Erick Williams is an acclaimed chef and restaurateur, known for his modern interpretations of Southern American and Soul Food cuisine. He is the chef-owner of several restaurants in Chicago, including the James Beard...
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Virtue Restaurant is nothing short of sensational. Every dish reflects a perfect balance of elevated Southern comfort and culinary artistry, creating an unforgettable dining experience from start to finish.
The seafood is among the finest you’ll find anywhere in the city—fresh, expertly prepared, and bursting with flavor. The cornbread deserves legendary status all by itself: warm, buttery, perfectly moist, and simply to die for. And the greens with smoked turkey? Absolutely phenomenal. Rich, soulful, and seasoned to perfection, they embody everything great Southern cuisine should be.
What made the evening even more memorable was the exceptional service. Our server, Lenny, was spectacular—attentive, knowledgeable, efficient, and genuinely committed to ensuring we had an outstanding dining experience.
Virtue doesn’t just serve a meal; it celebrates Southern hospitality, culture, and extraordinary food at the highest level. If you’re visiting Hyde Park or anywhere in Chicago, this restaurant belongs at the very top of your dining list.
An easy five stars. I’ll definitely be back.
Absolutely fantastic meal from beginning to end. First off, everyone was kind and helpful, and we managed to get a table despite not having a reservation. The homemade lemonade was delicious, as was the sweet tea (we had to order 2). The food was also incredible! I would highlight the chicken liver mousse, the short ribs, the salmon and the cabbage (but everything was great). Would come again. Highly highly recommend!
5
5 star experience!! The staff was friendly and accommodating. Food was the true definition of southern comfort. Every dish we tried was delicious. I rarely see gizzards on a restaurant menu and they nailed it. Collards, mac & cheese, biscuits, short rib all were wonderful. I also loved the hibiscus mocktail.
I grew up in the south and the flavors match what I’d expect for a top notch southern style meal.
3
Something is definitely different about the food here. It doesn’t taste the way it did when they first opened.
If you’re not from Chicago, this might be some of the best food you’ve ever had. But if you are from Chicago, then you know the macaroni is not better than your grandma’s or your mom’s. I wouldn’t order it again.
The cornbread, however, was amazing, and I would definitely get that again. They are known for their short rib dish, and it was okay. My cousin also enjoyed her fish and grits.
That said, I was really disappointed by the price of the wine. We ordered the Black Girl Magic Riesling, which is about a $15 bottle at Target, but we were charged $65 for it. I understand restaurants need to make a profit, but that markup felt ridiculous. For that price, I could have bought four bottles.
Overall, some items were good, but the experience wasn’t what I remembered from when they first opened. I’m not rushing to come back.
5
From the moment we sat down, our server set the tone for an exceptional experience. Attentive without being overbearing, genuinely warm, and deeply knowledgeable — they read our table perfectly and offered suggestions that elevated every course. Nothing felt scripted; great hospitality simply seemed to come naturally to them.
The food was equally outstanding. We enjoyed the gumbo with extra rice (our servers suggestion to help with the spice), cornbread, greens, sweet potatoes, sunchoke (our server’s suggestion), and carrot cake — and if you take nothing else from this review, order the sunchoke and sweet potatoes. Both are absolutely worth it. Everything was so good that we completely forgot to take pictures when the plates hit the table, which honestly says it all.
After a rough journey from Detroit, walking in felt like exhaling. Rog G didn’t just make the trip worth it — they made it memorable. This is the standard every dining experience should be held to.
