Fulton Market, Chicago – Chef Nemanja Milunovic is set to open his first stand‑alone fine‑dining restaurant, AMARA, this fall at 844 W. Randolph Street, the former site of Gino & Marty’s. The new venue will showcase the Balkan and Mediterranean flavors that shaped Milunovic’s culinary upbringing.
Family roots and culinary heritage
Milunovic’s love of food began at his family table in Belgrade, where meals were communal affairs with crowded rooms, shared plates and generous hospitality. He describes AMARA as a “deeply personal project, a tribute to my heritage and to the people who taught me that food is about more than what’s on the plate.”
Partnering with a local restaurateur
Milunovic will serve as executive chef and partner alongside managing partner Vincent Martin, the owner of the popular Fulton Market steakhouse Carbon. Martin says the concept will differ from Carbon’s late‑night lounge vibe, focusing instead on full‑service fine dining. “None of the late‑night stuff. This is full dining‑focused, full restaurant, fine dining. We’re 100 percent focused on the cuisine,” he explained.
Design and atmosphere
The space, renovated after Gino & Marty’s closed amid debt and labor disputes, now features an earthy green palette, lush ceiling greenery, warm wood tones and soft lighting, with olive‑colored seating throughout. The design aims to complement the Mediterranean influence of the menu.
Menu highlights
AMARA’s menu will span the Balkans and the broader Mediterranean, drawing on seafood‑rich dishes from Croatia and Montenegro, meat‑forward plates from Serbia and Bosnia, and the breads and pastries common throughout the region. Milunovic also plans to incorporate Levantine items such as hummus and falafel, inspired by his time at Chicago’s Aba.
Signature dishes include:
- Ćevapi – an 80/20 beef‑to‑lamb blend grilled and served with ajvar, kajmak and somun bread, a recipe refined from Milunovic’s French Pastry School training and his work at Little Goat Diner.
- Burek – flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese or potatoes.
- Pašticada – slow‑cooked Croatian braised beef.
- Handmade Pljukanci – traditional Croatian pasta.
All dishes will be presented mezze‑style, encouraging guests to share plates much like the family gatherings Milunovic remembers from Serbia.
Family involvement and beverage program
Milunovic’s brother, Marko Milunovic, will lead the bar program, crafting cocktails that echo the region’s flavors. The beverage lineup will feature rakija, a traditional Balkan fruit brandy, alongside wines from Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and neighboring countries. Marko brings experience from Lettuce Entertain You and Boka Restaurant Group.
Community focus
Milunovic hopes AMARA will give Chicago diners a familiar sense of hospitality, even for those new to Balkan cuisine. “When they try the food, I want them to think, ‘If I ever travel back to the Balkans, I’ll find the same flavors here,’” he said.
AMARA is expected to open in the fall, adding a new fine‑dining option to Fulton Market’s growing culinary scene while honoring the chef’s family traditions and the region’s rich food culture.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
