Silver linings
Pearl's popular Southern eatery presses pause with temporary closure
After dazzling guests with fried chicken and gulf seafood for seven years, Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery is ready for a refresh. Beginning August 22, the anchor Pearl restaurant is taking a brief hiatus, with plans to reopen in early October.
The revamp will be partially cosmetic. According to a release, the historic brewhouse space will be gussied up with new tile flooring, a fresh coat of paint, and colorful curtains. In addition, the back of house will receive tender loving care through some “behind the scenes” improvements.
Executive chef and partner Jeff Balfour is also using the opportunity to revamp the menu. While staying true to his signature contemporary approach, Balfour will draw inspiration from the comfort classics of his Texas Gulf Coast youth. Longtime fans can also expect a few throwbacks from Southerleigh’s early days.
Via the release, Balfour explains, “Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery is known for striking the balance between comfort and sophistication, and we are excited to bring the menu back to our roots with some new signature dishes alongside classics from our original opening menus.”
While construction crews will soon replace servers on the dining floor, both the waitstaff and kitchen team will still retain their employment status.
“We will continue to support our team by providing additional training during the closure in order to ensure the service is better than ever upon reopening,” says co-founder and operation officer Philippe Placé. “We look forward to welcoming guests back to Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery this fall.”
Although Southerleigh Hospitality Group has pressed pause on its anchor eatery, fans can still get their Southern food fix at Southerleigh Haute South in the Rim. The fast-casual sibling recently introduced several new menu items, including rotisserie porchetta, shrimp ceviche, redfish on the half shell, broiled oysters, and fried frog legs — perhaps giving a hint at what Southerleigh Fine Food will bring in the fall.
