A stone’s toss from the DePaul campus, among many college crowd-targeted establishments and a growing trendy food scene, Galit is a gem of a restaurant specializing in modern Israeli and miscellaneous Middle Eastern fare that attracts a hip and happening crowd. Relatively new to the Chicago dining scene, Galit opened in early 2019 and has since more than lived up to the hype.

The menu is playful and creative, riffing on Middle Eastern flavors borrowed from regional cuisines. Sharing is highly encouraged, though you may want to order some extra pitas to go around (hot out of the oven and extremely fluffy and addicting). The restaurant is accommodating to diners, taking care to write a menu that is easily digestible for people who may not be as well-versed in the cuisines while gently coaxing less adventurous eaters to try something different by rooting it in the familiar. Pair it with an extensive wine list and fun cocktails and it’s a home run.