Rose Mary

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Personal Vision on Fulton Market

Rose Mary is Chef/Owner Joe Flamm's debut restaurant, rooted in the historic Fulton Market district of Chicago's West Loop. The name carries real meaning: it honors Flamm's two grandmothers, Mary and Mary Rose, and the herb rosemary, which grows natively along the Italian and Croatian coastlines — a plant that quietly encapsulates the restaurant's entire spirit.

"Rose Mary is the culmination of everything I have done with my career," Flamm has said. "But more importantly, it's the culmination of my personal journey thus far — a marriage of who I am, what I've learned, and the person I've built a life and a family with."

Adriatic Drinking Food

The menu is built around what Flamm calls "Adriatic drinking food" — a seasonal collection of rustic yet refined dishes that draw equally from his Italian heritage and the bold, bright flavors of Croatian cuisine. Starters range from Cevapi with lepinja, ajvar, and kajmak to Burek filled with beef and mozzarella, and Baby Octopus 'Peka Style' with garlic, potatoes, and peppers. Handmade pastas are a particular strength: Gnocchi arrives with beef cheek pašticada and paški sir, while Tortellini Djuvec layers red pepper, eggplant, and preserved zucchini. Risotto options include the striking Crni — squid ink, lobster brodo, and confit squid — alongside the traditional Skradin with veal breast and chicken thigh.

Larger plates lean into the Italian-Croatian duality: a 16oz Bone-In Lamb Saddle with pickled shallots and pistachios, Duck with strawberries and amaro jus, and a 24oz Bone-In Ribeye finished with porcini rub and essenza balsamico. Dessert continues the theme with Povitica — a Croatian pastry — and Palačinke with balsamic strawberries and vanilla cream cheese.

The drinks program is equally considered, featuring signature cocktails, Croatian beers, and a wine list that earned Rose Mary the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognition that speaks to the depth and thoughtfulness of the cellar.

The Space

Designed by Los Angeles-based Studio UNLTD, the interior takes its cues from the konoba — the traditional family-run tavern of Croatia. Whitewashed brick walls, honey-colored oak millwork, and pale stone surfaces are punctuated by moments of red clay and deep azure blue tilework. The result is a room that feels both utilitarian and celebratory, exactly as those age-old Adriatic taverns intended.