Southern charm has arrived in Sacramento, with the newest addition to downtown eateries: Table 260.

Nestled in a prime location on the corner of Ninth and J streets and below the J Street Lofts, chef and owner Ray Smith hopes to draw in “young, hip urbanites.” Opened less than a month ago, the downtown location is a few notches above the family-oriented Elk Grove Table 260, with Smith adding a bar and giving the menu a Southern twist.

From the second you step in the doors, you are taken away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The rich mahogany booths and bar, along with jazz and house music come together to create an almost seductive atmosphere, reminiscent of the 1940s. However, the modern design accents add a funky touch and quickly bring you back to the present.

Don’t be fooled by Table 260’s swanky interior, the menu items are comfort food at its best and leave you needing more than a few napkins. Table 260 features an impressive array of southern-style cuisine that is rarely found in Sacramento, such as chicken and waffles and catfish.

After 25 years in the restaurant business all over the map, Smith said, “I decided if I’m going to spend that long in restaurants I might as well have my own.”

Smith has an impressive resume, starting in Philadelphia as a cook, stopping off at a steak house in Hawaii for 10 years, and ending up in Sacramento with his very own restaurant. As the head chef at the downtown location, Smith puts his expertise and personal touch into the mouth-watering dishes that come out of the kitchen.

You can even watch while he does his thing, with several of the booths having a front-row seat to the open kitchen.

His well-chosen wait staff all share Smith’s welcoming attitude and his laid-back demeanor. They are eager to help you enjoy your meal

Smith said the most popular menu items are his backyard-style ribs and soft shell crab po boy. Other entrees such as jambalaya, overflowing shrimp, grits and catfish will leave you with a full (and satisfied) belly and possibly even a little bit of sweat thanks to the dish’s spicy goodness. Or, if you’re not a big fan of too much zing, the BBQ pulled pork sandwich is guaranteed to drench your mouth in juicy goodness.

If you’re feeling extra extravagant, you can’t go wrong with the Sweet and Tender Alaskan crab legs or the roasted garlic crab.

To whet your palate in between bites of your main course, Smith has concocted a tasty menu of specialty drinks for the 21 and older crowd. Choose from refreshing cocktails such as “the greens” (Midori sour, mint and Bacardi 151) or “the blues” (Blue Curacao and Stoli vodka).

Some of the bartenders are still getting the recipes down, but are beyond generous with the rum – it’s likely that most diners won’t complain about this minor kink.

While prices might be a little bit out of the typical college student’s strapped budget (items range from around $10 and up to $25), splurging is well worth it. Table 260 is a great location for a birthday, anniversary or outing with someone special.

Upcoming events at the restaurant include a “Grub Crawl” and “Gospel Brunch,” with dates to be determined.

Visit www.table260.com for more information.

Casey Kirk can be reached at [email protected].