Reviews Empire State South

Came with reservations for a party of two, four course dinner and had a great time! The wait staff was super attentive and friendly. I’d highly recommend getting the roasted duck breast for a delicious classic, and the wintergreen salad for a tasty surprise combination of flavors. The price for a four course dinner includes gratuity, so be mindful when looking into reservations. They also have a snack menu if you’d like to try delicious food on a budget!

Love this place! Great vibe, fantastic service, outstanding food! We went for Sunday Brunch and each meal was prepared beautifully. The Breakfast is definitely one of my favorites! It's definitely a great southern experience. A little pricey, but I'd say it's worth it! Also, it's a cute place if you want to take your kids because there's space right outside to play bocce ball or just hang out on the synthetic turf.

So this was our 2nd visit to ESS but our 1st actual meal. The atmosphere is fantastic, upscale and classy yet casual and approachable. Not stuffy at all but not a flip flop and shorts atmosphere either. The 1st time we came there was a mishap in the kitchen and our order got lost in the shuffle. We were running late for a show so we had to get up and leave after only having drinks and our 1st course . Tonight we decided to give ESS a 2nd shot. We didnt want to rule it out over the 1st experience because it seemed so promising Our server, Pasquale, was fantastic. Polite and attentive but not hovering or intrusive. The cocktails we ordered (both times) were fantastic. Unique flavor profiles but familiar enough to hit all the notes you want . The amuse the 1st time was rillete on a cracker with everything bagel seasoning. A tasty Bite. This time it was a red pepper couli arrancini that hit all of the comfort-feels. The foie is always a pleaser. The 1st time with a dual apple puree (1 red wine and 1 white wine) the depth of flavors in the purees was phenomenal and sang with the foie. This time the strawberry compote was delightful, the balsamic gelle/reduction could've been a tad sweeter for my taste, and I wouldve prefered it if the foie was slightly tempered and easier to spread on the toast points. But all in all it was absolutely delicious. My partner had the beet & goat cheese salad and enjoyed it thoroughly. The pork belly with the grits and pickled onions was cooked perfectly. Nice textures. But the coca cola BBQ sauce on it was way too sweet and took away from the dish. The pickled red onions helped a bit but wasn't enough .... The farm egg over the crispy rice was BOMB awesome flavors and textures. A little heavy of a portion for a mid-course tasting menu it was difficult to finish because it was very heavy . The pork loin was extremely disappointing . The entire dish was lacking in seasoning. The bok choy was over grilled and the bulb was under cooked, the turnips was no seasoning at all, the pork loin was over cooked, under seasoned, and over charred. Unfortunately the jus wasnt enough to save it... maybe the cook had an off night, it happens. How.ev.er. the lamb dish.... wow. Flavorful, perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, amazing flavor profile and contrasting flavors and textures. This dish was the winner for sure. Dessert was good, limited menu but something for everyone. The buttermilk pie was surprisingly not as sweet as i thought it would be and i was so relieved. The mandarin coulis underneath was the perfect accompaniment. The blood orange segments and tuile seemed like an afterthought and werent necessary. The bourbon creme brulee had awesome flavor. The dish needed to be filled more and the sugar wasnt brulee'd evenly but the bourbon infused custard was absolutely perfect. Great wine list, awesome bourbon selection, fantastic cocktail list. Might come back a 3rd time and will update the review accordingly.

It has been some years since I visited this Midtown stalwart.The pre fixe menu is pretty cool. I understand that it changes almost daily. 4 courses for $70 or 6 courses for $100. You can also select a wine pairing. I opted for the Tomato Salad, the Farm Egg and Crispy Rice along with the Trout for my entree and the Cherries for dessert. ALL of it was delectable!! Impressed by ESS' staying power. More impressed with the high quality service and the excellent meal we enjoyed. Cheers!

For $100, this is honestly one of the best meals I've had in a while. 6 courses of goodness, all small portions but overall it's plenty of food to fill you up even if you're starving. The quality and presentation is top notch, and if I were in NYC or Chicago I'd expect to pay almost double for an identical experience, so hats off to you Atlanta for your stellar food scene.