Passover Dining Guide 2015
Passover serves to commemorate the emancipation of the Jewish people from enslavement in Egypt. It also celebrates oodles of Jewish delicacies, from matzo to brisket. Taking place this year April 3 through April 11, Chicago restaurants, bars, and bakeries tip their cap to Passover with a variety of holiday specials. Here's a guide to Passover eats in Chicago:
Real Urban Barbecue: This Chicagoland barbecue staple is a perpetual player in the Passover holiday game. This year looks better than ever, with a special holiday carry out menu in place for Passover and Easter. They've covered all the bases with appetizers like matzo balls, matzo meal pancakes, chicken soup, sweet and sour meatballs, and a slew of fresh salads. Entree options include smoked bone-in spiral honey ham, brisket, herb roasted chicken, and whole-smoked turkey breast. Accent with sides such as maple-roasted Brussels sprouts, marinated and grilled vegetables, asparagus, sweet potato soufflé, honey-glazed carrots, rosemary new potatoes, creamed spinach, flame-roasted apples, and more. Even dessert is taken care of, with Peeps cupcakes, Cadbury Egg cupcakes, cake balls, coconut cake, flour less macaroon brownies, flour less chocolate cake, and lemon squares.
Mon Ami Gabi: Lincoln Park's favorite French classic embraces Passover with special dinner menus on April 3 and April 4. Matzo ball soup, chopped liver, housemade gefilte fish, slow-braised beef brisket, potato pancakes, and flourless chocolate cake are all present and accounted for. The degustations go for $39.95 per person or $17.95 for kids under 12. Call the restaurant for reservations or visit their website.
Bistronomic: In other French restaurant news, Bistronomic celebrates Passover for the duration of the holiday with a nightly Passover dinner menu. The three-course affair features dish options such as asparagus salad, housemade chicken liver mousse, seared Scottish salmon, glazed prime short ribs, crunchy chocolate bars, and poached apricots with vanilla ice cream and berry coulis. The menu costs $40 per person, available April 3 through April 11.
Magnolia Bakery: The Loop sweet shop gets in on the sugary Passover action with mandel bread, a twice-baked loaf of goodness made with pulverized matzo and studded with chopped almonds and chocolate chips. Additionally, the bakery is featuring matzo crunch, a treacly treat made with matzo crackers, handmade butterscotch candy, chocolate, white chocolate, and toffee pieces; flourless single-layer cakes; chocolate lace meringues; and coconut macaroons. It's a Passover wonderland over there!
Frankie's Scaloppine: Marinated olives, housemade gefilte fish, beet horseradish, slow-braised beef short rib, and red wine sauce are just a few of the holiday flavors you can look forward to and relish at Frankie's Scaloppine, which is offering a menu of Passover dishes on April 3 and April 4. It's a multi-course prix fixe that costs $39.95 per person, while kids 12 and younger are $14.95. Frankie's is also offering takeout for Passover, with carry out orders due with 24 hours notice. Call the restaurant to reserve and/or order.
Wildfire: Things are getting matzo-tastic at Wildfire this year. On April 3 and April 4, Chicagoland locations of the restaurant will kick off Passover week with a Passover Club Menu designed to be served family-style for groups of six or more. Get hungry for matzo ball soup, matzo-crusted Alaskan cod, braised beef brisket, and chocolate-almond macaroons. The regular menu will also be available, along with other Passover specials served a la carte. The cost is $39.95 per person and $16.95 for children 12 and younger.
- Matt Kirouac