LINCOLN PARK — Sitting down for dinner at Michelin-starred Galit is a singular dining experience. The Lincoln Park restaurant, inspired by the cuisines of Israel and the Middle East and tying them together with Midwestern ingredients, offers a very specific dinner menu that has been celebrated with awards and accolades since it opened in 2019. This winter, the team behind Galit — led by chef Zach Engel and General Manager Andrés Clavero — will flex new culinary muscles with Cafe Yaya, an all-day cafe with pastries, lunch and counter-service coffee at 2431 N.
Lincoln Ave., next door to the flagship restaurant. “Since we opened, Galit has evolved so much,” Engel said.
“We’ve gotten to a place where we could only do exactly what we were doing, which is the six-course, prix-fixe, choose-your-own-adventure menu, with an extensive Middle Eastern wine list, and dinner only. We’ve cultivated a strong connection with our neighborhood and regulars, but a lot of conversations ended with people saying, ‘We love you guys, but we can’t do the whole thing all the time.’” A post shared by Galit Restaurant (@galit_restaurant) The Galit team bought the building next door to its restaurant a few years ago and has been considering what to do with the space.
After early success with takeout orders during the pandemic, Galit became a staple in Lincoln Park, earning a Michelin star in 2022 . This year, Galit was named Restaurant of the Year at the 2024 Jean Banchet Awards..
