A Tax Day Smörgåsbord

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 14, 2009 7:00PM

The economy may still suck, but it's been a banner year for restaurants, bars and their PR firms. At least from a marketing perspective. They've been able to smoothly segue from offering "economic stimulus" packages to "tax day relief" specials. To be fair, some of the offers are pretty damn good. Following is a list of some of the better deals around tomorrow for you to dole out what cash you didn't send to the IRS.

• In a case of tax bracket wishful thinking, Chaise Lounge (1840 W. North Ave., 773-342-1840) will hold a tax relief dinner, where diners will get 39 percent off of their food bill that day (excluding liquor and gratuity).
• Prairie Grass Café (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-205-4433) mixologist Daniel Sviland created two cocktails: the "Tax Evasion" uses North Shore Distillery Gin #6, fresh-squeezed lime juice, soda and Angostura bitters., while. "The Write Off" is Woodford Reserve Bourbon, sweet vermouth and Door County Cherry juice. They're also raffling off a dinner for two. To qualify, just eat at Prairie Grass tomorrow.
• Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron, 312-664-2727) is rolling back the price of their mojitos to $6, which is what they cost when the place opened ten years ago.
• Brasserie JO (59 W. Hubbard, 312-595-0800) has $4.01 Hopla drafts and complimentary Tarte Flambees at the bar.
• Cityscape Bar at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza (350 W. Mart Center Dr., 15th Floor, 312-836-5000) offers complimentary appetizers from 5-7 p.m., an "In the Red" Bloody Mary, "In the Black" Russian, and Sam Adams (he was a brewer and a patriot) drafts for $4.15.
• The following restaurants are offering a $50 gift certtificate to Red Light with the purchase of an entree: Gioco (1312 S. Wabash, 312-939-3870), Marché (833 W. Randolph, 312-226-8399), Opera (1301 S. Wabash, 312-461-0101), Red Light (820 W. Randolph, 312-733-8880).
• La Madia (59 W. Grand, 312-329-0400) is offering a free pizza or salad to guests ordering 3 pizzas for carry-out or delivery.
• David Burke's Primehouse in the James Hotel (616 N. Rush St., 312-660-6000) is giving diners a 23 percent rebate off their total bill.
• Old Town Brasserie (1209 N. Wells, 312-943-3000) is giving customers a gift certificate for $10.40. The gift certificate must be redeemed by June 1 and can't be used on Mother's Day.
• They're partying like tax evaders at Moonshine (1824 W. Division, 773-862-8686). It's also their birthday, with $4 Jack Daniel's and Findlandia cocktails, $15 mojito pitchers and $3 Moonshine microbrews