Soule To Soule

★★★★☆ 3.8 (16)

"This soul food restaurant was absolutely fabulous! Everything that we ordered was amazingly delicious. It was one server and he did amazing with all the tables and he was very professional and kind. I loved the ambiance of the restaurant. The art decor was really nice and it was really comfortable and inviting. I definitely recommend this restaurant and I will definitely return."

Soul Veg City

★★★★☆ 4 (491) • $$

"It has been almost 20 years since I last been to this location. It was great to see the recently totally revamped restaurant has not lost is ablitz it served great food.You can order off the hot bar. you pay by the weight. So you can get as much or as little of items on the bar as you wish. You can also order items to be prepared of the menu.Carrot cake: 3.5/5 moist and fresh but the icing was too sweet for meMacaroni and cheese: 5/5 no explanation neededCabbage: 4.5/5 crispy seasonedUnchicken patties: 4.5/Blackeyed peas: 3/5 no seasonings and kind of wateryOverall 4.5/5.0 Check them out"

Jordyn's Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (111)

"This restaurant lands in my Top 10 in Chicago. I have a few friends who were visiting Chicago and wanted the locals experience. Jordyn's Soul Cafe was one of the restaurants I had on the list for outings and there was no disappointment at all.The cocktails that we ordered were of the "if I were to mix this at home" variety. They were not heavy-handed with alcohol and they weren't watered down. Goldilocks would have approved.We started with fried green tomatoes, fried okra, and deviled eggs. Whatever dipping sauce came with the tomatoes was a very good option. We also used it for dipping the fried okra. With all of us being from the South, we totally approved of the deviled eggs.As to the entrees, here is where it became obvious that the chef does not play. Plates that came to the table were lamb chops with macaroni and cheese and broccolini; salmon with sweet potatoes and string beans with potatoes; chicken lasagna; and catfish with spaghetti and greens. Yes, it took awhile for the entrees to come to the table, but that was assurance that nothing was microwaved and rushed to us immediately after our orders were taken.When we arrived, the hostess informed us that the kitchen was behind and that there was going to be a wait before we were seated. I appreciate that kind of up-front acknowledgement, which meant that we adjusted our expectations accordingly. Nevertheless, Jordyn's exceeded our expectations once we sat and got started."

BJ's Market & Bakery

★★☆☆☆ 2 (22)

"This the second time I at BJ market it is not the same everytime. The bbq is very tasty. The food is good. Glad they survived the pandemic."

Oooh Wee It Is

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (309) • $$

"Went to the 83rd street location on a Saturday at 1pm with a party of 6. We were sat immediately. We ordered dessert for an appetizer, which I recommend. If we hadn't, we would have been too full to try it, and it was worth it. The peach cobbler was hot, and the caramel cake was cold. Both were delicious. I had the pot roast with green beans and creole corn. The pot roast and corn were delicious. The green beans were the best I've ever had. I was surprised by how much I liked them. The meal came with corn bread which tasted a bit like cake. So so good. The portions were plenty, so come hungry. I tasted the Mac and cheese. Hands down the best Mac and cheese I have had at any restaurant. I also tried the Obama sweet tea. It tasted more like fruit punch, and I will order that for myself next time. The service was great. The atmosphere was very nice and comfortable. The bathrooms were clean and private. Will definitely be back. *no pictures of the desserts because we ate them too quickly."

Ssyal

★★★★☆ 4.3 (319) • $$

"5 stars all across the board! Didn't even matter that service was kind of slow because the food was as authentic as authentic Korean gets !Being a last minute decision driving by, we saw a couple people walking out and decided to try it since I had heard all good things. It was wonderful!The best rice cakes we have found in a while. Their bimbop hot stone pot was delicious with extra crunchy rice at the bottom. Flavors were on 10 and enjoyed every single delicious bite !"

Jordyn's Soul Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (27)

"I came here for carryout on a Friday. It seemed a little pricey for soul food, and I was not sharing, so I got two appetizers, the fried green tomatoes and shrimp tacos. I was not eating red meat or pork at the time, I'll try those when I have company.I placed the order with the friendly hostess. She told me half an hour but I got a text much sooner. The fried green tomatoes (after I heated them in the oven, not the microwave) were crisp, well breaded, and not too salty. The tacos (coming in a set of 3) ate more like a fajita, as it had shrimp, cheese, sauce, and small tortilla wrap bread; tacos usually have those things as well, but also lettuce or tomatoes, and a hard-like shell. I know it's not supposed to be authentic Mexican, it's just a 'soul taco' and it was so good I almost hate to quibble! I want to try the egg rolls next time (another interesting take on fusion ethnic food). I hope they get a liquor license, or at least waive the corkage fee, when I go back to dine in."

Soul & Smoke

★★★★☆ 3.8 (56) • $$

"Great atmosphere and lovely setting and seating. Food is a bit salty and pricey but the Mac and cheese, cornbread, and collards were tasty. Staff were nice. You can sit in a quiet space over looking the water and marina and then also get a beer at the next door brewery or Metropolitan Taproom. Or you can go to the distillery called Judson & Moore next door. Dogs are allowed on leashes here and there a lot of space. Also free parking both for the stores area and in the street. Enjoy!"

Bettie Lou's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (67)

"When a friend had told me that this restaurant was recommended on her high school page on Facebook, I was game for trying it out. We met on a Saturday afternoon and I understand the recommendation.We had salmon croquettes with scrambled eggs and brown rice. The salmon croquettes put me in mind of Southern breakfasts. The brown rice had been seasoned such that it didn't need gravy.The turkey chops beat any pork chops I've had. Add to that the sides of cabbage and cheese grits and this was all a hit.We finished with perch, collard greens, yams, and johnny cake. The perch was fried in a seasoned flour batter. The greens were the first vegan greens I've tasted that actually had flavor. Lived the yams.My friend and I tasted the peach cobbler. She hot it for takeaway. The only thing missing was a scoop of ice cream. The cobbler was outstanding.Everything is cooked to order so food coming to the table was slow. That didn't matter because food prepared to order means it's not warmed up or microwaved. You get the good stuff. For there to be a focus on vegetarian and vegan options, I appreciate the food having taste to it. And you can't beat the service. I'm a fan."

Soul Prime Chicago

★★★★☆ 4.1 (80)

"I had dinner with a friend after work here! We sat at a table facing a mirror. The interior is cool! Low lighting with the upscale feel. Entrees were huge satisfying portions. My steak frites could've been enough for two people. The meat tasted really good when it was hot but then tasted alright once it cooled down. The tacos were really good & saucy, but a bit salty."

Daley’s Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (310) • $$

"First time here the food was plenty I order pancakes,egg whites, grits and steak with was delicious I'm typically not a a steak person but sense it was a special occasion with my Husband Why not' he recommended we go to this restaurant to my surprise the food was great we will return"

The New Look Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (57)

"Great service, good food. It's kinda hard to find, pretty dim inside. Wasn't too much going on. Try the pan seared lemon and dill catfish!!!"

Truffle Chicago

★★☆☆☆ 2 (6)

"I love Black-owned businessesMy sister and I just finished church and were looking for a place to get something to eat. This new restaurant called Truffle was suggested, and it just so happened to be in the area I used to live in, so I was excited to try it out. The location is a nice size, almost Café style. The interior is sleek black with tables for two, but it can easily be put together if you have a larger group. They have a small bar, and the restroom is clean. They had one staff who was very accommodating and knowledgeable about the menu. The prices were decent, not too expensive.My sister got the salmon sliders, which she enjoyed. I got the chicken and French toast with a side of breakfast potatoes and eggs, which were good. The waiter asked me if I wanted strawberries on my French toast, which I was happy to accept; I would note that it was strawberry jam and not strawberries. Another interesting note was that they did not have ketchup or coffee, but they did have orange juice, hot sauce, and ranch. If ever in the future, I would suggest they add coffee to their menu. It is a trendy item, as is ketchup. All the food was seasoned very well, and I even met the chef. It was a very nice first experience. I would try out Truffle again, and I genuinely hope this business does well. Try Truffle if you're in the area and would like something different in Pilsen.On the first experience, solid 3 1/2 out of 5"

Medley Grill & BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.8 (45)

"I tried it and it was tasty. I'm impressed the owner put together a special for his loyal customers. I was able to taste various entries for a good price. I was able to purchase a value meal to introduce my colleague to Medleys. They were impressed too. They will want to introduce their friends to the flavorful meal."

Soulé

★★★★☆ 3.7 (567) • $$

"Was treated to a Fathers Day dinner by my kids and wife. Wow I am so happy they picked this place.The food was amazing...mostly. The jerk wings were a killer. You only get 4 whole wings but they are tender, full of flavor. The garlic shrimp appetizer is another outstanding appetizer. So much creamy and garlic flavor with bread to soak up the amazing sauce. Mostly cocktails and spirits. No wine . Cocktails were really well done. Not shiny with the good stuff.The entrees were also outstanding. The honey fried chicken was among the top 3 fried chickens I've eaten. Perfectly cooked and moist and tender meat. crispy skin and lightly battered. OMG. I had the dirty rice and way overcooked asparagus. Couldn't eat the asparagus. others had the catfish that looked fabulous and shrimp. They both got good reviews. The mac n cheese were average. They were out of the fried green tomatoes. The food overall was 4.5 stars. Definitely would return for the food.The service was needy. The front of the room needs training on how to attend to guest. No one panned the room when they came in. We had to actually go up to the host to ask him to send our server over. They were pleasant but needed training. Also the music was so loud we had to shout to talk. We asked them to turn it down and they didn't. So maybe 3 stars for the front end."

Oooh We It Is

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (22)

"Good southern food at a reasonable price. Stopped in this location one day after work and was surprised to see the sitting areas is basically self service. There are no waiters to serve you. Here's the deal, you place your order when you walk in and then you wait. We secured a table to dine in, picked up our food when our name was called and we dined in. The portion size was good, the taste is superb so I will return but probably wouldn't dine in."

Shake A Leg

★★★★★ 4.5 (6)

"Service is great the staff is very polite confident and professional The food is amazing!! It's a dine in restaurant suitable for family and friends.. Shake A Leg also has a bar with big screen tv's ... I personally recommend the jerk chicken rolls jerk chicken tacos #9 punch Chicken wingwhite cheddar macaroni Sweet potatoes and the greens these are definitely my favorites."

Jerk & Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.9 (39)

"This place just opened and in the time of COVID, that is a wonderful thing. Their menu is not huge but what they do is done very well. The jerk sauce has a great flavor and a nice heat - if you're tastebuds are Midwest accustomed, it'll be hot; if you're from Albuquerque, it'll only be a bit piquant. The Mac and cheese is quite good, though a little saucier would be better for me. The staff is super nice. Prices are reasonable - two specials, 3 extra sides and both breads was $26. Larger mains run $12-14 or so. I'm super happy this place has opened here. We need it! I'll be back for sure."

The Budlong - Urbanspace

★★★☆☆ 3 (14)

"Still one of my favorite chicken sandwiches everywhere - the crunch, spice level, pickles and slaw work so well together on that monster of a sandwich. So good. Also the mac and cheese and the biscuit with pepper butter are amazing."

Chef Daddy's

★★★★☆ 3.6 (100) • $

"The family and I love the friendly loving faces of chef daddy's always warm & welcoming environment The Food is excellent!!!! We have tried everything on the menu!l definitely give it a 10 out of 10 would recommend!!"

Morrison's Soul Food By Sheila Morrison

★★★☆☆ 2.7 (32)

"Food is great. Portions are huge for the sides. Service is slower due to training. Drinks and Cakes made in house with exotic flavors. Peach Cobbler was a smaller portion. Actually, all the desserts are not huge like the sides. See pictures for receipt, interior, design, and food ordered/received."

Dirty Tiff's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (105)

"Let's talk about this Bronzeville gem!A husband-and-wife Black owned business that combines Jamaican and Southern cuisines, this place serves up the food from your childhood. What it lacks in decor and seating (maybe enough room for 10-12 people), it makes up for in Tiffany's genuine demeanor and delicious menu offerings, including turkey chops! As soneone who doesn't eat pork, this alternative is hard to find, and Dirty Tiff's does it perfectly: cooked without being too dry, covered in gravy, and great portions."

Fork Fantasy

★★★★★ 4.5 (8)

"For years, I had passed by the Holiday Inn Express near the main downtown post office and thought nothing of any restaurant being in that location. Only recently did I think of any kind of eatery there after a friend had mentioned Fork Fantasy.I stopped in one Saturday just as they opened. There was just the bartender who was working the front of the house. She informed me that I could sit wherever I pleased and followed me to my seat with a menu. Since I was meeting a friend there, I had a whiskey sour while I waited. I found out that the bartender made the sour using lemon and simple syrup. I kept wondering why the cocktail tasted way better than any sour that I had drunk before.For our meal, we started with the soul muffins. These were miniature cornbread dressing muffins topped with turkey, greens, cranberry sauce, and gravy. This was nothing short of Thanksgiving on a platter. One thing I will note about this dish is that it could have been hot coming to the table. The other appetizer was the skewered bourbon chicken. Served over yellow and green bell pepper slices with purple onions, the colors screamed Mardi Gras, and the flavor screamed, "Eat me!" We wiped both plates clean.The entrees were truth serum. My friend had ordered the Cajun salmon with greens and string beans. She was silently into the dish until there was mention of possibly trying dessert. The silence was all I needed to know that she was enjoying all of what she ordered. As to me, the mustard fried catfish with greens and Cajun rice was a dish I would have devoured in one setting, but I had to set some aside for later so that I wouldn't have regrets about eating everything like it was my last supper.The finale was peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. This was a real peach cobbler. There was no attempt with biscuits. There was no compote from a can. There was proper juice, homemade crust, and peaches that did not taste like they had been drowned in sugar. The bowl was not so large that there was a struggle to finish it all either. It was just blooming delicious.The food was outstanding. The service was top, and this may very well be because the restaurant was not crowded. It was certainly an enjoyable experience for my friend and me. I definitely have to get back at some point in the near future. Their good cooking deserves and encore."

The Soul Food Lounge 2

★★★★★ 4.5 (127)

"Having experienced the Grand Tasting menu during Restaurant Week 2024, I decided I wanted to check out the Southside location. The menus and offerings here are different from the Westside location: at this location you get a complimentary glass of wine/bubbles or dessert with your meal. There is still the 18% gratuity added on to the bill and the $20 corkage fee for BYOB, which can only be wine or champagne.You definitely need to make a reservation as there is no space for walk-ins. This space actually looks smaller than the Westside location. The decor is mostly black, which is my favorite color. There was a violin player performing during our meal (lovely) and the staff was lovely and attentive, checking in on us.For dinner, I ordered the following: Argentinian Chimichurri Pot Roast ( herb crusted potatoes , winter vegetable medley), Bayou Blackened Shrimp Tamales (creole cream sauce, cilantro, scallions) and the New Orleans Gumbo Yakamein (Cajun fried perch, seafood savory gravy).The Argentinian Chimichurri Pot Roast and New Orleans Gumbo Yakamein were life giving. For the Grand Tasting, you get to choose three entrees, which are of a smaller size than the main entrees. Honestly if the portions were any bigger, it would be too much food. As it was, I ended up taking the gumbo home and having it the next day (highly recommend doing that).The chimichurri sauce and the flavoring of the pot roast was very complimentary. When reading the description on the menu, I wasn't totally feeling the idea of the winter veggie medley, but SFL proved me wrong. The veggies were a nice addition to the meat...no veggie was left behind.Bayou Blackened Shrimp Tamale was a disappointment for me. It is not something I would ever order again. I am not sure what the flavor palette was supposed to be, but it seemed to be lacking in flavor all together. The other issue I had with this dish was that the tamale itself was a strange texture, not like the traditional mesa dough. I am not sure what the dough was, but it didn't work for me.The New Orleans Gumbo Yakamein was so unexpected and so good! I mean the blending of gumbo with a Yakamein style soup blew my mind! Honestly I can't comment on the flavors of the dish on the day it was served. For me, eating something the next day just taste better because it seems like the flavors have time to settle. Man I had that dish the next day and it was amazing. The soft boiled egg and the fried perch held up well. I ended up cutting up the fish to add to the dish. I also cheated and added some leftover lime cilantro rice I had to it...that dish gave me chills. I finished off the meal with the grilled pound cake with ice cream, which is also at the Westside location. I love this a lot because it is not overly sweet.As Gino A wrote in his review, I wish they would take a little more time in spacing out the dishes. I went to this location with fellow Yelper Latrice A, so we were sitting at a two top table, which was not that big. I agree, the dishes are very good and should not be rushed to make room for the next dish.Despite the misstep with the tamale, SFL 2 was a wonderful experience and I will be taking The Doctor and Queen there for dinner."

Brown's & Family BBQ & Soul

★★★★☆ 3.7 (18)

"Driving through the area, stopped by for lunch. I ordered a small catfish with fries. Catfish was simply delicious! It was 2 catfish filets cooked to perfection. Perfect combination of flaky & crunch. My fries just as ordered, salt & pepper with mild sauce. Excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was friendly & prompt. The steady flow of customers shows Browns Family BBQ & Soul is on the right track!"

Pearl's Place

★★★★☆ 3.5 (591) • $$

The Soul Food Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (282) • $$$

"Let me start off by saying Yelp needs to come up with half stars for reviews. There are times that a place almost gets it completely right on all fronts, then there are times where a small thing happens that does no allow you to take a review up to five stars. This is The Soul Food Lounge and with half stars, this would have been a 4.5 rating.The Soul Food Lounge was one of the places I selected for Restaurant Week 2024. I had seen the menu and had very high hopes for this place as the menu was quite eclectic and tantalizing to look at. The selection of entrees and the range of flavors is all over the place, but in a good way.The restaurant is located in a condo building on the first floor on the West side. There was plenty of street parking as we parked across the street from the restaurant. I was actually surprised at how quiet the street was as I always thought of 16th as a main thoroughfare to the east going downtown.The space is very small, so reservations are not an option, they are a must. You can do them through Yelp. We were fortunate when we walked in for our table as we had to wait about 5-7 min while they cleaned the table. The décor is cute and is lively, but again very small. I would definitely recommend doing 3-4 so you get a larger table to accommodate all of your dishes if you chose to do the Grand Tasting (three (3) entrees & a beverage).To maximize our experience, The Doctor, The Queen and myself all did the Restaurant Week menu, allowing us to get nine different dishes so we could all taste everything:Italian Flame Broiled Lobster Alfredo with shrimp, garlic puree potatoes, asparagus tips. This is the dish that is going to make me go back for real real. I didn't look at the menu too closely and thought this was going to be pasta but it was potatoes and I swear I swooned when I had a bit. But I am bias cause I love mashed taters and lobster.South African Peri Peri Chicken: field greens, broasted broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet herb pepper sauce. The Queen got this. She loved it but it was too spicy for me, so it is not a dish I would get, but if you like sweet and hot, do it.Creole Seafood Dressing: butter crème crab, catfish, lobster, shrimp, sautéed collards, fufu yams. The greens were soooo good.Louisiana Blackened Salmon with shrimp scampi, low country pilaf, & creamed spinach. I am not a fish person, but I could get this for myself. The fish wasn't overly blackened and the rice was nice.Fire Maple Glazed Fried Chicken: grilled pound cake, crispy herb potatoes. The chicken was fried to perfection and the grilled pound cake was a nice touch. Honestly this dish would have been almost perfect if it had not had the sweet syrup on it. It was a little too sweet for...maybe a light drizzle would have been better.Sweet Sriracha Southern Fried Steak: Asian assorted vegetables, basil rice. No idea what was thinking getting this. Again my brain was on vacation because all I saw was the fried steak and missed the sriracha and you know I don't do hot. But maybe the sweetness cut some of the heat because it was delightful.Mississippi Salmon Cake: creamy Maque Choux, garlic rice. Again not a fish person, but this was pretty good too. The cake was a very nice size. The Maque Choux was nicely seasoned and was indeed creamy. With two cakes, I could see this as a main entree. Marsala Braised Pot Roast: crispy herb vegetable medley, Thai honey brussels. Ok the pot roast was tender and delish, but those Thai honey brussel sprouts were to die for! I love flashed fried sprouts but that sauce was a different touch and added a nice balance to the savory flavor of the pot roast.Korean Glazed Short Ribs: garlic mash potatoes, sautéed broccolini. I am a sucker for short ribs and this was no different. The meat didn't really need a knife and the potatoes were a nice complement to the meat.For dessert there was pound cake and ice cream and chocolate cake and ice cream. Both were good but the pound cake was better for me as it was not to sweet. There is no alcohol served but they do serve different lemonades and teas, which were quite refreshing. You can bring in two bottles only for a fee of $20 each for corkage fee. There was live music, a saxophonist, who was quite nice. I really enjoyed his set and the staff were all very nice and friendly.The only thing that put a blemish on the evening was the fact that The Queen's food did not come out with ours. She had to wait about 10-15 min before everything came out while ours was out right away. Fortunately we had six entress on the table, so she was able to eat with us. There really wasn't an explanation for the delay initially, like the dishes requiring additional time to prep or something.Other than that issue, this was a good dining experience and we will definitely be back or I will....need that lobster alfredo and those taters!"

Skidoe's Cafe and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (33)

"Batter done right - fried okra was amazing! My friend devoured his wings as well. My vegetarian burrito was delicious and filling. She was able to swap out a few things for me as well. So friendly! I ended up ordering a steak to go. Everything from sauces to side dishes are done with care.Prices are great and the service was exceptional. I see lots of people ordering take out since they are on uber eats and a few more delivery apps. Can't wait to come back and try their breakfast offerings!"

Zoe’s Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.6 (5)

"Everything we have had has been delicious! The fish tacos are a must, the blackened salmon is bomb, the blackened catfish was good, the macaroni, and the garlic mashed potatoes were all good. I recommend these items."

D.A.'s Corned Beef Stand

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (17)

"Today was my first visit to D.A.'s. I had heard it was good and have been wanting to try it. I ordered the Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner with Green Beans. Everything was DELICIOUS! All of it was seasoned perfectly and incredibly tender. Service was quick through the drive through. It was a bit pricey, although everything is pricey today. I will definitely be back again!"

Uncle Remus SFC - Central & Madison

★★★★☆ 3.5 (136) • $

"You can't go wrong with Uncle Remus! Consistent product over the decades. Good taste and value. I live in the suburbs, but whenever I am in the area, I make sure to order a wing dinner to take home!"

Leon's BBQ & Grill

★★☆☆☆ 2.2 (97)

"I harkened back to the 1980's at Leon's on the corner of 83rd & Cottage Grove and French fries smothered in "Leon Sauce" so when my wife said "barbecue for Mother's Day" I immediately jumped on-line and ordered a slab, tip-link combo and large fries with extra sauce. This location off 63rd & Stony Island may be "new" but this food is consistently DELICIOUS. I have no idea what the relationship is to the other two "Leon's" locations that claim to be the "original," but this location was started by my dear friend Dr. Leon Finney, Jr., and this food is authentic and amazing!"

Kathryn's Soul

★★★★☆ 4.4 (23)

"Was in immediate West Loop and on the hunt for something good to eat. Kathryn's Soul in the French Market was nearby, so that was my landing spot.Stuffed salmon that had spinach and an alfredo sauce. Delicious. Had sides of broccoli and sweet corn. If broccoli had been seasoned for me as a child the way it was seasoned at Kathryn's, I would have gladly eaten it in my youth. The sweet corn reminded me if canned corn. Not bad, but you can tell texture from corn off the cob. I also had shrimp scampi that had a fair share of plump shrimp in it. I crumbled my honey cornbread in the remaining scampi sauce.Seating in the French Market is at a premium. Be aware of that in case finding a table to sit seems taxing. The price point may be more than most might expect at a food court. Nevertheless, the food was worth it."

Chicago Food on the Run

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (39)

"I recently came up with a "I Can't Stop Talking About How Good They Are" list. Food On The Run is now on the list. In my usual fashion, I arrived at the restaurant just as they were opening. Ordered lemon pepper salmon with sides of collards, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese.I have gone to enough Northern soul food restaurants to not have high expectations. Food On the Run blew my mind. The salmon was tasty and juicy without being undercooked. The collards actually had flavor; Lord knows that a lot of restaurants get that wrong. The macaroni and cheese was of the variety that you bring to family dinner with bragging rights. And the candied yams only needed crust. For takeaway, I had a slice of sweet potato pie that was real deal goody-goody.Because I got to the restaurant as early as I did, the dining area wasn't quite ready to receive seatings. However, they made a quick adjustment and I was able to enjoy everything right from the kitchen.I don't know what magic ball they have. They kept telling me I'll be back. They weren't lying."

Simply Shae Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (13)

"During the pandemic, a friend sent me a list of restaurants to try. Simply Shae was on the list. Because I lived north of downtown Chicago, I rarely got to Hyde Park, let alone to the South Suburbs. Now that I live in the South Suburbs, I had no excuse. Simply Shae is a small walkup, so having a sit-down meal is not an option. Food is cooked to order, not reheated, which means there will be a wait. And if there is a long line before you get there, the wait is that longer. My experience with the cashier was one of quality service. She kept repeating my order -- I ordered three meals -- to make sure she had exactly what I ordered. The stuffed catfish with dressing and yams were outstanding. The shrimp alfredo for the stuffing was just right, not overboard. The yams were Grandma perfect. And the dressing had a hint of sage, not an abundance of it. The fried catfish with spaghetti and greens took me back to Mississippi. The spaghetti was more savory than sweet, which scores high points. The greens were flavored nicely without being too much. The stuffed salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and greens were what I had for lunch later in the week. Talk about some good eating. The portions are large. Some restaurants skimp on side dishes. Not at Simply Shae. Another thing I liked was that the side cornbread is more savory than sweet. They will get my dollars, for true. But they'll get my business before the crowd starts coming."