Virtue - Chicago

Reservation made for a Friday night. Quickly seated. Very friendly wait staff. The green tomato and gumbo starters were excellent. Entrees tasty. Cornbread is a... read more Reservation made for a Friday night. Quickly seated. Very friendly wait staff. The green tomato and gumbo starters were excellent. Entrees tasty. Cornbread is a must do. Wanted dessert but we were too stuffed. Hope to get back to try the desserts. The only knock is it's a bit loud but food and staff are excellent.

I've lived in Chicago my entire life and have had my fair share of excellent food at restaurants like Alinia and Roiser. But I have never, EVER, had the kind of... read more I've lived in Chicago my entire life and have had my fair share of excellent food at restaurants like Alinia and Roiser. But I have never, EVER, had the kind of experience that Virtue offers. Entering the restaurant is like going to the home of a close friend. The hostesses greeted us with a smile, ensured us that our table would be ready on time then personally escorted us to the bar for a pre-dinner cocktail. Little touches like this previewed the amazing things to come. Our server answered every question we had about each entree in detail. She clearly knew what was in each dish, down to a shellfish base in an appetizer. And she was an exceptional person on top of it all. Kind, attentive without being obtrusive, and always with.a smile in her voice. The food? Lord above there wasn't a bad choice on our entire table. Gumbo was superior to any we've had, including in New Orleans. The fried green tomatoes are topped with a shrimp remoulade and could easily be a light meal. They were crunchy on the outside and tender-crisp on the inside. Biscuits were tender, Greens and pot likker were peppery and texturally pleasing. Don't miss the decadent cornbread and mac and cheese. Both were beyond delicious. We had the short ribs, catfish, and mushroom entree and each bite was like a party on the tongue. We ended the meal with some of the best vanilla puddin' I've ever sampled. The open kitchen allowed us to see the professionalism the chefs put into every dish. The owner ran the orders with a practised pace, never loud and demeaning but always with authority and attention to detail. He stopped by our table and after asking if we enjoyed our meal, asked did you feel comfortable in our restaurant Yes, Chef. Like I was dining in the home of an old friend. Michelan should take a closer look here.

This is a tough establishment to get into, and after our dinner, it is clear why. Reservations were booked out during our entire stay except for a “too late for... read more This is a tough establishment to get into, and after our dinner, it is clear why. Reservations were booked out during our entire stay except for a “too late for us” time on one evening, so we opted to roll the dice for a “Blue Haired Special” at 4:30 on a Saturday. We were seated at the bar, (only option), and at that time of day, this was fine and comfortable. The food was beyond outstanding. We opted to share small plates: Gumbo, Green tomatoes, Collard greens, and Gizzards. The portions were perfect for two, and the taste was full on Southern Love. Staff was efficient, attentive, and courteous. Make plans to visit Virtue. Chef and staff are doing amazing things.

Went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was booked up the entire day, but luckily it was only about a 10min wait for seats at the bar. After tasting the food,... read more Went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was booked up the entire day, but luckily it was only about a 10min wait for seats at the bar. After tasting the food, I understand completely as to why they are booked and busy. The food was absolutely deliciousand seasoned to perfection as well as healthy portion sizes. The star of the show was the Strawberry Bread Pudding. I would comeback to this restaurant specifically for that as I will make it a point to eat here the next times I come to Chicago.

My friend and I came super late for their happy hour and they were still nice to sit us by the bar. We immediately put in our order with gumbo (delicious, not o... read more My friend and I came super late for their happy hour and they were still nice to sit us by the bar. We immediately put in our order with gumbo (delicious, not over empowering) catfish slider (delicious) cocktail peach tree fizz cocktail patienceis virtue Drinks and strong and food were delicious. I want to come back and check out their full menu as well.