Food Halls Find A Welcoming Home In Chicago

Chicago, Ill., already a great city for dining out, is fast becoming acquainted with the food hall trend. Similar to fast-food food courts in shopping malls, food halls offer a high-traffic venue for artisanal and specialty cuisine purveyors, lively food stalls and upscale restaurants. The phenomenon reflects the influence of the Millennial generation that seeks casual but high-quality dining experiences. Everyone seems to benefit from food halls. Customers create their own dining and drinking events in a food market atmosphere, combining menu items from different vendors. Participating restaurants can strut their stuff before a broader audience while sharing overhead expenses with competitors.