Dining out: Portillo’s expands breakfast test, Sicilian- and lobster-themed dinners and more
Portillo’s is doubling down on its breakfast test, adding a new menu item and doubling the number of restaurants offering the morning meal to 10. We’ve also got some special dinners celebrating Sicilian cuisine and lobster and the Taste of Highland Park is this weekend.
Portillo’s expands breakfast
Portillo’s flirtation with breakfast got a little more serious this week as it expanded both its offerings and the number of locations where it is served.
The iconic hot dog and Italian beef chain rolled out breakfast in April at five locations, including Elmhurst and Niles. On Tuesday that expanded to five more: Glendale Heights, Harwood Heights, Summit, Skokie and the North Side of Chicago.
They’ve also added the maple sausage and egg croissant to a sandwich lineup that started with the Polish sausage, egg and cheese on French bread with giardiniera sauce; the pepper, egg and cheese; and the bacon, egg and cheese on croissant.
The new sandwich is available on its own for $5.29 or as part of the $7.99 Breakfast Meal Deal, which includes a small Metropolis Coffee and hash brown bites.
Lobster in Libertyville
Main Street Social in Libertyville is hosting a four-course lobster boil dinner paired with its proprietary wines on Thursday, June 26.
The $145 per person seafood feast starts with raw and chargrilled oysters paired with Main Street Social Rosé, followed by bourbon-glazed shrimp skewers with pinot noir. That’s followed by the main event of boiled lobster paired with chardonnay. For dessert, lemon posset is paired with Bright Angel Wildwood White Bordeaux Blanc.
Email pat@mainstreetsoc.com for reservations.
Summer special
Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab in Rosemont is celebrating summer with its Summer of ’92 prix fixe menu, highlighting the season’s freshest flavors.
The three-course menu is $59, with upgrades available for each course. The first course starts with a choice of eight menu options, including the little gem Caesar salad and jumbo shrimp cocktail, or upgrades like the burrata salad.
The seven entrée options include the petit scallop and shrimp sauté, a six-ounce filet mignon or pappardelle Bolognese. Desserts include petite carrot or chocolate malt cakes, petite Key lime pie, or peaches and cream bread pudding.
Taste of Sicily
Niche is bringing the flavors of Sicily to Geneva Wednesday, June 25, with a four-course, prix fixe Sicilian dinner.
Guests will start with lobster Livornese, followed by grilled octopus. Veal spiedini will be served as the entrée with a tiramisu ice cream cake for dessert.
The dinner is $95 per person, with a $30 optional wine pairing. Call (630) 262-1000 for reservations.
Taste of Highland Park
Over a dozen purveyors of fine food and drink will participate in the Taste of Highland Park from 5-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, at Port Clinton Square, 600 Central Ave.
Participating restaurants and bars include BWB Shakes, Cafe Dacha, Central Cafe (Saturday), DeNucci’s, Fluffy Bunny (Friday), Indus Progressive Indian, Judy’s Pizza, Lynfred Winery, Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar, Mil Colibris Bakery + Cafe, Ordo, Steep Ravine Brewing Company, Tamales and Yana’s Speakeasy.
The fest includes a music lineup featuring tunes from the 1960s to early 2000s. For a full schedule, see enjoyhighlandpark.com/tasteofhighlandpark.
Hey, Boo Boo, I spy a pic-a-nic basket
Just in time for picnic season, Big Bowl has launched Chef’s Favorites To-Go, a new carryout package for four available at the Lincolnshire and Schaumburg restaurants.
Guests can choose two appetizers such as dumplings or Sichuan green beans, two main dishes, including General Tso’s chicken, Mongolian beef and sweet and sour shrimp, and one fried rice or noodle dish. The carryout and delivery package is $75, plus tax. See the full menu and order on the website.
• Send dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.