Far exceeded expectations. Professional, prompt and courteous staff. Good food, well executed. read more

My husband and I are new arrivals to the Chicago area and are always on the lookout for new places to discover and enjoy in the area. We found out about Inspiration Kitchens in Garfield Park on Groupon and, since we are on a budget, decided to definitely check it out! We could not have been more pleased with the experience. The wait staff (Jeffrey) was so friendly and welcoming with prompt service to boot. The atmosphere is very modern and clean with a homey feel. The menu looked very exciting with lots of different ingredients listed in the dishes. There is also lots of variety. To begin, we ordered the bruschetta ($6) which was the most interesting bruschetta I've ever had--DELICIOUS! I ordered the Ancho Marinated Beef for my entrée ($12--the most expensive menu price). My taste buds were amazed. It was fantastic. For dessert we ordered the Peach Cobbler ($6) which was served in a festive mason jar--also very yummy. The food presentation was beautiful but not too flashy. The best part was being able to have a world-class meal with my husband at such an amazingly reasonable price, even without the groupon! We will definitely return many many times more and bring friends and family. The food was amazing, the service was great and the cause is wonderful. Please treat yourself to a wonderful meal at an unbeatable price and support a great organization. read more

After visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory (which I learned has a really cute children's area) we came here for lunch. I love the mission of this restaurant and fully intend on taking more friends here to support it. They provide training programs for those living in poverty so that they can find jobs in the food service industry. Our server was very sweet and was able to describe all the delicious food on the menu to us. She recommended the brussel sprouts, and they were amazing (also they were only $3 and served 4). We also had the shrimp po boy which was cooked well and seasoned nicely and only $8. The lyonnaise salad was perfection, just as good if not better than nice restaurants. Very impressed with the food and the price is unbeatable. So glad to have a place like this in the city. read more

Wonderful food. Wonderful staff. Wonderful mission. This is a Chicago treasure. I encourage you to go, eat, and really learn about this amazing organization. read more

A few weeks ago, we hosted my friend's bridal shower at the Inspiration Kitchens location in Garfield Park. First of all, Veah Larde on the catering team was fantastic to work with. She was always responsive and flexible to meet the needs of our party. When we arrived on the day of, everything was just as we had discussed. We ordered french toast, veggie scrambler, bacon, chicken sausage, breakfast potatoes, fruit salad and Inspiration Kitchens provided fresh fruit juices for our mimosa bar (BYOB was a plus for catering). All of the food was delicious, the space was perfect for our group, and they even brought us a bunch of boxes so that we could take the extra food home with us. We had great service with everything we needed throughout the party. Very affordable catering experience for a good cause. Thank you to the whole team for making the bridal shower a success! read more

Very enjoyable, delicious eggs and pancakes, and fun conversation with the servers. For a good cause as well!

I love the food here. Everything is well prepared, and please, please, please try the Gumbo and the Shrimp & Grits!! Such a great cause to support. Coming here is a win-win!! read more

service is damn slow. No enough waitress to serve. I sat there for 30 minutes after ordering my food. Dont go there if you are hungry.

This place is seriously amazing. We went for brunch around 11:30am on a Saturday after walking around the conservatory across the street. The restaurant was less than half full, so we didn't need a reservation. The staff was very friendly and the ambiance is great. But the best part was definitely the food. I had the vegetarian biscuits and gravy and my partner had the chicken and waffles. It was absolutely delicious and so much more affordable than the hipster brunch places around the city. Obviously the most wonderful part of this is that the restaurant is serving as a social good. We will definitely be back and telling others! read more

Great spot to have breakfast when visiting the Garfield Park Conservatory. There is small parking lot and tons of free on street parking. If this place was downtown there would be lines of people waiting to get in. We had the fried green tomatoes, biscuits and gravy and shrimp and grits. Food was delicious and perfectly prepared. read more

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I co-hosted a baby shower for 15 people at Inspiration Kitchens on 6/9/2013. I worked with Mike, the catering coordinator, to plan the event in the private room. I was able to select a menu (quiche, croissants, fresh fruit, chicken sausage, OJ, coffee) in advance and we brought in our own cake and champagne to make mimosas. The food was delicious and went over well with the crowd. Monique and her wait staff provided excellent service and were wonderful to work with throughout the event. I highly recommend the private room if you'd like to host a small party or a meeting. It's ideal for 10-20 people. While the room itself isn't anything too fancy, it has character and you're able to bring in your own decorations, flowers, etc. There is no room rental fee, just a minimum charge for the bill. The food is very reasonably priced. Inspiration Kitchens has a great mission. If you're planning an event, consider supporting a great organization while you're at it. read more

The food here is excellent. I had gumbo and my husband had the breakfast bowl and we both walked out stuffed to the gills. They also serve a house iced tea that's to die for. It was blueberry-hibiscus when we went. read more

The worst thing about this place is trying to narrow down your selection. Luckily, I went with a group of 8 and I am not shy about trying things off of other peoples' plates. We went for dinner, and everything was fantastic. The portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. They even have a little parking lot if you are worried about parking on the street. Make sure to check their hours for the restaurant before you head over, as they are only open Wednesday lunch thru Sunday brunch due to training programs they host for the community and they warn that hours are subject to change. This place is a gem for this neighborhood and will have a long wait time before you know it... read more

Good food and a great mission, what isn't there to love?! I went to inspiration kitchens for Sunday brunch, and had a very positive experience. We got there close to when it opened at 10 am and were seated promptly. Unfortunately, they were all out of fried green tomatoes, but the Brussel sprouts that they recommended instead were fantastic! I ordered the seasonal quiche and my mom got the biscuits and pork gravy. All of the food was excellent, my only complaint would be that my quiche was on the small side and the majority of my plate was the side salad (which was delicious). I'd definitely come back again to try some more of the menu! read more

Food tastes like a home cooked meal. Staff is very nice and polite. For cheap prices, this is a definite yes.

Wow! Was Completely speechless after leaving this place.. To say this is a hidden gem is an understatement. Words can not describe how Impressed we were . From the moment we pulled up the property has an outdoor garden that they pick fresh produce from to use in their dishes. The decor and ambience is super bright and welcoming. From the bright blue walls to the personalized wood. White linen napkins and a bottle of fresh cold water in glass bottles. We were welcomed by the Sweetest woman ever. Se was so natural and so happy that I wanted to her to sit and join us! She was super motherly and She said I had to get the basil lemonade and the crab cake Benedict. " holy smokes lady did I just hear you right." Basil lovers be warned you will fall in love with this concoction . (Why hadn't I thought of this before. )I couldn't believe it was only $2 it went perfect with my champagne!! Oh did I say byob yet?? When my monster sized crab cake Benedict arrived I was speechless... How is this only $10 . My mom ordered the 2 egg special ( she's pretty simple.) For dessert we shared the French toast with blueberries and marscapone!! Wow, the batter was even better. When our bill came. It was less than $30 how is that possible I have no idea. So I saved the best for last. This restaurant is not just a place to eat it's an organization that trains people that are or near homelessness . Most of the money goes to support people in need and gives them a job they may not have had a chance at. Their families also get a free meal at the restaurant. Why this place isn't packed every day is beyond me. I want to always go in and get a table but I want this place to succeed and stay open. I can only hope we have an elite yelp event here! Ps they also host weddings and other events. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Monster sized crab cake bene!!! The best thing there - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband, son, and I went to Inspiration Kitchens (Garfield Park) yesterday, and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the brunch. I had the butternut squash soup with the quinoa burger- yum; and my husband had "the best pulled pork sandwich that he's ever had". After brunch we packed our son into his stroller and walked over to the Garfield Park Conservatory for a walk through the flowers and a peek at the goldfish in the pond, which was a welcome change from the frigidly cold temperatures outside. Also, they are right on the green line and have plenty of parking, so it is an easy trip over there from the S. Loop. read more

Great quality food with affordable prices. I went to the establishment with a large group and everyone walked away from the experience satisfied, wanting to return, and feeling good about supporting the mission of the restaurant and organization. read more

Everything about my experience at Inspiration Kitchens was fantastic. The atmosphere, the service, and most of all the food!! The quinoa burger was absolutely fantastic, and the hummus was equally amazing. I loved the basil lemonade as well. I can't wait to return!!! read more

Order the shrimp and grits and u will be a happy camper. Beautiful low key gourmet restaurant with unbelievable prices. Its about time they bring some nice things in the hood... read more

We used IK for our wedding reception catering for ~120 people and are very happy with the choice. Not only does it support social and environmentally responsible practices, the food is delicious! We ordered only appetizers instead of having a sit down dinner and Sean from IK helped me pick a diverse array of apps, and in perfect quantities. We only had a little bit left at the end of the night and no one left hungry. Drunk maybe, but not hungry. The only issue that we had was that we asked that the food be dropped off 1/2 hour before the guests were to arrive, but it was dropped off at least 20 minutes later than we wanted. Cutting it that close did not help the stress levels for the day but I don't want to give them a full star less just for that. Otherwise, eating at IK is delicious and reasonable. Especially the cheesy biscuits and gravy for brunch. Oh man, so good! Plus, supporting a good cause like this should earn you warm fuzzies, which to me is important to balancing completely debaucherous partying :). read more

I came here for an early dinner on a Wednesday and the food really lived up to expectations. I ordered the quinoa burger and the texture and sauce were amazing. I ordered salad with the burger and it was really fresh. For dessert, we ordered the red velvet cheesecake and the Louisiana crumb cake. The cheesecake was very rich with a strong taste of red velvet. The crumb cake was light with subtle flavor and the nuts added a welcome crunch. We shared the two desserts amongst the three of us which was a lot of dessert but glad we tried both. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I think it's worth mentioning that this is a 5 star restaurant independent of the good cause it supports. Great good, great value, great service, cool space, and BYOB = a winning restaurant, no matter whether it's a for profit enterprise or a community minded organization such as this one. Check this place out. read more

Disclaimer: This review doesn't include a Salmonella infection! When stormed out of this place the only regret I had in mind was the incessant question: "Boy oh boy how did I forget to snap a picture..." A picture of the absolutely RAW/ PINK RED disgusting chicken breast that came in the chicken sandwich. After about a 30 minute wait in this 4.5 stars awarded joint we received a plate of shrimp and grits so grossly salty it made us cringe followed by a plate of nicely crisped out this outside completely raw on the inside chicken breast. When we called the waitress to show her their product the first word that came out of her mouth wasn't " I'm so sorry" or "I apologize", nope it was "AWE HeALL". We had to just run for the hills before catching any septic doses of salmonella. All in all this was a horrid experience and we were still in shock when we got back home a few hours later. If a restaurant can successfully screw up frying a chicken breast then it is time to consider a different line of work. May i suggest musical instruments sales. On a separate but related note, it is a complete mystery as to how this place earned 4.5 stars. Now, after a few similar incidents I'm starting to doubt the integrity of reviewers on yelp. read more

I visited on a Saturday morning for brunch, and would now rank this among my favorite breakfasts in Chicago. I split the chicken and waffles and seasonal root vegetables with fried egg and onion gravy. Both were tasty. The flavors and texture of the chicken and waffles made for a delicious combo. The sweet options (rotating selections of pancakes and french toast) also sounded tasty. The service was great - friendly, helpful and attentive to coffee refills. The space is really lovely with lots of light and a pleasant atmosphere and plenty of room. I highly recommend a visit, this place is a gem! read more

We had the Daily Pancake. It was a near perfect blueberry pancake. I tried both the catfish po' boy and the crawfish cake Benedict. Couldn't be happier with my choices. Have yourself a basil lemonade or BYOB! read more

This restaurant is gorgeous! And the food is really good too. I had my wedding shower here and my guests have not stopped raving about it. The crab cakes were delicious and everything was presented beautifully. Thanks Inspiration! read more

This place is going to be discovered soon. It's too good in terms of ambiance, service, and food to remain somewhat of a secret much longer. I've had lunch here twice with two different groups (a total of 32 people!) and each time it has pleased everyone. Go, enjoy, be able to say "I knew it when...". Be part of what hopefully will be an East Garfield renaissance. read more

This place is right by my Art Studio, its such a find for this neighborhood. Their mission is admirable too! The menu is exciting and executed really well!!! So bummed they are closed on Tues, since that is the day I am in the city mostly. This place is worth going out of your way for to try!!!!! Thank goodness there's a parking lot on the premises, one that looks like an oasis in the summer no less! read more

Finally a brunch place where the food not only tastes worth it, but is cheaper than what you'd expect from one of the north side joints. Even more, it has a fantastic mission. Much to my Southern mother's dismay, my sister said that the shrimp and grits was the best she'd ever had. The vegetarian fare was plentiful and tasty. It's definitely a great spot to head to after checking out the conservatory across the way. read more

This place is amazing! First the food is really good. They have gourmet quality food for great prices. I have gone here for lunch as well as breakfast and both dishes were great. I love the shrimp and grits, the duck skillet, the red velvet pancakes and the shrimp Po-boy I had there. In the summertime they even grown veggies in their gardedn which they use in their food and also can and sale. And not to mention that this place is a Non profit that helps teach culinary skills to people trying to get on their feet. Great cause, great food. Nothing bad to say about this place. read more

I have been meaning to review this place for a a while now. It is a hidden gem for sure! We went there with some friends from out of town and they were amazed by the quality of the food. You can taste the freshness and every bite. What I remember most is the cucumber lemonade my boyfriend drank Also that the proceeds help the people in the neighborhood is an excellent way to spend your money! We went for breakfast and were overwhelmed by the quality of the ingredients, the level of freshness, as well as the customer service! We will be back again and tell our friends about it as well! read more

I loved the interior decorating of this place, it's fitting and is inviting to all who visit. I had a smokes fish sandwich (I forgot what type of fish), that was actually in the form of a slaw put between two scrumptious brioche buns that were amazing! Their sweet potato fries were pretty tasty as well. Their mac and cheese did not disappoint! You should definitely check this place out! Good food for an amazing cause! If you wanna help out your Chicago community while giving your tastebuds an awakening, RUN TO THE PLACE! read more