With Scaled-Back Ambitions, Petite Galerie Lands in Madison Valley

Originally conceived and crowdfunded — unsuccessfully — in fall 2016 as a Capitol Hill fine-dining restaurant called Galerie 23, chef Rob Sevcik’s restaurant project has been scaled back and is now set to open later this month in Madison Valley as Petite Galerie. He’ll preview the food with dinners held February 14 to 17.

Sevcik has spent time in Thierry Rautureau’s kitchens, including now-defunct Rover’s. Last summer, Sevcik left his role as chef de cuisine at Rautureau’s fancy French restaurant Loulay to start work on his own venture. Sevcik set lofty goals to raise $325,000 through an Indiegogo campaign, but the fundraiser fell significantly short, netting only one percent of the total. Sevcik’s Capitol Hill location also fell through.

With those plans scrapped, Sevcik instead renovated the former Oh Chocolates space at 3131 E Madison St. in Madison Valley. Sevcik says to expect an “elegant brasserie serving lunch and dinner” and a menu of “French-influenced New American” food with approachable pricing.

The dinner menu will include small plates — hinted at by the “Petite” in the restaurant’s name — with plenty of options for various dietary preferences. Dishes are divided into four categories, including “land” and “heaven” sections that most diners will recognize as meat and dessert. Diners can choose to eat family-style, select dishes to be coursed out, or simply ask to be placed in the chef’s hands based on preferences and proclivities.

Lunch will be slightly less abstruse, with open-faced sandwiches, soups, salads, quiches, and chilled seafood options like crab, tuna, prawns, and lobster. Sevcik is also planning to offer an Italian soda that diners mix at the table.

Sevcik is offering invite-only preview dinners to select diners from February 14 through 17. Diners can order from an a la carte menu or choose a four-course meal priced at $95 per person; both options include free beverage pairings. Items range from whole lobster with saffron butter to seared wagyu rib caps to roasted whole quail. To request an invitation, interested parties are encouraged to call the restaurant at (206) 588-1682.