FULTON MARKET — Fulton Galley, the second of three food halls coming to the neighborhood, will make its West Loop debut this weekend.
The nearly 11,000-square-foot food hall, featuring five restaurants, a 30-seat bar, a private dining room and a lounge at 1115 W. Fulton Market, opens Saturday.
The project features new restaurants from Ron Aleman with Taco Mucho, Dennis Bernard’s “rotisserie-focused concept” Fairview, husband-and-wife Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh’s pasta-focused Italianette, Northeastern Thai streetfood Pink Salt by Palita Sriratana and Aaron Steingold’s Steingold’s Deli.
This will be Ben Mantica and co-founder Tyler Benson’s fifth food hall. Mantica and Benson previously opened similar food halls in Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit. The aim is to create a spot for talented chefs to launch a restaurant idea at low costs before expanding to full-service brick and mortar, Mantica said.
Fulton Galley is set to open a month after Politan Row food opened in May in McDonald’s headquarters.
The Five Restaurants
Taco Mucho
The casual taqueria marries Ron Aleman’s classically trained French technique and his love for Mexican cuisine. Taco Mucho’s menu includes nacho fries with spicy queso, green onions, cilantro, sour cream, pickled jalapeños and tomatoes; the chorizo burger, a seared Angus beef topped with spicy chorizo, pepper jack cheese, avocado, mayo, caramelized onions and roasted poblanos; and taco plates.
Pink Salt
Drawing inspiration from childhood visits to Bangkok and cooking with her grandmother, Palita Sriratana’s menu is focused on Thai street food. The menu includes the Gai Yang Krob, crispy, boneless chicken thighs marinated in lemongrass, served with sweet chili sauce and rice; the Som Tum Classic, shredded papaya, tomatoes, green beans, and crunchy peanuts served with a spicy citrus dressing; and the Tod Mun Kapod, corn fritters, kaffir, lime leaves and served with sweet cucumber relish.
Italianette
Using local farmers, the husband and wife duo of Gerad Gobel and Alexis Rorabaugh serve up their take on Italian classic dishes. The Italianette menu includes eggplant with sweet and sour sauce, carta di musica and mint; bufala mozzerella with bottarga, tomato and sourdough; and a selection of pastas such as campanelle with rock shrimp, sweet corn and tomato.
Fairview
Dennis Bernard’s rotisserie-focused menu draws inspiration from Latin American flavors. Fairview’s menu includes spit-roasted meats like the pork collar with green garlic, pineapple, citrus mojo, escarole and chicharron; veal brisket with mole poblano, chimichurri, goat feta and radish; and calabaza with spring onion, queso fresco, refried beans, and black bean masa crepes. The menu also includes salads, ceviches and sides.
Steingold’s Deli
Aaron Steingold expands his popular North Center deli with its all-day location at Fulton Galley. The menu offers favorites like the Uncle Rube with thick-sliced pastrami or corned beef, smoked sauerkraut, swiss cheese, Russian dressing and Publican Quality Bread; the Brother Hughie with braised brisket, cola-spiced gravy, melted havarti, crispy onions and pickled Fresno peppers on a toasted challah roll.
Bar Program
Bar Manager Mike Karberg and Galley Group Beverage Director Tim Garso lead the beverage program at Fulton Galley.
The bar will include 20 beers on draft, wines as well as a cocktail menu that include drinks like the five dollar shake made with Evan Williams, La Colombe Cold Brew, Luxardo espresso and bitter chocolate whipped cream and Okinawa Kokuto Japanese artisan sugar; the Spirit of the Thing with Pike & Clark Gin, Ramazotti Rosato, Mathilde Framboise, lemon and cava.
From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, the Fulton Galley will offer 50 percent off drinks, Mantica said.
Mantica envisions Fulton Galley to become a “welcoming” “neighborhood spot” that’s active from opening to close.
“It really feels like a cool gathering spot. …It’s almost like a co-working space with food and a bar,” Manica said.
Fulton Galley is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Fulton Galley Bar is open until 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and until 10 p.m. Sunday.
Credit: Mauricio Peña/ Block Club Chicago
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