"The chefs behind Travail Kitchen and Amusements have turned to their star-powered Rolodex, giving the 14,000-square-foot Graze Food Hall in the North Loop a splashy update in the first couple of months of 2025. The hospitality group’s founders repeat James Beard semifinalists Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, and James Winberg installed their OG pop-up Umami by Travail featuring dumplings from Saturday Dumpling Co. Another space features Gustavo and Kate Romero of the lauded Nixta Tortilleria and Oro by Nixta, who launched a casual masa-centered taqueria called Tixtli by Nixta; and Margo and Alex Roberts of the Restaurant Alma and Brasa, who’ve unveiled a New Orleans Creole and Southern fried chicken spot, Caja Fried Chicken. The food hall includes multiple indoor seating areas, a patio deck and bar on the second floor, and bar and picnic tables at street level. Other vendors include Wrad, a thin-crust tavern-style pizzeria; and Graze on the Green, a salad and rice bowl spot. Holdovers predating Travail’s arrival include Fabled Rooster and Two Mixed Up. Place an online order from several of the vendors to save time." - Serena Maria Daniels
