Dining out: 'Game of Thrones' specials, plus Passover dinners & Easter brunches

Winter is here

Calling all “Game of Thrones” fans: Southern Belles is bringing Winter to all of their pancake house locations - Barrington, Bedford Park, Carpentersville, Minooka, Plainfield and Yorkville - during the final season of HBO's hit show. Nosh on GOT specialties such as: The Hound's Chicken Waffle Sandwich (sugar pearl waffle, honey-glazed buttermilk fried chicken breast, bacon, scrambled egg and cheddar cheese for $12.95), Fire & Ice Cakes (Dragon Fire red buttermilk pancakes filled with white chocolate chips and topped with a cream cheese frosting, a raspberry drizzle and white chocolate for $10.95) and The Mother of Dragon's Eggs (a spin on Scotch eggs - two hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage, coated in panko bread crumbs and fried - for $12.95). Or try Tyrion's Boozy Orange Pecan French Toast (orange-scented pan bread dipped in vanilla custard mixed with orange brandy and garnished with candied oranges, pecans and powdered sugar for $10.95), Arya's Pot Pie Omelet (an omelet filled with diced chicken, biscuits and cheddar topped with warm chicken potpie for $11.95), Jon Snow-reo Pancakes (buttermilk pancakes filled with chocolate chips and Oreo cookies and finished with Oreos, chocolate and marshmallow topping for $10.95) or BoNuts (fried biscuit doughnuts with cinnamon sugar, blueberry mascarpone and chocolate for $6.95). The specials will be available through May 27. Southern Belles is located at 210 S. Cook St., Barrington, (847) 387-4290; 6737 S. Archer Road, Bedford Park, (708) 458-4778; 152 S. Western Ave., Carpentersville, (224) 699-9959; 58 W. School House Road, Yorkville, (630) 553-9977; and 15051 S. Van Dyke Road, Plainfield, (815) 267-7800, southernbellespancakes.com/.

Passover specials

Di Pescara: Beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, April 19, and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, the Northbrook restaurant will be serving a family-style Passover menu. Start off with a first course of orchard salad, gefilte fish and chopped liver before moving on to a second course of matzo ball soup. Up next are entrees served family-style: Roast Amish chicken, braised brisket of beef and broiled Atlantic salmon with sides of carrot tzimmes and potato pancakes served with apple sauce. Finish with desserts such as Valhrona flourless chocolate cake, coconut macaroons and chocolate-covered marcona almonds. Gluten-free options are available. It's $44.95 per person and half price for kids 12 and younger. Reservations are required. Di Pescara is at 2124 Northbrook Court, Northbrook, (847) 498-4321, di-pescara.com/events/passover-at-di-pescara/.

Prairie Grass Cafe: Celebrate Passover with family and friends on Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, with specials such as chef Sarah Stegner's chopped chicken liver ($10 a serving), barbecue braised brisket and roasted cauliflower ($26) and flourless chocolate cake ($8.50). The regular menu also will be served. Reservations are required. Prairie Grass Cafe is at 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-4433 or prairiegrasscafe.com/.

Wildfire Glenview and Lincolnshire: On Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, Wildfire will be plating the Passover Club Menu, which is served family-style for groups of six or more. Dine on gefilte fish, homemade chopped liver and matzoh ball soup before noshing on entrees like Roasted Herb Chicken, Braised Brisket of Beef and Matzoh-Crusted Fresh Fish of the Day with sides like Roasted Asparagus and Potato Kugel. End with sweets such as Homemade Sponge Cake, Chocolate Almond Macaroons and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Dinner is $42.95 for adults and $18.95 for kids 12 and younger. The regular menu will be available, along with gluten-free options. Wildfire is at 1300 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, (847) 657-6363, and 235 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 279-7900, wildfirerestaurant.com/.

Brunch bonanza

Executive chef Rick Ohlemacher took over the helm at The Heritage in late March and is now debuting a new brunch menu Saturday, April 20. New dishes to look for include the omelette (Boursin cheese, wild mushrooms and ramps), eggs Benedict (country ham, asparagus, English muffin and green garlic hollandaise), brioche French toast (berry compote, vanilla chantilly and maple syrup) and country fried steak (with sawmill gravy and a sunny egg). The Heritage is at 7403 Madison St., Forest Park, (708) 435 4937 or theheritageforestpark.com/.

Easter brunches and more

In last Friday's Time out!, we ran a list of Easter Sunday brunches. Here are some more Easter dining events. For the full list of brunches and dinners, see dailyherald.com/entlife/.

A Toda Madre: 499 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, (630) 474-0969, atmrestaurant.com/, and Quiubo, 120 Water St., Suite 122, Naperville, (331) 702-2711, quiubomx.com/. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21. The all-you-can-eat Easter buffet includes Mexican pastries, guacamole, ceviche, French toast, chilaquiles, papas truchas, a taco bar and sides. A mimosa is included for adults 21 and older. Adults: $30; kids 6-12: $15. Reservations required.

The Drake Hotel Oak Brook: 2301 York Road, Oak Brook, (630) 571-0000, thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com/easter-brunch.htm. When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Indulge in Easter brunch, which includes an omelet station, pastries, breakfast selections (eggs Benedict, O'Brien potatoes, cheese blintzes), fresh waffle station, carving station (herbed-rubbed prime rib of beef, roasted rosemary lamb, brown sugar and bourbon-glazed steamship of ham), salads, a seafood and raw bar (oysters on the half shell, cocktail shrimp), entrees (stuffed chicken polenta, pan-seared strip loin, potato gnocchi), sides, a kids' table and desserts (Death-by-Chocolate Cake, creme brulee, bourbon pecan pie, Ruby Cake, European tortes) and more. Includes champagne and mimosas. Adults: $70; kids 6-12: $25; kids 5 and younger: free. Reservations required.

The Hyatt Lodge: 2815 Jorie Blvd., Oak Brook, (630) 581-6782, hyatt.com/. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Easter brunch features a bounty, with breakfast and lunch buffets including carving stations, waffle and pancake stations, a salad bar, seafood and sushi and a kids' buffet. Also, there will be two magicians and a piano player performing and appearances by the Easter Bunny. Adults: $67; seniors: $57; kids 5-12: $26; kids 4 and younger: free. Reservations are required.

Michael Jordan's Restaurant: 1225 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 828-2932, michaeljordansrestaurant.com/happenings/. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Dine on a bounty of fare during Easter brunch. Expect a carving station (slow-roasted prime rib, herb-roasted turkey), Chef Gary's Signature Brunch Items (lemon chicken, frittata, challah bread French toast, wings, mashed potato station), raw bar (oyster shooters, crab claws Imperial, ahi poke, poached lobster), salads, charcuterie, kids' station and a sweets table (mini Key lime pie tartlets, brownie bites, lemon pound cake, fresh fruit) and more. Also, there will be a Bloody Mary, Bellini and mimosa bar for an extra charge. Adults: $59; kids 12 and younger: $20. Reservations required.

Old Town Pour House: 1703 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 448-6020 or oldtownpourhouse.com/naperville/. When: Opens at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, and 10 a.m. Sunday, April 21. Easter specials include fried chicken (crispy Southern fried chicken, apple wood smoked bacon and bourbon honey butter on a biscuit) and Benedict (smoked ham, sautéed asparagus and poached eggs on a toasted English muffin topped with tomato hollandaise). These will be available Saturday and Sunday along with the full brunch menu. Old Town Pour House in Oak Brook will be closed on Easter Sunday.

The Ram: 9520 Higgins Road, Rosemont, (847) 692-4426, theram.com/. When: Opens at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 21. Besides offering the full menu, The RAM offers a $16.99 Easter Sunday steak dinner special featuring a Harris Ranch ½-pound center-cut sirloin served with seasonal vegetables and cheddar mashed potatoes. Plus, all kids eat for one dollar from the kids' menu (12 and younger) with each adult entree purchased. For libations, the 18-ounce Double Shot Proud Mary Bloody Marys are $5 as are the half-liter grand mimosas and sangrias. Limited reservations are available or try call-ahead seating.

Yard House: 2301 Fountain Square Drive, Lombard, (630) 495-1912 1880, and Tower Drive, Glenview, (847) 729-9273, yardhouse.com/home. When: 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday, April 21. Yard House is celebrating Easter with a twist on traditional deviled eggs. Their version includes candied bacon, spicy tomato sauce, sweet chili and chives starting at $3.95.

Dine Out and Do Good

Throughout the month of April, many suburban and Chicago restaurants are participating in Dine Out and Do Good through GoBlue 4 OHU, a fundraiser for One Hope United to support programs that prevent child abuse. Suburban restaurants, including Ambrosia Euro-American Patisserie (Barrington), Beatrix (Oak Brook), The Brunch Café (St. Charles, Huntley, Niles, Roselle, Fox River Grove, McHenry), Elgin Public House (Elgin), McNally's Irish Pub (St. Charles), MORA (Bolingbrook and Oak Park) and Vintage 53 (St. Charles), will be offering special Go Blue menu items to raise funds for OHU's programs.

For details, see onehopeunited.org/category/go-blue/.

Free doughnuts!

Add some sweet to your life: At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, April 20, all Stan's Donuts & Coffee locations will be giving away a free mini dipped chocolate doughnut to the first 50 people in line. If you miss out on the free doughnut, Stan's has some new treats that it just added to its menu. Available now through May 31, the Lemon Le Stan is a croissant-doughnut filled with lemon oil and zest-infused pastry cream and with a drizzle of lemon zest on top. New spring beverages include the Cold Brew Shandly (a cold brew coffee mixed with lemonade), the cucumber mint lemonade and the matcha latte (Japanese-style matcha green tea powder blended with a bit of sugar and hot steamed milk).

Stan's Donuts is at 529 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 590-1060; 17W615 Butterfield Road, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 317-7044; and 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, (224) 353-6092, stansdonuts.com/.

Email clinden@dailyherald.com with suburban dining and night life events.