Heaven On Seven is something of a Chicago institution, and a great place to get Cajun cooking. The menu is a fairly extensive one--and includes a sizable beverage list. The cooking is superb--the crabcakes are particularly recommended, as is the gumbo (I've heard very good things about the beans and rice, the jambalaya and the omelets as well). The music fits the restaurant--when I went, Louis Armstong was getting a lot of play--and the ambience in general is quite impressive. I had lunch there with four other people at work, and the bill came out to about $75, which translates to $15 a head. Not bad.
My biggest complaint--and you should be aware of this--is that the restaurant only takes cash. No checks, no credit cards and no debit cards either. Just cash. Call me picky but I just don't like this. It's inconvenient for the customer to have to put up with this kind of thing, and it is not as if other diners don't accept credit and debit cards. I hope the restaurant changes this policy, and does it soon.
In case you are interested, the restaurant sells a lot of merchandise--including what appear to be lethal Cajun hotsauces, and a cookbook. For aspiring Cajun chefs, this is a bonanza. Cooking classes are also offered, and the restaurant has a number of locations in the Chicagoland area from which to choose.
UPDATE: Will Baude takes issue. Strongly.
ANOTHER UPDATE: A reader writes to tell me that "The 'cash only' rule only applies to their original location. If you go to the Rush Street location, credit cards are accepted." Additionally, this post takes a position contra Will Baude. See also here. Many thanks to readers for their comments, and for follow-up blog posts on the topic.
