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Hours
Sun
11:00 AM - 8:30 PM
Tue
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wed
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thu
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Fri
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Sat
11:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
American, Bar
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
features
Is this restaurant good for special occasions?
Details
About
We are a family owned restaurant focused on Southern comfort cuisine. Our goal is to serve delicious food with a small town charm.
CUISINES
American, Bar
Special Diets
Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
244 reviews
Excellent
168
Very good
45
Average
13
Poor
9
Terrible
9
Cindy F
Davidson12 contributions
Jun 2020 • none
Like so many small southern towns, Elkin has seen better times but Southern on Main is serving up larger city cuisine! With a wide variety of mains and small plates as well as salads, diners are sure to find something to please their palates. We ate from the specials list and were not disappointed. Portions were very generous and prices were quite reasonable.
Written June 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
stevefZ6437MH
Columbia104 contributions
Oct 2020 • family
Been visiting the wineries in the area for years and just found this spot. Former mill or other manufacturing around the turn of the century, 19th not 20th. The ambiance and charm comes from keeping as much in place as possible. Stated working mills in the 70's and loved seeing the old "man lift".
Ok food, excellent Mimosas and moderately priced for Sunday brunch. A line was already formed when we arrived for our reservation, great sign. I had the Fried Green Tomato Benedict. Seldom do you find one that was perfectly fried and poached egg. No runs, no burns, and the muffin I think was prepared on a flat top. Cajun sauce was exceptional! My spouse and M-I-L split the chicken and waffles, plenty for both. Waffle was lite and perfect and boneless chicken breast was fried perfect. My beloved doesn't like nuts for breakfast, but her mom does. Nothing to complain about. Overall a perfect hidden gem in a very picturesque downtown. Old southern small town charm at it's best. Maybe 10 minutes off I-77 and worth the drive. WELL DONE!
Written October 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Season W
East Bend47 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
My husband and I ate at your establishment tonight. We live an hour away but we knew it would be worth the trip if tonight's dinner was anything like our previous visits. I must say tonight's visit was a terrific experience. We have tried to eat there several times but found the line to get in too daunting to suit our immediate hunger. Reservations on the weekends are a must so we had made our reservation about three weeks out. The entire main floor was booked for a private party so we were taken to the upstairs dining room. My husband and I are senior citizen's and those steep stairs are killers but we finally made it. Our server (Madison) was very friendly and professional. Our Maragaitas were superb. The shrimp and grits were to die for. My husband had the trout and collard greens. He was very pleased with his selection as well. Other than the room being a bit chilly our entire visit was amazing. We won't wait another three years to return.
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MoBayBrideToBe
Raleigh24 contributions
Sep 2020 • none
Dirty!! This place is dirty without considering there is a pandemic. Asked for my table to be cleaned, as it was filthy, and it was barely wiped down. Literally asked the person to spray the table and he said they aren’t supposed to directly spray the tables. Flies everywhere, dirty dishes still on tables from lunch (6 hours later), and cigarettes in ashtrays. Disgusting. The rolls were delicious...too bad the first baskets of dinner rolls were in a bath of Diet Coke. Turns out they were stacked under the soda fountain that leaks. Hard pass.
Indoors they have no consideration for COVID. Every table full, at capacity.
Written September 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karla M
Glade Valley27 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
The food was bland , low Quality , overpriced and the portion size was ridiculous. Short Ribs were dry , braised Cabbage Flavorless. Asparagus overcooked. Pork Loin overcooked and cut too thin. No complaints about the mashed Potatoes. Short Ribs were $17 and 2 thin slices of Pork Loin $16. I do not recommend this Restaurant.
Written October 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CarolinaTrekkers
507 contributions
May 2021 • none
We were in town for the day and stopped in for Sunday brunch. Our visit left nothing to be desired.
Our drinks (Bloody Mary, Moscow Mule) were excellent, as was the coffee — rich, good and hot. The chicken and waffles were recommended, and justly so; the sweet potato pancakes with bacon — just right. Prices were reasonable and service by Madison prompt, courteous, and unobtrusive. Interesting menu, and pleasant outside table. After eating we enjoyed browsing through town, including the jam packed antique store located 100 yards behind the restaurant; Elkin is cool.
We look forward to the short drive here in the future for repeat performances.
Written May 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
linda jr
Orrville258 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
This was our third visit traveling through NC and it was a very nice dinner again. We both had a strip steak with a Gorgonzola cream sauce that was so creamy and smooth and a perfect complement to the beef. The crispy onion rings were wonderfully hand battered and topped the steak. We shared a very generous Caesar salad and cup of crab red pepper bisque. Oh my! Service was friendly and efficient and wine selections nice. Desserts looked interesting but we were happy and too full. A very nice spot for dinner on a rainy Saturday!
Written April 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SIB
56 contributions
Oct 2022 • none
Older couple enjoying a beautiful day, hoping for nicer foliage but more interested in a good meal. This day we decided to follow the "Sonker Trail", to enjoy different cobblers and decide for ourselves which was best. Drove over an hour to start with lunch at Southern on Main before hopping to other restaurants for their sonkers.
Easy to find, very clean and welcoming, the staff was very attentive. We explained that we hoped to try several sonkers that afternoon so would share the lunch entree. No rolled eyes, they were totally on board with out quest. We ordered the meatloaf, it comes with mashed potatoes and gravy as well as green beans. They split the order in the kitchen and we both had plenty. Portions there are large, we watched the other people being served and must say we were glad we shared. The green beans were good, not special but very nice. The mashed potatoes were clearly not instant potatoes but real potatoes, boiled and mashed. Husband loved the lumps. Gravy was delicious. But the star of the show was the meatloaf. After the first bite we both said it was the best we had ever had. One of us is not a fan of meatloaf so that was a huge compliment. It was not heavy but light and very moist. Great seasoning.
The sonker was blueberry and a large serving cost $7.00. It was very good, the best we had all day.
We left full and very happy with the ambiance, the service and the food. We expect to return in the near future when the leaves are prettier. Absolutely recommended for anyone, very VERY good experience.
Written October 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul49463
Independence86 contributions
May 2021 • none
Headed to the next town over for a dental appointment. Southern on Main was rated (correctly) on T. A.as a great place to eat. The reviews were all spot on. We got the fried green tomatoes, I had shrimp and grits, my wife had the quiche and salad. Fried tomatoes were super delicious and topped with corn, blackeye peas, red onions on a bed of yellow grits. The shrimp and grits were as good as any I've ever eaten. The quiche of the day and garden salad was also excellent. All 3 items were well garnished, presented as delicious, did not disappoint at all. Our server Joy was also excellent today. Attentive but not hovering, efficient and very personable. You cannot go wrong eating at Southern on Main.
Written May 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RegularGuy52
Roaring Gap39 contributions
Jan 2020 • family
Went there for lunch with several family members. I hadn’t been to Elkin in ages. Glad to see it has a place like this now. We were seated immediately having gotten reservations for 1:00pm on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered the okra popcorn appetizer and it was great. I ordered the bbq sandwich and immediately regretted not ordering something else. The sandwich was fine but the shepherds pie my son ordered was awesome as was the pot pie and the country steak and gravy others in our group ordered. Service was great. Parking wasn’t bad. Just a really nice dining experience.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenyon1972
Pooler260 contributions
Jul 2021 • none
We were inclined to come here and the deal was sealed with the recommendation of the clerk at our hotel. We received a warm greeting. The inside area is kind of cramped, but not too bad. The server recommended the brussels sprouts appetizer, which was more than enough for two to share and was really good. Probably the best part of the meal. I ordered pan seared pork medallions. The sauce was flavorful, but the meat was a little too done for me. The best part of the entree were the sides of mashed potatoes and red cabbage. My wife ordered the shrimp & grits, which was a mistake. We are used to the dish as prepared in Savannah which has a lot of flavor. She found the dish flavorless here, but my take after tasting was the flavors were more subtle. Wife wished she had ordered the roast chicken. For dessert we had to order the local specialty - a sonker, which is a specialty in Surry County, NC. Kind of like a cobbler. It was very good and worth ordering, although I was disappointed to learn that the fillings were all bought rather than made at the restaurant.
For all that, the meal was far better and more interesting than you would expect in small-town North Carolina. And the service is as friendly and open as you would expect and hope.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheila B
2 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
We were seating outside and the setting was very casual but nice. I ordered the duck breast and my husband ordered the grouper. The sauce on the duck was very good, but a lot of fat on the duck. My husband’s grouper was small cut and thin but tasted and cooked perfectly. We will definitely go back.
Written October 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerry W
8 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Stopped here on the first day of our blue ridge parkway trip. Our server was attentive and helpful in recommending food and cocktails. Had shrimp and grits and fried chicken. Fod was excellent. Outside seating was pleasant. Highly recommend.
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gfood78
48 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
We stayed at a nearby hotel on a Sunday night, this place was very quiet when we got there, but it was late. Bartender/server was very pleasant. Very comfortable place. As others who reviewed this restaurant, we ordered the Shrimp and Grits (which was new to me) and the Trout, along with an EXCELLENT Caesar salad. The entrees were also excellent. 5-stars based on what you get for what you’re charged. Highly recommend!
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc B
1 contribution
May 2024 • family
If possible, I would give my experience a negative number rating. More on the service and the food was moderate. The service was very poor on making us wait almost an hour for our food. The table next to us were brought their food quicker while after thirty minutes the waiter claims to wait up to 40 minutes more. We didn't order any appetizers or anything complicated. Just an entree. The service didn't check up on us and when we asked to turn off the fan above us. The server claimed, "You really want me to climb on the table and turn that off?" I didn't know that the switch was on the ceiling but that was no way to go about answering. We came with a group of ten people but a table of 40 people ahead of us were treated better by being checked on constantly. The server even said they were too busy helping them. We came in as a group, so we had ten people. When you come to restaurant as a group, there is a mandatory fixed tip amount even when the bills are split. I guess that's why the service didn't try to go above and beyond since they were guaranteed a good tip from five checks each with. The server didn't give me enough time to look at my bill as she was grabbing the bill from my hand slowly. I would say they excel in giving excuses as every time they came to the table it was new thing. My aunt was brought the wrong entree and charged for something not even ordered. All in all, the food was moderate, but service is the backbone of a good restaurant. Wouldn't recommend or come back.
Written May 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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