Father's Day Dining Guide 2015
Father's Day is just about here (it's June 21, FYI), so make sure you plan your itinerary accordingly and treat dad to a meal he'll enjoy. Fortunately, that's easy to do in Chicago considering our city's wide gamut of dad-friendly eateries. Hence, we present you with a handy dining guide for celebrating the patriarch in your life.
The Grill on the Alley: When it comes to foods dads typically like, it's pretty simple really. You can't go wrong with a nice, quality steak. It's even better when the steak is adjoined by some surf to round out that turf. The Grill on the Alley has just the ticket this year. With the purchase of any steak, dads receive a complimentary cold water lobster tail. The deal is available after 4:00 p.m. on June 21.
Sink|Swim: Logan Square's newest contemporary seafood spot is getting collaborative on Father's Day with an elaborate prix fixe menu presided over by chef Matt Danko and guest chef Richie Farina (nee moto). The dinner serves as a dad-friendly homage to surf and turf, with Danko handling the surf portion of the tasting menu and Farina the turf. The menu is five courses, plus amuse, with optional beverage pairings. The dinner costs $60 per person and reservations can be made via Sink|Swim's website.
Freds at Barneys: Don't let the department store glitz and glam fool you. Freds at Barneys is just as appropriate for dad as it is for more, especially when you factor in meatball pizza (!). On special for Father's Day, Freds is featuring a meatball pizza on a thin New York-style crust with mozzarella cheese, basil, and olive oil. The signature meatballs, the handiwork of executive chef Mark Strausman, are made with a mix of veal, beef, and pork, and they happen to pair well with craft beers like 5 Rabbit's "Gingolandia" Super Pils or Ten Tinety Brewing Company's "Half Wit" Belgian Wheat Ale.
Native Foods Cafe: If your dad happens to be a vegetarian, he'll be happy to know that Native Foods Cafe is offering buy one-get one deals on Father's Day weekend. Available June 20 and June 21, dads get a free entree with the purchase of another. So basically, as long as dad doesn't dine by himself, he'll be eating for free. As he should.
Unite Urban Grill: This Father's Day, steaks abound at Unite Urban Grill, a dad pleasing destination in West Town. The familial spot is serving up enormous 22 oz. cowboy steaks, ideal for dads with big, meaty appetites who'd rather dine out than cook for themselves on the grill. As a gift, each dad will go home with a bottle of Unite Urban Grill's basting sauce. The steaks and basting sauce special are available for brunch and dinner.
Michael Jordan's Steak House: Speaking of steak, the first 23 dads who order Michael Jordan's favorite steak, the Prime Delmonico, at his namesake restaurant on Father's Day will receive a complimentary engraved steak knife.
Shake Shack: Now on to something sweet. On Father's Day, both Chicago Shake Shack locations are offering free frozen custard to dads. Available from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., dads can treat themselves to a gratis single scoop cone or cup of vanilla, chocolate, or Mud Pie, the flavor of the week.
- Matt Kirouac