Time was in Chicago that just about the only place a person could take in a dinner-theater was the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 5620 S. Harlem Ave., in Summit.
That venue is still in operation; its current show is ”The Mystery of Edwin Drood” (call 496-3000). A similiar arrangement exists at Marriott`s Lincolnshire Theatre, where ”Big River-The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
is playing (634-0200).
Elsewhere, opportunities seem to grow with each opening of a show as restaurateurs and theater management put together specially priced dinner/
theater packages.
Some of the current combos include:
P.J. Clarke`s (1204 N. State Pkwy.) and Catch A Rising Star, the comedy and music club at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Dr), offer a $50 package Sundays through Thursdays. It includes dinner for two, two tickets to the show and two drinks at the club (and parking there). Call 565-HAHA, 664-7650 or 559-1212.
Wild Asparagus (1709 Benson St., Evanston) teams up with the Next Theatre`s production of ”The Enormous Room,” through March 26 at 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Patrons who buy two dinners will get two show tickets for the price of one. Call 866-8181.
Jeffrey`s of Highwood (310 Green Bay Rd.) has a dinner-theater package Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings with Highland Park`s Apple Tree Theatre (593 Elm Pl. in the suburb), whose current production is ”The Mystery of Edwin Drood.” Cost is $20 per person for a three-course dinner and the show. If diners have already purchased theater tickets, the price of dinner is $10. Call 432-4335.
Diners never have to leave the building if they dine at Cafe Royal and see the show at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. ”Steel Magnolias” is playing now. Packages are available for Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday matinee, $40; Friday and Saturday, $45; Sunday evening, $33, and a Sunday matinee buffet for $41. Call 988-9000.
That Steak Joynt (1610 N. Wells St.) has a package with the venerable Second City (1616 N. Wells St.), whose current show is ”The Gods Must Be Lazy” or ”There`s More to Life than Death.” Sunday through Thursday packages are $22-$37.50. For Fridays, add $1 more to the package price, and $2 more for Saturdays. Call 943-5091.
Second City`s offspring, Second City Northwest, has dinner-show packages with Rupert`s for Steaks, located in the same building at 1701 W. Golf Rd., Rolling Meadows. Packages are $17.95-$28.95 Thursdays and $23.95-$32.95 Fridays and Saturdays. Call 952-8555.
Some of the Levy Restaurants located within walking distance of the Civic Center for the Performing Arts (20 N. Wacker Dr.) have special dinner/theater packages. Prices vary according to the restaurant and show. Participating restaurants include Mrs. Levy`s Delicatessen, Benchers Fish House and Dos Hermanos Mexican Restaurante & Cantina, all located in Sears Tower (233 S. Wacker Dr.), and City Tavern (33 W. Monroe St.). For more information, call Ticketmaster at 902-1500.
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Side dishes
The snails are on the move. Another L`Escargot restaurant will open this month in the space formerly occupied by the Library restaurant, 9500 Lawrence Ave., Schiller Park.
Owner Alan Tutzer said the latest entry will have a moderately priced a la carte menu, which will vary slightly from the sister restaurants, although a few of L`Escargot`s signature dishes, such as cassoulet and the snail casserole, will be offered.
Two degustation menus-one with four courses, the other with seven-also will be offered.
Chef is Steven Levitan, who has worked as executive chef at Le Perroquet
(70 E. Walton St.).
The Schiller Park L`Escargot will be open from 5-11 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. The other L`Escargots are at 701 N. Michigan Ave. (Allerton Hotel) and 2925 N. Halsted St.
This month, Tutzer also plans to open Jet-Souffle Cafe, also to be housed in the Lawrence Avenue building, near O`Hare International Airport.
The cafe will have an American menu featuring souffles (for main courses and desserts) and a specialty hamburger and other sandwiches. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
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Yet another restaurant has been added to Chicago`s Italian dining mania:
Bellagio recently opened at 400 N. Clark St.
Named after the scenic village on Lake Como, the northern Italian restaurant occupies the former space-though redecorated to look like a trattoria-of the Met.
Bellagio is open for lunch Mondays through Fridays and for dinner Mondays through Saturdays. The menu features pastas and chicken, veal and meat dishes. Prices at lunch range from $7.50 to $16.50 and at dinner from $8.50 to $18.
For more information, call 329-0101.
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While salmon generally holds a spot on the menus at the Chicago and Deerfield locations of Shaw`s, a very special kind of salmon is now available at the seafood restaurants-Columbia River spring chinook salmon. At this time of year the fish are particulary rich in flavor and texture resulting from fats and oils built up in reserve for the journey up the Columbia.
To complement the salmon, Shaw`s is serving a selection of Oregon pinot noir wines. Some might not think red wine and fish mix, but that`s because they haven`t tried this combination, says Steve La Haie, manager of the downtown Shaw`s.
The salmon-pinot noir ”marriage” is going on at both locations through Monday.
In Chicago, Shaw`s is at 21 E. Hubbard St., 527-2722. In Deerfield, it`s 660 W. Lake Cook Rd., 948-1020.
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Simi Winery will sponsor a charity five-course wine and food dinner at 6:30 p.m. March 13 at Hotel 21. ”California Dreamin` in the Windy City” is designed to bring a taste of the sunny golden state to the chilly Midwest. All proceeds from the banquet will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. The Chicago chefs donating their time to create theare David Jarvis of Wilmette`s Melange, Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, Martin Gagne of the Hotel 21, Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter`s and David DiGregorio of The 95th. Zelma Long, legendary winemaker of Simi Winery, will be present. Tickets are $150 a plate. Checks, made out to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, can be sent to ”California Dreamin` in the Windy City,” 4529 S. Tripp Ave., Chicago 60632.
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The food of Burgundy and Lyonnais will be featured during March on the regular and fixed price menus at Le Cochonnet, 3443 N. Sheffield Ave.
On March 20, the French bistro will have a six-course dinner with five wines from the 1987 vintage of Louis Jadot, one of Burgundy`s leading wine producers. Price is $48.50.
Call 525-3888 for more information.
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