Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley is a Black-owned upscale soul food restaurant and cocktail lounge in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, combining Southern comfort food, creative cocktails, and a lively dining atmosphere. Founded by restaurateur Kevin Kelley, the restaurant brings a contemporary approach to Southern hospitality, offering a destination for dinner, weekend brunch, date nights, and special celebrations.

The menu features classic Southern dishes alongside seafood specialties and modern interpretations of comfort food. Signature selections include Southern fried chicken, lobster and waffles, Caribbean jerk lamb chops, shrimp and grits, and fried catfish. Guests can also enjoy surf and turf combinations, blackened salmon, braised short ribs, and Cajun crab cakes.

Appetizers offer additional opportunities to explore the restaurant’s flavors, with selections such as Dream Eggs, Trinity Eggrolls, honey hot chicken bites, and fried pickles. Weekend brunch brings together savory Southern favorites, specialty waffles, and celebratory brunch cocktails.

The restaurant’s signature Kocktails are an important part of the experience. The drink menu features the 24K Gold Fashioned, Peach D’Ussé Frosé, margarita flights, espresso martinis, and specialty cocktail towers. Creative presentations and distinctive flavor combinations complement the restaurant’s food offerings.

Kitchen + Kocktails also features DJs, live entertainment, and a vibrant lounge atmosphere, making it a popular setting for birthdays, group outings, and evenings with friends. Its River North location provides convenient access to downtown Chicago’s theaters, hotels, and entertainment destinations.

For special occasions, the restaurant offers private and semi-private dining arrangements, corporate gatherings, and group celebrations. Pickup and delivery are also available.

With its combination of Southern cuisine, signature cocktails, music, and upscale hospitality, Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley offers a distinctive soul food dining experience in downtown Chicago.