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    Macarthur's Restaurant

    3.4 (265 reviews)
    InexpensiveSouthern, Soul Food
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Macarthur's Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    MACARTHUR'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Naiima D.

    You guys use to be the bomb years ago but now nope. I ordered a Beef Short rib and Meatloaf split! So I was given two short ribs and one piece of meatloaf. My sides were (double Mac /because it use to be sooo good!) An extra side of string beans and a 7up! My total came to $24 and some change. Cool! I don't care about the cost as long as it's good! My beef short ribs were tender and seasoned well (not over salty like back in the day)! My meatloaf tasted the way it did back in the day too. That Mac and cheese was flavor less! No salt or butter! The string beans were just okay! The cornbread was just okay too! My mom got the same meal but added peach cobbler...the crust was also flavorless mush! What happened guys!? You use to be sooo good! Please get it together!! Also fix your website! The pricing is way off! Those are like 2007/2008 prices!

    Another line waiting to order with no order to it
    Kevin B.

    I ordered fried white meat chicken and waited over 40 minutes, while at least 10 people who ordered after me got their food first. For a buffet-style setup, that makes no sense. The service was slow, disorganized, and frustrating. Definitely not worth the wait.

    "Fried catfish"

    Drove all the way from Bloomington, Indiana to visit a friend and we were so excited to try this restaurant because we remembered it being so good. However, this food was terrible. We were told we were served fried catfish and I don't believe that's what we got. Outside of that you can tell the fish had been sitting, it wasn't hot. The macaroni was also bland as well. I went and asked the waiter what fish we had been served and she said it was catfish. I'm not sure what was going on but $20 was wasted and this food went in the trash. It also doesn't help that the staff is not welcoming at all.

    Inside seating
    Lakeisha H.

    Great soul food. Don't be intimidated by the line. The line moves and the food is worth the wait. I always enjoy the traditional fried chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The dessert not so much but all things considered you're not going for dessert the soul food sells itself. I would rate this as my second favorite soul food.

    Smothered pork chops, cabbage, yams, cornbread
    Jacqueline B.

    We came here for a post-Easter Sunday observance. It was a very rainy Monday and we came to dine in. THere was plenty of space for dine in but it was cold in the room. The soda dispenser was broken so only canned soda or water was available to drink. I enjoyed the Smothered pork chops, they were moist and flavorful (not salty to me) as well as the sweet potatoes(or yams?). They seemed almost too sweet but they complemented the meat; the cabbage was good too. My party got beef ribs and black eyed peas. It reminded me of soul food Sundays as a kid at my aunt's house! The corn muffins are moist but not my favorite. Keep in mind they only have certain dishes on certain days. I would try the meatloaf next time. The banana pudding, OMG! A good mix of cream and crunch! The cookie part is not mushy like with Nilla Wafers. And I am not a fan of banana anything but this was awesome. I was not fond of the huge Styrofoam containers, even for dine in. Of course the portions are big, so giving us a take home container is practical. I hope they find something that is environmentally responsible but can contain huge amounts of oil and sauce without leaking. There is a $10 minimum charge with card, so we grabbed a chocolate cake as well. Very good but prob not made on site. The cafeteria style was refreshing, with friendly servers, but I'd probably do carryout next time, and only if I am in the area.

    Black Eyed Peas and Collard Greens
    Lucy B.

    I grew up in Alabama and just moved to Chicago from Atlanta, so I'm familiar as hell with Southern Cuisine, but this establishment LAID ME OUT. Too hungover to make collards and black eyed peas New Year's Day (but obviously still here for any Money and Luck I could get), I told Husb we had to get our sorry selves up and go find some, even if we had to wait in line. Macarthur's, we were not ready. I took the best nap of my LIFE after this--so glad we got it to-go so I could crawl RIGHT in my bed when I was done... Black Eyed Peas: 100/10 Collards: slap your Mama Mac'n'Cheese: creamy and dreamy Fried chicken: juicy as hell--Husb was trying not to share Mashed Potatoes: garlic and love Corn bread: melt in your mouth Banana Pudding: probably the best I've ever had Thank y'all for doing the Lord's work.

    Fried Chicken, sweet potatoes and Mac and cheese

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    1 month ago

    As usual I'm satisfied with the meal I chose. Baked chicken dark, sweet potatoes and cabbage with a peach cobbler for dessert

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    2 years ago

    You won't find much better smothered chicken, yams and mac & cheese. It's packed after church on Sundays so get ready to wait!

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    1 year ago

    Food real greens mixed w/ glory can greens & frozen greens . White pork chops,lumpy gravy. I have experience. all of this.

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    2 years ago

    Good ol soul food , very well cooked portions......you'll love the hospitality here, go and check it out

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    2 years ago

    Soul food the way you like it. Been eating at Macarthur's every since they opened. Definitely one of my go to spots.

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    Soul Prime

    Soul Prime

    (164 reviews)

    Lincoln Park

    I want to start by saying this restaurant is SO GOOD! The service was good, and I really liked the…read morebar tender. I sat at the bar. The restaurant is decorated beautifully. It's very clean and modern. The food was amazing. I started off with a peach lemonade/tea drink that was very good. I cannot remember the name, but it was spirit free. Next, I got the collard green dip. This is a must try when you go. Its so cheesy and delicious. It was perfectly seasoned. For my entre, I got the smother pork chops. OMG I did not expect that food to be so good. IDK what they seasoned that gravy with, but it was fire. The porkchops were delicious, and I loved the seasoned rice that it came with. My only complaint was that the kitchen moved very slowly on the night that I went. It took forever for my food to come out; however, I will say the taste of the food made up for the how long it took to come out.

    I was very excited to come to this restaurant. I made a reservation for a earlier time but was…read moreunaware that they offered happy hour. Front of the house staff was very nice and kind and I was seated right away. However once we ordered the wait time was so bad that my cousin had finished her appetizer and we waited an additional 30 minutes for my collard green dip which was very good by the way. Everything was served one at a time with long wait times in between. By the time I received my entree I was full. I took a few bites of the Chicken and Fish and everything else I took home. Literally as soon as happy hour was over everyone around us started receiving their food very fast. The food was ok a little salty (batter from the chicken, fish and tomatoes). In addition your staff Karen was not so kind and very forgetful of what we asked for. I know she seemed overwhelmed for the area that she had. Our sentiments were shared with the manager but that was it. The owner came by to check in but she just breezed by. I'm not sure that told her of our complaint but as fast as she went by asking was everything ok I dont feel like she would have been open to what we had to say. Overall it was ok, A few suggestions...and yes I would return because maybe today was an off day and everyone deserves a chance to get it right, During Happy Hour everyone should get the same level of service, and if a different menu is offered it should be offered to everyone upon arrival. Nothing is perfect and we understand that and gave grace by waiting and being patient. But these are some easy fixes and I look forward to seeing that on my next visit!

    The Soul Food Lounge - Catfish Estufee(if that's how you spell it)

    The Soul Food Lounge

    (438 reviews)

    $$$

    Lawndale

    Went to Soul Food Lounge for a birthday dinner. The space is pretty small and every seat was taken,…read moreso there is really nowhere to wait if you do not have reservations. Definitely book ahead. We all ordered the Grand Tasting, which lets you try three entrees plus a beverage. It was so much food but everything was delicious. I had the short rib, fried chicken, and catfish, each with different sides. The only thing I did not really care for was the dressing. They also had live entertainment, which made the vibe even better. Customer service was just okay, but I would still recommend it. I definitely want to try their other location since I have heard the menu is different.

    Had a galentines brunch with my girls this Valentine's Day and I'm so so happy my friend…read morerecommended we eat at The Soul Food Lounge. Because it was a busy holiday we had a reservation made for 1:30 pm, and of course my friend group was running a little late but they were so friendly and accommodating. There was a 90 minute time limit to eat due to how busy the day was, but they were so kind to start the clock after everyone in our party showed up. Now for the good stuff! The food? Phenomenal! On the menu they have a special called the Grand Tasting where you can get 3 sampler entrees and a free glass of champagne or wine (red or white), all for $69. Everyone in my group decided to get this deal so we could all sample one another's food. I ordered the Tuffle Lobster Mac and Cheese, The Carolina Creamy Shrimp and Grits, and the Sicilian Sriracha Chicken Parmigiana. Everything was fantastic, so incredibly delicious. For the entrees to be samples they were a pretty decent size. The shrimp and grits and the Mac and cheese were absolutely perfect 10/10. I wish there was a location in the suburbs I would go here all the time! Huge thank you to the staff for their great hospitality. I almost forgot to mention that this place has live music, which definitely helps create an enjoyable vibe while you're dining. This place is a must try!!

    Cleo's Southern Cuisine - The Float & Fly

    Cleo's Southern Cuisine

    (230 reviews)

    $$

    Grand Boulevard

    I went there last year and I thought that the food tasted good, however they took a long time to…read moreprepare it. What shocked me was when the cashier asked me if I needed a fork with my food and I said yes. When I looked at my receipt I noticed that they charged me fifty cent for the plastic fork that he gave me. Because they charged me for a plastic fork, that should've came with the food for free, I haven't been back since, because I thought that was absolutely ridiculous! I'm 55 years old and I've been to thousands of restaurants, and I decided to support a Black Owned Business and they had the nerve to charge me for a plastic fork!

    Let me start off by thanking Cleo's for actually being open due business hours. It's very…read moredisappointing when actually traveling long distance to an establishment and they not being open. I've traveled a time or two to a couple of spots in Chicago to support; only to be welcomed to a closed sign. So, Cleo's THANK YOU for blessing me with your service and love for food. It made my birthday, day trip that much better. Now, where do I start. Well, I called to make sure that they were open. I wanted to place my order via phone, but was instructed to place it via their website. The website was easy to navigate and updated. The time given for pickup was pretty much exact. I may even say that it was ready 5-10 minutes before. Parking can be a bit of a challenge. However, depending on when you go, there's a small lot across the street where you can park. Also, you can dine inside, however, depending on how busy, you may or may not have a spot. I lucked up and was able to dine in. Which made my experience better because I was able to take my food out, examine and get comfortable. All food is made to order. That is a huge plus!!!! Food was packaged right and sealed tight. I tried the Float & Fly which consisted of 3 pcs of catfish fillets and 3 fried chicken wings. I tried the green beans, Mac n cheese and pineapple candied sweet potatoes and pineapple cheesecake for a treat. Oh, let me not forget the Purple Rain drink. The catfish & wings were well seasoned and fried to perfection. If I had to choose between the two, wings for the WIN!!! The greens beans had a bit of a kick to them. So much that I followed up with some Mac and sweet potatoes. Ha! The Mac was cheesy and kinda creamy. Great texture. The sweet potatoes were different with the pineapples. The pineapples gave a little twist, but still delivering your childhood memory of sweet potatoes that grandma used to make. Desserts are limited; cheesecake or brownie. The cheesecake was my least favorite thing. I either want peach cobbler or cheesecake; not them being married. Ha! I was happy and pleased with how clean the inside was and how organized it was as well. I like an open kitchen concept. I'll definitely be returning when in Chicago. My advice is to place your order online. Keith Lee approved and so do I!

    Wishbone - Chicken Andouille Hash

    Wishbone

    (1.1k reviews)

    $$

    West Loop, Near West Side

    Absolutely loved brunch here. The food was excellent, it made the 20 minute freezing walk from the…read morehotel worth it. I order the southern fried catfish with cheese grits and home fries, plus a side of Cajun white wine & cream sauce. My date ordered the crab cakes with collard greens and home fries. We also added on a buttermilk pancake to share. Everything was so good! The catfish was perfectly crispy and well seasoned. I also really enjoyed the home fries. Overall 5/5. Can't wait to return the next time I'm in town.

    Absolutely a must visit in Chicago for Cajun flavors!…read more We booked a reservation for a Friday breakfast. I recommend booking a reservation because although it was pretty empty when we got there it was full with a wait by the time we left. We came in & we were promptly seated. There's a counter for takeout orders and both indoor and outdoor seating. It's a wide open space where there's tables and seating along the wall. For drinks we ordered the uncles breakfast and the hurricane. Absolutely recommend the uncles breakfast it was amazing! For food we ordered the spicy shrimp & grits, chicken andouille hash, and southern fried catfish. Everything was absolutely amazing! Great flavor & portion size and came out fast. Only critique would be too much onion in chicken andouille hash. The service was great! From the host seating to our waitress to those bringing us the food everyone was friendly, fast, and efficient. The combo of tasty food, good portion size, and great staff in a time when a lot of restaurants are struggling with one of the 3 makes this place a gem. We'll definitely be back!

    Macarthur's Restaurant - southern - Updated May 2026

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