Luella's Southern Kitchen

I ate here during the Afrotech conference last month. I end up going twice. First time I had their fried chicken plate it was delicious!! I can't remember the name of this pineapple cocktail I had but it was everything! I really loved the customer service from the GM. I also had the Nashville chicken sandwich really good. They also had a special drink called the martell smash. Really good. I will definitely be back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Luella is a wonderfully inviting spot that delivers comfort, charm, and delicious food with every visit. The menu is filled with soulful, well-crafted dishes that feel both familiar and elevated, each one seasoned thoughtfully and prepared with obvious care. From the warm, hearty entrées to the fresh sides and satisfying desserts, the flavors are consistently delightful and leave you eager to return. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy a great meal.

While a bit more consistency during peak hours could push the experience into five-star territory, Luella still stands out as a reliably enjoyable destination. With its friendly service, comforting dishes, and inviting vibe, it’s a place worth visiting again and again.

Took an adventure to the North Side with our son. We saw some photos online and thought wow this looks like some good comfort food.

You have to find some parking, parking some distance away isn’t a bad thing based on how much food they serve you, walking it off back to the car (if you’re driving) is good.

My old lady ordered the Kentucky Hot Brown, it’s a sandwich on a brioche bun, yet it wasn’t soft. It was a bit dry, moisture was needed. Gravy, ham (she doesn’t like ham), and bacon were delicious… honestly. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles smothered with Nashville Hot sauce. The chicken was hot, spicy, crunchy, and juicy. The waffle was a bit thick but the syrup made it pretty melt in your mouth. We ordered a side of Mac n cheese which was baked and there had to be some Asiago in it, it was very delicious. We also ordered some beignets to go, they were fresh and warm, who doesn’t like powdered sugar?

Overall service:

Ordering was a bit annoying, you had to order once you walk in, before you get a table. Also I ordered the beignets to go after I already got to my table, I had to go back up to the register and also wait in line for other people to order. It is not very spacious, wouldn’t recommend bringing in a stroller, we felt like we took up a lot of space.

Food was made to order, it felt like they were understaffed, the host and the bar back/server/busser were serving food and cleaning tables. Which also caused some delay in new customers ordering.

It is a bit pricey, definitely wouldn’t go out of our way to come eat here again but if we were in the area we would definitely stop by.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 3

Amazing crab stuffed shrimp and greats, very good service

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food was fantastic. No complaints there. You pay when you enter and you take a number, you sit down at your table and they bring the food to you. Came on a weekday, no wait, got a table right away. Should have gotten the food and been out of there in 30, 45 min tops. Took 90 minutes. Painful. I don’t care how good the food is, I don’t have that kind of time for lunch on a work day. Beware: this place runs on southern time, with zero urgency. Will not go back.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 2

2025: New location serving brunch only. Order at the counter. Same amazing food we have come to love. Creative and tasty weekly specials, nice backyard patio in warmer weather. We will be back many times…

2022: Amazing fried chicken and biscuits to die for! The food is so savory and delicious, we have loved every dish here. Chicken gumbo and the shrimp & grits are excellent as well, they are both a must try.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I cannot say enough about the flavors that come from the kitchen! I almost wish I had gone with some friends willing to share bites! Still have relativity small servings (because I'm greedy like that) but food tastes fantastic!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

We'd been to the previous location, but this was our first time at the new brunch spot. Enjoyed the music played on a record player...Chaka Khan! The food was incredible. We had the chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes (unlike anything we've everrr had...honestly life-changing), fried chicken, and were gifted the biscuit and gravy and beignets (which had a more dense, fluffy, unique texture). The fried chicken was fantastic, as always. The biscuit and gravy was unexpected and so delicious....fresh hot biscuit topped with crispy fried chicken tenders, andouille sausage, jalapeños, and THE GRAVY. So much flavor that is rich and sassy. Everything is made fresh, so do not expect to be in and out quickly. It is absolutely worth the wait.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food was ok, average nothing special.
Social media definitely overhypes it. Found two hairs on my waffle, Mac n cheese was nothing special. Chicken and biscuit were good.
I’ll probably pass next time.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

We'd been to the previous location, but this was our first time at the new brunch spot. The food was incredible. We had the chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes (unlike anything we've everrr had...honestly life-changing), fried chicken, and were gifted the biscuit and gravy and beignets (which had a more dense, fluffy, unique texture). The fried chicken was fantastic, as always. The biscuit and gravy was unexpected and so delicious....fresh hot biscuit topped with crispy fried chicken tenders, andouille sausage, jalapeños, and THE GRAVY. So much flavor that is rich and sassy. Everything is made fresh, so do not expect to be in and out quickly. It is absolutely worth the wait.

Great service, environment and of course great food. You will taste great quality. Me and my daughter shared food. The Mac and cheese /collard greens perfect flavor, biscuits gravy with chicken/Nashville chicken and waffles perfect seasoning plus I usually don’t eat spicy but the Nashville I actually ate. We also shared the banana pecan French toast it was delicious. We will be back to taste the rest of the menu. 👍🏾☺️

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles, Biscuits and Gravy 9

Luella’s is amazing. I appreciate the staffs and managers kindness to me even though I have autism and their food is amazing and really good. Owner Darnell is very nice. The restaurant is in good condition. Great chicken and sausage gumbo. Must come back. 10/10.

Every time I go to this place I leave with a full belly and a smile! Really can't ask for more. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. The only place I know that has REAL records spinning great tunes. The service has always felt authentic and friendly. Sometimes they get slammed and still manage best efforts to make everyone feel at home. Now the food.... the food had been consistently on point every time I go! you can tell they know what they're doing in that kitchen!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The place is very small for the amount of people who Floyd through the doors... I got the cream stuffed shrimp and grits and my beloved got the chicken and waffles... The grits had to much cream to me and if wasn't for the sauce that came with the shrimp I probably wouldn't have stew ate it... The sauce was scarcely added, they should give more.. the chicken was very good, seasoned all the way through and tender. However, I think I would go back and try another one of the 8 dishes they have on total but not no time soon...

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 4

We have visited Luella's before, but this was our first time at the new location. The food and service were as good as always, and now it's a more relaxed, comfortable setting. Free parking was easy to find a couple of blocks up, on a residential street that did not require a permit. The tables are cozy, much more than the simple tables at the previous location. They also have some booths, but we took the big round table for our party of 6. Everyone enjoyed their meals, including crab-stuffed shrimp & grits, Kentucky hot Brown, biscuits and gravy, as well as a la carte bacon, biscuits, and collard greens. You order at the front, and then get a sign for the staff to deliver your order to your table. Don't be in a hurry--quality food like this takes time, and the place gets really busy on weekends. Since we were there on a Friday morning for this visit, we were able to reserve a table through OpenTable. However, it's walk-ins only on the weekends. Definitely worth the wait, just know this is not a place for a quick bite. We have made Luella's a regular stop on our visits to Chicago the last few years. Now they're in their new place, we hope to keep it that way for years to come.