Liberte, egalite, fraternite, prix-fixe, foie gras, champagne-all the things we love about France-will be present in abundance on Bastille Day on Thursday. And of course Chicago’s restaurants are on the front line. A few examples:
– Betise, 1515 Sheridan Rd., Wilmette, offers a three-course dinner from Sunday through July 16. Options include wild mushroom terrine, crabmeat croustades, chicken nicoise, steak au poivre and chocolate pots de creme. Cost is $24.95; call 708-853-1711.
– Bistro Banlieue, 44 Yorktown Convenience Center, Lombard, offers a four-course dinner for $32 on Thursday; the restaurant also features a number of French wines at special prices. Reservations strongly recommended; call 708-629-6560.
– The “Fete de la Bastille” runs from 6-10 p.m. Thursday at La Boheme, 566 Chestnut St., Winnetka; festive decor, strolling musicians and a $32.50 four-course dinner are featured. Call 708-446-4600.
– Le Margaux, 2442 N. Clark St., offers an eclectic menu for Bastille Day; choices range from such classics as coq au vin and sauteed sole to grilled buffalo sirloin and rabbit rillette. The four-course dinner, $42.95, will also be available July 15-17. Call 312-871-3033.
– Guests at Le Meridien Chicago, 21 E. Bellevue Pl., may choose among three Bastille Day events on Thursday. From 6-9 p.m., a hors d’oeuvres buffet with French wine and live music is $12.95; in another room, at 6:30 p.m. a four-course dinner matched with five French wines is $39.95. And in Brasserie Bellevue, there will be a special Bastille Day menu from 5-11 p.m. Call 312-266-2100.
– Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights, offers two Bastille Day celebrations. The first takes place beginning 4 p.m. Sunday; the second begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Either day, there will be a five-course menu for $42, and live music. Call 708-506-0222.
– A small-town street party marks the 18th annual Bastille Day celebration at Louis’ Bon Appetit, 302 S. Main St., Crown Point, Ind. The party begins at 4 p.m. Sunday and consists of a large buffet of sandwiches, salads, choucroute and desserts, all low priced, along with beer, wine and other beverages. There will be live music, dance contests, children’s entertainment and a waiter’s race as well. No admission charge; call 219-663-6363.
– A three-day Bastille celebration begins Thursday at Marche, 833 W. Randolph St. There will be French and New Orleans jazz bands performing, acrobats and other performers and a slew of menu specials. Call 312-226-8399.
– Montparnasse, 200 E. 5th Ave., Naperville, returns from its brief vacation to present special Bastille Day menus. Monday through July 16 (except Thursday), the restaurant presents a four-course menu (with matching wines) featuring items such as ragout of artichoke hearts, salad nicoise and bouillabaisse for $37.50. On Bastille Day, Peter Schonman of Vivere joins Montparnasse chef Suzy Crofton to create a special five-course menu (with matching wines) for $39.50 featuring the cuisines of Piedmont and Provence. Call 708-961-8203.
– A five-course, $24.95 dinner highlights the Bastille Day activities at Sage’s Sages, 75 W. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Heights. In the bar, a special menu provides nibbles of bistro food at prices ranging from $1 to $4 each. Call 708-593-6200.
– Seasons of Long Grove, 314 Old McHenry Rd., Long Grove, presents a themed Bastille Day menu from 5:30-9 p.m. July 15. French buffet is $16.95. Call 708-634-9150.
– It will be a full evening Thursday at Taylor Street Bistro, 1400 W. Taylor St. At 5 p.m., St. Ignatius’ French Club participates in a parade from the bistro to Notre Dame Church (1 1/2 blocks away). Then it’s back to the bistro by 6 p.m. for a menu created by chef Joseph Doppes and guest chef Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven. (Menu items include roast duck breast with leg confit, red beans and pecan rice, and veal with creole mustard sauce.) Five-course dinner is $25.95; call 312-829-2828.
– It’s the first Bastille Day for newcomer Toulouse on the Park, 2140 Lincoln Park West, and the restaurant is marking it with a four-course dinner, matched with four wines, for $55 per person. In the Toulouse Cognac Bar across the hall, singer-pianist Dave Green (OK, he’s not French, just the best) performs at 8, 9:30 and 11 p.m.; $3 cover is waived for dinner guests. Call 312-665-9071.
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(For more information on Bastille Day events, see page 3 and the This Week page in today’s section.)
