Dining out: New restaurants, July 4 specials and more
New restaurants, part one
Traditional South Indian eatery Madurai Kitchen opened a new location this week at Glen Town Center in Glenview.
The family-run concept, founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife team Hemalatha Ravishankar and Karthikeyan Srirangarajan, also has a location in Warrenville.
The restaurant at 1831 Glenview Road is the brand’s first full-service, bar-forward location. The menu features family recipes that date back nearly 50 years, reflecting traditional South Indian techniques and spice blends that the founders grew up eating in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
The owners promise regional specialties they say are rarely found in the Chicago suburbs. Signature dishes include Parotta Chicken Salana, Eggplant Kara Kuzhambu, Chettinad Chicken, Masala Dosa, Madurai Kitchen Special Fish Curry and MK Special Goat Thokku Biryani. Entree prices generally sit in the $20 range.
Cocktail highlights include the curry leaf martini, maharaja old fashioned and Blushing Lotus, with gin, watermelon, lemon and rose water. The beverage program also features Indian beers, including Kingfisher and Taj Mahal.
The restaurant will be open daily for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5-10 p.m., with happy hour from 3-5 p.m. featuring 20% off select cocktails and starters along with rotating BOGO offers.
New restaurants, part two
Popular breakfast, brunch and lunch spot First Watch opened another location this week, this time in Crystal Lake.
The restaurant, at 5689 Northwest Hwy., brings a chef-inspired menu and rotating seasonal offerings to a 3,900-square-foot space that seats more than 150 diners and features a covered patio.
To celebrate the opening, customers who dine in at the Crystal Lake location now through Friday, June 26, will receive unlimited Project Sunrise coffee with their meal.
First Watch is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily for pickup, delivery and dine-in.
Happy semiquincentennial
• The Graceful Ordinary is hosting a Riverside Block Party to celebrate our country’s 250th along the Fox River at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 4.
The event, which will take place in the parking lot on Riverside Avenue behind the restaurant, will feature live music from Brent Brown, lawn games, a kids’ corner, and food and drinks from local businesses, including TGO, Duke’s Northwoods, Flagship on the Fox and Pollyanna Brewing Company.
Guests can preorder a charcuterie box featuring premium cheeses and cured meats, as well as a whole pig roast with all the fixings, available for purchase the day of from The Graceful Ordinary. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy prime views of the fireworks.
Tickets are available on Resy, with general admission priced at $12 and family passes available for $20.
• STK Steakhouse in Oak Brook is serving up a limited-time holiday special July 2-5 where guests can take advantage of $2.50 American brews alongside a $17.76 all-American Meal, featuring the classic STK cheeseburger and fries, a side of mac and cheese and a slice of apple pie.
Dog days
Lazy Dog Restaurant will host its Paws on the Patio celebration July 1-5 at suburban locations in Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Brook, Buffalo Grove and Vernon Hills.
Guests who reserve a table at the restaurant’s dog-friendly patio and bring their dog will receive a complimentary Dog Bowl for their pup, plus a limited-edition Lazy Dog bandanna, while supplies last.
New to the menu …
CRISP & GREEN has added sandwiches to its wellness-focused menu.
The brand’s new sandwiches promise premium proteins, fresh vegetables, chef-inspired flavor combinations, house-baked bread and up to 39 grams of protein.
The lineup features six offerings, including the Cali Club, a traditional club with a creamy jalapeño green goddess dressing; the Pesto Prime herb-forward sandwich with roasted chicken and basil pesto; and The Rancher, with roasted chicken, sliced avocado, provolone, cucumber, oil and vinegar and ranch dressing.
CRISP & GREEN has suburban locations in Naperville and Vernon Hills.
• Send dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.