Eating out: Tuscany caters to meatless Fridays

Lent at Tuscany

It's seafood for Lent at Tuscany. Through April 6, seasonal pasta dishes include the spaghettini with calamari, octopus, mussels, clams, shrimp, marinara and toasted garlic and herbs for $21 and penne brivido, which is seared fresh Boston sea scallops, garlic, evoo, herbs and hot pepper in a light tomato sauce for $19.

Tuscany is located at 1415 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 990-1993, and 550 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 465-9988. See tuscanychicago.com.

Chessie's/111 Grille's wine dinner

Five is the magic number at Chessie's/111 Grille's wine tasting and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3. That's five courses: cheese, sausage and crackers, mini crabcakes, Tuscany marinara, a palate-cleansing sorbet, medallions of beef served with asparagus and mashed potatoes, and flourless chocolate cake. And five wines: Opolo Chardonnay, Opolo Viognier, Opolo Sangiovese, Opolo Rhapsody, Opolo Zinfandel. $50 a person, plus gratuity and tax.

Chessie's/111 Grille is in the Ice House Mall and Village Shops, 200 Applebee St., Barrington. (847) 382-5020 or 111grille.com.

Nieto's now open

The restaurant formerly known as top-ranked Carlos' Restaurant has reopened as Nieto's, an American grill and wine bar. Nieto's welcomes back some old Carlos' menu favorites and adds a twist to others such as the Cobb salad with lobster for $19.95; the brisket sandwich with mozzarella and guajillo chilies for $12.95; and the brandy-glazed shake 'n bake-inspired prime bone-in pork chop with caramelized apples and mashed potatoes for $22.95.

Nieto's is at 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park. (847) 432-0770 or nietosrestaurant.com.