Palomino Opens West Loop Steakhouse Next Year

Chef John Manion will open Palomino, a live-fire steakhouse, at 565 W. Randolph St. in the West Loop in early 2027. The new restaurant occupies the space formerly held by Proxi, which closed last year. The venue will accommodate approximately 150 diners.

Manion describes Palomino as a distinctly American steakhouse that departs from traditional Chicago models. The menu draws inspiration from the American South and West, specifically Texas, Oklahoma, California, and the Gulf Coast. He aims to challenge diners’ expectations with the presentation and flavor profiles.

The concept emerged from Manion’s experiments with outdoor cooking during the pandemic. He commissioned a portable grilling rig and began serving steaks at events and festivals nationwide. In 2021, he assisted Will Duncan in opening Babygold Barbecue in Berwyn. Conversations with chefs and barbecue enthusiasts during that period helped shape the Palomino concept.

At Palomino, meats will be cooked using American smoking techniques. Steaks will be slow-cooked over wood before being finished on the grill. The menu will feature American-sourced beef, duck, quail, pheasant, and rabbit. One planned dish is quail stuffed with homemade duck sausage, served over white beans, charred radicchio, and poblano salsa verde.

A raw bar will offer seafood influenced by Gulf Coast and Mexican flavors. Manion cites childhood visits to Florida seafood shacks and dining experiences in Houston and New Orleans as inspirations. The program will include elements such as comeback sauce rather than traditional East Coast accompaniments.

Carlos Cruz, formerly of John’s Food and Wine, will lead the kitchen. Melody Arnold, a longtime collaborator who previously worked at El Che and Brasero, will also join the team. Alex Cuper, a leader at Hey Che Hospitality, will manage the bar. The beverage program will feature a 100 percent American-made wine list and American spirits for cocktails.

Design firm Siren Betty is transforming the space to highlight the existing 17-foot-tall windows. An open-fire hearth and a custom smoker from Lockhart, Texas, will serve as focal points. Manion intends for the interior to be lighter and brighter than typical steakhouse designs. Construction is expected to conclude around mid-December, with an opening date set between mid-January and early March.