Cuzinz The Southern Soul Bistro:
A Family-Owned Soul Food Table in Buford
Cuzinz The Southern Soul Bistro brings Uncle Harold's Fried Catfish, Soul Rolls stuffed with mac and cheese and collard greens, and slow-braised oxtail to Ridge Road in southern Buford, about fifteen minutes from Apalachee Farms. It is the newest featured restaurant in the neighborhood's dining guide.
Lisa Harris
CLHMS, 19 Years in the Community · October 12, 2026
Cuzinz The Southern Soul Bistro is the kind of place the phrase "hidden gem" was made for: a family-owned soul food kitchen on Ridge Road in southern Buford, about fifteen minutes from the Apalachee Farms gate, that opened in August 2025 and immediately became a neighborhood favorite. It comes from the team behind Soul Food of Buford, and the hospitality carries straight through: the room is warm and music-filled, the menu reads like a family cookbook, and every plate is made with the kind of care that tastes like Sunday dinner.
For Apalachee Farms residents, Cuzinz is proof of how rich the surrounding dining scene has become. Uncle Harold's crispy fried catfish, slow-braised oxtail, smothered turkey wings, and the famous Soul Rolls stuffed with mac and cheese and collard greens are all worth the short drive, and Friday night live music turns dinner into a proper night out.
Uncle Harold's fried catfish over creamy grits, a Cuzinz signature.
The Menu: Family Recipes, Slow-Cooked Soul Classics
Cuzinz's kitchen works in the Southern soul tradition: nothing rushed, everything seasoned, and generous plates built around slow-cooked classics and from-scratch sides. The signatures below are the dishes regulars talk about, and the ones that make the short drive from Apalachee Farms feel like a journey worth taking.
The Catfish Legend
Uncle Harold's Fried Catfish
Cornmeal-crusted catfish fried to a golden, crackling shell and served over creamy stone-ground grits. It is the plate named for family, and the one that keeps first-time visitors coming back.
The Slow-Cooked Showstopper
Oxtail Dinner
Oxtail braised low and slow until it falls off the bone, served with the Southern sides of your choosing. This is the order for anyone who measures a soul food kitchen by its patience.
The Famous Starter
Soul Rolls
Crispy egg rolls stuffed with mac and cheese and braised collard greens, served warm with a honey-butter dipping sauce. Cuzinz's most photographed plate, and the one every table should order to share.
The Family Recipe
Momma Essie's Smothered Pork Chop
A generous pork chop smothered in rich, savory gravy, the kind of center-of-the-plate comfort that defines the menu's family-cookbook soul.
The Wing Favorite
Smothered Turkey Wings
Turkey wings slow-cooked in a rich, ladle-worthy gravy. A soul food staple done right, and a favorite among regulars who want something hearty without the red meat.
The Full Table
Fried Shrimp, Grits, and Southern Sides
Golden fried shrimp, creamy grits, and the full run of from-scratch sides: mac and cheese, collard greens, candied yams, fried cabbage, and cornbread. Finish with Soul Punch or frozen organic lemonade.
Atmosphere & Vibe
Walk into Cuzinz and you land in a room that feels like a family gathering space more than a restaurant. Exposed brick and warm wood set the tone, framed family photographs and soul records decorate the walls, and the soundtrack of classic soul and R&B keeps the energy easy. Tables fill with families, groups of friends, and couples, and the staff greets newcomers like regulars.
The pace shifts with the week: weekdays are warm and relaxed, Friday nights bring live music, and Sunday brunch runs from noon to 3:00 PM on the same convivial energy. It is casual and unpretentious, with a polished edge that suits a date night just as well as a family dinner.
Best for: Family dinners, date nights, soul food loyalists, live-music evenings, and Apalachee Farms residents who want a table with real character within fifteen minutes of the gate.
What Makes It Special
A Menu That Tells Family Stories
Uncle Harold's catfish, Momma Essie's smothered pork chop, and the Soul Rolls all carry the names and recipes of family. Every plate has a story behind it.
Opened 2025, Beloved Immediately
Cuzinz opened in August 2025 from the team behind Soul Food of Buford, and southern Gwinnett embraced it from day one. It is the newest good idea in the neighborhood's dining scene.
Live Music and Soul Brunch
Fridays bring live music and Sundays bring a soul brunch from noon to 3:00 PM, so dinner here can easily become the whole evening out.
Details
3421 Ridge Rd, Suite A102, Buford, GA 30519
Southern Buford near Hamilton Mill · ~15 min from Apalachee Farms
Hours
Wednesday – Thursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (brunch 12 – 3)
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Price Range
$$ (Moderate) · hearty soul plates and dinners, with entrees roughly $15 to $35
Pro Tips
- Start with the Soul Rolls. Order them to share: they are the most talked-about plate on the menu, and the honey-butter sauce is the reason.
- Go on a Friday for music. Live music nights make dinner feel like a proper evening out, and they are the reason locals plan around Fridays.
- Come hungry, plan for leftovers. The oxtail dinner and catfish plates are generous, and they reheat beautifully.
- Book the Sunday brunch window. Brunch runs noon to 3:00 PM on Sundays, so call ahead for larger groups and weekend seatings.
While You're There
Ridge Road sits in the commercial heart of southern Buford, a short drive from the Hamilton Mill shopping center and an easy hop to Historic Downtown Braselton. A soul food dinner at Cuzinz pairs naturally with a stop at one of the area's breweries or a slow evening on the Braselton Town Green, and the drive back to Apalachee Farms is a short, easy run with none of Atlanta's traffic.
For anyone weighing a move to Apalachee Farms, a restaurant like Cuzinz is a reminder of how complete the surrounding lifestyle is: golf course living, strong schools, and genuinely character-filled tables within fifteen minutes of the gate.
Thinking about buying or selling in Apalachee Farms? Lisa Harris has 19 years of experience in the community and knows every section, every market trend, and every great local restaurant. From soul food in Buford to the best listing strategy for your home, she has the local knowledge you need.