Great food and good customer service. You MUST get the chicken sausage it is absolutely delicious. The gumbo is really good as well and the rice is cooked perfectly. It's a great price for the food you get. Hours are limited but trust me it's worth getting up on the weekend and stopping by. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Gumbo! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good food. Good prices. Good mission. All employees are low income and receiving training for the food industry. My table got the classic skillet, a pancake, sausage, and the Cuban sandwich. All items were good and I would get again. Just wish they were located closer to me and open more hours. read more

Want to have an incredible meal at an affordable price while supporting a great mission? Then this is the place for you. The students and chefs working here are unbelievably talented. In addition to eating some of the best food you'll find in Chicago you can feel good knowing the money you're spending is helping some amazing people reach their full potential. I wish I could give more than five stars. read more

Attended a "Double Nickel" 55th birthday celebration for a friend. The theme was a Masquerade brunch. It was beautifully decorated and the staff that attended guest were amazing. The menu was fantastically prepared with all kinds of taste-bud pleasing dishes. Fried chicken w/mini waffles towers, succulent shrimp & creamy grits, scrambled eggs with cheese, breakfast potatoes, large, flaky golden brown biscuits and fresh fruit salad was only Round 1! If that didn't sit you down Round 2 included dishes of Mini Smash Burgers, Mini Catfish Po'boys and Mini Spicy fried Chicken sandwiches, tender melt in your mouth brisket, creamy homestyle Mac and cheese and homemade potato chips. The menu left nothing to be desired. Drinks of basil lemonade and mimosas complimented it all. Very spacious for the event, staff worked tirelessly to make sure everything was one point. I've been here I. The past when it wasn't event related and I'll hv to visit again. read more

I've been here several times over 20 years. Consistently good. Great to combine with visit to Garfield Park conservatory.

Inspiration Kitchens is a fine casual restaurant about a five minute walk from Garfield Conservatory and right off the green line. Iit probably is the best option for lunch when visiting the Conservatory, but they aren't open for dinner. We had soup and salad, but the sandwiches looked interesting also. It is a not for profit that trains down and out people from Chicago on how to enter the food service industry. read more

I've been meaning to go to Inspiration Kitchens since the first time I visited Garfield Park Conservatory, but I have never had a chance. Today, Garfield Park Conservatory had a nice sign advertising them, which I love, since Inspiration Kitchens is a lovely nonprofit trying to do a good thing, and this partnership makes so much sense to me. When you eat at Inspiration Kitchens or book them for catering, you're supporting men and women who are being trained in their kitchens to develop a strong culinary skillset and building the foundations to overcome homelessness and poverty. I love that. But even if you have no interest in doing any good, you should come here for the food alone. This meal was so hearty and delicious, and just what I needed on this terrible blizzarding day in mid-April (seriously, why Chicago). I was so miserable about being outside, but this meal was the kind of meal that changes your day and makes it Good. I got the shrimp and grits, which is a reminder to me as a skeptic of grits, that great grits are why grits exist. I've had my share of mediocre grits and didn't understand why people liked eating this, but these grits were incredible. Flavorful and delicious, and I can't recommend it enough. My friend got the gumbo, and also enjoyed it. Go here !! You can check out beautiful, free flowers (although they take donations :) ) and then have a meal where your money goes to a good cause and your stomach and heart can feel happy and good. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Shrimp and grits - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Place bright inviting, minimal decor, waitress Asha?was awesome, we also got the chocolate ganache dessert. staff person came out n talked about their vegs garden. Look them up more info about the positive things they do. I'm stuffed but not heavy read more

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What a gem! We were at Garfield Park Conservatory and looking for lunch. Pretty sure this is the only spot within walking distance. (Ok, this isn't the safest or cleanest spot in Chicago so just be aware) We were four kids (!) and three adults and they didn't faint when we walked in. This was a Sunday mid-day and only a few tables filled, and ample (free) parking out front. Place was really clean. Quiet enough. Bathrooms very clean. They were out of a few items on the menu. But menu had a good selection imho and it came out hot, fast and good presentation. Cups for kids. (Booster sears and high chairs too) Good portions - perfect imho. I ordered a few things so took some to go. They had nice take out containers. Gumbo was good. Pancakes. Breakfast potatoes. Chicken sandwich was super yum. Only thing is no substitutions. But the prices are low enough I was ok just to add an item and say to leave the other off. Shout out to Kaneesha for being so cool about all the kiddos and overall an awesome waitress with seamless execution. Can't wait to be back. Thank read more

Stopped in for lunch. we had the Shrimp and grits and the Gumbo with glasses of basil lemonade as our beverage. So Freakin' good.!!!! . read more

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We stopped in here for lunch after a morning at the conservatory and I was very pleasantly surprised. The gumbo was fresh tasting and flavorful, the grilled cheese sandwich was very nice, and the whole meal had the atmosphere of very good home-cooking. Now there were some hiccups. Service wasn't very attentive (though it was very friendly) and my wife's salad was almost inedibly sweet (it tasted like the yogurt tahini dressing had been made with sweetened vanilla yogurt; is that a thing? Is that possible?). But if we come back to the conservatory we'll probably be back here. read more

I met a friend for lunch. Simple lunch, cheese burgers and a very tasty well prepared Brussels sprouts grilled salad It is worth support their mission. read more

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This is a gem on Lake Street! I attended a lunch meeting at Inspiration Kitchens and was so pleasantly surprised at the service, food and ambiance. I had the delicious gumbo. I have driven past the restaurant so many times and heard about its community driven mission of helping those who need help through empowering and equipping them. . I'm so glad I had a chance to dine there. I look forward to dining there again soon. read more

This is such a wonderful gem hidden on the west side inner city. There dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients. What they create is wonderfully made. Service is exceptional as well as their mission read more

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One of my favorite experiences while in Chicago... this place not only has a great mission as a non-profit serving and training the community, but it also serves up really, really good food. Don't be deterred by the area - there is parking and it's close to the Conservatory stop on the green. The actual restaurant is lovely and welcoming, with a clean and modern design on the inside. Service is top notch... our waitress was incredibly sweet and was happy to give us recommendations on what to order (as well as telling us what she helped to make!) We started off with the Brussel sprouts under her recommendation (and she helped make it!), which were so crispy and delicious that my husband (who hates Brussel sprouts) said that they were delicious. I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato bisque (also with the waitress' recommendation - I normally shy away from getting something basic at a restaurant) and I swear, it is the BEST grilled cheese of my life.... impossibly crispy with two cheeses inside and cheese on either side of the sandwich.... I mentioned that I was going to try and recreate it at home and she said "good luck, honey - I've tried!" Husband got the sausage gravy and biscuits, which was really good and so comforting. Overall, it's a great place with great service and a great mission. Highly recommend checking it out for a welcoming experience. read more

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I had the Garden Omelet. The veggies were fresh & cooked perfectly. One of the best omelets I've ever had. Service a bit slow but everyone was friendly. Too full for dessert but the chocolate cake looked delicious. Only open Friday & Saturday for breakfast/lunch. read more

It is sometimes hard to find a place with legitimate vegetarian options, but Inspiration Kitchens had plenty of vegetarian friendly dishes to choose from. It was nice that there was a veggie friendly substitute. Usually at most restaurants you would have to just ask for "no meat" and be left with a bland dish. I had the burger with a Beyond Burger vegan patty and I was very happy with my choice. The burger and toppings had great flavor and this came with a heaping amount of perfectly cooked fries. I left stuffed! read more

Wasn't as inspired with the meal experience we had at this location. Note that you can make a ressie online, but service was sluggish ever since we sat down. The waitress unenergetically and minimally attended to us, and we got a variety of blank stares and short, curt answers to our questions from her by the time we left. Uninspired. Best part of the meal was the biscuit with molasses butter, as part of "the basket" starter. It was flaky, flavorful, and not overly heavy. My apple and cheddar salad was overdressed, and the ratio of cheese to apple to greens (not enough apple wedges or greens, surprisingly) was off. Husband said the pimento grilled cheese wasn't cheesy enough, and the mish mosh of filling was lackluster (onion, arugula), though the bread was tasty. Sweet potato chips also tasted as if they were more on the soggy bordering on stale end of the spectrum vs. freshly fried. read more

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great place for breakfast, and biscuits are unbelievably great! Super clean, great staff.

I don't live not too far from Inspiration Kitchen and always wanted to come and check out this place. Located around the corner from The Garfield Conservatory. Free Parking on Lake Street and it's easier if you take the Green Line and get off right at the Conservatory and walk on down. I have heard some great things and was interested in volunteering as well. I came here on Sunday with a good friend and wasn't disappointed. Not only is the food good and our waiter Curtis was attentive and full of smiles. I like to support non profit organizations that gives back to low income and homeless people. It gives those that are less fortunate the training and opportunity to go out into the working field. Even though I wish the menu had more variety of food options to chose. The food was well seasoned and prepared. Clean areas and nice seating areas to enjoy your food. Trendy and comfortable. The staff was friendly and made sure every guest was greeted with a warm welcoming smile. Let me not forget F.Y.I (B.Y.O.B) read more

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Food and the Service excellent... I've mentioned you sall since me and my husband left there for lunch. read more

We went in for Saturday brunch and it was amazing! I was so sad to see how empty it was (just our group and one other family!). The food was absolutely delicious! We started out with the "Uptown Brussel Sprouts" - deliciously crispy sprouts with a cheesy dressing - and the winter beet salad (also really good). As an entree I opted for the fried chicken and waffles madam. YUM! Every piece - from the tender waffle to the crispy chicken to the cayenne syrup was excellent. We also tasted the basil lemonade and the watermelon fresca, and both were amazing. The lemonade is on the sweeter side, while the watermelon was crisp and fresh. Overall, an excellent meal - I'd hope to come back again! read more

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How can you not support a restaurant with such a wholesome mission? The food is always outstanding and the interior is inviting! Service isn't the most attentiveness, but I'll give them some slack there since the servers are constantly in learning mode. read more

I have heard a lot about Inspirational Kitchen and I wanted make sure I got around to get a meal here as well as helping support their mission. They didn't have some of the items on the menu but that was ok it is not the same type of dining experience and it didn't diminish my time spent here. I ordered the gumbo without the rice which was about $6 and at first all I could taste is the heat but as it cooled I could taste the flavor. My friend got the grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup which was about $9 and she said she loved it and I have agree it was very tasty. I have to remind you this isn't your momma's grilled cheese. We also ordered some fries($2) very good and basil lemonade. I didn't taste the basil but my friend said she did but it was still good. Our waitress was sweet and she was the waitress I believe for the entire restaurant but it is a cozy type place. I will definitely be back As always folks... Enjoy!!! read more

Inspiration Kitchens - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is the best! I love all of the creative food they make - inspired by students in their culinary training program. Menu changes regularly. It's the perfect blend of garden to table! Today I had the imagination burger -- a veggie burger that tasted so much like the real thing that I had to do a double check! Couple that with outstanding fries. However the best surprise for today was the grilled Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan and aioli. What a wow dish! And then dessert! A strawberry lemon cake (pictured)! It's a cake shaped like a biscuit with a lemon mirangue filling, covered with all kinds of deliciousness! Hats off to Chef Sam and her crew! read more

Inspiration Kitchens - StrAwberry lemon cake! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I like THIS place! Came here for lunch with my wife & mother-in-law; the yelp reviews prompted me to come here & once again Yelp has not failed me. First off, I love the ambiance in here. The natural brick and modern lighting & wall decor gives it a clean and modern look. So I decided to try the chicken & waffles with my eggs scrambled and SO glad I made that decision! It was phenom! Eggs were perfectly cooked, chicken was well breaded and seasoned, the ham added a nice dimension and the batter for the waffle was AMAZING. Altogether, it was a great meal. The service was great. The hostess who waited us was very nice and helpful. Food took an average amount of time; everything tasted fresh so it took as long as expected. I don't live close to here but this is less than 10 minutes from my mother-in-law house so next time I'm over there, I WILL return. read more

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Been here three time and service is very nice. First time I had the burger and it was delicious!! The second time I tried the two eggs your way and it was good too. The sausage is a little on the sweet side - not a huge fan. The third time, got the Brussels sprouts and those are to die for!!!! The green fried tomatoes were amazing as well. Loved the jam, good convo of sweet and spice! read more

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I returned to Inspiration Kitchen today and took my husband. I tried the chicken sandwich. The cayenne honey sauce caught my attention. It was a sizable chicken sandwich to rival the current chicken sandwich raves between Popeyes, Chick â fil, etc. My husband had the Burger Royale. Beware here...this burger has 2 patties so bring your appetite! The Basil Lemonade is scrumptious! A little too sweet though. My husband also tried the gumbo. It was very tasty but the small size does not come with rice . Any size gumbo must have rice, but it was tasty. All in all, a good 2nd visit! read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Chicken Sandwich & fries with Burger Royale in the background! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love the concept, great menu, inconsistent food. Our friends ordered a burger (excellent!) and breakfast potatoes (also excellent!). I had grilled cheese and tomato bisque. The soup was worth coming back for. The only issue was that the grilled cheese tasted extremely burnt, which we suspect was due to burnt butter or oil that it was fried in. Next time (and there will be a next time!) I plan to try the shrimp po-boy, and hopefully get tomato bisque soup as well. read more

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I had the cauliflower burger and basil lemonade. both we're great! the burger had a sauce that added a little kick. the basil lemonade was not too sweet, perfect for the day!! read more

Such a great concept! Food was good, staff friendly. Perfect to walk to from the conservatory! read more

This is hands down, the best $10-$12 meal you are going to find in Chicago (and the only decent restaurant anywhere near the conservatory) it is also BYOB with no corckage fee, so bring your own wine and dine like the rich folk for only $25! Yes it is a rough neighborhood, but who cares. the ambiance is clean and modern, and the food is truly gourmet. It is a small menu, but they do it all to perfection. The Fried Chicken sandwich is to die for. The root beer braised brisket was also dynamite. As others have mentioned, the place is run by a non-profit with an outstanding cause, but that is not why I recommend this place, I am writing this strictly because the food is the bomb! Bottom line, give it a try....I have been back 3 times already read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Fired Chicken Sandwich. Best I have ever had, and probably the best thing on the menu. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Inspiration is my all-time go-to in Chicago. You HAVE to get their Shrimp & Grits. Love love love their food, their service, their employees, their mission, everything. read more

Went here last night with my friends for a birthday celebratory dinner. Place is BYOB, which was great. Everyone brought whatever they liked to drink and we shared. Everyone was super happy with their meals. I personally tried the bacon wrapped dates, the Southern Poutine (sweet potato fries w/ gravy and meat), the shredded beat salad and, for my entree, the root beer glazed brisket with grits. All really, really good. The actual restaurant is really cool. A very modern, open space. The server, Rianna, was very sweet and accommodating. This was a classy place. There were a few other tables occupied by either couples or groups of friends. Actually, we were a bit loud and rambunctious and I felt a little bad. We work in a heavy industrial workplace and our language can be quite colorful at times. However, the staff was cool and there were no complaints so I know next time that we likely need to dial it back a bit! This is located close to work so I'm excited to try it for lunch too once the weather is a bit nicer! read more

Yum, yum, yum! Pretty great brunch. We were the first customers this morning, arriving right at 10am. Coffee was good and our waitress made sure our cups were always full. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The menu's got something for everyone and it was hard to choose what to eat. i had the Biscuits and Gravy (cheddar biscuits, scrambled eggs, chorizo gravy) and my boyfriend ordered the Texas Toast scramble (scrambled eggs, sausage, sweet potatoes and cheese on top of Texas Toast) and a side of bacon. Food came quickly. And was delicious. I've knocked off one star due to the plating of the biscuits and gravy. The gravy and eggs were layered through the biscuit, resulting in a soggy, albeit yummy, biscuit. Love the bright space. Plenty of seating. And parking in a small lot out front was convenient. The place was filling up as we were leaving. And the clientele was diverse and surprising considering the neighborhood. Lots of young families, neighborhood folk and hipster couples. On the recommendation of other Yelpers, I got the quinoa burger to go. I'll report back in a few hours after I eat that sucker! Total bill was $33! A hearty recommendation! Can't wait to return. This just might become our new Sunday brunch spot. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Texas Toast Scramble - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really like how this place offers great food and a very good social mission. The prices are very reasonable, and it's conveniently located right next to the Garfield Conservatory. I didn't feel like eating something heavy so I got the beet and baby kale salad, which was satisfactory. There was sliced beets, baby kale, pecans, and bacon lardons (the best part but definitely not the healthiest). I tried my friends' gumbo and it was very delicious and so was their pancakes (buttery, light perfection!) I would definitely come back for the shrimp and grits next time, which is their best seller. Our server was super sweet! A wonderfully nice lady who took good care of us. Please come and support their mission! You'll get a great meal and a warm fuzzy feeling when you leave for supporting a good social cause. read more

Inspiration Kitchens is truly an inspiration to the Chicago community. They are a non profit organization that provides education and work for people who have had a rough time on this earth, many dealing with homelessness. Their ingredients are local and their menu is constantly changing! We came at noon so brunch/lunch time. I ordered the Nashville Chicken Sandwich and Sweet Potato Pancakes to share with my other half (girlfriend). The Nashville chicken was a buttermilk boneless fried chicken patty with pickles and to sauce. It was very good but a little too spicy for my taste. The sweet potato pancakes were very fluffy and the syrup/marmalade was delicious as well. While waiting for our food another server came by and asked if we wanted to try sausage eggs Benedict. She was holding the plate and we asked if it was free (we are from Miami so no one is every nice to us), when she said absolutely we agreed. The chef in the back was learning to make this dish so they allowed us to be the judge! He did a great job, the dish was very good although, we didn't finish it because we were not that hungry. This place is incredibly affordable, $8 for my sandwich and $8 for the pancakes. Our server was Daniella, she did a good job taking care of us. If you care about people, food and the Chicago community, Inspiration Kitchens is a greta place to visit! For more information on what they stand for you can check them out here: http://www.inspirationcorp.org read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Sweet potato pancakes - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I have eaten here numerous times (I work right down the street from them) and I am newly flabbergasted every single time with how creative, delicious, and INEXPENSIVE (for what you get) their cuisine is! Being a raw vegan I have not eaten their meat but everyone I've taken with me has raved over it. Their menu changes often enough that mentions of specifics will not be useful for long but I am most recently stuck on the Pimento Grilled Cheese (with apple - pecan chutney & baby arugula on a 7 grain bread) and Crispy Goat Cheese Salad. The Pickled Beets are pretty unbelievable as well. Actually there is not a loser on their menu. It's all good. I have also used them for three catering events and their servicing of the event was more talked about than the events themselves. Considering that these are disadvantaged youths that this program benefits I can think of no better way to spend corporate dollars than on giving back to those who need it in such a magnanimous and creative way! read more

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I am thoroughly impressed by Inspiration Kitchens. According to one of the staff members, last night was the first time they had the prixe fixe meal--3 courses for $25. Before coming, I had browsed the menu , so I was slightly put off by the prixe fixe menu. However, they had thoughtful and delicious vegetarian options. For the first course, I had a spiced arugula salad. The cherries were a bit tart but not sweet, so it was well balanced. For the second course, I had the mushroom and farro risotto, which is actually made out of oats, I believe. The tofu was a tad sweet, but the flavors were excellent. The pecans and mushroom really added a hearty element. For my last course, I had the peach cobbler pound cake--also no complaints here. My dining companion had the crispy oysters, pepper vinegar short rib, and crunch cake. He said the short rib was better than similar dishes at more expensive restaurants. I would like to return either to this location or the one in Uptown for the regular menu. Inspiration Kitchens is a real hit. The mission behind the restaurant is awesome, the quality and quantity of the food is outstanding, and the staff are very nice people. Your heart and your belly will be full. read more

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I have been going here whenever I go to the Conservatory for a few years now. Every time it is delicious! I am loyal to the fried chicken sandwich (which now comes in a brioche bun instead of the biscuit like before). The Brussels sprouts are a great appetizer and the basil lemonade is so refreshing. Also, save room for dessert. They tend to rotate but I've never been disappointed. read more

Inspiration Kitchens - Fried chicken sandwich with a side salad - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois