If you’re looking for soul food, look no further than the heart of our city. Located at 524 E. Monroe Street, you will find Aunt Lou’s Soul Food. Their menu is comprised of many southern favorites like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and pork chops. Sides include baked mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and greens. Deserts like peach cobbler, strawberry cake, and banana pudding are amongst the options available. Their current bestsellers are fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits (which has been nominated for best cajun seafood of Springfield), and banana pudding.

The road to Aunt Lou’s opening its doors on June 21st of this year was windy and unexpected to say the least. Owner and head chef Corey Dickerson, was raised and taught how to cook by his grandmother, known as Aunt Lou. Dickerson moved back to Springfield from Miami when his grandmother became ill and passed away. He eventually opened a barbershop and operated a restaurant and sports bar inside the Brass Rail Reception Center, before the hotel closed. When Dickerson first found his new location, he wasn’t initially looking to open a restaurant. His intentions were to use the space as a night club. After being asked to make appetizers for Downtown Springfield, Inc.’s annual Friends of the Market dinner, he realized his fried green tomatoes were a hit, and thus the idea of Aunt Lou’s was born.