Passover Dining Guide
Passover celebrates the emancipation of the Jewish people from enslavement in Egypt oh so many years ago. It also celebrates lots and lots of Jewish delicacies, from matzo everything to flourless anything. Taking place April 14 through April 22, Chicago restaurants and bars honor Passover with a multitude of holiday specials. Here's a tantalizing guide to Passover eats in Chicago:
(Mon Ami Gabi)
Floriole Cafe & Bakery: the Lincoln Park bakery will have flourless chocolate soufflé cake and macaroons all month long.
Mon Ami Gabi: Lincoln Park's favorite French classic embraces Passover with special dinner menus on April 14 and April 15. Matzo ball soup, chopped liver, slow-braised beef brisket, potato pancakes, and flourless chocolate cake with fruit compote are all present and accounted for. The degustations go for $36.95 per person or $15.95 for kids 12 and younger. Call 773-348-8886 for reservations.
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 bittersweet chocolate bars, and poached spice apricots. The menu costs $35 per person, available April 14 through April 22.
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile: Preempting the holiday, the downtown hotel hosts a Seder banquet on April 11 at 6:30 p.m. The event delves into the lore of Passover, along with a special four-course wine-paired menu prepared by executive chef Randy Reed. The cost is $105 per person and reservations can be made by emailing ImpactChicago247@gmail.com or calling 847-922-4673.
Bub City: April 14 through April 22, the River North barbecue haunt is serving up pastrami platters with latke chips and deli mustard.
Osteria Via Stato: April 14 and April 15, the downtown Italian restaurant is offering a multi-course degustation honoring the Jewish holiday. Table snacks include vegetarian chopped liver and house marinated olives, followed by antipasti including housemade gefilte fish and matzo ball soup. Secondi options include slow-braised beef short ribs, roasted chicken, and fennel-crusted flounder, along with crispy polenta cake and ginger-glazed carrots for sides. Desserts are served family-style, including housemade vanilla gelato with fruit compote and housemade chocolate bars. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations can be made by calling 312-642-8450.
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.
Tortoise Club: Expect three-course Passover menus on both April 14 and April 15. Dinner starts off with matzo ball soup followed by bibb lettuce salad or gefilte fish. Entree options include roasted chicken, braised brisket, baked salmon, or grilled Lake Superior whitefish. Flourless chocolate cake culminates the meal. The cost is $39.95 per person and reservations can be made by calling 312-755-1700.
- Matt Kirouac