First Look at G.E.B., Opening Tonight; Peep the Menus

Grid View

• Welcome to G.E.B.
• Please wait for the host to seat you
• Would you like a drink? Or classic vinyl?
• Chef Jacob Saben and his crew will be out in the open
• Light streams in from the garage door leading to the back patio
• Spirit candles line the exposed brick wall
• Close up and personal with the "spirits"
• An awning will accompany the rustic back patio

[Photo: Jason Little]

If you follow Graham Elliot on Twitter, you've already had a sneak peek at G.E.B., his new West Loop rock 'n' religion bistro since he's been tweeting out pictures and updates for the last week. If you don't, well, here's your first look of the restaurant opening tonight for dinner at 5 p.m.

This new spot aims to be all inclusive by keeping menu items under $20 and not taking reservations, allowing anyone to walk in and get a table, assuming the requisite wait time. As described in early March, G.E.B. will feature a mix of rock 'n' roll (a host stand made from Marshall monitors; vintage vinyl lining the back bar) and church (reclaimed church pews, custom-made "saint" candles, stained glass windows, which weren't ready to be shot at press time).

The menu, executed by chef Jacob Saben, takes care to not overload any dish with superfluous ingredients by keeping things simple and held more or less to three ingredients in any plate. Dinner has a solid mix of beet with burrata and arugula; risotto with artichoke and lemon; linguini with clam and fennel; trout with spaetzle and sorrel; and pork with watermelon and okra.

At lunch, which aims to launch next week, G.E.B. streamlines the menu with six items each in the small (shrimp, avocado and yucca; pea with ham and tendril) and large (burger, tomato and fondue; sockeye salmon with garlic and lardo) sections. Brunch, which likely begins in two week, will offer both sweet and savory items like biscuits and gravy with eggs; chicken and waffles; and pancakes with chocolate and berries.

While the 60-seat dining room has a rock 'n' holy flavor, the outdoor patio, with bright red plastic chairs set atop cobblestone, looks up toward the heavens, so pray for clear skies so you can dine al fresco.

GEB Menus

· Get the First Details on Graham Elliot's G.E.B. [~EChi~]
· All Graham Elliot Coverage on Eater Chicago [~EChi~]