11/09/09

Almost ruined a wonderful evening

by manorest

I was there with 7 friends on Saturday night. As I went to the bar, I was greeted with a "We are at capacity. This is really not a good place for your book club to meet. Make sure that you stay out of the middle lane because of fire regulations." What a welcome! Here I was poised to drop $200 on cocktails. I had literally been there the evening before and suggested that our group (yes all women but not a book club) start our evening there so they could experience a cool place and come back later for dinner and to spend more money. However, I guess Kip the bartender/owner is not interested in cultivating new business. The inappropriate comment, bordering on misogynistic, about being a book club was unnecessary initially then became our joke throughout the evening. After having drinks there, we had an absolutely lovely meal and excellent service at Villa Di Roma, where they treated 8 professional women as potential repeat customers. Sorry Southwark, you have lost my business and future business of not only the women there that evening, but their huge networks of friends who will hear this story again and again. You should be fine with capacity issues from here on out.

07/28/09

NASTY

by QV4Life

Went there early in the week and took a friend out for dinner. She does not drink-17 years sober. She ordered a seltzer water with then dinner at the empty bar. Told we could not sit at the bar since she did not order alcohol--even though i did.

There was one other couple at the bar and and by no means crowded. I was very shocked.

We left and went across the way to Coquette where we had a wonderful experience great service.

I was warned by a friend about this place and now I know not to go.

• Pros: Nice looking bar
• Cons: Rude Staff

06/12/09

Uggghhh! AVOID THIS PLACE!!

by gloriousK

We didn't even get to the dinner. Our waiter was SO RUDE that we left, though it was late and we were starving. Everything was overpriced, and I didn't see anything that interesting on the menu.

It took over 15 minutes before we were served a drink (at the bar), and the bartender seemed to hate us...he kept looking over and frowning at us. He finally came over and spoke to us in a short, peremptory tone.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Rude staff, high prices

08/26/08

Best restaurant in the city!

by yasaminm

I eat out a lot, and am a hugely fussy eater, but I have to say, I have yet to have anything less than a superb dining experience at Southwark. Despite what some other reviewers feel, the portions are the perfect size, and the freshness of the ingredients always shines through in the perfect mix of flavours (none of the cream- and butter-soaked sticky sauces favoured by Ansill or Supper). The constantly changing menu to accomodate the use of only seasonal ingredients, and the creativity of each dish are consistently on the mark. Add to that the incredible cocktails and wonderfully charming staff with their dry, intelligent sense of humour, and the classy yet relaxed ambience, and you really do have the perfect dining experience. I would recommend this place to anyone, and I have yet to take a guest there who didn't love it.

• Pros: great food, amazing cocktails, wonderful staff, beautiful decor

07/05/08

Eat Local

by secondstreet

The menu is simple with mostly local, fresh ingredients. The plates are very accessible compared to Ansill which is more eccentric but equally pleasing. If you eat late expect certain things to run out, evidence of the fresh ingredients.

The bar is also worth a stop; try a sazerac. It's also the only place I have found in the city that sells Junipero gin.

• Pros: Local ingredients, outdoor seating, great bar

11/03/07

just ok

by jp712

nice ambience, dining in the courtyard was nice. service was fine, and the food was pretty good too, but some of the portions were way too small for the price. we both work in fine restaurants, and couldn't believe the 2 (underseasoned) scallops on the "large plates" menu for $23. overall, it was a little bit disappointing because we walked in with high expectations.

08/23/07

Best Bartenders in the city. Amazing food.

by zneroladivad

I am surprised that there were bad reviews of this restaurant. The staff is so efficient, knowledgable and pleasant I don't know what sort of person you'd have to be to elicit a negative response out of them. I believe someone complained that their food came too quickly, so I guess some people are unpleasable. If you have a litlle bit of class, an appetite for excellent, intelligent, seasonal food and a thirst for the best cocktail of your liking then make Southwark a regular stop. This place has a unpretentious style which completely blindsides you with excellence.

04/14/07

good

by pennfoodies

but a bit forgettable...reliable good american food, but nothing out of the ordinary...great if you're not adventurous...

Homemade parmesan bread and crisp Napa vintages: An American bistro with the soul of a wine bar.

by Contributor

In Short
Behind thick burgundy curtains hide an impressive mahogany bar, flickering votives, servers in long white aprons--and an upscale "Sideways" clientele who comes for the conversation, not to watch ESPN (no TVs here). The chef/co-owner--who hails from incredibly popular nearby Django--places a patent emphasis on locally raised ingredients, while her co-owner/bartender husband prides himself on low markups on stellar smaller wines.

10/01/06

Unimpressive Meal

by sgalspach

I hestitate to even write this review - maybe I just misordered? We were so excited to try Southwark, which always looks so inviting. While I'd still definitely give the bar a shot, our meal was incredibly disappointing. Served so quick you'd swear we were at McDonalds, the food tasted as though it had been sitting out all night. The brisket/beef that I had was rubbery in texture and seemed as though the sauce was an after thought. The service was fantastic - attentive and knowledgable. Too bad the meal disappointed.