Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley - Chicago
Soul food restaurant · 339 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States · United States
★ 4.7 on Google · 18,263 reviews · View on Google Maps
Manipulation score
CleanCompleted Aug 5, 2026 · 321 reviews flagged
How this score works
The score estimates how strongly this place's review record matches known manipulation patterns, from 0 (no signs) to 100. Verdicts: Clean below 40, Suspicious from 40, Likely Manipulated from 70; Review Drive when the flags are mostly staff asking customers for named reviews. It rises with the share of reviews flagged and how suspicious each one is.
- Burst
- — an abnormal spike of five-star reviews in a single day compared to the place's usual pace.
- Low activity account
- — the reviewer has almost no other reviews, photos, or Local Guide history; throwaway accounts look like this.
- Duplicate text
- — the wording is nearly identical to another review of the same place.
Verdicts are statistical estimates based on public review patterns, not accusations. Full methodology, signal definitions and known limits →
Case conclusion
What the numbers say
1,000 reviews examined
- Google rating
- 4.7★
- Not-flagged average
- 4.7★
- Flagged
- 32%
- Coverage
- 5%
All reviews shown by Google
679 examined reviews
321 of 1,000
1,000 of 18,263 Google reviews
“Not flagged” means no configured Revdict signal matched; it does not prove a review is genuine. Data fetched Aug 5, 2026.
Review brief
What reviews not flagged by Revdict say
Reviewers report that Kitchen + Kocktails offers a lively, energetic atmosphere and flavorful Southern-style dishes paired with strong drinks. While many guests praise the attentive service and engaging staff, a significant number of visitors mention issues with long wait times for reservations, elevated pricing, and uncomfortable indoor temperatures.
+ Repeated strengths
Exceptional Customer Service and Staff
Many reviewers highlight specific staff members for providing warm, welcoming, and attentive service that elevated their dining experiences.
1 supporting review
3★ · 2026-06-20
DAVID at river north location in chicago was great!!!
Flavorful Soul Food and Drinks
Reviewers frequently praise dishes like catfish, grits, and chicken, along with creative cocktail selections.
1 supporting review
5★ · 2026-07-10
Ashley amazing! Handle it all hands down great recommendations the godfather is the one! Thank you!
Vibrant Atmosphere and Decor
Guests consistently enjoy the energetic vibe, music, and visually appealing interior decor.
3 supporting reviews
5★ · 2026-06-22
Kitchen & Koctails in Chicago offers a vibrant atmosphere paired with excellent food. The menu is diverse, showcasing creative dishes that are both flavorful and beautifully presented. The ambiance is lively, making it a great spot for soci...
5★ · 2026-06-22
I visited Kitchen + Kocktails By Kevin Kelley for brunch with a few friends, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our weekend. The restaurant was busy when we arrived, but the staff kept things moving smoothly and were friendly th...
5★ · 2026-07-03
Brielle is an amazing bartender! Great service, great personality. I will be coming back! :)) thanks for the amazing service :))
− Repeated complaints
Long Wait Times and Reservation Delays
Reviewers report having to wait significant periods beyond their scheduled reservation times to be seated.
3 supporting reviews
2★ · 2026-06-20
Janay was a delight! After waiting for over an hour and half to b sat for our 9pm reservation she really helped lighten our moods, she was efficient and continuously checked in on us throughout the night.
4★ · 2026-06-20
Although the wait was way too long. RSVP at 10 and never made it to the table our bartender Benaire was wonderful!!! Patient , kind and welcoming .
3★ · 2026-06-20
Very beautiful establishment… The food was over seasoned and we waited 1.5-2 for food, oh let me not Forget this was our anniversary dinner so we made reservations and still waited an Additional 50 minutes before we were seated the bill for...
Inconsistent Food Seasoning
Multiple reviewers state that certain dishes are overly salty or, conversely, lack adequate seasoning.
3 supporting reviews
3★ · 2026-06-15
3.5 Stars. Food was good but a bit salty (Mississippi Catfish and Grits). Bathroom was messy and had no locks or handles. We were a bit under whelmed about the service. You include gratuity people dont work for it. She kept forgetting the t...
2★ · 2026-06-22
Overly priced for extremely salty food. Had to ask for a complementary cake for the birthday person even though they were unable to eat the food because of the salt issue. Overhyped
4★ · 2026-06-27
This is my first time visiting. I do plan to come back to try other food on the menu. I really enjoyed the Margarita Flight. That was the highlight of my meal. The catfish and grits was a large portion. I couldn't finish it. If you are sen...
Warm Indoor Temperatures
Reviewers note that the dining areas can become uncomfortably hot due to inadequate air conditioning.
2 supporting reviews
2★ · 2026-06-20
This place used to be phenomenal, now they are serving stove top mac n cheese and charging entree price, we ordered cornbread and sweet potatoes they ran out, but we weren't informed until after we asked 2 hours after we finally got our foo...
1★ · 2026-06-30
We came here with a party of 20 for my niece birthday. It took us over 2 hours to get any food. When the food came out over half of the orders were wrong and they ran out of items without notifying our party. The drinks were watered down a...
Good for
- Celebrations and birthdays
- Social dinners with friends
- Cocktails and bar experiences
Avoid if
- You are sensitive to high ambient temperatures
- You are looking for quiet dining environments
- You are watching your budget
Review anatomy
Reviews per month
| Month | Reviews | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Jun ’26 | 338 | 112 |
| Jul ’26 | 549 | 182 |
| Aug ’26 | 113 | 27 |
Rating distribution
Evidence
- low activity account 320 reviews flagged weight 0.8
- generic account 1 reviews flagged weight 1
Flagged reviews
Showing the 10 most suspicious of 321 flagged reviews.
John Weatherbolt
91 reviews · Local Guide
★★★★★
2026-07-28
We had a wonderful experience at Kitchen & Kocktail. The staff was welcoming, helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our visit. The Southern fried chicken was delicious, with a crispy coating and great seasoning that made it one of the highlights of the meal. The combination o...
Peyton Blue
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-06-14
Ashley was a great server
Latonya Price
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-06-14
I love this place, it was my first time there but I will most definitely be going back. Our waitress Danny was marvelous and answer every question that we need it answer and very polite and funny very welcoming.
Kay Williams
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-06-15
Marlin was a great server.
meah dag
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-06-17
Marlin was great give him a raise !!
Inesha Williams
1 review
★★★★★
2026-06-17
Marlon was a great waitress I highly recommend asking for him
Tiara Bickart
1 review
★★★★★
2026-06-17
Tayy such a good server amazing
K3
1 review
★★★★★
2026-06-17
Amazing best restaurant in Chicago.
Mert Ege Mutaf
2 reviews
★★★★★
2026-06-18
Special thanks to Brielle, everything was really good, especially the service.
Javontez Ross
1 review
★★★★★
2026-06-18
Hi I took my girl out for her birthday and we had a wonderful time thank you Brielle you was a wonderful Servicer .
Report generated Aug 5, 2026. Reviews change — you can request a fresh investigation.
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