Truth on the Beach
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A beachfront restaurant offering delicious food and vibrant beach vibes along Lake Shore Drive in Hyde Park.
From the Hyde Park Herald:
Truth on the Beach, an eatery serving light, affordable bites with a lakefront bar, will open for business at 57th Street Beach next week.
The restaurant is an expansion of Truth in Bronzeville, 56 E. Pershing Rd., and brings some of that eatery’s lunch menu over, as well as alcohol catered from that location. Menu items include tacos, burritos and Polish sausages, ranging from $3.50 per taco to $12 for a combination meal.
“I want it to be somewhere where you can come, feel safe and eat some good ‘ole tacos, have a nice slushy drink and forget about your worries,” said Peytyn Willborn, Truth on the Beach owner.
Before Willborn opened Truth in 2014, she’d had careers as a Hollywood hairstylist and daycare owner. She worked on movies such as “Barbershop” and “Roll Bounce,” as well as television shows “Moesha,” “My Wife and Kids” and “Meet the Parkers.” She owned three Kids are First child care centers in the Auburn Gresham area before pivoting to the food business.
Raised in Altgeld Gardens, Auburn Gresham and Gold Coast, Willborn said it was watching the Food Network with her then-13-year-old son, George Willborn III, that inspired her to get into the restaurant industry.
“We used to look at the Food Network and he was like ‘Mom I want to cook one day.’ So, when I got to the end of my road with the daycare centers, I asked ‘Son, you want mom to open up a restaurant for you?’ He said absolutely,” she said.
One of the biggest lessons she’s learned over her decade in business is keeping things affordable.
People living in the 60637 and 60615 area codes are eligible for a 15% discount and coupons at Truth on the Beach, with residency being verified via photo ID. Adults ages 60 and up are eligible for a 50% discount.
In addition to food she described as “light bites” for on-the-go for beachgoers, alcoholic beverages will be catered and served by Truth at the adjacent cabana, as Truth on the Beach awaits liquor license approval.
The business is opening as a rental partnership on a five-year contract with the Chicago Park District, a contract it took her almost three years to land.
“I’ve been in business at Truth for over 10 years now, I’ve paid my dues and I think it’s my turn to be able to expand,” said Willborn.
Wilborn said she intends to advocate for collaboration among beachfront businesses and other Hyde Park businesses, noting that she recently joined the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce.
As part of this practice, she occasionally has aspiring entrepreneurs and restaurateurs shadow her business. Truth on the Beach manager Sarah Brown is a former consultant for Willborn’s nonprofit, Quality Life Chicago; and her demonstrated potential as a business leader led to her being chosen to lead the beachfront restaurant.
“She was chosen as a manager because of her skills, trustworthiness, aligned goals and her dedication to supporting women,” Willborn said.
This summer, the restaurant will have events every night of operation except Sunday, including a house music series; a stepping social; a hip-hop celebration; an R&B and game night; and a night for Afrobeats. Family-friendly community days will be held every second Saturday starting in July and running through September, offering free hot dogs for children ages 3 to 12.
