In ancient Greece, the agora was the central gathering place, filled with food as far as the eye could see.

Today, we have a new word for it.

"Food hall."

Okay, so two words, but the purpose remains the same. To feed you. And today, Forum 55 soft-opens with a very similar mission on the concourse level of 55 E Monroe. Take a look.

This sprawling marketplace looks like an al fresco bazaar, with strings of lights over clusters of tables where you, presumably, will be enjoying one of the better lunch options in the Loop.

The fine folks at Forum 55 have brought together Mercadito tacos and Flo & Santos Pierogi along with some new flavors. And you'll definitely notice that Butcher & Larder is present and accounted for. The longstanding butcher shop debuts its first restaurant concept with grass-fed Midwestern beef burgers and MightyVine BLT sandwiches.

But should you be feeling less carnivorous, a sprawling salad bar sits in the center of the U-shaped food hall and is filled with local, seasonal produce. Or hell, maybe you want it all. A digital ordering system connected to all of the restaurants lets you get just that from your phone or one of the high-tech kiosks.

You have seen the future, and it is lunch.