Dining out: Park Ridge welcomes farm-to-table Pennyville Station

Pennyville Station is now open

Boasting a from-scratch kitchen featuring farm-to-table cuisine utilizing Midwestern harvests, Pennyville Station recently opened its doors in downtown Park Ridge. The menu at the modern yet eclectic restaurant showcases dishes from executive chef Jose Alvarez such as Chilean sea bass with grilled eggplant and grilled cherry tomatoes in a lemon butter sauce, slow-roasted jalepeno chicken, wagyu burger with fried egg and bacon jam, gnocchi with roasted squash and goat cheese in a sage butter sauce and more. Of course there are homemade desserts such as coconut cream pie and hot brownie a la mode.

“We are so happy to be open in downtown Park Ridge where the neighborhood's identity truly aligns with what we are all about: Sharing good food and good drinks, with good people,” owner and Park Ridge native Tony Antonacci said in a prepared statement.

The restaurant features an open kitchen, a 124-seat dining room, an intimate sidewalk patio and space for semiprivate dining events. Tables are currently available on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations will become available soon.

Pennyville Station is at 112 Main St., Park Ridge, (847) 720-4841 or pennyvillestation.com/.

Murder Mystery & Martinis

Oh, this sounds like fun. Get decked out in your best Roaring '20s garb for Martini Room's next Murder Mystery & Martini Party starting at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29. In this improv-inspired event, you'll get to play the role of suspect, detective or witness in the murder of a top crime boss in Chicago. The $45 ticket to the party includes 1920s-themed hors d'oeuvres, all murder-mystery materials including a character sketch, raffle prizes for the winners and photos of your experience. Specialty speakeasy-inspired martinis will be available for purchase. Make reservations at eventbrite.com/.

Martini Room is at 161 E. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 741-0349, martiniroomelgin.com/.

$5 tropicals

How do $5 Mai Tais and Rum Barrels sound? If this deal appeals, head to The Village Squire as the four locations of the restaurant will be offering those drink specials through Sunday, June 30, in honor of their anniversaries. The Village Squire is celebrating 45 years in Dundee, 40 years in Crystal Lake, 38 years in McHenry and 14 years in South Elgin. Don't miss the daily specials, too, which vary by location. To get you started: Mondays are half-priced burgers in Crystal Lake and McHenry and half-price pizza and 75-cent wings in Dundee and South Elgin. Check the website for more deals.

The Village Squire is at 4818 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake, (815) 455-4130; 125 Washington St., Dundee, (847) 428-4483; 4512 W. Elm St., McHenry, (815) 385-0900; and 480 Randall Road, South Elgin, (847) 931-0400. thevillagesquire.com/.

Wine & dine

Treat yourself Friday, June 28, to Wildfire Lincolnshire's monthly wine dinner, this time highlighting Freemark Abbey Winery. The five-course dinner starts with a reception at 6:30 p.m. featuring prosciutto and blue cheese asparagus bites and lobster and shrimp tartlets paired with Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley '17. Next up is miso-glazed monkfish paired with Chardonnay, Napa Valley '16, and then garlic-herb-crusted roasted beef tenderloin and Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley '14. Finish with artisan cheeses and “Rutherford” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford/Napa Valley '15, and molten lavender-chocolate cake with Merlot, Napa Valley '14. Dinner is $115. Reservations required.

Wildfire is at 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900, wildfirerestaurant.com/Lincolnshire/.

Steak ice cream

Do steak, bourbon and ice cream go together? You can see for yourself starting Monday, July 1, when LongHorn Steakhouse intros Steak & Bourbon Ice Cream at all Chicago-area restaurants. This new treat features ice cream infused with LongHorn's Char seasoning and bits of steak and drizzled with bourbon caramel. It's all topped off with whipped cream and “steak sprinkles.” It's $3.99, while supples last.

LongHorn Steakhouse has locations in Bolingbrook, Des Plaines, Oswego, Schaumburg and more. longhornsteakhouse.com/.

Foodie 4th

For an all-American 4th of July celebration, check into Hotel Baker's BBQ dinner before watching the St. Charles' fireworks from the hotel's Rose Garden. Dig in to barbecue favorites such as baby back ribs, Chicago-style Polish sausage, slow-roasted dry-rub beef brisket, slider burgers with cheese, corn clam chowder, corn on the cob, baked beans, potato salad, grilled zucchini and yellow squash, watermelon, pies and cakes and watermelon lemonade. Seatings start at 6 p.m. Thursday, with the buffet available from 7 to 9 p.m. It's $35 for adults, $18 for kids 4-12 and free for kids 3 and younger. Reservations required. Hotel Baker is at 100 W. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-2100 or hotelbaker.com/.

Head to Santo Cielo in Naperville for a 4th of July BBQ Party from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday. Tickets, which cost $20, include a plate of barbecue and three sides. Watch the Naperville fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Santo Cielo is at 123 Water St., Naperville, (630) 323-0700 or stcielo.com/.

On July 4, if you want to grab a bite or a drink before or after catching a suburban fireworks show, stop in to Morton's The Steakhouse to take advantage of Power Hour happy hour specials from 5 to 11 p.m. in the bar area. Drink specials feature beers (Bud Light, Miller Lite, Heineken, Samuel Adams Seasonal) for $5.50, a variety of red and white wines for $8.50, and martinis and cocktails (Vodka Martini, Cosmopolitan, Palm Beacher, Manhattan, Mojito, Camarita) for $9.50. Bites specials are $8 (iceberg wedge bites, potato chips, Parmesan truffle matchstick fries); $9 (tuna tacos, short rib steak tacos, buffalo chicken goujonettes, prime cheeseburgers, four petite filet mignon sandwiches); and $10 (crab, spinach and artichoke dip, mini crabcake BLTs, filet mignon trio). Morton's The Steakhouse is at 1751 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 577-1372; 699 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-5111; 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155; and 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771. mortons.com/.

The Hampton Social is getting festive on July 4 with two specials: the $10 Blue Frosé (Tito's Handmade Vodka, Proverbs rosé and peach purée) and the $10 Smash Burger (double patty, cheddar cheese, house pickles and mustard aioli served on an egg bun). The Hampton Social is at 705 Village Center Drive, Burr Ridge, (630) 219-0009, and 4999 Old Orchard Center, Skokie, (847) 307-5207, thehamptonsocial.com/.

Goal!

Have you been keeping up with soccer - FIFA Women's World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, Copa America Brasil - this summer? Twin Peaks is celebrating soccer with all-day drink specials running now through July 7. Choose from $5 Dos XX Lager (22 ounce) and Modelo (22 ounce), $5 house margaritas, $5 micheladas and $15 Mexican import buckets.

Twin Peaks is at 17W744 W. 22nd St., Oakbrook Terrace, (331) 307-7940; 28252 Diehl Road, Warrenville, (630) 393-9747; and 781 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 459-4049, twinpeaksrestaurant.com/.

Email clinden@dailyherald.com with dining and night life events.