We tried the new Montclair restaurant Southern Belle for dinner this past Friday. We liked it a lot. Is there anything more satisfying than Southern comfort food, a true American cuisine, that I do enjoy.
Chef and owner Lauren Browing puts her special touch on every dish. Lauren was a girl from Jersey who fell in love with great Southern style cooking while at school in Richmond, VA. Having grown tired of her stint in the corporate world she decided to strike out and try the restaurant biz. A bold move I am sure you agree. We are happy she brought her talents to Montclair.
I am serious, the fried green tomatoes and the catfish were the best I have ever had. Believe me, I have tasted many in the years I spent down South and at great Southern style restaurants of New York like La Louisiana or Texarkana created by master chef Abe de la Houssaye, who is now at The Upper Crust.
The batter on the fried green tomatoes is so light and delicious, it just melts in your mouth. Combined with the piquant cajun remoulade sauce, I could eat this dish every day.
I bet the fried pickles and pulled pork sliders are really good. I look forward to trying them next time along with the good looking seafood gumbo and corn chowder.
Another really savory dish is a special appetizer Lauren calls Pulled Pork Pot Pie. Look at that delicate crust, so carefully arranged. The meat inside is deliciously tender in a perfect rich BBQ sauce with just the right amount of spice.
The crab cake appetizer looked pretty but was just not quite great. Lauren said they will look at that recipe.
My Southern Blackened Catfish, a seasoned catfish fillet blackened and served with peach chutney, was utterly sublime. I had two sides, an authentically homemade creamy potato salad, and sauteed green beans.
We also tried the broccoli and cheese, collard greens, creamed corn and the baked mac and cheese. All were perfect except a wilted spinach dish that needed more of the buttery lemon sauce that it was meant to be in.
The "Backyard" Fried Chicken and Baby Back Ribs were really good and what we could not eat we brought home. We also loved the home made waffle under the Fried Chicken and Waffles dish. All the food tastes very fresh, not greasy or heavy, prepared with a wholesome sensibility. Main dishes come with one or two sides.
There are a number of vegetarian selections and salads, sandwiches and specilaty non-alcoholic drinks.
Do save room for dessert, you should not miss the Hummingbird Cake. It has layers of moist cake full of chopped pecans, crushed pineapples, and mashed bananas frosted with a delicious cream cheese icing. Really good.
The menu has all the great southern classics Dinner , Brunch and there is a kids menu for 5 bucks with every thing from peanut butter and jelly to "sloppy piggies."
What to drink? Light reds, unoaked whites, we had a nice Sangiovese and some great micro-brew ales. Go ask at near by wine and beer shop Amanti Vino, they wont steer you wrong.
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Southern Belle
615 Bloomfield Ave,
Montclair, NJ 07042-2804
Phone: 973-746-2233
www.southernbellemontclair.com
Dinner
Sunday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tuesday to Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Closed Monday
Now open for Brunch!
Brunch
Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Take Out
Credit Cards Accepted
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