Restaurants offer creative perk for V-Day
Chocolates and long-stemmed roses are so overdone.
Some Chicago restaurants are offering more creative perks this year to customers on Valentine's Day beyond the decadent menus loaded with oysters, truffles and other supposed aphrodisiacs.
At NoMI in the Park Hyatt, 800 N. Michigan, female guests who order the $125 four-course dinner will leave with Cartier Le Baiser du Dragon shower cream and body milk.
Marigold, a modern Indian restaurant at 4832 N. Broadway in Uptown, will offer customers a not-so-subtle parting gift after they work their way through the $50 tasting menu -- a book on the Kama Sutra.
Those who make Valentine's Day reservations at Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge, 1324 N. Milwaukee, can name one of the restaurant's special cocktails after their beau. They'll see it on a souvenir drink menu printed just for their table. Lovebirds ordering the $75, five-course meal also get a box of chocolates from local chocolatier CoCo Rouge and a bottle of wine. Added bonus: The chance to see "Top Chef" booted chef-testant Radhika Desai in action.
Lawry's the Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario, will dole out silver key rings in the shape of a carving cart to diners ordering the $99 menu-for-two. Customers also will get the decidedly more romantic glass of moscato with dessert.
Trader Vic's, 1030 N. State, offers its Valentine's Day diners a three-course menu for $50 that includes either a glass of champagne or the restaurant's signature Mai Tai. Women get the cliched red rose; men get to take home the cocktail glass.
ZED451, 739 N. Clark, will cater to sweet tooths with free red velvet cake for dining couples, and at May Street Market, 1132 W. Grand, customers will be greeted with champagne and oysters (and the obligatory red rose) after they walk in the door.
Janet Rausa Fuller
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