On bustling 53rd Street, Virtue stands out. Owner and James Beard Award-winning chef Erick Williams and Emerging Chef award recipient Damarr Brown’s Hyde Park restaurant is an ode to the creativity, generosity, and enduring legacy of Black Southern culture. The story is told through memorable dishes like creamy mac and cheese and fall-apart short ribs.
The blend of music, kitchen buzz, and conversation forms a melody of its own. Paired with food that feeds both the tongue and the soul, Virtue has a way of making even the hardest days softer and the brightest ones shine brighter.
As I sat at my table, the woman next to me whispered to her friend, “I’d come here alone,” after dipping her spoon into the warm belly of her cinnamon apple bread pudding — and I understood exactly what she meant.
The dining room is all low lights and warm wood with an ideal “head-nod” level soundtrack of Stevie Wonder, Etta James, and old-school R&B. Through the tall windows, Hyde Park glows — a neighborhood just as poetic as its establishments.
Date-night or celebrating the big and small wins of the week. It’s also a superb spot for a solo dinner.
If visiting on the weekend, grab a Spothero or an Uber; parking is limited.
Dining and Cooking