Food courts offer more options to mixed food preferences

Oct. 2018 — Suburban malls have been offering varied meals in a common eating space for years, but Chicago’s Loop was reluctant to adopt the idea. So office workers with long lunch hours had to gather as a group at one restaurant; those with shorter meal breaks ordered from one delivery service. Either way someone’s tastes were ignored.

But food courts, and their upscale food hall cousins, have debuted in the Loop, and they include vegetarian-friendly options. Unlike the few downtown buffets left, they have separate cash registers for each business. Most are located in basements, but some reside on the first floor or higher.

A plus is that while meeting vegetarian/vegan needs, one can cater to the wants of non-vegetarian peers in the same building; a negative is standing in several lines when footing the bill. So going dutch at a food court is both time-saving and financially beneficial.

Probably French Market offers the most varied types of vendors, including two that are vegan, followed by The Revival, which has some vegetarian-friendly vendors. Crowd-shy visitors might prefer the food court at 105 W Madison, which only offers four vendors – three Asian- and one Mexican-inspired.

Loop Food Courts/Halls

105 W Madison

500 W Madison

Block 37 and Latinicity 108 N State

Cafe 300 300 N LaSalle

Cellars Market141 W Jackson

Eataly 43 E Ohio

French Market 131 N Clinton (2 vegan vendors included)

Macy’s 111 N State

Merchandise Mart 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza

Rustle and Roux 227 W Monroe

Shops on Northbridge 520 N Michigan

Skydeck Chicago 233 S Wacker

The Miro 69 W Washington

The Revival 125 S Clark

The Vault Bank of America Building 135 S LaSalle

Thompson Center 100 W Randolph

Under 55 Mid-Continental Plaza 55 E Monroe

Union Station 225 S Canal

Urban Market Chase Tower 10 S Dearborn

Wells Street Market 205 W Wacker