Southern Rail had really interesting décor. We sat at their Community Table that had an elaborate chandelier above. The ceilings were stained wood. Pretty laid back atmosphere. It was quite interesting that there is a book store next to it with a bar. I would say it was rustic/industrial style with a southern flair. The drink of the night was their Austin Mule. It was made with Tito's Vodka and Ginger beer topped with fresh lemon and lime. Their menu contained items designed to capture flavors of New Orleans with foods such as gumbo, fried green tomatoes and dirty rice balls. Everything tasted ok, but nothing that I was excited about. Then again, they did an excellent job with their beignets. Those were amazing. They had the right texture, with just the right amount of sweetness. I liked how the inside was kind of soft/doughy, with the outside remaining slightly crispy.
I would like to add that we had a horrible time trying to reconcile the bill. They do not separate checks (something they should have told us upfront) and the waitress had no idea how to explain it to us. We almost paid them $100 extra. Thanks to Kathryn for insisting that we get the bill explained by requesting management to come over and take care of it. We were all just going to pay extra. Going forward, I'll choose places that split checks or at least have a better system. That was exhausting and for those first timers, that is NOT how we normally role.