Greer's OC

The Hall Global Eatery at South Coast Plaza, the much-anticipated latest concept from acclaimed chef Amar Santana and restaurateur Ahmed Labbate is opening today. It’s a bright and vibrant dining experience highlighting Mediterranean flavors and imaginative seafood. It’s unlike anything created before by Santana and Labbate, who originally partnered in 2008 as opening chef and general manager for the debut of Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza. Their current concepts include culinary artisans behind dining landmark Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach and Spanish cuisine haven VACA, located by Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

The Hall Global Eatery is a one-stop global dining collection with something for everyone.

“This is our most ambitious project to date, bringing together a pâtisserie, a fast-casual concept, an upscale bar, and fine dining,” Labbate said. “We drew inspiration from the broader Mediterranean region, from Morocco, Lebanon, and Greece to France and Italy, reinterpreting our design and culinary finds to create a variety of dining options.”

Designed as a bustling food hall with a vast array of selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Hall offers the options of fast-casual, grab-and-go, or leisurely dining. “We want guests to be excited and fully understand the concept is all about choices,” Santana said.

The Pâtisserie serves house-made pastries and cookies, paninis, sandwiches, salads, gourmet coffee, and fresh-squeezed juices and shots.

The fast-casual Mediterranean Grill selections include Mediterranean combo plates and wraps. Vertical rotisseries showcase hand-carved schwarmas of chicken, beef and a savory lamb infused with apricot leather. Kebobs are also available, all served with a choice of grain and two sides.

For lunch and dinner, guests can enjoy delicacies from around the world at the full-service Crudo, including the freshest of seafood interpreted into creative crudo plates as well as chilled shellfish. Hot dishes will come from the kitchen.      

Charcuterie at Crudo consists of house-made pâtés as well as other offerings. Diners can choose from 40 rotating cheeses from all over the Mediterranean, as well as select domestic cheese from small farms.

The Hall’s retail space features provisions such as Amar's house-made jam, coffee, wine, olive oil, vinegars, pickles, and chocolate.

Beverage Director Michael Rooney has placed a focus on non-North American spirits, in line with the global theme.

The 21-seat bar will feature eight signature cocktails such as the Ori-Sun, a Japanese whiskey flavored with iris root syrup, smoke and salt bitters. Wines highlight lesser-known Mediterranean varietals from Portugal, Greece, and Morocco. Local craft and international beers will be available.

The first month, the Pâtisserie and Mediterranean Grill will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Crudo and the bar will be open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Breakfast at the Pâtisserie will begin in February. For more information, visit thehallge.com or call 714.515.5544.

Level One, near Boudin at South Coast Plaza.