Even if you’re the sort who rarely needs an excuse to dine out, in the middle of February, a little nudge doesn’t hurt. When that nudge includes real savings and a chance to sample new dishes, it’s called Chicago Restaurant Week, and it kicks off Friday. The second-time celebration of eating out in Chicago highlights special three-course prix-fixe menus and special prices — $22 at lunch and $32 at dinner — at more than 130 restaurants. Reservation books are filling up fast (this weekend’s booked solid at many spots), but it’s not too late to get in on the action.
One Sixtyblue
1400 W. Randolph St.
312-850-0303
Dinner
Entrees at this ritzy West Loop spot typically average $25, putting it among Restaurant Week’s best values. Plus, this is your chance to sample the double dose of fresh kitchen talent as executive chef Michael McDonald and pastry chef Stephanie Prida offer hits from the regular menu.
Menu highlights: Chicken and biscuits (homemade biscuits, braised kale, sauteed Amish chicken breast and deep-fried slow-poached roulade with foie gras sauce); sticky toffee date cake with poached seckel pear, clementines and mascarpone cream
Best bet for reservations: Tuesday or Wednesday dinner
Le Lan
749 N. Clark St. 312-280-9100
Dinner
Executive chef Chad Starling only recently took the reins at this classy French-Asian River North spot previously helmed by Bill Kim (Urban Belly). Size up his skills when you sample Restaurant Week specials, all slight variations on items from the regular menu.
Menu highlights: Soba noodle salad with marinated Chinese eggplant and basil seed vinaigrette; Thai chile-smoked hanger steak with coconut polenta, braised winter greens and cilantro vinaigrette
Best bets for reservations: Sunday-Friday dinner
Aigre Doux
230 W. Kinzie St. 312-329-9400
Lunch and dinner
Mohammad Islam and Malika Ameen, the husband-and-wife culinary team behind this River North spot where Michelle Obama has been spotted on multiple occasions, are cooking up seasonal specials you won’t find on the regular menu — including some decadent desserts courtesy of Ameen.
Menu highlights: Pulled lamb penne with sauteed eggplant and roasted tomato vinaigrette (lunch); maple flan with apple compote (dinner)
Best bets for reservations: Monday-Friday lunch
Lockwood
17 E. Monroe St. 312-917-3404
Lunch and dinner
Executive chef (and avid blogger: thepickledtongue.com) Phillip Foss turns out luxurious cuisine at this chichi restaurant in the Palmer House Hilton. Don’t save it for a special occasion when you can go this week and save well into the double digits on favorites from the regular menu.
Menu highlights: Scottish salmon on a pretzel bun with braised endive, pears and whole-grain mustard (lunch); drunken risotto, soaked in merlot and cooked with bacon and wild mushrooms (dinner)
Best bets for reservations: Early evenings and after 9 p.m.
Farmerie 58
58 E. Ontario St. 312-440-1818
Lunch and dinner
This River North spot went through some kitchen shake-ups shortly after opening last fall, but now that executive chef Nathan Kosakowsi has settled in, it’s the perfect time to sample his menu. He makes it easy: The Restaurant Week menu is basically a compilation of Farmerie’s most popular dishes.
Menu highlights: Pasta with wild boar Italian sausage, rapini, tomato, basil and pecorino cheese (lunch); pork chop with cranberry stuffing, apple chutney, roasted fingerling potatoes and sauteed rapini (dinner)
Best bet for a reservation: Monday lunch or dinner
The Gage
24 S. Michigan Ave. 312-372-4243
Lunch and dinner
Executive chef Dirk Flanigan’s food just keeps getting more interesting, making this Loop gastropub worth a Restaurant Week visit even if you’ve been there before — especially because nearly everything on the menu is a Restaurant Week exclusive.
Menu highlights: Grilled Great Lakes trout with Tuscan kale and prosciutto vinaigrette (lunch); slow-roasted shoulder of Gunthrop farms pork with Peruvian beans, creamed celery and caraway cabbage vinaigrette (dinner)
Best bet for a reservation: Thursday dinner
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Restaurant Week wars
Restaurant Week isn’t the only game in town. More than a dozen other spots are taking part in the competing Chicago Chef Week, offering $22 (lunch) and $32 (dinner) menus Sunday-Feb. 27.
Adobo Grill: dinner
Blackbird: lunch
BOKA: dinner
Green Zebra: dinner
Hub 51: lunch and dinner
Perennial: dinner
Landmark Grill and Lounge: dinner
Lockwood: lunch and dinner
Mado: dinner
Old Town Brasserie: dinner
Province: lunch and dinner
Sepia: lunch and dinner
Sola: dinner
Spring: dinner
Vinci: dinner
Vermilion: dinner
*Find restaurant addresses and phone numbers at metromix.com
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kpratt@tribune.com
