Casual dining gets a culinary boost at these speedy yet delicious Chicago destinations.
The Arch bakery recently opened on South Michigan Avenue
1. The Arch
Named aft er the renowned architecture of its setting in the Railway Exchange Building, this walk-up bakery from DMK and notable chef Brian Huston—just one of the much-anticipated concepts of their new Exchange complex—features expertly made ancient grain breads, artisanal pizzas (try the supreme with sweet Italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms and zucchini) and a wide variety of gourmet sandwiches. 224 S. Michigan Ave., thearchchicago.com
2. Chef Bill Kim’s Pizza & Parm Shop
Sample Detroit-style pizzas topped with Korean barbecue ground beef with kimchi, double-smoked pork with pineapple and more at the newest concept from beloved chef Bill Kim and Cornerstone Restaurant Group. Other signature items include rectangular build-your-own pizzas with signature caramelized cheesy crust and a plethora of customizable toppings; a chicken Parm sandwich; and vegg ie-forward plates like a cauliflower Parm sandwich or cauliflower “wings.” 1542 N. Damen Ave., cbkpizzaparm.com
3. Marvin’s Food & Fuel
Nostalgia goes next level at new Fulton Market eatery Marvin’s Food & Fuel with chef Mitch Cavanah’s handcraft ed, seasonal TV dinners—ready to heat and serve at a moment’s notice. Recent offerings have included lasagna with ricotta and beef Bolognese, barbecue turkey meatloaf with whipped potatoes, chocolate chip bread pudding and more. For dining in place, the restaurant serves two four-season options in enclosed, heated pergolas, with dinner highlights ranging from a pastrami platter to potato latke tots. 954 W. Fulton Market, marvinsfoodandfuel.com
4. Foxtrot Market
This Chicago-based “curated corner store” is growing fast (the company is set to nearly double its stores by the end of the year) thanks to an appealing selection of elevated pantry items, wine and more. The latest buzzworthy addition: a series of 18 private-label products ranging from brownies to cookies to chocolate mixes and more, all made from scratch in Foxtrot commissaries and exclusively available at the markets. Get delivery or stop by for foodie favorites such as the Foxtrot x Pretty Cool Ice Cream vanilla bean ice cream bar, Monteverde gnocchetti pasta or java from Metric Coffee. Multiple locations, foxtrotco.com
Photography by: JACK PONTARELLI
