Restaurant Review: Hurry! Chicago Restaurant Week celebration ends Sunday
After 17 fun-filled, adventurous days, another successful Chicago Restaurant Week will be the books. However, through Sunday, February 8, you can still take advantage of special prices at Chicago’s best and most prestigious restaurants!
With warmer temperatures predicted for later this week, traveling through the city is possible to explore Chicago ‘s diverse communities.
Take, for example, Hyde Park’s Mahari, 1504 E. 55th Street, the Afro-Fusion restaurant offers a $30 lunch, and $45 and $60 dinners including Suya Mushroom Flatbread with Creole sauce and whipped feta, Pineapple-Brined Wings, a Caribbean-inspired Lamb Burger, and and so much more! For reservations, click here.
Below an urban farmin the West Loop, Maxwells Trading, 1516 W. Carroll Avenue, in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, takes root in Chef Partner Erling Wu-Bower and Executive Chef Chris Jungs cross-cultural identities while taking advantage of the rooftops bounty to create a menu with Asian influence. They’re offering a $60 dinner that includes Whipped Ricotta with local honey and griddle bread and the vibrant Japanese Sweet Potato with red curry. Entrees include a Half Chicken a la Brasa with split pea, apple, escarole, and ginger-scallion salsa verde. For reservations, click here.
In Lincoln Park, Ox Bar & Hearth, 1578 N. Clybourn Avenue, focuses on seasonal Midwestern food using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and featuring a cozy, wood-burning hearth in the midst of its restaurant. As Choose Chicago notes, for its first Chicago Restaurant Week, Chef John Asbaty and restaurateur Alain Uy are serving a $60 dinner that includes such offerings as Lamb Meatballs, Crispy Smoked Pork Belly, Potato Pierogi, and for dessert, Brown Butter Cake. For reservations, click here.
Where else but Greektown could you find Ithaki Estiatorio, 314 S. Halsted Street? As they say, in welcoming guests, they’re honoring the ancient tradition of Xenia, the sacred Greek custom of hospitality, which dictates that you must treat your guests as if they were gods themselves. In the spirit of Xenia, they’re offering a $60 three-course dinner, cooked on their wood-burning grill in the open kitchen, which turns out classic dishes like Souvlaki, Roast Chicken, and Sea Bass. For reservations, click here.
At Lincoln Park’s Nadu, 2518 N. Lincoln Avenue, from Chef Sujan Sarkar (the chef behind Michelin-starred Indienne, this new restaurant focuses on contemporary, regional Indian cuisine. ‘NADU,’ meaning ‘homeland’ reflects their commitment to showcasing the rich cultural and gastronomic landscapes of India. They’ve already caught Michelin’s attention, earning a Bib Gourmand designation. Their $45 dinner menu includes such choices as Jackfruit Shami Kabob (Lucknow) with lentils and mint- cilantro chutney, Padpad, (lentil and rice crisps) and Rasam, a tangy tamarind soup. For reservations, click here.
Konbini & Kanpai Wrigleyville, 3443 N. Sheffield Avenue, was Inspired by Japanese convenience store culture. For $30 at lunch and $45 at dinner, Konbini & Kanpai offers an array of sakes and packaged good alongside a menu of Japanese cuisine. Try Kimchi Pancakes, Japanese Fried Chicken, Katsu Curry, Tofu Bibimbap, and Miso Cucumber Cold Noodles. For reservations, click here.
Happy eating, all!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
