The Soul Food Lounge

The food here is in short, incredible. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor and depth, we loved everything. Standout dishes were the creole dressing, lobster truffle mac & cheese, and shrimp & grits. The lemonade is $5 but once you get it you get free refills for the rest of the meal, and can alternate between both the mango and hibiscus (which I preferred, but both were deliciously refreshing). It’s pricey, but the portions are truly huge so the value is good— you’ll most likely have leftovers. My group of 5 paid about $54 per person including tax/tip. The ambience is also excellent and the staff are so friendly and attentive. Such a great spot, would love to come back again maybe with an even bigger group next time.

This is a cozy and intimate high end soul food restaurant. The service was great and the food was good too! You need reservations. I went on a Thursday evening and it wasn’t crowded. Our food came quickly and the waitress Ms. Lisa was really good. She had great recommendations. The chef Melvin came to our table so we can compliment him. Definitely a place I would visit again.

Just as all the other reviews, our experience here was really good. The violinist that was playing as we walked in was very talented. Once caveat is that we had to wait a bit for our table as the place is very small. Because we had a large party, we made reservations, but still had to wait. It was worth the wait though. Everyone ordered the Grand Tasting, which comes with 3 tasting size dishes. They were nice portion sizes. The waitress was very attentive and helpful with the menu and suggestion. On to the food...Everything was cooked well and as requested. It was seasoned just right. Very enjoyable. It seems they are known for their fried pound cake dessert. It was really delicious. The blended Aromatic teas were well made and refreshing. We loved our entire experience.

The service was good, until it became crowded. The atmosphere was fair, music too loud initially and seating minimal & limited, where your visit was timed and servers began to obviously move along service to move you away from your table for the next patrons. The food was very good, from the salmon to the roast beef hash browns to the chef’s added charred Brussels sprouts. Suggesting an upgrade on the beverages/cocktails or strictly nonalcoholic beverages only. Service and atmosphere are “works in progress “ but the food is spot on. Best recommendation is to reserve seating at time of opening, thereafter the place becomes ugly with waiting & seatings.

If you are unsure about coming here, JUST BOOK THE RESERVATION!! The waitress was nice, the food comes out fast after you order, and the music was great!! The food was so good, literally the best!! Every bite was delicious. I would definitely come back every time we come to the city! 10/10 do not pass this place up!

We made reservations for the wrong location and they were very nice and accommodating. Our server Lexi was very sweet and attentive. She recommend a couple different dishes on the menu and really made our experience enjoyable. The food was really good we had absolutely no complaints. I will say the place was on the smaller side and gave somewhat of a takeout feel with restaurant pricing BUT we most definitely got good serving portions for the price. We ordered 2 grand tastings. For entrees: 2 short ribs, 1 pot roast, 1 truffle lobster Mac, 1 lobster Alfredo and 1 catfish. We also had the hibiscus and mango lemonade and raspberry cheese cake to go. Like I stated before the food was good, very delish tbh would definitely eat here again. Oh and I would like to add the gentleman collecting our dishes from the back also had amazing customer service and assured us he was there to serve us I really appreciated the entire experience.

Reservation is recommended, but we were able to get a table without problem. The dining area is small but nice. The foods were hot and delicious. I had the seafood dressing with yams and greens. It was so delicious. The peach tea with mint was tasty and refreshing. My family had the maple chicken with the original pound cake,seafood gumbo and the Mississippi salmon cakes on long with hibiscus tea. The Mississippi salmon cakes were sweet and crispy. The pound cake was too sweet for me, but my daughter loves it Expect to spend between $28-$48 does not include the service fee or tip.

Was in Chicago for a quick getaway and heard about this place. Food was pricey, but I guess this is the price point for Chicago. All you can drink mimosas is definitely a turn off if you or anyone in your party is in recovery. Not many alcohol alternatives. Chicken was good but undercooked. Gratuity already included, but I guess that's a Chicago thing as well. The shrimp, catfish, and lobster grits were amazing. Nice people and atmosphere.

Still a five star experience! I got the grand tasting again and the price had increased to 69 for that experience. It now also comes with a glass of wine or champagne as well as an unlimited supply of in-house juices and lemonade. The portions are large and more than justify the price. It is definitely worth it. My third selection was the seafood dressing which came with catfish, shrimp, lobster, crab, sweet potatoes, and greens. The presentation of the food is beautiful every single time. I will be back several times as there are so many items I want to try.

Just as all the other reviews, our experience here was really good. The violinist that was playing as we walked in was very talented. Once caveat is that we had to wait a bit for our table as the place is very small. Because we had a large party, we made reservations, but still had to wait. It was worth the wait though. Everyone ordered the Grand Tasting, which comes with 3 tasting size dishes. They were nice portion sizes. The waitress was very attentive and helpful with the menu and suggestion. On to the food...Everything was cooked well and as requested. It was seasoned just right. Very enjoyable. It seems they are known for their fried pound cake dessert. It was really delicious. The blended Aromatic teas were well made and refreshing. We loved our entire experience.

NEVER DISAPPOINTS! Taste, portion, and drinks all 5 Star. We did have to wait for our table but once we seated and ordered, it came right on out!

Perfect ambiance, Perfect Size Portions for the average person I loved the musician. i went for our holiday party last Christmas not too bad on prices but i will for sure return.

First visit to this restaurant on the west side of the city. Our server Maria was kind and attentive especially after a spill at the table. Moreover, my meal was delicious. Thai chili shrimp, maple glaze fried chicken and the seafood dressing. The Thai shrimp was sooo delicious over rice and light vegetable. The fried chicken was outstanding, crispy skin, juicy meat, the maple glaze offers sweetness but not to much. The catfish nuggets were my second favorite bites , good seasoning, fried to perfection. I was pretty full after the first two tasting and took my dressing home, but I want to thank the manager " Maria who took care of our table. Everything was top notch , we also enjoyed a saxophone player on a Saturday evening on our way to see the great Stevie Wonder.

The place is smaller so there may be a little bit of a wait but the ambiance and food was amazing. They were very accommodating for a table of 6 and gluten allergies. They even gave us a free appetizer during our wait as the chicken was cooked to order. I definitely recommend this place.

I went for brunch. My table was ready when I walked in. Server was prompt and courteous. Food was out within 10 minutes of ordering and was absolutely delicious. Great restaurant and delicious food.

I was thrilled to enjoy this black owned restaurant! My friend and I dined here on a Friday at about 6pm. I highly recommend a reservation as it a small and quaint place and want to ensure minimal wait. Luckily we did have a reservation, and we were sat shortly after being greeted by the hostess. Upon entry we were greeted by the soulful jazz tunes by a live saxophonist. This added a lively yet romantic vibe. And let me tell you this sax player had all the tunes going. Upon sitting, we were greeted by an extremely friendly server who gave us the run down on the menu, she suggested the 'Grand Tasting' menu which was a great bang for our buck so both we both partook. The 'Grant Tasting' was indeed a great bargain. You got three full sized entrees, and a complimentary drink. (non-alcoholic. tip: this place is BYOB with a s $20 corkage fee can bring wine, which we did) OUR TABLE WAS FULL!! Six full time entrees?! We were in foodie heaven. While it was indeed a lot of food, it was a good concept to be able to taste nearly everything on their menu. So here's what we ordered: Catfish Etouffee: Perfectly fried and golden catfish with perfect season and crunch in a bold stew and thick buttery garlic bread. Salmon cake: Bold and flavorful salmon cake that literally melted in our mouths. Topped with corn and a gravy which was a new and different concept to us but added more flavor and dynamic. Truffle Mac n Cheese: Cheesy rigatoni style noddles with parmesan bread crumbs and bold truffle flavor. Shrimp and Grits: Creamy creamy grits with large shrimp seasoned to perfection. Maple Glazed Fried Chicken: Fried hard chicken breast with a nice sweet yet spicy glaze served over cubed garlic potatoes. And lastly my personal favorite Creole Seafood Dressing! Blackened Catfish served with dressing that had crab, lobster and shrimp paired intently with the a sweet yam and leveled out with sauteed collard greens. Truly the star of the show. Every item was a HIT. Delicious bold in flavor, and hot/fresh. I mean each taste my friend and I hummed, and went for more bites. And allllll of this for 69 (per person?) You truly cannot beat it. Carry yourself to the SoulFoodLounge and try it yourself. You will NOT be disappointed!

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!

The food was amazing the Grand tasting consists of three samples (not small at all) portions of your choosing . Food was spectacular! Flavor profile that would bring you back to 70's soul food that's been brought to modern times. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The location we went to wasn't too large but it was still plenty of room to service parties of all sizes. The ambient music is soulful r&b as well.There was a large dinner party our server/manager was attending to that created a distraction and she never brought the champagne. She was apologetic and provided dessert to go to compensate for the error. All in all quite the delicious and delightful date night. 9/10 would recommend again.

Food was very tasty! Homelike, but a bit too salty. Service was 5 star. Small but clean dining room. Will be back for sure?

Excellence from the walk through the door, seating, eating till the walk out to leave. Place was very clean. There was live music played by a violist. And the FOOD was delicious. Some of the best in Chicago. Will definitely be back again for more dis

The food and service were excellent. I ordered the Creole Seafood Dressing and my daughter ordered the Creole Catfish. We received generous portions and our entrees were served piping hot. We both had the peach tea infused with fresh herbs. We loved our entire experience at the Soulfood Lounge. Highly recommend!

The food was delicious..finger licking good! The place was very cozy and intimate and our wait for a table was minimal. The staff were very friendly and attentive. We were even able to meet and chat with the owner! He was very personable and friendly. This review is late however, I'm confident the food is still as tasty.

I honestly didn't know what to expect coming here, but I was destined to get here lol. Let's start with the service, I was greeted right away to be seated. My waiter was so pleasant and professional. They even offered me a purse holder. The ambiance was super intimate, love the greens and gold makes the soothing. They live music, jazz and it was pleasant to the ears not too loud. Now the good, we ordered the 3 entrees and got a complimentary wine and their signature punch. I have to say everything was so good, very flavorful. Each item was just infused with a different type of flavor. Food wasn't too salty or under seasoned it was just right. You have to try them for yourself. Ima just leave the pictures here lol. Will be back

Here on a travel work assignment in Peoria and have been here twice. Each time the ladies were very pleasant and attentive with us; We get the chef's tasting each time with comes with 3 dishes, dessert or wine, and a drink for $70 a piece which compared to where we've been was a no brainer. We are from Arkansas so we were lookin for some kinda soul food which can be a challenge in America and had to drive to Chicago for some. We ended up at this place that offers a more elevated soul food type experience. The first time we went chef came and greeted us which was nice and the second time they had a guy playing violin to contemporary music which was kinda cool for ambience. Not in just the best part of the city but mind your business and you'll be ok! Would come a third time! We were stuffed and sleepy lol

Everything was wonderful. The staff is the sweetest and the food is great. The chef even came out to greet us and make sure everything was tasty. We each went with the grand tasting since we couldn't decide on a single dish, thinking the plates were a lot smaller. They're smaller than the full size meal but by NO means was it a small portion. We honestly could've probably shared a single grand tasting. But since we ordered different things it worked out. All the dishes were good but if I had to choose I would choose the short ribs over and over again. Omg, yummy! Don't skip this place.

Great service and ambience! food was tasty and they had a saxophone player on weekends.

This place should be on every foodie and soul food connoisseur bucketlist. My husband, baby, and I ventured out for an early dinner at the Soulfood Lounge. The place is small but makes a nice date night spot. This place does not have booster seats. If you have an infant let them know so you will have seating for your car seat. We had to squeeze our car seat in the corner but we made due! We order the short ribs and seafood dish with Mexican spinach dip which were all delicious!!! I kept seeing people order the catfish and after eating my food I had to try it for myself. So I ordered my catfish dinner to go. Let me tellyou that catfish taste good hot or cold! I will definitely be back!

Contrary to all the popular reviews, my party including myself did not enjoy this place. Another mediocre soul food place charging big bucks for poor service and unimpressive quality. This place is small but looks nice. We walked in to the hostess eating pot roast. We thought and was told it was going to be live music but turns out it was just a loud speaker behind my back The waitress was stiff as a board and lacked any possible customer service skills..even the simple and easy ones(like a smile at least). We received no napkins, barely got silverware and had to share what I think was kool-aid.... We ordered the Grand Tasting...Brussels sprouts were tough and tasted air fried, the short ribs smelled funky. There was no aroma in the place of food being freshly cooked especially since it came out so fast! The only thing I enjoyed was the pond cake.

Let me tell you how this place knocked our socks off! I came here with a group of four and we were greeted with a beautiful ambiance that gave classy and sassy. The live music was a plus and he played good hits with his sax. Let's cut straight to the point. My friend and I ended up sharing the Grand Tasting in which you can choose 3 entrees + a beverage for $59 and we just added another drink. It was perfect because I wouldn't have been able to finish all that food on my own. My other 2 friends also ordered it, but separate, so they definitely took plates home. Hats off to the chef, seriously! Wish I could've met them. The short rib was 10/10 the entire plate could be licked clean - the rib was sooo tender, the mash was a perfect blend, and you can't go wrong w. Broccolini as a veggie. The truffle lobster mac id say was 8/10. It was good but not as good as that shortrib haha. The salmon cake was sooo interesting! It was last of my plates so i couldn't finish it but Id give it 7.5/10. The elote/ham blend on top was sweet with a savory finish in the salmon. Everything was so satisfying! We had their hibiscus lemonade... GET IT! Our waitress was real cool and did us a solid but we'll keep that between us lol We ended it all with desert- their grilled pound cake with icecream. Ooo weeee! Even though I was full.. i still finished my half lol

So many people have recommended The Soul Food Lounge to me, so when my girls surprised me with a birthday dinner here, I was excited to finally see what all the hype was about. And they did NOT disappoint. First, you should know there isn't a drink menu, but you can BYOB (wine and champagne only) for a $20 corkage fee. Otherwise, you can enjoy their deliciously sweet, flavored lemonades. I had the mango - really good! The entrée menu is a little overwhelming - so many good dishes to choose from, so I appreciate the "Grand Tasting" special where you can order 3 entrees (smaller portions of course) and a beverage for $59. I ordered the Carolina Creamy Shrimp Grits, the Korean Glazed Short Ribs, and the Creole Seafood Dressing. My favorite by far was the Creole Seafood Dressing. I thought the catfish was going to be incorporated into the dressing, but it comes on the side with the collard greens. This entire dish could have been a meal on its own even despite its smaller size. The dressing just melts in the mouth and is incredibly delicious. The glaze on the Korean Glazed Short Ribs was sweet but paired well with the mash potatoes. The Carolina Creamy Shrimp Grits were just that - creamy. Definitely some of the best grits I've had in a while. Everything I tasted was perfectly seasoned - I didn't need to add anything, so I was just able to sit and enjoy my food. I had a ton of leftovers, which I was excited about. Everything was still good that next day. During our time there, the owner came around and visited every table just to check in and welcome the patrons. He sat and talked with us for a while - super friendly and personable. There was also live music which added to the ambiance. Since I have been, I have encouraged everyone to check them out. It is a great Black-owned business with amazing food. I cannot wait to return. #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood #YelpEliteSquad

The food was absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh and flavorful. Between everyone at the table we had everything on the menu and it ALL was something I would order again. The server was wonderful and although the place is a little small but it wasn't overcrowding and they don't overbook. I can't wait to return

For this first time ever, I have been wowed and can't find a negative thing to say about a restaurant. The food was AMAZING. While I wouldn't say that the food is quite "Soul Food", it is still amazing. I ordered the "Grand Tasting" this allowed me to pick three entree and taste them opposed to ordering one large entree. I ordered the KOREAN GLAZED SHORT RIBS, SWEET CHILI FRIED PORK CHOPS, and then FIRE MAPLE GLAZED FRIED CHICKEN I received small portions of each which was fine because I was full after one portion. The food was AMAZING. It was well seasoned and the perfect temperature. We also go complimentary flavored lemonade which a plus. The service was top tier. Our server had a constant pulse on our table, even with the restaurant being pretty busy. There is a 18% gratuity built into the tab, but honestly, the service was worth so much more than that. We ended up tipping on top of the 18% The ambiance of this restaurant was also top tier. It was eloquently designed and even offered live music which was a big plus. I HIGHLY recommend everyone to try this place.

I had high hopes for this place but it wasn't good at all! First when we arrived nobody even said hi or we will be with you etc for like 15 minutes. We should have left then. After we were seated and looked at the menu we noticed the prices of the food and they were ridiculous to say the least. Giving that it was late and on a Friday we didn't feel like eating anywhere else so we ordered Peri Peri Chicken and the Korean Short Rib. My sister was with me and let me tell you she is still cursing about that chicken she ordered. A completed mess and waste of money. I am not trying to be mean but it was like someone was playing gourmet kitchen cause the stuff we received was unreal. She was told the chicken was grilled with a sauce over it. What she got was dry chicken parts and I mean like 5 pieces of chicken piled on a plate with some square potatoes under that with a weird broccoli and some salad greens thrown on the side with no dressing or anything. It was too much going on. My short rib was and even with the waitress trying to tell me it wasn't some pot roast. Dry pot roast was piled on my plate with potatoes. I cook boneless short ribs a lot and that was no short rib. I wasn't going to argue about it but it was a shame. My only dinner while visiting Chicago and I was so angry to waste money on this mess.

Our party of 6 had the pleasure of dining at The Soul Food Lounge. Three of us ordered the Grand Tasting with a choice of 3 entrees each and complimentary wine. Amongst us, we tried the amazingly tender and flavorful pot roast, sweet sriracha southern fried steak, crab legs, Carolina shrimp and grits with bacon and garlic butter and my favorite, the Creole Seafood Dressing. It was just an explosion of fabulousness with crab, lobster and tender catfish accompanied by dressing, sautéed collards and sweet yummy yams. The portions are very generous but you cannot help trying to eat it all. Did I mention the beverages? The assorted infused lemonades were so good and refreshing. We ended the meal with a delicious grilled pound cake - yes grilled. The caramelization was perfect. I highly recommend this reservation-only oasis of great food and service. Thank you, Zion. You provided stellar service.

Ambiance was nice and calm, staff was AMAZING!!! Every single person was smiling and welcoming. Our host was polite and very attentive, we loved the food. Flavorful and robust with spices. I enjoyed the fried poundcake that came with the fried chicken (that was my favorite). This place was on the upscale level for cuisine so the price matched perfectly!! Our table was full to capacity with food lol.. I think we tried everything on the menu it was a party of 8...

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. All three entrees were superb (short rib, crab, fried chicken). My sister also is a CVS alum class of 90, so she was happy to support.

Best Chicago restaurant experience we've had this year. Definitely recommend and we will be back! Pros: food is flavorful, fresh, and plentiful Cons: restaurant is very small and your table will be intimately close to another lol

Can I just start by saying the customer service in this place is top notch! I felt so very welcomed and at home. It was like sitting at my grandmas table and all my aunties and sisters bringing me bowls that smelled of deliciousness. Our scent is our first contact with food. To add the icing on the cake, the owner Quentin Love stopped by before he realized he knew my wife he was already greeting us. I don't know how many times I've posted abt owners and head chefs not interacting.. Now let's get down to the food. My wife had the short ribs. After she finally looked up from her bowl and saw me salivating she offered me a taste.. honey this was the best short ribs I've had to date..the flavor mixed with tenderness. My goodness. I did the $59 entree meal. It is suppose to be a taste of 3 entrees. Nope.. it was like a full meal x3. I had to stop after a couple of bites of each. Delicious. Get the lobster Mac and cheese please! Will definitely be back!! Thank you for an wonderful date night!

Ambiance was great. Food was delicious and well presented & prepared. Wait staff was friendly, polite, & helpful

4.5 This restaurant has a heavy Facebook following and I kept seeing it being posted. As well it being black owned. I definitely want to give it a try. So it was our date night. One particular Friday. My husband and I. Traffic was pretty easy that day so we got there ahead of schedule. I believe we had a 6:30 reservation and we were there at 6:00. The owner let us sit down early in order to dine at the restaurant reservation is needed and we booked ours through Yelp. We picked a perfect time because the dining room was not as crowded. This is a very intimate restaurant. Definitely could in accommodate the very large crowd. I think it's a good date night or out with a girls night out. The space again is very cozy. I would say their utilizing every inch of space. So for my food I went with the tasting which included three small sample size portions that would come if you ordered the entree by itself. So those offerings were the short rib. Absolutely amazing. 10 out of 10 is it was the best dish that I chose. Also I went with the salmon. Can't eat the shellfish. The restaurant has a lot of dishes which shellfish or catfish. Those are things that I cannot eat so I just asked for that to be left off. The salmon for me could have been cooked a little firmer and seasoned better or maybe because I didn't get the shrimp. I was missing out on a sauce or seasoning cuz it definitely lacked. In my opinion I would give that a five. And my last choice was the chicken that comes with the slice of grilled pound cake. It was different. I believe it was like a fire type of sauce to it. It was not spicy really good. It was really good. I received dark meat. I asked the waitress was there a choice between white meat and dark meat. She did not give me a choice. Just brought out the dark meat when I would have rathered a breast. I did over here another server asking other diners which one they would like. All in all, it was a pretty good experience. I really enjoyed the saxophone player. We did go with the hibiscus and passion fruit drinks since there no alcohol served. The restaurant is BYOB but please note that they charge you $20 corking fee plus 18% gratuity is added to your bill

Surprisingly delicious! Chef Quentin is super sweet, stopped by every table to say hello. We ordered the short ribs, fried chicken & lobster mac ..would order the same next time. Tables are a tad small for the large serving bowls. WARNING: restaurant is BYOB with a $20 corkage fee

Had dinner here with a dear friend of mine and when I arrived, I walked right into live jazz music playing in a nice quaint intimate setting establishment. Located right in the North Lawndale neighborhood, this brings me joy. Our server was cleaning our table and we were seated at our resy time. We were given menus and waters and chose to indulge in their lemonades. Note that this is a non alcoholic place - If that's something that interest you, you're allowed to bring your own. I did enjoy the fact they had a ton of different lemonades made from herbs. We got two peach rosemary drinks and it was a great size for $5! I ordered the catfish dish along with my friend ordering the charred lemon buttered trio. MAAAAAAAM! When I tell you my $33 dish went a looooong way, it did. They piled my catfish nuggets on high! I had to add a video so you wouldn't miss it. The étouffée was small and I wish there was more of it to balance the dish out. Another con was the roux of the étouffée - it was tomato tasting and there was only one shrimp and one crawfish. The seafood was cooked to perfection as well as the rice to accompany the dish. Super crunchy and well seasoned fish! Wheeeew. The trio was melt in your mouth good and the yams definitely was a nice touch. They weren't stingy with the helpings of the seafood so that made it all the better. I recommend this place and definitely would return for seconds

Ok, SFL is a sold 3 in a row. Being a chef I need a WOW! factor when I go out to eat. This was my third visit to SFL.. Again I bought some out of town quest... Again SFL delivered an "experience". We arrived a little late due to traffic but we were seated w/o a wait. As always food was on point. The brussels sprouts are a must. Chef Q had me check out a new cornbread dressing... OMG!! The flavor profile went great with the blackened catfish. Everyone LOVED their meal. Service was attentive. Atmisphere was sheik yet comfortable. Don't delay make your reservation today for your own wow experience.

Everything was great, the service, our waitress, Samantha, the live music. I will definitely be back. The food was wonderful. I highly recommend the shrimp and grits.

I've been to Chicago about 4 times and probably tried 20 different restaurants. This is the best restaurant Ive been to in Chicago. I ordered the truffle lobster Mac N Cheese and it was PHENOMENAL. The best I've ever had in my life actually and I've had it at just about every restaurant I've ever been to. I also ordered the shrimp and grits and fire maple glazed fried chicken. The chicken was so perfectly crispy and perfectly cooked. The customer service was great and they even had live music. If you're ever visiting Chicago you need to get to this place!! I'm so glad I was able to try it. We literally saved the best for last.

The Soul Food Lounge is a truly great find in an unexpected place. I'm not going to lie or candy coat it, the North Lawndale neighborhood does not have the best reputation. However, that does not mean you can't find great places here or you should avoid this neighborhood as a place to find good restaurants. First, the food here is excellent. I tied the follow dishes: the truffle lobster mac n cheese, Brussels sprouts, Carolina creamy shrimp & grits, marsala braised pot roast, fire maple glazed fried chicken and the charred lemon buttered catfish, crawfish, crab. I enjoyed all of the dishes. In particular I liked Carolina creamy shrimp & grits and the marsala braised pot roast. For that shrimp and grits, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and the grits were a great texture and consistency. For the pot roast, the meat had great meaty flavor and the sauce was rich and delicious. Make no mistake, you cannot go wrong with any of these choices. Second, I liked the atmosphere. Even though the food was top notch, the vibes were laid back and causal. Sometimes a stuffy atmosphere comes along with food this good, but not here. This restaurant is a must visit, and worth it to traveling to North Lawndale.

Wow what a delicious and exotic venture into soul food! It was a bit of a hike for me but incredibly worth it. Reservations only- it's packed to the gills with good reason. The menu features a variety of soul food from different places around the world, the best part was that we didn't have to just pick one thing. There is a chef tasting option where you get to pick three entrees and get a smaller portion of each. This is definitely the way to go in my opinion. You get a boatload of food for a good price with a lemonade/tea and you don't have to narrow it down. My favorite was the Korean short rib. So tender, delicious sauce, mashed potatoes and broccolini what's not to love. A close second was the shrimp and grits. And one thing that really impressed me with that was the amount of shrimp in the sampler portion! There were 6 good sized shrimp and the grits were clearly slow cooked to perfection, not grainy or clumpy at all. Lobster Mac and cheese was decadent but slightly too rich for me. The seafood trio was nice but might be the only thing on the menu that doesn't lend well to the sampler portions. The lemonades were lovely, mango mint and strawberry basil, the herbs cut the sweetness and it was really nice to have a sweet drink with all the rich and savory food. The inside is so cute, apparently there is also a saxophone player on saturdays but we came over the holiday weekend and didn't get to enjoy. I can't wait to plan my next trip! But in advance because it's hard to get a reservation on the weekends! Book out at least a week.

Let's start with the service... absolutely amazing our waitress Anna was an amazing! We never waited for a thing! She was awesome The ambiance as sexy and inviting, it's very intimate and the live violinist was thee best part of the evening Now for the food We ordered, lobster truffle Mac and cheese Korean braised ribs and Louisiana blackened salmon The lobster Mac and cheese had imitation crab basically crab with a K not a drop of lobster They substituted the salmon for a cheaper fish called Char, the rice was under cooked chewy and the spinach was cold but the shrimp was okay!! The broccolini had no flavor and neither did the braised rib. Unfortunately, the best thing that we ate was the peach cobbler poundcake although it was heavy and nutmeg. Now I will not be giving this restaurant a second chance because they also add Roohi to the check which she would've gotten that more had they not forced us to pay what we pay which wasn't a problem but the food was not worth the price if everything is pre-cooked you're only up for four hours and you are serving substitutes and Imitation for what you are charging $40 for lobster truffle mac & cheese only to use imitation crab it's just clearly disrespectful The 3 stars were for the server and the live music

I had dinner here with my husband and we really enjoyed it. Our waitress suggested the 'Grand Rising'; that's when you can try sample sizes of three different entrée's and a beverage-- great deal so we both went with that. I had the Louisiana Blackened Salmon, Carolina Creamy Shrimp Grits and Mississippi Salmon Cakes... My husband also got the Carolina Creamy Shrimp Grits, Truffle Lobster Mac and Cheese (not pictured, he ate it too fast) and the Cajun Fried Catfish Etoufee. The food came out lightning fast and hot. I don't know what a regular portion of these entrée's look like but the sample sizes were the perfect amount to taste and take a bit home too! My husband is still raving about the Truffle Lobster Mac and Cheese; that was his favorite. I enjoyed everything but my favorite was the Louisiana Blackened Salmon; amazing flavor, very well seasoned. This establishment is no bigger than a minute so I wouldn't recommend a large party but I think I saw tables fitting up to six people. Perfect for a date night. **It's a cashless environment. All checks will include 18% gratuity. They are BYOB. $20 Corkage Fee per Bottle. 2 Bottle Maximum. Wine & Champagne Only. Reservations are required. 90 minute Dining Time limit.** We will definitely be back to support this black business owner!

Great food, I've visited the west side location several times and I must say, the Soul Food Lounge never disappoints!

Such a gem! Great ambience, professional and friendly service. I had the Seafood Trio and the food so delicious. Seasoned well. I enjoyed the live music as well I left quite satisfied. I'd definitely recommend dining here.

I don't like leaving bad reviews on businesses but this place has earned it! I ordered 2 dinners: the catfish etoufee and the fried chicken. When placing the order over the phone I was not told 18% gratuity was added to all orders whether u dine in or not. I was told a price on the phone and when my husband picked the food up he was charged $90. A complete rip off. Making matters worse, the food was COLD, the rice portion was half of a cup! They cut up one potato to go with the chicken. Last it is shells in my etouffe!The food is not good either! Not worth the price at all! I don't know if it's because it's late and right before closing but this is totally unacceptable. I am livid!

If you are into food, then you have heard about The Soul Food Lounge at some point. Reservations are a must, and they require a credit card to hold your table. SFL is not in the best of areas, so I recommend coming early if your not familiar with the neighborhood. Upon entering the restaurant, you immediately realize how small it is. Your directly facing, the front service area. To your right is a small dining area, to your left is the other small area for dining. Between both sides is a lounge couch, and saxophonist (at my time of visit). This small section is also used to wait for your table to open up. The biggest problem though, there's to much traffic passing by here. So it's very congested. I feel because this restaurant is so small, they need to get rid of the couch. Replace the couch with two tables. Move the musician, to the corner of the restaurant on the right side of the service counter. Also, if there is going to be live music. I would suggest, they played in a lower volume. It gets hard to hold a conversation, when your trying to talk over the music. This adjustment will also, free up some much needed room in that section. One other thing I noticed, the tables are on the smaller side. This makes it hard to have big orders at once, because you have very little room to navigate. Grand Tasting menu- Choice of 3 entrees and a Beverage ($59) Panko Parmesan crusted shrimp- Shrimp was good but it wasn't crusted. The crust was actually on the rice, and the rice was to oily for my liking. Fire maple glazed fried chicken- The fried chicken came with a slice of grilled pound cake. You may wonder, how does a grilled piece of pound cake work with this? Well, it's a spin on chicken and waffles. I feel the cake as well as the chicken, was a little to sweet for me. But the chicken, was very crispy and I like that. Carolina creamy shrimp grits- The grits was seasoned very well, and the shrimps was a great compliment. The second Grand tasting menu that was ordered consisted of- Marsala Braised pot roast- full of flavor, but the beef was tough. Could've used more time cooking. Charred lemon buttered trio- seafood (catfish,crawfish, crab) was ok. Candied yams was very good Creole seafood dressing- dressing was a bit salty, but everything else was good. Dessert- pecan cake was super moist, to the point I felt it was to wet. I was not fond of the texture, it just was to mushy for me. There's no alcohol served here, but you can bring your own for a $20 uncorking fee. They do have lemonade and teas ( hibiscus, mint, basil, lavender, rosemary), available with free refills. Finally, this is a cashless establishment

Small and family like but had an enjoyable time. The musician was on point with beautiful jazz music playing over our meals. My meals were tasty some richer than others and aome blander than others but mostly all good. I tried a few of meal due to the chef options of three entree samples and a alcohol free drink. Oh yea they are BYOB with a cork fee but the teas are tasty. The hibiscus was my favorite. 18% gratuity no matter the party size. Trio- good flavors and balance especially the shrimp and sweet potatoes Blackened Salmon- Salmon slightly under seasoned but otherwise a well balanced dish of flavors Salmon croquette nice crunch...sauce almost taste like a cream of chicken soup with corn pieces. I expected more garlic in the rice. Macaroni- very rich, great flavor, either the truffle gave a pinch of salty flavor or the pasta was salted to perfection. Excellent dish otherwise. Seafood Dressing- nice flavor and taste. Again this place does perfect shrimp always and the lobster was nice too. Catfish filet was cooked nicely, collard greens were an odd addition but tasted good. Lastly, the short ribs a bit sweet for us but very very tender and the brocolli was good and the mashed potatoes were yummy.

Calling ALL WESTSIDERS!!! This spot RIGHT HERE!!! Master Chef Q has created a wonderful gem in our North Lawndale community. The food will speak for itself. If you come, it will bless ya life! So listen, first of all, it's Reservation only. So book it! Also, it's BYOB. However, they have an array of teas, I had the rosemary apple...my gurl had the hibiscus lemonade. Small spot. However, reserve and you can't go wrong. I'm so excited we have this type of culinary experience in the North Lawndale area. So now to the food. I ordered the trio which is lemon buttered catfish, sweet potatoes with crab and crawfish.....shutup.. My gurl got the taste experience which includes 3 smaller portions of main entrees, salmon cakes with corn, Puerto Rican Chicken Guisado and finally the fire maple glazed fried chicken...... All was so awesome. Master Chef Q is an inspired restaurant visionary...with the entrees to match. Excellent!

This place serves as the heart and soul of the Westside of Chicago, Literally! The food and the service, did not disappoint. Everything was amazing. All menu items were delicious. I ate every crumb of my "Charred Lemon Buttered Trio" which consisted of catfish, crawfish, crab, fufu candied yams, and garlic glazed asparagus. I also tried each of my friends' dishes as well. And of course, I could not skip out on dessert. That warm buttered poundcake served with vanilla ice cream and carmel drizzle made me feel cozy and loved. You can not go wrong with anything on the menu! This is a restaurant that you can visit by yourself, with a friend, have a date night, or a girls night out! I highly recommend venturing out and following your soul to this Soul Food spot. It is really something special.

The food was good. I really enjoyed the maple glazed fried chicken & grilled pound cake. The service was good, no issues. It s a cool ambiance. It's a small venue with live music . It's worth a trip if you're in the mood for some good soul food.