Brûlée Restaurant Opens in Chicago's South Loop
Brûlée, a new restaurant specializing in Southern cuisine, has opened in Chicago's South Loop. The establishment is drawing attention for its elevated brunch menu and has received positive initial reviews from patrons and local media.
- The restaurant is a mother-daughter enterprise, co-owned by Chef Emani Roberts and her mother, Shronda Dunn, who also serves as the general manager. This is the first restaurant the two have opened together. - Before opening Brûlée, Chef Roberts worked for several years as a sought-after private chef, even touring with the R&B group New Edition. The restaurant was opened in response to encouragement from her private clients who wanted more regular access to her popular brunch creations. - The menu features creative riffs on Southern comfort food, such as a signature lobster and sweet potato waffle with a salted caramel praline sauce and vanilla cream. Another popular and personal dish is "The Virgil Special," a tribute to Roberts' mentor, chef Virgil Harper, which includes fried catfish or chicken with hot honey, candied yams, and collard greens. - Chef de cuisine Kennedy Bufford, a longtime mentee of Roberts, is credited with creating the popular smoked brisket grilled cheese sandwich served with tomato bisque. - The restaurant is strategically located on Michigan Avenue to attract business from nearby McCormick Place, Wintrust Arena, and surrounding hotels, which is why it operates on Mondays and Tuesdays when conventions are often active. - In addition to its main dining area, Brûlée features a coffee lounge serving Dark Matter coffee, intended to be a neighborhood "third space" for residents in the area's many high-rises. - The restaurant offers an early happy hour from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a special food menu that includes items like a crispy fried chicken sandwich and truffle fries. - Signature cocktails include a house espresso martini topped with banana foam and a brûléed banana slice, and a hibiscus lavender martini.
