The Café Southern Kitchen & Cocktails

Review summary

1. J

   Jim

   Louisville

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great place for a gathering and business events. Also lunch is real good!
   

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2. J

   Jitana

   Cincinnati

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 1

   I am writing to express my extreme displeasure with the experience my husband and I had during our recent visit to your restaurant on 12/8/2024. We made our reservation for 5:15 PM well in advance, yet the lack of organization and care shown during our visit left us deeply disappointed. When we arrived before our reservation time, there was no one in the lobby to greet us or other waiting guests. After some confusion, we found an employee in the main dining area, who informed us he would be out shortly. However, he reappeared 15 minutes later, ignored everyone, and then disappeared again for an additional five minutes. Guests without reservations were being seated ahead of us, and despite having made our reservation a month in advance, we were told to wait another 10 minutes. Adding to the chaos, there was an event occurring behind a curtain in the lobby. The noise from this event carried throughout the restaurant, making it clear there was no real separation. If this event was known in advance, it should have been factored into reservations and staffing plans to avoid such disarray. We were finally seated at 5:30 PM, at a table uncomfortably close to both the kitchen prep area and the bathrooms. This proximity caused lines to form near our table, creating an unsanitary and unpleasant dining environment. When our waitress arrived, we placed both our drink and food orders immediately due to our concert schedule. Despite this, it took over 20 minutes for water to arrive—brought not by our server, but by another waiter who noticed our frustration. This waiter, an African American male with dreadlocks and honey tips, was the one bright spot in an otherwise dismal evening. He showed professionalism and care for his tables, something sorely lacking from the rest of the staff. Our server, in contrast, was almost entirely absent. We saw her only three times: when she took our order, when the food (brought by someone else) arrived, and when she handed us the check. It
   

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3. F

   Fidel

   Louisville

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The best service and the quality of the food is exceptional.
   

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4. V

   Voula

   Cincinnati

   5 reviews

   vip
   1.0

   5 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Bloody Mary was great. Over booked restaurant, under staffed, manager did not care at all, food delicious, servers could only do so much.
   

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5. m

   megan

   Louisville

   6 reviews

   5.0

   6 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   It was very busy but the food is great. We went during the Christmas Festival so we expected it to be a bit chaotic. I frequent often and will continue to do so.
   

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6. D

   Dawn

   Louisville

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   I usually love The Cafe, but today was just not a good experience at all! We had a 1:30 reservation. We arrived about 5 minutes early and were told our table wasn’t available yet, but they would text when ready. After 20 minutes, I checked in to see how much longer and was informed a few more minutes. I checked again and was told they were cleaning our table and it would be 5 minutes. I had to go back to hostess stand again after watching her give 2 more party of 5’s a table. Apparently she gave my table to someone else. She made accommodations and got us seated. 45 minutes after our reservation time. Took a bit for waitress to come by, but not her fault. Not enough wait staff of course. They were out of cookies for the meal combo, out of soup of the day, just not a good day. It looked like half the restaurant was closed for a private party, so I don’t know if that was part of the problem. No manager ever came over to apologize for our wait or mishap at check in. Just disappointed in a usually great place, and I had taken friends there for their first time. I’m sure they won’t be back.
   

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7. M

   Molly

   Louisville

   9 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   The food was outstanding and the service was good but I'm just not eating in the "big hall" with zero ambience again.
   

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8. V

   Vickie

   Louisville

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   The food is always amazing. I guess because of the upcoming holidays the place was packed at 12:30 p.m. and they didn't seem to have enough workers. The bartender was almost running to each table....I felt bad for him. Everything took too much time but He did an amazing job just had way too many customers.
   

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9. D

   Doris

   Louisville

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Will not come again during December/Christmas time. Street closed off is not conducive for elderly & handicapped folks. Otherwise, we love the Cafe.
   

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10. D

    Debra

    Indiana

    20 reviews

    4.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    Service and food were good. Parking is a challenge which keeps me from going there more often.
    

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