—In honor of Men's Health Awareness Month, Bassment ( Chicago speakeasy-style lounge ), 353 W. Hubbard St., will be donating a portion of proceeds to the Movember foundation from purchases of the brand's signature cocktail, The Bathtub ( $20 ). Now through the end of November, guests can enjoy the vodka-based craft cocktail served in a bathtub and garnished with rubber duckies ( complete with unique moustaches ), in spirit of Movember.
—Ocean Prime Chicago will celebrate the Lights Festival with a special Chefs tasting menu for $65 per person ( excluding tax and gratuity ) on Nov. 22-23. Menu items include teriyaki salmon, truffle mac and cheese, butter cake and more. For reservations, call 312-428-4344 or visit https://www.ocean-prime.com/reservations.
—To celebrate Black Wednesday, Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host its annual Whiskey & Wine Fest on Wed., Nov. 27, 8 p.m.-2 a.m.. A $35 ticket will include an unlimited sampling of 50+ whiskey and wine brands, small bites and appetizers, music by Nicholas Barron and an engraved tasting glass. Tastings will be available 8-10 p.m., and music will start at 9 p.m. Purchase tickets online in advance at thefrontierchicago.com/happenings.
—Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods, 1415 N. Wood St., will host a Family Feud game night on Black Wednesday, complete with rounds of head-to-head Family Feud for guests. Family Feud teams will consist of five players, and groups will face off against other teams guessing the most popular responses to survey questions throughout the night. There will also be Booze-o Buckets, Ina Mae's spin on Bozo Buckets, and a Connect Four tournament.
—River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle St., is serving a beef tomahawk steak during November. The beef tomahawk ( $105 ) is a 40-ounce ribeye, wet-aged and served with crispy shoestring fries. See RiverRoastChicago.com . Also, for Thanksgiving ( 11 a.m.-8 p.m. ), hand-carved roasts of turkey, ham, roast beef and salmon will be available in addition to traditional sides and desserts. Dinner is $60 per person, $18/each for kids 5-12 and complimentary for children under 5; visit RiverRoastChicago.com .
—For Thanksgiving, Grant Park Bistro, 800 S. Michigan Ave., will be offering a special three-course prix fixe menu for $45 per person ( 50-percent off for those younger than 12 ), excluding tax and gratuity. Items will include mushroom ravioli, roasted turkey, grilled salmon, turkey-and-brioche dressing, apple streusel pie and more. Reservations are recommended and can be made at Resy.com or GrantParkBistro.com .
—It will be "A Very Steakhouse Thanksgiving" at Steak 48, 615 N. Wabash Ave. Items will include Alaskan king crab, rock shrimp, mac 'n' cheese, au gratin potatoes, beignet trees and warm vanilla caramel cake, among many others. Seatings start at 1 p.m. and go through 9 p.m.; visit Steak48.com/steakhouses/chicago.
—Acadia, 1639 S. Wabash Ave., will have a full Thanksgiving menu based on a New England 1772 Thanksgiving. The five-course prix-fixe features takes on the holiday with soup, salad, fish course, turkey and dessert. Thanksgiving dinner is served Thursday, Nov. 28, 1-7 p.m. It's $95 for adults, with wine pairings for $55; there's a children's menu by pre-order for $35. Reservations can be made via OpenTable or by calling Acadia directly at 312-360-9500.
—For Thanksgiving, Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard St., has a large carryout menu with appetizers, sides, and pies to go. ( People are urged to order at least 48 hours in advance. ) Shaw's Crab House-Chicago will be open to dine in Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28.
—Aberdeen Tap, 440 N. Aberdeen St., is offering its seasonal, open-faced Thanksgiving burger now through Nov. 30. The "ThanksBurger" includes a Stuffing Waffle ( traditional stuffing pressed into a waffle iron ), cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, fried onions, turkey burger and a side of Fries for $14.
—The Goddess and Grocer has a Thanksgiving catering menu for those who want to opt out of cooking but still entertain guests. A portion of the Thanksgiving menu will be available in stores Nov. 18-Dec. 1. All catering orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 25, by 5 p.m. To place an order, call 773-292-7100 or email catering@goddessandgrocer.com . Thanksgiving Day deliveries will be available 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
—Margeaux Brasserie, 11 E. Walton St., will offer a traditional Thanksgiving menu, with a French twist. At 11 a.m.-9 p.m., the restaurant will offer a $75, three-course menu with four options per course. ( There will also be a kid's menu available for $19. ) Also, Executive Pastry Chef Ashley Torto will offer pies ( chocolate bourbon pecan with Valrhona dark chocolate, or pumpkin with leaf garnish ) for $35 each to pick up for people's own Thanksgiving dinners. They must be reserved by Nov. 25; call 312-646-1402 or email chicago.margeaux.managers@waldorfastoria.com .
—Truluck's ( in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood and in Rosemont ) invites guests to feast with a special, three-course menu inspired by indulgent, Southern-style cuisine on Thanksgiving. The menu, priced at $45 for adults and $19 for those 12 and younger, features lobster bisque, herb-roasted turkey breast, and classic pumpkin and Southern pecan pies ( the latter with eggnog whipped cream ), among other items. Hours are 12-9 p.m. at Truluck's Gold Coast, 41 E. Chestnut St., and 12-8 p.m. at Truluck's Rosemont, 9860 Berwyn Ave., Rosemont. Business casual attire is requested.
—Cira, 200 N. Green St., and Chef Chris Pandel will be offering a family-style feast for $75 per person on Thanksgiving Day. Just a few of the offering will include fennel, olive and citrus salad; pumpkin ravioli; whole roasted Heritage Green Circle chicken; braised red cabbage; and ice cream sundae.
—Drawing on its wartime beginnings during the 1940s, Lawry's The Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario St., fills its famous silver carts with roasted turkey breast and serves it tableside for a special Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings including mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, sourdough sage dressing, candied yams and cranberry orange relish. The roasted turkey breast meal is available for $46, while prime rib fans can also celebrate the holiday with the half prime rib & half turkey entree with all the classic Thanksgiving trimmings, also available for $46. Lawry's The Prime Rib is open 12-8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day; for reservations, visit LawrysOnline.com/lawrys-primerib/chicago.
—Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Dr., announced the return of its chef-made "Thanksgiving at Home" dinner, available for pickup on Thursday, Nov. 28. The meal for eight features an oven-roasted turkey with Michigan cider brine, a variety of delicious side dishes, dessert and more for $295. Guests may place Thanksgiving at Home dinner orders online through Friday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. Visit fairmontchicago.wufoo.com/forms/zdicgkd1jmvpj5/ .
—Baptiste & Bottle, 101 E. Erie St. ( at the Conrad Chicago Hotel ), is offering a Thanksgiving buffet 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with the last seating available at 2:30 p.m. A carving station will feature turkey breast, ham and grilled bison New York strip, while other options include a cold station with oysters, cheese and charcuterie, and shrimp and crab; various salads and soups; a hot station with eggs Benedict, salmon and pesto penne gratin; traditional sides; and desserts like apple pie. The costs are $79/pp for those over 12; $33/pp for children ages 4-12; and free for children under the age of 4. See BaptisteAndBottle.com .
—At 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., Executive Chef Luca Corazzina will offer a tradition four-course Thanksgiving menu with dishes like Italian-style roasted turkey with apple sage gravy, butternut squash stuffed homemade tortelloni and pumpkin cheesecake; price is $55/person and $25 children 12 and younger. Reservations are accepted by calling 312-696-2420 or visiting 312chicago.com .
—Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks, Chicago's home delivery service for the best of local Midwest farms, is working with Gunthrop & All Grass farms to bring local turkeys directly to people. Turkeys are either $4.99/lb. ( Gunthrop ) or $5.95/lb. ( All Grass ); and they're 14-20 pounds each. Also, there are two different sizes of the "Fixin's Box" available: one that feeds 4-6 ( $45 ) and one that feeds 10-12 ( $70 ). Orders for the Fresh Picks Fixin's Box and the turkeys must be placed by Monday, Nov. 25; for more, visit https://www.freshpicks.com/thanksgiving2019.
—Mercat a la Planxa, 638 S. Michigan Ave., will give guests the option between a traditional U.S. Thanksgiving or a Spanish-inspired one, with two prix fixe menus. The Thanksgiving menus are available 1-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28. Call 312-765-0524.
—Texas de Brazil domestic locations will open early at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 28, for Thanksgiving. All day, diners will enjoy the family-owned Brazilian steakhouse brand's traditional rodizio-style dinner menu plus standard Thanksgiving dishes including roasted turkey with gravy, cranberry relish and sweet potato casserole. An award-winning wine list, specialty cocktails and desserts are all available a la carte. Dinner pricing varies per location.
—theWit Hotel Executive Pastry Chef Toni Roberts has Thanksgiving desserts available for purchase at ABitOfTheWit.com, and ready for pickup at State and Lake Chicago Tavern, 201 N. State St. Among other things, the menu includes three favorites, including a traditional pumpkin pie ( $20 ); chocolate cream s'more pie ( $24 ); and a Golden Chocolate Peanut Butter Turkey ( $28 )—three pounds of dark Valrhona chocolate filled with a creamy peanut butter filling and dotted with chewy peanut butter Rice Krispie treats.
—To celebrate the day of feasting, Barton G. The Restaurant Chicago, 415 N. Dearborn St., is serving a three-course menu featuring upscale twists on Turkey Day favorites with its signature imaginative presentations for $75++/person. See BartonG.com/restaurants/chicago.
—This Thanksgiving, Dobra Bielinski, pastry chef/owner of Delightful Pastries, 5927 W. Lawrence Ave., recommends treating your guests to the Elvis Pie ( $22 )—which features an Oreo cookie crust filled with peanut butter cheesecake, chocolate custard, bananas and whipped cream. Other pie offerings include apple ( $20 ), pecan ( $25 ), pumpkin ( $16 ), bourbon chocolate pecan ( $25 ), cranberry fudge ( $20 ) or apple caramel ( $22 ). Call 773-545-7215 or visit DelightfulPastries.com by Nov. 23.
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., has drink specials before and after Thanksgiving. Drinksgiving on Black Wednesday, Nov. 27 will feature the 2018 Bourbon County Vanilla and the 2018 Bourbon County Proprietor's, while Black Friday, Nov. 29, will spotlight the newly released Goose Island Bourbon County Stout. See JakeMelnicks.com .
—Chicago's Moody Tongue Brewing Company has opened two spots—The Dining Room and The Bar at Moody Tongue—at the company's new brewery location in the South Loop. Recently outgrowing its original location in Pilsen, the 28,600-sq.-ft. space is at 2515 S. Wabash Ave. With two seatings each night, The Dining Room guests will experience a 12-course seasonal tasting menu from Chef Jared Wentworth as well as pastry courses by Pastry Chef Tucker Critchfield ( $155/person, including pairings. ) The Bar will feature elevated bar fare such as the Moody Burger. See MoodyTongue.com .
—There will be Breakfast with Santa at Hotel Zachary, 3630 N. Clark St., on Nov. 30-Dec. 22 ( Saturdays and Sundays only ). Admission is $60 each for those 13 and older, and $20 each for those 2-12. Reservations can be made at Resy.com . In addition, there's a Teddy Bear Tea Nov. 30-Dec. 29 ( Saturdays and Sundays only ), with seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; admission is $35-$55 each; visit http://bit.ly/327F6mF.
—Chef Ben Goodnick of Summer House Santa Monica, 1954 N. Halsted St., is hosting a four-course white truffle wine dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 7-9:30 p.m. Each of the savory courses will feature white truffles shaved tableside, and all of the dishes will be paired with both an Old and New World wines. The price of the dinner is $75/person, tax and gratuity not included; visit www.leye.com/event/old-vs-new-world-white-truffle-wine-dinner/ .
—At Brindille, 534 N. Clark St., Chef Carrie Nahabedian's holiday French afternoon tea will take place Dec. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21. This special service includes a selection of exotic teas, scones, crumpets and jam, pastries, finger sandwiches and more. Tea service is $65 per person ( tax and tip not included ) and seating begins at 1:45 p.m. For reservations, call 312-595-1616, email brindillechicago@gmail.com or book directly via OpenTable by selecting the proper date.
—Cafe Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan Ave., will be hosting its annual Feast of the Seven Fishes this holiday season, on Thursday, Dec. 19. Chef/Partner Tony Mantuano and Executive Chef Eric Lees will offer a seven-course menu of seafood that celebrates Italy's coastal bounty, and there will be seatings available at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Admission is $75/person; visit www.exploretock.com/cafespiaggia/ .
—The Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence—which recognize culinary originality and talent in the Chicago area—announced the nominees for its 2020 honors. The winners across 15 categories—including Chef of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Best New Restaurant and others—will be announced at the Jan. 19 Jean Banchet Awards, an event that benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Just a few of the nominees include Chefs Erick Williams ( Virtue Restaurant & Bar ), Leigh Omilinsky ( Bellemore, Cold Storage, Swift & Sons ) and Jess Galli ( Middle Brow Bungalow ) as well as spots such as Brindille, Oriole, Galit, Kumiko, Gibsons Italia and Machine: Engineered Dining & Drink.
—Sicilian-meets-South Loop concept Pacino's has now opened at Roosevelt Collection. Chef Michael Serratore's menu includes dishes such as the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina ( $17 ), with homemade gnocchi, marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, basil and garlic, and baked in a deep dish; Risotto Siciliana ( $19 ), with sausage, sweet peppers and a light tomato sauce; and Pollo Saltimbocca ( $18 ), with chicken, prosciutto di parma, white wine, sage and vegetables. Pacino's is currently offering dinner service starting at 4:30 p.m. daily and plans to eventually introduce lunch and weekend brunch services. See PacinosChicago.com .
—The pop-up space Frosty's Christmas Bar is opening at 809 W. Evergreen Ave. starting Nov. 22 and running through Jan. 5, 2020. It is four levels of holiday cheer, with singing Santa shows, non-stop holiday music, three bars and two dance floors. Tickets start at $15 each; visit WeLoveFrostys.com .
—Lincoln Park bistro Gemini, 2075 N. Lincoln Ave., is rolling out its annual 2019 ZooLights Menu Nov. 29 through the holiday season ( at 4:30-9 p.m. ) for the annual ZooLights festival at the Lincoln Park Zoo. The three-course menu is $38, and guests can choose from one starter, a main course and a hot beverage with Santa's cookies to go. See GeminiChicago.com .
—"Unwrapped: A Holiday Artist Showcase" welcomes the holidays Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Marisol, 200 E. Chicago Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. There will be an indoor marketplace, interactive activities, S'mores hot chocolate and food demos, live music and live entertainment. Admission is free, and the event is open to the public.
—Caffe Umbria's locations in Chicago, Portland and Seattle will host a fundraiser for Friends of the Children—a national nonprofit committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty. On National Espresso Day on Saturday, Nov. 23, for every customer who orders an espresso ( $2.75 to $3.25 ), espresso macchiato ( $3.25 to $3.75 ) or espresso con panna ( $3.50 to $4 ), Caffe Umbria will donate $1 to Friends of the Children.
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