Chloe Wright, Executive Editor
The rustic white building on 36 Ball Park Road has seen plenty of changes in Sewanee history; restaurants have come and go, such as IvyWild, the Italian pizza grill OctoPi, and the French bistro Lumière, the brainchild of the passionate late restaurateur David Boyd Williams. Now, it is two-time James Beard Award nominee Chef Julia Sullivan’s time to bring Sewanee an elevated experience for all to enjoy.
Enter Judith, a tavern with high-end fare and a relaxed atmosphere named after the first woman to matriculate from The University of the South. Judith’s website declares that the restaurant aims to cater to “students, faculty, tourists, and the Sewanee community alike.” In my recent visit, Judith’s attentive service, seasonal menu, and warm atmosphere lived up to that goal. My experience was not unique; since its December 2024 opening, the restaurant has gotten rave reviews by the likes of the Chattanooga Times and the Nashville Scene, which called Judith “worth the drive.”
As a Sewanee sophomore, I was thrilled to hear last fall about a new restaurant coming to campus. However, like other students, I wondered how affordable it would be; at first glance, a high-end restaurant on campus might be intimidating instead of attractive to many of us. Recognizing this potential hurdle, Sullivan told The Purple before the opening of Judith about her intention to include affordable offerings “by making a nice, ample menu of snacks and shared items that can be enjoyed if you’re not planning to have a sit-down, three-course dinner.”
During my first visit, I saw this price spectrum in the diverse selection of dishes available. For my starters, I chose the trout rillette served with roe, chives, and saltines. The blend of flavors complimented the rest of my meal; the shredded trout, colorful pop of the roe, and the crunch of salted crackers made me more excited to see what was next.
For my entrée, I decided on the whole trout served in a beurre blanc sauce and green onions. Its texture was incredibly soft, my waiter even telling me how the fork can glide into the trout, and the sweetness from the onions made the flavor profile even more pleasant. My chosen side dish, the sweet potatoes with a mole base and pepitas, surprised me the most. I adored the lightly fried sweet potatoes accompanied by the mildly sweet, complex base. I brought half of my portion to my dorm as a late night snack.
There is a caveat for students: drink prices might make anyone on a student budget do a double take. The bar’s beverage menu provided plenty of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options to pair with meals, and I chose the Leitz non-alcoholic rosé. The bright and tart drink came in a glass of approximately four ounces for $16, or $75 for a full bottle. What is important to note is that, according to Sommelier Business, markups for non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages are quite common in high-end restaurants, ranging from 200-300%. While the price may seem steep, I found the rosé worth the splurge.
For my second visit, I sat closer to the front of the restaurant near the bar , and ordered less expensive tavern fare. To start , I tried the homemade sourdough with chili oil, which brought the feeling of a warm, hearty meal on a cold, winter’s day. A side dish of fries with garlic aioli made me want a second order. The smashburger came with a potato bun and spicy mustard that isn’t my favorite but could be ideal tavern food for other students. I ended the evening with Judith’s soft-serve ice cream, chocolate pie and a $47 tab. My more expensive dinner with a friend ran us about $180 for two with taxes and tip.
During both visits, the hostesses, waiters, and waitresses consistently treated me with warmth and respect.. Even when I spoke with Sullivan about my reservation and received special attention from the chef on my first visit, my experience was no different during my second, more anonymous meal. My water glass was frequently refilled, the crumbs after a course would be swiped away, and I would receive an adorable postcard from Judith as a souvenir. All the people working at Judith were eager and polite when asked questions about the menus, and they raved about the soft-serve. Speaking of which, let’s talk about dessert.
Judith provides a rotation of pies alongside their soft-serve vanilla ice cream, which contrasts the norm of sweet, almost artificial ice cream one might get at a chain restaurant. Its deep vanilla flavor is paired with a consistent note of caramelized saltiness, creating a unique combination of flavors that compelled me to finish off my friend’s bowl. For my visits, the restaurant offered a chocolate cream pie with a slightly burnt swiss meringue frosting and pastry crust. By far, it is the best dessert I have ever had at Sewanee. At the very least. I urge anyone reading this to try the pie.
The menu options, while costing a wide variety of prices, do give leeway for those wanting a family dinner on your mother’s credit card or a fun date night where budgeting may be the best option for you. From my experience, it admittedly skews toward the family dinner experience since a majority of the options are on the pricier end (not to mention my point on the drinks). Sullivan’s task to accommodate various budgets is a success.
Judith is open from Thursday to Sunday for dinner. You can reserve a table or a spot at the bar through their website and catch up with their seasonal menus at @judith.tavern on Instagram.