The Old Town restaurant scene is expected to be even busier than usual through Oct. 31 when Old Town Restaurant Week ( oldtownchicago.org/events/ ) takes place.
Windy City Times was part of a media preview that took place Oct. 22, as a half-dozen eateries presented various offerings:
Pomp & Circumstance ( 1400 N. Wells St.; PompChicago.com ) advertises itself as a place "where food is food and the drinks are stiff." Well, the food is definitely food ( with a crab arancini being presented ) but where the drinks are at least pleasant ( which a Pink Lady exemplified ).
Bistrot Margot ( 1437 N. Wells St.; BistrotMargot.com ) is an elegant bi-level restaurant that offered a Burgundy tasting and some sample fare ( pate, etc. ). During the week, it'll offer a tasting of the same wine on Oct. 28 at 6 p.m.
Kamehachi ( 1531 N. Wells St.; Kamehachi.com ), a Japanese restaurant founded in 1967, will offer amuse-bouche menu specials through Oct. 30. The media visit consisted of sake tastings as well as a tasty taco courtesy of Buzz Bait Taqueria.
Dinotto Pizza e Vino ( 1551 N. Wells St.; Dinotto.com ) is apparently extremely popular, as the all-ages crowd there proved. The restaurant's famed Neapolitan pizzas are cooked in a 900-degree wood-burning, volcanic-rock oven built especially for Dinotto. There will be a pizza-making class on Thursday, Oct. 29.
O'Brien's Restaurant ( 1528 N. Wells St.; OBriensRestaurant.com ) will offer, among other things, a $14 burger and New Belgium seasonal craft-beer special. The media visit involved a very educational session on what beers pair with burgers.
Lastly, Fudge Pot ( 1532 N. Wells St.; FudgePotChicago.net ) was the perfect way to conclude the evening, with offerings of chocolate and toffee. ( However, I had to make my own independent purchases as well. )
It should be noted that these are not the only restaurants participating during Old Town Restaurant Week ( and, in fact, Buzz Bait and Fudge Pot are not officially participating, although that shouldn't stop one from visiting these establishments, either ). Some of the other places that are taking part include The Fireplace Inn ( 1448 N. Wells St. ), which is offering 20 percent off the entire food and drink menus; Orso's Restaurant ( 1401 N. Wells St. ), which has a prix fixe menu for lunch ( $22 ) and dinner ( $33 ); and Delightful Pastries ( 1710 N. Wells St. ), which will offer a $15 lunch-with-dessert special.