Chicago’s vibrant culinary scene just got a flavorful addition as Soul Food Lounge, a beloved West Side eatery, has opened its second location in Beverly. Chef Quentin Love, the culinary visionary behind the popular North Lawndale restaurant, launched the new spot at 10701 S. Hale Ave., bringing his unique soul food fusion to the South Side community. This expansion, just over a year after the original Soul Food Lounge’s successful opening, marks a significant step in Chef Love’s mission to share his innovative cuisine with a wider audience. The Beverly location is currently serving up delicious dishes from Wednesday to Friday (4-8:30 p.m.) and Saturday to Sunday (noon-8:30 p.m.), with reservations available online for those eager to experience the Soul Food Lounge magic.
Chef Love credits the overwhelming success of his flagship North Lawndale restaurant for fueling this expansion. The original Soul Food Lounge, a partnership with the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation within the MLK Legacy Apartments, quickly became a West Side favorite. Inspired by the community’s enthusiastic response, Chef Love sought to bring the Soul Food Lounge experience to Beverly, recognizing a demand for unique dining options on the South Side. His ambition extends beyond just two locations; Chef Love envisions Soul Food Lounge evolving into a city-wide restaurant chain, making his signature cuisine accessible across Chicago.
“The demand was [there],” Love explained. “People wanted to have something like this on the South Side, so I have been looking around and trying to find something that stood out, and [there’s] something about the historical essence of this location.” The Beverly location holds a special significance, previously home to Healy’s Cafe, a long-standing community staple. Chef Love sees the new Soul Food Lounge as a fitting continuation of this location’s legacy as a neighborhood gathering place. Adding to his culinary ventures, Chef Love also owns Turkey Chop Gourmet Grill in West Humboldt Park, further solidifying his presence in Chicago’s food landscape.
Chef Quentin Love, owner of Soul Food Lounge, pictured at his new Beverly restaurant location at 10701 S. Hale Ave, Chicago.
The Beverly location came to fruition thanks to a suggestion from one of Chef Love’s business partners, a Beverly resident who recognized the neighborhood’s potential. Chef Love plans to divide his time between both Soul Food Lounge locations, ensuring consistent quality and vision across both establishments. Mirroring the North Lawndale restaurant, Soul Food Lounge Beverly specializes in soul food fusion, a creative culinary approach that blends traditional Southern Black American cuisine with global flavors from Italy, Mexico, Asia, and beyond.
A selection of soul food fusion dishes at Soul Food Lounge, showcasing a blend of Southern, Italian, Mexican and Asian culinary influences.
However, Chef Love is keen to offer a distinct experience at each location. The menus are intentionally different, encouraging diners to visit both the Beverly and North Lawndale Soul Food Lounge to explore the full breadth of his culinary creativity. Exclusive dishes at the Beverly Soul Food Lounge include enticing options like Japanese teriyaki salmon, Dominican coconut catfish mangu, Mexican barbecue brisket, and bayou blackened shrimp tamale. This strategic menu differentiation aims to maintain the unique appeal of the original West Side location. “I want you to continue to go to the West Side and have that experience because that’s my flagship location. That’s the one I started [with], so I have a certain level of passion for that location,” Chef Love emphasized.
A customer peruses the diverse menu options at the newly opened Soul Food Lounge in Beverly, Chicago.
Beyond the menu, the Beverly Soul Food Lounge also boasts a distinct aesthetic. Moving away from the earth tones and artsy décor of the original location, the Beverly restaurant features a darker, moodier ambiance with strong lines, creating a different, yet equally inviting, dining atmosphere. Chef Love envisions his restaurants playing a vital role in the revitalization of South Side neighborhoods, offering residents high-quality dining experiences closer to home.
The Soul Food Lounge Beverly location at 10701 S. Hale Ave, Chicago, welcoming diners to the South Side.
“My thought process around opening our restaurants is like revitalizing areas — bringing areas back to [their] original glory, where you can go to the grocery store, you can go to nice restaurants, you can have entertainment right in your own backyard,” Chef Love explained. He believes that communities should have access to vibrant local amenities without needing to venture downtown. The Beverly community has shown strong support for the new Soul Food Lounge, which Chef Love attributes to a renewed appreciation for life and positive experiences in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, for Chef Love, Soul Food Lounge is about more than just food. “I love food, I really do. I love what food does to people, and food makes people happy, and that’s what the Soul Food Lounge [does],” he shared. “When people come here, I want them to be very happy when they come in, and more [happy] when they leave out. That’s what it’s about.”
