Restaurant Review – St. Patrick’s Day 2022

After two years away, Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Weekend celebrations are back in full swing! 

What better way to celebrate than with a full Irish breakfast, fish ‘n chips, or corned beef and cabbage at one of the many Irish restaurants around town? Already one of the largest celebrations in the world, St. Patrick’s Day 2022 festivities begin with dyeing the Chicago River at 9am, followed by the Parade at noon on Saturday, March 12, on Columbus Drive between Balbo and Monroe. 

Three blocks from the Chicago River, The Gage Restaurant, at 24 S. Michigan Avenue, offers a full scale Irish menu, complete with a Corned Beef Sandwich with Guinness-soaked swiss cheese, pickled cabbage slaw, and remoulade. House-Made Corned Beef is served with braised cabbage, new potato, and horseradish crème fraîche. Not Your Grandma’s Colcannon pairs Guinness-braised beef, truffled potato, and cabbage. They open at 9am. On Thursday, March 17, they open at 11am. For information and reservations, click here.

In River North, Fadó Irish Pub, 100 W. Grand Avenue, is preparing menu specialties for a 21+ crowd, such as their Irish Breakfast with two eggs, Irish sausages, rashers, black and white pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes, and sourdough toast On Friday, March 11, they’re offering a buy one, get one 1/2 Off Fish & Chips all day long. Other menu specialties include the Fadó Reuben with corned beef, coleslaw, Swiss, and Marie Rose sauce on marbled rye and Shepherd’s Pie, with ground beef and vegetables in a rich sauce topped with colcannon, served with side salad. Fadó’s doors will open at 8:30am, and with a full lineup of entertainment, there’s no cover charge until 1pm. For more information, click here.

Cited as one of the best Irish Pubs in the world, Avondale’s Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 N. Elston Avenue, plans a weekend-long festival of epic proportions. They’re serving up a feast of Corned Beef and Cabbage, Rueben Corned Beef Sandwiches, Shepherd’s Pie, Fish & Chips, Bangers and Mash, and so much more, served in an atmosphere that “transports you to Ireland,” according to WTTW’s ‘Check, Please!’ Stop in for some great music and a delicious award-winning pint of Guinness. Sunday, March 13 finds their unique Irish Brunch Buffet, complete with Irish Benedicts and Jameson-soaked bread pudding with caramel. Reservations are only being accepted for their second-floor Mrs. O’Neill’s dining room. For reservations and information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago