Dining out: Yum! Cheese Fryday and 55-cent cake at Portillo's
Let them eat cheese and cake
• It's Cheese Fryday at Portillo's Friday, March 30, in honor of the Loyola Ramblers men's basketball team making it to the Final Four in the NCAA basketball tournament. Customers who wear the team's colors - maroon and gold - to Portillo's on Friday will be treated to a free cheese sauce with the purchase of a large french fry or onion rings. The Ramblers play in the first round of the Final Four against the University of Michigan on Saturday, March 31, in San Antonio, Texas.
• In celebration of Portillo's 55th anniversary, on Wednesday, April 4, the restaurant is giving out slices of its Famous Chocolate Cake for 55 cents with the purchase of an entree (sandwich, hot dog, entree salad or ribs). The promotion is only available for dine-in or drive-through customers and does not apply to online, delivery or catering orders. Portillo's has locations throughout Chicago and the suburbs. portillos.com/.
Passover dinners
• Tuscany in Wheeling will be serving a three-course prix fixe Passover feast Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. The family-style menu created by executive chef Bolla Loza includes appetizers such as chopped liver served family-style, gefilte fish with horseradish and golden chicken broth with matzo ball. A choice of entrees includes oven-roasted brisket of beef, roasted half chicken and broiled wild Atlantic salmon. All entrees come with a side of green beans in garlic and olive oil and sweet or mashed potatoes. Sweets are old-fashioned honey cake, marble cake and macaroons. The dinner costs $40 for adults and $20 for kids younger than 10, plus tax and gratuity. Tuscany is at 550 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 465-9988 or tuscanychicago.com/location/wheeling/.
• Passover at Saranello's includes classics such as matzo ball soup, brisket of beef, gefilte fish, Lake Superior whitefish and more. Dine-in on Friday or Saturday, March 30-31, for $42.95 per person, with kids younger than 12 eating for half-price. Passover dinner is served family-style and the entire table must participate. Saranello's is in the Westin Hotel, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878 or saranellos.com/.
• Wildfire is ready to do the cooking this Passover on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. The Passover Club Menu will be served family-style for groups of six or more, featuring traditional holiday dishes including chopped liver, matzoh ball soup, matzoh-crusted fresh fish, braised brisket of beef and chocolate almond macaroons. Dinner costs $41.95 per person and $18.95 for kids 12 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. The regular menu will be available, along with traditional Passover dishes featured as specials for the night. Wildfire is at 1300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, (847) 657-6363, and 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900. wildfirerestaurant.com/.
• For Passover Friday and Saturday, Prairie Grass Cafe will be serving a special barbecue braised brisket and roasted cauliflower dish for $26. Plus, try chef Sarah Stegner's chopped chicken liver for $8. For dessert, try the flourless chocolate cake for $8.50. Prairie Grass Cafe is at 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-4433 or prairiegrasscafe.com/.
Free pizza pizza
Before the start of the NCAA men's basketball tournament last week, Little Caesars tweeted out "If a #16 BEATS a #1 in men's basketball TONIGHT, you could score a @LittleCaesars Lunch Combo!" So, when No. 16 seed UMBC beat No. 1 seed UVA 74-54 on Friday, March 16, Little Caesars had a promise to keep. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 2, customers can stop in to get a free lunch combo that includes a four-slice deep-dish pizza with pepperoni and a 20-ounce Pepsi-Cola product. Little Caesars has locations throughout the suburbs. littlecaesars.com/en-us/.
Blue moon, new dishes at Olive Garden
• The last Blue Moon until 2020 happens on Saturday, March 31, and to celebrate, Olive Garden is partnering with Blue Moon Brewing Company. Starting Saturday, the 22-ounce Blue Moon Belgian White will be served in a commemorative pilsner glass. The limited-time glass will be available until May 27. It costs $2.99.
• On Monday, April 2, Olive Garden is adding some new dishes to its menu. The giant meatball and four cheese manicotti features a 12-ounce handmade Italian meatball on top of manicotti filled with four cheeses and topped with homemade marinara and Alfredo sauces. It's $17.99. Fun fact: The weight of the jumbo meatball is equivalent to six tennis balls. Other new entrees include the giant manicotti with meat sauce for $12.99. The stuffed fettuccine Alfredo (fettuccine stuffed with four Italian cheeses (ricotta, mozzarella, pecorino, Parmesan) and served with homemade Alfredo sauce) runs $14.49. The stuffed fettuccine Alfredo with grilled chicken is $16.49 or with shrimp is $18.99. The new dishes will be on the menu through May 27. Olive Garden has locations throughout the suburbs. olivegarden.com/.