4609 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago 773.961.8294
luellassouthernkitchen.com
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Luella's Southern Kitchen introduces scrumptious weekday
Southern comfort breakfast
Throughout the
United States, Southern cuisine is woven into the fabric of breakfast.
From bacon to biscuits, breakfast has always had a soulful, family
oriented essence. "I consider breakfast to be the most important meal of
the day, and I can't see any family having breakfast without Southern
staples," says Chef/Owner Darnell Reed. At Luella's Southern Kitchen
(4609 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-961-8294) he intends to give Chicagoans the
quintessential Southern breakfast with the introduction of weekday
breakfast, currently served from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through
Friday. Weekend brunch continues on Saturday and Sunday.
Reed's reputation has grown rapidly since
he launched Luella's Southern Kitchen in early 2015. He is turning out
some of Chicago's best Southern fare. In March 2016, The Chicago Tribune
named Luella's the Best New Southern Restaurant. The Chicago Michelin
Guide added Luella's to its prestigious Bib Gourmand list in 2016. Also
in March, Make It Better added Luella's Shrimp Po' Boy to its list of
Chicago's Best Sandwiches.
Reed
has vivid childhood memories of the delicious Southern breakfasts
prepared by his late great grandmother Luella, for whom the restaurant
is named. "The smell of bacon was my alarm clock," Reed recalls. She
would have young Darnell racing from his bedroom to inhale her hearty
combination of bacon, rice, and scrambled eggs. As an homage to his
grandmother's dish, Luella's breakfast menu will include a Jambalaya
with Carolina Gold Rice, Andouille sausage, and poached eggs ($11).
In crafting his breakfast menu, Reed has remained steadfast in using locally sourced or authentically
 Southern
ingredients as much as possible. The menu exudes Southern comfort, with
dishes such as the Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles, prepared with
golden crispy chicken, Nashville hot sauce, and maple syrup, all atop
Liege waffles ($12). There also is the Bourbon Strawberry Shortcake
Waffles consisting of Liege waffles, fresh strawberry compote,
bourbon maple syrup, and Chantilly cream ($12). For his Homemade
Oatmeal, Reed uses Anson Mills Oatmeal from South Carolina and
embellishes it with southern flare: dried cherries and a Sorghum Pecan
crumble ($7).
Other delectable breakfast choices
include the Buttermilk Blueberry and Brown Butter Pancakes with maple
syrup ($11); Smoked Brisket Biscuit with Slagel Farm brisket and egg,
served on a homemade buttermilk biscuit with pimento cheese ($12);
Brioche French Toast with maple caramel, butterscotch and pralines
($11); a Soft Shell Crab Benedict with buttermilk fried crab, farm eggs,
and smoked hollandaise ($15). There is a featured seasonal Southern
omelet of the day, served with red bliss potatoes and caramelized onions
(price varies).
Breakfast options
continue with the numerous side dishes which, when ordered in
combination, enable guests to construct their own personalized
breakfast.
Reed understands that pork has been an
essential part of Southern cuisine. That's why he takes pride in his
Sorghum and Toasted Ancho Chili Bacon side ($2 per slice). Made from
scratch, the smoky aroma draws guests down to the state of Mississippi.
The Boudin Breakfast Sausage Patties with pork and rice have a wonderful
Cajun character ($2 per patty). Biscuits are a Southern must-have, and
Luella's authentic Southern beauties are freshly made in-house with
buttermilk, accompanied by either Andouille sausage gravy ($3 per
biscuit) or house-made jam ($2 per biscuit), reminiscent of something a
gracious neighbor might share with you from down the street.
Other
sides such as Slagel eggs any style ($2 per egg), House Milled Skillet
Cheddar Grits ($4), and Red Bliss Potatoes with Caramelized Onions, can
be ordered any way guests want 'em to create their own casual breakfast.
The meal wouldn't be complete without Luella's fresh, house-made
Beignets, topped with powdered sugar ($2 per beignet).
The
kids aren't forgotten, either. Special kids' items include a PBJ
Biscuit ($2 per biscuit), Chicken and Waffle ($8) and Grilled Cheese
sandwich ($6).
"The
idea is for people to come in and enjoy a wide range of authentic
Southern dishes," says Reed, "prepared with fine ingredients. Before
meandering around Lincoln Square, grab a delectably authentic Southern
breakfast with friends and family-they're bound to be impressed and
ready to enjoy a busy day.
Brioche French Toast | 
Soft Shell Crab Benedict |
About Chef Reed
Darnell Reed is a graduate of Washburne
Culinary Institute in Chicago. He began his professional career in 1997
at the Palmer House Hilton where he served as Restaurant Chef at the
French Quarter and the Big Downtown. In 2005, he was promoted to
Executive Sous Chef at the Embassy Suites Chicago Lakefront where he
handled banquet functions for up to 700 people. In April 2007, Reed was
promoted to the dual Executive Chef position at the Hilton of Oakbrook
and Hilton Garden Inn of Oakbrook. In May of 2010, he accepted the
Executive Sous Chef position at the Conrad Chicago Hotel and was
promoted to Executive Chef in 2011. He opened Luella's Southern Kitchen
in
February of 2015.
About Luella's Southern Kitchen
Luella's Southern Kitchen, located at
4609 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago's Lincoln Square, is a casual
independent restaurant owned by Chef Darnell Reed. Luella's has earned
numerous accolades since it opened on February 3, 2015, including being
designated a Bib Gourmand in the Chicago Michelin Guide. In March 2016,
the Chicago Tribune named Luella's the Best New Southern Restaurant.
Luella's serves breakfast Monday through
Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Lunch and dinner is served Tuesday
through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Weekend brunch is served from
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday; dinner is served until 10 p.m.
on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sunday. All major cards are accepted.
Luella's is a BYOB establishment; no corkage fee is charged. Takeout and
delivery service are available. For more information, call the
restaurant at (773) 961-8196 or visit the website at
www.luellassouthernkitchen.com and follow their news at http://www.newsline360.com/luellassouthernkitchen.
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