Lunch at The Noble South

We spent last week in Spanish Fort, Alabama, visiting Mike’s dad.  Spanish Fort is on the “Eastern Shore” of Mobile Bay.  We’ve been coming down here for Thanksgiving for almost 15 years, but have rarely gone into Mobile.  We made occasional trips to take Dad to doctor appointments, but have never explored the city like we have other places.  After last week, that will change.  

On Tuesday we took Dad into Mobile to do some shopping.  Our errand consumed most of the morning and we decided to have lunch in Mobile.  Mary consulted Yelp and found Kitchen on George, a farm-to-table restaurant that is staffed by culinary students.  We drove there, letting Google maps direct us down city streets lined with impressive homes and live oak trees draped with Spanish moss.  When we arrived at the restaurant, we were disappointed to find it was closed.  A sign on the front door said they had ‘maintenance issues’. 

Mary handed me her phone, and said “It’s your turn to pick a place”.  The second restaurant on the Yelp list was The Noble South, at 203 Dauphin Street.  The reviews were overwhelmingly positive and the menu sounded interesting, so that’s where we went next.  This is when we got really lucky.

Dauphin Street would be a fun place to go in the evening.  Mardi Gras began in Mobile in 1703, fifteen years before New Orleans was founded, and  Dauphin Street looks like it could host a big outdoor party.  The lower end, where we went, is designated as a historic district, with some buildings dating back to the 1820’s.  There are lots of restaurants, bars, shops and clubs.  

The Noble South is located in a renovated historic building.  When you enter, you find a space that is immediately inviting.  A portion of the second floor has been removed, opening up the dining area and allowing light to spill in from windows at both levels on the front of the building. 

The brick walls are whitewashed, with rustic art pieces hung at intervals.  A third of the dining area is taken up with a long bar.  The remainder holds a mix of low and high tables.  The chairs and stools are metal – like old back yard furniture – and are painted a distressed peach color.  

The lunch menu was short, but had a nice variety of appetizers (“Snacks”), sandwiches, salads and plate lunches.  

One of the sides available was Brussels sprouts.  My friend Cory recently reintroduced the sprouts to me.  He’s a consultant who travels extensively and eats Brussels sprouts whenever he can find them – sometimes ignoring all other menu options and ordering double portions.  He can, and will, expound at length on the proper way to to cook them.  I asked our server how they were prepared at The Noble South.  Her answer:  flash fried and served with a honey balsamic vinaigrette, red onions and pecans.  I was sold.  

I ordered fried catfish, Brussels sprouts and cornbread.  Everything came out of the kitchen hot.  The catfish was crunchy on the outside, moist and delicious on the inside.  The Brussels sprouts were perfectly cooked, with both tart and sweet flavors.  Mary said they tasted like candy.  The big wedge of cornbread was firm and not overly sweet, like many are.

Dad and Mary got burgers made of Wagyu beef.  Both said they were good, if slightly overcooked.  Mary said she always orders her burger medium rare, knowing it will come out medium.  Dad also had macaroni and cheese.  It looked ordinary, but he said it had a nice bit of heat.  

Along with the food, we enjoyed a crisp Sauvignon Blanc.  (Hey, we were on vacation!)

The service was friendly, but a bit slow.  We did not let that minor complaint diminish our enjoyment of the meal. 

We now have a new “go to” restaurant in Mobile, along with a healthy curiosity about what else is in the neighborhood.  We’ll explore more of downtown Mobile the next time we visit.

The Noble South
203 Dauphin Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602
(251) 690-6824
thenoblesouthrestaurant.com