Pearl's Place Restaurant Reviews

Celebrated my birthday with dinner at Pearl's Place. It was Fathers Day and the place was jumping. We had a 3 o'clock reservation and we were taken to a table immediately even though there were at least 10 people waiting to be seated. Our waitress was at our table in a flash and took our drink orders. Now keep in mind the place doesn't serve liquor but you are welcome to BYOB. We ordered some Fried Green Tomatoes for a appetizer and they arrived after a very long wait but the waitress explained that they were getting backed up in the kitchen and said we could cancel if we wanted because our entrées were coming out. We decided to have them and I am glad we did they were delicious with a tasty remoulade sauce. I had gone here for on particular dish Chitterlings and they didn't disappoint, they were cooked to perfection and tasty. I had some fried cabbage and candied yams as sides and both were very good. Some of the other dishes at our table were the smothered chicken, fried catfish, macaroni and cheese and collard greens and there were no complaints from anybody. For desert ewe had banana pudding and that too was delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Pearl's Place and whenever I am in the city and looking for some exceptional soul food this will be my stop.

We wanted to have a great staff breakfast so after searching around I decided that we should order from Pearl's Place that was the best decision. They delivered the food on time @7:30a.m. and it was delish. The staff where happy to see scrambled eggs, biscuits, home style potatoes, turkey sausage and of course bacon.. They also gave us condiments like butter, jelly, ketchup etc. Everyone was impressed and loved all the food. The bacon was not greasy and was crispy just the right taste. The eggs tasted and looked like really eggs. You know sometimes you order eggs and your not sure if your getting powdered. The home style potatoes where so good. I would recommended you visit them for breakfast and if you want to treat your staff order from them.

I tried this place for the first time because items on the menu looked appetizing, I got their and could barely smell the food, every employee that I encountered was rude and had an attitude, it was like an unnecessary wait period, I ordered 2 separate dinners because I wanted to try both, both were disgusting with little to no taste, not like your average mothers kitchen, not even worth the money and definitely not worth the wait or screw ups they completely left out my $5 dessert and for some reason as I was eating I couldn’t help but to think of someone’s ol smelly big momma, someone that old should not be cooking, Nothing special whatsoever, wanted to try something else but kind of scared to now! Only good part is it’s cooked and breakfast is nothing special to make!!

I was here for lunch and if you are hungry..go for the buffet.your choice of food and eat as much as you want.i prefer meats and sweet potatoes..Our server was excellent'''Bryson'' very good.It was Valentines Day' and my wife got a chocolate covered strawberry from the manager.

The restaurant offers a buffet and a la carte menu. We had the fried catfish which was good as was the cabbage side dish. The seafood medley had catfish, which was good as was the shrimp. The salmon wasn't great and the greens were fairly tasteless on this occasion. No alcohol available and the tables and decor are very basic but if you want soul food a good place to go.

Never knew about this place now I know and I love it coming back soon. These folks take care of you

We had a reservation for Easter, arrived right at the time of our reservation, and were seated immediately. We had the buffet, which had more than enough food selections. The food was well prepared and our server, Terrence's, service was excellent despite the crowd. They are continuing to stay open during a period of remodel and update (hopefully some chairs and booths will be updated.); nevertheless, it was still an enjoyable outing.

We had the breakfast buffet this morning and everything was good. Fast service and good food!! The guy making omelets is good and fast. Very good place for breakfast.

A friend of mine had recommended we eat at Pearl's Place while in Chicago for a Bear's football game. We took him up on that recommendation and found it to be everything that my friend said it was. Great Southern Comfort Soul Food! We all ordered the breakfast buffet which was a reasonable $13 for anything on the buffet as many times as you want to visit the buffet, plus it included the drink with free refills. I had a wonderful omelet with mushrooms, spinach, ham, green peppers, and cheese. Along with that I had perfectly crisp bacon, mouth watering collard greens, tasty fried potatoes, and wonderfully cheesy grits. Along with the breakfast homemade biscuits with a delicate, melt in your mouth texture that were the best I've had for years. All of us decided we would return to Pearl's Place the next time we visit Chicago for a special event. I highly recommend Pearl's Place.

Heaven that is for authentic southern food, off the menu or buffet style. Wonderfully welcoming, it really seems like everyone enjoys working there. I can't recommend Pearl's highly enough... I had to wait a year before returning to Chicago and this is the first place I headed to. Thank goodness there are still places like this in America. The real deal.

I took my mom to pearls place after a doctors appointment. We were seated after a few minutes however we waited 20 minutes for a waitress. Once it was decided who are server was things moved along fine until my food came. I order salmon croquet with rice and toast. My rice was cold and my toast didn't come for five minutes. Salmon was good moreover the biscuits at this place were the best I've had in a while. Also the buffet looks great. I think I'll try that next time.

Today is New Year's Day and I decided to start my year with a soulful breakfast. I phoned and asked if they were open and was told the special holiday hours. What I was NOT told was the other essential fact: Today, they were not serving their usual menu. Today they offered a buffet at $20, not including coffee, tip and tax. Why wasn't I told that? Despite it being 30 degrees and wet outside, I really wanted to go so I took the bus and walked and when I came in and went to the host stand, the man standing at the stand asked how many in my party and I said one. He then informed me that my only option for eating there was the $20 buffet quickly followed by asking if that was acceptable. I told him I came for breakfast, that I had phoned to ask if they were open and --- he cuts me off and in a very surly tone tells me breakfast is on the buffet for $20. I let him finish speaking and say: I phoned before I came to be sure you were open. No one said anything about you having a buffet as my only option. This man says: "did you ask?" I tell him it never occurred to me to ask. I say if you are limiting my options to ONE, why was that not stated when I phoned? And this man says: "We'll take your suggestion under advisement. Do you still want a table?" The fact was, I did not want a table but it was 30 degrees out and I had just bussed and walked my way over and didn't feel like figuring out where else to go this New Year's morning. Turns out, the surly man at the host stand is one of the partners, according to my server. Too bad. I liked the wait staff and the food was as it should have been. But I refuse to put more money in the pocket of that man.

We went here twice while we were in Chicago for breakfast. Both times our waitresses were very nice! The environment is very welcoming. The owner greets you and is very nice. The food was amazing. One day I had a fruit platter and the fruit was so fresh! The next time I had the buffet. I got a spinach and bacon omelet and it was amazing! I really recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Chicago!!

We were in town for a short visit and wanted to experience some southside cuisine. I must admit that it was very good with hearty sides. Had to take half home and no room for desert. The only drawback was the parking. You can street park or park at next door motel which was a scene from Chicago PD....smile. Overall it was a good experience.

This was my sixth visit. And the best time to go is not on Sunday. But through the week.Food was good. i Recommend buffet but get meats and don't eat all the cornbread on table you will fill up to fast.

The turkey was seasoned perfectly and the cheese grits was really good. I did not enjoy the peach cobbler unfortunately. Service was good and the waiter was working double time to service our large group that day. Only complaint was there was just one person preparing the breakfast items and it was taking forever just to order pancakes and eggs (I ended up skipping that line).

Attention, this Restaurant is a scam! If u only buy noodles and salat you only pay 12$. Thats ok, isn’t it? But If you dare to order ONE small chicken that tastes like salt and weed or some other meat you have to add 28$. And only after you are finished with eating they will tell you the price. At all: low quality and high prices!

I was not impressed with this establishment, and I was excited to try it. I probably won’t go back. Over priced. My salmon croquette was awful! The biscuits are good. Everything else was just okay. The waitress was slow, but very nice.

Superb staff. Made-to-order buffet by incredibly friendly chefs that welcomed everyone that came in the door and talked to you as your food cooked like we were all good friends. The diversity at the buffet was impressive. Chicken and waffles, baked apples on mini waffles, made-to-order omlets and eggs.

A friend and I wanted to try some place different, so we drove 35 minutes to go to Pearl's. The restaurant was clean, they had a good variety of menu items, and the food was a nice temp and tasted ok. Nothing special and not worth a long drive.

While we stayed at the Amber Inn Motel to which this restaurant is attached, we ate our Breakfasts and Dinners there. One evening we were downtown Chicago and took the Subway back to the motel to have dinner at Pearl's. We had no idea that they closed at 8:00 PM and as it was just a few minutes after, the door was not locked and we walked in. They very politely told us that they were closed, but if we wanted something to eat, they still had some Southern Fried Chicken wings and we took the order back to the room. They were huge & delicious. We ate breakfast there every morning which was served with yummy biscuits and had the Buffet on our last night which consisted of some of the best Southern cuisine that we've evr had. We certainly recommend this place for their portions, quality and variety of foods. Reasonable and excellent!

I was in Chicago for my birthday and checked out Pearls Place. When we arrived their had been an accident. some guy had run into the building with his car. I joked that the food must have been so good that people were running into to the place to get to the food. I was not joking after all. We had breakfast, the Biscuits were slap your mama good. The rest was just breakfast (but good and plenty and I mean plenty). Will be returning for my sisters birthday in September. We're going for dinner this time. Can't wait. Pearls you rock. Also the waiter was very nice (sorry I can't remember his name)

Went there for Thanks giving and it was good. I just don't understand why they offer buffet or order individually since it would be a "No brainer" to go buffet if you have a hearty appetite and spend less. Their Mac and Cheese is good as well as their turkey for thanksgiving. Their Jerk Turkey was terrible trying to do Jamaican in a soul food place. Collard Greens was OK but their signature house sausage was "Yummy!"

We can't wait to return. We NEVER trust our niece, Alanna when it comes to selecting a movie;-0 However, she has NEVER been wrong when it comes to great restaurants. Pearl's Place is truly Amazing. They really know how to do it well. EVERYTHING is delicious. Dinner rolls that actually melt in your mouth. Every type of soul food that you can imagine. Seriously, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, neck bones, ribs, yams, macaroni & cheese, dressing, pink lemonade, cornbread, etc. YUMMY. Darryl (one of the Mgr.'s) introduced himself and made certain that we were enjoying our meal. We actually ordered a To-Go box, as well ;-0 We love Chicago and can't wait to return to Pearl's Place. Go for it!!!

I was visiting from out of town and this place was recommended. I am very happy it was. THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS AND THE DESSERTS WERE OFF THE CHAIN!!! I tried the sweet potato pie and Peach Cobbler and They were finger lickin good! There is enough variety to satisfy any palate at this Gem in the hood located near the Bronzeville Area.

Great soul food dining spot. Everything was delicious, the staff was amazing and the location wasn't too far from downtown. Would definitely go again!

The whole time was horrible help was RUDE owner was rude will never give them my business it was a total of 53 people 20 ate there the rest ate else where

Had buffet for dinner , outstanding reminds me of Dooky and Chase in new Orleans , smoked pork chops, dressing, collard green , mac and cheese , all the essentials .Everything well seasoned and prepared, will come hungrier next time as seconds and thirds are welcome

We waited an hour to be seated and no one every came to our table to ask if we needed anything!!!! By friend finally went and asked if we could get some help!!!! The food was OK!

This is a place to enjoy a Sunday after church meal. The place is bright with great staff, a meal that is like being at home with all the comfort foods prepared very well. The dinner rolls are buttery and full of yeast. Yes, that's right full of yeast. The half of fried chicken is done just right for us.... We ordered off the menu and were very pleased

I went there for Brunch and the chicken and waffles from the buffet was delicious! The staff were professional and courteous. The only issue I was the fact that, they did not have sweet ice tea knowing that it was a southern style restaurant. They have ample street parking and parking at the back. I will recommend this place if you want good and authentic southern comfort food.

We came to Pearl's on a beautiful Sunday morning in July and had a great southern breakfast. We didn't get the buffet as we wanted a small breakfast, but the buffet looked great. I ordered an omlet and my wife had the cheesy grits with shrimp and we shared an order of fried green tomatoes. The food was fantastic, starting with a melt in your mouth biscuit. My omelet was loaded with veggies and was nice and spicy with great potatoes on the side. The tomatoes were fried in a nice crispy coating and served with a spicy ranch sauce. The grits were hot and loaded with cheese and served with several whole shrimp on top. We had a great southern breakfast at Pearls!

I visited Pearl's Place this morning to have their breakfast buffet. We are staying on the Magnificent Mile downtown, and our hotel restaurant thinks you should pay $17 for 3 pancakes. I knew I could find a better option. The weekend breakfast buffet at Pearl's is $13, and they have so many selections. I am originally from North Carolina, so I know southern food, and this fit the bill. They had grits, turkey sausage, sausage links, some of the best bacon and biscuits I have had in a while, pancakes, made to order eggs and omelets, salmon croquettes, seasoned potatoes with onions and bell peppers, and even chicken wings. I know I am missing a few of the items, but everything I had was absolutely delicious. From our hotel, the Uber fare was $24 roundtrip, so it would have been the same price if we all (party of 3) ate 9 pancakes at the hotel. I would suggest it to anyone visiting the city, and especially to people who enjoy real southern food.

Great customer service/Good Food Amber-Inn chicago was pleasant clean and the customer service is professional and pleasant. I intend to make future visits to Amber-Inn / & Pearls place.

Had my dad's 91st birthday party there! Excellent service, food was plentiful and delicious. Get the buffet,you won't be disappointed! We had a party of twenty-eight.

Pearl's is situated about 1.5 miles east of the Chicago White Sox park. We visited for breakfast. The menu had so many choices, as well as a buffet where the staff serves you instead of the typical steam tables with sneeze guards. Their biscuits are made fresh with a lot of love. They were so good that we bought some to go. If you like chicken and waffles, then this is your place. They use wings which were huge, freshly prepared, and succulent. If a combination says county ham, then that is what you get, not the ham roll many places will use. We will be visiting again this week, and likely to get another meal to go. Prices are very reasonable. Parking is in a motel just next door.

Looking for some good southern cooked food....OMG this is the place to be....Breakfast is great..Dinner is superb...nice friendly family environment. Every time we visit we travel from our hotel to eat breakfast here each morning ...its worth the drive! And plenty of parking available. Steps away from the Metra bus and train line into downtown Chicago.

This place was located attached to a motel and looked to be small. It was very homey and nice. The food was a excellent and you could order off the menu or do buffet. It had regulations on the food and I'm sure it was done not to cause waste. Well, I did not waste and was able to take a to-go for a small extra charge.

OK so i just want to say you should park on the main street because the hotel that i heard you can park in looks a little shady to say the least. However the food here is great the service is with a smile. My daughter and I went and we both enjoyed our food. The buffet line was a bit long but it was a Saturday. Waffles, pancakes, and omelets made to order in front of you really cool. The biscuits at the table were great!

A friend of mine had been inviting me to Pearls for almost four years and finally I went. I was a bit concerned walking in and wasn't sure if I wanted to eat there. I went to that buffet and honestly I cant tell you what was on that plate because all I remember is the Mac & Cheese! It reminded me of my mom's homemade mac & cheese and immediately I wanted to cry. Needless to say I went up again but just for the mac & cheese. The service was awesome, the food was great- the music was great- no complaints

Stopped here because of all the good reviews and I have to agree, good southern take on classic foods like grits, greens, chicken and even really good omelettes according to my wife who tried them all. I had pecan pancakes and sausage while my wife had the brunch (a good deal at $12!). The buffet also features belgian waffles, custom made omelets, breakfast meats, chicken wings, fried chicken and really tasty red beans and rice (among other things!). We went right after church at Noon so the crowd was big but we were seated right away. Our server was a bit slow at and a little inattentive at times but always friendly and welcoming and happy to get what we needed when she did stop by the table. We'll go back with friends. I'd recommend giving it a try, especially, if like us, you are southern transplants in Chicago.

I want to give Pearl's Place a better rating, but I just can't. Every time I go to this place, there always seems to be a problem. My family loves it, but I just can't. There is one tall white male there who acknowledges everybody. He is always helpful and makes sure the orders are correct, but some of the others.....not everybody just a select few just have too much attitude when they are serving customers. I don't like this at all. I realize that it may be early, it may be hard being a wait staff person but the food is good, so we keep taking the abuse. Honestly I work with the public and I am always looking for good customer service. Sometimes we just don't get it there.

Great restaurant in the South Chicago area! We had nice service and great Southern home style cooking! Buffet with jerk chicken and turkey, BBQ ribs, greens, fresh hot corn bread, yams, fried chicken, CHEESY mac&cheese, etc. It's a little awkward that they serve you from the buffet and things aren't labeled so you need to ask what each thing is, but it's so HOT and fresh it's worth it. Only about a 2 block walk from the Metro green line Indiana Station. About $43 for two dinner buffets and a soda each. You can also order off a menu.

We had to wait 30 minutes to be seated, because they only had one waitress. Finally was seated and had coffee, orange juice and delicious Biscuits. Never got to taste food decided to leave because of service!!!! Pleas get more help I'm sure your food is delicious but one waitress for breakfast!!! Come on!!!

Great southern style food. Amazing the flavor with no pork in the vegetables. I really appreciated that health-consciousness. Rare.

I normally don't write reviews but the I must share my experience. I first experienced Pearl's Place for a concert, I used them to cater the event. They were on time and gave us more than enough food. However, my boyfriend and I went there for dinner on a Sunday and apparently we got there right before closing so instead of telling us that it was closing time, they decided to let us join other diners. So our waitress was really nice, attentive, and apologetic for the nonsense that was taking place between the staff. The manager decided to yell at her staff why there were still customers dining. That was totally unprofessional and unacceptable. I also have an issue with the fact that their are no refills on beverages, but out waitress hooked us up so we definitely tipped her nicely for her service. Would I eat there again? Maybe but Pearl's Place is not one of my top choices in soul food restaurants. Presentation is every!!!

Pearl's is our go-to place for excellent Soul Food. On this visit we both had chicken dinners. I had cornbread dressing and greens as my sides. My husband had mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The yeast rolls are delicious. We had peach cobbler for dessert and it was amazing. I keep saying that I need to put on my big girl pants and tackle the buffet the next time! The service is always excellent and the other diners are very engaging. Parking is available in the motel parking lot next door if you can't find street parking.

Eight of us stopped by on our way to Notre Dame and enjoyed a absolutely fabulous breakfast. Do not hesitate to come here! They have a wonderful staff and even better food! Wonderful portions and very delicious! Don't skip out on the biscuits. They are a must. Too bad we live 15 hours away. We will definitely be back!

We decided to visit this restaurant after hearing so many good thing about it. We were not disappointed. You can either eat from the buffet, or order from the menu. We ordered from the menu. This restaurant gives large portions, and good we ordered as we did, because we needed to take our food with us, as we could not eat it all. The only bad thing I can say is the service was a bit slow, but our wait staff was pleasant. The prices are a bit high, but this is not a complaint, I will pay a premium for good food. I cannot wait to return.

I decided to give Pearl's Place a try. I went there for breakfast after church. There was a 20-30 minutes wait to be seated. I noted there were many empty tables toward the back of the restaurant. I didn't understand why there was a wait, but decided to wait and give it a try anyway...in support of restaurants on the southside and in my neighborhood. After about 20 minute wait the hostess was seating us at a long booth like seating area with tables for two. The booth seat was ripped, torn and dirty, it was absolutely disgusting, so I refused to sit there and asked to be seated at a table. The hostess said there would be a short wait for a table and I was fine with that. After waiting 15 minutes I went up front to ask the manager Darrell if the hostess had put our names back on the list because we had been waiting for a while and clearly there were several tables available. Darrell was very rude and arrogant he replied "didn't you refuse seating in the booth." I said yes, Darrell replied "then a table isn't available. He seemed to have been angry that we did not want to sit in that disgusting filthy seating. I later asked the hostess could she seat us at one of the many available tables, she said they were reserved. Really?! For who? They had about 25 people waiting for a table and yet they are holding half the restaurant tables for people who was not there. I was there for about 2 hours and those tables were empty the entire time. How disrespectful to your customers who are actually there, and not good business sense because you are losing money by not making use of the table. I don't believe in patronizing businesses who's owner give substandard service. This was a big turnoff for me and I won't be back.

Awesome experience!! Had a regular breakfast menu, but also had an all you can eat buffet! The selection on the buffet was great! I highly recommend Pearl's Place!!!

Me and my husband went here because we heard so much about the food ,it was everything we had heard 👍👌👏👐 it was so good we went around 6pm we got a seat soon as we walked in, we ordered the all u can eat buffet, the staff was nice and friendly ,the manager was wonderful he kept checking with us to see if we needed anything just great, and to top it off you can bring your own bottle 🍸🍷🍹 we had a good time and we've been back 3 times loved it keep up the good work

Mediocre food for a very high cost Looked old and not fresh, not many customers present during dinner time on a Friday They serve you from the buffet, you cannot serve yourself ... hard to control portions of what they give you that way They also limit how often you can go back to the buffet You must also finish your plate or they charge you more I know this sounds crazy for a buffet but wait They charge you $19.95 for it Definitely not worth the money !!

My niece "discovered" Pearl's Place but can't get friends to go with her (they all want to stay downtown and not go south). I'm so glad we came on vacation to visit so that we could accompany her to Pearl's! Every item on the buffet was so, so good. The sides like the greens, yams, cabbage, and macaroni & cheese were so well seasoned that I had three helpings of each. The catfish was perfectly cooked and not greasy, the red beans and rice, cabbage, bbq, and pork chop were very flavorful, the fried chicken and jerk chicken were delicious, the turkey tips tasty and not dry, the spicy beef was tender and delicious, and I can't even remember all of the other items we all had. The rolls and corn bread that are placed on each table are good but not the stars of the show. I only had a small piece of each to taste them because I didn't want them to fill me up -- more room for the buffet! A beverage and dessert come with the buffet; the peach and apple cobblers were very good, though I wish there had been a bit more fruit in them. Our waiter was just okay (his service was uneven) but the folks behind the buffet were wonderful and very friendly. They seemed proud of the food they serve, and rightly so. I keep thinking about Pearl's Place and wish we had a soul food restaurant like it in Boston. I'll definitely go back the next time we're in Chicago!

Took some friends here for the first time and they ate so much we had to roll them out the front door. They enjoyed the food and said they would come back real soon. and i have been here many times and it still does not disappoint. great food.go for the buffet that is the best value.

If you’re looking for Soul Food, this is the place! The atmosphere was great, casual, yet a very nice touch of white linen tablecloths and the white coated waiters & waitress. I was with a party of 4 and we all had the lunch buffet. There was a variety food, all was very tasty and satisfying. The cobblers were great too!

My family ate here after my uncle's memorial service. Do not be afraid of parking in the motel lot parking, People that work there can see you and your car. The buffet is a serving line very friendly staff and a lot choices. I had baked chicken and turkey, green beans dressing, cranberry sauce and cornbread...and Lemon pound cake...just say I am a Black American and when we are silent and into the food while we eat...that means the food is EXCELLENT!!!!! OH MY, OH MY IT WAS SO GOOD. I ate until I was so full and I could not eat anymore. My cousin who lives in Chicago, ate that Banana Pudding up and he will be back again and again, and so will I when I come back to visit. YES Pearl's Responsible prices.

Good southern comfort food in the midwest. I really enjoyed the yeast rolls that come out before you get your food.

The food was well prepared, and portions were large. This is a soul food restaurant, as opposed to a southern style cooking. The buffet is not a typical "set-up" but it is all you can eat. My only drawback was the service, our waiter was not very attentive, and at times non-existent, I wondered if it could have been a race issue (my opinion). The food was very good, although the "jerk's" heat didn't get to me, the fried chicken batter was well done. My wife's fried shrimp was heaping, and the mac n' cheese was to die for.

Found this place by accident. Food was great, good friendly service. It makes a great break for breakfast or dinner.

My most recent visit to Pearl's was on 10/27. I've ordered carryout from Pearl's on 3 separate occasions. Each time that I've placed an order, THE WAITSTAFF WAS INCREDIBLY RUDE! The 1st visit here, waitstaff totally ignored me. Apparently, standing at the cash register and waiting is something customers LOVE TO DO. I shouldn't have to chase someone down to take my order. 2nd visit - order ready, my name mispronounced although an easy name to pronounce. 3rd visit - my order was put aside because an item was missing. No rush to complete my order until I inquired about it. Also, rude waitstaff comments again. When I asked about my order, waitstaff RUDELY ASKED, did I take your order? No, you didn't. You left me with the menu and walked away. Someone else took my order. So, a customer can only ask the status of an order by the waiter or waitress that placed the order? I'm not sure where all these awards are coming from. For RUDENESS TO CUSTOMERS Pearl's DEFINITELY WINS HANDS DOWN.

Stopped here for breakfast on our way home to Milwaukee after an evening of partying in Chicago. My friend and I both had the breakfast buffet..which I believe is $15/person, and all you care to eat. I go here for the Parker House sausage and corned beef hash specifically. Love the fresh, hot, homemade biscuits. One of my favorite stops whenever in Chicago...you MUST try it!!

My daughter happened upon this place while conducting research for various businesses in Bronzeville. We visited here early Friday evening. The meals we selected were absolutely delicious! The servings were generous! The staff are courteous and friendly. There is parking in front of the restaurant, along the street, and at the hotel next door. We plan to bring out-of-towners here and will tell family and friends who reside here.

For more then 30 years, Pearl's Place has been the soul food restaurant of choice in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, a white tablecloth and fine dining venue serving Southern/Soul food classics such as fried chicken and catfish. Located at 3901 South Michigan Avenue, at West Pershing Road, it is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and offers a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections, including a salad bar and delicious home-made desserts. Since Army's closed, Pearl's has become our go-to destination for genuine southern fried cooking. For dinner, we started at the salad bar. I've learned to choose in moderation rather than fill two plates and leave nothing for the imagination--and dessert. For her entree, my wife chose fried chicken with rice and green beans. I opted for the hand carved, roasted turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy and cole slaw. For dessert, we shared portions of bread pudding and banana pudding. And we couldn't resist ordering old-fashioned chocolate and strawberry milk shakes to enjoy in the car on the way home. At Pearl's, you always regret leaving something behind. Like the country fried steak or pot roast dinner or fried jumbo shrimp or pork chops. Next time, for dessert, I won't pass up the German chocolate cake or peach cobbler. Pearl's is a unique establishment that you must experience to fully appreciate.

I visited Pearls Place about 10 years ago and was disappointed then. I visited today and was only disappointed. I ordered the Smothered Short Ribs. The food arrived like warm. The Short Ribs had no taste just salt no seasonings and for 24.99, surely expected the wow factor. Carla Hall gave a good review so I said I would try them again only to be disappointed again. The collards were just plain collards.I ordered a hot tea and peach cobbler I pray the cobbler taste good.

Food, service, kindness and sheer joy was in abundance in the portion sizes, the never ending Sunday buffet and the great culture of family oozing out of the team in this restaurant. No unhappy people among our nearly 50 strong group. My fellow travellers raved about the omelettes and the peach cobbler was a win with everyone.Value for money.

Down home, old school, soul food. Went June 22,2015. I had the smothered pork chops. Fork tender and gooood. Also the dirty rice. My wife and daughter had the collard greens and candied sweet potatoes. Mac & cheese was great. All three of had the fried chicken wings. Jerk chicken was spicy and not just hot. It is a buffet and I went three times. I don't like collard greens but theirs was just that good. Love them.Great home like atmosphere. Will go back.

We planned to enjoy the breakfast bar but we arrived 20 minutes before it was over (11:30 am) and even though the restaurant wasn't packed with customers we didn't get seated until almost 11:30 am. And we notice that groups of people kept coming in and immediately being seated at the other end of the restaurant. And we overheard it was a family reunion. They were switching over to the dinner buffet which was more expensive and I was in the mood for breakfast. So we just ordered off the menu. The food was really good but I wished we could of done the breakfast buffet. We did return for dinner but we ordered that to go off the menu also. They offer jumbo wings (which I'm always leery because I don't know if there are actually jumbo chickens they get those wings from) nonetheless we had wings along with greens, mac n cheese, yams and huge dinner rolls! We both enjoyed the meal but I did have some discomfort afterwards which I can't pinpoint but it may have been the greens. I do have a sensitive stomach so I would say if your in the mood for soul food to give it a try.

I was here on 9 feb 2015, and first time here for breakfast. and i like my food hot and fresh.. and it was good. great service by Chef''mark'' good customer service by''brittany'' omelet was great. good choices.as i left crowd started to come in. And the biscuits are very good..yumm.yumm.....Get the buffet'' best deal.

Great southern food, a bit pricy though for way out of downtown.Right next door to Amber Inn so you do not need to go far, since the area has nothing else to offer, no pharmacy/drug store, no cafe at all near by.

Don't listen to anyone if they say anything bad about this place. The food was beyond amazing. Full menu and all you can eat buffet if that's your thing. I had jambalaya, cornbread, and collard greens. Awesome. Peach cobbler for desert. Whole family was happy. Wide variety of southern food. Keep an open mind, try something new like I did. You won't be disappointed. Staff was very friendly as well. Yes sir, yes mam. You'll love it.

Pearl's offers it all: Delicious food, friendly, welcoming service, and free parking in the adjacent hotel parking lot or across the street at the rib restaurant. It has the feeling of an old-school neighborhood restaurant, with politicians, police, and families enjoying food from the extensive buffet or off the menu. But it is also an easily reached destination for southern soul food (cheesy grits, fried shrimp, gumbo, po-boy sandwiches and more) and offers take-out. You can't miss the best-ever biscuits served with butter and jam -- they are delivered as soon as you're seated. The service was prompt, professional, and super friendly. Located in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, Pearl's is a short drive or ride-share away from McCormick Place and White Sox park. It's opens at 7am and closes at 8pm.

Buffet style soul food restaurant, food was really good. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. This is a place I will definitely visit again.

I can't stay away and I'm only here for 8 days. Food is delicious, staff is friendly and helpful, and this place is obviously a local favorite and deservedly so. I had chicken smothered, fried, jerked and much much more.

I discovered this restaurant 5 yrs ago. It was good then and it is now. This time, I think my timing coming in was while they were having a shift change. The wait staff was limited. But my waitress was very good. I usually order from the buffet.. not as fresh this time, but it was good. The cornbread and homemade waffles was the bomb!!!! Meaning good I asked for a waffle for take out. They charge extra for take out. But I just had one waffle, they did not charge me for that. The pink lemonade was excellent. Next time I come, I will try coming earlier in the afternoon when they just cooked the food.

Excellent tasting authentic soul food! More health conscious than many others, it is a favorite and a standard whenever me or my family are in Chicago.

We had the buffet & the food was very good. Excellent & friendly service. Our server was attentive. (We came in about 50 min b4 closing & it wasn't crowded.) Attractive dining area with vintage photographs and prints.

I'm trying to be as fair as possible. So, I wanted to visit Pearl's for dinner on July 4th. Granted it was a national holiday so I checked their website to verify if they were indeed open. There wasn't a definite yes or no but on their website you were encouraged to call. I noticed some social media sites had it listed as open. I called the number and was put through a loop. After hitting the key for hours of operation, there was nothing solid so I decided to give it a shot. The hours of operation listed they closed at 7pm, so I made it a point make sure I was there by 6pm. I was in downtown and hoped on the Green line and walked a couple of blocks to the restaurant only the discover the doors tight as a drum. No worries, I understand. I also applaud them for being online as that is the platform so many customers rely on to determine hours of operations, menus, etc. As nice as the site may be, it did not give specific information about hours of operations and so many companies flunk this critical part of websites by keeping it updated and interactive. Anyway, so much for my gripe but I was looking forward to experiencing Pearl's Place but it was not to be.

I had a birthday brunch party there for my friend and we were coming in from out of town. Excellent food and service was well worth it reasonable prices and the nicest staff.I will definitely make it a must visit the next time I'm in Chicago

Some of the best soul food around. I ordered the ham with Mac n cheese and yams with peach cobbler for dessert. The food was amazing.

We found pearls place by accident. What a nice surprise. The food was AMAZING. Best soul food hands down. However it's connected to a shady hooker hotel, but don't let that stop you I'm sure it's no affiliation. The atmosphere was that of a banquet hall and the service is a bit slow. Otherwise this place is the real deal. Definitely will be back. If I lived closer I'd be there once a week.

Great place for breakfast or lunch. Prices is very reasonable. The staff from the managers, cooks and the wait staff everyone was pleasant and helpful. I will be back again soon.

I stop in at least once each week for breakfast. The food is good and the people are very friendly. Would highly recommend it to everyone.

We had the pleasure of a delicious breakfast at Pearl's Place on Saturday February 19, 2022. We were greeted upon arrival and directed to the bathrooms to wash our hands (Covid precaution) as were all other guests we saw arrive that morning. We had no reservations, and after a very short wait, were shown to a table. We were impressed by the cleanliness of the restaurant, and the fact everyone seemed to be having a good time. Our server, Deirdre P, brought us the most amazing delicate, fluffy biscuits we have ever eaten with butter soft enough to actually spread on them. Too often you are given rock hard butter that cannot be spread on anything. My partner had the Peach Pancakes, tweaked to include pecans in the pancakes. I had the Shrimp and Cheesy Grits, which were superb. When our server asked if we needed anything else, our response was "A branch of the restaurant in Minneapolis". Laughter all around, and a very enjoyable conversation with the people at the next table. Pearl's Place reminded me of the famed Dooky Chase's in New Orleans. The food was delicious, the staff was highly professional and very welcoming at the same time. We would recommend this restaurant to anyone, and would definitely return again.

I visit Chicago at the end of each year. This is one of my traditional stops for breakfast. I enjoy the complimentary warm biscuits, and the breakfast bar has the option of having chef make eggs to order. Always a healthy serving of grits, hash browns or meats. Service is friendly and always personable. I believe that when locals frequent a place that's a good sign. I used to live in Chicago and come here as a local. Now, as a visitor I appreciate it even more. 2 BURPS Up

The food was off the hook. We ate a variety. The staff was professional and exceeded eveyrones expectations.

This is my first visit to Chicago .. I enjoyed the service and hospitality shown , the server were very courteous and she (Debbie) went an extra mile explaining the dishes , also helped us with some local information which really helped us plan the trip Pancakes / French Toast and Turkey Steaks are really good there Definitely recommend

Place is clean and relatively quiet. The staff is extremely nice. One even helped me with my bags from the cab to the hotel next door. It is obvious that it is a favorite hangout because customers greet each other and the staff. Friendly atmosphere. Started with their all day breakfast. Delicious shrimp and cheesy grits with green onions. Yummy! The corn bread and the coffee was good, too. Went back that evening ( I was staying next door) even though there was a barbecue place across the street. Got takeout to eat in my room. The takeout container was filled with red beans and rice with four nice sized pieces of ham. The ham was salty, but good. I felt the red beans needed more spice and I don’t mean pepper. I would have added some onions and cumin. Without the ham they were bland. I left half of the red beans and rice in the container. The corn bread tasted as if the dish they cooked it in had been greased with something rancid. Didn’t eat that either. The ice tea was good and the peach cobbler was almost as good as my Mom’s. Next morning I tried the place again. The staff greeted me like I was an old friend. As before they seated me promptly. The mini waffles and three pieces of bacon were good and just enough to fill me up. The coffee, cranberry juice and the bread with butter and jam were good and helped ease the hunger while they prepared my breakfast. The prices are reasonable. I just hope I didn’t get the only White waiter both times because they thought I was White! Overall I thought it was a great place to eat! Will go again when I visit Chicago.

It's a MUST to take in the wonderful dining experience at the Pearl Resturant adjoining Amber Inn! YUM YUM YUM!

This restaurant has become a regular go to spot for periodic lunches w my friends on the South side. It's convenient for those who only are on the train (particularly tourists who want to savor the city's rich but disappearing soul food culture). I enjoy the weekly changes to the menu. While the prices are not cheap as one would expect, the quality of food is worth it.

Ordered 2 separate orders for take out which included 2 peach cobblers which my receipt showed I paid for. When the orders were ready for review, no peach cobblers. I asked Rep #1 what happened to them and I was then asked how I'd like to pay for them. Whhatt? I replied, I already paid for them and showed the receipt. Also, my name wasn't taken correctly. I speak clearly. If the Rep didn't understand my name, she could have said something. When my order was ready after 30-40 min., an unrecognizable name was called. When I asked if this was my order because the name called was unclear, it was my order. Rep #2 was amused. She said that Rep #1 "JUST MADE UP A NAME" and then laughed. This wasn't amusing to me. I don't enjoy waiting any longer than necessary. Forty min. was enough waiting. No apologies for either the peach cobbler mistake or the name insult. I have yet to place an order at Pearl's without any issues. I return to Pearl's because the food is good. Although, some items can be a little on the salty side. This is the only Soul Food place near me. Otherwise, I would go elsewhere.

As soon as I drove to this location, the parking situation was awful. I had to drive around the block multiple times before finding a spot JUST to do a pickup order. There is no curbside option. Once inside, I noticed that the inside of the restaurant was not up to par with my normal dining experiences...and that comparison includes your local McDonald’s. When I got there, only one employee was wearing their mask properly. The attitudes from all of the staff, excluding the only woman wearing her mask properly, was absolutely unacceptable. There was no option to pay when ordering online. The man working the front was “kind” enough to try to take the payment over the phone. Claimed the machine declined the payment even though that particular payment method had ALL available funds. The staff was very rude and not people with great customer service. I would not recommend this place OR would I return.

OUR southern ill community group rode the train up and had lunch at to Pearl's . timely and efficient. our waiter Mark was right there. quickly served. the owner made a visit.a great customer service gesture. The food hot and seasoned very well. Mac and cheese, red beans and rice. were absolutely good.affordable and good. everyone enjoyed it, able to relax before make the journey back home.. the highlight and well worth the trip. being many of us were "ole "school cooks we gave Pearls' a thumbs up.

My husband and I visited Pearl's because of the great reviews. They didn't disappoint. My husband had the Chicago omelet. He enjoyed the parker house sauage and the assortment of vegetables in the omelet. I had the chicken and mini waffles but the highlight for me was the fried green tomatoes made with Panko bread crumbs.Yummy

My co-worker placed an order for us via Uber Eats. When I got my order I found that it was incorrect. I contacted them to let them know. I spoke with, I believe someone name Kiesha, who transferred me to a male. I told him that my order was incorrect. He said that's an Uber Eats problem. Really?? I asked "Are you telling me that the Uber Eats driver is supposed to open up my food to see if my order is correct?" He kept repeating that I should contact Uber Eats. I am just so outdone that I can even say. I will never eat here again. I have taken several large church groups here and had a few large breakfast orders for the staff at my school. I will certainly never order or eat at this place again. If this "manager" is suggesting that a driver open my order and check it, no telling what unsanitary practices are gong on there.

We came here at the suggestion of our B&B host's. We have never been to a proclaimed "soul food" restaurant. To us it was more like what our grandma;s made and I guess we never thought of it as soul food. We had the buffet and the type that I like. You go up to the buffet window and point to the food and the portion size you want and they put it on the plate and hand it to you. OMG it was so good. Fried chicken, jerk chicken, pork, gumbo, green, cooked cabbage etc. It was all good. They have a really nice salad bar with the best potato dalad that I have ever got from a restaurant. Friendly service and staff round out the experience. If you're near 39th and Michigan Ave. and want something really good, try this place. I don't think you'll be disapointed. If I had one negative thing to say it would be the wait at the buffet window. I was the third person in line. They were short a staff member that night so it took close to 10 minutes to get my food. i guess that is really a wash because if we had ordered off of the menu, it would have taken longer then 10 minutes. Enjoy...

My husband and I searched the web for a soul food restaurant during our visit to Chicago. Luckily, we found Pearl's Place on a raining Friday evening. We opted for the dinner buffet. It was an extensive buffet of various meats and veggies. I had jerk chicken, bbq ribs, beans and rice, greens, spinach, macaroni and cheese, and salad. Our waitress, named Diamond provided excellent service. Alcohol is not served so I ordered a soft drink. I chose not to drink my soda because I wanted to finish eating my delicious food. My husband ordered peach cobble and told me that I had to order it even if I had to take it to go. I did take it to go and ate it for breakfast the next day. We received great hospitality, even from other customers who overheard that we were from out of town. Chicago is our kind of town and Pearl's Place has our kind of food.

After reading other reviews I felt we had to try Pearl's Place and I was so happy that we did! We visited on Sun Feb 22 with a party of 8 and the wait was only 15 minutes. Our server, Jasmine, was knowlegeable and very pleasant, and the food was delicious! I don't eat a lot so the portions were kinda large since they serve you, cafeteria style, but I manged to eat almost all of my fried chicken, rib tips, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, the very best greens I've ever had and too much else to mention. Chocolate cake was excellent. We will come again when visiting Chicago!

My family took me here for brunch before dropping me at the airport. Parking was great because they have parking arrangements with the motel next door, which is currently closed for renovations. As soon as we walked in, we were checked for masks and asked to go to the restroom to wash our hands and then we would be seated. Masks are available for sale, if you do not have one. You can order off the menu or do the buffet. The buffet had breakfast items, as well as lots of heavier selections. The food was good and hearty. The staff was friendly and attentive.

This is a unique restaurant. I went there with a friend for lunch and had the buffet. The Southern cooking was excellent-- I have never had pork ribs this good (the staff told me it's all in the rub)! The buffet--with beverage and dessert was a reasonable $13. The buffet comes with a small salad bar and at least seven meat choices. The staff serves you from the buffet--you don't go through and scoop up yourself. I will be going back.

The food was horrible. I didn't do the buffet I order a salmon coquette dinner with spaghetti the sauce would not stick to the pasta the salmon tasted more like bread crumbs then salmon. Suckatass I know didn't spell right, but that was the best thing on my plate. Even the peach cobbler was nasty. What's wrong with you people. We spent over $600.00 dollars n it sad the quality of the food. Most people n my group choose the buffet n because the cost decided to take the food from their plates home, additional charge. I no longer live n Illinois but I use to come here on Sunday after church when you originally open n the food was the bomb. Then it started to go down. I haven't been here n years. When this place was chosen for our outing I had reservations but was told no the food really good. 😕 Sorry I was not pleased. Please get it together to many black folks spend their hard earn money at this place.