Tucked along the banks of the Kalamazoo River in Saugatuck, Michigan, The Southerner is a restaurant that has built a serious reputation for its mouthwatering Southern food. People drive from Detroit, Chicago, and beyond just to get a taste of their legendary fried chicken.
With a 4.6-star rating from over 2,000 reviews, this cozy dockside spot is clearly doing something very right. Whether you are a first-timer or a regular, here is everything that makes The Southerner a must-visit destination.
The Legendary Fried Chicken
People genuinely drive hours out of their way just for this one dish. The fried chicken at The Southerner has earned its legendary status bite by bite, and it is easy to understand why once you taste it.
Juicy on the inside, perfectly crispy on the outside, and seasoned all the way through — not just on the breading.
Many restaurants only season the coating, leaving the meat bland underneath. Here, every single bite bursts with flavor.
One reviewer from Metro Detroit called it a highlight of their repeated visits, and another said simply, “Get the dang fried chicken.
There is no other choice.”
You can order it original style or kick things up with Nashville hot sauce. The honey butter dipped version with pickles is especially popular.
Once you try it, you will completely understand the hype.
Nashville Hot Sauce Levels
Heat lovers, this one is for you. The Southerner makes their own Nashville hot sauce entirely in-house, and they let you choose your spice level from mild all the way up to extreme.
It sounds fun until you actually try the extreme — and then things get very real, very fast.
One reviewer who considers himself a spice enthusiast admitted that the Nashville hot level was pushing the very top of his comfort zone. That is a serious warning worth heeding before you go full throttle on your first visit.
The sauce itself is not just heat for heat’s sake. It carries real depth and flavor that complements the chicken beautifully.
Start with mild or medium if you are not a regular spice eater, and work your way up. Either way, the sauce is absolutely incredible and worth every drop.
Nana’s Chicken Dinner
Some dishes feel like a warm hug from someone who really knows how to cook. Nana’s Chicken Dinner at The Southerner is exactly that kind of meal.
It is a fan favorite that keeps tables full and social media buzzing with praise.
One couple shared it together and spiced it up to Nashville hot level, calling the whole experience outstanding. The dish brings together everything great about Southern home cooking in one satisfying plate.
The portion size is generous, and the flavors feel authentic and comforting rather than restaurant-generic. Pairing it with a side of mac and cheese — which one reviewer’s wife declared the best she had ever eaten — makes for a truly unforgettable meal.
If you want to experience Southern cooking at its most heartfelt and satisfying, Nana’s Chicken Dinner is the order to place without hesitation.
The Famous Mac and Cheese
There are mac and cheese lovers, and then there are people who actively research recipes and hunt down the best versions they can find. The wife of one reviewer falls into that second, more serious category — and she declared The Southerner’s mac and cheese the best she had ever tasted.
That is high praise from someone who takes the dish seriously.
Rich, creamy, and baked to perfection, this side dish has a way of stealing the spotlight even when you ordered something else as your main. Multiple reviewers across different visits mentioned it as a standout without anyone prompting them.
It pairs beautifully with the fried chicken or catfish, and it holds up just as well reheated the next day, according to one reviewer who brought leftovers home. Order it.
You will not regret giving it a spot on your table.
Flaky Honey Butter Biscuits
Biscuits might sound like a simple side dish, but at The Southerner, they are practically a main event. Reviewers describe them as the flakiest, most beautifully baked biscuits they have ever tasted — and that kind of praise does not come easily from people who grew up eating real Southern food.
Served warm with honey butter, and optionally a little jam, these biscuits have become a signature part of the dining experience here. One longtime visitor from Kentucky, who openly described herself as a grits snob, was equally smitten with the biscuits.
The honey butter melts right into the layers, creating something almost dessert-like in the best possible way. Even guests who came primarily for the chicken end up raving about the biscuits on their way out.
Always order them. Always.
Fried Catfish Platter
Southern cooking without great catfish is like a summer without sunshine. The Southerner takes their fried catfish seriously, cooking it to a golden, flaky perfection that earns consistent praise from both first-timers and returning guests.
One reviewer described it as flaky and cooked to absolute perfection, noting that the seasoning was spot-on throughout. Another mentioned the catfish as one of the standout dishes during a large family-style meal, right alongside the fried chicken.
The platter typically comes with sides like spicy coleslaw, crispy fries, and the restaurant’s beloved remoulade sauce, which several guests specifically called out as the best they have ever tried. Fair warning — some guests have noted the platter includes one fillet, which surprised them given the price.
Still, the quality of that fillet is hard to argue with. It is fresh, flavorful, and thoroughly satisfying.
Catfish and Crab Fritters
Appetizers can make or break a meal before the main course even arrives. At The Southerner, the catfish and crab fritters set the bar impressively high right from the start.
Crispy on the outside and packed with flavor inside, they arrive with a spicy remoulade sauce that ties everything together beautifully.
One group of six who ordered them as a shared starter called them an absolute standout of the entire meal — which is saying something, given how strong the rest of the food is at this restaurant.
The fritters work great as a table appetizer when you are waiting for your main dishes to arrive, especially on a busy weekend evening when service times can stretch a little longer. Order a round for the table, pair them with cocktails on the porch, and let the evening unfold at its own Southern pace.
Shrimp and Grits
For anyone who grew up eating real Southern food, shrimp and grits is a dish that carries serious emotional weight. Get it wrong and the whole meal feels off.
Get it right, and you are transported somewhere warm and familiar, no matter where you are sitting.
At The Southerner, this dish earns genuine enthusiasm from guests. One reviewer who previously lived in Texas and Louisiana said the shrimp and grits were fantastic, evoking the same feeling as the beloved restaurants from her Southern days.
That is a meaningful comparison coming from someone with firsthand experience.
The grits provide a creamy, comforting base, while the shrimp add savory depth to every spoonful. Some guests have noted the grits can occasionally run a touch buttery, but pairing them with the flavorful shrimp balances things out nicely.
A true comfort dish done with care.
The Riverside Location and Atmosphere
Sitting right along the Kalamazoo River, The Southerner offers something most restaurants simply cannot compete with — a beautiful waterfront setting that makes every meal feel like a small vacation. The interior has a warm, old Southern home feel that wraps around you the moment you walk inside.
Outside, the deck and patio spaces give guests a relaxing place to wait for their table while enjoying a drink from the walk-up bar. Summer evenings here are genuinely magical, with the water glittering nearby and the smell of Southern cooking drifting through the air.
The indoor dining area is cozy but small, so things can get loud on busy nights. Outdoor seating tends to be quieter and is highly recommended when the weather cooperates.
One reviewer perfectly summed it up: the location alone makes The Southerner the ideal place to spend a summer day in Saugatuck.
No Reservations Policy and the Wait
Here is the one thing every first-time visitor needs to know before heading to The Southerner: they do not take reservations. On busy weekends, the wait can stretch to an hour or more.
For a restaurant this popular, that is honestly not surprising.
The good news is that the wait is genuinely enjoyable. The front porch has drink service, comfortable seating, and a walk-up bar where guests can order cocktails while they wait for their table.
Many reviewers actually looked forward to this part of the experience.
A digital waitlist is available, so you can add your name and keep an eye on your spot without standing around awkwardly. Arriving right when they open — 11 AM on weekends or 5 PM on weekdays — is the smartest move if you want to minimize your wait.
Come hungry, come patient, and come ready for a great meal.
The Cocktail Menu
Great food deserves great drinks to go with it, and The Southerner delivers on both fronts. The cocktail menu is creative, well-crafted, and genuinely booze-forward for those who appreciate a properly mixed drink.
Guests who like strong cocktails have specifically called them out as a highlight.
The Maple Old Fashioned has developed a loyal following among regulars, with one guest calling it the perfect way to top off an already excellent meal. The Bloody Mary also gets strong reviews, described as well-seasoned and satisfying by guests who take their brunch drinks seriously.
Coffee cocktails round out the menu nicely for those who want something a little different after dinner. Drinks do run on the pricier side, which a few reviewers noted.
But the quality and craftsmanship behind each glass make the splurge feel completely worth it, especially when enjoyed riverside on a warm Michigan evening.
The Red Beet Salad and Fresh Salads
Not everyone at the table wants fried food, and The Southerner has those guests covered with a salad menu that punches well above its weight. The Red Beet Salad in particular has become a quiet fan favorite, with one reviewer enthusiastically pointing it out as a must-order alongside the more famous chicken and biscuits.
Portions are generous — the salads are described as huge, which is always a welcome surprise when you are actually hungry. Fresh, vibrant, and thoughtfully put together, they do not feel like an afterthought on a menu dominated by Southern comfort food.
The Little Gem Salad is another option that can reportedly serve two people when shared. While some guests have found certain salads on the blander side, the Red Beet Salad consistently earns enthusiastic praise.
It is a genuinely great choice for anyone looking for something lighter alongside a heavier Southern spread.
Why People Keep Coming Back
Some restaurants are worth visiting once. The Southerner is the kind of place that quietly becomes a tradition.
Guests from Metro Detroit describe making a special detour every single time they head west, logging four or five visits and counting. That kind of loyalty says more than any rating ever could.
The combination of exceptional food, a stunning waterfront setting, creative cocktails, and warm Southern-inspired hospitality creates an experience that sticks with people long after they leave. Even guests who had minor complaints about wait times or pricing consistently said they would return.
Located at 880 Holland Street in Saugatuck, Michigan, The Southerner is open daily — weekdays from 5 PM and weekends from 11 AM. Call ahead at 269-857-3555 or visit thesouthernermi.com to learn more.
Once you go, you will completely understand why people keep finding reasons to come back.