You don’t often think of San Francisco as a place to get great Southern cuisine. Kale? Yes. Fried chicken? No. Having spent many years below the Mason- Dixon line, I can confidently say the food at Front Porch rivals that of Savannah and New Orleans, and that is saying something.

The menu is packed with Southern favorites like fried pickles, fried okra with jalapeno aioli, and deviled eggs with jalapenos and bacon– and those are just the starters. I personally favor any restaurant that boasts two different starters with bacon.

The main courses are the “greatest hits” of Southern tradition, offering Dr. Pepper beef short ribs, shrimp and grits, and of course fried chicken. There is even a vegan option! (This proves that the restaurant isn’t actually in the South.)

And then: there is the bourbon.

Front Porch offers a great selection of wine, beer, and spirits, but you can tell its heart is really in the bourbon. Offering at least 5 different brands of bourbon at a time, they take great pride in their selection.

If you just want to pop in for a drink, go on a week night. The restaurant gets pretty crowded on the weekends, though they do save a couple tables for walk-ins. If you want to go on a weekend night or for brunch, make a reservation online.