The Big Deals 01.11.13
By DENISE I. O’NEAL doneal@suntimes.com January 9, 2013 5:42PM
Rockit Buger Bar’s “Lean & Mean” burger features grilled bison patty with housemade apple gingerapple-ginger kimchee on a wheat bun.
Updated: February 12, 2013 2:07PM
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.
Pizza delivery
Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 3358 N. Paulina. Specials during National Pizza Week, Jan. 14-20, include a “Pizza Giveaway Day (Jan. 16)” BOGO deal; “Pizza Specialty Day” (Jan. 18) selections include the roasted potato pizza (fingerling potatoes, roasted onion, bacon three cheeses and an egg, $12). Visit frascapizzeria.com .
Protein-packed
Rockit Burger Bar, 3700 N. Clark. Beef up on the “Lean & Mean” burger (grilled bison patty with housemade apple-ginger kimchee on a wheat bun) with baby green salad with sesame vinaigrette, $12. Available through Jan. 13. Visit rockitburgerbar.com.
Forget the calories
Allium in the Four Seasons Hotel, 120 E. Delaware. Chef Kevin Hickey’s all-you-can-eat weekday specials in January include the return of his fried chicken dinner (buttermilk-fried chicken, biscuit, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet corn apple pie and caramel ice cream) on Tuesdays. The complete week-day menu lineup: Monday Meatballs (Sicilian blood orange and endive salad, shaved Pecorino cheese, Nonna-style meatballs, taglierini and gravy and tiramisu; BBQ Wednesday (Brunswick stew, hush puppy, barbcue beef brisket, fennel slaw, fried pickles, white bread banana pudding with homemade vanilla waffers); Thursday Sausage and “Kraut” (cucumber and watercress salad, dill quark viaigrette Brussels sauerkraut, homemade sausages, braised pork butt with potted mustards and Saint Honore cake; and Friday Fish Fry (Colonial salad, shaved apples, Hook’s aged cheddar, Madras curry vinaigrette, chicory sticky toffee pudding and rum ice cream). All dinners are $38 each. Call (312) 799-4900; alliumchicago.com .
Egg-cellent choice
EPIC, 112 W. Hubbard. A prix-fixe menu featuring egss includes a trio of deviled eggs with lobster, bacon and truffle; red wine-poached egg with frisee, crispy ham, croutons, mustard vinaigrette; veal chop schnitzel with fried egg, capers and kaumquats; followed by a dessert of brown sugar/custard cardamom short bread with curry-roasted pineapple, $48. Visit epicrestaurantchicago.com .
Drink of the week
City Tavern, 1416 S. Michigan. Here’s a drink with some kick: Mrs. O’Leary’s Milk Punch (three rums, ginger liqueur, citrus, clarified milk, spices and crushed ice), $10.
Call (312) 663-1278; citytavernchicago.com .
Deal of the week
ItaliAsia in the Holiday Inn, 350 W. Mart Center. Experience the many flavors of Italy with a Pan-Asian twist during the International Day of Italian Cuisine (Jan. 17). Featured dishes include pasta Bolognese (pappardelle pasta, braised ground beef and pork, San Marzano tomatoes and Pecorino cheese, $20), bucatini with meatballs (housemade veal meatballs, bucatina pasta, marinara sauce and ricotta salata cheese, $18), lobster risotto (Maine lobster, arborio rice, sake wine, San Marzano tomatoes, red chili flakes and herbs, $30) and chicken Vesuvio (spit-roasted half chicken with white wine, lemon, garlic, fresh oregano, oven-roasted potato wedges and peas, $18). Visit italiasiarestaurant.com.
