Best Southern Restaurant
Julep
Southern cooking isn’t all fried chicken and biscuits — but if that’s what you’re craving, chef Kyle Foster and his team have what you need. Don’t stop with obvious choices, though, since Julep bills itself as the home of “sophisticated Southern.” The kitchen surprises with uncommon Southern ingredients like benne seeds, Carolina Gold rice, sorghum syrup and pork and oyster sausage while turning other familiar ingredients into delightful finds, whether rutabaga tart tatin (you’ll never want the sweet apple version again), a black-eyed pea and peanut dip, or chicken tail skewers. The menu changes regularly, though you’re likely to find your favorites month after month. After all, Julep knows how to butter your biscuit.
Readers’ Choice: Lucile’s Creole Cafe