An (Almost) Free Lunch At Terzo Piano?

By Roger Kamholz in Food on Jan 6, 2012 9:20PM

If your wallet is feeling a little light after the holidays, you can still treat yourself to fine art and a fine lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago for not much cash. To coincide with the Art Institute's Free Winter Weekdays—every weekday from January 2 to February 10, admission to the museum is free to Illinois residents—Terzo Piano restaurant is offering a specially priced two-course prix-fixe lunch. On weekdays through Feb. 10, diners at Terzo can enjoy an appetizer and entrée or an entrée and dessert for just $18.

The price is the same as the Art Institute's regular admission fee, so you could think of this as a free lunch, despite the famous saying that such a thing doesn't exist. We've raved about their food before, and the prix-fixe lunch menu includes tempting selections like steamed P.E.I. mussels with pancetta and pinot gris and hand-crafted spaghetti with ricotta cream and melted leeks. Start with a three bean salad with pomegranate and sheeps milk cheese. The available desserts include a coffee and chocolate semi-freddo with banana caramel and toasted oats, and daily ice cream or sorbet selections alongside vanilla streusel.

The spirit of giving must be still glowing strong at Terzo Piano, because the restaurant has also announced that special group discount coupons for parties of two or more diners are available for download and printing on the restaurant's website through March 31.