—At Tavern on Rush, 1031 N. Rush St., Executive Chef John Gatsos will prepare a four-course dinner designed specially for two ( $70 per person ). The meal includes Atlantic fluke crudo, crisp baby greens, filet mignon, potato-wrapped sea bass, a variety of special desserts and a glass of champagne. See www.TavernOnRush.com .
—ENO Wine Bar, 505 N. Michigan Ave., is offering two options Feb. 14-15. "The ENO Experience for Two" ( $40 per couple ) includes signature cheese, charcuterie and chocolate paired with two glasses of sparkling, white or red wine. "Blue Valentine" ( $45 ) includes a half-bottle of 2011 Seghesio Zinfandel ( Sonoma, Calif. ) and a flight of three dark chocolates with a champagne center. Call 312-321-8738.
—Chef Takashi Yagihashi is offering a special Eight Course "Bleeding Heart" Tasting Menu at his four-time Michelin star-winning restaurant Takashi, 1952 North Damen St., on Feb. 14-15. The menu ( $110 per guest, excluding tax and gratuity ) will include butter-packed lobster, Miyagi oyster with blood orange pave vinaigrette, "Coffee and Chocolate Affair" and passionfruit souffle, among other items. ( A credit card is required to hold reservations, and there's a 48-hour cancellation policy with a $25 fee per person. ) Call 773-772-6170 or visit www.takashichicago.com .
—Devon Seafood Grill ( 39 E. Chicago Ave., Downtown Chicago ) and Devon Seafood + Steak ( 17W400 22nd Street, Oakbrook Terrace ) are hosting a Valentine's Weekend three-course prix fixe dinner for two Feb. 14-16. The Valentine's prix fixe menu costs $95 for two, or $50 for an individual. ( Regular menu items are also available. ) For reservations, call Devon Seafood Grill ( Downtown Chicago ) and Devon Seafood + Steak ( Oakbrook Terrace ) at 630-516-0180.
—Tavernita, 151 W. Erie St., is offering a special sharing menu for two on Friday, Feb. 14. The sharing menu ( for couples and groups alike ) is available for $50 per guest ( exclusive of tax and gratuity ) and includes a choice of a mini cocktail, two bites, one small plate, one raw bar item, one large plate and dessert. Items range from duck prosciutto crostini to wild-boar ragout to the chef's dessert selection for the table. Call 312-274-1111.
—The Daily Meal has released its list of the 20 most romantic restaurants in the United States—and the only Chicago place to make the list was Everest ( #16 ). The top three restaurants on the list are The Little Door ( Los Angeles ), Tree Room at Sundance Resort ( Sundance, Utah ) and The Inn at Little Washington ( Washington, Va. ). See www.thedailymeal.com/america-s-20-most-romantic-restaurants/12914 for the entire list.
—Newport Bar and Grill, 1344 W. Newport Ave., is offering a taco-eating contest every Thursday through Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., when finals will take place. Hopeful contestants who visit the restaurant will have 30 minutes to eat as many $1 Cajun steak tacos as possible. The winner of the championship round will receive $200 and a championship belt. See www.TheNewportChicago.com .
—Through Feb. 7, Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., will have cider parties in homage to Chicago's CiderCon. Call 312-266-0400, visit www.jakemelnicks.com, or follow the venue on Facebook and Twitter.
—On Feb. 11, Atwood Cafe will reveal an entirely new dinner menu format and retire "Cafe" from the restaurant's official name. In an effort to reflect the restaurant's more playful spirit, Executive Chef Derek Simcik has also developed a "social plates" menu concept with new dishes ( served on new plateware ) that will fall under three categories: Grow, Graze and Swim. New items will include offerings such as frog legs confit with pickled green strawberries, and mackerel smothered with uni and chia-seed pudding.
—Takito, 2013 W. Division St., will be open for lunch every Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Created by Chef/Partner David Dworshak, the lunch menu is a limited version of the dinner menu, and focuses on salsas and escabeche, shared plates, sides, tacos and sweets.
—Troquet Ravenswood, 1834 W. Montrose Ave., and Finch's Beer Company are having a special beer dinner on President's Day—Monday, Feb. 17. The burger-and-beer flight special will be available all day for $20, not including tax or gratuity. ( The flight includes Cut Throat Pale Ale, Threadless IPA, Fascist Pig Ale and Secret Stache Stout. ) See www.TroquetChicago.com .
—Four-time Michelin star winner Chef Takashi Yagihashi and James Beard award winner Chef Tony Mantuano are swapping cuisines for a unique dinner Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Takashi, 1952 N. Damen Ave., 5:30-10 p.m. It's $105 each for the seven-course dinner, with an optional wine pairing for another $60. For reservations, call 773-772-6170; a credit card is required to hold reservations.
—Chris Dexter, Chris Freeman, Jared Van Camp and John Warken—who have opened Chicago restaurants Nellcote and RM Champagne Salon—have now launched Kinmont, 419 W. Superior St. With Duncan Biddulph ( Lula Cafe; Rootstock ) as executive chef, Kinmont is being promoted as "the first entirely sustainable fish & seafood restaurant in Chicago." See www.kinmontrestaurant.com .
—Horizon Cafe, 3805 N. Broadway, is currently offering the "Pride Platter" ( eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, toast, etc.; $12 ) in which a dollar of each order goes to the LGBT facility The Center on Halsted. See www.horizoncafechgo.com .
—On Feb. 16, 7-10 p.m., Delish Diner, 2018 W. Division St., will host a five-course garlic dinner courtesy of Chef Alan Lake and his friend and colleague, Chef Michael Karman. The winter-themed menu will celebrate garlic in all forms and feature several of Lake's award-winning garlic dishes. The cost is $70 each, excluding beverages. See "The Garlic Chef's Sunday Dinner" on Eventbrite.com .
—Pinstripes will collaborate with Bell's Brewery for dinners at all the restaurant's locations. Pinstripes' Executive Chef Cesar Gutierrez will present an Italian-American themed four-course menu specially created with each pairing. The dinners are Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at Pinstripes South Barrington and Oakbrook; and on Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. at Pinstripes Northbrook. The cost is $60, including tax and service charge. Reservations are required.
—Beginning Feb. 9, Wicker Park restaurant Azzurra, 1467 N. Milwaukee Ave., will debut Sunday Supper to diners craving a traditional, family-style feast on Sunday night. Each month, Azzurra will spotlight dishes from different regions in Italy, beginning with traditional Tuscan fare in February, followed by Sicily in March and Lazio ( Rome ) in April. The cost is $23 for adults; $12 for children 8-12; and free for children 7 and younger. See http://azzurrachicago.com/reservations.
—The Drawing Room, 937 N. Rush St., has announced its Valentine's Day menu ( Feb. 14-15 ). The four-course prix fixe dinner ( $49 per person ) includes ahi tuna, pan con tomate or beef tartare for the first course; apple salad; duck confit, pan-seared coulette steak or mushroom chevre crepe for the entree; and chocolate lava cake, vanilla bean creme brulee or strawberry sorbet for dessert. Reservations are required; call 312-266-2694.
—The Berkshire Room—a craft cocktail lounge from The Fifty/50 Restaurant Group located at 15 E. Ohio St.—has an entirely new upscale bar snacks menu. The menu is broken down into five sections: "Dealer's Choice Bar Snacks," "Dealer's Choice Meats & Cheeses," "Mini Sandwiches," "Bigger Bites" and "Desserts." Items range from bourbon-cured olives to Truffled Excess Chocolate Cake. See www.theberkshireroom.com .
—Chicago Restaurant Week continues through Feb. 6. The annual culinary celebration will feature prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33 and/or $44 for dinner ( excluding beverages, tax and gratuity ). Among the many city and suburban restaurants participating are Allium, bistronomic, Cicchetti, Bistrot Zinc, Farmhouse Chicago, Henri, Mon Ami Gabi, Phil Stefani's 437 Rush, McCormick & Schmick's, and Oceanique. See EatItUpChicago.com .
—"Chicago's Best WingFest" will take place Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington St., 1-5 p.m. Tickets ( $30-$65 ) may be purchased directly at www.WingFest.net, and attendees must be at least 21.
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