February is Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month! What does that mean? 70+ participating restaurants in the North Shore are offering extraordinary dining deals throughout the month of February, except Valentine’s Day (sorry, loves!).
Offers and deals include 15% off guest check, special prix fixe menu, FREE appetizers and desserts, 2 for 1 entrées, and more. Please note: offers do not include the cost of alcohol, tax, or gratuity.
Having grown up in the North Shore (Skokie and Glenview), it is nice to see some familiar restaurants on the list as well as new restaurants that have opened in recent years. Restaurant month is a great way to try new restaurants or return to your favorites without breaking the bank. There is so much diversity of cultures and cuisines, you can truly find something for everyone!
Here are some of the participating restaurants…
Cibo Trattoria
Cibo (pronounced CHEE-boh) Trattoria is a charming Italian restaurant located in downtown Glencoe and specializes in Northern Italian dishes. The modern but rustic décor is warm and welcoming. I ordered the White Pizza, which had mozzarella, prosciutto di Parma, baby arugula, shaved parmesan, garlic oil, and balsamic. The thin, crispy pizza came out piping hot, just the way I like it. The flavors were well balanced with the saltiness from the prosciutto and the sweetness of the balsamic. One bite (crunch!) and I was immediately hooked.
Cibo Trattoria // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
15% Off Guest Check
{Location}
Cibo Trattoria
Glencoe || 667 Vernon St, Glencoe, IL || P: (847) 786-4556
Creperie Saint Germain
Creperie Saint Germain is a quaint, casual cafe in Evanston where the philosophy of the menu pays tribute to the creperies found in Brittany, France. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it was jam packed. Literally, there was a line out the door. No surprise since the food is fabulous. C’est délicieux! (It’s delicious!) OK, that’s all the French I can remember from high school.
I tried the Nutella crepe with strawberry compote and Chantilly. The cream wasn’t overly sweet and had a nice hint of vanilla. It was one of the best crepes I’ve had in a long time. It reminded me of crepes in Paris. They also have savory crepes, soups, and salads.
Creperie Saint Germain // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
2 for 1 Entrée
{Location}
Creperie Saint Germain
Evanston || 1512 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL || P: (847) 859-2647
Farmhouse Evanston
Farmhouse is a farm-to-tavern concept and focuses on locally sourced ingredients and artisanal liquor. Almost everything is made from scratch including the burgers, condiments, and sodas. The décor is built-out with salvaged materials and looks like a chic farmhouse. If you get a chance to dine at Farmhouse Evanston, make sure to get the Beer Batter Wisconsin Cheese Curds. All I can say is…OMG! The batter was light, airy, and crispy while the inside was incredibly cheesy. It came with a side of house-made ketchup and spicy curd sauce.
Farmhouse Evanston // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
I also tried the Farmhouse Dry Aged Burger. The 100% grass-fed beef patty was generously thick and topped with Red Barn Heritage white cheddar, Swan Creek bacon, tomatoes, onions, and lettuce on a country style roll. There’s no skimping on the ingredients here. It was piled on mile high. Even better…it comes with a side of tavern fries.
Farmhouse Evanston // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
3 Course Prix Fixe for $22.00 (Lunch) & $33.00 (Dinner). See menu here.
{Location}
Farmhouse Evanston
Evanston || 703 Church St, Evanston, IL || P: (847) 492-9700
Peckish Pig
Feeling peckish? Head on over to Evanston’s first brewpub, Peckish Pig. The interior is contemporary but rustic with exposed brick and metal furniture. The menu includes upscale bar food, which is meant for sharing. You’ll find Bacon Wrapped Dates, Short Rib Ragu Tacos, Peckish Turkey Pot Pie, Fish on a Plank, Bacon Fat Popcorn and more.
Save room for dessert because you don’t want to miss out on the Deep Fried Jam Butty! It is a peanut butter and jam sandwich on brioche bread, which is then battered and deep fried and served with vanilla ice cream. Talk about fried goodness!
Peckish Pig // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @sherriesavorsthecity
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
15% Off Guest Check
{Location}
Peckish Pig
Evanston || 623 Howard St, Evanston, IL || P: (847) 491-6778
Saranello’s
Located in the Westin Hotel in Wheeling, Saranello’s (a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant) serves classic Italian dishes in a contemporary atmosphere. Executive Chef Mychael Bonne uses only the freshest ingredients for his creations, which are inspired by his travels and passion for Italian culture. The pastas are house-made and the pizzas hand-crafted. The Spaghetti and Meatballs came with two grand meatballs (choose between pork or chicken), which were packed with flavor. The pasta was precisely cooked al dente and can be made with whole wheat or gluten-free pasta (upon request).
Saranello’s // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
You didn’t think I would forget dessert, did you? When I come here, I always get the Banana Tiramisu. It tastes like a mix between a traditional tiramisu and banana pudding. You might want to order two or three for the table. No sharing here!
Saranello’s // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
3 Course Prix Fixe for $20.16. See menu here.
{Location}
Saranello’s
Wheeling || 601 N Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL || P: (847) 777-6878
Sweety Pies Bakery
Sweety Pies Bakery is a family-owned business in Skokie and specializes in cakes, cupcakes, and pies. My weakness for cupcakes led me to Sweety Pies Bakery. I tried the Banana Carrot Cupcake w/ cream cheese frosting (gluten-free), Cinnamon Apple Walnut (gluten-free), Red Velvet, Boston Creme, Salted Caramel, and Black Bottom.
My favorite was the Black Bottom, which was a moist chocolate cake filled with cream cheese and chocolate chips. Choose between a vanilla buttercream, chocolate buttercream, or cream cheese frosting. The vanilla buttercream balanced well with the chocolate cake. FYI, the deal does not include custom orders.
Sweety Pies Bakery // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
15% Off Guest Check (Excludes Custom Orders)
{Location}
Sweety Pies Bakery
Skokie || 8042 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL || P: (847) 213-0900
Table to Stix Ramen
I was excited to hear there was a ramen shop in Evanston. I can always go for a nice warm bowl of piping hot ramen. The menu includes four kinds of ramen…Tonkatsu, Miso Veggy, Shoyu, and Spicy Miso. I opted for the Spicy Miso, which has a miso base with seasoned ground beef, soy braised pork belly, crispy brussel sprouts, sweet corn, ajitama (soft boiled, flavored) egg, scallions, and dry chili strings. You can add more toppings like kimchi, mushrooms, bean sprouts, fried tofu etc. The possibilities are endless.
The broth was milder than what I am used to but nonetheless enjoyable. I loved the addition of the brussel sprouts and corn, which provided non-traditional ramen flavors that worked very well with the dish and introduced different textures. The portion is plentiful and the three slices of pork belly can be a meal on its own. I like my noodles a little chewier but it could be because I took too long to take the picture (#foodieproblems). I’ll be back to try the shoyu ramen and small bites!
Table To Stix Ramen // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
15% Off Guest Check
{Location}
Table to Stix Ramen
Evanston || 1007 Davis St, Evanston, IL || P: (847) 859-6847
The Curragh Irish Pub & Restaurant
In Ireland, pub cultures plays an important role in social life. It is the heart of the community, where people gather together for great conversations with good food and an abundance of drinks. The Curragh Irish Pub & Restaurant (Skokie & Glenview) are nice neighborhood spots where friends and family can gather together for any occasion. The staff is very friendly and the food is comforting.
I tried the Reuben sandwich. The tender corned beef was piled high and sandwiched between two pieces of rye bread. I was making a big mess as the Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island were dripping all over my hands. I didn’t care who was looking, though, because it was sooooo good. The sandwich was so monstrous I couldn’t even finish half of it. Don’t worry, it didn’t go to waste! Hubby ate the rest, and he didn’t regret it one bit. You won’t regret it, either! The Reuben also comes with thick, fresh-cut fries that were crisp on the outside and super addictive.
The Curragh Irish Pub // Chicago’s North Shore Restaurant Month // Photo: @fabsoopark
{Restaurant Month Offer/Deal}
15% Off Guest Check
{Locations}
The Curragh Irish Pub & Restaurant
Glenview || 1800 Tower Rd, Glenview, IL || P: (847) 998-1100
Skokie || 8266 Lincoln Ave, Skokie, IL || P: (847) 675-9600
You still have time to take advantage of these wonderful offers and deals. Here is the full list of participating restaurants. Don’t forget to hashtag #NSRM16 and #fabfoodchicago so we can see all your fabulous eats!
For more info on things to eat, do, and see in Chicago’s North Shore, check out Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Live the Fab Food Life,
Soo
Note: This post was sponsored by Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau. However, the views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.
