Restaurant Review: Plan Your Passover and Easter Holidays Now!
Welcome to April, everyone! Yes, it’s a few days early, but now is the optimal time to plan your family celebrations and most importantly, make your reservations!
Passover (Pesach) 2023 begins the evening of Wednesday, April 5 and runs through Thursday, April 13. Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday on April 2, ending on Easter Sunday, April 9. Their common denominator? Both are holidays ending in joy and celebration with those we love most.
Chicago’s restaurant community comes together during these festive days to prepare and plan great feasts with all the trimmings.
Passover Celebrations: To-go and/or dine-in
For example, at the West Side’s iconic Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen, 1141 S. Jefferson Street,ordersmust be in by April 1 or “if we sell out.“ No wonder!TheirPassover Dinner serves two, and includes your choice of roasted brisket or chicken, and includes matzo ball soup, kishke, matzo kugel, glazed carrots, and flourless chocolate cake. To reserve, click here.
At Lakeview’s The Bagel, 3107 N. Broadway, their dine-in Traditional Passover Dinner starts with a chopped egg/onion salad or chopped liver, their ‘Famous Recipe’ Gefilte fish with horseradish, golden chicken broth with matzoh ball, your choice of entrée, including oven-roasted brisket of beef au jus, roasted tender spring chicken, fresh broiled wild Lake Superior whitefish or sweet and sour meatballs in savory sauce, accompanied by carrot, sweet potato and prune tzimmes (a sweet stew), green beans and onions almondine, and oven-baked matzoh dressing. For more information, click here.
At the Gold Coast’s Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash, Passover 2023 has a French accent! Start with your choice of farm asparagus salad, tartare, or chicken liver mousse with arugula and apple salad, followed by a choice of glazed beef short ribs with ratatouille, or Faroe Island salmon with an English cucumber and quinoa Tabbouleh salad. End a with a perfect French-inspired cheesecake with poached strawberries, or bittersweet chocolate bars with orange Grand Marnier sauce. For reservations and information, click here.
Easter Celebrations: To-go and/or dine-in
A new entry for Dean’s Team Chicago in 2023 is Fulton Market’s Rose Mary, 932 W. Fulton Street, offering a four-course, dine-in Croatian Easter feast, including Burek, Nueske’s bacon, farm egg, and mozzarella, Benedict Pampanella, with pork belly, Calabrian chili, and hollandaise, Braised Lamb Hash, with ajvar, kajmak, and red onion. As a final touch, Palačinke (Croatian pancakes) are filled with apple, toffee, and vanilla gelato. For reservations, click here.
In Andersonville, Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar, 5553 N. Clark Street, describes itself as “a stylish destination for contemporary American fare with house cocktails & a curated wine list.” According to Timeout Chicago, their Easter Brunch options will include fried oysters, deviled eggs, Nutella croissants, lobster cake Benedict, brioche French toast, prosciutto and gruyere omelet, broccoli-cheddar quiche, and chocolate pot de crème. For reservations, click here.
For an entirely gluten-free menu, CheSa’s Bistro & Bar, 3235 W. Addison Street, in Avondale,offers a fusion of scratch-made Creole and contemporary American flavors. Their Easter specials, according to Choose Chicago, will include garlic lamb chops, lobster benedict, salmon croquettes, and more. Entertainment will be provided by a live DJ. Mmmm! For reservations, click here.
Here’s to Happy Holidays for all!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
