At South, the Legacy of Black Excellence — and Jazz — Thrives

Located on North Broad Street and opened in 2016 by brothers Robert and Benjamin Bynum, the real magic of South Restaurant & Jazz Bar, though, awaits in an intimate jazz club around back where a black piano, upright bass, and small drum set of the house band set the stage four days a week. At The Jazz Club at South, I’m often rendered silent and am in awe of performers who command my attention for nearly two hours. Here, the classic American form of entertainment via dinner and a show still goes strong, with national jazz performers coming through its Philadelphia doors.

“Gospel is just blues musicians who go to church,” says the renowned jazz singer, Ekep Nkwelle, one night on stage before she belts into a moving rendition of “Mockingbird.” Her vocals stretch every word, lingering with emotion.

My husband and I have been to nearly every jazz venue in Philadelphia, but South is the only place that keeps us returning.

It’s our go-to place for celebrations both big and small, and whether on anniversaries and birthdays (which grant a personal shout out at the start of the show) or weekend date nights, it’s introduced us to world-traveling musicians, singers, and composers who easily transition from classic renditions and jazz standards to piano-heavy ballads or Latin jazz by greats like Jeff Lorber.

We bask in the lively atmosphere that starts with a roaring “Good evening” call-and-response from the show’s host and concludes with a post-performance standing ovation. Or when we spy local musicians hanging quietly in the back, just as captivated as us by the show.

South also fulfills our yearnings for unbeatable soul food. Our routine includes considering whether to go with our usual — the buttermilk fried chicken drizzled with hot-honey and biscuits for me and jambalaya for my husband — or if we should explore other dishes, like the mango-glazed salmon with broccolini and red rice, which is a new favorite. Neither of us will finish our plates, but that just means we’ll have delicious leftovers for the next day. We always cheers to the evening with a Sazerac and glass of McBride Sisters’ Black Girl Magic Riesling, one of our favorite Black-owned wine labels from California.

For us, South maintains thoughtful, quality attentive service from a tenured majority Black staff, which is all too rare in Philadelphia. The restaurant’s intentionality around Southern hospitality isn’t for show either. When entering its doors, the staff asks, “How are you?” with genuine care. It’s not uncommon for them and guests to engage in friendly conversation beyond small talk. Here, servers remember faces, previous orders, and seating preferences. And even though the dress code may be strict, or 70-plus other guests surround you, the ambiance still feels intimate, and cozy.

South’s owners, the founders of Bynum Hospitality Group — Robert and Benjamin Bynum — have built a reputation as nightlife leaders, running critically acclaimed music venues and restaurants since 1990, like Green Soul next door, Warmdaddy’s, and others. And they have deep roots in legacy building, especially within Philly’s own restaurant community.

Tonii Hicks, a private chef and culinary instructor at Community College of Philadelphia, credits her time as a prep and pastry cook at South as a pivotal experience. “[It’s] the first restaurant in Philadelphia where I had an entirely and unapologetically Black experience — from the ownership to the history, the music, the staff, and the consumers,” says Hicks. She watched both Robert and Ben work nightly in the restaurants themselves, which taught her the importance of leading by example.

Kurt Evans, the chef-owner of Black Dragon Takeout, was South’s sous chef in 2017. During his tenure, he launched a dinner series to raise money for aspiring young Black chefs, with part of the proceeds going to the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program. The Bynums readily supported Evans’ concept, providing their kitchen for menu testing and allowing him to source ingredients through South’s existing vendor accounts. Later, when Evans branched out on his own, they also regularly patronized his ventures, including Down North Pizza.

“They set a tone of excellence without ego … they are my Georges Perrier of Le Bec-Fin for Black culture,” says Evans. “I carry that same philosophy into my own businesses.”

Award-winning chef and artist, Omar Tate, and his wife, chef and co-founder, Cybille St. Aude-Tate, of Honeysuckle, cite the Bynums as long-time mentors. “We’re trying to build something as timeless as the Bynum restaurants,” says St. Aude-Tate. “That’s the inspiration and the motivation.”

“I believe in blessings and speaking things into existence. Now, we’re right across the street,” Tate tells me as he stands outside, facing South from his own restaurant.

Returning to South now has a deeper meaning. From chefs to musicians to waiters, everyone who has come through this space stands on the shoulders of giants because of the Bynums. And to me, no other restaurant better exemplifies the City of Brotherly Love quite like it.

South is open on Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Sunday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. for dinner and live jazz.

Alisha Miranda is a multimedia reporter and producer covering hospitality and culture. She is Philly’s 2025 Freelance Journalist of the Year, one of Visit Philadelphia’s top Hispanic Voices, and founder of #LatinxIndustryNight. Follow her at @alishainthebiz.