Bennie Smith's inspiration to open a restaurant came from two sources. One was his desire to have a home for his already-established catering business and the other was to celebrate fatherhood.
 

In 2014, Smith – along with his wife Angela, opened Daddy's Soul Food & Grille.

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When you come in Daddy's you can immediately identify the feeling and images of family. "Without a father, the family is in chaos. We want to reiterate here what a father is all about. It's about loving your child and your child loving you back. That is manhood." says Smith.

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There's a large framed photo of Smith's father, who was also a chef, in the restaurant. Smith grew up occasionally going to work with his dad at a country club in Zion, Ill. and was inspired by his commitment to quality and love for food.

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All of the recipes on Daddy's menu were created by Smith or his family members. The menu is divided into sections named after Smith's six children.

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Join the family and come try Daddy's.