Galley Group, the driving force behind popular Pittsburgh food halls, Smallman Galley and Federal Galley, announced the opening of Ohio City Galley. The 7,500-square-foot space, housed inside the historic Forest City Bank Building, will open on Friday, October 26 with four unique culinary concepts and a central bar program.
Ohio City Galley is Galley Group’s third food hall, with the fourth opening this November in Detroit, Michigan. Co-founders Benjamin Mantica and Tyler Benson operate the food halls as launch pads for new culinary concepts where chefs can open in a low risk and low-cost environment for a set period of time. On average, chefs will rotate in on a yearly basis ensuring a constant flow of new faces, ideas and food.
“Cleveland was a natural fit for our approach to food halls. Not only is there an incredible amount of culinary talent, but there’s a passionate and hungry community, that similarly to Pittsburgh, will support and enjoy local chefs,” says Mantica. “The goal for Ohio City Galley is to provide a meaningful platform for chefs while creating a unique and enjoyable dining experience for our guests.”
The first four chefs and restaurant concepts to open inside Ohio City Galley were announced this past July and have since been honing in on their concept. The concepts include:
Poca Casual Mexican, from chef Michael Nowak, features a menu rooted in authentic and thoughtfully sourced ingredients and complemented by the bright flavors of Mexico. Stand out dishes include the Oaxacan Tamales with Masa steamed in banana leaf, mole negro, queso fresco and poblano and onion escabeche and the Aguachile de Pulpo with charred jalapeno, onion, lime, avocado, cucumber and cilantro.
The Rice Shop, from Cleveland-native Anthony Zappola combines Southern American techniques with Asian ingredients to bring a unique approach to the traditional rice bowl. The menu opens with eight creative bowls including the BBQ Pork Belly with honey-mustard kale and sambal sour cream and the Tofu Green Curry with coconut, red peppers, water chestnuts and crispy onion.
TINMAN, from brothers Michael Schoen and Tom Schoen, is a simple but refined menu of comfort classics. Rooted in nostalgia, each dish blends their memories of home cooked meals with seasonal and high-quality ingredients. Examples include Fried Bologna with American cheese, mustardy mayo, and S&S pickles, Toast & Autumn Squash with brussel sprouts, walnut, sage and pear and Crispy Chicken with drop dumplings, celery, onion and mop sauce.
Sauce the City, from Victor Searcy Jr, offers a menu of crispy free-range premium chicken seasoned with Sauce the City signature sauces, alongside additional menu items like the Crispy Portobello Burger, the Clevelander Salad and the signature Fire Roasted Street Corn with signature dressing, paprika, fresh crema, and cojita.
Additional information on all chefs and their concepts can be provided upon request.
The beverage program, led by Galley Group Beverage Director Tim Garso and Bar Manager Daniella Solano, focuses on an adventurous selection of wines, 30 draft beers, and a unique cocktail menu. The bar team created a selection of cocktails that utilize the best of each season’s flavors and ingredients while also exploring unique infusions and preparations. Cocktails will pay homage to Cleveland’s history with names of historical buildings, people and places. For example, the Moses Cleveland, named after the founder of Cleveland and made with bourbon, herbed plum syrup, citrus, and soda. The beer selection will focus heavily on Ohio breweries, including an exclusive Ohio City Galley brew from Platform Brewery.
Designed by Dimit Architects, Ohio City Galley is located in the Forest City Savings and Trust building, a historic structure constructed in 1904. The new restaurant space is part of a larger project to renovate the entire building, and the connected Seymour Building to the east which has qualified to receive State of Ohio Historic Tax Credits. The main entry to the restaurant is located at the intersection of W. 25th Street and Detroit Avenue, a space that once provided access to the Superior Viaduct line of the Cleveland Trolley. The historic bank hall features an ornate plaster ceiling, and large columns. The space is anchored at the center by a large, copper-clad bar with more than 30 seats. In order to highlight the historic ceiling, a local fabricator produced light fixtures mounted to the columns and walls which provides soft up lighting. Pittsburgh furniture makers, Bones and All, designed custom furniture throughout the space to complement the historic structure and overall aesthetic.
