After a false start at Time Out Market Chicago—where Hooligan abruptly closed before Chef Christian Hunter could ever serve a single plate—he is finally opening his long-awaited first solo restaurant.
Hooligan will officially open this fall
Christian Hunter was a 2022 James Beard Award finalist for his work at Community Table in New Preston, Connecticut. In 2023, he received the Michelin Young Chef Award and led Lincoln Square’s Atelier to a Michelin star in its first year.
Now, at Hooligan, he is launching a solo venture, joined by general manager and partner Tyrone Redic Jr., a hospitality veteran with stints at renowned establishments like Charlie Trotter’s, Grace, and Celeste.
Inside the 50-seat neo-Midwestern bistro
Hunter describes Hooligan as a “Third Coast Contemporary” neo-Midwestern bistro, applying classical French techniques to ingredients from the Great Lakes region.
The bistro features a relaxed, 50-seat dining room and offers an à la carte menu.
The menu heavily features Chef Hunter’s connections with Midwest producers, such as Janie’s Mill and Nichols Farm. A standout item is the caviar service, which includes crispy potatoes and a house-made dip paired with paddlefish caviar sourced from a producer near Hunter’s hometown in Kentucky, close to the Ohio border.
Hooligan will officially open for dinner service this fall, with a dedicated dinner-for-two option alongside the full à la carte menu.
