The Big Deals — 01.20.12

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The Bridge Bar’s GOP-inspired Iowa Caucus cocktail is served hot.

Updated: January 19, 2012 5:22PM

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.

Soups on

Mon Ami Gabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West; 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook. It’s National Soup Month and the restaurant spotlights a three-soup flight of hearty winter selections (onion soup au gratin, four mushroom and cream of root vegetable), for $5.95 through January 31. Call (773) 348-8886; (630) 472-1900; monamigabi.com .

Supper club

Roy’s Chicago, 720 N. State. The restaurant host its first 2012 supper club dinner at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26, $35. Chef Rhett Dukes’ three-course Latin-influenced menu includes laughing bird shrimp crepe enchilada with shishito pepper sauce and queso fresco. For an additional fee courses can be paired with a tequila selection. Call (312) 787-7599; roysrestaurant.com .

Wine and dine

Gibsons, 1028 N. Rush. The restaurant’s five-course Opus wine dinner at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 25, $150 (all inclusive) is definitely a deal. Courses include prime Angus strip loin and Alaska King Crab paired with Opus One 2005. Call (312) 266-8999; gibsonssteakhouse.com .

Happy Birthday to you

Big Bowl, 6 E. Cedar; 215 Parkway, Lincolnshire. If you were born in the “Year of the Dragon,” (which occurs every 12 years (counting back from 2012 the years are 2000, 1988 ....) Jan. 23 is your lucky day. Dine-in guests, with valid proof, will be feted to a complimentary lunch or dinner entree. Visit bigbowl.com .

People’s choice

People Lounge, 1560 N. Milwaukee. The lounge celebrates its sixth anniversary with a hosted cocktail hour featuring Sierra Nevada drafts and Bacardi cocktails 10-11 p.m. Jan. 26. Specials include Jameson shots, $4; Goose Island Green Line drafts, $4 and artisan tequila flights, $10. Call (773) 227-9339; peoplechicao.com .

Spanish omelette

Cantina 46, 46 E. Superior. The Chef’s prix fixe brunch menu, featuring a fresh fruit plate and selection of one entree and one side selection, is $13. Entree selections include scrambled eggs with spicy chorizo, Spanish onion, peppers, grape tomatoes and potatoes topped with queso fresco. Sides include spicy pan-fried potatoes with onions and jalapenos, cilantro rice, or black beans cooked with guajillo peppers. Call (312) 664-0100; cantina46.com .

Limited-edition cupcake

Sprinkles Cupcakes, 50 E. Walton. The bakery’s S’more cupcake (graham cracker-lined Belgian dark chocolate cake filled with bittersweet ganache, topped with toasted marshmallow frosting, $3.50) will be around until Feb. 6. Proceeds help support Oxfam’s efforts to end poverty. Call (312) 573-1600; sprinkles.com .

Admission price

Terzo Piano at the Art Institute of Chicago, 159 E. Monroe. The restaurant’s two-course, prix fixe lunch combination of appetizer and entree or dessert and entree is $18 (the price of the museum’s admission) weekdays through Feb. 10. Entrees are hand-crafted spaghetti with ricotta cream, melted leeks, lemon and black pepper or steamed PEI mussels in Cline pinot gris with pancetta, fennel seed and chili peppers. Call (312) 443-8650; terzopianochicago.com .

Poetry course

Shanghai Terrace at Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior. The venue welcomes the Chinese New Year with an authentic six-course Asian menu Jan. 20-27. Each course is named for a verse from a Chinese poem about new beginnings. Courses include “delightful dance of dragon (sea scallop, red abalone, turbot in XO sauce),” $105. Call (312) 573-6695; peninsula.com/chicago .

Drink of the week

Bridge Bar. 315 N. LaSalle. The bar’s GOP-inspired Iowa Caucus cocktail (Templeton rye, honey, anise, cinnamon, garnished with an orange slice and served hot), $3 on Tuesdays, will be around until Jan. 31. Call (312) 822-0100; bridgebarchicago.com .

Deal of the week

City Provisions, 1818 W. Wilson. Chef Cleetus Friedman teams with Chef Rick Gesh of David Burke’s for a Death’s Door Spirits dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 23, $75, all inclusive. Dishes include Burke’s dry aged meats aged in a U.S. patented Himalayan salt room. Call (773) 293-2489; cityprovisions.com .