***** Luella’s Southern Kitchen is named for Darnell Reed’s great-grandmother, Luella Funches, whose cooking first inspired him as a child. “She showed me how food could bring people together,” he recalls. A self-described “Southern chef raised in Chicago,” Reed brings warmth and authenticity to every dish.
Whether you’re a longtime fan or first-time guest, Luella’s hits all the right notes. The ever-popular Chicken & Waffles, served original or Nashville-style using farm-raised chicken from Harrison’s Poultry in Glenview, is back and better than ever. The signature Shrimp & Grits returns in a bold new form: Crab-Stuffed Shrimp with Smoked Grits and Maque Choux—a deeply satisfying reimagining of a Southern staple.
When Jane and I arrived at this Albany Park location at 4114 N. Kedzie, it was still closed. While the name Luella’s does appear on te wall, the building did not appear as one with an actual running business inside. At about five minutes before nine , people began arriving, so we knew that this “destination brunch establishment” was in fact real. At 9 a.m. the protective gates rose, the door opened and we were greeted by Duane and entered this very neat little establishment. I believe there are about 54 seats in the restaurant and another 48 on the patio out back.
The new brunch menu features Southern classics with elegant, creative twists: ( BOLD and XXX is what we ate)
Crab-Stuffed Shrimp with Smoked Grits and Maque Choux XXX
- Boudin, Egg & Cheese Biscuit with pepper jelly and Fontina
- Kentucky Hot Brown on Brioche with Slagel turkey XXX
- Beignets and a Sticky Donut that are already buzz-worthy
- Chicken & Waffles (original or Nashville-style) using farm-raised poultry from Harrison’s in Glenview XXX
- Buttermilk Pancakes with whipped brown butter and Mick Klug Farm blueberry compote XXX
- PB&J Po’Boy for kids, plus mac & cheese, housemade biscuits, and Three Sisters Garden grits
Weekly French Toast and seasonal specials keep the menu playful and ever-changing. Our tummies were more than overfull ( after all, we are doing Seattle Sutton) so we did not do the French Toast or the biscuit and Beignets ( they looked wonderful), so we have a great reason to return ( the flavors and food we ate was more than enough reason for another visit!
The operation is quite simple. Once you enter, they hand you a menu and show you the board with the specials and the French Toast- you place your order, pay and then they escort you or depending on how busy, they hand you your order number, and when food is done, they bring to your table. Once seated, they will bring you silverware, napkins, glasses and water bottle. If you ordered a beverage, they will bring that as well. I will tell you that the food is prepared to order, so while service may seem a little slow ( today they were doing a rather large catering order) , I will tell you that it was “worth the wait”!
I am not a Collard Greens type of guy , but loved what they served. I also found that the waffles and chicken were the best I ever had and even with the special hot sauce, I found it to be so. The grits and crab stuffed shrimp were to die for ( I could have eaten more) and their bacon is by far the most amazing bacon I have ever had.
As I said earlier, this is in fact a destination dining experience. You are on a main street of Chicago ( Kedzie) just north of Irving Park and south of Montrose. There are single family homes and apartments mixed in with businesses making it different from the usual strip center or private lot with a building and parking. The street parking is free ( no meters) and easy to find. Luella’s is open Wednesday – Sunday 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
( Saturday and Sunday, they open at 8 a.m.)
www.luellassouthernkitchen.com
773-961-8196
If you join their VIP program, you can save 20% on your first visit ( or pick-up)
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