Eater Inside

Tour Federales, Sodikoff and Four Corners' West Loop Mexican Spot, Opening Monday

Is this Fulton Market's version of Big Star?

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Jun 2, 2016, 2:21pm CDT

Via Federales [Official website] and All Federales coverage [ECHI] | Photography by Four Corners Tavern Group

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Here are the first glimpses of the menu and inside the new Mexican restaurant from the owners of Benchmark and Au Cheval. Federales should open on Monday in the West Loop, and it's the second joint venture between Four Corners Tavern Group and Brendan Sodikoff's Hogsalt Hospitality. The pair opened SteakBar in April in Old Town.

[Photo: Marcin Cymmer]

The menu features tacos stuffed with slow-cooked meat. Sodikoff's team once again served as the menu consultants, and tacos cost $4 each coming in brisket, pork belly/al pastor, pulled chicken, grilled poblano and carne asada. There are also seafood selections including ceviche and fish tacos (2 for $12). Check out the menu below.

While Big Star in Wicker Park popularized the trendy taco bar in Chicago with its patio, Federales also features a 154-seat outdoor space and a retractable roof. Studio K's Karen Herold designed the restaurant, which boasts a mural by Jason Botkin, who's done work all over the country and Canada, including in Pilsen.

Check out the photos of the space below. Federales opens Monday afternoon at 180 N. Morgan St.