Chicago Restaurant Week: Anthony’s Picks

By Anthony Todd in Food on Feb 20, 2009 4:45PM

For me, the benefit of Chicago Restaurant Week is the ability to try out new places without risking huge stacks of cash. As such, I tend not to visit the cheaper or simpler options participating - when the cost is fixed at $32, I’m saving more money on the deal when I visit the expensive option.

There is another factor: the restaurant’s special menu. It doesn’t do you any good to dine out at the fanciest restaurant in town if, for your $32, they’re going to give you three courses you could get at your corner diner. Be sure to check the menu before you go; I was going to recommend some venerable Chicago institution (like the Cape Cod Room) but their menus were all disappointing.

The Gage: We’ve already discussed our love ofThe Gage but our accolades focused on their great cocktail menu. You should still drink at the Gage during restaurant week - just keep mind that beverages aren’t included. They’re open for both Lunch and Dinner, and the menu is making us salivate as we look at it. For lunch, diners can choose from main course of “24 Hour Roasted Veal” with Rye onion rings or a Grilled Great Lakes Trout. They’re offering either a Mocha Pot au Crème or the intriguing sounding “Reconstructed Root Beer Float.” You’ll find us here for lunch for sure.

Crofton on Wells: Crofton on Wells is a wonderful restaurant week option. The restaurant is expensive enough that a fixed price meal is exciting and they have some very enticing vegetarian selections. Our recommendation would be the Amish Chicken with spicy herbs, Yukon gold potatoes and a molasses reduction - in our experience, Crofton on Wells knows how to handle chicken. Save room for dessert and the “Rocky Road” - a decadent concoction of devil’s food cake, chocolate mousse, bittersweet chocolate ice cream with marshmallow swirl and a chocolate almond cookie.

One SixtyBlue: We haven’t been back to One SixtyBlue in a couple of years, but their restaurant week menu may just drag us in for dinner. For a starter, the Chicken Chorizo Gumbo with molasses and smoked rock shrimp looks great and, if you’re still interested in chicken after your visit to Crofton on Wells, Their Amish “Chicken and Biscuits” is being served with a foie gras sauce. For dessert, try their daily sorbets - One SixtyBlue has great ice cream concoctions.