We love it when Yelp pools their resources to score major deals for their users. June 21-27, Yelp Eats! is back with $25 three-course menus at some of Chicago’s hottest restaurants. Now, we all know PLRGs love a good meal (note to Yelp- a Gym Week is much needed as a follow up to Eats Week), so we put our heads together and created our ultimate Yelp Eats! calendar. We’ve taken all the guesswork out of where to go which night, so all you have to do is make the reservation!
MONDAY, JUNE 21
Green Zebra
After a weekend of hard partying, you may need to detox a bit come Monday. At Green Zebra, you can forego the typical greasy hangover food for something lighter like chilled pea soup with preserved lemon to start and an asparagus tart with caramelized shallots for an entree. For dessert? We’d go with the strawberry shortcake with Greek yogurt.
TUESDAY, JUNE 22
May Street Market
In our opinion, May Street Market by far has the most daring and diverse menu in the Yelp Eats! line-up. This is a great night to dine out with someone you want to impress with your culinary and budgetary prowess (hint- Tuesday is also BYOB night, so double save!) You’ll start things off with odd, but tasty combos of pork belly caramel corn or blue corn calamari. For dinner, grilled tilapia with artichoke puree and olive spread is the quintessential summer dish. And, while we’d like to venture into new territory, the cupcake flight is a must for dessert!
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23
1492 Tapas
How about something with a little spice to get you through the rest of the week? 1492 Tapas, nominated by Metromix as one of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago (nudge and a wink to all the BFs out there), delivers traditional Spanish fare including every PLRGs favorite- tapas! Your appetizer choices include lobster stuffed mussels, goat cheese croquettes and the 1492 House Platter. The paella is not be missed as the main course, but allow a little extra time for this special dish.
THURSDAY, JUNE 24
La Madia
Grab your girlfriends, then grab a slice at La Madia. With this menu, you’ll get your choice of app- asparagus and ricotta bruschetta or prosciutto with mozzarella and teardrop tomatoes- plus one of two truffle laced pizzas or a frisee salad. We recommend saving room for dessert (leftover pizza will be great for lunch on Friday) where you can indulge in their homemade gelato “of the moment” or blood orange ice with Prosecco.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25
Bin 36
A Friday night out with work pals is a great way to end the week, especially when there is wine involved. At Bin 36 there’s something for every taste, light or decadent, so all your coworkers will leave satisfied. To start, you can be good and get the Bin 36 Market Salad or cheat on your diet and go with the rich and creamy mac & cheese. For the entree we’re salivating over the brown sugar cured, slow roasted pork loin chop and house-made ricotta gnocchi.
SATURDAY, JUNE 26
State & Lake
It’s Saturday night and you want to eat somewhere you can see and be seen. Your BF wants to go somewhere that’s not to “frou frou” with real manly food. Well, State and Lake, located on the ground floor of The Wit hotel, fits the bill for both of you. Your three courses begin with a choice of Valencia salad or Pub Soup. For dinner, he can order the slow roasted pork with tomato jam and polenta (pork always makes guys feel macho) and you can savor the roasted salmon with escarole. Being that the restaurant is in the heart of downtown, once dinner’s over you’ll be ready to party.
SUNDAY, JUNE 27
Spring
By Sunday you may want to unwind and dine someplace with a more tranquil atmosphere and Spring in Bucktown is just what you’ll need. They offer up a menu of New American cuisine with Asian Influences in a wonderfully spa-like setting. As a first course, they’re serving Yellowfin Tuna tartare or a farm egg ravioli, but our fave is the coconut lemongrass soup (it’s heavenly). Choice of entrees include Rosa Bianca eggplant masala with coriander yogurt emulsion, Australian Barramundi with cilantro pesto or Maine diver sea scallops with roasted mushrooms and sweet soy. The portions are usually reasonable here, which is great because you’ll still have room for dessert- a Valrhona white chocolate dome with wild strawberries and rhubarb or the lemongrass and kaffir lime panna cotta with brioche donuts.
For a full listing of details and participating restaurants, both in the city and in the suburbs, click on the image below. Happy dining!

(Lacey Brenly)