Southern-Inspired Brunch Spot Opens in South Loop
A new Southern-inspired brunch restaurant named Brûlée has recently opened in Chicago's South Loop. The establishment aims to fill a perceived gap for upscale brunch options in the neighborhood. Its menu features Southern classics with a contemporary twist to provide an elevated dining experience.
- The restaurant is a mother-daughter venture, a first for the pair, though Chef Emani Roberts' family on her father's side has a background in barbecue restaurants. Roberts herself was previously a private chef, including for the R&B group New Edition and for Monique Rodriguez, the founder of the beauty brand Mielle Organics. - Chef Roberts' culinary approach is influenced by her time in Atlanta working with mentor chef Virgil Harper, where she developed a deeper understanding of Black foodways. This is reflected in a menu item named "The Virgil Special," which includes chicken wings or fried catfish with hot honey, candied yams, and braised collard greens. - The menu features several luxe and inventive dishes, such as a fried lobster tail served on a sweet potato waffle with a salted caramel praline sauce and vanilla cream. Other signature items include Creole Shrimp & Grits, Oxtail & Grits, and a Crème Brûlée French Toast with a caramelized sugar crust. - Entrée prices for brunch range from approximately $17 for Old Fashioned Pancakes to $42 for Oxtail & Grits. The high-end Lobster Sweet Potato Waffle is priced at $40. - The restaurant's design incorporates a "cozy, modern" aesthetic with black and white tones, marble-and-gold details, velvet couches, and a floral wall for photo opportunities. It also includes a coffee shop area at the front for to-go pastries and espresso drinks like a crème brûlée latte. - Sous chef Kennedy Bufford, previously a lead line cook at the Nobu Hotel, connected with Roberts years ago on Instagram seeking mentorship and now plays a key role in the kitchen. - Brûlée is located on Michigan Avenue, strategically positioned to attract visitors from nearby McCormick Place and Wintrust Arena in a neighborhood the owners identified as having a need for more restaurant options. - The restaurant is open for all-day brunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week (closed on Wednesdays) and has plans to host private events in the evenings.
