—Leona's plans to close restaurants in Orland Park, Des Plaines and Calumet City, and is moving its Rogers Park outlet to 7545 N. Clark St., according to ChicagoBusiness.com . The Texas Corral Grill & Saloon steak chain has signed a lease for Leona's Oak Lawn space at 6616 W. 95th St., Mr. Toia said. Emerson's Ale House also is close to finalizing a lease for Leona's restaurant at 1504 Miner St., Des Plaines.
—On Valentine's Day, Eduardo's Enoteca, 1212 N. Dearborn St., will show the movie Casablanca while offering dinner (in addition to a bottle of Prosecco to go). The dinner and film is $55 per person (not including tax and gratuity) with three seatings at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Call 312-337-4490 or visit www.eduardosenoteca.com .
—Grass Fed, 1721 N. Damen Ave., is offering a prix fixe menu ($45 per person) for Valentine's Day. The romantic candlelight dinner will include (among other things) starters like salmon tartare; glazed carrot with cardamom soup; entrees such as grass-fed sirloin and skillet chicken; and desserts like butterscotch pudding. Call 773-342-6000 or visit www.grassfedbucktown.com .
—Quay Restaurant & Bar, 465 E. Illinois St., invites guests to celebrate Valentine's Day with a three-course menu courtesy of Executive Chef Dan Marquis. The prix fixe menu will feature house smoked salmon, butter poached lobster, braised veal cheeks, pan-seared diver scallops and more. The cost is $45 each; call 312-981-8400.
—The restaurant 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., is offering a special Valentine's Day menu with dishes such as squid-ink linguine with lobster, breaded pork chop, rosemary potatoes and arugula, and vanilla custard with strawberries. The cost is $50 per person ($75 with wine pairings), excluding tax and tip. Call 312-696-2420.
—Alpana Singh, proprietor/master sommelier of The Boarding House, 720 N. Wells St., will host a wine lovers' soiree, Thursday, Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m. A cash bar will follow the event. Space is limited. Tickets are $40 per person; visit www.TicketLeap.com .
—Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering a Valentine Celebration Dinner Feb. 14-17 for $69.95 per person. Among the items patrons can choose from are citrus-marinated salmon tartar and roasted lobster tail. Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com .
—Shaw's Crab House Chicago, 21 E. Hubbard St., will mark Mardi Gras Feb. 7-12. Specials will feature specially-ordered-from-New Orleans crawfish as well as Cajun and Creole dishes such as the crawfish po'boy ($16.99); blackened or sauteed redfish with crawfish sauce ($23.99); and crawfish pot pie ($18.99). Call 312-527-2722 or visit www.shawscrabhouse.com .
—WAVE at the W Chicago, 644 N. Lake Shore Dr., and Executive Chef Gregory Elliott have announced the launch of a new gluten-free menu featuring breakfast, lunch and dinner selections. Items include organic Shetland salmon, gluten-free cereal and even a gluten-free pasta of the day.
—Riva Crab House, 700 E. Grand Ave. (at Navy Pier), invites guests to enjoy a three-course menu with wine pairings created by Chef Luigi Garcia available every Friday in February. The prix fixe menu ($55, plus tax and tip) will feature jumbo lump crab cocktail, blue crab gumbo, prime sirloin, Atlantic swordfish and more. See www.rivanavypier.com .
—LUXBAR, 18 E. Bellevue Pl., announced that Michael McDonald is its new executive chef. McDonald practiced the art of fine French cuisine under Chef Jean Joho at Everest as chef de cuisine; most recently, he was executive chef at one sixtyblue in Chicago. Menu items now include seared duck breast, P.E.I. mussels and apple-barbecue fried chicken. See www.luxbar.com .
—Municipal Bar + Dining Company, 216 W. Ohio St., is now open for lunch starting at 11 a.m. on weekdays. Lunch appetizers include steak tartar ($12) and lobster avocado salad ($15), while lobster roll ($15) and chorizo gourmet burger ($14) are among the sandwiches offered. Call 312-951-2125 or visit www.municipalbar.com .
—The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr., explores the role food plays in our lives with the premiere of its newest self-developed exhibit, "Food: The Nature of Eating." The exhibit runs March 23-Sept. 8. See www.naturemuseum.org .
—Cru Kitchen & Bar, 25 E. Delaware Pl., is celebrating Fat Tuesday (Feb. 12) by offering a slice of Cru King Cake ($8) and "The Big Easy" Hurricane ($13). For more info, visit www.crukitchen.com .
—Evanston restaurant Koi, 624 Davis St., will mark the Chinese New Year beginning Friday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. Koi will host a traditional a traditional Chinese lion dancer and will serve a special menu of symbolic dishes. In addition, diners can enjoy a special Chinese New Year good luck menu through Sunday, Feb. 10.
—Shaw's sushi chef—Naoki Nakashima, an authority on Japanese cuisine and etiquette—will lead an interactive Japanese sushi demonstration at Shaw's Chicago, 21 E. Hubbard St., on the last Saturday of each month: Feb. 23, March 23 and April 27. All of the classes begin at 12 p.m. The price is $45 per person or $120 for all three classes and includes lunch, libations and a take-away gift. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Shaw's Chicago at 312-527-2722.
—Acknowledging that February is Heart Disease Awareness Month, ZED451, 739 N. Clark St., is partnering with GO RED for Women. Proceeds from the sales of the dark chocolate truffle duo ($4) and the red wine/chocolate pairing ($12) will benefit the organization.
—Rose's Bakery and Café, which was in Evanston before closing last Christmas Eve, will reopen in Highland Park in February. Rose's Bakery and Café is the only 100-percent gluten-free bakery and restaurant in the greater Chicagoland area.
—Bottleneck Management (which is behind Old Town Pour House, South Branch and Sweetwater) has tapped chef Scott Walton (Markethouse) to serve as executive chef at its forthcoming restaurant, Howells & Hood, set to open in March in the base of the Tribune Tower, according to ChicagoBusiness.com . Entree prices will range from $12 to $25 at lunch and $15 to $40 at dinner.
— Gino's East, which is leaving its longtime River North home, is moving a couple of blocks away. According to ChicagoBusiness.com, it will move to the building that once housed Michael Jordan's Restaurant and, most recently, LaSalle Power Co.
—Slurping Turtle, 116 W. Hubbard St., is offering special meals Feb. 14-17. Valentine's Day menus (also being offered Feb. 15-16) inclue the "I Kind of Like You" 5-Course Dinner ($50/person) and the "I Think I Love You" 8-Course Dinner ($85/person). There will also be a special brunch menu Feb. 17. See www.facebook.com/SlurpingTurtle.
—Osteria Via Stato, 620 N. State St., is returning "20 for $20"—its wine event where it offers 20 wines in a tasting format for only $20 per person. The next event will take place Monday, Feb. 18, 6-7:30 p.m., with Chef David DiGregorio's appetizers. Call Katie Singer at 312-642-8450.
—Schaumburg's Rosebud Old World Italian, 1370 Bank Dr., now offers brunch. Offerings include French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and smoked salmon crostini; toppings include goat cheese, baby corn, spinach and many others. Brunch is $22.95 per person, $12.95 for children 6-12 and free for children under 6; see www.facebook.com/RosebudOldWorldItalian.
—Weather Mark Tavern, 1503 S. Michigan Ave., has an updated and expanded rum list. Among the pairings offered as Cruzan Black Strap rum with "Anchors Away" fish and chips as well as Don Q Gran Anejo with a warm skillet cookie. See www.WeatherMarkTavern.com .
—ZED451, 739 N. Clark St., will host "Confections with Kate" Saturday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. Executive Pastry Chef Kate Milashus will discuss/demonstrate tips involving chocolate; guests will also learn how to make a ZED451 signaure cocktail—the balsamic strawberry martini. Tickets are $20; call 312-266-6691.
—Fish Bar Chicago, 2956 N. Sheffield Ave., has announced the launch of its 2013 charitable program "Friends of Fish." Each quarter, the seafood spot teams with a non-profit organization whose efforts focus on sustainable fishing, farming and the aquatic environment. Twenty percent of sales from a different section of the menu will be donated to that quarter's charity, beginning with sales from the soup section being donated to Shedd Aquarium for the month of January, when guests mention "Shedd."
—Bridge Bar, 315 N. LaSalle St., currently has the Slippery Slope cocktail available. The concoction contains hot apple cider and W.L. Weller bourbon. The cocktail is available throughout the month of February at $11, and is half-priced on Tuesdays.
—The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group owners Greg Mohr and Scott Weiner have hired former Sixteen veteran Chris Teixeria as the new executive pastry chef at West Town Bakery & Diner, 1916 W. Chicago Ave. Other recent additions to the West Town Bakery & Diner team include manager Eddie Mahoney.
—The Goddess and Grocer is opening a fourth location in early February—this time at 901 N. Larrabee St. in the River North area. The 1,600-square-foot space will be able to seat 36, and will feature made-to-order and ready-to-eat items such as sandwiches, salads, soups and entrees. The Goddess and Grocer on Larrabee will be open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. daily; the phone number is 312-988-9870.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com; also, I'm on Twitter at Azygous60610.
