Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop

It's a cozy and very charming southern style, but warning do not come here if you are on a diet. You will just be missing out!! My dad was marveling at all the old authentic signs. Apparently, they really did use to serve Lays Chips in cans. (Who knew?)

The johnny cakes, as my mom called them, are addictive. We tried every dish we could fried shrimp, plantains, ribs, fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese, cheesy grits. Darn it, now I am hungry again.  Everything was great. The only thing is the beignets are not quite like Cafe Du Monde, but that is a tall order.

When in Evanston, go to Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop for lunch!

Picture southern charm and kitschy decor. I often get the Eggs Sardou. Sometimes I feel compelled to try another option, but I just can't seem to quit the Eggs Sardou. SO GOOD!

During the weekends, a crowd forms lined up single file by the wall. It moves quick so don't be deterred!

This place is precious! I was craving southern cuisine after a six-month taste of All Things Chicagoland. The restaurant is very quaint, over-the-top mid-1950's southern with it's cafe-meets-Cracker Barrel atmosphere. Old tin signage (replicas from the earliest signage), bygone relics, and re-purposed light fixtures will give your eyes something to do while you wait for your vittles.

I had the Veggie Sampler with fried green tomatoes, sweet potatoes and greens -- my fried green tomatoes were buried under a huge mound of shredded iceberg lettuce -- what? I asked the server and he said "that's just how they come." The fried green tomatoes were seasoned well, but the breading was soggy, not crispy as we really do them down south. The lettuce still confuses me! The vegetable sides were really good, especially the sweet potatoes. My husband had the Southern Sampler (generous servings of gumbo, jambalaya and red beans & rice). He was satisfied, but admits that the food wasn't really like we've ever had down south.

Abita beer selections and sweet tea are available here.