Dining events: Side Lot Brewery adds food menu, outdoor lounge
Side Lot Snacks & Bites
Change can be good, as Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda has discovered throughout the pandemic. From adding Winter Domes to revamping The Backyard into an outdoor lounge with comfy couches and high-top tables, the brewery has gone through a transformation over the past year. And that has extended to its drinks menu, which now includes more than 20 handcrafted cocktails, and its new food menu.
"I'm a foodie at heart, so I knew that if we were going to make this effort, we had to go big and do something that is completely different for this area," Managing Partner Phil Castello said in a prepared statement.
Side Lot now offers a menu of Anytime Snacks (flatbreads, jumbo soft pretzel, churros, Italian olive bruschetta), Weekend Bites (chicken and waffles, lobster roll, grilled chicken banh mi, Kobe beef hot dog), Skewers, and a Sunday Brunch Menu (mimosa board, smashed pea toast, Bloody Mary board, brunch board (Belgian waffles, bacon, smoked salmon, fruit, lox and toast bites) available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. In the future, look for pairing dinners (the first one is set for July 3) and cocktail-making classes such as the Tequila Cocktail Class at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3. Learn how to make Sparkling Tequila Mojito, Corpse Reviver and Summer Sear for $25. Register at exploretock.com/.
Side Lot Brewery is at 110 Slocum Lake Road, Wauconda, (224) 747-2337, sidelotbrewing.com/.
Free queso for a year
Free? Well, almost. On The Border recently debuted its new Queso Club subscription that anyone can join for $1 and the purchase of a bowl of queso, which then gets diners one free queso a day with any order for a year. To sign up, create a Border Rewards account online at ontheborder.com/specials/queso-club/ and buy the $1 subscription. That's it.
On The Border is at 1512 S. Randall Road, Algonquin, (847) 960-3915; 1915 Glacier Park Ave., Naperville, (331) 472-8740; and 535 N. Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills, (224) 433-5450; ontheborder.com/.
Arty brew
Garage Band Brewing in Plainfield is releasing its first artist-inspired beer on Friday, May 28. First up is the brew Comeback Kid, which was inspired by Naperville singer-songwriter Grant Milliren's new single of the same name. Stay tuned for new brews throughout the year.
Garage Band Brewing is at 15025 S. Des Plaines St., Unit 1B, Plainfield, (815) 782-6367, garagebandbrewing.com/.
Spring into summer
With the warmer weather comes seasonal specials at Chandler's Chophouse in Schaumburg. Choose from entrees such as Korean barbecue filet mignon skewers ($11.99), beef tenderloin steak salad ($14.99), Florida grouper ($19.99), filet mignon sliders ($15.99), cheese tortellini ($16.99) and triple chocolate truffle cake ($6.99).
Chandler's Chophouse is at 401 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg, (847) 885-9009, chandlerschophouse.com/.
• Due to COVID-19 restrictions, events are subject to change. Send restaurant events, news and openings/closings to clinden@dailyherald.com.