Dining out: Hone your Labor Day grilling skills at Weber Grill Academy

Time to grill

If you're hosting a backyard barbecue this weekend but feel a little nervous about your grilling skills, Lombard's Weber Grill Academy's hands-on classes might be just what you need. Taught by Weber Grill Masters and Chefs, the Gourmet Burger Blends class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, will show you how to make custom-blend beef burgers, lamb burgers and turkey burgers, plus sweet potato fries and grilled caprese salad. It's $50 per person. Or, check out the Reef & Beef: Classic Surf and Turf Grilling class from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Learn about basic grill setup for steak, seafood and plank grilling; what to look for when purchasing steaks; and how to grill them to the proper temperature. Participants will make grilled Romaine Caesar salad with shrimp, filet mignon, grilled lobster tail with grilled asparagus and grilled lemon poundcake. The class is $90. Registration is required.

Weber Grill Academy is at 2331 Fountain Square, Lombard, (630) 953-8880 or webergrill.securetree.com/grilling-classes/lombard/.

Claim Company is on the move

A note to fans of The Claim Company in Northbrook Court: No need to worry. While the restaurant known for the Motherlode Burger is closing its Northbrook Court location Thursday, Aug. 29, it plans to reopen this fall near the intersection of Skokie Boulevard and Dundee Road in Northbrook.

“We are truly touched by the community's support of us and want to thank everyone for the last 10 years we've enjoyed at Northbrook Court in our current location,” said owner Arnie Krause. “We have developed so many wonderful relationships with generations of families and are looking forward to continuing the journey with everyone.”

The new location will offer a streamlined menu that will still include build-your-own burgers and the Salad Saloon.

If you can't wait until the restaurant reopens in the fall, stop by the Vernon Hills location at 506 Hawthorn Center #1510.

For updates on the new location's progress, see The Claim Company's Facebook page or theclaimcompany.com/.

Steak & Power Hour Labor Day weekend

If you're in the mood for hearty steak or seafood, Morton's The Steakhouse may have just the ticket. Over Labor Day weekend - Thursday through Monday, Aug. 29 to Sept. 2 - Morton's will offer a special three-course prix fixe menu featuring lobster bisque, 8-ounce center-cut filet mignon, New Zealand Ora King Salmon, Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake and more for $99 per couple. Sip on a choice of Butter Block Chardonnay or Communion Pinot Noir during your meal.

Also, over Labor Day weekend, Morton's will be hosting all-day “Power Hour” specials at the bar for $5.50 to $10. Besides the specially priced wine, beer, martinis and cocktails, the bar bites - iceberg wedge bites, mini crabcake BLTs, prime cheeseburgers, petite filet mignon sandwiches, filet mignon trio and more - are also part of the deal.

If you can't make it in over the weekend, Morton's will be offering a special three-course prix fixe Steak and Seafood Special menu for $99 per couple from Thursday, Sept. 5, through Sunday, Sept. 15. Start with a choice of Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail or lobster bisque before moving on to a 6-ounce filet paired with a choice of crabcake, lobster tail or scallops Oreganata. Finish with a choice of white chocolate pecan bread pudding, Key lime pie or Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake.

Suburban locations of Morton's The Steakhouse 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/.

More Labor Day specials

Beatrix: Start your Labor Day off right with brunch specialties like light and fluffy lemon pancakes, steak chimichurri and eggs and brown sugar bacon. Wash it down with fresh-squeezed juice or a cocktail such as the Mango Fizz. Brunch runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner will be served from 3 to 10 p.m. Beatrix is at 272 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 491-1415 or beatrixrestaurants.com/beatrix/oak-brook/.

Bub City: The Southern Brunch and Make-Your-Own Bloody Mary Bar gets things going from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Sept. 1-2. Or head to Bub City later on Monday for $5 burgers, $5 Bub City Gold draft beers and $5 margaritas. It's located at 5441 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 261-0399 or bub-city.com/.

Shaw's Crab House: It's Happy Hour all day from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, when diners can take advantage of half-off food specials featuring the grilled shrimp scampi and the sweet corn and jalapeño hush puppies. Happy hour is only offered in the Oyster Bar and on the patio. Shaw's is at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722 or shawscrabhouse.com/.

Tokio Pub: Labor Day happy hour specials include half-off select drinks like the Pub Sangria and victuals such as the Nacho Taco filled with barbecue braised pork, roasted tomato salsa, guacamole, sour cream, Chihuahua cheese and house slaw. It runs from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 278-5181 or tokiopub.com/.

LongHorn to the rescue

If you're tired of grilling but still crave that grill flavor, LongHorn Steakhouse has you covered. The restaurant's new Cookout menu features specialties such as the 18-ounce Outlaw rib-eye with fire-grilled corn on the cob, baby back ribs with steakhouse mac and cheese and a new smoky barbecue mixed grill, which includes two Smoky Redrock grilled shrimp skewers and a barbecue grilled chicken breast accompanied by fire-grilled asparagus and citrus rice.

LongHorn Steakhouse has locations in 708 Janes Ave., Bolingbrook, (630) 783-0684; 1470 E. Touhy Ave., Des Plaines, (847) 391-9860; 2650 Route 34, Oswego, (630) 554-4180; 1901 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 995-0107; and more. longhornsteakhouse.com/.

Border Bites

What a deal: On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina recently added $2.99 Border Bites to its menu. These tapas-style appetizers - crispy chicken skewers, avocado fries, puffed gordita bites, chicken flautas, street-style corn and fried pickled jalapeños - are made for sharing.

On The Border has locations at 1512 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 960-3915; 1915 Glacier Park Ave., Naperville, (331) 472-8740; 3050 E. Main, St. Charles, (630) 524-4870; and 535 N. Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills, (224) 433-5450. ontheborder.com/.

Score with Weber Grill

Hoping to be your go-to place to watch NFL football this season, Weber Grill Restaurants are offering game-day specials starting Thursday, Sept. 5. Head to the bar area to catch all of the NFL games while enjoying drink specials such as domestic beer bottles for $3, Weber's Backyard Brew (16-ounce draft) for $4, housemade sangria for $5, and Canyon Road Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon and hand-shaken margaritas, Moscow mules and martinis for $6. Specials are good from noon to 11 p.m. Sundays and 7 to 11 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.

Weber Grill Restaurant is at 2331 Fountain Square, Lombard, (630) 953-8880, and 1010 N. Meacham Road, Schaumburg, (847) 413-0800, or webergrillrestaurant.com/.

National Gyro Day

Because of course there's a National Gyro Day. It's Sunday, Sept. 1, and Pop's Italian Beef and Sausage is celebrating with $2.50 gyros all day.

Pop's has locations in Chicago, Joliet, Lockport, Lyons, Orland Park, Palos Heights, Romeoville and more in the south suburbs. popsbeef.com/.

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