Brûlée’s Rise as a Brunch Destination in Chicago

Brûlée, a brunch restaurant in Chicago, has gained swift popularity with its focus on classic Southern American cuisine. Chef Emani Roberts, along with her mother and general manager Shronda Dunn, launched the establishment in the South Loop in November. This March, Executive Chef Nia Nunn, previously a sous chef at Mahari, joined their Black women-owned venture.

The restaurant was recently awarded the Readers’ Choice Award for New Restaurant of the Year. One of its standout offerings is the fried catfish and grits dish, featuring golden catfish fillets on smoked Gouda grits, topped with a Cajun crawfish cream sauce. This dish has been a menu staple since the beginning, elevating familiar flavors to a higher level with elements like an elegant white wine sauce.

The Virgil Special has seized attention as a favorite early on; it includes the gilded catfish or deep-fried wings, along with tender collard greens and buttery candied yams. Chef Roberts describes this dish as reminiscent of Thanksgiving, filled with tradition and cherished memories. It is named after Virgil Harper, an Atlanta chef known for Southern brunch restaurants. Roberts honed her skills with Harper post her culinary school days, exchanging recipes and learning to make greens from him.

The Virgil Special wings come with a house-made hot honey sauce, initially tossed in the sauce but now served on the side due to customer preferences. Another intriguing dish is the lobster and sweet potato waffle, where candied yams are integrated into the batter to form a Belgian waffle, adorned with cinnamon streusel, vanilla cream, and salted caramel sauce, and crowned with a fried lobster tail.

Brûlée doesn’t serve crème brûlée due to past misunderstandings from diners regarding the traditional crackling caramelization and lacking demand for desserts. The menu is nonetheless rich with sweet attractions like French toast, waffles, pancakes, and croissant beignets. An avocado Croast, favored by Chef Roberts, features flat-smashed croissants topped with Calabrian chile, avocado spread, red onions, roasted tomatoes, arugula, grated Parmesan cheese, and white truffle oil. Though the intense chile paste can overpower the other ingredients.

While some beverages like the Caramel Bru’latte and strawberry lemon drop cocktail were found lacking in flavor, The Blossom drink stood out as refreshing, with its cherry compound, sparkling water, and lemon juice. The restaurant prides itself on the skilled choreography between the front and back-house staff, enhancing the guest experience during peak hours.

Floor-to-ceiling windows impart flattering light, ideal for diverse dining groups. Emani Roberts’ grandmother, famed for the candied yams recipe and with strong ties to the restaurant, recently celebrated her marriage at Brûlée, showcasing its adaptability for special events.

Brûlée is located at 2036 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. They are open Thursday to Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with competitive pricing for their brunch specialties. The establishment is rated very good to excellent, emphasizing its culinary promise.