Lula Southern Cookhouse: Hospitality and Southern Classics with a Twist

Recently, my friend Jennifer sent me the link to a reel about storytelling; when the reel ended, I sighed with satisfaction and thought about how spellbinding and enchanting a good story can be! Later that day, I had the pleasure of meeting Bradley Gilmore and listening to a heartwarming story that began in his grandmother’s kitchen in North Carolina.

I t’s a story of family recipes, a love for Southern cooking and making people happy. The story included hard work, turning a deaf ear to nay sayers and following the heart by opening a pop-up restaurant in 2020 when people really needed comfort food. It’s the story of Lula Southern Cookhouse, located at 1617 Main in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bradley smiled widely as he shared memories of growing up in North Carolina and hanging out in the kitchen with his grandmother, Lula. “She was always cooking. I’d help her out by snapping peas, stirring the pot or whatever she needed. Grandma Lula taught me how to cook and she is the inspiration behind this restaurant.” The menu is true Southern-style cooking with influence and inspiration drawn from the Chesapeake to Low Country and New Orleans.

Walking into Lula Southern Cookhouse feels like walking into your grandma’s house; it’s so welcoming! Hardwood floors marked with history and character are framed by vintage brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with warm, natural light. Framed family photos and vintage cookware complement the antique hutch and parlor chairs, completing the homegrown feel. At the same time, there’s a balance between the grandma’s-house look and contemporary hip vibe! Vaulted ceilings, drop lighting and a great music mix are the backdrop for intimate discussions in a cozy booth or lively conversations at the open table and chair seating. And the patio is fantastic!

Bradley Gilmore and his wife, Brittany Socha Gilmore, have been creating, cooking and catering in KC for 22 years. During this journey, they met Chef Brandon West and 15 years later, these three own and operate Lula Southern Cookhouse, Kravin’ It KC Kitchen Catering and the Davidson event space located above Lula. Kravin’ It KC’s talented chefs and event coordinator work with customers ensuring every food and beverage detail is met and expectations are exceeded to provide truly customized events. Whether it’s an elegant affair, rustic event or a casual occasion, Kravin’ It KC will create a unique menu for any budget.

The Story’s Beginning
You’ll have a hard time choosing your cocktail! In-house infusions and creative flavor pairings are crafted with all the spirits you may expect as well as a few surprises. Lula’s Punch is a crafted blend of bourbon, dark rum and black tea, served in a Mason jar and garnished with a dried lemon wheel and a smoking sprig of rosemary; this is a terrific place to start, especially on a warm summer day!

If you’d like to order the most attractive drink at the table, ask for the Bee Keeper, a refreshing blend of lavender and peach tea, J. Rieger gin, lemon and smoked hot honey. It’s the loveliest shade of lavender, served in a stemmed cocktail glass with a lavender sugar sparkle on the rim and outside.

When ordering your drink, go ahead and ask for the Victuals starter, it’s the perfect southern sampler with a little bit of everything: deviled eggs, ham salad, chicken liver pate, deviled crab, smoked trout spread, pimento cheese spread, pickled and marinated veggies and fried crackers. The portion is quite generous and is meant to be shared.

Soup or Salad? Both!
Every Cravings review is an opportunity to learn something new. Regional and cultural nuances are the secret sauce that makes food memorable and delicious. I learned what it meant to “kill” a salad!

Rooted in Appalachian tradition, fresh greens are wilted or “killed” using a warm dressing of seasoned, rendered fat, then topped and served. Lula’s Killed Greens Salad is the perfect balance of savory and sweet; it’s topped with house-made bird seed granola, craisins, penta créme bleu cheese, warm schmaltz vinaigrette and tender turkey confit; this is one of the best salads I’ve ever tasted.

Although I didn’t have the opportunity to taste the Vidalia Onion Bisque, I will order this when I visit again. Caramelized Vidalia onion, bourbon cream, crispy shallots, melted leek, garlic chive oil and smoked paprika sound like a bowl of happiness!

Time for Supper!
Let’s begin with the Fish Fry. The black grouper is cornmeal fried and melts in your mouth. Then bite into the beer-batter fried red snapper and you cannot choose a favorite. The entrée is served with hush puppies, house-cut roasted fries and bloody Mary cocktail sauce and green tomato tartar sauce for dipping.

If you like things spicy, order the Award-Winning Gumbo, voted BEST Gumbo in 2022 at the KC GumboFest. With Creole chicken, andouille sausage, shrimp, crawfish, blue crab claws, white rice, crispy okra and crawfish salsa, this gumbo is loaded and balanced so every bite is as good or better than the last one.

Do you love shrimp and grits and blue cheese? I love both things and therefore, Lula’s Shrimp & Grits wins my vote for favorite dish of the day! The marriage of spicy Creole shrimp and the creamy blue cheese grits is perfection. Drag a little of the green chili buffalo sauce from around the edge of the bowl into each bite and I’ll bet you say, “That’s amazing.”

In full transparency, I chose Shrimp & Grits as my favorite dish, not having tasted their #1 seller, the Fried Chicken. Using only whole chickens from Campo Lindo Farms, Lula breaks down each bird carefully, brines the meat and presents it every day of the week.

The finale was a stack of homemade benneseed shortbreads separated by sliced Missouri peaches and Curly’s whip. Refreshing, not too sweet and wow, do I love peaches!

Treat yourself, a friend or loved one to Lula Southern Cookhouse for homegrown hospitality at its best. Bradley, Brittany and Brandon source locally whenever possible to ensure that every plate served is as fresh as it can be. Along with Campo Lindo Farms, they partner with Buttonwood Farms, Fahrmeier Farms and the KC Food Hub Coop.

For reservations for parties of five or more, please call the restaurant. Visit lulakc.com or call 806-648-0808 for more information.

Art director, illustrator and entrepreneur Sheryl Hammontree is happiest when creating. As a freelancer, she creates visual styling and targeted messaging to strategically solve challenges for clients. As the owner of Thoughtful Threads, she creates expressive apparel to empower people and build a community of kindness. Sheryl heads outside to find energy, inspiration and calm; whether in the garden or on a trail, her soul is fed by creating memories with her husband, Joel, family and friends.