Southern Diner

DJ'd here 3 nights a week for nearly 2 years ...miss the staff and some regulars. Hope to ge back soon. And dont forget to tip your bartender.

We tried out the new Southern Diner on 1st Ave last night, and it was an amazing experience. The diner occupies half of the building that used to be the Dragon Pearl. The interior is now bright and clean and inviting. The hostess/server, Andrea, was incredibly warm and friendly. Most importantly, the food was the best Southern cooking I have had on the west coast in the past 20 years.

We had fried green tomatoes, a brisket sandwich, catfish with mashed potatoes and fried okra and a thick slice of cornbread. The cornmeal crust on the tomatoes and catfish was perfectly cooked: evenly coated, crunchy and not too salty. The okra was made from fresh, cut thick and perfectly cooked in a light crispy batter. The mashed potatoes were simply the best I've ever been served in any restaurant, anywhere, and the white cream gravy was perfection. The brisket was tender and the sandwich itself was enormous. Even the cornbread was incredible, dense and sweet and practically melting in your mouth.

Southern Diner has only recently opened and has limited hours for now: 5 to 10 pm, Thursday through Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Although they're only open during dinner hours for now, they serve breakfast as well, and I can't wait to go back and try it!Curiously, when we arrived, the parking lot was almost full. We almost drove away, worried about dining in a crowded space, but decided to hop out and check to see if it felt safe or not. It turns out that the restaurant was empty, we were the first patrons of the evening. I'm so glad we decided to give it a try. Please, Burien, give this place a try...I don't want it to disappear!

Got Beef Ribs + Green beans and collard greens yesterday. Delicious! The biscuits and gravy were also great. Nice portions too!