The Corbett family opened Southern Breakfast Café at 2101 Market St. over Labor Day weekend. The location was previously home to Port City Cheesesteak Company, also owned by the Corbetts. The family still operates two Port City Cheesesteak Company locations at 204 Princess St. and 812 S. College Road, but felt that this area of Market Street would be better served by a breakfast and lunch café.
 
In June, the family sold another of its restaurants, Bourbon St. at 35 N. Front St., to family friend Mauricio Echeverri. Kevin Corbett Jr. said that when Echeverri expressed interest in buying the restaurant, the family decided to sell and shift their focus to the Southern Breakfast Café.
 
With some minor renovations, co-owners Kevin Corbett Sr. and son, Kevin Corbett Jr., transformed the dining space into a warm and casual café with exposed brick and pallet walls and a number of high-top tables.
 
The café offers New Orleans-inspired breakfast dishes such as beignets and Cajun benedicts, as well as classic Southern dishes, such as chicken and waffles, country fried steak with eggs and fried catfish with eggs. Pancakes, French toast and omelets are also available, as well as burgers and sandwiches.
 
Corbett Jr. said that daily specials will be offered, and those that are popular may become mainstays on the menu. The family is also interested in feedback from their customers, many of whom have already made suggestions for additions to the menu.
 
“The surrounding community has been extremely welcoming and supportive,” Kevin Corbett Jr. said. “We want to keep improving and keep people happy; that’s why we’re here.”
 
Corbett Jr. said his father, Kevin Sr., grew up in the restaurant business in New Orleans and is his mentor. He credits his father with teaching him the ins and outs of the business – something Kevin Sr. experienced first-hand when he lost a restaurant as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
 
“My father has been through pretty much everything that someone in the restaurant business can go through,” Kevin Corbett Jr. said.  “And all of those experiences have made him a great teacher.”
 
Southern Breakfast Café is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the full menu available all day. Corbett Jr. said the family is exploring the idea of opening on Friday and Saturday nights to serve a late-night menu, but that has yet to be decided upon.

Update: This version includes a clarification of the family members involved.
 
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