The Black Foodies

Dino and Coretta Dean — The Black Foodies — are a Chicago-based husband-and-wife team known for highlighting Black-owned restaurants and rating them with their signature five-kiss system. Nearly a decade into the project, their reviews have become a trusted authority across Chicagoland and beyond, covering Chicago proper along with south suburban communities like Calumet City, Homewood, and Tinley Park, plus stops in Atlanta and Indiana.

Their Social Foodie picks lean into soul food, seafood, brunch, Caribbean, Haitian, Cajun, and steakhouse dining: Roots The Brunch Experience, Sunrize Sunset Cafe, Lior's Cafe for Haitian cooking, L Station Chophouse, New Line Tavern for Cajun-Creole bar food, and Island Seafood ATL when they're on the road. The Deans are especially valuable for people who want recommendations rooted in community restaurants rather than downtown tourist circuits.

What makes The Black Foodies distinctive is the combination of mission and standards. They celebrate Black-owned kitchens without lowering the bar — a five-kiss rating still has to be earned on taste, presentation, and service. Their Social Foodie profile is an essential Chicago-area map for anyone chasing soul food, seafood, and neighborhood spots with real conviction behind them.