The Big Deals 01.27.12

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The "Southern Cross' cocktail (D'Artisti rum, lime juice, brandy, curacao) at Big Jones.

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Updated: January 25, 2012 5:14PM

From upscale to low-cal, the Sun-Times’ “Big Deals” column brings readers the dish on food and drink specials that will not break the bank.

Prime time

David Burke’s Primehouse, 616 N. Rush. Chocolate Cake Day is Jan. 27 and DB’s serves up two limited-edition desserts for the occasion: the Slice O’Prime cake (devil’s food cake with chocolate mousse and toasted marshmallow served with S’mores ice cream, $9) and Tanzanie pecan brownie (pecan brownie with Kahlua ice cream, banana mousse and Ceylon cinnamon caramel, $10). Call (312) 660-6000; davidburkesprimehouse.com .

Cause for applause

Waterleaf Restaurant at DuPage College, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn. Mango-ginger curry soup and grilled filet mignon with sweet slaw, jasmine rice and barbecue sauce appear on the “Madama Butterfly” prix fixe menu (in conjunction with the performance at the school’s McAninch Arts Center) available 5-8:30 p.m. Jan. 27-28, $50. Wine pairings are available for an additional $15. Call (630) 942-6881; waterleafrestaurant.com .

Repeal deal

Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 415 N. Dearborn. Themed cocktails are $6 during the Prohibiton party beginning at 5 p.m. Jan. 27. Call (312) 527-3510; sullivansteakhouse.com .

Mad Mondays

Mad River Bar & Grille, 2909 N. Sheffield. Guests receive half-off any item from the bar’s revamped market-fresh ingredient dishes on Mondays including mac n’ cheese with pancetta and broccoli rabe. Call (773) 935-7500; madriverchicago.com .

Signature dishes

Vivo Restaurant, 838 W. Randolph. The restaurant’s winter three-course menu, benefitting Children’s Memorial Hospital, includes a choice of one of its signature entrees (penne con rapini, gnocchi gratinata, tortellini and scallop di mare), $20. The menu is available through March 31. Call (312) 733-3379; vivo-chicago.com .

Get the skinny

The Cheesecake Factory, all locations. The new SkinnyLicious menu features 50 low-cal food and drink items with less than 590 calories including chicken lettuce wrap tacos (3 for $9.95) and the SkinnyLicious burger with green salad ($8.95). Cocktails, 150 calories or less, include the SkinnyLicious Long Island ice tea. Visit cheesecakefactory.com .

‘D’-lightful

Deuce’s + the Diamond Club, 3505 N. Clark. Chef Rich Samayoa gets in the spirit of things with a dinner created around Jack Daniel’s whiskey at 7 p.m. Feb. 2, $20. Dishes include Jack wings (chicken wings tossed in JD whiskey and hot sauce). Specialty cocktails include the Jack & Swarmy (Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, lime juice, ginger ale or ginger beer). Call (773) 644-5554; deucesandthediamondclub.com .

Pajama party

Nana, 3267 S. Halsted. Head over to the restaurant in your PJs for brunch, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 29. Menu items include Gunthorp Farms fried chicken, corn-oat waffle, sage gravy, Burton’s Maplewood Farms syrup, farm greens, $16; and two eggs any-style, house biscuits, Gunthorp Farms duck confit gravy, cipollini onions, $13. Call (312) 929-2486; nanaorganic.com .

Winning steaks

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 25 E. Ohio; 960 Milwaukee, Lincolnshire. Everyone’s a winner with the AFC/NFC three-course Sunday prime rib dinner, $29.95. Available Jan. 29 and Feb. 5. Visit, flemingssteakhouse.com .

Drink of the week

Big Jones, 5347 N. Clark. New drinks with an old twist include the Southern Cross (D’Artisti rum, lime juice, brandy, curacao), $10. The recipe for the drink, believed to have been named for the Crux constellation, comes from The Flowing Bowl, written by William Schmidt in 1891. Call (773) 275-5725; bigjoneschicago.com .

Deal of the week

Mimmo’s Pizza & Ristorante, 561 N. York, Elmhurst. Featured dinners of the week include: Carlo’s ravioli dinner (meat or cheese), regularly $10, now $5; chicken Marsala with mashed potatoes in a beef stock reduction with mushrooms and dry Marsala wine, regularly $11, now $8; and linguini with clam sauce and clams on-the-shell, regularly $15, now $8. Available through Jan. 29. Call (630) 782-2020; mimmospizza.com .