03 Jul Dinning Out: Galleries In The District

Dinning Out in Downtown Rock Island but need some info?

Look no further than Galleries In The District!

ARTICLE FROM THE SUMMER DOWNTOWN ROCK ISLAND MAGAZINE ISSUE NO.2

Rock Island has long been known as a melting pot of different cultures, but thanks to a new downtown restaurant, it’s also a melting pot of flavor.
It’s not every restaurant you can walk into and order a plate of tacos with a side of tzatziki and some linguine Alfredo. But not every restaurant is Galleries in the District.
“We focus on giving the best service to our guests,” says co-owner Carlos Ronzon. “We try to offer a unique type of experience including the food selection that isn’t offered anywhere else.”
What to make of this culinary culture clash? The owners of Galleries like to call it “Mexi-Terranian.”
First and foremost,” says Ronzon, “here at Galleries, we enjoy food and it’s our passion. We’ve always liked tasting food from other cultures. That being said, we wanted to bring many of those choices all under one roof and make it convenient for our guests to enjoy.”
For Ronzon, it’s been a lifelong passion. “I began my journey when I was 11 years old working with my mother in Veracruz, Mexico,” he says.
“Seeing the reaction of people’s faces when they would get their food made me realize it was something special.”
In his late teens, Ronzon took his love of food to New York City, where he landed a job as a dishwasher in an Italian restaurant.
“After washing dishes, being a prep cook, and helping with salads, I finally got my chance to be in the kitchen working with the full menu, pizzas and all the pastas.”
After five years at the Italian restaurant followed by work alongside the well-known chef Dennis Cruz, Ronzon made his way to Chicago, where he worked in various restaurants from Mexican to Italian. Eventually, he made his way to the Quad Cities and opened

Galleries with his partner, chef Raul Jarquin Lorenzo.
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The menu at Galleries runs the gamut from Mexican to Italian to Greek to classic American fare like Philly cheesesteak. The diversity is augmented even more by off-menu specials like shawarma and their signature “burrico.” Last St. Pat’s Day. You could’ve even stopped by Galleries for corned beef reubens.
Maintaining such a diverse menu is a labor of love, but it’s one that Ronzon says is worth it.
“I’ve always bee motivated to work hard and move forward to help out my family and allow them more opportunity,” he explains.
“The most priceless reward is making memories, seeing my family enjoy themselves, and making the most out of every moment.”

Find Galleries at 1806 2nd Ave. in downtown Rock Island. See their hours, menu, and specials at www.facebook.com/ GalleriesInTheDistrict 1/4 page horizontal 6×2.125 Your Downtown . . . Bookstore, video place, community center, digital content provider, and so much more! If you live downtown, you qualify for a free library card. Stop in soon! Downtown Library, 401 19th Street 309-732-READ www.RockIslandLibrary.org Sign up for Summer Reading Challenges for all ages, starting June 10. Enter, Read, Earn Rewards!