Have you ever found a chef whose food matches your flavor palate exactly? For me, that chef is Bradley Gilmore, the heart and talent behind Lula’s Southern Cookhouse in Kansas City.
Following a Chef from the Beginning
My husband and I have known Bradley since he was an eighteen year old sous chef, fresh out of culinary school. Sitting at the “Chef’s Counter”at Grand Street Café on the Country Club Plaza, my husband and I would watch the energetic, gangly young man. We would chat away with him as he worked and we developed a friendship that has lasted for 25 years.
We followed him when he became Executive Chef, alongside owner Thelma Oliver, at The Mango Room (now closed). The restaurant served soulful Southern and Jamaican–inspired dishes like blackened catfish, fried green tomatoes, jambalaya rice balls, crispy sea scallops, and braised greens. My mouth still waters just thinking about it.
Building Kansas City Restaurant Favorites
Bradley later joined BRGR Kitchen, part of Bread & Butter Concepts LLC, which went on to create Kansas City staples like Taco Republic and Gram & Dun—now operated by The W. Vincent Restaurant Group. Bradley spearheaded menu development and once again delivered bold, crave-worthy dishes that left a lasting impression on the Kansas City dining scene.
Lula’s Southern Cookhouse: Inspired by Family and Tradition
Today, Bradley and his smart, big-hearted, and lovely wife Brittany Socha Gilmore own and operate Lula’s Southern Cookhouse KC and Kravin It KC Catering. Lula’s is named after Bradley’s grandmother, who lived in North Carolina—where Bradley grew up—and the restaurant reflects the made-from-scratch meals he was raised on, the kind his Granny used to make.
Expanding the Vision: What’s Next for Bradley and Brittany Socha Gilmore
Bradley’s work doesn’t stop at Lula’s. He has partnered with Plaza Provisions, the food hall inside the Cascade Hotel, where guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings inspired by Lula’s menu.
Coming soon, Bradley and Brittany are collaborating with Andrew Miller of Arthur Bryant’s BBQ and Guy’s Snacks to open River House, on the Rock Island Bridge, a new restaurant on the historic Rock Island Bridge. This 120-year-old bridge is being reimagined as a dining and event destination, and River House will feature river views and an eclectic menu.
And there’s more: just down the road from Lula’s on Main Street, they’re renovating a smaller space that will offer grab-and-go food inspired by their restaurant menus—perfect for busy locals and visitors alike.
A Family Built on Passion and Hospitality
Bradley and Brittany are dear friends, devoted parents to two darling little boys and a sweet daughter, and two of the hardest-working restaurateurs I know. Their passion for food, family, and hospitality shines through in everything they do—and in how thoughtfully they nourish every guest who walks through their doors.
Why Lula’s Southern Cookhouse Belongs on Your Kansas City Food List
I highly recommend all of the “who’s-who” Kansas City restaurants mentioned above. But most of all, I recommend supporting the restaurants of the young chef we met 30 years ago—who built his dream right here in Kansas City and continues to create some of the best Southern-inspired food you’ll find anywhere.