When we asked owner and head chef of Soule´, Bridgette Harris, why she chose Ukrainian Village for her new restaurant, she said, “I felt like the area needed us… I wanted to bring something new to the area.” After our dining experience at this Creole/soul fusion eatery located at 1931 W. Chicago Avenue in Chicago, IL, we are confident that Soule´ will be a welcome addition to this up-and-coming neighborhood. As we entered Soule´, we first noticed its modern, chic decor. The brick walls are adorned with an array of artwork by local artists. The space is small yet very accommodating with beautiful white booths, hardwood floors, and having the vocals of Jill Scott serenading us in the background made us feel right at home. We were promptly seated and began looking over the menu.
We started with an appetizer of New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp which lay perched atop two thick slices of French bread. Drenched in authentic New Orleans flavors, these shrimp immediately transported us back to the French Quarter in New Orleans. Soule´ New Orleans BBQ shrimp are sautéed in a butter sauce infused with Worcestershire and a winning mix of various herbs. When you order these shrimp, don’t think Texas or Carolina BBQ sauce. Know you are getting a true taste of the Big Easy in Chicago. The shrimp were cooked just right and the sauce so good that I would have licked my plate clean, if not for the French bread provided for sopping up this delightful concoction. I personally would have preferred my bread toasted and cut a bit thinner but other than that, the New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp proved to be the perfect opening act.
Our first entrée was the Salmon topped with creamy spinach garlic sauce and shrimp served with whipped mashed potatoes. We could not wait to dive into this enticing dish. The potatoes were smooth and buttery, while the creamy spinach garlic sauce added a freshness to the dish that was spot-on. The tail-on shrimp were fresh and absolutely divine. The salmon was seasoned expertly but cooked a tad too long for our palates. Overall, this dish is a seafood delight that is definitely worth ordering.
Up next were (3) Grilled Lamb Chops served with two sides. Choosing mac & cheese and sweet potatoes as sides turned out to be two very wise choices. We ordered our lamb chops medium well, and they came to the table a perfect medium well. The chops were extremely tender, not too lean, with a char that let you know they were cooked over an open flame. Chef Harris truly knows how to prepare lamb chops. The seasoning used lessened the gaminess of the lamb, which enhanced its overall flavor. Soule´s lamb chops are as good as any chop house in the city. We find nothing more disappointing than a mac & cheese that’s all mac and no cheese. That’s not the case with Soule´s take on this American classic. The cheese to mac ratio is a cheese lover’s dream. The multi-cheese blend was gooey and delicious. We enjoyed this dish from the first to the last bite. However, the velvety sweet potatoes stole the show… so sweet, so buttery, so good. WE NEED THAT RECIPE!
Soule´s Banana Pudding was a Tastee-Bite – fresh bananas accompanied a sweet vanilla pudding. The vanilla wafers were crisp and plentiful with a vanilla wafer crumble on top. Our only slight disappointment was that this tasty pudding was served in a plastic cup. Every other dish was presented on beautiful white dinnerware. We assumed the banana puddings were pre-made; however, it would have been a nice added touch to have them served in a martini glass, or the like.
Some of the other entrees on Soule´s menu are shrimp & grits, fried chicken, crab legs and fried catfish. In addition, they boast greens, dirty rice, creamed corn, asparagus and green beans w/ smoked turkey, as sides. Soule´ offers a nice beverage list of teas and lemonades and is also BYOB.
Chef Bridgette Harris’ vision for Soule´ is a definite asset to West Town. The food is great, the service is attentive, and the atmosphere is winsome and laid-back. Soule´ has no parking lot, so be prepared for street parking.
We rank restaurants based on number of kisses (one thru five). One…two…three…four, with five being the best. Soule´ receives 4 kisses.
The Black Foodies are food bloggers/vloggers and husband and wife of 25 years. We are also home cooks that believe in group economics and LOVE great food. We write the food blog ‘Let’s Eat’, where we review black-owned and other ethnic restaurants. FOLLOW us on Instagram and Twitter @theblackfoodies, SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel ‘The Black Foodies’, where we review restaurants, share recipes, and give cooking tips. Also LIKE us on Facebook and join our Facebook group, ‘World Wide Black Foodies’.
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