Memories are on the menu at Luella's Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square

by David Manilow and Crain's Staff / Crain's Chicago Business / December 18, 2023

Every week on The Dining Table podcast, host David Manilow shares his own experiences from some of Chicago's best places to eat, drink and shop. Crain's reporters bring expert insight into all aspects of the city's restaurant and food scene. And we welcome chefs, culinary experts, cookbook authors, bartenders, business owners and more to discover what makes them tick.

Here's what you'll find in the latest episode:

Southern food as a family affair

Luella's Southern Kitchen in Lincoln Square is the brainchild of chef Darnell Reed, but the restaurant would not be what it is today if it weren't for the Chicago native's memories of his great-grandmother Luella Funches.

"The food is the thing that she did for us growing up, the family get-togethers, all the holidays and things like that," Reed recalled on this week's episode of the podcast. "The way I look at it, the restaurant is about a lot of my memories and our family's memories. Whenever I have a family member that stops up here, they can feel it, too."

Luella's Southern Kitchen, named after Luella herself, is located at 4609 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lincoln Square. The Southern fare ranges from shrimp gumbo to chicken and waffles, with recipes taking inspiration from Luella's own cooking. Read more and Listen HERE