Restaurant Review: North Side Restaurant Week celebrates Chicago through March 8
Chicago’s North Side Restaurant Week highlights the diversity and deliciousness of Chicago’s vibrant restaurant scene with special menus and prices!
Through March 8, you and your family can explore a world of flavors across the North Side communities of Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Albany Park, Edgewater, Irving Park, Northcenter, North Park, and Rogers Park.
Take, for example, Albany Park’s Arzan Café, 4702 N. Kimball Avenue. They’re offering a three course, prix-fixe menu for just $25. The Halal restaurant is offering such Central Asian specialties as Cheburek, a fried turnover filled with your choice of spinach or meat, followed by your choice of entrees like Boso Lagman, which are stir-fried, hand-pulled noodles served with meat and vegetables, or Manty, Central Asian style dumplings stuffed with beef and onions. For dessert, indulge in your choice of a Honey Cake or a Napoleon filled with custard cream. Reservations are accepted, and can be made by clicking here.
In Edgewater, Beard & Belly Chicago, 6157 N. Broadway, is offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $30-45 per person. The gastropub is known for American comfort food, including house-made sausages, burgers, and a wide selection of craft beer, wine, and cocktails. Start with your choice of Deep-fried Pickles, which pairsbeer-battered pickle chips with a spicy remoulade. Or, their Chicago Bruschetta with five toast points, Giardiniera, fresh mozzarella, short rib ragu and motta, served with an jus. Follow that with entrees like The Belly’s Burger. A third-pound patty has Butterkäse (fancy cheese), roasted serrano, pickles, onion jam, and “awesome sauce!” Or, an Alabama Fried Chicken Sammitch, which is hand-battered fried chicken on buttered & toasted ciabatta with Alabama White BBQ sauce (mayo, vinegar, and spices), cheddar cheese, and thin-sliced house-made bread n’ butter pickles. Reservations are accepted for 6 or more people. For more information, click here.
InLincoln Square- Ravenswood, Picadilly Pub, 4749 N. Rockwell Street, isa fast-casual, UK-inspired pub known for its “chippy culture” with elevated fish and chips, Irish spice bags, and creative chip toppings, alongside local beers and frozen Irish coffee. For Chicago North Side Restaurant Week, they’re offering a three-course prix-fixe menu for $45. Choose from starters like Pretzel Rarebit, with za’atar salted nuggets, garlic herbed butter, pub cider rarebit cheese sauce, and English mustard, or Smoked Trout Dip, with Picadilly giardiniera and mild sauce on a toasted English muffin. Follow that with entrees like an Irish Spice Bag, with sauteed peppers and onions, pickled chilis, house 5-Spice blend, chopped breaded chicken and curry sauce. Fish n’ Chips are made with cider-battered pollock, zesty tartar sauce, malt vinegar aioli, and curry sauce. Finish with a hot or iced Irish Coffee or a house-made Chocolate Chip Cookie. No reservations accepted. For more information, click here.
In Northcenter, Pupuseria el Centroamericano, 4064 N. Lincoln Avenue, is offering a four-course prix-fixe menu for $22.50. The Salvadoran restaurant is known for its authentic Pupusas, which are thick, griddle-cooked corn tortillas stuffed with fillings like cheese, pork, or loroco. The four-course menu starts with a Maracuya or Horchata, followedby 2 Pasteles de Carne. Then, feast on Carne Guisada or Pollo Guisada (beef or chicken stew with vegetables). Finish off with Empanadas de Platano (Plantain custard). No reservations. For more information, click here.
In Rogers Park, at Badou Senegalese Cuisine, 1947 W. Howard Street, their menu is filled with traditional Senegalese dishes that will excite your appetite. Their $25 three-course prix-fixe menu starts with Chicken or Vegan Pastels, a crispy pastry filled with marinated chicken sauteed in tomato and onion sauce, followed by Jollof Jerk Chicken, which is grilled, spicy jerk chicken served with plantain, cabbage and carrots. Finish with a dessert of Fried Plantains. A veganmenu includes a Peanut Butter Stewserved with rice and sweet potatoes. For information and reservations, click here.
Many more restaurants are participating in North Side Restaurant Week. For a complete list, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
