Be Grateful for These Grateful Dead Specials

The Grateful Dead is on some sort of huge farewell tour, a la Cher, but for real. The band is performing at Soldier Field July 3 through 5, and along with the epic performances, restaurants across town are serving up Grateful Dead specials to honor the legendary band. 

 

Located a stone's throw from Soldier Field, Brasserie by LM is perfectly positioned to celebrate the band. During the band's tenure at Soldier Field, the French-accented restaurant will feature a few food and drink specials, including lamb sliders with mustard aioli; white bean burgers with dry chili rub, queso fresco, spicy mole, and romaine; pork belly burgers with bacon aioli; and "reconstructed" chicken wings with roasted chicken and bleu cheese stuffed in celery. To drink, there's Capital Brewery's "Grateful Red," SweetWater Brewing Company's "Take Two Pils," and Tighthead Brewing Company's "Scarlet. "

The music- and sandwich-obsessed Jerry's is kicking off the Grateful Dead weekend with a party at the Wicker Park location on July 2, featuring folks from Redemption Rye Whiskeys and Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales. Also that night, the restaurant will tap Dogfish Head's American Beauty, a beer inspired by the band, at both locations. Additionally, all weekend long Jerry's will be airing DVDs and live shows, and awarding 20% off any sandwich to any concert-goer who shows their ticket stub. 

Up in Evanston, Found is featuring special Tie Dye macaroons filled with dark chocolate and almond from June 30 through July 7. Plus, the restaurant will be playing Grateful Dead tunes all week long. 

"Magic mushroom" pizzas are on deck at Labriola Ristorante & Cafe, where chef John Caputo honors the band with a Neapolitan-style pizza special heaped with mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, caramelized onions, and lemon-hazenut gremolata. 

Then there's the Psychedelic Glazed Donuts on special at Stan's Donuts & Coffee. The donuts come in vivid, multi-colored glazes.

- Matt Kirouac