Dining out: Chicago Northwest & St. Charles restaurant weeks kick off
Restaurant weeks
Foodies rejoice as there are two restaurant weeks starting this week:
• The 10-day Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week features specials at 46 restaurants around the Northwest suburbs from Friday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, March 4. The three-course prix fixe lunch runs $10, $15 or $20 and dinner costs $20, $30, $40 or $44. For details, see chicagonorthwest.com/restaurant-week/.
In conjunction with Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week, Meet Chicago Northwest has put together Cork & Tap Tastings featuring specials at local breweries and wineries. Deals include a flight of four beers for $7 at Church St. Brewing Co.; three wine tastes for $4 at the Arlington Heights' Cooper's Hawk Winery; a flight of three wines for $5 at Lynfred Winery; a flight of three 10-ounce beers for $7.99 at Ram Restaurant & Brewing; and a free pint glass for every Crowler purchased at Itasca Brewing Company.
• The table is set for St. Charles Restaurant Week, which runs Monday, Feb. 26, to Friday, March 2. More than 40 St. Charles restaurants are offering a 20 percent discount off your total bill (dine-in only, minimum $20 pretax bill required) when you present a special coupon that can be downloaded at stcharlesil.gov/restaurant-week.
Lobster for Lent
For Lent, Morton's will offer a $39 steamed twin lobster tail special from 5 p.m. to close every Friday between now and Easter (April 1). The deal will be available at the Naperville, Northbrook, Rosemont, Schaumburg, State Street and Wacker Place restaurants. Morton's The Steakhouse suburban locations are 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/.
Beer tapping
Old Town Pour House in Naperville will host a Bourbon County Stout beer tapping at 5 and 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23. Quantities are limited of the specialty Goose Island 2016 Bourbon County Stout, so get there early. Old Town Pour House is at 1703 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 448-6020 or oldtownpourhouse.com/naperville/.
Fish and folk
Stop in Hofbräuhaus Chicago on Fridays during Lent for the restaurant's daily seafood special, which will feature salmon, halibut, shrimp, mussels, white fish and more. Come back on Saturday for special performances from The Muller Fasching Verein Nordamerika Inc., also known as the Milwaukee Mullers, at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The Mullers, a nonprofit organization, has been introducing Tyrolean (Austrian) folk customs to the U.S. through dance. Donning hand-carved wooden masks and unique costumes, the group performs a story surrounding the four seasons. Hofbräuhaus Chicago is at 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 671-2739 or hofbrauhauschicago.com/.
City Gate news
Naperville's City Gate Grille is currently closed through Monday, Feb. 26, for kitchen remodeling. When the restaurant opens again Tuesday, Feb. 27, enjoy $1 raw oysters in the bar. Plus, fish fry Fridays are back during Lent. The beer-battered fish with tartar sauce, steak fries and coleslaw is $15 at lunch and $21 at dinner. It will resume Friday, March 2. City Gate Grille is at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, (630) 718-1010 or citygategrille.com/.
More Lent specials
Empire Burgers + Brew is offering The Rachel - beer-battered cod, spicy yogurt aioli, red onion and arugula on a pretzel bun - as its special of the month during Lent. Don't forget about the crispy fish tacos, too. Empire Burgers + Brew is at 48 W. Chicago Ave., Naperville, (630) 355-9000 or empireburgerbar.com/.
Portillo's adds spring sandwiches
Last week, Portillo's added two new Lenten-friendly sandwiches to its menu: the flounder sandwich (a panko-breaded Alaskan wild-caught flounder filet served on a toasted, beer-infused hoagie) and the grilled portobello sandwich (topped with red onion, tomato, mozzarella and basil pesto on a toasted tomato focaccia). Also returning for Lent is the pepper and egg sandwich (seasoned scrambled eggs topped with sweet peppers on either a croissant or French bread) and the tuna salad sandwich (topped with lettuce and tomato and served on either a pretzel roll or croissant). The pepper and egg sandwich is only available on Fridays through March 30. The other sandwiches are on the menu until March 31. Portillo's has locations throughout the suburbs. portillos.com/index.html.
Lake County Craft Beer Fest
Taste dozens of local and regional craft brews from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Lake County Craft Beer Festival. At least 50 brewers, including Crystal Lake Brewing, Wild Onion Brewing Co., Revolution Brewing, Goose Island, Brickstone, Roaring Table Brewing, Buffalo Creek Brewing and more, will be on-site during the fest. Plus, enjoy live music, cider, local wine, spirits, food and more. Advance tickets cost $45 online and $55 at the door; $10 designated driver. Online ticket sales end at noon Saturday, Feb. 24. The fest is at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake, lcfair.com/.