Dad's done so much for you, from teaching you to play catch to putting you through college. Pay him back this Father's Day with a feast he won't soon forget at some fine Chicago-area restaurants. Events and specials take place on Sunday, June 21 unless otherwise noted.
Park 52
11 a.m.-3 p.m.; make a reservation at the restaurant's website
Nothing makes Dad happier than a big, fat steak. Enjoy this Hyde Park favorite's three-course prix-fixe prime rib special for $45. The meal includes salad or soup, 12 oz. prime rib served with choice of veggie sides and flourless chocolate cake, bread pudding or creme brulee to top it off. Reservations are recommended.
SushiSamba Rio
Adventurous fathers will find a lot to like at this always vibrant eatery in River North. The Father's Day brunch special includes one appetizer (fried oysters, kobe beef tataki, kimchee tuna tartar, yellowtail ceviche) and one main plate (open-faced churrasco sandwich, mini-moqueca, cast-iron baked eggs, Peruvian anticucho assortment) for $25, with optional beer pairings an additional $15. Plus, all dads will leave with $10 gift cards.
Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
Throughout June, Jake Melnick's is serving the Big Daddy Burger: A 9 oz. hand-crafted burger, stuffed with bleu cheese and basted with homemade steak sauce, then topped with black peppercorn bacon, horseradish havarti, crispy onion strings, aioli, lettuce and tomato on a pretzel bun. It's paired with a Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale and fries for $9.95. On Father's Day, this burger-and-a-beer combo will only be $5 for Dad.
John Barleycorn (Schaumburg)
10 a.m.-3 p.m. (brunch); 5-9 p.m. (dinner)
If Dad is the early-to-rise type, head to Barleycorn for an all-you-can-eat $9.95 brunch buffet. The spread includes breakfast fare, hand-carved prime rib, made-to-order omelets, an interactive pasta station and more. The first 25 fathers who dine at John Barleycorn receive free tickets for the Chicago Improv. If you're letting Dad sleep in, make plans for the all-you-can-eat $12.95 dinner buffet instead. The spread includes hickory-smoked baby back ribs, hand-carved prime rib, made-to-order pasta, side dishes, desserts and more. Drink specials for the day include $15 Miller buckets, $3 Sam Adams drafts and $4 Fat Tire drafts.
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
4-10 p.m. (Chicago); 5-9 p.m. (Rosemont); 4-9 p.m. (Lombard)
All Harry Caray's locations have special menu items meant for fathers to enjoy, including a bleu cheese-crusted prime rib (Lombard) and a BBQ basket featuring ribs and brisket (Chicago). But the biggest draw, in our opinion, is that Dad can enter to win a dinner for four at any location with Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. That'll make him forget all about the fact that you gave him another tie.
Harry Caray's Tavern
7 p.m.-close
Taking Dad to the Cubs game? Stop into Harry Caray's afterward and get him a free burger from the Holy Cow! burger bar, featuring a wide selection of meats, toppings and buns. The deal doesn't start 'til 7 p.m., so you may have to take him to a few bars first, depending on how long the game goes.
Joey's Brickhouse
$25 per person
Got a family full of picky eaters? Everyone's bound to find something to eat at Joey's Dad's Day Italian-Style Buffet, which includes a section of favorites from the old country (lasagna, Sicilian pizza, spicy seafood pasta, chicken vesuvio). Your table will also get fresh homemade garlic bread and your choice of first and second courses including stuffed artichokes and caesar salad. And something special for those extra-picky eaters: kids under 12 get a complimentary bowl of spaghetti and meatballs and a cookie cup of homemade ice cream.
Niche (Geneva)
11 a.m.-2 p.m.; $35
Enjoy a three-course beer brunch at this modern Geneva cafe. The meal includes: signature Szechwan beef hanger steak grilled and carved with crisp won-tons, sesame aioli and fresh scallions served with Omegang Abbey Ale; tender braised pork shoulder in a traditional mole sauce layered with crisp tortillas, lime-aleppo chile dressed jicama, toasted peanuts and queso fresco served with Rogue, Dead Guru Ale; and dark chocolate ice cream and Young's Double Chocolate Stout beer float with sweet malted whip cream.
La Tache
10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Indulge in this Andersonville bistro's special brunch menu featuring items like Fathers Day pancakes (citrus-braised short ribs over Johnny cakes), corned beef hash (Boars Head corned beef, green bell peppers and confit shallots, with eggs and toast) and Kobe burger (8-ounce Kobe meat, a sunny-side up egg, garlic aioli and onion frites).
Le Titi de Paris
10 a.m.-3 p.m.; $36-$39
So, ton pere likes zee French cuisine, eh? This Arlington Heights restaurant should provide that certain je ne sais quoi, with a three- or four-course menu including braised short ribs, Mediterranean rubbed duck breast, creme brulee and more.
The Pony
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
This Lakeview bar commemorates Father's Day with a two-for-one deal on all breakfast items with a complimentary beer or one of the bar's mouthwatering burgers and beer. Fathers and sons can enjoy the deal throughout the day and The Pony will pick up the tab on one of the items for equal or lesser value.
Sweets and Savories
If Dad loves free French food, take him to this Lincoln Park spot, where he'll get his meal for nothing with the purchase of an entree of equal or greater cost. The kobe beef burger with foie gras ($17), named Chicago's best burger a while ago, could be the way to go.
O'Donovan's
10 a.m.-2 p.m.; $13.95 for adults, $6.95 for kids 11 and under
If Dad can really put it away, this all-you-can-eat brunch is a good choice, as O'Donovan's has supplemented its already hearty brunch buffet fare (a waffle station, carved ham and roast beef, biscuits and gravy, a bottomless pit of Sloppy Joes) with some Father's Day specials including Philly steaks, grilled hot dogs and brats, a nacho station, paella, a south-of-the-border skillet with chorizo, mini apple pie with cream filling and corn bread stuffed with cranberry sauce. $6 White Trash mimosas (Tang and Miller Lite, we hear) will also be available.
Shaw's Crab House
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Chicago); 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Schaumburg); $49.99 for adults, $19.99 for kids, those under five eat free
Shaw's is so sure Dad will love its hotel-style brunch, the restaurant is offering every father who visits a $25 gift certificate for a future dining experience. The buffet features classic breakfast specialties, a make-your-own omelet and waffle station with 13 ingredients, a carving station with beef tenderloin and roast turkey, a cold seafood bar with sushi, oysters and Alaskan king crab bites and a Sweet Table with bite-size portions of many desserts.
Captain Morgan Club
10 a.m.-noon
Cubs-fan dads have another chance to fulfill a dream; if he fills out a raffle card at this bar attached to Wrigley Field before noon, he could be getting his picture taken on the field with up to three guests (hopefully he chooses you) one hour before game time. Game tickets are not necessary.
Holy Mackerel!
If you don't want to hear another story about the one that got away, take Dad to this Lombard seafood spot, where he can chow down on a whole red snapper, served with white sticky rice, stir-fried vegetables and a sesame scallion glaze ($34.95). The full seafood menu will be available.
Smoke Daddy
noon-3 p.m. Saturday, June 20; $25 per person
Want to start your celebration a little early? Smoke Daddy hosts a pre-Father's Day pig roast featuring all-you-can-eat smoked pork, coleslaw, and housemade chips, plus unlimited drafts of Bud Light. The Tri-State Blues Band performs live, and the full regular menu is also available.
Duchamp
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Take advantage of this Bucktown staple's $29 prixe fixe brunch menu, which includes a three-course meal of favorites from Executive Chef Michael Taus. Start off with a choice of apps like chilled rock shrimp and roasted tomato gazpacho, followed by main courses like steak & eggs, smoked Norweigan salmon or havarti cheeseburger with tomato remoulade. Finish things of with desserts like caramelized lemon tart with strawberry-cardamom, cupcakes and homemade ice cream sandwiches.
Sheffield's
10 a.m.
Planning to take Dad out for an afternoon on the links? Stop by Sheffield's first, where he'll get a complimentary sleeve of golf balls with the purchase of a meal (he can also enter to win two tickets to an upcoming Cubs game). Brunch specials include prime rib with baked potato and roasted corn on the cob ($12.95).
Salute Wine Bar
Four courses, including beer pairings, for just $19 - now that's a deal any dad can get behind. Salute's Father's Day deal includes mushroom and goat cheese bruschetta (paired with Manabrea Blond), house-made duck pate and duck prosciutto (Cassissona), bresola and tartufo panini (Moretti La Rossa) and mini-cannoli and fig compote (Draco). Beer expert David Frost will be on hand from 1-6 p.m. to answer questions about the pairings and about Italian beer culture. The special is available all day.
Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge
6-10 p.m.; $50
New chef Noah Sandoval offers a five-course menu with beer pairings, including mixed greens (Three Floyds Alpha King), venison carpaccio (Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA), duck breast (Rocquefort #8 Trappiste), ribeye (La Chouffe Belgian ale) and Betwinki, a golden sponge cake with white chocolate ganache and three-chocolate soups (Lindemans Raspberry Lambic).
WingTown Grill
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Dads dining with their kids at this chicken-crazy spot on Sunday will receive a free pound of wings covered in their favorite WingTown sauce. There are tons of sauces to choose from, ranging from "tame" to "ouch!" in terms of spice. There are also six specialty wing creations, including a cheesy Italian version.
Glen Prairie
This Glen Ellyn restaurant aims to please Dad with items straight from the grill, with meals including spice-rubbed baby-back pork ribs (full slab $22, half-slab $15), grilled half Amish chicken with pineapple brown sugar glaze ($21) and "the Cowboy," a bone-in ribeye ($34). Each meal includes a choice of two sides, including BBQ pork and beans, grilled sweet corn, loaded baked potato, coleslaw, French fries, mac 'n' cheese and sauteed green beans ($4 if purchased separately).
Maxwell's at The Club
10 a.m.-2 p.m.; $45 for adults, $15 for children under 10
Pops can stuff himself silly at this lavish all-you-can-eat buffet, including a variety of appetizers, salads and entrees, a carving room with prime rib and rack of lamb, and an omelet and waffle station.
Pappadeaux (Arlington Heights)
9 a.m.-3 p.m.; $19.95
This may be a seafood restaurant, but there's nothing fishy about its all-you-can-eat brunch buffet, which includes a carving station with ham, prime rib and lamb, a made-to-order waffle, pancake and omelet station and more. The regular menu will also be available, and there will be live jazz and a balloon artist.
Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue (Elk Grove Village)
10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; $28.95, $14.99 for children
What could say "I love you, Dad" better than a barbecue buffet? Sweet Baby Ray's feast includes an outdoor grill station with Southern-style spit-roasted pig, fresh bratwurst and sausage, mini garlic burgers and Jamaican jerk chicken wings; a carving station with brisket, smoked pork loin, shrimp and grilled mahi mahi; and breakfast items like made-to-order omelets, eggs Benedict, French toast and more. Add on the Bloody Mary Bar for just $7.99.
Farmerie 58
$34
Spend some family time at the Farmerie with a special three-course prix-fixe menu. Choose from crab saffron fondue, bacon-wrapped prawns, chopped house salad and sweet corn ravioli for the first course, bone-in ribeye, cola BBQ ribs and wild salmon for the second, and chocolate cake with ice cream or apple pie with spiced apple ice cream for dessert.
Leona's
At this popular Italian spot (12 locations in the area), Dad can select any entree on the menu for half-price. We suggest one of the 11 lasagna varieties, including five cheese with tomato cream sauce and grilled shrimp, or spinach and artichoke with roasted salmon.
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
Papas who love tapas will enjoy getting a $25 gift certificate when they dine at this Lincoln Park restaurant for brunch (with over 15 breakfast tapas, cava cocktails and a build-your-own bloody mary bar) or dinner on Sunday.
Paramount Room
11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Enjoy Father's Day specials from Chef/Partner Stephen Dunne like the Dad "Slam" Breakfast (available until 3 p.m.) - 2-ounce NY Strip steak, Berkshire bacon, house-made breakfast sausage, 2 eggs any style, and a 4-ounce bloody Mary "Shorty" (12.95). Or take Pops out for dinner after 3 p.m. and his entree is free.
The Spot
Want to show Dad something he's never seen before (or at least not in a long time)? The Diva Brunch, featuring the Flaming Dames and Off Off Broadzway Burlesque Sketch Revue, should do the trick. Miss Scooty hosts shows at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Still need a gift? Check out our list of Father's Day Finds.
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