South Loop's Brûlée Is Bouncing Back — Grand Opening and First Patio Day of the Season Coming in May

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/South Loop · April 20, 2026

South Loop has a brunch destination worth celebrating, and chef Emani Roberts is giving neighbors even more reason to show up. Brûlée, her Southern-inspired eatery at 2036 S. Michigan Ave. on Motor Row, has been quietly winning over Sloopers since it opened in November — and now the restaurant is gearing up for its official grand opening next month, with its very first patio day of the season set for May 3.

Roberts' path to restaurant ownership is one of Chicago's great culinary origin stories. A private chef who once cooked on tour with legendary R&B group New Edition, she returned to Chicago just before the pandemic and built her reputation through catering and prepared meals before eventually taking the leap into brick-and-mortar. The result is Brûlée — a love letter to Southern cooking, with standout dishes like a sepia-toned gumbo loaded with crawfish, shrimp, chicken, and andouille sausage, and a heartfelt tribute dish called Virgil's Special. The community has clearly embraced her: neighbors and even Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) have rallied around the restaurant, and Roberts says she's grateful for "the love and the steady business over the past several months." She's even already brainstorming what a second Brûlée location could look like.

With warm weather arriving and a patio opening on May 3, now is the perfect time to discover — or revisit — this South Loop gem. Will you be claiming a table at Brûlée's first patio day of the season? Tell the Socialhood community!

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/04/14/south-loop-restaurant-brulee-recovering-from-monday-morning-break-in/
2. https://blog.resy.com/2026/02/brulee-chicago/