Restaurant Review – “Choose your own adventure” at Lincoln Park’s Galit

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Galit (in Hebrew, Fountain) is a Middle Eastern Restaurant in Lincoln Park, owned and operated by Andrés Clavero and James Beard Award-winning chef Zachary Engel. It’s not every day that you can find a restaurant with a sense of humor with a Michelin star, but Galit has found the sweet spot in balancing outstanding cuisine with a true sense of humor. The menu itself, according to the website, focuses on a seasonal and localized approach to dishes of the Middle East and Israel’s immigrant cuisines, alongside a unique and forward-thinking beverage program. (Truly unique… Baby I Compare You to a Kiss from A Rose on the Gray Tea?) 

Here’s where they earned the Michelin star, I think. This is a restaurant unafraid of pairing a sense of humor with a (currently) $78 prix-fixe, 4-course menu where they urge you to “choose your own adventure! “

We’re always game for an adventure. Take, for example, their ‘Over Coal’ (grilled) selections. Carrota hasa

Cuminy orange glaze, Bulgarian feta, hazelnut duqqa. Try the Iraqi Kubbeh Halab–a crispy saffron crust lamb, with golden raisins and almonds. Or, for a a real nosh, try the Armenian-Meets-Brooklyn Pastrami, with urfo Caesar, radicchio, and malawach. 

The restaurant has earned amazing reviews from Google and perfect 5.0 ratings on other sites:

“Some of the best Middle Eastern and Israeli food I have had!”

“Lots of options and very affordable compared to other Michelin star restaurants. Nothing out of the ordinary, so a very comfortable dining experience all around…Simple Middle Eastern staples across the menu. Pita is made to order in a hearth oven. Very affordable. Hip place that’s great for sharing food in a group or on a date. You will leave full. Impressive wine selections, especially from the MiddlEast…The Pastrami and the Carrot Cake is to die for!”

“Galit was amazing. Went here with the girlfriend for her birthday. It was our first Michelin star restaurant we’ve ever tried. Great atmosphere. We sat at the kitchen bar. The fixed menu is easy. Server was really knowledgeable. Wine menu was very unique with a lot of middle eastern wines you don’t see many places.

Galit is located at 2429 N. Lincoln Avenue. They are open Tuesdays-Thursdays, 5pm–9pm, Fridays and Saturdays, 5pm–9:30pm. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays. For information and reservations, click here.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago