Virtue Restaurant

Excellence from beginning to end. I really noticed and appreciated the teamwork environment from the staff. Joe, our server, was knowledgeable, had great energy and conversation. I loved being able to see the chefs prepare the food. You could see they were focused, but the vibe was cool, calm and collected. Every dish I had was so delicious. The fried green tomatoes were seasoned well, the turnip green chow chow with salmon delish, the short rib was plastic fork tender, mac and cheese was creamy and balanced, cornbread delish and I loved the greens. Cocktails were solid. Bread pudding is one of my favorites and the apple cinnamon flavor was intense in the best way. That peanut butter cup pie needs to stay on the menu year round. So good. Shout out to whoever picked the music because zero skips. Yes, I'll be back.

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.

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.

Alright, this is a review with a focus on redemption. I've been here previously, specifically when they initially opened, and I was unfortunately turned away due to a misunderstanding regarding walk-ins caused by some very impolite staff members. Years have passed, and I'm genuinely pleased that my initial one-star review has been removed and replaced with this revised opinion. I enjoyed the short ribs, gumbo, mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. I will be visiting in my dreams that food. Apparently the short rib is a staple, and if you don't order - you will be sad that you missed out. It's the comfort food you desire on any given day. Also, pro tip - split some plates so you get to taste everything. If you are visiting with people that do not like to share - get new friends. The food is so good that you want to sample. The gumbo alone have your taste buds taking a first class flight to New Orleans. The service, was definitely improved upon from the door to the table. Ps. We did NOT take leftovers - every crumb was consumed on premises. 😉

I was treated to this wonderful restaurant for my birthday. The food paird with service makes Virtue one of those "I'm going to come back when I'm in Chicago" type places. The chicken gizzards were so nicely done! The chicken has been perfected and the pimento cheese spread for the warm biscuit was a great support. Also, I appreciated how warm our server was. She took a moment to get to know us, speak to how my history holds hands with Chicago's and stayed attentive to us throughout our meal. You've seen the reviews, maybe even the TikToks, so just come and get the experience!

Wrapping up the end of my Chicago trip, I’ve honestly been kind of disappointed with the food overall. But Virtue did not disappoint. Everything we got was great, from the drinks to the food. The only thing I didn’t like was how loud it was, I could barely hear my partner during our conversation. But overall, I’m so happy this was the last restaurant on my list because I definitely ended the trip on a good note.

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.

Virtue is truly the ultimate culinary example of excellence and is a mandatory visit when you are in Hyde Park. My family and I truly enjoyed everything about our experience. Service, Food, Vibes all 10/10 across the board. The Short Rib is the star of the show and is truly tender ; pairing it with the mac and cheese completes the meal . I definitely recommend to anyone visiting Chicago, please look at least a week in advance from your desired date to make reservations via OpenTable. I found my reservation a week in advance. This way you have your reservation secured way in advance and can be seated right away. Thank you Virtue for an awesome culinary experience!