2012 Chicago Restaurant Week!

It's February, and in Chicago that can only mean two things:

1. The dreariest month of the year.

2. Chicago Restaurant Week.

From February 17-26, restaurants all around town will be participating in the 5th Annual Chicago Restaurant Week organized by the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau.  Over 200 restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs will be offering prix fixe lunches for $22 and prix fixe dinners for $33-$44.  Take this opportunity to try a new restaurant, revisit an old favorite, or use it as an excuse to get together with friends. Be sure to call ahead and make reservations, because restaurants will be packed. Study the menus and, while you're at it, it doesn't hurt to check the dress code.  For a full listing of participating restaurants, click here.  

With over 200 restaurants to choose from, hone your options and search by neighborhood and cuisine.  Research the restaurants, their stories, and the chefs' approach to food.  Chicago is one of the greatest cities to be a foodie, so go out and take advantage of Restaurant Week.  If you're feeling overwhelmed, I've browsed the list and selected a few I think are worth looking at.  But really, how could you possibly choose just one!

Union Sushi & Barbeque Bar
230 W. Erie Street; 312-662-4888
Serving: Three-course lunch and dinner (both $22).
Why you should try it: This River North sushi and robata grill is breaking the rules and offering their three-course dinner at the $22 lunch price. Take this opportunity to try a hot restaurant without breaking your budget. 
Menu highlights: Mushroom salad with garlic-soy vinaigrette; rainbow and dragon maki; surf and turf with beef filet and jumbo shrimp; yuzu pie with coconut biscuit crust.

GT Fish & Oyster
531 N. Wells Street; 312-929-3501
Serving: Three-course lunch ($22).
Why you should try it: During dinner, it's easy to go overboard with the sippable cocktails and shareable seafood plates at this popular River North eatery and end up with a whale of a bill. A prix fixe menu will keep you focused and will be nice to your wallet.
Menu highlights: Bruschetta with shrimp, avocado, grapefruit and toasted pistachio; scallops with candied bacon and winter squash; carrot cake with ginger ice cream.

Nightwood
2119 S. Halsted Street; 312-526-3385
Serving: Four-course dinner ($44).
Why you should try it: This Pilsen gem rarely misses, and they're also accommodating.  Forgot to make a reservation? The discounted menu is available at the 8-seat kitchen counter, which is first come, first served.
Menu highlights: Foie gras agnolatti; spit-roasted pork loin with capers and anchovies; cocoa nib semi-freddo with hot fudge and brownie chunks.

Aria
200 N. Columbus Drive; 312-444-9494
Serving: Three-course lunch ($22) and three-course dinner ($33).
Why you should try it: Chef de cuisine Beverly Kim's turn on "Top Chef: Texas" has made this Asian-inspired restaurant inside the Fairmont Hotel one of the hippest and intriguing.
Menu highlights: Roasted baby beets with goat cheese, hazelnut, prosciutto and apple; Mongolian lamb ribs with edamame-mint puree; swordfish with miso mustard and sunchoke puree; chocolate-caramel mousse.

Vermillion
10 W. Hubbard Street; 312-527-4060
Serving: Three-course lunch and dinner ($33) and premium-three-course lunch and dinner ($44).
Why you should try it: Chef Maneet Chauhan has caused quite a stir on the Food Network, appearing in episodes of Chopped, Iron Chef America and fighting for the title of the Next Iron Chef. Take advantage of the prix fixe menu to sample her unique blend of Latin-Indian fare--some that she prepared while battling on television--all for a reasonable price.
Menu highlights: Naan tandoor chicken sandwich with mint and cucumber; mango mojito chicken with mango and rice; chili-glazed blackened tamarind ribs with avocado pakoras and tomatillo pachadi; mango cardamom flan.  

Naha
500 N. Clark Street; 312-321-6242
Serving: Three-course lunch ($22) and three-course dinner ($33 or $44).
Why you should try it: Most entrees at this acclaimed River North restaurant are in the $30 range, and a multi-course dinner for $33 is a serious bargain.
Menu highlights: Heirloom squash soup; pork belly risotto; coconut cream-grapefruit parfait. The $44 dinner includes an upgraded entree of duck breast and foie gras with a quince and fennel tart.