Hooray for a new Cleo's location! The Bronzeville location has been coating our bellies for years and now I can fall asleep midday at work with this location so close to the job LOL The chicken thighs are amazing and I love a good waffle so the Southern Belle was exactly what I wanted and it did not disappoint! I ordered pickup right before noon on a Monday and it was ready when I arrived. There also were only a couple people sitting inside if you wanted to eat there. This food at this location held up to the flagship so I'll definitely be returning! read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service was great, everyone behind the counter was welcoming and friendly. I've read comments that the staff was singing and not "working" but everyone I observed was in motion! Why not 5 stars? The wait. We just happened to walk by so decided to order food, clearly everyone else already knew to order ahead so that was my bad. We waited 60 minutes at peak lunch time for food, which is not unheard of but typically at a more traditional restaurant you at least get some bread or crackers or something small to nibble on. Also, no public restrooms (even dine in customers). Not a big deal but as a mid-40s female, I need to plan these things out lol. Food was great, my friend and I shared the Flyover and a side of fries. I would definitely go again if in the area but would order ahead! read more

Cleo’s - Flyover and fries - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is so amazing and I love that it's downtown. I have been to their other location and I was hoping that everything would taste the same. I was not disappointed everything was that and more in the food and the service. Keith was behind the register and he was very helpful in getting my order completed. I was able to get the chicken and fish. They were so good and crispy. I could not ask for anything better. The yams were sweet and on point like how my grandma used to make. The Mac and cheese were good and cheesy. Lastly I was able to try the purple rain. That joint tasted like kool aid that I used to make as a kid. I will definitely be back for some more and bring my friends along with me. read more

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Really disappointed. Have been wanting to try this restaurant since Keith Lee's TikTok. Finally ordered in uber eats and it said wait time was an hour. I waited and walked to the location by the time it said my food would be ready. The store was closed! I also called the restaurant and no one answered. I canceled my order on uber eats and got charged and when I tried disputing it saying the restaurant was closed so I never got my food, they said because I canceled after the restaurant "accepted" my order, they can't issue a refund. Shame on uber eats and the restaurant. read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hmm... my mom got the Keith special and I got hot cat with a side of Mac. We loved the Mac, that was excellent! My mom really enjoyed the sweet potatoes and I as well. We both agreed the fish was fried perfectly but way too salty! I couldn't tell at first because the honey hot sauce masked that very well the sauce was delicious it just wasn't much on the fish unfortunately. If the fish were not SO salty the flavor would have been perfect. I mean pure salt!! The ambience was chill but started to get crowded with people standing around while you eat. The service was good, staff made sure we had what we needed. Overall, just because it was so expensive for such salty fish I give 3 stars we may try them again but I think more so for me the price was so jarring I think I would not revisit! read more

We were enticed by the Keith Lee review and had to try it. First, the negative, we ordered online for pickup with a ready time of 1:30. My order was placed at 12:10. When we arrived, they were pretty busy but customers were leaving happy. Our food wasn't ready and it was going to take an extra 20 minutes (it was ready in extra 35). I should note there's a small eat in area but this is more carry out. When we got our food we were pleased with the amount of food, the quality and most importantly the taste. The catfish had a nice kick, the breading was crispy and the inside was moist and flavorful. The wings also did not disappoint. We were surprised at how delicious the yams and mac and cheese were. The only reason for the missing star in ratings is the promised ready times and the actual time it was put in our hands. Other than that, good customer service, great food. We will be back. read more

Cleo’s - Catfish - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here for a lunch with my colleague and I was disappointed in the food. It pains me to write a low star review but I just wasn't pleased with the meal. I ordered the catfish, along with Mac and cheese and candy yams. For 38.00, I expect my food to be pipping hot and my sides to be BUSSIN! This was not it. My catfish was lukewarm at best although seasoned well. It wasn't crispy because it was not hot. My Mac and cheese was crumbly or had a crumble texture. I don't even know how to explain it, and the yams lacked flavor. The corn bread muffin was yummy. At high price, this isn't a spot you can really sit and enjoy your meal. You grab and go. I'm happy the owner is doing well and expanded location. However I will not return. For what you pay for the food here, it needs to be knock out the park good. I've learnt to not always believe the hype like tick tock and instagram because they will send you off. read more

I went here on my lunch hour. The food was cooked to order. My fish was hot with heat and spicy with flavor. The chicken was good and crispy. The wait wasn't long and the cashier was so pleasant. I was definitely full and couldn't finish. The establishment was clean and welcoming. I will be going back again on my lunch. I've been to their other location and the same sentiments apply. Go check them out! read more

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I seen this restaurant on the best places to eat while in Chicago. It was a short walk from my hotel before catching my flight home. I was sure to give myself enough time to order, because I seen a wealth of reviews speaking about time. The service was amazing from the cashier. We placed our order, and were given a time of 20 minutes. We agreed because we wanted to try the food and that would give us enough time to eat and travel to the airport. Sadly, that 20 minutes turned in 50. With reassurance that it was almost done, it was not. I am not upset at the service, but I would hope that there would be improvement with the time. We were now rushing to the airport, and were not able to try the food until actually being on the plane. The catfish was seasoned beautifully, flaky, with a little kick of spice. The cornbread muffin was just okay to me as well as the Mac. The pineapple yams were good. My husband enjoyed the chicken, and my daughter really enjoyed the tea and lemonade mix. I will say that I could have done with a little less sauce with this meal. Everything had a sweet glaze over it, which after a while makes you feel a little under a sugar rush. Next time I am in Chicago, I would make Cleo's my first stop instead of my last. read more

I stopped by Clee's after work on Thursday I was able to find parking right away. I had to pay to park because I was at the downtown location. I have pre-ordered my order on Uber eats so I could just pick it up and go the food was absolutely phenomenal. The weight staff was very nice and kind. The ambience was not appealing. I probably would never dine inside . I'm definitely coming back to get more food. It is on the pricier side but one meal can make three servings I spent about $50 with tax included for just myself. read more

I thought this place was takeout only but they actually had a few tables inside, so we got to enjoy our food hot! We ordered online beforehand and waited a bit at the place before receiving our order. The interior is clean and small. Between the two of us we split "the Ten" (based on Keith Lee's review), the crab fries, and the mac and cheese. This was plenty of food for two hungry people, but we went a little overboard because we wanted to try a lot of different items. The catfish was thin and crispy, well-seasoned, and nice and tender. The sweet potatoes were very sweet, a good contrast to the saltiness of the catfish, but maybe a little too sweet for our tastes. The liquid of the sweet potatoes also ended up filling the tray a bit and mixed in with the catfish flavor, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. Lastly for the Ten, the cornbread muffin was great! No notes. The crab fries were probably the favorite for both of us. My only wish is that the sauce was a little more evenly distributed rather than drizzled over the top. But the crab was really good, the sauce complemented it nicely, and the waffle fries were a good crispy texture. Finally, the mac and cheese fell a little bit short for us. I liked the flavor but it unfortunately wasn't super hot when we got it so texture wasn't super ideal. I am not that picky about my mac and cheese but it wasn't the best part of the meal. This place is overall really tasty but it was quite pricey. This whole spread was about $60, which is probably a one-time spend for us at this restaurant. Still, if you like southern food, it's worth the try! read more

Cleo’s - The Ten, Crab Fries, Mac and Cheese - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered the Float & Fry, this came with 2 chicken wings, 2 tenders, and 3 cat fish. I think they ran out of chicken wings because i was supposed to get 4 wings and no tenders (i did order 45 minutes before closing). The chicken and the cat fish were extremely salty. Breaded well, but i couldn't even fish the fish because of how salty it was. The sides were okay. Mac and cheese could use more flavor, green beans were a little salty, and the yams were probably the best part of the meal. The 24 karat gold muffin was literally just jiffy cornbread. They also forgot my remoulade sauce. Service was okay. The cashier was sweet but the works just stared at me as i walked in and didn't say hello. Overall I give it a 5/10. I was really hoping it would be amazing but nothing blew me away, just really salty and dissatisfied. read more

Worst soul food I've ever had. Catfish tasted old like it was fried earlier in the day. Yams wayyyyyy too sweet. Like diabetes in a bowl. Golden muffin was hard as a rock and burnt on the bottom. The sauce on top of the muffin was so sticky and weird. Not like on 47th. It tasted like sugar, cornstarch and butter. I ordered online and they gave my order away to someone else so now I had to wait an additional 20 minutes. You'd think the food would be fresh. They gave me more hard, stale and burnt muffins for compensation. Then the damn kitchen area was very dirty. Wasted $60! Mac was okay but cold. The fried chicken was the only thing that I kind of ate, but after eating a little bit of everything I started feeling sick and threw it all in the trash! Never again. read more

Ordered Cleo's through Uber eats and it was still sooo bomb. I'm a huge fan of catfish and it was so good. So much flavor and the more I ate it the better it got. The candied sweet potatoes were also yummy!! Honestly everything was so good I was pretty surprised. Would def come back again!! read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The place is a small shop with a couple of small tables. The food was just alright. The chicken wasn't that well seasoned and it was kind of dry. The sauce for the sandwich was good but could only help so much. We ate in the restaurant so the food was fresh but the syrup very quickly soaked into the waffle and hardened it. The macaroni and cheese were just okay. read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I ordered to go. So so good! The flavors are amazing and cooked to perfection. I got the catfish fillets, Mac & cheese, green beans, cornbread and yams. read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For starters, the food is excellent. If you want to eat here over a lunch hour, you _must_ order ahead. This place is in demand. I recommend getting it to go and sitting by the river. Seating area is tiny and crowded. I had the Float and Fly which thankfully comes with their cornbread muffin. Was that a sweet butter glaze on top? Omg. Wings and catfish were delightful. I need to try the yams next time. read more

Cleo's Soul Food Absolutely love this place! It's southern cookin' with a little twang--full of flavor and always hits the spot. Everything is cooked to order, so it's fresh, hot, and seasoned to perfection with just the right touch of Cajun spice. The chicken and fish are both fabulous, and that cornbread? Next level. It's one of those spots that makes you feel like you're getting a home-cooked meal every time. The space is small, so most people carry out--which we recommend. If you don't preorder, be ready to wait a bit since everything is made fresh. But believe me, it's worth every minute. read more

I used to love them so much best chicken and waffle I have ever had! Chicken was the star, but the waffle can be great too but was drowning in syrup not as crispy as usual. Didn't like that food was served in togo containers for dining in service. Mac and cheese didn't really impress. The space could be cleaner and more inviting. service was cafeteria style. I would say they need to tighten up a bit. I still love this place very much just wish it was as great as when I ate there the very first time. read more

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Make it your business to try this restaurant. Food was hot and fresh. I advise ordering ahead of time, but the wait isn't bad. Staff is friendly. It's a little smaller in the inside but homey. I'll be returning! read more

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Meh, I've had previous experience with their food at the south side location but it was a po boy versus the catfish & chicken which is what I indulged in this visit. Fish was flavorless as most fish is to their defense. The wings had a slight glaze/flavor to them but the fish should come with sauces & a side. It's $16 albeit a lot of food but it needs something else. Highlight of the meal was the biscuit but again without sauces nor a drink you'll damn near choke. For $10 more you get sauce & crab atop the dish though read more

Cleo’s - The Float & Fly Three creole fried chicken wings paired with three catfish filets and a 24-karat gold muffin. - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm a more recent lover of southern/soul food and while in Chicago, I knew it was a must to visit Cleo's, especially after reading the reviews and hearing it was one if the restaurants to try for southern food due to the Keith Lee review. Upon walking in we were greeted and asked to place our order. They let you know up front, it will take TIME to prepare and cook. I reviewed the menu and reviews prior so I knew what I wanted and so did my friends. I ordered the catfish with lump crab meat, pineapple yams, fried chicken wings and 2 golden muffins. I know why the yams, muffin and catfish are so popular, they were all worth the wait of 30ish minutes. My friends ordered the Mac and cheese, sauced wings, hot honey chicken sandwich and green beans. They said their food was good too but the catfish was top tier. The sweet potatoes although great tasting were slightly too sweet for me but they compliment the catfish really well. There aren't many drink options, the seating is limited but the food makes up for it and the hospitality. The cook was kind and working hard as it was a very humid day and was there was only a fan to keep the restaurant cool. If you're in a rush, call ahead for your order! Will def return when I'm back in Chicago at this location or their other location. read more

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Keith Lee is a troll LOL! Cleos is located in the hustle and bustle of downtown Chi Town. Parking is limited on the street and managed by meters. Cleos is quite cozy, with very few tables and chairs. A few feet from the entrance door there is a high top counter with an older lady and two guys behind it. The guys are managing land, sea and hot grease and the lady is managing orders. There is a portable warmer where pre-made side dishes are stored and a portable cooler where pre-made drinks are stored. Food Reviews: Mississippi Sunshine Sweet Tea Lemonade - is super sweet and delicious. It is served in a container large enough to share. It is soooooo good! Mac & Cheese - very curdy cheese, mushy noodles, unique garlic flavor, just taste ok. Fried Chicken Wings - good seasoning but a little too dry. Fried Catfish - fried with a hot sauce batter (I think), very salty and fried dark (I prefer golden fried fish), kinda taste like old grease. Cornbread - salty, sweet, glazed top muffin, is good I would return if someone else want to try it, but it's a been there tried that for me. read more

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I have heard so many things about this place. It's just been all over social media and that they have rated a 10 out of 10. Well to each it's own, but I would give it a a five out of 10 I had Keith Lee special, which was the three catfish fillets with the sauce and the crab meat on top with the three wings and the muffin and the pineapple sweet potato . I will say the chicken had no seasoned at all !!!!!! so it was like nothing and the catfish was a little salty. I wish they would've took some salt off the fish and put it on the chicken I think they should've changed their cooking oil because the fish color was dark . What was very tasty was the sauce that they put on top of the fish with the crab meat that was really good, I enjoyed that part. I would've rather just have that and the muffin was just a regular cornbread muffin with honey on top and it was way too much honey, but it taste like the muffin was jiffy cornbread with honey on top and it, didn't do it for me. The sweet potato pineapple didn't do it for me either. And the place is really really small and I know the prices of rent in the loop is probably ridiculous and she's just trying to make her profit, but stayed crowded. People will constantly coming in and out , I just was not impressed at all I will not be going back. What's good some is not good to all. That's why we have a variety of restaurants and this one is not for me but I will always support black businesses read more

Cleo’s - The Keeley special I ate the crab meat off the top already lol - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My family and I just came out from Vegas and heard of this place and had to come through. The food was IMMACULATE. The catfish was crispy and well seasoned. The corn bread was so soft and sweet. Will be telling all my people about this spot in Chicago. read more

I wanted to place catering order. The first time I called they seemed confused about why I called the ph# on their catering page. The young lady did not identify herself as being with Cleo's. The catering page said they take custom orders they do NOT! You must order from menu she stated. I asked if could do half orders so I did have to pick between the two desserts I wanted they won't do that either... no custom anything. I would suggest you take that off your website if that is the case. I had to send four requests to get a response about placing and order only one of the four did I get and immediate reply that they got my request and would be in touch shortly. They never followed up after that. Two days later they finally emailed back and answered my questions. Then I advised I would have my order in the next day. I did. No response to my order 48 hours later. You are in a service industry having consistent response times and turn around expectations really helps with trust and confidence of your business being a reliable catering source. Still waiting on confirmation giving them one more day. Now the catering menu. There are misprints and duplications and confusing ingredient descriptions. There are no clear descriptions of what is included with a catering order or specifics about what is included with set up for and additional fee. All helpful things to know when placing catering order. This food better be good. I work for a state affiliated agency so could have been great opportunity to share our experience to turn into more business for you. But not starting off well. read more

Cleo’s - Spaghetti listed twice. - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

great delivery pkg and service. fried fish way too spicy for my palate. fried chicken wings crispy and just yummy. waffle fries just ok. really wish they had mashed potatoes will not order from here again but will order from wilma's! read more

Where do I begin? The fried chicken was cooked to absolute perfection--right up there with my Grandma's, which is saying a lot! When you come close to that level, you definitely have my attention. The catfish was equally outstanding, perfectly crispy and delicious. The mac and cheese was a flavorful, baked variety (the only way mac should be made), and it paired perfectly with the fish and chicken. And the cornbread? Whew. I don't know what magic they put in that glaze, but it's unforgettable. Like I said, they've got my attention. Six stars out of five. No notes. read more

I ordered from Cleo's on a Monday a few minutes after opening. Order placed at 11:20 and estimated time given that food would be done was 12:20. I must say, I was skeptical about ordering from here on a Monday since they are closed during the weekend. I tend to wonder about the freshness of food from establishments the day after they open back up. Nonetheless, I took a leap, especially since I was leaving The Chi the next day. When I arrived to pick up my food. I arrived 10 minutes before 12:20 and my food was sitting on a counter with other orders. I already knew it probably had been sitting for some time, and it had. So it was lukewarm once I received it. I also had a slight problem with the fact that Cleo's had a full basket of wings already fried waiting to be boxed. I'd assume they pre-fry wings to keep up with the lunch rush and demand because who really has time to wait an hour for food during their lunch break, like really. I ordered the Float & Fly, Creole Crab Mac, and Mississippi Sunshine. I wanted to order the string beans , the only green item they have on the menu BUT it was unavailable. HOW?! Y'all were closed for two days and y'all had just opened on a Monday. So I was baffled by that but I digress. Now, I like my food seasoned, but whew chile, Cleo's over does it with the seasoning honey! I knew as I was eating, the food was going to be headache inducing due to the amount of seasoning and before I could finish my food, boom a headache. The Float & Fly came with two and a half chicken wings. Please reference my pictures as to why I said half. So Cleo's owes me a wing for that one. Lol. It also came with two pieces of catfish and a stale cornbread muffin. Please note, I have pics for reference to all my drawbacks of the food. I had one bite of my catfish and was done due to the lingering taste of ammonia after biting into the fish. I assumed it wasn't fresh given the taste, and was not trying to chance missing my plane back home the next day if I became sick due to bad fish. The cornbread was dry, burnt, and crumbly. Also, didn't seem fresh. I didn't have nearly as much of their 24K Gold Butter on my cornbread as they advertise. On to the Crab Mac. Now, I'm from Baltimore so lump and jumbo lump crabmeat to us, is not the same as lump/jumbo lump in all other parts of the country-IYKYK. Lol. To my surprise, the mac was topped with tasty lump pieces of crab meat seasoned perfectly. The Mac was okay but nothing to brag about. The best bite of all items purchased was the crab meat atop the mac. The Mississippi Sunshine I was really looking forward to because I am a sweet tea loving gal. To my surprise, the drink was not overly sweet. It claims to be "brewed daily in the Windy City," but it was definitely giving powdered (lemon) Liptons. So that was a disappointment, I still drank it though. It's big, so it lasted me two days; which I appreciated. All in all, I'm not sure if I would visit them again on any next visits to The Chi. That's only because Chicago is like a top foodie city, so I have options. There's nothing here, I had that I crave and absolutely need to have again. Cheers to a great time! read more

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AMAZING customer service and believe all the hype the food is AMAZING as well! thank you!!

I went to this location on a work trip to Chicago last week and the food was amazing. The location was small but the Customer Service was on point. I will return read more

Visited this place over the weekend and definitely was good. I tore that plate up! The pride the staff takes in keeping Grandma Cleo and her recipes alive was very comforting. The catfish (a little spicy but good if you're into that), fried chicken, mac n cheese, and biscuits were all delicious. The staff was very friendly and wanted our experience to be good. If I could give a note, it would probably be the price and the wait. We waited about 40 minutes to get our food, and can get a bit crowded inside. Would definitely order ahead next time. Overall, we love us a good black-owned soul food restaurant like Cleo's. read more

Cleo’s - The Flyover - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Don't believe the Keith Lee hype! I came here with my friend who is from Chicago. He had never heard of this place, but we saw the Kieth Lee posters. I got the house cat plate ($20+tax). He got the hot honey catfish plate plus Mac and cheese and sweet potatoes. His meal was $40 in total simply because he added sides. All sides are extra. That's strike 1. Back to my meal. The house cat plate is five filets and a "24k" cornbread muffin. The catfish was overseasoned and dry. Yes, they found a way to over season it. Strike 2. The cornbread muffin was cakey with way more honey than butter on top. It was trying to be a dessert. That's strike 3. I was so disappointed in this meal because there are several soul food restaurants in Chicago that serve catfish. I decided to "taste the hype" as the restaurant posters say. Trust me, it's all hype. Go to a hood spot on the South Side and get you a $10 catfish plate with sides included in the total! - a Black New Orleans native visiting Chicago + a Black native Chicago resident read more

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 - Sitting here, the air conditioning is weak and they only have water to drink. It's 89 degrees outside at noon and it's extremely hot inside. So, I am actually sweating. We had to wait over 15 minutes for a plastic cup to get room temperature water. As a result, I ended up grabbing a to-go container (bowl) off the counter to drink water. Apparently they ran out of drinks AND cups. We were told that there was a 7-11 across the street. wth? However........ there was a 12 pack of Canada Dry just sitting on the counter. ‍‍ One of the employees did finally go and get some cups, but we had finished eating by the time he came back. Personally, I prefer to have something to drink while I'm eating and that should not be too much to ask for. I was hoping that the food would make up for it, but we were disappointed. The catfish was overcooked (not flakey like Keith Lee's review showed). The muffin was so-so, the chicken wings needed more seasoning, the fries were okay and the yams were too sweet. The green beans were the best item we had. read more

Cleo’s - Fried catfish, fried chicken, french fries, pineapple yams, cornbread muffin and green beans. - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had been waiting a few years to finally try this place. The service was great, very attentive, charming and welcoming staff. The food was solid: hot honey chicken sandwich, Mac n cheese, 24k muffin, and can't forget the sweet tea. Wish I took a pic, but I ate it all. I didn't even notice they had sweet potatoes and it smelled soooooo good. Def a place I'll come back to. read more

This space is too small to have anyone waiting 30 mins for food. No restrooms & chairs & tables should not be in this establishment if 6-10 people on the floor. I will not be back. read more

Cleo’s - The waiting area. - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It is worth the wait...delicious and good portions. I had the hot cat which comes with sweet potatoes and a golden muffin and a side of mac and cheese. read more

Finally a Southern cuisine lunch option in the loop. Cleo's was just a short walk from my office in the Daley Center and it was a nice comfort food break from my typical lunch fare of sandwiches/salad. The food was hot and so well seasoned- very delicious. My favorite was the crab mac and the chicken wings. The catfish was good too but it definitely has a kick! The corn muffin was moist. The staff (angel, keith and dee) were also attentive and gave great service. That I know them by name I think exhibits just that. Can't wait to come back! read more

Cleo’s - chicken wings - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

my fault b/c i shouldve called first just to make sure like i usually do! every platform says theyre open, so we walked from our hotel & closed! came next door to the l station! walk wasn't wasted! read more

Cleo’s - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

All I can say is wow! I ordered for takeout the House Cat with the purple rain to drink. Service was fast and my takeout order was ready in about 30 minutes. The catfish was hands down the best catfish I've ever tasted in my life. The seasoning was perfect on each bite and the fish had the perfect crisp to flaky texture. The fish paired with the remoulade sauce was one of the best bites of the year. I don't know what was in the remoulade sauce but I'd drink it if I could. The 24-carat muffin was fire, the only thing I wish was more of the butter that came on top. Purple rain was good reminded me of being a kid on a hot summer day. 10/10 read more

Cleo’s - House Cat - Southern Near Me - Chicago, Illinois