An absolutely lovely experience every time, my partner and I have been going for several years and have never had issues. Food is delicious and can confirm many Louisiana natives call it just like home, the ambience (from the atmosphere and seating arrangement to the dishes the food is served in) is lovely and comforting, and the owner is an absolute gem who you can tell wants you you have a great time there. I cannot recommend enough and am actively looking forward to my next time back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Catfish, Jambalaya
Jennifer Pool
2.5 Stars. I'm hesitant to give a negative review, but our recent dining experience still lingers in our minds after two weeks. Despite our anticipation, fueled by positive reviews and the promise of authentic Southern cuisine, our visit left much to be desired.Upon arriving, the bizarre set-up threw us off - no one greeted us, and it was not clear what the seating situation was. It took going to the bar and asking to find out that you seat yourself, scan a QR code for the menu, and then walk up to the bar for any drinks or food that you want. That seems reasonable enough, but when it comes down to needing anything (more water, another drink, more food, etc.) having to leave your table, wait in line at the bar, and then get someone to come to you disrupts the evening and takes away from the experience. Despite that, there were a few pros to the experience:Pros:- The atmosphere and decor are charming, and inviting which creates a great vibe.- The outdoor seating for warmer weather would be a great place to hang out and have a few drinks with friends.-The staff was friendly enough, and the owner seemed welcoming when she came to clear our plates.- I appreciate a limited menu and liked the available drink options.Cons:- The previously mentioned ordering system.- Sadly, the food, and we had a lot of it: The gator bites and hush puppies were okay, and the red beans and rice were decent. The bread and butter - literally, that’s it for $4, was fine.- Catfish sticks were battered in, what we came to realize, pretty much the same thing that everything else is battered in - unseasoned cornmeal.- Fried green tomatoes were fried well, but totally unseasoned with the smallest dime-sized amount of remoulade on it, not nearly enough to accommodate for the size and lack of seasoning the tomatoes were fried in.- Fried Okra - again, battered in the same unseasoned cornmeal, but also battered -whole- - I've never in my life experienced whole okra battered like this, so despite being fried it was still slimy and hard to eat, and my family and I love okra.- Jambalaya - this is typically my husbands favorite dish, but like everything else was lacking seasoning. It came out in a small camp mug, which was also bizarre (we had to go to the bar and ask for a bowl to make it easier to eat) and for $44 for two orders, was not worth the cost.- The coffee - this was the nail in the coffin for me. I'm a veteran and have had my fair share of bad cups of coffee in my lifetime but this took the cake. I typically drink my coffee black, but ended up using all the creamer and multiple heapings of sugar to try and cover up the acidic bitterness of what was given to me. Not even creamer and sugar could make me finish the small cup.While the establishment may excel as a social spot or for those unaccustomed to Southern flavors, we won't be returning. We offer our best wishes and truly hope that they succeed.Parking: Free street parking, but you may need to walk a few blocks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Jeff Hainsworth
Terrific food and atmosphere. Lots of character in this old house setting with a lot of cool outdoor options. Waitress was exceptional as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Henry Nixon
Good food, good atmosphere! Nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Caroline J.
This was an awesome find here in Charlottesville! Everything from the ambiance to the service to the drinks to the food was amazing! We had originally made a reservation for inside but the woman at the bar let us know we could choose a seat outside and I'm glad we did. The weather was perfect and the lights outside as well as we sat at one of the fire tables made it so nice. Also the music playing and sitting in a garden really made me feel like I had been transported back to New Orleans which is one of my favorite cities for food and the overall vibe! Food wise we ordered quite a few dishes and had leftovers but we were excited to try all the good New Orleans inspired foods and it did not disappoint! Stars of the food: Jambalaya Red beans & Rice Gumbo House salad Hush puppies Chips-good but should have skipped these to have more room for the other goodies. Would not order again- the beignets. Not light and fluffy. Drinks- The mocktail was absolutely delicious and my husband loved his zombie drink and hurricane. Service-everyone was so friendly from the bartenders to the gentleman who lit our fire as well as the food runners. Highly recommend this place for a taste and feel of New Orleans in VA!
Susan R.
This place has a quirky, funky vibe. You order from the bar and they bring it to your table. The food seemed to be served in no particular order. The other couple ordered ahead of us but we ordered right after them. They got their food first both appetizers and main dish. Then came my husband's entree and about 10 minutes later our appetizer arrive along with my main dish. The conch fritters were very good. The conch maybe got a little lost in the fritter but they were really tasty with a little kick to them. My jambalaya was a disappointment. It was mushy and bland with scant little disks of sausage and lots of chicken. The flour-less chocolate cake almost made up for it.
Ashley Viars
Absolutely love the vibe and food at Southern Crescent. Has easily become one of our favorite spots to grab a happy hour cocktail or dinner with friends. The outdoor patio in the backyard is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cal B.
This is the best patio in Charlottesville, with great food and cocktails. Try the mini ham biscuits and a vieux carre.
David D.
Food was amazing! Cocktails made be Alex Amazing! Service was amazing! See you guys in a few weeks. Oh I forgot to mention the back patio built by the owner has to be the best in town. Thanks again you guys rocked!
Tony Fusco
If you're looking for great southern food, look no further. We are foodies and haven't found a similar place to eat southern cuisine. The atmosphere and food are amazing!!!Kid-friendliness: Not much for kids to do specifically, but the outside area is large.Wheelchair accessibility: The outdoor area is open enough for a wheelchair to navigate with relative ease.
Great New Orleans fare in a beautiful summer setting, fresh seafood, crisp Gazpacho, wonderful desserts and Poor Boy Sandwiches for all…. We had bar great drinks, the mojito’s stole the show with fresh mint, chilled glasses and clear ice. Appetizers included fresh crisp garden gazpacho, spicy, tomato based and peppery. Southern country ham biscuits were salty, fresh baked, and while petite, packed with flavor. The pork sliders were tasty and on point. Mains were all Poor Boys, 3 with Oysters/Shrimp and one all shrimp. New Orleans stile, with crusty bread, fresh veggies and hot seafood that tasted right. Desserts finished the evening with Key Lime pie, Pistachio sundae and Salted Dark Chocolate Fudge Sunday -split three ways and simply delicious…. The chef stopped by to say hello, what a great venue and meal and will be back.
Mike B.
We made a reservation with the hope of a great meal. We ordered, waited a while for the wrong item, and waited nearly 45 minutes for bread and soup, before our entrees. We lost our patience, canceled our order, and walked next door to The Local, where we were seated immediately and got great service. Unless you're a glutton for punishment, avoid this place!
Karen B.
Service was good and it is a cute location.... But the food is terrible... we ordered over $145 of various appetizers and dinners and there was not a single thing I would recommend.... Totally wanted my money back after we left.
Scott Wachowski
Skip this place. You have to be your own server and bartender. For $26 you get five shrimp, a ball of rice, and some field greens. Shrimp was listed as “blackened” on the menu, but had not one bit of char, grill-marks, or anything even close to blackened. Super lame. Fail.I eat like a bird, but was still hungry after eating everything on the plate. Garbage silverware, does not go with anything over $20/plate. Worse yet, nobody checks to see how anything is. Also a miss, for $40 per person.So do YOU tip, when there is NO service, and you do it all yourself. Employees had time to make small talk, and take pictures of their own restaurant, but not to see if you are happy. Food and drink tasted ok, but nothing to write home about. Hella waste of money.Bummed that Local was randomly closed, today. All of this could have been avoided.Kid-friendliness: yeah … don’t bring your kids here.Parking: none!!
Graysen V.
Came here with my dad, a New Orleans native. We both LOVED the food- especially the conch fritters and po'boys. The vieux Carre was a favorite of mine, perfectly flavored and the right amount of strength. This was one of the better po'boys I've had north of South Carolina, and I made myself save half so I could enjoy it the next day. Service was slightly slow and there's not tons of seating or parking, so go on the early side of dinner hours if you want to make sure you can get seated
An absolutely lovely experience every time, my partner and I have been going for several years and have never had issues. Food is delicious and can confirm many Louisiana natives call it just like home, the ambience (from the atmosphere and seating arrangement to the dishes the food is served in) is lovely and comforting, and the owner is an absolute gem who you can tell wants you you have a great time there. I cannot recommend enough and am actively looking forward to my next time back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Catfish, Jambalaya
2.5 Stars. I'm hesitant to give a negative review, but our recent dining experience still lingers in our minds after two weeks. Despite our anticipation, fueled by positive reviews and the promise of authentic Southern cuisine, our visit left much to be desired.Upon arriving, the bizarre set-up threw us off - no one greeted us, and it was not clear what the seating situation was. It took going to the bar and asking to find out that you seat yourself, scan a QR code for the menu, and then walk up to the bar for any drinks or food that you want. That seems reasonable enough, but when it comes down to needing anything (more water, another drink, more food, etc.) having to leave your table, wait in line at the bar, and then get someone to come to you disrupts the evening and takes away from the experience. Despite that, there were a few pros to the experience:Pros:- The atmosphere and decor are charming, and inviting which creates a great vibe.- The outdoor seating for warmer weather would be a great place to hang out and have a few drinks with friends.-The staff was friendly enough, and the owner seemed welcoming when she came to clear our plates.- I appreciate a limited menu and liked the available drink options.Cons:- The previously mentioned ordering system.- Sadly, the food, and we had a lot of it: The gator bites and hush puppies were okay, and the red beans and rice were decent. The bread and butter - literally, that’s it for $4, was fine.- Catfish sticks were battered in, what we came to realize, pretty much the same thing that everything else is battered in - unseasoned cornmeal.- Fried green tomatoes were fried well, but totally unseasoned with the smallest dime-sized amount of remoulade on it, not nearly enough to accommodate for the size and lack of seasoning the tomatoes were fried in.- Fried Okra - again, battered in the same unseasoned cornmeal, but also battered -whole- - I've never in my life experienced whole okra battered like this, so despite being fried it was still slimy and hard to eat, and my family and I love okra.- Jambalaya - this is typically my husbands favorite dish, but like everything else was lacking seasoning. It came out in a small camp mug, which was also bizarre (we had to go to the bar and ask for a bowl to make it easier to eat) and for $44 for two orders, was not worth the cost.- The coffee - this was the nail in the coffin for me. I'm a veteran and have had my fair share of bad cups of coffee in my lifetime but this took the cake. I typically drink my coffee black, but ended up using all the creamer and multiple heapings of sugar to try and cover up the acidic bitterness of what was given to me. Not even creamer and sugar could make me finish the small cup.While the establishment may excel as a social spot or for those unaccustomed to Southern flavors, we won't be returning. We offer our best wishes and truly hope that they succeed.Parking: Free street parking, but you may need to walk a few blocks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Terrific food and atmosphere. Lots of character in this old house setting with a lot of cool outdoor options. Waitress was exceptional as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good food, good atmosphere! Nice
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
This was an awesome find here in Charlottesville! Everything from the ambiance to the service to the drinks to the food was amazing! We had originally made a reservation for inside but the woman at the bar let us know we could choose a seat outside and I'm glad we did. The weather was perfect and the lights outside as well as we sat at one of the fire tables made it so nice. Also the music playing and sitting in a garden really made me feel like I had been transported back to New Orleans which is one of my favorite cities for food and the overall vibe! Food wise we ordered quite a few dishes and had leftovers but we were excited to try all the good New Orleans inspired foods and it did not disappoint! Stars of the food: Jambalaya Red beans & Rice Gumbo House salad Hush puppies Chips-good but should have skipped these to have more room for the other goodies. Would not order again- the beignets. Not light and fluffy. Drinks- The mocktail was absolutely delicious and my husband loved his zombie drink and hurricane. Service-everyone was so friendly from the bartenders to the gentleman who lit our fire as well as the food runners. Highly recommend this place for a taste and feel of New Orleans in VA!
This place has a quirky, funky vibe. You order from the bar and they bring it to your table. The food seemed to be served in no particular order. The other couple ordered ahead of us but we ordered right after them. They got their food first both appetizers and main dish. Then came my husband's entree and about 10 minutes later our appetizer arrive along with my main dish. The conch fritters were very good. The conch maybe got a little lost in the fritter but they were really tasty with a little kick to them. My jambalaya was a disappointment. It was mushy and bland with scant little disks of sausage and lots of chicken. The flour-less chocolate cake almost made up for it.
Absolutely love the vibe and food at Southern Crescent. Has easily become one of our favorite spots to grab a happy hour cocktail or dinner with friends. The outdoor patio in the backyard is amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the best patio in Charlottesville, with great food and cocktails. Try the mini ham biscuits and a vieux carre.
Food was amazing! Cocktails made be Alex Amazing! Service was amazing! See you guys in a few weeks. Oh I forgot to mention the back patio built by the owner has to be the best in town. Thanks again you guys rocked!
If you're looking for great southern food, look no further. We are foodies and haven't found a similar place to eat southern cuisine. The atmosphere and food are amazing!!!Kid-friendliness: Not much for kids to do specifically, but the outside area is large.Wheelchair accessibility: The outdoor area is open enough for a wheelchair to navigate with relative ease.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fried Shrimp, House Salad
Restaurantji Recommends
Great New Orleans fare in a beautiful summer setting, fresh seafood, crisp Gazpacho, wonderful desserts and Poor Boy Sandwiches for all…. We had bar great drinks, the mojito’s stole the show with fresh mint, chilled glasses and clear ice. Appetizers included fresh crisp garden gazpacho, spicy, tomato based and peppery. Southern country ham biscuits were salty, fresh baked, and while petite, packed with flavor. The pork sliders were tasty and on point. Mains were all Poor Boys, 3 with Oysters/Shrimp and one all shrimp. New Orleans stile, with crusty bread, fresh veggies and hot seafood that tasted right. Desserts finished the evening with Key Lime pie, Pistachio sundae and Salted Dark Chocolate Fudge Sunday -split three ways and simply delicious…. The chef stopped by to say hello, what a great venue and meal and will be back.
We made a reservation with the hope of a great meal. We ordered, waited a while for the wrong item, and waited nearly 45 minutes for bread and soup, before our entrees. We lost our patience, canceled our order, and walked next door to The Local, where we were seated immediately and got great service. Unless you're a glutton for punishment, avoid this place!
Service was good and it is a cute location.... But the food is terrible... we ordered over $145 of various appetizers and dinners and there was not a single thing I would recommend.... Totally wanted my money back after we left.
Skip this place. You have to be your own server and bartender. For $26 you get five shrimp, a ball of rice, and some field greens. Shrimp was listed as “blackened” on the menu, but had not one bit of char, grill-marks, or anything even close to blackened. Super lame. Fail.I eat like a bird, but was still hungry after eating everything on the plate. Garbage silverware, does not go with anything over $20/plate. Worse yet, nobody checks to see how anything is. Also a miss, for $40 per person.So do YOU tip, when there is NO service, and you do it all yourself. Employees had time to make small talk, and take pictures of their own restaurant, but not to see if you are happy. Food and drink tasted ok, but nothing to write home about. Hella waste of money.Bummed that Local was randomly closed, today. All of this could have been avoided.Kid-friendliness: yeah … don’t bring your kids here.Parking: none!!
Came here with my dad, a New Orleans native. We both LOVED the food- especially the conch fritters and po'boys. The vieux Carre was a favorite of mine, perfectly flavored and the right amount of strength. This was one of the better po'boys I've had north of South Carolina, and I made myself save half so I could enjoy it the next day. Service was slightly slow and there's not tons of seating or parking, so go on the early side of dinner hours if you want to make sure you can get seated