Stephanie Izard's Girl and the Goat spinoff restaurant, Little Goat, is opening Thursday--but it's just a phase.
The "Top Chef" (Season 4) winner is launching her new spot across the street from the GATG mothership in phases, starting with Little Goat Bread, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Forbes said the 1950s-style diner space will feature a mix of concepts that include a coffee shop, a bar, a bakery and a bread shop, all while saving some space for foodie-friendly cooking classes as well.
"I gotta say, getting ready for a restaurant that is open about 20 hours of the day is a whole new ballgame for me," wrote Izard in a blog post in November. "We have found a small village, it seems, of people to join our team for opening… a small village of various personalities and styles, all with one common goal: to make Little Goat a fun and inviting place for guests no matter what time of day."
A seat at Stephanie Izard's Girl and The Goat restaurant has been one of the hottest tickets in town (last year HuffPost offered scoops on how to get in to some the city's top popular spots like GATG) since its 2010 opening. Buzz has been equally high for Izard's follow up, upped even more since it was delayed by roughly a month "due to an ongoing build-out."
Izard has been tweeting updates on the restaurant using the #littlegoat hashtag, sharing photos of menu items, servers taking tests on the menu and taste testings.
When the full diner opens -- fingers crossed for later in December, according to reports -- it will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in a more casual atmosphere than the flagship. The coffee shop, deli, bakery, retail and bar area are all included under the tent of Little Goat Bread, according to Eater Chicago. The cocktail bar is rumored to be the next phase to open.
Little Goat is located at 820 W. Randolph St.