Restaurant Preview: Chicago Restaurant Week Part 2

Today we continue our look at many of the amazing places to dine during Chicago Restaurant Week beginning March 19 and ending April 4. With the city loosening COVID-19 restrictions by allowing food establishments to remain open longer and increasing the indoor dining capacity to 50 percent or 50 people per room, it is a great time to check out new spots and old favorites after such a long break. So let’s look at some more places to get a memorable meal as we celebrate not only Chicago Restaurant Week but also a gradual return to normal.

Lakeview: Head over to Bites Asian Kitchen + Bar, located at 3313 North Clark Street, for their lunch or dinner options available during Chicago Restaurant Week. For $25, Bites offers a lunch menu serving up a three-course meal from 11 am to 3 pm. Choose from jumbo shrimp shumai, emerald gyoza, garlic edamame, or crab rangoon for your first course. Follow it up with a second course of either the bites burger, honey-bourbon sesame chicken sandwich, General Tso good chicken sandwich, shiitake shoyu ramen, or lava maki. Finish off this delicious afternoon meal with yuzu lemon mousse or mango-passion fruit cotton cheesecake.

Bites start you off with either roasted tomato egg drop soup, tofu satay, or garlic edamame for dinner. The second course consists of either tuna tostada, spicy crab rangoon, basil cream mussels, or coconut shrimp tempura (a personal fav). You can choose your main entree of either General Tso good chicken sandwich, 5-spice duck ramen, duck fat yakisoba, yuzu orange chicken, or the lava maki. Finish up with your choice of dessert, which is the same as the lunch option. This dinner will run you $39. Find more info here.

Wicker Park/Bucktown: If your taste buds are searching for an authentic slice of Italy, check out the delicious menu at Osteria Rusticana, located at 2114 West Division Street, for indoor, outdoor, or takeout dining during Chicago Restaurant Week. The $55 dinner option includes your choice of antipasti, including favorites like Zuppa di Fagioli e Langostino and Arancino al Nero. The main entree selections are lasagna al parmigiano, tortellini, bucantini di riccie granchio, risotto, capesanti con castagne, or brasato di manzo. End your feast on the sweet side with either the panna cotta al pistachio, bigne’ di banana e vaniglia, or cannolicchi. Find more info here.

Wrigleyville: BBQ is well represented during Chicago Restaurant Week with Smoke Daddy’s lunch menu offering. Located at 3636 North Clark Street, come enjoy the flavorful food at one of the north side’s favorite bbq spots. Smoke Daddy lets you choose from chicken-fried ribs, pimento cheese hush puppies, or a good ol’ cup of chili for starters. For your main course, choose from the smoked meat platter, including your choice of two types of meat and two sides, the Daddy-O consisting of sliced brisket, smoked provolone, and onion rings, or the Wrightwood salad with smoked chicken, tomato, craisin, avocado, goat cheese, and more. This lunch special is $25. Find more info here.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO