As summer winds down, Labor Day offers a last chance to make the most of the warm weather by eating and drinking outside. Spots throughout the city are hosting big gatherings including pig roasts, shrimp boils and cooking competitions where diners can vote for their favorite burgers or jollof rice. There are opportunities to enjoy an extra day off with a bottomless brunch or pick up snacks to feed a crowd in your backyard. We’ve done the work for you, so relax and take advantage of these 18 Labor Day parties and specials.
2024 Labor Day restaurant and bar specials
The Loop and Near North Side
Bijans
Celebrate throughout the weekend with $4 beers and $8 glasses of wine and take advantage of half-price cocktails on Monday while dining inside or on the patio. 663 N. State St., bijanchicago.com
Chef Art Smith’s Reunion
Come for brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to toast the end of the season with $35 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys and dishes including fried chicken and deviled eggs. Catch live music from 6-9 p.m. Saturday before the Navy Pier fireworks show. 700 E. Grand Ave., 312-224-1415, reunionrestaurants.com
North Side and Northwest Side
All Too Well
Feed a crowd with a $38 party-size turkey pesto, Italian or ham sandwich cut into square slices. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. 352 W. Armitage Ave., 773-799-8478, alltoowellchi.com
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
The tapas restaurant kicks off its happy hour early on Monday, offering deals including $1.50 deviled eggs, $4 bacon-wrapped dates, $5.50 glasses of sangria and $6 glasses of wine from 3-6 p.m. 2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000, cafebabareeba.com
The Country Club
The Wrigleyville bar offers $5 Chicago dogs with fries in addition to its usual Sunday specials of $10 Coors Light pitchers, $6 Jameson shots and $10 burgers with fries. Stop in at 3 p.m. Monday before the Cubs game at 6:40 p.m. 3462 N. Clark St., 773-975-2010, thecountryclubchicago.com
Frontier
A special brunch includes an entree, pastry and mimosa or punch. $39. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322, thefrontierchicago.com
Lark
Watch Venus Carangi work it along with other dancers during a drag brunch featuring $5 Bud Light and a package including a brunch entree, sweet starter and bottomless drinks such as mimosas, bloody marys and seltzers. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday through Monday. 3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com
Le Sud
Chef William Lara offers a $42 Oscar-style filet mignon with grilled asparagus in addition to the regular menu throughout the weekend. 2301 W. Roscoe St., 773-857-1985, lesudchicago.com
Lottie’s Pub
Play bags during a barbecue from noon to 5 p.m. Monday featuring a Maker’s Mark sampling at 2 p.m. and specials including $4 Michelob Ultra, $9 Maker’s lemonade Mason jars and $10 burgers. Stick around for trivia at 7 p.m. awarding $100 for first place. 1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com
Wake ’n Bacon
Get a free Mexican Coke throughout the weekend when you order The Phatty, a $15 breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, black beans, maple peppercorn bacon and cheddar cheese. 420 W. Belmont Ave., 773-880-5100, eatwakenbacon.com
West Side and Near West Side
Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar
Enjoy some Southern hospitality at the Humboldt Park restaurant’s annual whole hog roast on the patio, which includes spicy collard greens, kimchi, sweet corn, heirloom cauliflower salad and a glass of planter’s punch. $55. Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-9577, heritage-chicago.com
Ina Mae Tavern
The restaurant’s annual Labor Day patio party features live music from 1-4 p.m., a shrimp boil including corn and potatoes for $25 per plate and $10 frozen cocktails. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Enjoy a last taste of summer with specials offered Friday through Monday, including $5 watermelon vodka lemonades and cucumber vodka mules and $13 sloppy joes served on a brioche bun with a side of coleslaw. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
South Side & Near South Side
Eddie Fest
Following a Labor Day parade organized by the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Historic Pullman Foundation, Eddie Fest will honor the work of longtime labor activist Ed Sadlowski. The bash features grilled fish burgers from Dirk’s Fish Market, food trucks, live music, archery instruction and kids activities. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Pullman and Arcade parks, 11101 S. Cottage Grove Ave., chicagolaborparade.com
Jollof Festival at The Promontory
The annual Jollof Festival offers the chance to try versions of the traditional West African one-pot rice dish from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal and vote for your favorite. $32-$44. 2-7 p.m. Saturday. 5311 S. Lake Park Ave., eventbrite.com
Suburban and multiple locations
Buffalo Creek Brewing
Sample burgers from Lake County restaurants and pop-ups including Guud Burger, Woodfire Tavern and Rep’s Place and vote for your favorite at the second annual Burger Throwdown, which also features live music from Goin’ Live Band, games and the chance to try the brewery’s new Cherry Rasp amber ale. $25-$30. 1-4 p.m. Sunday. 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, 847-821-6140, buffalocreekbrewing.com
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
The chain swaps its regular sprinkles for red, white and blue ones topping vanilla and chocolate doughnuts all weekend. Multiple locations, stansdonuts.com
Sweet Mandy B’s
Indulge through Monday with the Just Dough It: eggless chocolate chip cookie dough sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies ($6.95). 1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632, sweetmandybs.com
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
