I was raised in the South and have been to New Orleans once before (when I was there, I thought I could die happy after that trip, knowing I had tasted some of the BEST food of my life!), so I know what good Southern food should taste like. It’s been a while since I’ve been home for some good home-style cuisine, so I was excited to try Big Jones, especially for brunch.

Per the advice of some other reviewers, I made a reservation on Open Table the night before. I arrived this afternoon a bit early, thinking they might have a table open for me (I was dining alone), but alas, my table was still occupied. The hostess apologized profusely, explaining that the current diners hadn’t left the table yet (which was fine with me, especially because I was early), and she encouraged me sit at the bar with a cup of coffee until my table opened up. When the table did open up, the staff was really great about getting me seated–they even brought my coffee over to the table for me so my hands wouldn’t be full!

I had a really hard time deciding what to order, so I asked my waitress for her suggestions. I originally ordered the Grilled House Andouille (Three Sisters Garden hominy, poached eggs, scallions), which I couldn’t eat because the sausage was WAY too spicy for me, plus I was expecting the hominy to be grits, but it was actually huge kernels of corn. The meal might have been okay for someone who loves spicy foods, but I just can’t handle foods that burn my tongue with spicy heat. I hated to send the plate back, but the waitress seemed very understanding and let me order the Charleston Fish and Grits (fried Mississippi catfish, hominy cheese grits, two farm eggs, Low-country cornbread) instead. WOW! If I hadn’t gotten full after eating two-thirds of it, I would have cleaned the plate! The fish was piping hot–as good fried catfish should be–and it was placed on top of creamy, cheesy grits. The fried egg and cornbread made for a full breakfast meal; all elements of the dish were wonderful together. I must also mention that I ordered the Sweet Potato Biscuits and a cup of coffee. The biscuits were okay; I’ve made sweet potato biscuits myself, and while Big Jones’ biscuits had great flavor, they were rather dense. The ones I have made were much fluffier. The Intelligentsia coffee was served in a huge mug and refills were free! I was also able to get some beignets; I had to ask from them at the end of my meal because I had heard about them and really wanted to try them. Seriously, they were some of the best beignets I’ve had since I was in New Orleans and they were fresh from the fryer!

The staff was very accommodating, which really surprised me. As a single diner, I didn’t really expect that type of service, but it was much appreciated! Big Jones is going on my list of places to take guests from out of town. It’s a bit of Southern charm in the Midwest! To save on the bill, I suggest coming with a friend and splitting a dish or two. The prices are a bit high, but the portions are big enough for two people to share. I can’t wait to come back and try some other items on the menu!

Yelp Review: 4 Stars

I went here with a guy I was seeing at the time and we both wanted breakfast food in the Andersonville area, but didn’t want to spend a ton of cash. Svea is a great place to get a good breakfast/brunch on a budget. It reminds me of a Greek breakfast spot I went to as a kid with my family in North Carolina–a greasy spoon with an overly-themed interior design. Like that place, Svea’s decór is… well… interesting–it’s a like what I imagine the inside of a kitchen of an old Swedish boathouse might look like. At any rate, it adds to the uniqueness of the place. We both got Swedish pancakes and we were both pleasantly surprised. It was my first time having them and now I’m a fan. The pancakes are like French crepes, but a bit thicker. I got full before I could finish all mine, so my date ate the rest. Also, the staff was super-friendly: the waitress was very helpful and our water glasses/coffee mugs were always kept full. Another thing to note, at 11 am on a Saturday, we didn’t have to wait around for a table like at some other restaurants in the area. Although if we had needed to wait, there’s a cool little antique shop right next door.

Yelp Review: 4 Stars