By Sally Deering

New to Jersey City, SOUTH HOUSE bar and restaurant stands out from the crowd because no other eatery on Newark Avenue has three grand-daddy rocking chairs parked out front. And thatâ€s just the tip of the drink straw when it comes to this hip and absolutely stunning bar and restaurant.

Even if youâ€ve never been to Texas, once you step into the open “porch” area of SOUTH HOUSE with its herringbone-bricked floor and cascading water fountain, you may feel transported, like you were visiting a relative down south. Owner David Hohensee and SOUTH HOUSE designer (and his sister) Stephanie Villarreal-Farld grew up in Texas and have transformed this old Jersey City uniform store into an inviting world of hip southern hospitality. Hands down, the décor will practically take your breath away as you sit down, order a cocktail and make yourself at home.

“I like a great dining experience,” Hohensee says. “At SOUTH HOUSE, I focus on the experience: the food and the environment.”

Open and spacious with three floors and a rooftop grill that opens after Labor Day, SOUTH HOUSE offers a sensory experience of sight, sound and taste. Everywhere you look thereâ€s something interesting to see. On the first floor, gas lamps hang above the bar and huge iron gates adorned in lush greenery open up to a dining area where flowery plates hang next to sexy pin-ups. Giant black & white photographs of blues singers shot by renowned photographer Dick Waterman grace the walls throughout.

Prepare to have your taste-buds blown away if you order one of the Specialty Cocktails designed by Beverage Director Norman James Strobel that meld creativity and finesse with a myriad of flavors. The Purple Haze with jalapeno infused Casa Migos Reposada tequila, Chambord, raspberries and blackberries, agave nectar and lime juice ($12) can lull anyone into a state of euphoria by the third sip. Try the Smoked Old Fashioned with Maple wood smoke, Basil Hayden, Demerara syrup, and dashes of Angostura Bitters ($13) and your Jersey accent may slow down to a Southern drawl. And the Keep Austin Weird, a drink with Bulleit Bourbon, egg whites, olive oil, cinnamon syrup, Bronx Pale Ale and a dash of Angostura bitters ($12) will just plain knock your socks off. These drinks are fabulous; and thereâ€s more to choose on the menu.

“Weâ€re farm to glass,” Hohensee says. “The vegetables and fruits come straight from the farm, and the eggs we use in the drinks are from free-range chickens.”

Hungry for some Southern home-style cooking, then SOUTH HOUSE may have what your taste-buds are craving. The menu is still a work-in-progress and, for now, appetizers include BBQ Wings with Dry Rub Candied BBQ Sauce; Craft Beer Battered Fried Pickles; Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Creamy Spicy Siracha Sauce and Down Home Deviled Eggs with Smoked Paprika. ($9-$10)

Sandwiches feature the SOUTH HOUSE Burger with mashed black beans, Fritos and salsa; the Veggie Burger with lettuce, tomato, and choice of cheese (gorgonzola, Swiss, cheddar, or pepper jack); BBQ Pulled Pork sandwich with dill pickle and honey jalapeno slaw; and, the Smoked House Brisket sandwich with dill pickle, onions and BBQ sauce. ($12-$16). (You can add bacon and fried eggs to the burgers, each for $1.50.) Side dishes like the Mac N†Cheese; Potato Salad; and Stewed Okra with Bacon are also very popular. ($7)

For salad-lovers, thereâ€s the SOUTH HOUSE with roasted diced sweet potatoes, mesclun greens, grape tomatoes, and toasted pecans with balsamic orange Dijon-vinaigrette dressing; Kale Detox made with finely-chopped kale, broccoli crowns, cauliflower, carrots, sliced toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and parsley with lemon vinaigrette dressing; and, the Family Favorite: Arugula, grilled peaches, grape tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese with avocado cilantro lime vinaigrette dressing. ($12-$14)

The dinner menu features one of the restaurantâ€s signature dishes: Buttermilk Fried Chicken with grilled corn on the cob and potato salad. Thereâ€s also the Smoked BBQ Ribs with potato salad; Frito Pie with smoked brisket, chili, cheese and sour cream; and, Country Fried Steak with country gravy, Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes. ($11-$22)

To create his dream bar and restaurant, Hohensee worked with the creative management team South Flavor Group to build the SOUTH HOUSE brand. Family members Stephanie Villarreal-Farld, Designer and Creative Director for SOUTH HOUSE, and Allison Villarreal who handles PR and entertainment, are also members of South Flavor Group. Paying it forward is important to their mission, and the group formed a partnership with the Pinetop Perkins Foundation that helps young musicians navigate a musical career, and elderly musicians at the end of their careers; and with photographer Dick Waterman who supplied the never-before-seen black and white pics. They are in talks with Alligator Records to form a partnership that will bring in musical artists to perform.

“At SOUTH HOUSE, weâ€re not a local restaurant with a Southern theme, weâ€re the total experience, bringing the Austin, Texas experience that we love to Jersey City, and building a community,” Hohensee says. “I want our customers to feel what itâ€s like to be in a Southern home, that hospitality. I want them to feel welcome.”

If you go:

SOUTH HOUSE Bar & Restaurant

149 Newark Ave, JC

(201) 209-1316

www.southhousejc.com

info@southhousejc.com

Hours: Sun-Tues, 4 pm – 2 am

Sat: 4 pm – 3 am

Happy Hour (Happy Pour) Every Day, 5-7 pm*

*Specialty Cocktails Excluded; Select beer, wine and liquor.

The post SOUTH HOUSE JERSEY CITY SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A JERSEY ACCENT first appeared on River View Observer.