The Big Deals 02.03.12

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The Spanish seafood stew with mussels, clams, calamari, cod, potatoes, peppers in a saffron orange broth at Carnivale.

Updated: February 2, 2012 7:43PM

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.

Power lunch

Park Grill, 11 N. Michigan. The Power Business Lunch lets you build a two-course lunch from a choice of soup or salad and one entree (grilled whitefish sandwich, pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich, chop salad, sweet potato risotto and Park Grill burger) for $16. The menu is available 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday only. Call (312) 521-7275; parkgrillchicago.com .

TRU value

TRU, 676 N. St. Clair. Hart Davis Hart Wine Company is hosting an auction of fine and rare wines beginning at 9 a.m. Feb. 4 at the restaurant. Admission is free. Lunch can be reserved for $75. Call (312) 854-0096; hdhwine.com.

Super deals

O’Donovan’s Pub and Restaurant, 2100 W. Irving Park. Super Bowl specials include Sloppy Joes and chips for $5 all day Feb. 5. Call (773) 478-2100; odonovansbar.com .

Bi-coastal affair

Shaw’s Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard. The restaurant hosts a lunch featuring Island Creek Oysters from Duxbury Harbor, Mass., and winning wines from the Pacific Coast Oyster Competition at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 6, $45. Call (312) 320-6669; chicagourmets.org.

Local appeal

Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton. Locally grown ingredients highlight Chef David Dworshak’s new Thursday prix fixe three-course menu, $33. February’s entree is a choice of Spanish seafood stew with mussels, clams, calamari, cod, potatoes, peppers in a saffron orange broth or roasted marinated Berkshire pork shoulder with rice, peas, plantains and cabbage salad. Call (312) 850-5005; carnivalechicago.com .

Seven up

International House of Pancakes, all locations. The all-day breakfast spot’s 7 for $7 menu features seven new dishes including bacon-wrapped sirloin steak with two eggs and hash browns; and the cheesy western omelette with a blend of shredded cheeses, green peppers, onions and diced ham served with a choice of fruit or three pancakes. Visit ihop.com.

Chef’s choice

Koi, 624 Davis, Evanston. Chef Kenny Tan hosts an eight-course sushi dinner at 7 p.m. Feb. 7, $45. Items include apple salmon roll with wasabi; and snapper sashimi with tangerine-flavored sauce. Call (847) 866-6969; koievanston.com.

French regionals

LM Restaurant, 4539 N. Lincoln. Chef Justin Perdue’s new four-course Alsace Menu Decouverte ($45), includes foie gras with huckleberry compote and basil, halibut with roasted beets; Meyer lemon vinaigrette and horseradish; and pork tenderloin with braised cabbage, kohlrabi gratin and jus. Dessert is tarte au fromage blanc. Call (773) 942-7585; lmrestaurant.com.

Dinner mate

Native Foods Cafe, all locations. Feb. 7-8 receive a complimentary dessert with the purchase of any entree, side and Native drink, including the very limited (available Feb. 7-8 only) Boston cream cupcake (vanilla cupcake with sweet cream center topped with a chocolate ganache). Visit nativefoods.com.

Drink of the week

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted. Madonna is the star on and off the field Super Bowl Sunday. The lounge’s featured drink during “Madonna-ramma,” designed for the singer’s half-time Super Bowl performance Feb. 5, is the M.D.N.A. martini (Effen Cucumber vodka, Hpnotiq, Harmonie, St. Germain liqueur with a splash of Sprite) $6. All martinis, regularly $12, will be $6 during the event. Call (773) 525-1111; kitkatchicago.com .

Deal of the week

Glenview House, 1843 Glenview, Glenview. This pre-Valentine’s Day special is the way to save. Chef Grant Slauterbeck’s four-course sparkling wine dinner menu, featuring Domaine Chandon wines at 6 p.m. Feb. 9, $50, includes lamb chop, braised lamb shank polenta tamales and poblano peppers with jus served with Chandon Rose. Call (847) 724-0692; theglenviewhouse.com .