The Missus and I finally made it to 9 South Chargrill, 9th and South Streets, last night. We will be back. Here's a quick rundown:
9 South is a very pleasant little restaurant. It consists of two small dining areas containing mostly tables, with two 4-seater booths in the back. We sat at one of the booths. Decor is minimal; there isn't a whole lot of spare room for clutter. The parking lot is small as well. Be prepared to park on a neighborhood street.
We were greeted warmly and seated promptly by a woman who turned out to be our waitress. The restaurant was about half-full when we arrived, and it hit about two-thirds full at its busiest. Interestingly, even though at one point there were three large groups (of 10, 8, and 7 people) in the restaurant, it didn't get very loud. I'm sure it helped that The Missus and I were in a booth, but I still think it's notable.
The menu feels very Nebraskan. Think salads, sandwiches, steaks, and chicken. Dinner entrees are priced from about $7-$8 (sandwiches with two sides) up to around $20 (steaks). The Missus ordered a side salad and a loaded baked potato. The salad was fresh and included spring greens. The baked potato was large and was topped with sour cream, chicken, and a chipotle sauce. There was also a ton of butter. Good for flavor, bad for arteries. I hadn't ordered fried chicken at a restaurant in ages, so that's what I went with. I received a large piece of white meat, very tasty homemade mashed potatoes (with butter!), and a vegetable medley (snow peas, sweet peppers, yellow squash, and broccoli). The chicken had a very nice flavor, but it was fried a little longer than I would have liked. Add one Diet Coke for The Missus, and our bill came out to a very reasonable $23.
Our waitress was excellent. She was friendly, attentive, and helpful. She was also very informative. She told us that pretty much everything (including the barbecue sauce) is homemade. Our waitress had to handle several tables at once, and from what I could tell she was excellent at each and every one. I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say she was one of the better waitresses I've seen in Lincoln in quite a while. I just wish I could remember her name! I'll have to get it the next time we go in.
Although 9 South's cozy size gives it a very warm and friendly feel, the downside is that walking lanes are tight. If you are a very large person or if you are very picky about people walking near you while you eat, request your seating accordingly. I identified two chairs in particular that I would have been annoyed to sit in. Your preferences will vary, but be aware of the situation going in.
Overall our experience at 9 South Chargrill was extremely positive. I am eager to go back.
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I AGREE!
We ate there with friends the other day (4 adults, 3 kids under the age of 5) and were pleased as well.
I’ll add that it has a GREAT kids menu. Standard fare, but one of the better twists I’ve seen -kids can order one thing, or a combo of two things. You parents will understand what a stroke of genius that is.
I saw many entrees that I wanted to try. That’s always a good sign.
Also, the names of sandwiches can tell you alot about a place, I’ve found. The names at 9 South were cheeky, but not silly. A delicate balance. If memory serves, the beef and pork sandwich was called “Cow & Pig”. That’s cheeky. If they had called it “Moo & Oink” that would be just plain silly. 😉
Do they have a liquor license yet?
I don’t know, JR. I don’t remember seeing any indication one way or the other.
Hi! My friend sent me this site in an email and I think I was your server. My name is Kyle with short blonde hair. Thank you very much for the kind words, I am very glad you enjoyed everything.
We still don’t have our liquor liscense, and the boss just keeps telling us “by next month”. I’m not sure exactly why we don’t have it yet, but part of it could be because of the outdoor seating. My guess is we won’t serve alcohol until Sept, but don’t hold me to that.
Again, I am very glad you enjoyed yourself and we hope to see you back soon! Pass along the good word!
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