A Cozy Middletown Table for Southern Cooking and Cocktails

The blue door is around the back of the building, down a set of stairs, and it makes a fitting prelude to this intimate Middletown restaurant. Inside, dimmer light, classic R&B and a lively bar give dinner a slightly hidden-away, speakeasy-inspired mood without making the room feel stiff.

The kitchen works in the generous language of Southern comfort food, then adds Creole accents and a few welcome detours. You might begin with a cocktail, pass around fried green tomatoes or hushpuppies, and settle in for grits, salmon, chicken, short ribs or a soul bowl built for a serious appetite.

The soul bowl is one of the dishes to seek out. It gathers several Southern-style flavors in one hearty serving, making it a sensible choice when deciding among individual entrées starts to feel unnecessarily difficult.

Salmon gets more than one turn on the menu. The smothered salmon is generously portioned and carefully prepared, while hot honey salmon arrives with carrots that have earned plenty of affection of their own.

For a deeper, slow-cooked direction, look to the jerk short ribs with grits. Another short-rib preparation comes with mashed potatoes, carrots and a savory gravy, a plate that takes no interest in being delicate.

Chicken and waffles is available at dinner as well as brunch, pairing seasoned fried chicken with fresh, soft waffles. Shrimp and grits and catfish with grits keep the Southern staples in steady rotation, and seafood-topped grits offer another way to make the creamy base the center of the plate.

The sides deserve a little table space of their own. Brussels sprouts bring a flavorful bite without disappearing under a heavy slick of oil or sauce. Collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and sweet potatoes finished with marshmallows and candied pecans round out the more classic comfort-food choices.

Cornbread has become a particular point of enthusiasm. There are plain and blueberry versions, along with a cornbread skillet; a sampler would not be an unreasonable thing to hope for when more than one variety is on the table.

Fried green tomatoes come with goat cheese and remoulade, bringing tang, creaminess and a little richness to the opening round. Fried boudin balls, catfish sliders and garlic sticky wings offer more substantial sharing options.

The arancini are cheese-filled rice balls with enough flavor to hold attention even alongside the bigger Southern dishes. Oysters, lamb chops and a burger broaden the choices further, useful when a group arrives with very different appetites.

Cocktails are not an afterthought here. The names alone—Purple People Eater, Not Today Kathy, 36 Chambers and Killer Bees Attack—set a playful tone, while the drink list also includes familiar forms such as a Prohibition Old Fashioned and the Bees Knees.

The 1861 Manhattan is a recurring standout, built around brown sugar with vermouth and bitters. Killer Bees Attack brings ginger and honey into the conversation, while the Bees Knees and Alchemist Punch take a fruitier, sweeter but balanced route.

Bourbon and Scotch drinkers have a substantial selection to browse. The bar is a visible gathering spot in the room and can carry an easy weeknight energy, making it a good place to start before moving to dinner.

Sunday brunch gives the kitchen room to be a little more exuberant. Along with shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles, the menu has fried chicken Benedict, churro waffles, sausage gravy and French toast described as properly decadent.

Peach cobbler waffles add a fruit-forward option for anyone who wants breakfast to behave more like dessert. It is a nice counterpoint to the savory Benedict and grits dishes, especially at a table where ordering a few different plates is the obvious strategy.

Drinks keep pace with the food. Brunch Punch, Bloody Marys and the WuTang cocktail are on hand, and the topless mimosas arrive with a playful presentation that has become a conversation piece.

The dining room is cozy rather than sprawling, with booths, counter seating, bar stools and an indoor dining area arranged for a relaxed, close-in feel. A sunken seating section with two large tables creates a more secluded nook for a group dinner or celebration.

The hospitality tends to be as much a part of the evening as the food. Servers are attentive and personable, checking in through the meal and offering useful recommendations on both dishes and drinks. That guidance helps with a menu where several orders can sound equally tempting.

The setting has worked well for anniversary dinners, family gatherings and celebratory meals across generations. It can be social and energetic, but the room's warm scale keeps the occasion from feeling like an event-space production.

Dinner and Sunday brunch are both served, and reservations are available for each. The restaurant's entrance is at the rear of the building, marked by the blue door and reached by stairs; the dining area itself is also downstairs.

There is a free parking lot, with free street parking and nearby alternatives sometimes filling the gap. The lot can be relatively limited, so parking conditions may vary.

Because the restaurant is intimate and the rear entrance requires stairs, visitors with mobility concerns may want to verify current access arrangements before making plans.