Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Southport

We had a lovely brunch at the Artisan this afternoon. We had a 12:30 reservation, which was a good time as it was not too crowded. Both our selections from the fixed price menu were excellent. We had the French toast and the Crocque Madame. The eggs were perfect. The noise level was acceptable and there was a very good guitarist playing quiet background music. Very satisfactory. We recommend it.

We dined at Blackstones on Saturday, 2/15, to celebrate my beautiful wife’s 50th birthday, and it was nothing short of exceptional! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, setting the perfect tone for our special evening. Our party of six enjoyed an outstanding dinner, including the Surf and Turf combination – a perfectly cooked Tomahawk steak and succulent (giant) lobster – along with three incredible filet mignons that melted in my family members' mouths. The appetizers were just as impressive, with crispy fried calamari, fresh oysters, flavorful tuna tartar, shrimp cocktail, and a refreshing tomato mozzarella salad. The side dishes, wine and drinks complemented the meal beautifully, making the experience truly indulgent. Beyond the phenomenal food, what stood out the most was the impeccable service. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and made sure everything was perfect throughout the evening. I’ve been to this Blackstones (and a few of their sister locations in Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich) a number of times with family, friends, and business acquaintances but usually go to this one because its location is closer to my home. Each visit has been consistently exceptional. Blackstones in Southport remains my go-to steakhouse for any special occasion, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience. We will absolutely be returning! Heartfelt thanks to the Blackstones' staff and its owner Aldo, who are always gracious and hospitable, for making my wife’s milestone birthday truly memorable!

The food and service were outstanding! You can get lost in all of the wonderful offerings in their store. Such a great idea to eat in such a lovely ambiance. Our food was beautifully plated and delicious. We opted to eat half our servings in order to try some of their desserts! We were not disappointed! And we got our leftovers packed away to eat later. This was a beautiful experience from start to finish... We will be back soon!

Went for the prix fixe menu for our Valentine’s dinner. It was on the pricier side ($200+ pp including alc), but every aspect of the dinner was spectacular. Unexpectedly met with rose pedals on the table and a (optional) raspberry cocktail. All of their cocktails looked incredible on other tables, but we split a very nice Cab. All the courses were amazing, moderate amounts, but after four courses we were filled up. Wagyu tenderloin and carrot cake were 12/10. Will definitely be going back for a dinner with the regular menu in the near future. If you don’t mind the cost, then the Valentine’s dinner is a special date night experience.

This was our first time visiting Prime for my wife’s birthday and honestly we had a fantastic experience. As a “chef” by trade and being in the culinary industry for close to 15 years, i haven’t been that happy with spending what i did on food in a long time. My wife order the New York Strip med rare with a side of Mac and Cheese. The age on it was great. Not to nutty and funky that it’s a turn off for the majority of people, but not so mild that I questioned if it was actually aged. The Mac was perfect. I could eat it every day. I ordered the Half Chicken to try something different than I normally do. Hands down, best chicken and grits I have ever had from a restaurant. The Chicken was perfectly cooked yet the skin was just ever so perfectly golden and crisp, not charred like most places would make it. I suspect it’s a salt cure with some weight on it, but regardless how it’s done it’s amazing. I can’t wait to come back again!