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    Cleo’s

    4.0 (137 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    CLEO’S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Cleo’s

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    Creole Buttered Jumbo Lump Crab
    Matthew V.

    Customer service was amazing... Walked in and got seated.. Dining area is small so first come first serve... Put my order in and it came out like 15 mins or so.. I ordered much food, really good and big portions.. Black owned establishment.. I really enjoyed it so much! Had this for lunch and i was full for the rest of the day.

    The Ten
    Amber L.

    There's a few locations. This one was small and there was a wait because there was limited seating. I really enjoyed the catfish.

    Lakeshia O.

    Stopped by Cleo's! This was a great soul food restaurant. Definitely have to go if you were in the area. We tried the Keith Lee special and the Mac & Cheese. The Mac & Cheese was fire! The fish and yams were amazing too. Service was good! The lady who took our order was really nice. It's small inside so be prepared to wait (possibly outside) depending on how crowded. We went at lunch time so it got super busy!

    Macaroni
    Angela O.

    Rolled up to Cleo's on a business road trip to Chicago because apparently, every cool spot gets its 15 minutes of social media fame, and Cleo's is basically Beyoncé right now. First things first: if you're driving in Chicago, you'd better bring the patience of a saint and the parking skills of a stunt driver. Trust me, I circled that block more times than a confused pigeon (and I consider myself a pro). If you fear parallel parking (or value your sanity), just park in Indiana, call a rideshare, or hop a train and walk. Your blood pressure will thank you. Once inside, I realized this place is cozier than my grandma's living room, just a few tables, but carry-out orders were flying out like they were giving away free Beyoncé tickets. For a second, I thought I was in the middle of a Black Friday sale. LOL! The menu? Absolutely overwhelming. I stared at it like I was trying to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. Eventually, a super-friendly guy at the counter took pity on me and offered up some stellar recommendations. Pro tip: if you're hunting for a bargain, this isn't your spot, honey! But let me tell you, the portions are generous enough to feed a small army. I had leftovers for my drive home, dinner, and a midnight snack. (Confession: I eat like a bird, so your mileage may vary.) And the food? Seasoned like someone's auntie was back there blessing each dish. That mac and cheese had a cheese pull worthy of a slow motion replay. I'll absolutely be back for more soul food on my next Chicago adventure. My only wish? A meal with just one piece of fish and two sides. But hey, with a menu full of a la carte options, you can basically live your best "choose your own adventure" life. Bottom line: Cleo's is a vibe, the staff is as warm as fresh cornbread, and if you haven't been, what are you waiting for? Go treat yourself!

    Alexis F.

    I found this place off Tik Tok it was highly suggested especially since Keith Lee visited. This location is tiny it's really an order and go spot. I ordered and waited about 35 minutes for my food to be ready. The fried chicken was really delicious but nothing special. The catfish I've had much better and it tasted like the grease was bad. Candied yams were just okay, and the Mac was just ok. Definitely hyped up because of social media but worth the try to support a black owned business:

    Outside
    Tynae T.

    Tried Cleo's while visiting Chicago and really enjoyed it overall. I had the catfish, yams, mac and cheese, and a cornbread muffin. Everything was flavorful. The catfish was a little on the salty side, but still enjoyable. Service was good. Seating was very limited, so I took it back to my hotel. Solid 4/5.

    Paulla L.

    Wonderful customer service, the restaurant was small but quaint. The food was outstanding! I'm from another state and the catfish was some of the best I'd ever had. All of the dishes were delicious.

    Jamaal W.

    9.5/10!!! BEST CATFISH no debate, and I'm not just talking in Chicago, I mean period! I'm born and raised in North Carolina and I've never had catfish this good!!! Not even at the family reunion. I should've known this would be my favorite stop in the city this visit when I saw the yams had pineapple in them, and they didn't disappoint. The yams were YAMMIN, with the perfect texture, sweetness, and syrup ratio. My Lord I should've saved some for the flight home. I had the Shanikky which came with a good portion of fish, crab, and chicken, enough to take back to the hotel. The breading of the wings had a great flavor but I don't feel like the seasonings translated all the way through to the meat in my opinion. I also left with a bottle of the Mississippi Sunshine and it was the perfect pairing with the comfort food. Every trip to Chicago going forward has to include some Cleo yams, mandatory. If you're looking for some southern comfort inside the The Loop please do yourself a favor and check out Cleo's.

    Chrissy P.

    Alright so boom! I get off the plane, take the train check into my hotel and come straight here after.... Anddd baby let me tell you this place didn't miss! We ordered "the 10" and the "Fly over" with a "Mississippi sunshine" for the drink, with a side of mac and cheese! They have three tables and a total of 7 chairs for them. There's also a high top area with bar stools for sitting as well, this is not a place for large parties.. it's really more like a grab and go or sit and lunch type deal. They do play music along with the music videos on the TV.. it gave me that 200's nostalgia and mainly because the songs were 90's - mid 2000's! The service was perfect, they were very nice and friendly and helpful with the menu of needed. The 10 was good. I'm not a fan of candied sweet potatoes, but that wasn't bad either.. The fly over had some crunchy fish and chicken.. I'm honestly not sure of what's in the sauce on the corn bread but that mf was good.. I'm not sure what they fry their catfish in, being from New Orleans I'm use to the corn meal fish fry. But this wasn't bad. It was a lil too salty for me though but I was able to push through. The drink is huge and big enough to share if needed. The Mac and cheese wasn't bad but I was looking for more flavor and for it to have a cheese pull. Overall the best thing I had was that mfn cornbread! I wouldn't say they have the BEST CATFISH. But it wasn't bad.

    Restaurant exterior
    Antwaun W.

    The mural on the wall says "Taste the Hype". I'm so glad that I did, as it definitely lived up to its reputation. I visited the location in the loop and they first impressed me with their transparency. I called in my order on a Thursday around 3:45pm and they said it would be ready at 4:30pm. I had to make sure that I heard them correctly, but this tells me that the food is fresh and the restaurant is busy. My order was ready right on time. There are 3 tables and some stools at the window if you choose to dine-in (no restroom). I ordered the "Ten" meal. 5 (maybe 6) pieces of catfish, pineapple sweet potatoes and cornbread. I also added my own side of Mac n cheese. CATFISH - Pieces were very generously sized. Fried crispy to perfection. I had to really think about this, but it was the best catfish I have ever tasted. It's a little spicy, but fortunately I like spice. My wife ate it cold and raved about it. My mother-in-law also said that this was some of the best fish she has ever tasted. Finally, my kids had some the next afternoon and also raved about it. This fish is special. SWEET POTATOES - Also amazing although I didn't taste the pineapple flavor. It was most likely a glaze that was mixed in with the potatoes. CORNBREAD - I loved it. It's glazed with Cleo's 24 karat good sauce. I'm glad that I purchased extra. MAC N CHEESE - I will give an 8 out of 10. It was definitely above average. Cleo's was great and I will definitely return when in Chicago. Can't wait to try more selections and get this delicious catfish again.

    Andre W.

    Well I can confirm the reputation for this place is well deserved! A New Yorker was the first person to place Cleo's on my radar as he raved about the awesome soul food here! Said it was some of the best he's had! I was like ok, let me order via DoorDash and see whats up. Food was really good as I got the classic creole fried 6 wings, mac & cheese, and pineapple candied sweet potatoes along with the corn muffin dipped in 24 carat gold sauce! While it was good ordered, I knew the true test would be to show up in person to try. Came by last week to see if it was even better in person! The restaurant itself isnt the biggest as it has about 4 dining tables and the rest is window seating which seats about 6. You can of course order and pickup. I ran back my doordash order from months prior, but was convinced by the young lady at the counter I should add on Mississippi Sunshine sweet tea. She was right...drink was very good and a nice size. The seasoning on the wings is very much on point and some of the best I've had! Mac & Cheese and sweet potatoes are a must and goes well with the wings. That muffin is something else! Woooo! I joked with the staff that everything was made with crack as everything I ate/drank is addictive. Staff is very nice and attentive! You can tell they take pleasure in providing a great experience at Cleo's

    Raven A.

    FOOD IS 10/10. probably the best catfish I've had in my life and I'm from Louisiana! That sweet sauce set it off!!! The sides were perfection. The cornbread was moist like cake. I loved it!!! Service was good. We accidentally walked in 4 minutes before opening and they made us go back outside lol. It's fine, it was just freezing outside and we took an Uber here. It's cramped in here. So be prepared to be squished!! Not a place for large groups in my opinion. Took some time for the food to come out but well worth it. Honestly the food makes up for everything!! I would 10/10 recommend and I'm definitely stopping by again next time I'm in Chicago.

    The House Cat
    Firmiana W.

    Probably my favorite place to grab lunch on a longer lunch break in the Loop! Service takes a while, but when the food comes out, it's absolutely worth it. Everything fried to perfection. Both the fried chicken and fried catfish are so crispy, so flavorful. Pieces are substantial and make sure to get sauce (which is extra). The Hot Honey sauce is phenomenal and pairs so well with the catfish. Seating is limited in the shop, but we've always been able to find a spot during lunch.

    Fried catfish topped with crab, corn muffin and wings

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Cleo’s

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    Luella's Southern Kitchen

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    Went in for Juneteenth and it was a great idea!! The chicken was perfectly cooked and the waffles…read morewere delicious. I promise myself next time I come back I HAVE TO TRY Something else on the menu the chicken & waffles is so good I just can't help myself. We went in as right when they open.. so it was quiet and our food came out quickly. But lines started forming shortly after. They were booked for the whole day with reservations- so glad we made them! The service was excellent. The owner came to our table to check in on us- it made a big difference.

    Was inspired by social media foodie Tim Shropshire to come here the next time we were in Chicago…read more The food was amazing. Comes our piping hot! The chicken was delicious and the pancakes were out of this world. Similar to some of the other comments, it would be nice to first come in, sit down, get relax then have someone take your order when dining in. However you place your order at the front door and then can sit down. The customer service lacked tremendously from the youthful stuff(late teens/very early 20's) But I will say the most underwhelming thing about this experience was the building. Inside & out it was very primitive & just flat out old. I know they just moved from another location and looking to get their foot in the door. But hopefully a renovation is in the plans. The inside is a bit of an eye soar. Needless to say, I would come back if in the area because of the food. But I wouldn't go out of my way patronize them.

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    The sign of start of something great
    The sign of start of something great
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    The SoulFood Lounge

    The SoulFood Lounge

    4.3
    (212 reviews)
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    The ambiance is chill but upscale and classy. Black and gold everything and local art work invite…read moreyou into the space. The hostess was insightful and inviting, like eating at someone's house who loves you. Outside of all of that the Mediterranean lamb was phenomenal. As someone who has eaten lamb in the Middle East this was delightful, with the rice and flavorful kale it's a wonderful bite full. Large serving sizes...and that grilled pound cake lawd

    The restaurant is small and quaint with about 8-9 tables, I would highly suggest reservations. We…read morewere greeted and sat promptly, infused water was bought to the table and within 3-4 minutes the server arrived. While we waited music was being played so its hard to have a conversation. Music is pretty loud in this small space. We decided on the 3 entrees for 69.00 with a glass of wine. We chose the pepper steak, smothered chicken, orange chicken, catfish and spaghetti, and the bbq catfish. Overall the food was ok., The bbq fish was a little to fishy and the smothered chicken was heavily salted. The star of our 6 dishes was the fried piece of catfish. The food came out quickly but nothing was piping hot. The server was OK as well, he did exactly what we expect of a server nothing more nothing less. I will say next time I would take the drive to the West side location, to me the food choices are better as well as the service.

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    Interior
    Interior
    Grilled Pound Cake
    Grilled Pound Cake
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    Yardbird Table & Bar

    Yardbird Table & Bar

    3.8
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    Dropped into Yardbird in Chicago for their happy hour, and it proved to be a great choice. The…read moreatmosphere was lively, but what really elevated the night was the exceptional service. Our server, Miguel, was phenomenal. She was attentive, fast, and gave us some spot-on recommendations. Per her advice, we ordered the deviled eggs with jalapeño, hands down the highlight of the table. The deviled eggs with paired with that subtle jalapeño kick was absolutely perfect. For the mains, the chicken and waffles were good, carrying that solid comfort food flavor you expect. The waffles were a bit soft for my taste. To drink, the sidecar was mixed perfectly, well-balanced, crisp, and hit the exact right note. Giving it 4 stars only because while the mains were good, the starters and the outstanding service from Miguel were what truly stole the show. I'll definitely be back to hang out at the bar again nest time I am in town!

    Very first time visiting Yardbird's while visiting Chicago since it was on our to- try list. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but were able to be sat immediately. We were greeted by the host in which I believe to be the manager. He was pleasant and welcome. The restaurant itself is aesthetically appealing and it gives an upscale vibe. We sat and didn't have to wait too long for the waitress. She was nice and assisted up accordingly! I ordered the bottle of champagne for mimosas with pineapple and orange juice and was pleasantly surprised by the $35 price since we're used to paying twice that back home. The food came out pretty quick and was hot and ready to eat. All of our food was good well and we all enjoyed our dishes. My only takeaway would be if guests ordered bottled water and/or champagne, the waitress should poor them into the glasses for you. From my experience, this is something that I thought was a norm. Overall, great place to eat!

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    Yardbird Table & Bar
    Yardbird Table & Bar
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    Dawn AM Eatery

    Dawn AM Eatery

    4.1
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    6.8 mi
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    I've been here a few times, and they never disappoint!…read more The ambiance is so bright and inviting. I love how the place is decorated. The bar is full, and they make great drinks as well. The servers are great and attentive. The food does not disappoint! I love the pot roast and jalapeño cheddar grits. That is sooooo good you cannot go wrong ordering that. I've also had the fried catfish on top of the jalapeño cheddar grits, and it was delicious as well! The French toast is very good as well. I tried the fried chicken for the first time during my last visit, and it was impressed. Overall, this is a nice establishment with good food options. They serve breakfast all day, so you don't have to go at a certain time of day to try it. I recommend booking a reservation during the weekends because they can get pretty busy. Parking on the streets is limited, but there is a parking garage around the corner that allows visitors to park on the top floor. Go check them out for some delicious food and drinks!

    Overall, the place was nice and had a good atmosphere. When we were first seated, our table was…read moredirty, but the staff came over and cleaned it right away, which I appreciated. I ordered the chicken with two sides. Everything could have used a lot more seasoning. It had potential, but the flavors were pretty mild. Overall, it was a decent experience, but there's definitely room for improvement when it comes to the food.

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    Delicious and fun!
    Delicious and fun!
    Pot Roast & Grits
    Pot Roast & Grits
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    Cleo’s - southern - Updated July 2026

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