These five restaurants offer exquisite food, new and exciting flavors, and the opportunity to indulge in cuisines you perhaps have not considered before.
Chicago Curry House - Indian and Nepali cuisine
899 S. Plymouth Court
312-362-9999
Website | Pre Fixe Menu
Restaurant Week: Lunch ($24) and Dinner ($48)
Plenty of choices here on both menus, including samosas, breads, masalas, tandooris and traditional desserts. There are options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike, all flavorful and filling. It's worth visiting for either meal but all things considered, it's probably a better deal at lunch time.
Demera - Ethiopian cuisine
4801 N. Broadway Street
773-334-8787
Website | Pre Fixe Menu
Restaurant Week: Lunch ($24) and Dinner ($48)
Ethiopian food can feel difficult to approach what with the many, many dishes to choose from and its reputation for being spicy, but Demera has a nice selection of shareable dishes with an emphasis on vegetarian items. Enjoy the cuisine's signature thick stews (spicy and mild options are both on offer) with spongy, sour injera bread - and there's a gluten-free injera substitution available for an extra $2.50. A particularly great reservation if you're going to see something at the Green Mill or Aragon.
HaiSous - Vietnamese cuisine
1800 S. Carpenter Street
312-702-1303
Website | Pre Fixe Menu
Restaurant Week: Brunch ($24) and Dinner ($48)
Tucked among the Mexican restaurants in Pilsen, Thai Dang - one of the city's most talented chefs - and his homage to his native Vietnam is among the city's best restaurants, period. Starters include pork shoulder with crushed peanuts or chopped clams with Vietnamese basil, and the braised chicken or new Restaurant Week exclusive Tom Chien Muoi Tieu (salt and peppers shrimp) are ABC7's Steve Dolinsky's picks for main courses. HaiSous is also one of the Restaurant Week participants offering a deal for brunch. You can add beverage pairings to either pre fixe menu - $35 per person for dinner and $15 per person for brunch.
Ixcateco Grill - Mexican cuisine
3402 W. Montrose Avenue
773-539-5687
Website | Pre Fixe Menu
Restaurant Week: Dinner ($36)
The restaurant week menu has fewer options than other places, but this BYO spot, at $36, is a steal. Dolinsky recommends starting with sopes placeros, then moving on to the shrimp mole. The New York strip steak with black mole looks pretty tempting, too.
Tanta - Peruvian cuisine
118 W. Grand Avenue
312-222-9700
Website | Pre Fixe Menu
Restaurant Week: Lunch ($24) and Dinner ($48)
A Peruvian import from Lima, Tanta is known for serving some of the city's best ceviche. Look beyond that, though, to their Chinese-influenced rice dishes and Peruvian sandwiches, not to mention the intriguing cheesecake flavored with chicha morada (purple corn and pineapple). Vegetarian options are available on both menus, and a $10 wine by the glass special is available for both meals.