Deleece Attracts Neighborhood Popularity with Eclectic American Cuisine

CHICAGO (February 2008)-Just a few months shy of its 13th anniversary, the Lakeview neighborhood's popular restaurant, Deleece (4004 N. Southport Ave., (773) 325-1710), still maintains its affordable, family-friendly reputation. Open since June 1995, Deleece has become known as a casual neighborhood hot spot, serving up a diverse menu of contemporary American comfort foods.

Owners, husband and wife team Lynne Wallack and John Handler, created the concept 13 years ago as the kind of restaurant where customers could dine any night of the week. Part of Deleece's great success over the years can be attributed to Wallack, who has an M.B.A. from Harvard and a background in advertising. "I aim to run a restaurant that both customers and employees are passionate about. I strive to hire empathic employees who deeply care about customers, and truly enjoy working with others." According to Wallack, this emotional experience is "what sets a restaurant apart."

Over the years, Deleece has received positive reviews and awards from local critics, including "2nd Best Brunch in Chicago" by a Chicago Tribune poll and "Best Newcomer" by Zagat shortly after its opening. Thirteen years later, Deleece continues to boast nominations for "Best Brunch" on CitySearch polls each year.

Deleece's Eclectic American Cuisine
Since inception, the menu items have changed, but Deleece consistently offers an affordable array of eclectic American cuisine. Executive chef Josh Hansen, who has been with the restaurant for four years, enjoys adding his own personal touch to the menu. In fact, his creative flair is what attracted Wallack to Hansen when selecting a head chef. "We hired Josh because we love his creativity; he has a lot of ideas and always works extremely hard."