Soul & Smoke Announces Sept. 1 Opening For Expanded Evanston Flagship

EVANSTON, IL — Soul & Smoke Co-Founders Chef D’Andre Carter and Heather Bublick announced an opening date of Sept. 1 for the company’s expanded flagship location in Evanston.

The new restaurant will open in the century-old barn that has housed the brand’s creative headquarters, catering hub and community operations.

The Evanston site will become Soul & Smoke’s first full-service restaurant. Since 2015, Soul & Smoke has operated its catering arm, four locations and two food trucks from the barn, which was once owned by the Robinson Bus Company, described there as one of the nation’s largest Black-owned transportation businesses.

The opening follows the launch of the Soul & Smoke Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting food security in the local community. The company said the expanded restaurant is designed to reflect the history of the building, the Fifth Ward in Evanston, and the community around it.

By day, diners will be able to order Soul & Smoke barbecue favorites including smoked Duroc rib tips, brisket by the pound, smoked pastrami, hot links, mac and cheese and cornbread. At night, the restaurant will also offer an elevated menu with dishes including Moto Oxtail Cigar, Pastrami Cheek Burnt Ends, Bang Bang BBQ Shrimp and Oyster with Green Tomato Chow Chow. Consulting Pastry Chef Casey Doody curated desserts including Sky High Sweet Potato Pie.

The beverage program will be led by Bublick and will feature wines from BIPOC and woman-owned wineries, according to Soul & Smoke. Cocktail options listed in the release include the Soul & Smoke Sour, Blood Orange Bourbon Sour, Paper Plane Riff, Charred Pineapple Rum Punch and Smoked Peach Arnold Palmer.

Soul & Smoke said guests will be able to choose between ordering through QR codes or requesting help from servers through table indicators. The restaurant will also include an open kitchen and smoker room with handcrafted A.N. Bewley smokers.

Art and design are a major part of the new space. The collection includes works by Hebru Brantley, Dwight White, Paul Octavious, Guy Philoche, Bianca Pastel, Rello and Raspy.

The expanded venue will also serve as a hub for private events and catering.