Blue South, a new daytime deli and nighttime restaurant, brings soul food with a North Carolina hometown vibe to Lansdowne.
Owned by chef Jacob Blue and managed by Louis Feliciano, the restaurant is set to open late this fall at 28 N. Lansdowne Ave.
“Since I was a small kid, I always wanted to own my own restaurant,” Blue told What Now Philadelphia. “I moved into this small community about nine years ago. This small community reminds me of where I grew up. I saw this empty space and just took the full opportunity.”
“Not only is this his big dream, but also the fact that he had to learn a lot of different things to get this restaurant on its feet–from laying down floors to putting up drywall to patching up holes–so when people come to this place, we want to not only give them a home but a truly welcoming feel,” Feliciano told What Now Philadelphia.
Blue South, whose tagline is “There’s no soul without blue,” will blend a modern bistro vibe with touches of Southern charm.
“We have a deli in the front of the house where we’re open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Afterward, we have a privacy curtain that will close out the deli where you won’t see it for dinnertime. It creates a hallway to the dining space with a stage for entertainment,” Blue said.
The Southern-inspired menu will feature dishes like oxtail smothered in gravy—one of Chef Blue’s favorites to share with the community—alongside collard greens and potato salad. Vegan and vegetarian options will also be available. While Blue South won’t serve alcohol, guests are welcome to bring their own under a BYOB model.
“I’m actually excited about serving the community and letting them know there’s other foods out there. My biggest thing is to keep that good old Southern food going. We’ll bring in some new school stuff, but still keep that Southern hospitality,” Blue said.
“It’s important to note that this has been truly a labor of love for him. It’s literally something we put our blood, sweat and tears into. Hopefully when we open the doors, people love it as much as we do,” Feliciano said.
While Blue South awaits inspections, stay updated on their grand opening by following them on Facebook and Instagram.
