Tag Archives: River Roast

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3 Chicago restaurants – National Wine Day, National Burger Day 2020

May 25, 2020 Barbara Payne, Editor

To all the brave folks still out there working to keep us fed and safe at home, thank you. Your courage to continue serving in the face of this challenge is greatly appreciated and even life-saving for many. For those of us who really enjoy cooking, River Roast in River North and Carnivale in West Loop are offering home “grill-at-home” kits so you and your family can have some seriously good meat to crisp up. Spiaggia has put together curated groups of wines you can pick up on their own or get ’em along with some of the restaurant’s high-end Italian food specials.

Thanks, Rachael, for highlighting Italian Wines on National Wine Day 2020

Celebrate National Wine Day on Monday, May 25th with Spiaggia‘s sommelier Rachael Lowe, nominated for the 2020 James Beard Awards for “Outstanding Wine Program.” With summer on the horizon, Rachael can discuss her top wine picks for the season and tips to pairing wines with lighter, seasonal dishes. Spiaggia is also now offering Wine Selections on their pick-up menu on Tock. Rachael has curated a list of wines highlighting various Italian wine regions as well as New World favorites. Each selection comes with three bottles and is delightful paired along with your favorite Spiaggia meal or on their own.

Celebrate National Burger Day on Thursday, May 28th with a burger kit from River Roast. River Roast is offering a virtual “Grill At Home Shop” featuring a variety of meats, including burgers, ribs, steak and chicken and pork chops.Prices vary and all items can be purchased on Tock.

Until we can come in again, think Carnivale for wine and cocktails

Carnivale , 702 W. Fulton Market St., will offer meals, cocktail kits and complimentary Carnivale cotton candy with purchase for curbside pickup beginning Thursday, June 11 (changed from 6/4 due to temporary travel restrictions in downtown Chicago). Featuring several creative Latin inspired meals, Carnivale’s takeout menu includes options like Sabor y Carne, Carnivale en Fuego, which also comes as a DIY grill kit, and Paella de Carnivale. Guests may add a side of Guacamole or Ropa Vieja to any order for $12. Carnivale’s iconic craft libations are available with kits for the restaurant’s signature Margarita, Mojito and Cotton Candy Martini, which each come with an extra treat, for $45 plus tax. Orders must be called in (312) 850-5005, and will be available for pickup outside of Carnivale’s main entrance.

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Chicago restaurants pickup/delivery during Coronoavirus shutdown

March 18, 2020 Barbara Payne, Editor

God bless the folks who are keeping our restaurants open for pickups and deliveries. Here are a few for your consideration – even one for you western ‘burbanites. Don’t forget to tip the staff and/or delivery person generously for staying on the job for us. Same for Instacart, UPS and FedEx. Thanks, people.

And by the way, as you may already have noticed, things are changing rapidly in this regard, so be sure to check with your chosen restaurant or delivery service to make sure they’re still doing it when you’re ready to place an order. If you want to see more, check the feeds at Twitter and Instagram.

Maggiano’s, 516 N. Clark. Family meals for pickup, delivery or via DoorDash. Choose from a variety of Maggiano’s classics, portioned for two people. Choose a salad, a pasta, and an entrée. Freshly baked ciabatta rolls and six Vera’s Lemon Cookies will accompany the meal. Please note Family Meal entrées do not include a side dish. Family Meal for Four, $60.00 – double the portions at only 50% more.

Cafe Spiaggia, Northwest Corner of Oak & Michigan. Offering curbside pickup available daily from 11a-8p. To pick up: Pull your vehicle to the Northwest Corner of Oak & Michigan under the 1000 Lake Shore Plaza Awning. Please call the restaurant at 312.280.2750 and let them know you have arrived. A team member will meet you at your car with your order.

Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior. Offering curbside pickup available daily from 12 – 9p. For Pickup: Pull Your Vehicle in Front of Jake Melnick’s Located at 41 E. Superior St, with call the Restaurant at 312.266.0400 and let them know you have arrived. a team member will meet you at your car with your order. Delivery available via DoorDash and ChowNow.

River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle St. Offering Family Meals to serve 3-4 via delivery and curbside pickup daily 11a – 8p. To place your order, use DoorDash or call us directly at (312) 822-0100. Delivery is also available via DoorDash and Grubhub. To pick up: Pull your vehicle in front of River Roast (315 N. LaSalle St.) and put your hazard lights on. Call the restaurant at (312) 822-0100 to notify us of your arrival. A team member will meet you at your vehicle with your order.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, 431 N. Dearborn St. When you order directly through the restaurant, they’ll take 25% off your total.*(not valid with delivery services). Here’s their special takeout menu. Upon arrival, remain in your vehicle or wait outside the restaurant; just let us know where you’ll be when placing your order. We will gladly greet you outside.

Weather Mark Tavern, 1503 S. Michigan Ave. Offering pickup and delivery through DoorDash, GrubHub and Seamless. Call 312.588.0230 for takeout. Call for details on menus available.

And in case you live in the Oak Brook area…

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, 5 Oakbrook Court, Oak Brook. Offering to-go meals with curbside pickup. 630-571-1808. Two-course lunch menu $29, available Monday-Saturday, 11a to 4p; Sunday, 11a to 9p. Three-course dinner menu $45, available Monday-Saturday, 11 to 10;.Sunday, 11 to 9. First course includes choice of Wedge Salad, Caesar Salad or Kale Salad. The second course includes choice of 8 oz. Bacon-Wrapped Filet (6 oz at lunch), Perry’s Famous Pork Chop, Grilled Salmon with Lemon Dill Butter, Ultimate Chicken Parmesan, or Fried Shrimp. For an additional $5, Crispy Skin Wild Red Snapper; an additional $6, 14 oz Prime Ribeye (10 oz at lunch); or an additional $7, 14 oz Prime New York Strip (10 oz at lunch), are options.

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Chicago it’s summer! (almost) – 5 new ways to enjoy

June 7, 2019 Barbara Payne, Editor

Every nice day in summer is another great excuse to indulge yourself – after you work, do your chores and exercise of course, right? And Chicago is a place ideally suited to such indulgences. Everywhere you turn, another opportunity presents itself to help you get creative with your enjoyment. Here are just a few restaurant ideas and home cooking/drinking products to get you rolling:

1. River Roast is getting ready to celebrate summer with their weekday happy hour Oysters & Rosé special. Every weekday from 3 to 5 pm enjoy a dozen oysters and bottle of Rose wine for $35. Sit at the bar or along the river soaking in the sun all while enjoying a refreshing summer combo that’s irresistible. AND on National Donut Day, Friday, June 7th, get a complimentary skewer of three donut holes with the purchase of coffee from Reid Bar. What’s a better way to kick off the morning than with free donuts??

Round Barn sangria makes a great aperitif – or even dessert!

2. Round Barn Winery, located in the hills of Southwestern Michigan, complete with tasting room, is making canned wine products – like their most popular one, Sangria. A fizzy, lightly sweet version of the drink beloved by so many in Spain, this Sangria is a nice combination of fruit, dry wine and sweetness. Be aware of the calories, though. A single 12-ounce can packs a whopping 290 calories, so feel free to consider this dessert, even though it doesn’t taste overly sweet at all. A no-fuss way to chill your cocktail (or dessert) and bring it to the picnic or other outdoor celebration.

3. Pereg Natural Foods makes classic spice blends that are perfect to rub on your meat, poultry and even vegetables. They’re made from fresh, natural, 100% pure spices, and bring quality to your table that’s backed by more than 100 years of experience. Herewith a few examples:

Pereg’s Koobah starts with baharat, a ubiquitous Israeli and Mediterranean staple, and then adds warm layers of cinnamon, allspice, rose, nutmeg, and cardamom for a complex finish.
It wouldn’t be shish kabab without Kabab seasoning. Douse cubes of chicken, beef, or lamb liberally with Pereg’s hearty mash-up (paprika, black pepper, coriander, garlic, and cumin) and thread on skewers with vegetables of your choice.
Another food truck favorite, Shawarma is easy to make with Pereg’s perfect mixture of cumin, coriander, allspice, garlic, paprika, turmeric, and salt rubbed onto thin slices of chicken, beef, lamb, or turkey. Marinate a zipper top bag with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and red onion, and grill.
Traditional recipes for Moroccan Ras el Hanout seasoning call for up to 100 ingredients! You could make your own, but why not try Pereg’s intriguing blend of cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, allspice, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, to enhance anything from burgers to brisket. A key component of soups, stews, and tagines, it can also be used a table-top condiment. Sprinkle it on vegetable dishes or even over popcorn for a punch of flavor.

4. Carnivale Restaurant, 702 W. Fulton St. Things are heating up outside AND inside at Carnivale, where talented chefs and mixologists have created a new Lounge menu that features a Charcuterie Tabla, Sliders, Carnivale Mai-Tai, Jackie’s Daiquiri, and much more! Lounge open: Monday – Thursday from 4-10, Friday 4-11, Saturday 5-11, Sunday 5-9. *Every Weekday, enjoy Happy Hour from 4-6:30pm.

5. Cindy’s Rooftop, 12 S. Michigan Ave. Pride in Our Industry: An Afternoon of Drink & Discussion, on Sunday, June 23, from 11:30am to 1pm at The Tank on the building’s first floor. Chicago’s community of strong LGBTQ+ voices helps mold the city’s bar, restaurant, and events scene in innovative and progressive ways. Join us to hear from leading individuals in hospitality on how to create greater representation, produce intentionally progressive menus, and offer safe spaces for all guests to feel welcome. Try one of June’s featured cocktails: Fire Island Sunset – $16, made with Plantation 3-Star rum, Aperol, Manzanila sherry, lemon and love, and garnished with a rainbow umbrella. Best paired with the summer sunset over the terrace view. Queen of Hearts – $16, made with Plantation Xaymaca rum, Rhine Hall oak-aged plum brandy, Campari, and Cocchi di Torino. Perfect to celebrate Negroni Week (Monday 6/24 – Sunday 6/30), when a portion of proceeds is donated directly to the Greater Chicago Food Depository,

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5 Chicago restaurants’ late-summer news

August 13, 2018 Barbara Payne, Editor

Don’t be sad. There’s still time to steep yourself in the Chicago restaurant scene with summer specials that’ll make you feel glad to be alive and living in this great food city of ours. Call a friend and get out there to partake of the joys of the end-of-summer countdown.

Bohemian House, 11 W. Illinois. Executive chef Roman Hadrbolec is reinventing the Bohemian dining experience with a fresh new take on Old European cuisine that appeals to both foodies and health-conscious diners. A local Czech TV personality, famed chef and cookbook author, Hadrbolec’s new menus remain true to the beloved European cuisine we know while also embracing the lighter side that vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners prefer. Now you can shop, too, from shelves of house-made pickles, pickled sweet peppers, a host of jams, and Hadrbolec’s flavorful spice blends.

Ella Elli, 1349 W. Cornelia Ave, , 4 Star Restaurant Group’s posh Lakeview concept, has launched a new happy hour menu, available every Monday to Thursday, 4:30 – 6pm. The menu will change each week and include a specialty cocktail such as the Blood Orange Paloma (Piedra Azul Tequila, lime juice, grapefruit cordial and blood orange juice, $6) plus select wines for $7. Enjoy new snacks like Polenta Fries with truffle aioli ($6) or Shrimp with n’duja (uh, had to look that one up: spicy, spreadable pork salumi from Italy), fingerling potatoes and salsa verde ($8).

Osteria via Stato, 620 N. State St., an LEYE restaurant, is putting on its annual to-die-for heirloom tomato dinner this Thursday, August 16, 6:30 to 8:30pm. Chef David DiGregorio welcomes Green Acres Farm to Osteria Via Stato on Thursday, August 16 at 6:30PM., for the annual dinner highlighting Chef David’s favorite summer ingredient—the seasonal heirloom tomato! Meet the farmer while enjoying a selection of passed appetizers before sitting down to a mouthwatering multi-course dinner with wine pairings. The cost is $68++ per person. Reservations here.

Smoke Daddy, 1804 W. Division, the fun BBQ spot in Wicker Park invites you to bring your four-legged friend on National Dog Day, Sunday August 26, 12-6pm! The BBQ joint will be hosting its first annual “Beers, Ears & Cheers” event in support of PAWS Chicago. $1 from each Pig Ear doggie treat and Lagunitas beer purchase will go directly to PAWS for the senior dog adoption program. For more information, visit Facebook.

River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle, is finishing out summer with Crispy Black Bass with Mojo de Ajo ($48). Toast National Rum Day Thursday August 16 with one of these after-dinner drinks: Alexander, The Greatest ($15): bonded brandy, rum, nocino, demerara, and cream or Flipping Out ($15): amaro averna, rum, allspice dram, benedictine, and a whole egg. Come in for the Blues & Brunch Saturdays & Sundays in August, Noon-3pm. 8/18: Harris Herrero, 8/19: Friends, 8/25: Joseph Morganfield, 8/26: Michael Charles. And/or celebrate National Chicken Month coming up in September with Golden Gobbets ($10 seasoned fried chicken with honey), Whole Roast chicken ($39 Crystal Farms, apple wood smoked with RR potatoes) or Fried Chicken Sandwich ($14 with sriracha pickle, spicy remoulade, butter lettuce on a brioche bun).

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Exciting summer news from 9 Chicago restaurants

June 12, 2018 Barbara Payne, Editor

Chicago restaurants are full of ideas for making summer-in-the-city the most fun you can have with your clothes on. From huge deals – like Hard Rock’s 71-cent burger to picnics on the go to deals on magic, pasta meals, beer and wine – Chicago is one of the best summer cities in the world. Check a few of these out:

One hour only! Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario St., celebrates its 47th birthday on Wednesday, June 14, by serving an Original 1971 Legendary® Burger offer for just 71 cents. First-come, first-serve from 11am to noon. Beef patty with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, a golden fried onion ring, crisp lettuce and vine ripened tomato, served on a toasted brioche bun with Hard Rock’s seasoned fries.

Magic Night at Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton, June 14, 7-9:30pm. An unforgettable evening of mystery and laughter featuring the comedy and magic of Ken Mate. Ken performed on the NBC Special “The Worlds Greatest Magic.” He combines slick sleight of hand with the timing of a nightclub comic. $75 tickets include passed appetizers, tapas bar and magic. Carnivale is listed by Open Table as one of the top 100 nightspots in 2017.

Picnic on-the-go. Columbus Tap, the inhouse restaurant of the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 North Columbus Dr., is now offering a special Picnic-in-the-Park menu. Selections range from wine and cheese, a full dinner of charcuterie, chicken salad, wine and dessert, to an elegant champagne and chocolate dessert picnic. Blankets and folding chairs can also be rented for $10 each and orders can be placed online. And now Fairmont Chicago offers complimentary rickshaw tours for hotel guests through Millennium Park from June 1 – August 31.

And speaking of picnics to go, Remington’s (20 N. Michigan Avenue), has launched its summertime curated Picnic-Baskets-To-Go, available for pick-up only at Remington’s, located directly across from The Bean. Attendees of the Grant Park Music Festival or Millennium Park Summer Film Series are encouraged to place orders 24 hours in advance. Customize your basket with artisanal meats and cheeses, hot and cold sandwiches and salads like the Italian Sub, Shaved Prime Rib, Wrightwood Salad, and Crab Louis, and snacks like Trout Dip, Guacamole and Chips, Hummus and Pita, Grilled Artichokes, Housemade Coleslaw and Housemade Chips. Starting at $43 (repacks for only $28), picnic menu package orders come packed with everything you need, down to the wet naps. To view the full picnic menu, click here.

Ravioli&Co, the new quick-service pasta and wine bar located on the first floor of Eataly, features three seasonal dishes and rotating daily specials priced under $15. Using pasta made fresh every morning by experts, dishes are prepared in real time while you watch at the Ravioli counter. Perfect for your work day lunch or quick healthy dinner fix during the week; available to dine-in and to-go. Optional Italian wine pairings available.

AIRE, 100 W. Monroe, the hot rooftop bar on the 24th floor of Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago, is now featuring a pop-up grill from Kuma’s Corner to offer guests a new food experience this summer. Now open for the 2018 season, come for the hand-crafted cocktails, seasonal, shareable plates, and local craft beers. Perfect for happy hour meals and group get-togethers. Kuma’s Corner will offer its Led Zepplin, Darkthrone, WASP, and Pig Destroyer burgers for $10 at AIRE on Saturdays from 4–9pm.

Ballast Point Tasting Room & Kitchen open now at 212 N. Green St. in the West Loop. Hours: 11– 11pm (kitchen 11–10:30pm). The new brewpub comes to Chicago by way of Ballast Point Brewing Company®, a pioneer in the craft beer movement in San Diego with a 20-plus-year history of supporting the art of home brewing and developing high-quality, innovative, award-winning beer.

DMK Restaurants’ newest venture, Fort Willow, 1721 N. Elston, is set in a reimagined childhood tree fort, drawing inspiration for chef-driven cocktails and rotating food specials from around the world. Right now they’ve launched a new series of “Big Bites,” special sandwich combinations with global roots, each version available for two weeks only. Hurry in now to try the “Classic” Big Bite, available until June 21. It combines gooey cheddar cheese, buttery Havarti and ramp pesto and is paired with a baked goat cheese and tomato “soup” – but let’s be honest, that soup is for dipping!

River Roast, 315 N. LaSalle Street, in the heart of River North, announces its new, cool Reid Bar. The place by day specializes in coffee, cold press, tea and made-fresh-daily layered donuts. Then, in the evenings, Reid Bar transforms itself into a showcase for curated craft cocktail items that feature extraordinary spirits along with delectable bites. You’ll love the atmosphere.

Chicago Restaurant Examiner