While Mother’s Day celebrations traditionally involve breakfast in bed or brunches with free-flowing mimosas plus gifts of flowers, it can be a little harder to figure out what to do for Father’s Day. Luckily, local bars and restaurants are making planning easier by offering a wide range of events and specials with an emphasis on big steaks, beer and whiskey. Whether you think your dad would love a multi-course dinner with plenty of time to talk or to show off his skills in a putting competition, these 39 spots make it easy to enjoy some quality time together.
All events take place on June 15 unless otherwise specified.
The Loop and Near North Side
The 101 Bar & Grill
The Magnificent Mile spot offers specials including a full slab of ribs with cornbread, coleslaw and dessert ($39), a Buffalo Trace old-fashioned ($18) and a flight of three bourbons ($48). 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 101 E. Erie St., 312-667-6800, the101chicago.com
About Last Knife
The restaurant within the Arlo Chicago offers The Best Dad’s Mixed Grill, a plate of barbecue pulled pork sliders, shrimp skewers and a 6-ounce grilled steak with creamy potato salad ($40). Add on Papa’s Kick, a blend of bourbon, honey, jalapeno and mint ($17) or apple crumble ($14) for dessert. 168 N. Michigan Ave., 312-392-2440, arlohotels.com
Adalina
Come for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for deviled eggs, fried chicken and dessert for $75 or $40 for kids ages 7-12, with a bottomless bloody mary bar available for $20. You can also book a table for dinner, where $85 gets you a 22-ounce rib-eye with fries, a smoked old-fashioned and a slice of chocolate cake. 912 N. State St., 312-820-9000, adalinachicago.com
Bar Pendry
Treat dad to a wagyu burger served with a side of herb-seasoned fries and a draft beer for $25 June 13-15. 81 E. Wacker Place, 312-777-9000, pendry.com
The Dearborn
The Loop restaurant offers smokehouse-inspired specials with brisket, chile-smoked chicken and baby back ribs served with collard greens, jalapeno cornbread and bourbon baked beans ($30). Try a bit of all three entrees as part of a $55 barbecue platter. 145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242, thedearborntavern.com
Dearly Beloved
Bring dad to enjoy two Angel’s Envy cocktails and a cigar from The Clayton ($40). Additional drinks and cigars are available to purchase along with food. 5-8 p.m. 900 N. Franklin St., dearlybelovedchicago.com
Ema
Dine in to take advantage of a crispy lamb ribs special served with cherry barbecue sauce, marcona almond and mint, or a Drop Dad Gorgeous cocktail made with Uncle Nearest whiskey, beef chip and bourbon barrel-smoked demerara served Friday through Sunday. 74 W. Illinois St., 312-527-5586, emarestaurants.com
Etc.
Chef Lamar Moore’s Southern restaurant hosts a brunch ($65) celebrating Black men and families to raise money for the Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage program. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 404 S. Wells St., 773-343-6872, events.eventnoire.com/e/reclaim-weekend-fathers-day-brunch-at-etc
The Grillroom Chophouse & Wine Bar
A Prime Time With Dad dinner offered June 12-15 includes a 16-ounce prime rib, two sides and dessert for $75. Add a smoked old-fashioned for $12. 33 W. Monroe St., 312-960-0000, grillroom-chicago.com
Maple & Ash
The steakhouse offers a special three-course brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Sunday for $120 or $65 for kids 12 and under. 8 W. Maple St., 312-944-8888, mapleandash.com
Michael Jordan’s Steak House
Treat dad to a special Metric Coffee-rubbed bone-in ribeye served with charred Vidalia onion butter ($140) and a sommelier-selected wine flight ($35). 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312-321-8823, michaeljordansteakhouse.com/chicago
Shula’s Steak House
Order the 42-ounce tomahawk steak and take home a jar of Shula’s signature dry rub. 5-11 p.m. 301 E. North Water St., 312-670-0778, shulassteakhouse.com/location-chicago
Three Dots and a Dash
Sample drinks from bars from around the world ($89), including Bisous, Sip & Guzzle and BKK Social Club at the Chicago Cocktail Classic, which runs at Three Dots and a Dash and neighboring venues Gus’ Sip & Dip and Salon 61. 4-8 p.m. 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220; threedotschicago.com/events/chicago-cocktail-classic
Toro
A Fuego & Flavor family-style three-course dinner includes smoked swordfish dip, corn empanadas and esquites mac and cheese for $100, or you can opt for a version that includes a tomahawk steak flamed with mezcal tableside for $155. The celebration also features cigar rolling and an old-fashioned cart. 200 N. Columbus Drive, 312-565-6644, torochicago.com/fathersday
Yardbird
Specials offered for brunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday include green chile truffle mac and cheese ($18), beer cheese soup ($14) and a Smoke on the Water cocktail made with Sazerac rye, toasted demerara, bitters and cinnamon smoke ($16). 530 N. Wabash Ave., 312-999-9760, runchickenrun.com/event/fathers-day-weekend
North Side & Northwest Side
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Chicago
Take dad out to a movie and share a special menu offered June 10-30, including a mustard meatloaf sandwich ($18) and a pulled pork and pineapple pizza ($17). 3519 N. Clark St., 872-298-3961, drafthouse.com/chicago
Bar Roma
Share specials offer June 13-15, including wood-grilled hanger steak with jumbo lump crab cake ($40), hand-rolled tagliatelle Bolognese ($26) and dark chocolate cake with spumoni gelato ($12). 5101 N. Clark St., 773-942-7572, barromachicago.com
Cody’s Public House
Watch the U.S. Open starting at 11 a.m. and enter a raffle to win a golf bag and cooler while sipping themed drinks including $7 John Dalys, $5 312 cans and $8 Bushmills Mulligan Mules made with cranberry and ginger beer. Dads can also show off their putting skills with a contest starting at 2 p.m. 1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com
The Graystone Tavern
The bar shows the U.S. Open on 16 TVs Thursday through Sunday, offering drink specials including $8 John Dalys, Tito’s Transfusions and Dobel Ranch Water. Enter free raffles Saturday and Sunday for the chance to win a golf bag and other swag. 3441 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-666-5450, graystonetavernchicago.com
Lark
Venus Carangi hosts a Zaddy’s Day drag brunch ($85) that includes a choice of entree and 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and sangria. 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. 3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com
Le Sud
Dig into soft shell crab finished with house-made grapefruit butter sauce or a wood-grilled double burger layered with gruyere, caramelized onions and aioli (both $25) offered throughout the weekend. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, lesudchicago.com
West Side & Near West Side
Carnivale
Stop in the Rumba Lounge for giveaways and complimentary sips of Bulleit Bourbon, Union Mezcal and Don Julio Tequila. 1-5 p.m. 702 W. Fulton Market, 312-850-5005, carnivalechicago.com
Kaiser Tiger
An all-you-can-eat smokeout ($30; $10 for kids 12 and under) in the West Loop beer garden includes pulled pork, grilled brats, German potato salad and baked beans plus $5 house beers. Noon-3 p.m. 1415 W. Randolph St., 312-243-3100, kaisertiger.com
Nettare
Treat dad to a $90 five-course dinner with the option to add mini cocktails and whiskey pairings from J. Henry & Sons for $50. 5:30-9 p.m. 1953 W. Chicago Ave., barnettare.com
The Oakville Grille & Cellar
All dads will receive a free bourbon double chocolate chip cookie and they can enjoy steak and eggs ($32) for brunch or a New York strip ($72) served with a twice-baked potato for dinner. 163 N. Green St., 773-309-2300, theoakville.com/events/fathers-day-weekend
South Side & Near South Side
Sanders BBQ Supply Co.
The Beverly restaurant teams up with pitmaster Bryan Furman for a Carolina-style whole hog cookout ($35) that includes rum-glazed chicken, brisket beans, mac and cheese, and banana pudding. 2-6 p.m. 1742 W. 99th St., 773-366-3241, exploretock.com/sanders-bbq-supply-co
Suburban and multiple locations
Beatrix
Come for brunch at the restaurant’s River North, Streeterville or Fulton Market locations Saturday or Sunday to get a burger topped with thick-cut peppered bacon and an egg served with fries and a choice of beer or bloody mary for $26. Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com
Chicago Culinary Kitchen
The barbecue spot offers a pound of smoked prime rib with horseradish cream for $49 for dine-in or takeout. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., 2391 N. Hicks Road, Palatine, 847-701-8243, chicagoculinarykitchen.com
Easy Street Pizza & Beer Garden
Keep the celebration low-key with 75-cent wings and $3 Miller Lite drafts offered all day. 711 Devon Ave., Park Ridge, 847-823-4422, easystreetpizzachicago.com
Farm Bar
Celebrate with the whole family on the dog-friendly patio, where you can enjoy a special wagyu patty melt with bourbon-braised charred onions and Hook’s cheddar offered through Sunday. 1300 W. Wellington Ave., 773-281-2599 and 1970 W. Montrose Ave., 773-770-9081; farm-bar.com
The Graceful Ordinary
The Dad’s Meal offers a 22-ounce chargrilled ribeye served with creamed spinach, fingerling potatoes and an old-fashioned for $80. 4-9 p.m. 3 E. Main St., St. Charles, 331-235-5803, thegracefulordinary.com
Kama
A lunch buffet ($55; $25 for kids 3-10; free for kids under 3) includes lamb samosas, chicken tikka, butter chicken, gulab jamun and hot chai. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 9 S. La Grange Road, La Grange, 708-352-3300, kamabistro.com
Lago by Fabio Viviani
The restaurant offers its Wednesday prime rib night special for Father’s Day, serving 16- or 20-ounces ($55-$60) with Italian-inspired sides. 350 N. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, 224-286-3567, lagolakezurich.com
Nick’s Pizza & Pub
Enjoy $12 burgers and fries offered all day. 856 Pyott Road, Crystal Lake, 815-356-5550 and 990 S. Randall Road, Elgin, 847-531-5550; nickspizzapub.com
Passero
Celebrate early with a $110 five-course bourbon dinner at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. 3 S. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights, 224-857-8900, eatpassero.com
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grill
The restaurant’s Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hill locations open early to offer bloody marys, mimosas and rosé sangria ($14) until 4 p.m. and a $69 22-ounce bone-in caramelized prime rib all day. Multiple locations, perryssteakhouse.com/specials/fathers-day
Prairie Grass Cafe
Specials offered in addition to the regular menu include a blue cheese wedge salad ($18), an 18-ounce bone-in ribeye ($72) and sauteed local mushrooms ($12). 5-8 p.m. 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-205-4433, prairiegrass.cafe
Prairie Moon
A three-course supper club dinner includes lobster bisque, hanger steak frites and Key lime pie. 1635 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-864-8328, prairiemoonrestaurant.com
Sweet Mandy B’s
Tell dad that he’s No. 1 with themed cookies, cupcakes and cakes available Friday through Sunday. 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632, sweetmandybs.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
