Ellen's Southern Kitchen Cooks With Soul

The West End just got itself a great CFS.

Comments (0) By Scott Reitz Thursday, Jan 10 2013

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For now, Groves says his breakfast and lunch crowds are his largest, and the office workers who fill his dining room are surely thankful that a restaurant within walking distance of their desks offers affordable plates based on fresh ingredients. In a neighborhood dominated by TGI Friday's and Hooters, getting a meal cooked with some thought behind it can be a tough order. In that vein Ellen's is a great addition to the neighborhood.

There is work to be done if Ellen's is ever to become a worthwhile Friday night destination, though. In addition to service that was less than optimal, the dining room feels a little sparse and minimalist. The color scheme is great, but the décor doesn't come together like all the ingredients in that BLT did. A bookshelf that cuts the dining room in half seems oddly placed and truncates the space instead of integrating with it. That menu sure could use a leather binder, too.

Lori Bandi

Chicken-fried steak, mashed potatoes and greens -- tourists don't deserve food this good.

Details

Ellen's Southern Kitchen

1718 N. Market St., 469-206-3339, ellenssouthernkitchen.com. 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. $$

Chicken-fried steak $11.49

Meatloaf $10.99

Pork chop $13.49

BLTEA $6.99

Fried chicken $10.99

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Groves is off to a great start though, and with some tweaks Ellen's is a good contribution to the downtown dining scene. I just hope nothing changes with that chicken-fried steak. It's perfect how it is.