Joe’s Southern Kitchen serves that classic soul-soothing comfort food that the Deep South is renowned for and which we just can’t get enough of at the moment. The uprising of this cuisine ties in to a deeper fascination with this part of the world, from the fringing fashion trends this season to hit TV shows dominating our small screens, such as Nashville & True Blood. So this re-vamped and re-named restaurant (previously Navajo Joe) has come along at just the right time, generously indulging our fixation and letting us in on a little corner of the States in the heart of London.
From the loungy diner feel of the restaurant to the vintage recordings playing out in the bathrooms, showcasing that sexy southern drawl, Joe’s only heightens the allure of the Deep South, dragging us in and then spitting us out when we are contently full to the brim with wholesome, all American fare.
This isn’t food for the faint-hearted or the salad pickers out there. The menu boasts hearty burgers, generous steaks and of course chicken; pressure-fried, southern-fried, roasted or barbecued into a variety of tempting dishes. We started with the soft shell crab served on a bed of lightly battered vegetables. The soft meaty crab inside was complimented by a delicious crispy exterior. We also shared the beef brisket, which served with crisp tortillas was heart-warming. The cheekily named ‘Coq in a bun’ was tender chicken thigh barbequed and topped with complimenting condiments served with a side of their tempting bacon-salt fries. The Mac’N’Cheese looked sinfully satisfying but we admired from afar as there was only room left for dessert: a heavenly frozen Oreo concoction served with warm chocolate sauce and banana fudge. Again, not for the calorie counters among us!
Don’t forget to sample the cocktail list, with ‘Rum Dog Millionaire’ ticking all the right boxes and ‘1 Night in Jail’ which is so devious, they’re limited to 2 per customer. The list steers away from the run-of-the-mill classics and instead has conjured up an inventive list of their own. ‘Clockwork Orange’ and ‘Area 51’ also looked tempting.
The service is warm and unfussy, attentive but not-overbearing. The atmosphere is buzzy but casual with the deep red booths providing the perfect setting to kick back and enjoy a hearty southern meal. We love a good re-invention especially when they get it so right and Joe’s certainly hits the spot.
