Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe, Darien

###The Press Box: Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe Chuck's seems like another American grill until you find out that chef/owner Chuck Pine spent a few years working with Rick Bayless. That explains the authentic Mexican dishes on the menu—no bog-standard tacos here. The restaurant also serves up soul-food, barbecue, and creole dishes, plus burgers and breakfast. The menu might seem gigantic, but the only thing overwhelming is the praise. The restaurant's been featured on _Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives_ and _Windy City Live_, and it frequently makes top 10 lists of the best barbecue joints around. Read on to see what the critics love: "This is **exceptionally good barbecue**." — [_Check, Please!_](https://vimeo.com/74647688) "That’s got some **awesome smoky flavor**." — [_Chicago's Best_](https://vimeo.com/74647689) on the **cochinitas pibil** "The best is the Southern comforts part of the menu, which has dishes like **chicken-fried chicken** with freshly made mashed potatoes and green beans with bacon." — [Thrillist](https://www.thrillist.com/eat/chicago/best-chicago-soul-food-southern-food-restaurants) "The buttery [corn] bread had a deliciously spicy bite to it." — [Southwest Michigan Dining](http://swmichigandining.com/2012/08/04/chucks-southern-comforts-cafe/) **The **banana-bread pudding** will also hit the spot." — [Chicago ABC 7](https://vimeo.com/74644601)