Labor Day 2020: At-home grilling kits, specials on the menu at suburban restaurants
How is it Labor Day already? Is summer really over?
If you haven't made plans yet for the long weekend, there are many suburban restaurants offering at-home grilling kits and specials for limited dining in or relaxing on the patio, plus carryout and delivery options, too.
No matter how you spend Labor Day, don't forget your mask, hand sanitizer and to follow social distancing guidelines.
Aboyer Restaurant
64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, (847) 441-3100, georgetroisgroup.com/aboyer
Feast on a special Lobster Boil this Labor Day weekend on Le Patio Aboyer, in the dining room or as a curbside carryout meal kit. Available Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4-6, the $59 per person meal features a whole lobster tail, littleneck clams (three per person), Nichols Farm sweet corn, new potatoes, garlic sausage, shrimp (two per person) and snow crab legs (one per person). Each meal includes an individual peach crumble for dessert. For those who want to cook at home, the uncooked lobster boil meal kit and instructions should be ordered ahead of time to be picked up on Sunday as Aboyer will be closed on Labor Day.
Bahama Breeze
406 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 884-7060, bahamabreeze.com/home
Escape to the islands with Bahama Breeze's family-style Caribbean Bundles that serve up to four. Choose from jerk chicken wings ($34.99), baby back ribs ($49.99), seafood paella ($54.99), jerk chicken pasta ($49.99) or grilled chicken with cilantro-crema ($44.99). Each meal comes with a side, salad and Cuban bread and is available for curbside takeout.
Big Bowl
215 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 808-8880; 1950 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-8881; and 60 E. Ohio St., Chicago, (312) 951-1888; bigbowl.com/
From 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Lincolnshire and Schaumburg on Labor Day, Big Bowl will be offering dishes such as chicken pot stickers, beef and broccoli, chicken pad thai and more for dine-in, pickup and delivery. The Chicago location will be open from 3-7 p.m. Monday.
The Capital Grille
87 Yorktown Center, Lombard, (630) 627-9800; 5340 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 671-8125; 2000 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 969-0290; and 633 N. St. Clair St., Chicago, (312) 337-9400; thecapitalgrille.com/home
Impress your guests this Labor Day with steaks from The Capital Grille's Steak Grille Boxes. Options include four bone-in dry-aged New York strip steaks for $140, four bone-in prime rib-eyes for $160, and two bone-in dry-aged strips and two bone-in prime rib-eyes for $150. Each kit comes with signature steak sauce. Or order six 8-ounce burgers ($50) and sides to feed four to six, such as lobster mac n' cheese ($45) or creamed spinach, grilled asparagus or Sam's mashed potatoes ($20 each). Call ahead to order.
City Works Eatery and Pour House
1850 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, (847) 584-2500; 929 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, (847) 984-3571; and 365 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling, (847) 941-0990; cityworksrestaurant.com/
Take a load off at City Works, which is extending its Rock N' Roll weekend brunch through Monday, Sept. 7. Until 3 p.m., dine on dishes such as the Lox N' Roll (whiskey house-cured salmon on flatbread with dill cream cheese, grape tomato, mozzarella, red onion, capers, arugula and citrus mustard vinaigrette), Johnny Hash (braised short rib, red and green bell peppers, onions, potatoes and jalapeño salsa verde topped with sunnyside-up eggs), White Wedding (egg-white frittata with goat cheese, asparagus, tomato, onion and basil fennel herb salad) and much more.
Di Pescara
2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, (847) 498-4321, di-pescara.com/
Di Pescara will be open on Labor Day for lunch and dinner on the patio and with limited dining room seating. The Northbrook restaurant will be serving up specialties such as tuna and salmon poke bowl, grilled turkey burger, almond-crusted whitefish, chicken Milanese, housemade potato gnocchi, steaks and more. Carryout and delivery also will be available. Hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Gibsons
2105 S. Spring Road, Oak Brook, (630) 954-0000; 5464 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 928-9900; and other Chicago locations; grgmc.com/restaurants.
If it's your year to host a Labor Day barbecue, Gibsons is offering Ready for the Grill meal kits. The burger kit for four includes burgers, buns, cheese, fixings, corn elotes kit, housemade potato chips and Gibsons signature mousse pie for $90. Or consider the steak kit for four for $190. It includes two 7-ounce filets, two 13-ounce New York strip steaks, asparagus, double-baked potato and strawberry shortcake. To order, email catering@grgmc.com or call (312) 587-0508, ext. 2.
L. Woods
7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, (847) 677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com/
L. Woods is offering a Burger Kit for four featuring four patties, buns, cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, housemade seasoning blend and burger tips from the chef. It's $50, and must be ordered at least one hour prior to pickup. The restaurant will be open for patio and limited dining room seating from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.
Morton's
1751 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 577-1372; 699 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-5111; 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155; 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771; and locations in Chicago; mortons.com/
Morton's is going all out for Labor Day with three different Red, White and Blue at-home grilling kits. For $119, the Red kit includes eight 10-ounce burger patties, cavatappi pasta salad, bacon and ranch new potato salad, hand-cut potato chips, buns, fixings and more. The White kit, which runs $149, includes four 6-ounce filet mignons, Maine lobster mac and cheese, corn on the cob, jumbo grilled asparagus, Morton's chopped house salad and summer berry trifle. And for $179, indulge in the Blue kit, featuring two 8-ounce filet mignons, a 16-ounce prime boneless rib-eye, two 16-ounce double-cut pork chops, two pounds of boneless chicken breasts, cavatappi pasta salad, bacon and ranch new potato salad, corn on the cob, and Nueske's bacon and onion jam. All orders should be placed in advance for to-go or delivery.
Mon Ami Gabi
260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900, monamigabi.com/oak-brook/
Head to Mon Ami Gabi for Labor Day brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. The French bistro will be serving specials such as Creme Brulee French Toast with blueberries and light chantilly cream. Or order the three-course $21.95 Lunch Prix Fixe, featuring a choice of petite onion soup au gratin, lunch-cut steak frites, quiche Lorraine, croque monsieur, and profiterole or chocolate mousse. Reservations suggested as dining-room capacity is limited.
Old Town Pour House
1703 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 448-6020, and 8 Oak Brook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 601-1440, oldtownpourhouse.com/
Old Town Pour House is extending its Rock N' Roll weekend brunch through 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Dine on dishes such as The Clash Smash (smashed avocado on toasted challah, roasted corn, pickled red onion, shaved radish and sliced hard boiled egg), Sweet Child O' Mine (stuffed French toast with brioche bread, Bailey's cream cheese, vanilla bean ice cream batter, mixed berry compote and powdered sugar) and The Boss (8-ounce New York strip streak, eggs any style and cheesy potato casserole) and more.
Olive Garden
Locations across the suburbs; olivegarden.com/home
Raise a glass to Labor Day weekend with $15 bottles of wine available for curbside pickup with the purchase of food. Choose from Confetti Pink Moscato Blend, Roscato Rosso Dolce or Moscato Primo Amore.
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
5 Oakbrook Center, Oakbrook, (630) 571-1808, perryssteakhouse.com/#.
Impress your guests this Labor Day with Perry's Steakhouse Fajita Smorgasbord To-Go. The $125 meal that feeds four to six diners includes 1 pound of encrusted rib-eye fajitas, 1 pound of pork fajitas seasoned with Perry's Port Rub, 1 pound of sautéed shrimp, 1 pound of sous vide grilled chicken, 1 pound of sautéed onions and peppers, plus Mexican rice, guacamole, salsa verde, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and flour or corn tortillas. The special is available from 11 a.m. to close every day through Tuesday, Sept. 8. Tax and a 15% handling fee will be added to to-go orders.
Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-4433, prairiegrasscafe.com/
Leave the Labor Day grilling prep work to Prairie Grass Cafe and chef Sarah Stegner. The grilling kits for two include marinated beef tenderloin skewers for $69 or spicy marinated chicken skewers with peanut dipping sauce for $59. Both kits include corn on the cob with spicy corn butter, wild rice and toasted pine nuts salad with herbs, roasted tomatoes and two slices of raspberry cream pie. Other options include grilled chicken wings by the dozen and ranch dipping sauce ($16); veggie burger (wild rice and mushroom burger) ($18); whole raspberry pie ($36); slice of raspberry pie ($9) and chocolate chip cookies ($4).
Santo Cielo
123 Water St., Suite 509, Naperville, (630) 323-0700, bientruchagroup.com/store/product/cheeseburger/
Grill up tasty burgers this Labor Day thanks to Santo Cielo's Labor Day Grill Kit. The $69 kit includes five 6-ounce burger patties, housemade sweet pickles, caramelized Vidalia onions, smoked cheddar cheese, truffle aioli, sesame seed brioche buns, homemade potato chips and a six-pack of Solemn Oath's Lü. Order by Thursday, Sept. 3, for pickup on Saturday or Sunday, Sept. 5-6.
Saranello's
601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878, saranellos.com/
Dine on housemade pastas, seafood, steaks, salads and more on the patio or in the limited-capacity dining room from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7. Or enjoy the day at home without cooking by ordering a family-style meal for four, take-and-bake pizzas and sangria to-go.
Seasons 52
3 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 571-4752, and 1770 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-5252, seasons52.com/home
For Labor Day, Seasons 52 is offering Jansz Brut Rosé, Vanderpump Dry Rosé, a rosé lemonade and rosé sangria starting at $10. The drinks, which are also available for takeout, pair with the restaurant's limited-time summer specials such as the roasted corn, aged cheddar and spiced bacon flatbread.
Shaw's Crab House
1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/schaumburg/
Just for Labor Day, Shaw's will be serving up freshly shucked oysters on the half shell for $2, clams on the half shell for $2, and chilled mussels with sesame ginger vinaigrette for $1. Plus, select bottles of wine are $30 and select beers are only $4. Enjoy these dine-in-only specials on Shaw's Patio or Oyster Bar from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you'd prefer to stay home but not cook, orders of $75 or more from the catering menu will get $15 off. All orders must be placed 24 hours in advance.
Solemn Oath Brewery
1661 Quincy Ave. #179, Naperville, (630) 995-3062, solemnoathbrewery.com/
If you'll be in Naperville on Friday, Sept. 4, stop by Solemn Oath to see chef Stephanie Izard, of “Iron Chef” and “Top Chef” fame and James Beard Award-winning owner of Chicago's Girl & the Goat, and her team grilling in the brewery's beer garden. Plus, Friday is when you'll be able to pick up your preordered Girl & the Goat-ceries Labor Day End of Summer meal kit. The $125 kit includes an heirloom tomato salad, pimento cheese dip, avocado dip and masa chips, plus, marinated Kalbi beef ribs, grilled herby shrimp, Korean marinated chicken wings, goat sausage satays with pitas and herb yogurt, Thai-style corn elotes, a Klug Farm grape pie kit and cookies. Order the kit and other a la carte options at exploretock.com/goatceries/experience/176001/labor-day-meal-kit-in-naperville-inspired-by-summer-favorites-for-4?date=2020-09-04&size=1&time=10%3A00.
Tokio Pub
1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 278-5181, tokiopub.com/events/labor-day-at-the-pub/
Tokio Pub, which is normally closed to dining in on Mondays, will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Labor Day so it can debut new maki and handrolls such as the California Love Roll filled with spicy king crab and avocado. Plus, there will be cocktail specials just for the holiday. Even better, all dine-in guests who spend $50 will receive $10 off. Carryout and delivery will be available, too.
WhirlyBall
3103 Odyssey Court, Naperville, (630) 932-4800, and 1825 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, (773) 486-7777, whirlyball.com/
WhirlyBall in Naperville and Chicago are saying goodbye to summer with a Last Fling special over Labor Day weekend. For $20 per person, guests can play one hour of WhirlyBall, bowling or LaserTag and dine on unlimited pizza. The package is available Saturday through Monday, Sept. 5-7, in Naperville and Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6, in Chicago. Reservations are required.
Wildfire
1300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, (847) 657-6363; 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900; 232 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 586-9000; 1250 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 995-0100; and 159 W. Erie St., Chicago, (312) 787-9000; wildfirerestaurant.com/
Wildfire will be open on Labor Day, serving dishes such as barbecued baby back ribs, roasted prime rib of beef, macadamia nut-crusted halibut and more. Or, if your plans are to cook at home, order up a Filet Grill Kit, which includes four filet mignons, four Parmesan crusts, a bottle of Wildfire backyard marinade, red-skinned mashed potatoes, balsamic roasted vegetables, homemade cornbread and Key lime pie for $120. Cooking instructions are included. Labor Day hours are 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Glenview and Lincolnshire; 11:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Oak Brook; 11:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Schaumburg; and 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Chicago.