7 Unmissable Secrets Behind Soul & Smoke's Fine Dining BBQ Takeover At Accenture Tower
Step inside the bustling heart of Chicago's West Loop this December 24, 2025, and you'll find a culinary phenomenon redefining comfort food. Soul & Smoke, a name synonymous with high-quality, chef-driven barbecue, has firmly established its presence within the iconic Accenture Tower, transforming a typical weekday lunch spot into a destination for soulful, sophisticated smoked meats. This isn't your average barbecue joint; it's a unique fusion of deep Southern tradition and elite fine-dining execution, a combination that has rapidly made this location a must-visit for office workers, commuters, and food enthusiasts alike.
The success of the Soul & Smoke - West Loop at Accenture Tower location is rooted in a compelling origin story and a commitment to flavor that transcends the standard pitmaster experience. Led by two industry veterans with a background in some of Chicago’s most innovative kitchens, the West Loop outpost offers a streamlined yet powerful menu designed to deliver an unforgettable taste of authentic barbecue and soul food right in the middle of the city's commercial hub.
The Culinary Architects: Chef D'Andre Carter and CEO Heather Bublick
The elevated nature of Soul & Smoke's barbecue is no accident; it is the direct result of the impressive culinary pedigrees of its founders, Chef D'Andre Carter and partner Heather Bublick. Their story is a compelling narrative of taking high-end techniques and applying them to the most comforting of American cuisines.
- Chef D'Andre Carter's Biography:
- Education: Studied at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Chicago.
- Fine Dining Roots: Worked his way up from intern to executive sous chef at the legendary Moto Restaurant, known as one of Chicago’s original food provocateurs.
- Reputation: Earned a national reputation as an elite fine-dining chef, though his true passion remains barbecue.
- Community Involvement: An active member of the WCK Chef Corps, The Trotter Project, and The Abundance Setting, demonstrating a commitment to the broader culinary community.
- Heather Bublick's Profile:
- Role: Co-founder and CEO of Soul & Smoke.
- Fine Dining Roots: Met Chef Carter while working at Moto Restaurant, and continued her career at other Michelin-starred establishments.
- Vision: Instrumental in scaling the business from its Evanston catering origins into a multi-location Chicago barbecue juggernaut.
This fine-dining background is the "secret sauce" that infuses every dish, from the precise smoking of the meats to the complex, house-made sauces and elevated side dishes.
The Signature Menu: Why West Loop Craves These 5 Dishes
The menu at the Accenture Tower location is intentionally focused, prioritizing quality and flavor over sheer volume. It’s built around the core offerings that have won the restaurant critical acclaim and a loyal following across its Chicago locations, including Avondale and Evanston. For anyone visiting the West Loop, there are five dishes that stand out as essential tasting experiences.
1. The Award-Winning Signature Mac + Cheese
No discussion of Soul & Smoke is complete without mentioning their Signature Mac + Cheese. This isn't just a side dish; it’s a creamy, decadent masterpiece made with an extra creamy three-cheese blend. Its reputation is so significant that it was a winning menu item on Good Morning America's BBQ Showdown, cementing its status as one of the best comfort food dishes in Chicago. It’s the perfect counterpoint to the smoky meats.
2. The Uncompromising Smoked Prime Brisket
A true test of any barbecue joint is its brisket, and Soul & Smoke passes with flying colors. They use USDA Smoked Prime Brisket, slow-smoked to perfection, resulting in a tender, juicy, and intensely flavorful meat. It can be ordered as a full dinner plate, complete with sides, or as a chopped Prime Brisket Sandwich with their Original BBQ Sauce and Bread & Butter Pickles. The quality of the prime cut is a clear nod to the chef's commitment to fine-dining ingredients.
3. The Soulful Pulled Pork Po' Boy
Bringing a taste of New Orleans soul to the West Loop, the Pulled Pork Po' Boy features Chef Carter's Smokey BBQ Pulled Pork. The pork is slow-cooked until fall-apart tender, piled high on a Po' Boy roll, and served with a choice of side. This sandwich is a perfect, hearty option for the bustling weekday lunch crowd at the Accenture Tower.
4. Classic Soul Food Sides: Collard Greens and Gumbo
To achieve true topical authority in soul food, the sides must be as carefully crafted as the main courses. Soul & Smoke excels here with their Collard Greens and Gumbo. The greens are slow-simmered and deeply flavorful, while the gumbo is often cited in reviews as "awesome," showcasing the restaurant's range beyond just barbecue. These dishes honor the culinary traditions that inspire the restaurant's name.
5. The Weekday Warrior: Pulled Pork Sliders
For a quick, satisfying, and delicious bite, the Pulled Pork Sliders are a top choice. They offer a concentrated burst of the signature smokey pulled pork, making them ideal for the fast-paced environment of the Accenture Tower. This is a perfect example of how the restaurant adapts its high-quality offerings to the needs of its unique, train station-adjacent location.
The Accenture Tower Experience: More Than Just a Lunch Counter
The location of Soul & Smoke in the Accenture Tower in the West Loop is strategic and unique. Situated in a major commercial and transit hub, the restaurant caters heavily to the area's professional population, offering a sophisticated, yet quick and convenient, dining option.
The environment is designed to be a "soulful option for a weekday lunch," providing a high-quality comfort food escape from the corporate routine. The focus on takeout, delivery, and quick service ensures that the quality of the "best Chicago BBQ" is accessible even with a tight schedule.
Furthermore, Soul & Smoke is recognized as a BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ Friendly Space in Chicago, underscoring its commitment not only to exceptional food but also to community and inclusion. This dedication to hospitality and tradition is a core part of the "soul" in the brand's name, making it a welcoming spot for everyone in the diverse West Loop neighborhood.
Topical Entities and LSI Keywords for Soul & Smoke
The depth of Soul & Smoke's concept allows for a rich tapestry of relevant entities and Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords, which help establish its authority in the culinary space:
- Culinary & People: Chef D'Andre Carter, Heather Bublick (CEO), Moto Restaurant, Le Cordon Bleu, Michelin-starred, Executive Sous Chef, Fine-Dining Barbecue, Pitmaster.
- Menu & Food: Smoked Prime Brisket, Signature Mac + Cheese, Pulled Pork Po' Boy, Collard Greens, Cornbread Muffin, Gumbo, Pulled Pork Sliders, Authentic Barbecue, Soul Food, Three Cheese Blend, Original BBQ Sauce, Bread & Butter Pickles.
- Locations & Context: West Loop Chicago, Accenture Tower, Train Station Location, Evanston (original location), Avondale, Chicago BBQ, Weekday Lunch, Good Morning America's BBQ Showdown.
- Community & Values: WCK Chef Corps, The Trotter Project, The Abundance Setting, BIPOC Friendly, LGBTQIA+ Friendly Spaces, Hospitality.
Soul & Smoke - West Loop at Accenture Tower is a powerful example of how culinary excellence can be successfully merged with casual dining. It’s a testament to the vision of Chef Carter and Heather Bublick, who have managed to bottle the complexity of fine dining and the warmth of soul food into a perfectly smoked package, ready to be enjoyed by the thousands who pass through the heart of the West Loop every day. The next time you are near the tower, don't just grab a quick bite; indulge in a meal that has been years in the making.
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