Luella's Southern Kitchen
#40 in USA
#11 in Chicago
Restaurant
- 4609 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States
Company Description
Luella is our Chef’s great grand-mother. She moved from Mississipi to Chicago in 1943. She inspires the love and passion for the delicious southern meals we serve every day.
Review & Rating
Took forever to get my order. I've been here around 10 times in the past couple of years and there's been a distinct decline in quality. When I first fell in love with Luella's, I got hooked on their Jerk Chicken & Mac and the Blenheim's hot ginger ale. The food quality was at its pinnacle then. Now they've taken off all the good menu items, changed their mac and cheese, and the past 2 times I've been there they've forgotten my order and had to come to the table and ask what I'm waiting for.
Drove from Northlake on a Saturday afternoon around 3pm. They close from 3-4pm so I paid to park and just looked around for an hour. I enter the restaurant at 4:12pm and am told they don't have any biscuits. That was offsetting but I understood due to the preparation need to make them. We order $80 worth of food and the waitress comes over and says they don't have any cornbread. How long does it take to make cornbread u were closed for an hour!!!! We think long and hard and ultimately decide to get a refund. I planned for MONTHS to go to Luellas. So word to business owners " have everything on your menu and don't offer excuses-offer incentives for me to come back. Give me a coupon, a discount on my next visit, a free dessert or something. I used gas, paid to park, and spent an hour in traffic etc. all to patronize your business-that should mean something. I will probably go back but when I do i will have a heart to heart with the owner. Look for an updated review in the future!
A great find in the heart of lincoln square. We tried the jerk chicken mac and cheese and gumbo and it was amazing. I'll be honest, the thought of chicken and mac cheese was strange. It was surprisingly extremely delicious. No leftovers! It was my first time ever trying gumbo and it was very rich and flavorful. Again, it was my first gumbo. I would definitely say it's a bit pricey, but not if compared to what most prices are for southern food. I can't wait to come back! Next on the list: chicken!
I love the food, it's fantastic, but there is distinct decline in service. Really disappointing, seems the owner believes a good start is enough, not so. Get it together and properly train your staff. Perhaps answering the phone when a customer calls would be a great start
The worst soul food place I have ever been in priced too high collard greens were not season they were not fresh bland taste, cooked with ham hocks, fried chicken grease not cook all the way to the bone, cornbread grease, shrimp & grits make you wonder what are you still chewing on. I spent over a hundred dollars what a mess, I heard from a couple of my co-workers Luella's had good food not so. Some people may like it if you don't know what soul food should taste like, they have young people as there cooks that know nothing about cooking soul food. I would have come out cheaper and more satisfied at a real place that had good soul food, or I could have gone to outback with my daughter and son and been happy plus would have had change. Leftover.
Amazing food. The biscuits came with a nice light plum jam and was wonderfully flaky. The gumbo was rich, right amount of spice, chicken and sausage cooked perfectly. The chefs are awesome and super friendly!!
Been here a dozen times. Time after time I have never been disappointed. The food is always on point. Love the Mac and cheese and the shrimp and grits. If you go for brunch the biscuits and gravy are insane!!! They are the best I have ever had. I would recommend any one to come here with a good food pallet.
Very nice place!!! Luella's is a BYOB black-owned establishment. The food was very good and our waiter was nice too. I loved the skillet cornbread with honey butter. The collard greens and fried chicken were tasty as well. But my overall favorite were the beignets. Amazing!!! I look forward to returning to try their brunch menu😋
Highly recommend the chicken and waffles. Their corn bread is also great. If you get the cornbread, be sure to get some of their seasonal jam to go with it. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is that they seem to sometimes have issues with inventory. I went in (was waiting outside the door when they unlocked it) first thing in the morning. Was the first customer in. Ordered French toast. Paid and set down, then shortly they came to tell me they ran out. If I'm the first one in, I doubt you ran out. You probably didn't replenish your supplies from the day before. You can just say that. You don't have to say "you ran out".
It started off bad, no one greets you as you enter. I felt lost on what to do, it was my first time at the restaurant. I had read great reviews. I chose it for my birthday brunch, I walked to the back of the restaurant where there's a counter to order. I slipped and fell on the long plastic mat they have at the entrance and down the middle of the room, which has no traction. I should have left then, but I wanted to try the food. I was told there would be a 25 minute wait. They had broken chairs along the wall, and not enough chairs for the available tables. My party and I waited, another party whom arrived after was seated first. Hungry and sore, I left with my party after an hour.
BYOB!!! I loved this place and never knew it was even there! Great hole in the wall feel as you get in and very lunchroom cafeteria feel. You order your food and pay up at the counter and they bring it out. Everything I had was great but the standout was the fried Chicken. Without a doubt some of the best I had in Chicago. I will definitely be back.
Good God this food is good. Highly recommend. Great staff! This is a BYOB place and closes pretty early so make sure to get there with enough time to enough a drink and a full meal. This is a dimmer atmosphere and quieter. Not too much seating so it is a more intimate feel even though it's a casual place.
Drove from Northlake on a Saturday afternoon around 3pm. They close from 3-4pm so I paid to park and just looked around for an hour. I enter the restaurant at 4:12pm and am told they don't have any biscuits. That was offsetting but I understood due to the preparation need to make them. We order $80 worth of food and the waitress comes over and says they don't have any cornbread. How long does it take to make cornbread u were closed for an hour!!!! We think long and hard and ultimately decide to get a refund. I planned for MONTHS to go to Luellas. So word to business owners " have everything on your menu and don't offer excuses-offer incentives for me to come back. Give me a coupon, a discount on my next visit, a free dessert or something. I used gas, paid to park, and spent an hour in traffic etc. all to patronize your business-that should mean something. I will probably go back but when I do i will have a heart to heart with the owner. Look for an updated review in the future!
A great find in the heart of lincoln square. We tried the jerk chicken mac and cheese and gumbo and it was amazing. I'll be honest, the thought of chicken and mac cheese was strange. It was surprisingly extremely delicious. No leftovers! It was my first time ever trying gumbo and it was very rich and flavorful. Again, it was my first gumbo. I would definitely say it's a bit pricey, but not if compared to what most prices are for southern food. I can't wait to come back! Next on the list: chicken!
Took forever to get my order. I've been here around 10 times in the past couple of years and there's been a distinct decline in quality. When I first fell in love with Luella's, I got hooked on their Jerk Chicken & Mac and the Blenheim's hot ginger ale. The food quality was at its pinnacle then. Now they've taken off all the good menu items, changed their mac and cheese, and the past 2 times I've been there they've forgotten my order and had to come to the table and ask what I'm waiting for.
The worst soul food place I have ever been in priced too high collard greens were not season they were not fresh bland taste, cooked with ham hocks, fried chicken grease not cook all the way to the bone, cornbread grease, shrimp & grits make you wonder what are you still chewing on. I spent over a hundred dollars what a mess, I heard from a couple of my co-workers Luella's had good food not so. Some people may like it if you don't know what soul food should taste like, they have young people as there cooks that know nothing about cooking soul food. I would have come out cheaper and more satisfied at a real place that had good soul food, or I could have gone to outback with my daughter and son and been happy plus would have had change. Leftover.
BYOB!!! I loved this place and never knew it was even there! Great hole in the wall feel as you get in and very lunchroom cafeteria feel. You order your food and pay up at the counter and they bring it out. Everything I had was great but the standout was the fried Chicken. Without a doubt some of the best I had in Chicago. I will definitely be back.
Amazing food. The biscuits came with a nice light plum jam and was wonderfully flaky. The gumbo was rich, right amount of spice, chicken and sausage cooked perfectly. The chefs are awesome and super friendly!!
I love the food, it's fantastic, but there is distinct decline in service. Really disappointing, seems the owner believes a good start is enough, not so. Get it together and properly train your staff. Perhaps answering the phone when a customer calls would be a great start
Been here a dozen times. Time after time I have never been disappointed. The food is always on point. Love the Mac and cheese and the shrimp and grits. If you go for brunch the biscuits and gravy are insane!!! They are the best I have ever had. I would recommend any one to come here with a good food pallet.
Very nice place!!! Luella's is a BYOB black-owned establishment. The food was very good and our waiter was nice too. I loved the skillet cornbread with honey butter. The collard greens and fried chicken were tasty as well. But my overall favorite were the beignets. Amazing!!! I look forward to returning to try their brunch menu😋
It started off bad, no one greets you as you enter. I felt lost on what to do, it was my first time at the restaurant. I had read great reviews. I chose it for my birthday brunch, I walked to the back of the restaurant where there's a counter to order. I slipped and fell on the long plastic mat they have at the entrance and down the middle of the room, which has no traction. I should have left then, but I wanted to try the food. I was told there would be a 25 minute wait. They had broken chairs along the wall, and not enough chairs for the available tables. My party and I waited, another party whom arrived after was seated first. Hungry and sore, I left with my party after an hour.
Highly recommend the chicken and waffles. Their corn bread is also great. If you get the cornbread, be sure to get some of their seasonal jam to go with it. The only reason they don't get 5 stars is that they seem to sometimes have issues with inventory. I went in (was waiting outside the door when they unlocked it) first thing in the morning. Was the first customer in. Ordered French toast. Paid and set down, then shortly they came to tell me they ran out. If I'm the first one in, I doubt you ran out. You probably didn't replenish your supplies from the day before. You can just say that. You don't have to say "you ran out".
Good God this food is good. Highly recommend. Great staff! This is a BYOB place and closes pretty early so make sure to get there with enough time to enough a drink and a full meal. This is a dimmer atmosphere and quieter. Not too much seating so it is a more intimate feel even though it's a casual place.
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