Fall Preview | The Little Goat

Illustration: Ian Dingman

Unlike Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Stephanie Izard’s sequel to Girl & the Goat—the restaurant that launched the revitalization of the West Loop, reified the small-plate trend and proved that winning Top Chef can in fact translate into real-world success—is a sequel you’ll want to watch. The bilevel Little Goat will be open from 7am–2am as a coffee shop, bar, cooking studio and more. Hence our first question for Izard: “When do you plan on sleeping?” To which she replies: “What’s sleep?”

THE COFFEE SHOP
Izard is teaming up with Portland, Oregon–based Stumptown Coffee for a coffee shop with a “very energetic” atmosphere.

THE BAR
At night, the coffee area turns into a bar, where 16 rotating taps will offer craft beers, including (most likely) future collaborations between Izard and local breweries.

THE BREAD SHOP
Attached to the diner is a bread shop with its own glassed-in kitchen where guests can watch the head bread baker, Greg Wade, and his crew preparing loaves of sourdough, baguettes and “fun enriched breads” like sweet-onion brioche.

THE DINER
“I just like having a place where you can have breakfast at 9pm or meatloaf for breakfast,” says Izard of her all-day menu, which will include diner-inspired foods like a sloppy joe with a fried steam bun.

THE DEMO KITCHEN
“I’m hoping to use the space to teach some fun classes involving farmers, brewers and out-of-town chefs,” Izard says.

THE PRIVATE DINING ROOM
Izard foresees this space as a venue for wedding showers or holiday parties; it will offer fare from both the Little Goat and Girl & the Goat.

The Little Goat (820 W Randolph St) opens in October.