The Big Deals 10.07.11

• Reprints

The Stiletto cocktail at Fleming’s

Updated: October 7, 2011 3:23PM

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.

Foam and floats

Porter’s Pub, 1250 Bowes Creek, Elgin. It’s crafted brews for grown-ups and root beer floats for kids during the pub’s Beer & BBQ bash, 3-7 p.m. Oct. 8 ($5-$30). Call (847) 214-5877; bowescreekcc.com/porters.

Daily news

El’s Kitchen, 1450 W. Webster. New deals include 10-cent wings with a beverage purchase (Mondays); $1 sliders (Wednesdays); $3.95 burger basket (Thursdays); $11 Louisiana catfish dinner and $4 specialty cocktails (Fridays) and $15 all-you-can-eat ribs (Sundays). Call (773) 248-5210; elskitch.com.

Sweet deal

Table Fifty-Two, 52 W. Elm. Chef Art Smith’s walk-up Sweet Stand (on the restaurant’s front porch) offers signature items such as Hummingbird cupcakes ($4) and pastry chef Celeste Campise’s hot doughnuts with homemade jams, sprinkled with vanilla sugar ($3). Hot coffee is $1. Cash only, 8-11 a.m. Saturdays through Oct. 29. Visit tablefifty-two.com.

Dead reckoning

Zocalo Restaurant and Tequila Bar, 358 W. Ontario. Join in two Espolon tequila Day of the Dead celebrations, a four-course dinner and drink pairing at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 ($65) and a two-drink and appetizer celebration at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 ($25). Call (312) 302-9977; zocalochicago.com.

A toast to good health
Roka Akor, 456 N. Clark. “Think pink” cocktails supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October include the Beat It (yuzu, beet juice, agave nectar, apple juice, Cointreau and Yamazaki) for $12. Call (312) 477-7652; rokaakor.com/chicago.

Teatime tidbits
Delightful Pastries Bakery Cafe, 1710 N. Wells. Pair Rishi teas with a custom three-flight dessert ($10), 2-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Choices include caramel pana cotta with Michigan sour cherry compote and chocolate mousse with berry compote. Call (312) 255-0724; delightfulpastries.com.

New beginning
Mercat a la Planxa, 638 S. Michigan. Chef Jose Garces rolls out an item daily from his fall tapas menu Oct. 8-15, beginning with truffled turnip soup with foie gras torchon, jamon de pato and poached fig ($15). Call (312) 765-0524; mercatchicago.com.

Drink of the Week
Fleming’s, 25 E. Ohio; 960 Milwaukee, Lincolnshire. The restaurant is donating 100 percent of sales from its 99-calorie Stiletto cocktail (Hendrick’s gin, fresh blackberries, sugar-free Monin syrup and lime juice, topped with diet ginger ale; $6) to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Visit flemingssteakhouse.com.

Deal of the Week

Due Lire Vino & Cucina, 4520 N. Lincoln. Pig out at the Festa Della Porchetta patio party, 3-7 p.m. Oct. 9 ($25). The Italian-style whole-roasted pig is seasoned with fennel, sage, garlic, salt and pepper. It is served with an apricot and truffle demi-glace sauce, three side dishes and grilled garlic bread. Call (773) 275-7878; due-lire.com.