a professional architect. I dress well and have money to spend in the right places. To insinuate that I am not of the right “caliber” to enter because of tennis shoes is beyond me. There are people entering with their bodies falling out of their unfit clothes and REEKING of weed, but because they have on cheap heels, they can enter. Clothes do not define class, behavior does. I’m not sure if the staff know this, maybe this is new information, but casual clothes, even sneakers, can be far more expensive than a tacky set of heels from amazon.The dress code is defunct and defeats the purpose entirely. The sort of “clients” they’re looking for frequently dress down, too. It’s a jazz restaurant in North Philly, not a Michelin star experience by any means. The “dress code” is nothing but a racist way to exclude black and brown people specifically, but unintentionally excludes plenty of well paying clientele who prefer to dress down for a relaxing evening of jazz and food after working hard and long hours to be able to afford it. I did not witness an ounce of class or respect from the staff enacting a frankly racist and exclusive policy, namely the three individuals at the front desk working Friday night at 9pm. As a black woman, I know exactly what this policy is intended to do and it is nothing more than thinly and poorly veiled racist classism. We paid for tickets and we’re anticipating to provide a LOT more business purchasing food and drink. Unfortunately because it seems the staff here are unable to differentiate a good customer from an unwanted guest, they lost a considerable amount of business for the owners. I have better, classier and more professional places to spend my money. I will not return, my husband will not return, my mother will not return, and I will make sure all of my well connected jazz musician friends know about this experience and consider it the next time they’re asked to perform. Unbeknownst to the gatekeepers, I have LOTS of important friends in the music industry who play here frequently, and I live in the neighborhood. Used to come here all the time, frequently invited by the talent playing. Lost an important customer today, and many more, over tennis shoes.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Didn't go to this location because a dress code is ridiculous. What are we trying to achieve with this type of classist policy? Who are we actually trying to exclude?There are plenty of other restaurants and for southern soul food, NYC has better, less pretentious options.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Love this place.. everything is 5*
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food and atmosphere ?
The only “issue” was the Catfish was definitely Whiting Fish… it was delicious and fried to perfection tho so it definitely made up for it lol
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Fried Catfish, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp
Decor was lovely! Staff was very friendly and present! Food was everything, get the corn bread...get the corn bread had to say it twice!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Green Tomatoes, Catfish and Shrimp, Chicken Gumbo, Skillet of Cornbread
Best spot I visited in Philly. The live musicians were amazing! The food was delicious! The service was excellent! Highly recommend this venue. Very clean and beautiful atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place to listen to jazz and has great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Make sure to make reservations because this place is the spot!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Skillet of Cornbread
the ambiance is amazing! live music. The food is good and the environment is very classy.
Restaurantji Recommends
Wonderful food and amazing music. The cornbread was so sweet and delicious I couldn't stop eating it even when the entrees came out! The service was also impeccable they were very kind and quick.
Recently moved to Philly from NY & looked forward to a reservation at South. Unfortunately, I had a bad experience where I was asked to remove my non-offensive designer hoodie in the bathroom or tuck in the hood (which is uncomfortable & extremely tacky.) The host & manager preferred me to wear a plain white t-shirt (undershirt) at the table. Upon making reservation via RESY, nothing mentioned hoodies not allowed (see photo attached.) I decided to leave because there were 3 other individuals in the restaurant with hoodies/hooded sweatshirts. Typically more of a polo guy but it was fairly cold out.
The atmosphere, service and food is awesome and it is such a great VIBE. Altogether.AmazingAnother evening at Jazz South, this evening was just the dining and as before, they are excellent. The food, music, service, all around an excellent dining experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Charred Jersey Corn Pudding
It was my birthday ? and we had a great time with our new girl Ashley❤️ "LIKE THE FURNITURE STORE" ? -JUNE AND
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Amazing experience & service! Went for a birthday dinner. Immaculate and an amazing atmosphere! Will come again!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Freshly Baked Skillet of Cornbread, Deviled Eggs