Centerstage - Chicago's Original City Guide

Articles Sections >> Arts + Words Bars + Clubs Dating Festivals Fitness Food Lifestyle Music Theater Travel + Tourism Who's Who > View All Best When Drunk Dining Guides The Raving Dish

Wednesday Jan 26, 2005.     By Abigail Derecho

Food Feed

Allen's Cafe 217 W. Huron (312) 587-9600 If you choose this chic, sleek design fan's dream in River North for your romantic celebration, you'll be able to take advantage of either the $85 per person set menu, or the $100 per couple "Dinner for Two" menu. The $85 per person menu will give you a choice of crab cakes or short ribs for the appetizer course, New York strip or Ahi tuna for the entree, and chocolate mousse for dessert (coffee included). The $100 per couple dinner will give each of you a six-ounce filet and one-pound lobster, along with a vegetable medley, red wine au jus, and horseradish potatoes. Allen's will make these menus available both Feb. 12 an 14, and potentially on Friday the 11th; call and confirm the menus if you're interested in a Friday reservation.

Ambria 2300 N. Lincoln Park West (773) 472-5959 Is your definition of romance a charming, elegant art nouveau setting serving up exquisite New French cuisine? Then head to Ambria to celebrate Valentine's, where the prix fixe seven-course menu consists of an asparagus salad, Maine lobster, sea diver scallops on warm oysters, game consomme, a choice of olive oil-poached turbot, venison or filet of beef, and either passion vanilla souffle or Ambria's chocolate degustation. The menu is $150 per person, and Ambria requires a credit card number with each reservation. The menu will be offered Feb. 13-14.

Bistro 110 110 E. Pearson (312) 266-3110 This French bistro, just off the Mag Mile, is doing up Valentine's Day right with several events planned. On Tuesday, Feb. 8, Chef Dominique Tougne will host an "aphrodisiac cooking class" from 6 to 8 p.m. for $45 per person. You and your valentine can learn how to re-create three of Tougne's love-inspiring dishes: roasted langoustino soup, seared foie gras with sauteed apples and raspberry sauce, and red fruit sorbet float with champagne and fresh berries. You'll wrap up the evening with a cocktail reception in the Vavro Lounge, where you'll down a martini called Love Potion #9.

Romance-themed specials will grace the menu beginning Thursday, Feb. 10, and on Monday the 14th, several couples will find "keys to romance" hidden underneath their desserts, which will entitle them to a one-night stay at the nearby Sofitel. The bistro will also randomly choose a "Most Romantic Couple," who will receive a complimentary tasting menu prepared by Tougne and a carriage ride.

Caliterra 633 N. Saint Clair (312) 274-4444 Chef Rick Gresh is celebrating Valentine's all February long by adding liberal doses of chocolate to his menu in unexpected places. He's cooking up cocoa-roasted ostrich, molten foie gras and chocolate "bon bons," white chocolate risotto with vanilla poached prawns and Ahi tuna sprinkled with chocolate salt. Pastry Chef Anthony Scelzo has created a dessert called Symphony of Chocolate, which sounds like every chocoholic's dream, featuring five different choc-full "mini desserts." On the 14th, there will be a special Aphrodisiac Menu for $60 per person. The amuse will be Mumm champagne and caviar, and you'll be able to select your first course, main course and dessert from several delectable options.

Coco Pazzo 300 W. Hubbard (312) 836-0900 This gorgeously lit, comfortable-yet-sophisticated River North dining room will give you several special options for dinner on Valentine's Day. Options for starter dishes include roasted red pepper and potato soup and Delaware oysters on the half shell. For the entree, have the Dungeness crab ravioli, Maine lobster with tarragon risotto or roasted Mediterranean sea bass. A chocolate meringue heart, filled with white chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries, will be on the dessert menu, and you'll also receive complimentary chocolate-covered strawberries to finish. You'll order a la carte, and dishes will be priced between $6 to $11 for starters and $18 to $32 for entrees.

Le Colonial 937 N. Rush (312) 255-0088 This standout Vietnamese restaurant always concocts creative delicacies to delight guests, and the Valentine's menu will be no exception. With the $65 per person special menu, offered only on the 14th, you'll have five options for the first course and five options for the entree. The appetizer choices include asparagus and crabmeat soup, battered fried shrimp and grilled sea scallops; the entree choices are whole lobster sauteed with basil, Chilean sea bass, sauteed filet mignon, brochettes of chicken with shiitake mushrooms and ginger-marinated roast duck. Seasonal vegetables and rice will accompany your meal. You'll have several dessert options, too; the chefs are still determining what they will be. A 10 percent tax and 20 percent gratuity will be added to your bill, and pre-payment is required.

Don Juan 6730 Northwest Highway (773) 775-6438 Featuring unusual takes on popular dishes, Don Juan's thrills as well as satisfies. For Valentine's, it has put together a prix fixe menu for $45 per person that will five items, which you can choose: one salad, one appetizer, one meat, one fish, and one dessert. Beef tenderloin, risotto with shrimp or lobster, roasted chicken and lamb will be among the options. You'll also be able to order the special items a la carte, if you wish.

Geja's Cafe 340 W. Armitage (773) 281-9101 Fondue dining makes for a fantastic date, since it involves a lot of dipping yummy food and feeding each other. Geja's prides itself on being a veritable hot pot of romance (the Web site currently features Dinner for Life to couples that submit their most romantic Geja's experiences and win the approval of a panel of judges); Geja's intends to make you swoon with its Valentine's Dinner. The dinner will be offered from Feb. 12-14, and costs $80 per person (except for the Saturday 3 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. seatings, which will cost $65 per person). The price includes tax and tip, and pre-payment is required. You'll get Mumm champagne, a rose for your table, a Swiss Gruyere fondue appetizer, Geja's salad, a fondue entree of lobster, shrimp and beef, and the flaming dark Belgian chocolate fondue dessert. For $20 more, you can finish your evening with a horse-drawn carriage ride through Lincoln Park.

Heat 1507 N. Sedgwick (312) 597-9818 Sushi, sashimi and other seafood delights are fresher-than-fresh at this upscale hipster Japanese restaurant in the North/Clybourn neighborhood. On the 14th, there will be two eight-course menus, one for $65 per person, and the other, the Executive Chef's Menu, for $100 per person. Dinner will include a glass of champagne and dessert. The staff couldn't be specific with us, but promised, "You'll get a little bit of everything from the restaurant."

Lawry's 100 E. Ontario (312) 787-5000 You'd better bring a royal appetite to Lawry's, the king of all prime rib houses. You can order the Special Menu for Two from Feb. 11-14, and it will cost $99 per couple. You'll find that to be an incredible bargain for what you get: spinning bowl salad, sourdough bread, prime rib (the Lawry's Cut) or the salmon option, mashed potatoes and gravy, Yorkshire pudding, a half bottle of champagne, one cherry crisp dessert for two and a small box of truffles.

Menagerie 1232 W. Belmont (773) 404-8333 Well-known for its fantastic service and whimsical fare, as well as its proximity to the equally offbeat Bailiwick Arts Center, Menagerie is serving up a unique dinner in the $50 range for Valentine's Day. There will be a tapas plate for two, which will include your selection of four miniature items, an amuse bouche, a glass of champagne, an "intermezzo palate cleanser," your choice of entree and coffee-and-cardamom ice cream served on top of a chocolate cake.