The Paula Deen Kitchen opened 4/5/12 at Joliet and Paula Deen was there in the morning to cut the ribbon and getting the key to the city from the mayor. We were there later in the day and it wasn't overly busy, we looked around the store a little bit. It is a buffet and resturant. You can either order the buffet or order off a menu. When we were leaving there was someone at a podium asking people if they have reservations or not. So, I guess for now, this is a buffet that you need to make reservations for. The evening buffet is 22.99 - 24.99 from what someone told my husband, the higher rate is for the weekend. When we were leaving the temporary Diamond Lounge, they had a menu outside and it looks like the buffet is open for lunch and dinner. For breakfast, it mentioned only ala carte ordering was allowed. So, they don't seem to have the buffet open for breakfast. I guess that is why they closed Mosiac, because this is a resturant also. There is and interesting story in the local papers, about how the employees had to go to Savanah, GA to learn how to serve the Paula Deen way I guess it is.
https://napervillesun.suntimes.com/business/11733258-420/deen-gives-joliet-taste-of-southern-cooking-hospitality.html
DeeTee
