The wait is over! We’ve successfully braved another Chicago winter and we’ve earned everything that summer in Chicago has to offer! This weekend marks the official opening of Castaways Bar & Grill at North Ave. Beach!  We’re so excited we can hardly put it into words!! Thankfully, the peeps below know what’s up!

See you at the beach!!

[As seen in "The Weekender]

The Return of Castaways

There is a multitude of ways to really kick off Memorial Day weekend. But we think the simplest is probably the best: at the beach. Drinking a frozen piña colada. At a giant two-story bar. That just happens to look like a boat. Ahoy there, Castaways, welcome back.

411: Opens May 24 at 11am, Castaways Bar & Grill, 1603 N Lake Shore Dr, 773-281-1200

http://www.urbandaddy.com/chi/weekender/23948/The_Weekender_Rooftops_Beach_Bars_and_50_Cent_Oysters_Chicago_CHI#ixzz2UDeWrqc5

[As seen on ChooseChicago.com]

ALFRESCO DINING WITH A VIEW: Waterfront Favorites

…And for the most laid back fun, beach wear is always welcome at Castaways Bar and Grill. Refuel with the full menu of grill standards and light summer fare and catch some sun from the upper patio deck of this massive boathouse on bustling North Avenue Beach.

http://www.choosechicago.com/articles/view/ALFRESCO-DINING-WITH-A-VIEW/247/

[As seen in the Sun Times]

5 kid-friendly beaches in Chicago

BY WENDY ALTSCHULER

3) North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore Dr.
This Lincoln Park beach is one of Chicago’s most popular summer spots. Volleyball, biking, kayaking and paddleboard rentals are all available. This beach is full of excellent people watching. You can hear music playing from the Castaways Bar and Grill, which is an ocean liner-inspired building, located right on the edge of the beach. It offers ice cream and quick eats on the casual lower level and sandwiches, salads, deserts and drinks on the rooftop. If you’re the type of parent that wants to feel young again or like you’re hanging out on a party boat, then bring your kids here; they will love the thrilling chaos as much as you do.

http://specialsections.suntimes.com/lifestyle/parenting/13968024-555/5-kid-friendly-beaches-in-chicago.html

It’s summer and flip-flops, shorts and swimwear will soon be on full display along Chicago’s beloved Lakeshore Trail. Seems like a good time to pose a question: did you know Riva Crab House at Navy Pier does casual? Yes, we do.

Sometimes you want to kick back, be casual. We understand that and it’s why we encourage a hang-out-all-day mentality at Riva Cafe. Mix that in with a relaxed dress code and laid-back staffers, and what you get is an island of fun and relaxation right in the middle of one of the busiest visitor destinations in the country, Navy Pier.

Take a look at some of the casual fare at Riva Cafe:

In an ode to casual-ness, here are a few of our favorite decidedly non-formal activities:

LandShark Beer Garden

Providing good times daily at Navy Pier and doing so in a casual way (the best way!), this perennial favorite has near-daily entertainment options like the ALL STAR Spectacular and fast-talking MC’s that keep things livened up. It’s also got it’s own signature beer, LandShark Lager, of course! And a take-out window (table service also available) serving pizza brats and burgers. Follow them on twitter at @bestbeergarden.

Bobby’s Bike Hike

This fun but classy Chicago bike touring company has been a favorite since its inception in 2002. They’ll work to accommodate almost any request, from group rides to custom tours–and handle their business professionally without taking away from the fun of exploring Chicago on two wheels. Ask about their “Urban Adventures” for some one-of-a-kind ways to see Chicago. Find Bobby’s Bike Hike on Facebook.

Shoreline Cruises

A great partner of ours here at Navy Pier, Shoreline Sightseeing is behind a number of the best water transportation and entertainment options in Chicago. Architecture cruises (day and night), skyline tours, fireworks cruises and water taxis are all part of what they offer. You can nail down your on-the-water plans with Shoreline’s new iPhone and iPad app, which lets you buy tickets, store photos and more.

Tuscany Oak Brook invites you to experience the Wines of Antinori on Friday, May 17! Enjoy a four-course dinner, expertly paired with wine.  The full menu with pairings is available below.

WHEN:                      Friday, May 17 at 6:30 PM

COST:                        $72.00 per person (not including tax and gratuity)

RESERVE:               Call 630.990.1993

Bring the family and join us at Riva Crab House on Navy Pier for a delicious Mother’s Day brunch and fantastic lakefront views! Chef Luigi Garcia will showcase a chef attended omelette station, carving station, fresh oysters, an ambient display of shellfish, fresh fruit, a beautiful dessert display, and a variety of sides. To top it off, enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne. Large parties welcome!

Adults: $45.95++
Kids: (4-12) $18.95++
Kids 3 & under are free

700 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Reservations: 312.644.7482 or visit OpenTable
Brunch: 11am – 3pm
Main Dining: 5pm – 9pm

www.RivaNavyPier.com

Tuscany Wheeling

This Mother’s Day, Tuscany in Wheeling will feature a buffet featuring six different stations created by Executive Chef Bolla Loza. The stations will include breakfast, seafood, carving station, omelette station, Italian station and dessert station. Coffee, tea, soda and mimosas are included in the buffet price. The regular dinner menu will begin at 4:00 PM.
Reservations are required.

Adults: $36.95 ++
Children (10 & under): $13.95++

550 S. Milwaukee Ave
Wheeling, IL 60090
Reservations: 847.465.9988
Brunch: 10:00am – 2:30pm
Main Dining: starts at 4:00pm

Tuscany Taylor

Tuscany Restaurant on Taylor Street will feature a unique ala carte Mother’s Day Brunch Menu created by Executive Chef Victorio Padilla. Featured items will include: Smoked Salmon (Red onion, capers, egg whites, mixed greens, toasted ciabatta & balsamic; $12), Frittata Tuscany (Tuscan sausage, tomatoes, roasted peppers, zucchini, provolone, mozzarella & potato parmigiano; $12), and Steak and Eggs (Prime steak, scrambled eggs, potato parmigiano, Tuscan toast & fresh melon; $15) and more. Regular menu items will also be available. Reservations recommended.

View Chef Specials

1014 W. Taylor St
Chicago, IL 60607
Reservations: 312.829.1990
Brunch: 11:00am – 2:00pm
Main Dining: 2:00pm – 9:00pm

Tuscany Oak Brook

Tuscany Oak Brook invites guests to enjoy unique chef specials this Mother’s Day beginning at 12:00 PM. The full a la carte Mother’s Day menu is available upon request. Regular menu items will also be available.

View Chef Specials

1415 W. 22nd
Oak Brook, IL 60521
Reservations: 630.990.1993
Dining: Noon – 9:00pm

Castaways Bar & Grill, located on North Avenue Beach, will be holding a job fair May 9 – 11 to fill summer positions.

Please bring: Two valid, unexpired forms of ID. For example; Driver’s License, Social Security Card, Permanent Resident Card, or Passport.

We’re  looking to hire:

- servers

- bussers

- food runners

- drink runners

- bartenders

- cashiers

- kitchen staff

When:

Thursday, May 9: 10AM-6PM

Friday, May 10: 10AM-6PM

Saturday, May 11: 1oAM-4PM

Where:

Castaways Bar & Grill

1603 N. Lake Shore Drive

North Avenue Beach

Chicago, IL 60614

(773) 281-1200

Questions? Please contact Eugene Mori at emori@stefanigroup.com.

Spring is in the air!  Get out of the office, soak in the sunshine, and enjoy our delicious “Ten under $10″ lunch specials at Tuscany Wheeling! Featured items include a refreshing Chef Salad, seafood options that range from Smoked Salmon Pizza to Tilapia Milanese, and you can never go wrong with our classic, juicy Tuscany Burger.

We look forward to serving you lunch soon!

Tuscany Wheeling | 550. S. Milwaukee Ave. | 847-465-9988

The night was cold on March 19 with bitter winds and falling temperatures, but hearty diners weren’t deterred as they flocked to the welcoming awnings of Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush. Some settled in downstairs, but many, like me and my guest, headed up the stairs to the restaurant’s Newsroom where a display of wine bottles welcomed us to the evening’s Ruffino Wine Dinner.

The dinner was an elegant affair from the start with glasses of Ruffino Prosecco flowing freely at the bar and passed hors d’oeuvres like smoked salmon sandwiches, fresh mozzarella and pesto bruschetta, and mini mushroom puff pastry pizzas making their way around the room on the trays of friendly servers.

Diners arrived in groups of two or four; many seemed to know each other from previous events, setting the room abuzz with conversation. My guest and I took it all in: the smartly dressed gentlemen with their stylish female companions, the hubbub around the bar as cocktails were mixed and Prosecco poured, and the immaculately set tables, their surfaces filled with wine glass after wine glass, empty now but soon to be filled with the evening’s four featured wines.

Once everyone was corralled into the dining area, the tasting officially began with a short presentation by Daniel Burgio, a representative of the esteemed Ruffino Winery in Tuscany, who welcomed us all and told us a little about the wines we’d be sampling throughout the night. But so as not to keep us from our dinners, he kept his speech short, something that received a well-deserved round of applause.

And then it was time for the Antipasto course, a Tonno Crudo, a sushi grade ahi tuna with a citrus emulsion, radishes, oranges, avocado, and red watercress. It was a pretty dish to behold with little splashes of color scattered across the plate. Paired with a Ruffino Borgo Conventi Sauvignon Blanc (which happens to be this writer’s favorite variety of wine), the dish really took off with its light and refreshing flavors.

After a short breathing period, our Primo course appeared. An exquisitely plated Pappardelle al Ragù di Cinghiale (wide ribbon pasta, wild boar ragout, cocoa, juniper, oven-dried cherry tomatoes, and Taleggio fonduta) was served alongside a dry Ruffino “Modus.” My guest and I were admittedly a little unsure about the boar, but those worries were quickly put aside after our first bite of the pasta with its cheesy and rich flavors.

No sooner had our plates been swept away that the Secondo course materialized, a beautiful Filetto di Costata al Tartufo Invernale (roasted Rib Eye filet, brioche crouton, sun choke crema, braised Tuscan kale, and a winter truffle sauce). Accompanying this spectacular filet was a glass of Ruffino Lodola Nuova Riserva, a red wine with deep, earthy flavors that complimented the meat and the kale perfectly. It was a dish perfectly suited to the weather and garnered many oohs and ahhs from the table.

At this point it was almost impossible to consider a Dolce course with how stuffed we felt, but dessert arrived anyway and we couldn’t turn it down once it had been placed before us. The Raviolone di Pasta Frolla alle Albicocche  (poached apricot filled sugar dough ravioli, vanilla sauce, wild blueberry compote, and apricot foam) was a lovely dish and the Ruffino Moscato D’Asti matched it in sweetness, which was a bit much for some diners, but not for your writer.

By this time, the conversation in the room had subsided as guests enjoyed coffee before the cold trek outdoors, which meant it was the perfect time to bring out the man of the hour: 437 Rush’s Executive Chef Christian Fantoni. Modestly he accepted a standing ovation before making his way back into the sanctuary of the kitchen. That was our cue to leave too. After goodbyes to tablemates and a few minutes spent replacing layers we’d shed upon our arrival, we made our way onto the cold city streets with happy hearts and full bellies.

CANCELLED: Unfortunately, we have to cancel our Earth Dinner.  Please stay tuned for information on our next Wine Dinner.

In honor of Earth Day, RIVA Crab House will be hosting a Earth Dinner on Friday, April 19.  This exclusive dinner will feature a sustainable four course menu.  Each course is expertly paired with organic Bonterra wines.  Menu highlights include Ahi Tuna Poke: avocado, sesame, green onions, ponzu; paired with Bonterra Sauvignon Blanc and Amazonian Paiche: prawn, red sorrel, asparagus, shellfish essence; paired with Bonterra Chardonnay.  Complete menu with pairings can be found below.

RESERVE TODAY: 312-644-7482

ABOUT EARTH DAY

Earth Day, traditionally celebrated by the United Nations on the spring equinox, became a U.S. national holiday proclaimed by Senators Gaylord Nelson and John McConnell on April 22, 1970. It is a time to celebrate our planet, and all the life giving natural resources and beauty that the Earth provides and which we too often take for granted.

This March in celebration of March Madness, all three Tuscany Restaurant locations will participate in a week-long promotion in which a different lasagna recipe will be featured each day of the week; pricing will remain the same. The featured lasagna dishes include Ricotta Lasagna, Pollo Lasagna, Primavera Lasagna and more.

[Tuesday, March 19 – Saturday, March 23]
Lunch: $13; Dinner: $16

DAILY LASAGNA sPECIALS

TUESDAY | Pollo Lasagna
WEDNESDAY | Primavera Lasagna
THURSDAY | Bolognese Lasagna
FRIDAY | Seafood Lasagna
SATURDAY | Ricotta Lasagna

LOCATIONS

CHICAGO: 1014 W. Taylor Street | Chicago, IL | 312-829-1990 | RESERVATIONS

WHEELING: 550 S. Milwaukee Avenue | Wheeling, IL | 847-465-9988 | RESERVATIONS

OAK BROOK: 1415 W. 22nd Street | Oak Brook, IL | 630-990-1993 | RESERVATIONS