St. Patrick's Day Dining and Drinking Guide 2017
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up fast, which means it’s time to start plotting all your eating and drinking plans to maximize your corned beef intake. From full-blown celebrations to special menus, here’s where to celebrate in style in Chicago restaurants this year. Do note that while St. Patrick’s Day takes place Friday, March 17, most events are happening the previous Saturday, March 11, since that’s parade day.
GreenRiver: If you’re gonna celebrate St. Patrick’s Day somewhere in Chicago, make it GreenRiver. Not only is the name perfect for the occasion, but the restaurant, which originated as an homage to Irish Americans who helped shape Chicago into the metropolis it is today, has some pretty great Irish-accented specials on hand for both March 11 and March 12. Corned beef hash with sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts and caramelized onions will be available for brunch on Saturday and Sunday, along with Irish Coffee featuring Jameson Caskmates, Cynar Amaro, house blend Sparrow Coffee and housemade whipped cream with grated nutmeg.
The Fifty/50: Considering how booze-centric St. Patrick’s Day is, it makes perfect sense to spend March 17 bar-hopping. Or lingering at The Fifty/50. All week long, the bar and restaurant is offering a $35 all-you-can-drink breakfast package (available March 11-March 17 from 9:00 a.m. until noon), which includes a breakfast buffet, DJ and express entry. After the buffet and later into the evening, the bar will also be featuring $5 pints of green beer, $7 Jameson shots, $8 Irish car combs and $3 corned beef sliders.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House: On both March 11, which is parade day, and March 17, this Mag Mile steakhouse is featuring a couple salacious specials. These include a NY strip with Irish bacon, boxty and creamed cabbage for $44, and house-cured corned beef brisket with boxty and creamed cabbage for $26.
SteakBar: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, especially on a holiday filled with beer and especially when said breakfast includes corned beef hash. This hip Old Town haunt is slinging egg and corned beef hash on the morning of March 11 from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased here: https://nightout.com/events/st-patricks-day-brunch-party-at-steakbar/tickets. Entry includes four premium drink tickets and a buffet brimming with hash, avocado toast, bacon and scrambled eggs.
G&O: If Reuben Eggs Benedict sounds good to you (which it should), then head to G&O for brunch on March 11, when the West Town restaurant and bar will celebrate parade day with brunch specials like that Benedict, bangers & mash, a corned beef sandwich and Bloody Marys for $5 all day long. Later in the week, G&O will have corned beef and cabbage for dinner on March 17.
Baker & Nosh: St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just beer and corned beef. The holiday is also known for its baked goods. Like Irish soda bread, which is on deck at Baker & Nosh this month. The traditional loaves are baked with raisins and caraway seeds, and the bakery recommends pre-ordering between March 11 and March 19.
Drumbar: Whiskey, frozen coffee and Irish beers are all front-and-center at Drumbar this year, hosting a St. Patrick’s Day shindig on March 11 from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. The event is an open bar for $69 per person (tickets can be accessed here), filled with frozen Irish coffee made from cocoa nib-infused Powers Irish Whiskey, housemade caramel and coffee. There’s also Irish Old Fashioneds, featuring Red Breast 12, Demerara sugar and bitters, and Jack Rose cocktails, which have Jameson Caskmates, apple, pomegranate, lemon and Peychauds bitters.
ROOF on theWit: Three very important words to keep in mind this year: “Jameson Horchata Frappe.” Yes, this downtown hot spot is serving some seriously tempting specials on March 11, including that boozy drinkable dessert made with vanilla- and cocoa-infused Jameson, cinnamon horchata and whipped cream. It’s all part of ROOF’s all-day party, with doors opening at 11:00 a.m., a DJ spinning tunes and drink specials pouring throughout the afternoon. Other options include the XXX Shamrock Shake, a frozen libation of peppermint-infused Absolut Elyx, coconut milk, spearmint, dark chocolate and a Lucky Charms marshmallow garnish.
Arbella: On March 11, Arbella is opening early to sate the masses with food and drink specials. These include the Lucky Has Nothing To Do With It, a Lucky Charms-infused vodka tipple, corned beef and cabbage croquettes and a special Boilermaker combining an Old Fashioned shot with a pint of Lagunitas Pilsner.