Eating out over Passover

So, my parents are coming to town over Passover and would like to take me and the husband out somewhere nice. Now, I'm a bad Jew and my husband's only honorary, but my parents keep the holiday, meaning that they won't eat bread, pasta, etc. Any suggestions as to where we should go? The only criteria is that my parents can order comfortably and that we get to sap them of their money. (Need not be kosher; just Passover-friendly.)

David Burke's Primehouse?

There's an upscale kosher restaurant in Skokie called Shallots (4741 Main); it used to be in the city and was well regarded there, I believe. I've never been but it's well reviewed on Metromix.

I've always found it easier to eat out during passover by going to a steak house -- you can always get your entree, a potato and vegetables. If your parents are willing to pay, go for it!

I personally plan to pick up a chicken at our local Mr. Pollo one evening.

I would venture to say most kosher restaurants are closed during Passover, since changing dishes to accommodate their customers is too much trouble.

Any restaurant that serves grilled meats should work -- just call and ask questions to make sure they will accomodate you before you go.

Suzy

Why not go to Green Zebra? Their mostly-vegetarian menu is ideal for the frum.

Seems like a perfect time to hit Fogo de Chao. Eating bread there is a sucker move anyway as it takes up valuable stomach real estate that is better reserved for the spit roasted meats (and the salad bar too, I suppose).

Snoopdug wrote:Seems like a perfect time to hit Fogo de Chao.

Actually, Good Friday is the perfect time to go to any of the Brazilian Steakhouses. Easy in, easy out. Trust me.

Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant does a Passover dinner- you just need to call one day ahead and let them know you need the matzo made from chickpeas. 773-506-9601

VIPchef wrote:Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant does a Passover dinner- you just need to call one day ahead and let them know you need the matzo made from chickpeas. 773-506-9601

As far as I know, Zenesh Beyene, Ras Dashen's owner, is the only Ethiopian Jew in Chicago.

However, what is correctly kosher for Passover for Ethiopian Jews and Sephardic Jews isn't acceptable for Ashkenazic Jews. Chickpeas fall into a class called kitniyot, which Ashkenazic rabbis forbid, so if you're trying to accommodate people who are sort of observing Passover restrictions, you may want to keep that in mind. (If you're really observing Passover, you're not eating out this week at all.)

I'm looking for a good restaurant with some Passover-friendly dishes (no bread, pasta, or rice) for Saturday night. There will be 9 of us, although not everyone is keeping Passover. I'm hoping to avoid downtown in favor of a smaller, neighborhood spot, but one that can accomodate our large group. Any ideas?

Thanks!
Lindsay

Himself, calling in from the line at Smoque, reports a sign: "Passover: Advance orders, brisket only."

Lindsay wrote:I'm hoping to avoid downtown in favor of a smaller, neighborhood spot, but one that can accomodate our large group.

Where are you coming from?

To some extent, this may be a matter of the menu items you choose, rather than the restaurant (although obviously they are related). Basic preparations like grilled meats and fish should work fine. Salads and veggies too. Steak and seafood restaurants and contemporary American restaurants should work fine. Ethnic foods, it depends on the ethnicity.

Nxtasy-

The OP was from 2009. I'm hoping she found something by now.

The OP was from 2009. I'm hoping she found something by now.

And as far as "Passover friendly" people who strictly observe Passover would never eat in a restaurant during Passover. For those who don't strictly observe, then any restaurant that puts matzah in the bread basket is good enough. Heck, even Mon Ami Gabi does Passover-themed menus (a restaurant featuring shrimp cocktail and pork tenderloin but also serving matza seems kinda -- off).

spinynorman99 wrote:And as far as "Passover friendly" people who strictly observe Passover would never eat in a restaurant during Passover. For those who don't strictly observe, then any restaurant that puts matzah in the bread basket is good enough.

And how are people to know who puts out matzo if they don't ask?

Everyone observes in his own way. While you're right that those who keep strictly kosher won't eat out, Passover or no Passover, a lot of people just try to avoid chametz and kitniot. That's easier to do at some kinds of restaurants than others.

Everyone observes in his own way.

Oh, ain't that the truth. But, honestly, since "Passover-friendly" means something different to everyone who hears it just pick a place and BYOM. I had a friend years ago whose family picked a different-theme Seder every year, which was basically just bringing a box of matzoh to a Chinese restaurant one year, an Italian place the next and so on. Short of a certified Kosher establishment serving Passover meals you aren't going to find a place that conforms to a strict Passover standard. So for the people who are obviously comfortable eating in restaurants without such exacting standards just have them order whatever they think fits into their concept. No different than dining with non-meat-eaters or vegetarians. You can do the Jewish-y thing and stick with Max & Benny's or Myron & Phil's, but it's really no different than any other restaurant.

Yes, but it's tough to stick with a no-bread/no-prohibited grains/no-legumes plan at Italian restaurants, Asian places, Middle Eastern, etc. And some restaurants do make it easy by offering Passover-friendly specials. That's the sort of thing the OP wanted to know about last year, and others of us may want to know about this year.

Anyway, to add more information to my note on Smoque, above, it seems that although they are not normally open on Mondays, they will open to allow people to pick up pre-orders of brisket for the first seder. If I weren't going to a friend's seder, I'd be sorely tempted.

they will open to allow people to pick up pre-orders of brisket for the first seder

I'm smokin' my own.

I think most places on the North Shore are pretty aware of the Passover holiday and a lot will offer potato for pasta substitutions, have a flourless chocolate cake on the menu, etc. Certainly the LEYE restaurants are on top of that, and lots of upscale places are offering seders (Pete Miller on Milwaukee) so they're probably aware for Saturday nights too.

Me, I'd eat shrimp during Passover just not breaded or served over pasta.

I think most places on the North Shore are pretty aware of the Passover holiday and a lot will offer potato for pasta substitutions, have a flourless chocolate cake on the menu, etc.

That pretty much describes most restaurants regardless of location.

Piccolo Sogno in West Town is doing an Italian-style seder on Tuesday.

Golden Chef, a decent Cantonese place in Wheeling's Restaurant Row (and exception to the "Golden = Bad" rule), has signs that they're taking reservations for Passover dinner.

LAZ wrote:Piccolo Sogno in West Town is doing an Italian-style seder on Tuesday.

For those who don't like long, drawn-out seders, this should be perfect, given the breakneck pace at which Piccolo Sogno prefers to bring out courses.

JoelF wrote:Golden Chef, a decent Cantonese place in Wheeling's Restaurant Row (and exception to the "Golden = Bad" rule), has signs that they're taking reservations for Passover dinner.

Details here. This appears to be very traditional Ashkenazi food; nothing Chinese about it.

Hi,

I saw Viccino's Pizza is offering matzoh pizza for the Jewish holidays. I don't know if this is exclusive to Highland Park or at their other locations.

Viccino's Pizza Co http://www.viccinos.com
1960 1st Street
Highland Park, IL 60035-3104
(847) 266-8300

Regards,

LAZ wrote:

JoelF wrote:Golden Chef, a decent Cantonese place in Wheeling's Restaurant Row (and exception to the "Golden = Bad" rule), has signs that they're taking reservations for Passover dinner.

Details here. This appears to be very traditional Ashkenazi food; nothing Chinese about it.

They even have a coupon for a free
pork egg roll or crab rangoon.

Honey 1 is great if you don't eat the whitebread! (And you do eat pork.)

I had a nice meal at Max's in Highland Park yesterday. I almost always get a pastrami sandwich when I go there, so it was kind of refreshing to branch out.

They offer a Passover menu featuring things like matzo-crusted salmon (although it was amusing to see the reverse side with the list of daily specials this week -- yesterday it was baby back ribs.)

I ordered the skirt steak off the regular menu, and it was thick and cooked perfectly rare, as ordered, with a nice char at the edges and loads of sauteed mushrooms and onions. I got it with some very good mashed potatoes. They came with gravy that was automatically served on the side without my having asked.

The waitress asked if we wanted the regular bread basket or the matzo-only basket.

Max's Deli & Restaurant*
http://maxs-deli.com
191 Skokie Valley Road
Highland Park
(847) 831-0600

*Not to be confused with Max & Benny's in Northbrook.

I went to Benjyehuda today for a bowl of matzo ball soup and some Jerusalem salad. My first instinct was to get the fries, but I've been trying to eat a little healthier these days. Their salad options are all separate, so you can pick and choose, depending on how strict you are for Passover.

The owner, Stacy, asked me if I wanted any matzo with my order, but I had my own at my desk at work.

Suzy

According to Chicago Magazine, Jerry's in Wicker Park will do all their sandwiches either as salad or with matzo instead of a bun through Monday, April 5th.