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Southern Accent Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Restaurants Southern Cajun/Creole, Southern [Edit]
595 Markham StToronto, ON M6G 2L7
Neighbourhood: Palmerston
(416) 536-3211
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
51 reviews for Southern Accent Restaurant
Review Highlights
"For dessert I had pecan pie & N'awlins Bread Pudding."
(in 11 reviews)
"Hush puppies are a corn bread fritter."
(in 8 reviews)
"Had the prix fixe menu $25 for 3 courses."
(in 5 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from b m.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
Went here yesterday for a friend and my birthdays. I had called for a reservation on Thursday, a little late i know, and asked for a spot for 15 people at 8PM. They said it was unlikely but they would call me back. A few hours later they called back and told me they could get me a spot for 12 at 8:30 but that was it. Fortunately, a few people had cancelled and this number was fine but the reservation had to be at 9. The day of the event they called back telling me that 9 was too early and we had to come at 9:30. I asked if we could still arrive at 8:30 but hang out by the bar. They were fine with this.
When we arrived at 8:30 they told us that our table was ready?? Good for us, but it kinda sucks because a few friends had cancelled since they felt 9:30 was too late to be eating dinner.
As far as the food goes, I really loved it and so did everyone else. Not many of my friends have had exposure to this style of cooking and I'm glad they got to experience it. Now I just have to convince them all to take a trip to New Orleans with me.
Another thing that's great about this place is the bourbon selection. Other than expensive steakhouses there aren't too many places in Toronto with a really good bourbon selection. I got a chance to try out some varieties i've never had before and a few of us tried out the bourbon tasting menu as well. This is a great idea if you want to experience a few different hard to find bourbons.
The waiter was really friendly and helpful and they even moved us to a larger private room because we were kinda cramped in our first one. I don't think it was meant for 12 people.
Aside from the annoying problems making a reservation this place was amazing and I will definitely be going back. -
Review from Selene n.
Toronto, ON
2/5/2012
I went here for winterlicious the other night. There were ten of us, so we got a private room, which was very nice. The room was lovely, with closets to put our coats. The server was amazing - very friendly, efficient, awesome at answering questions or finding the answers if she didn't know them.
The decor was delightfully tacky - kind of like a grown up, classier zelda's - very fun and colourful! I loved it! The restaurant is housed in a victorian house in the Annex, right down the street from Honest Ed's.
The food!!!! Oh wow was it delicious! We had the winterlicious menu, but they did also have a vegan menu for regular dining! With all the vegan items listed so you didn't have to go on a mystery hunt through the regular menu. Lots of food options for vegans, veggies, the gluten-free, and the eat-everything's. To start, I had a vegan cesar salad with creamy garlic tofu dressing and tofu crisps (it comes with the option of croutons for the non gluten-free and parm cheese for the non-vegans).
The main!!!! be still my beating heart! steamed bok choy, an amazing veggie/mushroom/tofu dish in a lovely sauce,BLACK RICE PATTIES!!! so so amazing! I almost couldn't finish it because it was so filling, but I FOUND A WAY.
dessert was an orange sorbet. I felt it was more of a granita, which in my opinion was nicer. there were pieces of actual orange in it!!!
everything was delicious, presentation was amazing, service was great, place was lovely. AND you can hire a PSYCHIC for part of your meal! that's just cool!
I will definitely go back!!! -
Review from Jessika D.
Toronto, ON
2/4/2012
I got invited here by a few cousins who love New Orleans. As the only person in the fam who keeps Kosher, I was the only one for whom this could be a problem menu.
I checked out their website and there was nothing on the mains I could eat; there was a chance their "fish of the day" would be one I could eat (some, like catfish, aren't Kosher, and wouldn't you know that was the one fish listed on their daily menu...), so I tried calling. It was a Thursday during the dinner seating, and I called four times, but kept getting voicemail that announced it was Monday and that they were closed. This didn't thrill me.
I finally got them at 9:30pm, and they told me that it would be Mackerel, which I could eat, so I accepted the invite. When I got there, I discovered that there were a number of veg and regular fish options that just aren't listed on the website, including the French Market veg tofu & shitake mushrooms, which was quite delightful.
The food was lovely, the service fairly good. Not outstanding, but decent. They seated us without reservations at 6:30 on a Friday evening, during Winterlicious, which was mega sweet. We were asked to be out by 8:30, but they made little to no effort to ensure it - even not bringing the bill until 8:30, when we finally asked for it (after the table had been cleared and the desserts finished).
A few minuses, though:
- Keep your staff apprised of what you're out of. No customer likes to order something - in this case the cheese plate - and be told five minutes later that you're out of it.
- Careful when doing charges. We asked for separate bills, except for one couple at the table. My meter ran out and we didn't get out of there until almost 9 because first he charged us entirely in couples (to save time I just paid for my other cousin instead of asking for a new bill), and then he charged the couple's tab to MY credit card. Since their pre-tax bill was more than my post-tip one, it was a huge difference.
On, and one giggle. Proofread your menu. The menu advertised an Artesian Cheese Plate. What, do you keep it in the well in the back? -
Review from Emily M.
I like it! Went here with a group of 10 for winterlicious last night and it was a pleasant experience. The witnerlicious has good veg options but we had a look at their regular menu too and it has some great veg options also.
The good thing about this place is that it wonderfully accommodates meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans...and...even those gluten free people. The veg dishes are actually well thought out and not just lame pasta dish or bland tofu crap that is an insult to vegetarians.
The service - very good. Our server automatically did separate bills because she overheard some of our group (me) saying that they had to leave early. No hassle. Love love love it.
The Decor: Super trashy, super tacky and kinda stuck in a time warp. It was an assault on my eyes and really the only thing I didn't like about this place! "boo" - why yes there ARE pictures of ghosts on the walls scaring dishes of food and platters on the ceiling...why! This place just looks old and instead of renovating they simply keep adding more and more and more crap everywhere. -
Review from Adityo S.
Etobicoke, ON
2/4/2012
The food was great. The service was terrible.
We had to wait about 20 minutes for our main dishes to come after we finished our appetizer.
The guests next to our table got their main dishes first because they ordered the Winterlicious menu.
One of the servers who finally brought our food, did not apologize for the super long wait. -
Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
1/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
As we entered the playful confines of Southern Accent I couldn't help but feel as if some magical teleportation device had somehow taken me to the salty shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The space was cozy yet intimate and was N'awlins through and through. The kaleidoscopic interior offers the eyes a visual smorgasbord, where each room allows for a unique individual feel without taking away from overall ambiance. Drapes and muted lighting create a feeling of separation from other diners and the centrally located 1940's style bar is a sight to behold for any northern Mardi Gras revellers.
Now If I said the best thing at Southern Accent was the food I would decidedly be lying. And although the food was undeniably ethereal in its absolute perfection, a harmonious balance of piquancy, which I felt more than privileged to experience despite a relative lack of proximity to Bourbon St., I will go on record and state with certainty that it pales in comparison to the gentile southern hospitality and charm we experienced in the capable hands of our incredible hostess/server/tour guide/historian Wendy.
Wendy was simply put, the best server I have ever had. She was gracious, charming, informative, and above all genuine. She gave us a tour of the restaurant and a brief history lesson, and I must say that without her guidance I may still be stuck in some forgotten recess of Southern Accent unable to write this review, as the old converted Victorian seemed to have an endless abundance of twists and turns much like a Casino specifically designed to discourage gamblers from departing, not that I would have had minded staying in SA, but happy to Yelp about it all the same.
Last but not least I have to at least mention the food. I had the $27.00 prix fix menu. I started with a phenomenal crab orzo, followed by the Jambalaya which has to be among the best dishes I have ever tasted. Generous chunks of andouille sausage, chicken and smoked ham on a bed of seasoned Cajun rice topped off with a plentiful array of shrimp and perfectly bitter collard greens kept visions of SA dancing in my head. An honorable mention goes to the Pavlova topped with house made whipped cream and a healthy scattering of assorted berries. The Pavlova was chewy, but strangely crunchy, and above all highly satisfying.
Thank You Wendy and Southern Accent and of course Wendy. -
Review from S D.
Toronto, ON
1/13/2012
I have to say, I was a bit disappointed by Southern Accent. While the ambiance, decor, and friendly staff did help to set a great first impression, the quality of the food and beverages subsequently did not live up to the high expectations generated by my initially favourable perception of this place.
I went with a friend, and we ordered hush puppies to start. My friend, who is a big fan of this place, lamented that they used to provide a larger quantity in the past. As for the taste, they were okay. A bit bland, but good with the sauce, Definitely not worth ordering again.
As for the main dish, I need to mention that I have a pretty decent spice-tolerance, and was thus expecting and hoping for authentic cajun dishes that were adequately spicy and flavorsome - not the case. The portion size, like the appetizer, was also disappointingly small. The Gator Bait cocktail was only so-so as well.
In conclusion, this place was just okay. Not bad, not great. I would be willing to try this place again, and maybe order something else. -
Review from Erin B.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
My fella and I went here with a groupon I purchased a while back. Groupon was accepted and processed with no issue, so we were off to a good start.
We had a fantastic meal! Our server has worked here since more or less the beginning of time, from the sound of it, and knows everything about all the food and drinks and regaled us with many stories about the restaurant and its history. I appreciate that. She even bent over backward to accomodate my gluten-free diet, without ever seeming annoyed or judgemental. Not that she needed to - the restaurant has a seperate gluten free menu listing all the things that are safe to eat!
We had a sazerac (a bit sweeter than the ones we had in New Orleans, but still yummy) and a julep (delish), followed by a bourbon sour (freshly squeezed limes!) and a bourbon tasting series (fun). We ate gumbo (not me, but my partner said it was yummy), pickled okra, beef brisket (amazeballs!), blackened chicken livers (don't even think about it, just eat them. they're amazing), and the rack of lamb (HUGE! easily twice as much lamb as I was expecting, and served with this brilliant sauce/salsa - well worth the splurge).
We were seated upstairs rather than down, which was ok, but much brighter and not quite as full of character as the area downstairs. Try to request a table downstairs, where you can watch the bar, sit in cute little curtained nooks, and feel the bustle that is so authentically New Orleans.
We can't wait for an excuse to go back! I overheard someone saying they're doing another groupon in January, so I'll be eagerly watching my inbox and will pounce when I see it.Listed in: 30 Day Yelp Challenge!, Gluten free Toronto!, Groupon!!
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Review from Mauricio A.
Toronto, ON
10/7/2011
The is an interesting fact in Toronto when it comes to dinning out. Almost no restaurant in this city is truly and fully authentic. Yes, of course, they are exceptions, like Guu and some of the awesome Chinese restaurants up north of the city run by Hong Kong chefs. Almost everything else is either an outright insult or a very close simile, generally "Canadianised" for the local's taste buds. Mexican food is a perfect example of this.
The reason why this is the case is simple. Our geographical location, the limitation of the ingredients required, the already mentioned catering to locals and sometimes just keeping the ingredients in stock is a problem. Hence it is hard as heck to get a decent Mojito in Toronto as almost no one carries the fresh mint needed.
So, that bring me to Southern Accent, a place a once used to recommend for it's retro 20's decor and patio. Or, I would say to you:
- "You have a hot date you want to impress?"
- 'Aha.'
- "Then take her to Southern Accent. Get there ahead of time, give them a rose to have delivered to your table with the wine/dessert. They are cool that way and just make sure you book "The Snug." That's the table near the entrance which you can close with a velvet curtain for extra privacy. She will love it!"
- 'Cool! How is the food.'
- 'Alright.'
Now here is the thing, I thought the food was alright. Nothing especial, Jambalaya was decent if a bit pricey but a truly nice decor. As a side note there used to be an authentic place called Jambalaya just north of College on Yonge that did an awesome Jambalaya. Sadly it went out of business.
Then a while ago I talked to some who actually have been up and down in Cajun country and also to Southern Accent.
They called it a shameless travesty, a place that had no right to have the word 'Cajun' written anywhere on its premises. And that if you want real Cajun food then to try anywhere else but avoid Southern Accent and that the only reason they were in business and could get away with it was because most Canadians did not know any better. They are bland and on the tasteless.
I was like, 'Oh?'
Then I asked where there was an authentic Cajun place in Toronto.
Her answer was "Good Cajun? No such thing."
However they did recommend "Lucy's Seafood" but they are in the suburbs.
I still recommend Southern Accent for the decor and the feel of the place, just not the food. Oh, one last thing, they use to have a Fortune Reader next to them as part of the optional entertainment. -
Review from Lauren L.
Toronto, ON
8/17/2011
OK, Southern Accent, I was psyched to visit you and eat Cajun food. Now, less psyched after my evening there.
Pros: the pecan pie is delicious. Like daaaaaaang delicious.
The fish I had (not catfish, a catch of the day of some kind) was tasty and perfectly cooked. Very nice, and the spice rub on it was good too. Some bones, but that happens, no worries.
Cons: the website advertised alligator, but they had no alligator! And not like "oh sorry, we ran out tonight, but we'll have more on Saturday" but rather "we get alligator once a year and that period of time is over." Which would be fine if their website said anything about seasonality for this dish. I wanted some damn alligator! Ok, whining over (about that).
The ceviche was cooked. Like, the shrimp and scallop must have been boiled. That's not how ceviche IS, man. It's not cooked! It's lime juiced and salted but largely raw-ish. So cooked-through ceviche? That was weird and not tasty.
The vegetables and rice that came with my tasty fish - really blah and meh and other boring words.
If I could give this place a 2 1/2 star review, that would be spot-on. The service wasn't bad, it wasn't good, it was just... there. Combine that with an uneven meal, and I'm definitely not rushing back to Southern Accent. -
Review from Alida S.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 7/19/2011
Decided to go back to Southern Accent on a Sunday evening (this time with a Groupon) a few weeks ago. My friend and I got two appetizers and some cocktails. We got the piquant shrimp and the bruschetta plus a Bourbon Sour and a Pink Martini. The shrimp and hush puppies were delicious (and spicy!) but we found the portion to be way too small for an appetizer. My friend thought the piquant shrimp were too spicy, so beware! The bruschetta was good, but not very memorable. Drinks were okay, although my friend complained her Martini tasted like Robitussin.
Service was painfully slow and impersonal. The waitress seemed to be occupied tending the bar and talking to other patrons. Getting drinks, ordering food, and getting the bill took forever. The atmosphere was quite different this time around. The crowd in the restaurant seemed to be mostly people in their 50s and 60s. I found the whole dining experience to be quite sedating. Southern Accent wasn't as lively as I remembered. I don't think I'll be going back in a while.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/22/2010
Southern Accent has the best bourbon sours in the world! Trust me, you gotta have one.
The biggest… Read more »
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Review from William T.
Scarborough, ON
7/26/2011
I booked a table on the patio, outdoor décor ever reminding me of Mardi Gras.
My appetizer consisted of alligator served in piquante sauce with hush puppies. The flesh was tender which surprised me as I never thought such a tough looking creature would be quite as succulent. The piquante sauce was great for dipping hush puppies in & the hush puppies themselves were crisp on the outside & soft within.
My main was the Canal Street Creole Jambalaya I was most pleased with this dish as It was rich hearty & full of proteins including chicken, smoked ham & andouille sausage. The rice was saturated with spicy tomato sauce, topped with greens & garlic grilled tiger shrimp.
For dessert I had pecan pie & N'awlins Bread Pudding . The Pecan pie is served with a side of whipped cream. The crust was crisp & non oily. Pecans made up most of the pie with just a bit of corn syrup as a binder. The pecan pie was extremely good & was the best dessert there. The N'awlins Bread Pudding was made of apples, pecans & raisins & drizzled in bourbon sauce. It was not too sweet & was very moist.
Portion sizes were enough to satisfy me, the service was decent & the food was good. The Jambalaya & Pecan Pie would be enough to lure me back. -
Review from Elaine K.
5/4/2011 4 photos
This place was good, but it didn't particularly blow me away. My expectations may have been a tad high, though, after reading the reviews.
The atmosphere and the service were both absolutely fantastic. We got a private room for our party, and the food and drinks came out pretty quickly.
The hurricanes were sweet and delicious, but I don't think they were 2 oz. We're all drinkers in this party, and everyone admitted to feeling a little tipsier than anticipated. They would be good to share, as they were HUGE.
The food itself was pretty good, but again, didn't blow me away. The menu was small, which is always a good sign, and everyone seemed pretty happy with what they had. The jambalaya was a little spicier than anticipated and the catfish was pretty good.
I would recommend this place for a fun night out with friends, but probably won't be back myself again. -
Review from Alana C.
4/18/2011
OHHHH LAWWWWD, this place was excellent. The food was just amazing and so were the drinks. Our server was extremely knowledgable about both food and drink.
We had:
Cajun Poutine with blackened chicken and briskett
Cornbread
Voodoo Pasta
Jambalaya
Bread Puddin'
Pecan Pie
It was soooo good I cannot wait to go back. The food was hot, but not burn your face off hot. The interior is very unique and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. My boyfriend and I got put in this little mini-room type structure with a curtain. Bourbon tasting was extremely cool and the mint juleps were yum but all drinks are strong so beware if you don't like beverages where you can really taste the booze.
Delish creole and cajun. If any of you go, take me with you! -
Review from angela k.
Toronto, ON
7/18/2011
I've only been once (as part of Summerlicious) and I'm a serious fan! Given how other Summerlious experiences have sometimes left me wanting more, this was a pleasant surprise.
First off, our server (Wendy) was delightful, helpful and funny. She took the time to explain a few food items and lovingly described the soup of the day (a watermelon gazpacho) and the southern inspired signature cocktails.
Each course was delicious! My date and I both had the watermelon gazpacho as our starter but I heard the table next to us going nuts about their alligator, so that sounds good. For the main course the blackened tofu was tasty (but I think next step I'll go with the French Market Vegetarian) and my date's BBQ trio was tasty (or so she says). I usually HATE bread pudding but my date's bread pudding was AMAZING and my pecan pie was super tasty.
In response to a previous comment about the BBQ Trio being not very spiced - it was explained to us by our phenomenal server, that the Summerlicious menu focuses on the less spicy items to be a little more palatable to the not-very-adventurous diner. It sounds like that piece of information would have been welcome for everyone.
A couple other tidbits:
- Several stellar vegetarian options and at least one vegan item that I spotted. No boring pasta primavera at this place!
- Apparently they are going to be doing prix fix every night AND they plan to always have a vegetarian option and I've been told the chef likes to get especially creative with vegetarian options, always having at least one or two that contain proteins like tofu or tempeh (in addition to other options).
- Cocktails were amazing. I highly recommend the Gator Bait for sweet treat!
Worth checking out! -
Review from Evelyn W.
6/22/2011
I love it here. I haven't been in months, but just yesterday a friend was asking where to take his colleagues for dinner and I didn't hesitate to scream out "SOUTHERN ACCENT!"
If you like cajun food and spicing up your day with quirky ambience and great cocktails than this is the place for you.
I don't normally post menus, but this is what ya'll should try:
-Bourbon sours / Jalapeno Tequila cocktail
-Oysters
-Hushpuppies
-Bottle of house red
-Steak rare-- they blacken the outsides, it's amazing. We switch up the sides.
-Lamb chops m. rare.
-Bourbon taster
This ends up being a bit pricey but it's totally worth it. If you want to try this great restaurant. They also have a reasonably priced 3 course Prix Fixe menu if you want to taste this stuff without paying so much...
BONUS: You will never leave this fine-dining-ish experience sober.
DOUBLE BONUS: They bottle and sell their own awesome hot sauce. -
Review from Karen G.
Toronto, ON
3/28/2011
About 8 months ago I was sitting on a patio in Toronto with a few friends, and I asked "Where is New Orleans?", to which one of my friends responded "I think it's in Louisiana". "I want to go there", I said in reply.
8 months later I did. And before I did, I checked out Southern Accent - twice. It instantly became my favourite restuarant in the city, and after returning from New Orleans, I can honestly say that this is (so far) the closest thing I've found to authentic Nawlins cookin.
This little place hiding behind Honest Eds has a ton of character. I love that there are private dining rooms (cozy with "privacy curtains" if you're feeling amourous after a few Bourbon Sours), and each section of the floor has a different theme (love the green tea room on the second floor). The girls bathroom has a little bourdoir outside of it that is super cute, and meshes well with the Victorian house the restuarant is situated in. The website makes the place look a lot bigger than it is, so I recommend calling ahead for reservations.
The pre-fix menu is superb, for $25 you get an app, entree and dessert, that will more than satisfy your soul food craving and your belly. A must pick is the cajun combo (if it's on the menu - things seem to come and go on the prefix as the weeks change) for a taste of everything. For a starter, I highly recommend the hushpuppies (jalpeno cornbread with a yogourt dipping sauce) and the bread pudding or pecan pie for dessert. When we complimented the chef on the best desserts we'd ever had, our waiter responded with "I'd tell him, but he's already heard it at least 10 times today". Cocky, but I believed him.
What they get you on here is the drinks - $10 a pop, but you must must must get a Bourbon Sour or two. The Hurricane packs a punch, but tastes nothing like the ones you get in New Orleans, and in my opinion is wayyy too sweet.
A cozy spot with a ton of character and a menu that's a foodie's dream, for a great price. I'm sure this place will stay in the top spot on my Toronto's favourites list for a long time to come. -
Review from Allison T.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2011
1. Not ideal for vegetarians. They had one entree (polenta-based) but it didn't sound that appealing so I put together a bunch of sides on my own.
2. Delicious garlic mashed potatoes. The fiddleheads were okay but too sweet (?) & the sweet potato soup had A LOT of bourbon in it.
3. I was there with a large group of people - so understandably a little more difficult to wrangle but it took a long time. Our server was doing his best but they really should have given him a wing person to pick up the slack. -
Review from Jason A.
Etobicoke, ON
7/16/2011
Experienced this restaurant as part of Toronto's "Summerlicious" festival... so perhaps had a lesser experience.
I tried the Jumbalaya, which was just the right amount of spice, ahd bib chuncks of shrimp in it, and good portions of ham... very enjoyable.
My girlfriend got the BBQ / Grill sampler platter which was very disappointing. It features a sausage, which had a very tough skin, a piece of lamb which was okay (I'm not much a fan of lamb), and a grilled chicken breast which seemed like it went right from the M&M frozen isle to my plate... very little spice was used on any of these and they were not served with any sort of sauce.
The restaurant was neat considering it's a renovated old house, and the New Orleans inspired decor was neat... but overall I woult not go out of my way to return. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
Ambiance fantastic. Service was wonderful. Movies awesome
30 sec summary
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1. Artsy place
2. No Talisker scotch but suitable Woodford reserve bourbon (pricey for drinks)
3. 40 something place
4. Service very good
5. Tiny place with wonderful decor
6. Movies upstairs
7. Fix priced menu wicked at $15 with the movie option
8. Food: Strong recommendation on the wonderful meat gumbo, Bourbon smoked beef brisket and seafood Cajun jambalaya. Food was flavored with authentic southern style seasoning. -
Review from Yvonne T.
**1/2 stars
My Summerlicious binge comes to a full stop at Southern Accent. Came here with Hedgehog as we both wanted to experience the novelty otherwise known as alligator. We booked a table on the patio and arrived promptly for our reservation. The décor is quite interesting and colourful with reminders of Mardi Gras looming not too far overhead.
The type of cuisine served is Cajun Créole. Cajun is the cuisine of the French Acadians who were deported by the British from Canada to Louisiana. The 3 staple ingredients, otherwise known as the holy trinity in Cajun cooking are: bell pepper, onion, and celery. Cajun and Créole cuisine are quite similar and the two terms are generally used interchangeably. The major difference is that Créole Cuisine gathers its influence from continental Europe adapted for the local ingredients of Louisiana. Cajun cuisine is also seen as the "poor man's cuisine" as it was born of many French provincial cuisines from the peasants while Créole cuisine was born from aristocrats.
I must say that their cocktails here are pretty boring. We ordered the French which was made with: Chambord, Vanilla Vodka and Pineapple Juice. A Lychee Love Boat consisting of: Vodka, Lychee Liqueur, Lychee Juice and Lime was also ordered. These were basically martinis, but I felt they weren't very good. Amateur bartender? We were brought a bread basket with hummus while waiting for our appies to arrive. It was a nice departure from eating empty calories and fat from the usual vat of butter that shows up at most restaurant tables.
For starters, we ordered the Kick ass ALIGATOR which is served in a piquante sauce with hush puppies. Hush puppies are a corn bread fritter. The alligator was tender, which totally blew away my misconception that this rough-looking reptile would be a tough monster to bite into. I absolutely adored the piquante sauce, as I could use the excess to dip my hush puppies into. The hush puppies themselves were quite savoury, not overly oily though I did find it to be a bit on the dry side. The Cucumber Gazpacho was rather disappointing. Although it was refreshing, as a gazpacho is intended to be, there was no real flavour to the soup. It tasted like sour cream and cucumber whipped up in a blender. I found it to be rather bland and lacking in flavour.
For mains I ordered the Lafayette Shrimp Étouffée which was served on a bed of cumin-scented rice and a spiced seafood reduction sauce and a side of grilled asparagus. I didn't like the way the rice was cooked as there were hard chunks that clustered together. It was interesting how they molded the rice like a Hershey's Kiss though. The shrimp were of a good size - at least they're not skimping me on the protein! I couldn't really taste the cumin in the rice, and I felt the seafood reduction lacked in any real seafood flavour. All I could taste was the texture of a plain roux.It seems William T. is gaining points for menu selection tonight as his Canal Street Creole Jambalaya was utterly amazing! It was rich in flavour and came with a plethora of proteins including chicken, smoked ham and andouille sausage. It was served with rice that was infused with a flavourful tomato sauce, topped with collard greens and garlic grilled tiger shrimp. The collard greens tasted amazing. Almost like eating really tasty collard chips, though they were not quite as crispy as a chip but had a nice chip-like texture to them. F or those of you who have never experienced this dish and want a point of reference a Jambalaya is similar to the Spanish Paella.
My meal doesn't ever end without a dessert finale! I finally regained my foodie instincts and compensated for my erroneous appetizer and entrée selections with Pecan Pie. The rumours are true, Southern Accent serves up a mean pecan pie. It is served with a side of whipped cream. The crust is heavenly, and not at all oily like most pecan pies you find in the stores. There was a generous amount of pecans (which is great, as you are not left with mouthfuls of corn syrup and no pecans). I like my pecan pie with less corn syrup as the corn syrup really is just there as a binder. Yummy!
The N'awlins Bread Pudding was nothing to sneeze at either. It was made of apples, pecans and raisins and topped with a flavourful bourbon sauce. It was not as sweet as the pecan pie, which I liked and was a very moist bread pudding. I am not usually a fan of bread pudding, but this one is a keeper.
Verdict:
The portion sizes at Southern Accent are quite filling. I think of a typical Southern mother feeding her children, while keeping in mind that she doesn't want to fatten them up like Hansel & Gretel - the portion sizes were just right - enough to satisfy you, but not leave you feeling 10 lbs. heavier. The service was not good - the servers were amateur at best. Would come back if I were in the area just for the Jambalaya and Pecan Pie! -
Review from Phillip Jessie j.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2011
Every single thing on the menu is delicious, every item. I went with my family and we one of everything on the menu. I am surprised I didn't puke from eating about 3x my stomach capacity (Really) but wow, there is not a single thing at this restaurant that didn't blow me out of the water.
My favorite was the gator appetizer with hush puppies, it tastes kind of like chicken/octopus and the sauce they use is AMAZING. Awesome cocktails here too, and coffee. The Catfish is probably the best fish I have ever had, collared greens were perfectly buttered and cooked.
Great ambiance, it's in an old Victorian house but its gigantic. It has 3 levels, nice washrooms and a good bar. I sat on the patio but the various seating arrangements looked like they would be very fun, but possibly claustrophobic. That would be the only con about the restaurant, it feels very cramped but almost in a good way, like when the hot tub is full of beautiful women except for me.
I don't know dick about Cajun food other than it is delicious, I know a few people who have friends in new Orleans or have visited there often, they say that Southern Accent is better than a significant number of restaurants in new Orleans.
But wow, that was probably the best meal of my life. -
Review from Tong J.
For many years, Southern Accent has been the place I go when my aching soul needs a good cajun & creole spanking.
For the American expats, there is a popular annual Turducken Thanksgiving dinner event that is a must (early reservations are highly recommended, I missed it last year). The perfect event to sample stuffed Chicken-Duck-Turkey and cajun & creole treats, talking about 2 good spankings in one visit.
Last night, the Turducken was served with 3 unique stuffings, cornbread, andouille sausage & oyster. Hands down, my favorite out of the three was andouille sausage. It had a good kick and was most flavorful.
Turducken was moist and tender, and came with a rich yam gravy made with Bourbon and Grand Marnier, cranberry citrus compote. I know, sounds fancy, right? And don't even get me started on their famous garlic mashed potatoes.
After devoured a generous serving of the main dish, I was doubtful that I could end the night on a sweet note. My tummy was telling me, "No." But who am I kidding? This fella never turns down a dessert! A warm Maple Apple Pandowdy with homemade Vanilla Ice Cream sounded too good to pass up. The sweetness from Vanilla Ice Cream complimented the tartness of Apple Pandowdy nicely. Man, oh man, what a combo!
The service was flawless from start to finish.
Thanks Southern Accent for comforting my aching soul on a cold Thanksgiving night.Listed in: Top Notch TO
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Review from Bartek C.
York, ON
1/3/2011
Went here for New Years Eve. The drinks were great, the food was fabulous, and the service was .. alright!
The exterior and interior of this restaurant are both very eclectic and get you excited to eat here right away. We were seated in "the booth" which is literally a former entrance to the home, turned into a closet with a curtain over it. The reservationist warned us about this, but we were perfectly happy with it. Very cute, intimate. Of course, there's ample open seating as the restaurant has two floors.
The waiter came to greet us. He was awkwardly hilarious and gave us a good "WTF?" initial impression. Throughout the night, he seemed rushed would do quick rush-job checks on our table, but I'll give him a second chance because he was also doing the bar by himself, on New Years Eve (and it was busy!). I'll give him credit though, he makes a good drink, especially his Bourbon Sour -- Recommend trying it, and go for the upgraded one for $2 more.
The food came to us and it was an explosion of flavours. It was a special NYE menu, with my choice being a Bourbon Chicken plate and my date being a Lamb plate. The Bourbon chicken was both of our favourites with a huge mix of flavours and a perfect smoky flavour. The Lamb was great too, but slightly disappointing given the price, as the roasted lamb felt a bit dry in some spots. The sauces in both the dishes were amazing, and definitely made me a fan of Creole cuisine. Will be trying more.
Overall, quite pleased with the experience and plan to go back some time to try the Catfish and other dishes. Their regular menu looks much more appealing than the NYE menu they had going. -
Review from Imran N.
3/24/2011
I keep forgetting and remember about this place.
Everytime i've been i've loved it even more.
In the old Annex hood by honest eds, this is an amazing lousiana restaurant. The food is bloody good, real cajun style, and very unique atmosphere. The place tends to close early, and is a little pricey (around $60/ head usually) but is well worth it. The food isn't like anything i've eaten in toronto and I think they make the best shrimp period. It's lousiana food, with artisitic flair. They are also famous for the classic Hurricane drink (from a famous bar that got destroyed in katarina) that is basically a huge glass of alot of booze. I don't like it personally because it's very sweet, but it's very very popular. But the highlight really is the amazing food.
I recently went their during winterlicious to find out the head chef came in everyday at 5am to prepare turducken.
I had it and it was amazing because of the unique added touches ' layers of oysters and sausage sauces in between the rolled layers.
I'm hungry again.Listed in: Good for Groups
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Review from Cindy C.
Toronto, ON
9/26/2010
Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh my god! This place was da bomb! Highly recommend!
Tucked away in the romantic street of Markham (I've never seen this street before!), this cozy and friendly restaurant welcomed us with open arms.
Now let's get to the food already! There was quite a bit of diversity on the menu. 3 solid flaps of Appies, Entrees and Desserts. We went for the $25 prix-fixe menu (from my understanding changes on a daily basis).
Starters: I had the AVOCADO BRUSCHETTA and my boyfriend had the MEAT GUMBO. Both were very rich in flavor and hits you like home-style food should hit you, warm and to the bone.
Eating soul food, we had to get the CORNBREAD, which I highly recommend!!! Imagine perfectly warm cornbread, that's light and fluffy and just melting in your mouth... Cornbread is hard to master (for me, at least!) And this place did it 100% right!
Mains: I ordered the SOUTHERN FRIED BAYOU CHICKEN, which was what the server recommended (btw - the service was exquisite). She said that it's a southern staple (so true) and that it's not always available on the menu and that some people need to be e-mail notified when it is on the menu. So I had to try it and it came with a side of CUMIN BASMATI RICE and GREEN BEANS which was hearty and divine. There was a sauce over the chicken that was thick and delicious!
Cool Note, ask for some hot sauce (also a southern staple) and they bring out a variety of hot sauces which they sell as well and boy, they are good!
My bf ordered the BLACKENED CAJUN CHICKEN, it was a smaller piece of chicken but was not a loser to what the sides had to offer. He had SWEET POTATO MASH, JAMBAYLAYA, HUSH PUPPIES and COLLARD GREENS. OH ME OH MY. Each bite of food was like a little food explosion in your mouth, filled with hearty flavors injected into every bite. I have never seen him so vocal about his food, it was definately a winner in our books and easily claimed "one of the best meals of our lives".
Dessert: Since I had scarfed down everything so quickly, I went for the ORANGE FRUIT SORBET, which was lighter on the palette. It was so fresh and definately tasted homemade, I highly recommend it. We also tried OUR FAMOUS PECAN PIE and that was really good. It all tasted so fresh, you can taste the flavours of the pecan just ooze out with every bite.
Overall, this was one of the best experiences of our lives. It's a must go. The service was helpful and attentive. The atmosphere was a little random and busy but very entertaining. The food was superb (one of the best in the city, in my books). We felt so comfortable, we had great flowing conversation, much like a new couple going on a first date again.
Cool Note - They have a fortune teller in the front of the restaurant. I didn't do it, but from the other reviews, it seemed to be about $20 per reading.
Sorry this review is so long, I usually like to keep my reviews short and to the point but that would not do this place the justice it deserves. If you are reading this, please hop into your car and go immediately. -
Review from Mackenzie C.
Toronto, ON
2/14/2011
Gonna keep this one short and sweet:
Drinks are Delicious!
Food is really good.. the Jambalaya and the Calamari are my favorites.
Service is just OK..
The restaurant itself has a very cool feel and look to it..
Overall thoroughly enjoyed the Souther Accent! -
Review from David E.
York, ON
8/13/2011
This is a great place - the only real complaint I'd have is that it was a little warm inside. We had the cornbread and gumbo to start, both of which were exceptional. I had the blackened steak, which was delicious but just slightly overcooked (which I'll forgive!). My partner had the jambalaya, which was excellent!
Service was a little slow (it was a busy night),but the server was very personable
We'll be back. -
Review from David B.
Toronto, ON
5/15/2010
This is one of our favourite restaurants, anywhere. We had our first date here, 18 years ago. Very little has changed, which is a good thing. We had the $25 prix fixe menu. Started with some of the best bruschetta I've ever had. The entree was voodoo pasta with chicken and sausage. The sauce was outstanding - spicy/creamy/yum! Finished with awesome pecan pie.
Our problem is that we should be trying more different restaurants, but we want to keep coming back. Highly recommended if you enjoy cajun/creole, or flavourful food generally. -
Review from En L.
7/4/2011
Funky and eclectic decor. Service was great. I had the fried green tomatoes and catfish...both very good. The fried green tomatoes is very HOT (temperature-wise)...so, don't stuff it in your mouth like I did. My boyfriend had the $25 "pre-fixed" menu, which is a very good deal. Avocado bruschetta was very good. However, chicken in the Baton Rouge Combo was 1/3 the size of a normal chicken breast. So, guy bewared! The Jambalaya and candied yams are delicious!
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Review from Tara A.
9/13/2009 ROTD 11/22/2009
I have recently become a regular at Southern Accent. It all started with me coordinating a post- screening party for a film that my company produced. I searched for a few locations and I settled on Southern Accent. The manager there was fabulous. she worked with me and closed the entire restaurant so we could fully utilize the floor space. The servers walked around with bottles of wine so guests could get a top up and not have to go to the bar.
The food was amazing and everything felt very well treated.
Afterwards they sent me a fabulous Gift Certificate and so I took some of my coworkers and we filled up on delicious Calamari and Sangria.
I went there again on Friday and had the Prix Fixe dinner menu. Everything was spectacular and the server was again, remarkable. I will continue to go to this venue because of the decor, the servers and the food. -
Review from Nate G.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2010
I've sauntered past this funky joint many times on my way to Suspect video but have never actually gone in.
Went in on a rainy Friday evening with the wife and another couple, and had a great time.
I ordered the Decosta Street Pork (sp?) which came with Rice Pilaf and sweet&sour Bok Choy. It was awesome... the pork was tender and spiced perfectly, the portions were big and bold, and I was very happy with what I got.
Had a couple of yummy Bourbon Sours afterwards, and called it a night.
Not much to complain about here. The whole thing was a tad pricier than I expected, and the service (although super friendly) was slow/lacking at the end of our night (it got a bit busier but still...).
The decor and atmosphere was great, as was the music and food. I'd recommend it, and will be going back to sample other dishes. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
3/18/2010
I wanted to try out this restuarant for a while, maybe it was all the hype, but I wasn't as pleased as I thought I would be.
I really like the character of place. When we went, it was decorated for Mardi Gras, but I'm sure it has a festive feel no matter what day. It's in a small house in Mirvish Village, and small little nooks of places and room where you can sit and have an intimate meal.
The food itself is Southern obviously, but I was looking for something more. It was okay, nothing spectactcular, and it didn't end up in my list of 'must go again'.
I also pre-booked the psychic. I'm always skeptical of these things, and when I have a chance, I'll try my luck. Of course it's a show and she says what you want to here. It's a nice entertainment addition to place, but it's $20 for a reading. They don't advertise this, just be careful knowing that's how much you're willing to pay.
I'm only rating this a 3 because I did like the atmosphere. I would have rated the food only a 2. I've had better. -
Review from Kevin D.
Toronto, ON
2/2/2009
What a Gem!
We stumbled upon this little hideaway last night and were extremely impressed. The decor and music are upbeat and fun and the service was excellent. Southern Accent offers an excellent Prix-Fixe nightly and a super-value Prix-Fixe on Sundays. $22 or $25 per person will get you a three-course meal, with coffee included! Plus, the margaritas are delicious.
Highlights from the menu include:
-Hush Puppies - Appetizer of corn fritters with a creole spicy sauce.
-The Lamb Chops - Some of the best we've ever tasted and only $22 on the Sunday Night Prix-Fixe! Actually, less than that because you get the lamb + appetizer + dessert for only $22.
-Homemade Pecan Pie-- yummmmmm. Nuff said.
Great value, flavour country all the way, excellent service. -
Review from Anni L.
2/2/2011
My friend and I went to winterlicious last night at Southern Accent and the food proved to be somewhat disappointing. Located on a small street with outside xmas light decorations, the victorian building looked quaint and promising from the outside. I could picture how this place could be in the summer with an outside patio. So with some anticipation and eagerness, I entered the building.
Once in, I was promptly brought to our table. The room I was led into was decorated with several dozen pictures of this black and white dog. It was very different and interesting, while beeing somewhat disconcerting as everywhere you turned, you were faced with the same dog that was staring straight at you. Made you wonder which artist had this dog as a pet and whether he mourned his long lost loved dog through his art.
So without much deliberation or hesitation, we decided to both order the Orzo with squash and scallops for the apetizer as starters. The Orzo tasted ok, the scallops were very salty, and there were som esunflower seeds in the dish which made it crunchy. My friend said he could taste the spice but i felt the entire dish was abit bland with the exception of the super salty scallops which is the only thing i can remember.
For the main course, we decided to order the Creole Jambalaya and the Cajun Turducken. The Creole Jambalaya was a disappointment for me. The rice was mushy, and there was no taste to it other than an overpowering tomatoe sauce. I couldn't taste the chicken, ham, andouille sausage. There were two grilled small tiger shrimps. We left one third of the dish half eaten as we couldn't even stomach the rest. Compared to Big Daddy's crabshack, this jambalaya was below my expectations. My friend also commented that the spice wasn't evenly distributed so it seems that someone forgot to stir the dish!!
The Turdcken chicken was supposed to be turkey, duck, chicken, and 3 stuffings, oyster, cornbread/andouille, and sage/onion with pecans. I could only taste the dry turkey. There was something hard and dry that could have been chicken or duck, but there was no taste and i could not distinguish, there was so little filling that I could not taste any of the the ingredients listed. On the positive side, the garlic mash and the side seasonal vegetables (a mix of carrots, crunchy green peas, and baby bok choy) were very good. I tried to focus on the sides to forget the taste of the main dish and the Jambalaya.
The dessert we ordered was the Nawlins Bread Pudding and the Pavlova. The Bread Pudding was good with bouron sauce, but it was so sweet that we couldn't finish it. The pavlova was a meringue with fresh fruit and cream on top. The Fruits left much to be desired as it was sparse and not extremely fresh, the cream was good, but the meringue was sticky at the bottom and tough, we could barely break a piece apart.
So overall, although the food was dissapointing, the service was good. Our waiter was nice and courteous. My water kept being re-filled without any reminders and our order/bill came very promptly. -
Review from Avitania B.
Toronto, ON
11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Disappointing. The food was decent, but the service was atrocious. We came in on a Saturday night at around 9pm. Although we were seated quickly upon entering, 17 minutes passed between the time we sat and the time a server acknowledged our presence and asked if we wanted something to drink. We were actually a few seconds away from just getting up and leaving before the server finally came. Server was super-brusque -- no hi, no hello, or anything else other than the bare minimum/perfunctory words that needed to be exchanged. I seemed to get total 'tude that would be a little more befitting some snooty place in Yorkville rather than a place basking in the blinking lights of Honest Ed's and built to look like a Louisiana crab shack. Servers also had to be flagged down for things like ordering martini rounds, drink refills, and the bill. My dinner there took two full hours for what should have only taken one at most because of the slow service.
Egregious service aside, the food was okay, but not great. Being an American expat and having lived in the southern part of the U.S. for several (mostly forgettable) years, I've had my share of great Cajun cooking; Southern Accent doesn't quite match up. I ordered the prix fixe. The green salad appetizer was nice and lightly dressed but... y'know.... just lettuce on a plate. The Bayou Chicken main consisted of very skinny/non-meaty fried chicken thighs and a drumstick, then smothered in a spicy sauce. There was a lot of batter and sauce, but not a lot of meat. The bread pudding dessert was warm but didn't taste very fresh (had a slight rubbery consistency like it had been microwaved too long), and the sauce little too bourbon-y for my taste.
During this same visit, I witnessed a server spill drinks onto two other diners, and plates being dropped elsewhere in the restaurant. Sheesh. I would come back to try other things on the menu, but the service was just so bad that I'd be hesitant to return. -
Review from tokill a.
Etobicoke, ON
8/21/2009
i hadn't been to SC in about 3 years or so, and knowing how restaurants are in Toronto, I'd imagined in the years since it had either: gotten too pretentious/expensive for it's own good, or were bought by someone that just didn't care as much.
I'm happy to report: Neither of the above is true. Had an incredible meal, great service and no hipster-douche baginess. It really was a great experience. It has toned down over the years...it used to be like a microcosm of Mardi Gras - no longer. To be honest, I always found that a bit disparaging, and well, trying a bit too hard on their part in the part to be a bit of a theme-park of a dinner experience. The whole experience has matured quite a bit, no Drag-Queen hostess anymore (sadly !), and it doesn't feel like the circus it used to be...it's grown-up a bit...but it's not dull. Nice balance after 20 years. -
Review from Monica S.
7/19/2009
I give Southern Accents a 3.5.. Yelp needs to add half pts!
This place reminds me of NOLA's in New Orleans.. The hurricane's are pretty yum, better than Pat O'Briens in NO! The ambiance is fun, definitely a mardi gras feel. Service good! Food.. i liked!
We started with the avocado bruschetta - ok this I would skip.. there's hardly any avocado.. The roasted garlic, A liked it!
Catfish - highly recommend.. Crispy, along side tartar sauce... (I loves tartar sauce)
The trio - I can't find the exact name on the online menu - sausage, chicken and grits.. Addictive! Rich! lovesssss
Dessert - Creme Brulee - pretty good, small
Strawberry Rhubarb pie - meh.. not so much..
Would I come back, yep.. It's a fun place, in a super cute neighborhood. -
Review from Brenna K.
5/12/2009
In Toronto for work recently and came here for a late foursome dinner. We started with hushpuppies and ordered two plates (four to a plate and they are small). Excuse me, I should have said that we actually STARTED at the bar. Mardi Gras gone wild decor.... we all have a crazy southern place somewhere in our lives, this is Torontos. Enough said. So, back to the bar: The girls got bourbon sours and they were excellent. I hate hate HATE sweet and sour mix (high-fructose corn syrup, COME on) but these were made with freshly-squeezed lemon, so already I am thinking this is a "free" drink and had several throughout the night.
Post-hushpuppies (which were excellent) I had catfish with a basil sauce and though I had never before tried catfish, it was really really good! And the drinks kept flowing.....
It is also reasonably-priced and could be romantic on a date. Really impressed! -
Review from Jason B.
12/8/2010
One of the most romantic spots around- we sat in the completely private and curtained room across from the bar called a "snug". And the bartender was not only the most memorably friendly server, but he had his own bourbon drink recipe that was out of this world! He also knocked before entering our snug, hilarious! The cajun and creole food was great- I can't wait to go back!
Listed in: Most Memorable - Food &…
