So, after many optimistic false starts, The Gorbals will officially reopen this Saturday night. Ilan Hall's downtown restaurant has finally been given the go-ahead, by both inspectors and publicists, and thus will begin serving this weekend. “All done, all legal, all everything,” said Hall by phone this morning. Hall has been busy in the weeks since the restaurant shut down, after three days, due to a faulty boiler, and has been revamping the menu (“the season is different now”) and hiring a chef de cuisine. Jason Fullilove, whom Hall met at the farmers market, will be working the stoves with Hall. Fullilove has previously cooked at the Ritz-Carlton in the Virgin Islands and for the BR Guest restaurant group in NY.

Hall, who characterized the shut-down of his new restaurant as “a bit heartbreaking; it was like the rug being pulled out from beneath me,” said that it was nevertheless useful to have the time to regroup. Having a chef de cuisine will be pretty useful too. “I can't do everything. We built the tables and chairs, painted the restaurant. It's good to have some help.”

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