South Street brings "healthier" soul food to the Design District

Sara Liss10/12/2012

The goods: Restaurateur Amir Ben-Zion and event consultant Amaris Jones have opened South Street in the Design District’s former Sra. Martinez space.

Ambience: The old post office building has been transformed with cushy banquettes, vintage jazz and Motown records and a tiny upstairs lounge featuring live music on the weekends.

The grub: Refined, “healthier” soul food classics. Portions are generous and prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: starters $7-$18, mains mid $20s and sides $6.

Order the bread basket with house-made corn muffins, biscuits (sweet potato and regular), local honey and cinnamon-pecan butter. Hearty “small” plates include bourbon-barbecued wings, fried catfish, four-cheese mac and cheese and a quinoa and kale salad. Mains include smothered turkey chops, collard greens with smoked turkey standing in for ham hocks, braised short ribs, a massive turkey chop with cornbread stuffing and a four-piece fried chicken basket with collard greens and candied yams. Desserts include red velvet cupcakes and a “sock it to me” pecan coffee cake with vanilla ice cream.

Verdict: A jazzy, welcoming spot for lighter-than-expected Southern home cooking.