Dining events: Niche offers 'shot and a beer' desserts

Shot and a beer

There's a new way to chase dinner at Niche. A small plates dessert menu includes a “shot and a beer” — whiskey cake and breakfast stout ice cream, garnished with a meringue cigarette. Cap off the night for $9. Other dinner items on the small plates menu are the pork belly terrine, duckopita, pork empanadas, Jonah crab and biscuits, foie grass torchon, Delaware oysters, and venison chili.

Niche is at 14 S. Third St., Geneva. Call (630) 262-1000 or nichegeneva.com.

Scallops at Shaw's

It's Nantucket Cape Scallops time at Shaw's Crab House — fresh from the waters of Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. Now through March, the restaurant will offer this smaller and more tender version of sea scallops, which boast a sweet, mild flavor and a velvety texture. Enjoy them sauteed with spinach and served in a lemon garlic sauce for $33.99.

Shaw's Crab House, 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg. (847) 517-2722 or shawscrabhouse.com.

Kids eat free

Leona's wants families to dine together in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Children ages 8 and under now eat for free with an entree-ordering adult. Menu choices include chicken tenders, mac and cheese, lasagna, rigatoni, pizza, fish, mini cheeseburgers and turkey sandwiches. All meals come with a choice of roasted carrots, house fries or chicken noodle soup. Add a drink for 99 cents or dessert for $1.29.

Leona's Restaurant is at 1504 Miner St., Des Plaines. Call (847) 759-0800 or leonas.com.