Empirical Evidence
Dinner on a Bocce Court

Turns out, you live in the South.

And with that fact comes certain unalienable rights.

Like the right to promptly don your finest seersucker jacket, reach for the nearest bourbon-filled rocks glass and roll a few bocce balls under the shade of a dogwood tree.

And that’s just before dinner, of course...

Introducing Empire State South, a rustic and handsome new take on the classic Southern meat-and-three, soft-opening early next week in Midtown.

From now on, this is where you come to release your inner Southern gentleman, one mint julep and fried green tomato at a time. As you breach the entrance through the white-marbled lobby of a Midtown office tower, you’ll find yourself transported to a world of dark hardwoods, antique light fixtures and plush brown leather banquettes. Also, a giant bar.

Which is where you’ll sidle up next to a wanton belle or two and politely request the presence of a Southern 64 (gin, blueberry shrub, lemon and pickled blueberry) or the aforementioned Georgia Mint Julep. From there, you’ll decamp to the main dining room for some Grilled Georgia Quail (meat) with Pink Lady Succotash, Molasses Baked Black Eyed Peas and a rotating roster of baked-in-house breads (three).

And if all that succotash and rye whiskey wasn’t enough, we’d suggest casually strolling outside for a pickup bocce game in the courtyard.

Again, certain unalienable rights.