Whether you’re an aspiring foodie or just someone who wants to change up family dinners, Chicago Restaurant Week has something for your family. From Jan. 19 to Feb. 4, more than 350 of Chicagoland’s top restaurants will be offering prix fixe menus for brunch, lunch and dinner, all at reasonable prices that allow you to indulge in acclaimed dining experiences while getting the most bang for your buck.
Luckily, partaking in Chicago Restaurant Week doesn’t mean you have to hire a sitter. There are plenty of ways to include the kids — opting for lunch specials instead of fancier dinner menus, choosing a casual eatery with kid-friendly bites or dining at establishments with classy children’s menus.
Here are a few ideas for where to head for your next family night out.
Beatrix
- Multiple locations
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Brunch and lunch ($25), dinner ($42)
If you’d prefer a cafe setting with a kids menu, head to any of Beatrix’s five Chicagoland locations. While you enjoy Beatrix favorites like the Prime burger or Green Chili & Chicken Enchilladas, the kids can dig into a mini Prime burger or grilled cheese, or take their pick from a selection of bite-sized breakfast offerings.
Eataly
- Address: 43 E. Ohio St., Chicago
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Lunch ($25) and dinner ($42)
Dinner at Eataly during Chicago Restaurant week includes panelle, an antipasti, your choice of pasta or pizza and a dessert. The rest of the family doesn’t have to be stuck with chicken fingers and fries, though. Instead of offering a kids menu, Eataly serves smaller portions of its simplest dishes, like spaghetti with tomato sauce and lasagna with basil pesto.
Ema
- Address: 74 W Illinois St., Chicago
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Brunch and lunch ($25) and dinner ($59)
Grown ups can feast on Mediterranean-inspired small plates, craft cocktails and their choice of chicken, salmon, lamb, beef or halloumi for dinner. Kiddos with curious palates can try kid-sized portions of lamb or beef kabobs and hummus and veggies.
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
- Multiple locations
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Lunch ($25) and dinner ($59)
The iconic deep dish pizza chain is getting in on the restaurant week fun with a cozy lunch for two and a $59 dinner option that serves four. Dinner includes a large deep dish pizza, a family salad and your choice of either a medium appetizer or a dessert.
Steingold’s of Chicago
- Address: 3737 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Brunch ($25)
Steingold’s has been a family affair since its inception. Opened by husband and wife duo Aaron Steingold and Elizabeth Abowd, the casual atmosphere at this modern Jewish deli makes it an ideal place for a weekend breakfast. This year’s menu has not been released yet, but if last year’s pre fixe menu is any indication, this year will be scrumptious. While there’s no smaller bites for little ones, the wide selection of bagels and egg & cheese sandwiches is sure to win over any hungry kid.
Summer House Santa Monica
- Address: 1954 N. Halsted St., Chicago
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Brunch and lunch ($25), dinner ($59)
This Lincoln Park eatery is offering three-course brunch and lunch menus, and a four-course dinner service, all with optional drink pairings. The prix fixe brunch menu features many kid-friendly choices — like breakfast quesadillas and cinnamon roll pancakes — but if you want to bring your kiddos to lunch or dinner service, reach for the kids menu with classic options like buttered noodles and grilled cheese instead.
Wildfire
- Locations across Chicagoland
- Chicago Restaurant Week menus: Lunch ($25) and dinner ($59)
This year’s menu options vary by location — Chicago, Glenview, Lincolnshire, Oak Brook and Schaumburg — but one thing is for sure: you can expect to indulge in mouth-watering steakhouse dishes when you dine at Wildfire during Chicago Restaurant Week. The menus include everything from New York strip steak and beer-braised short ribs to fresh fish, salads and seasonal pies. The kids’ menu includes grilled cheese, burgers and chicken fingers.
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