Weekly Specials at Restaurant Michael, August 13-14

This weekend, Restaurant Michael is offering a dinner special on Friday, and Saturday. Friday, August 13, Michael will take the edge off the bad luck date with a beautiful Grilled Prime Filet of Beef Tenderloin and Half Maine Lobster, butter poached. This is paired with a savory Saffron Rice Pilaf scented with minced chive. The vegetable for the dish is an incredible Carrot Mousse with Tiny Summer Squash. The combination of the sweet lobster and carrot mousse with saffron rice is beautiful and "over the top" with the addition of the tenderloin. According the chef/owner Michael Lachowicz, "it's how it should be done!" This dish is an incredible value at $29.

Saturday, August 14, Restaurant Michael features its now famous Whole Roasted Dover Sole with toasted almonds or capers in brown butter with lemon. The sole is $29, but is limited to just 30 orders. Be sure to request a sole dish when making a reservation.

Restaurant Michael is located at 64 Green Bay Rd. in Winnetka, Ill. serving classic French cuisine with a contemporary twist. Reservations may be made at (847) 441-3100 or opentable.com. Visit www.restaurantmichael.com for more information. Follow Restaurant Michael on Twitter and Facebook.

Restaurant Michael launches Premier Guest Dining Program

Michael Lachowicz, chef/owner of Restaurant Michael—an upscale haute French restaurant in Chicago’s North Shore—has created his own frequent diner program to reward its most valuable customers in a still struggling economy. Dubbed “Restaurant Michael’s Premier Guest Dining” program, Lachowicz’s dining plan offers pre-purchased house accounts, discounted 25 percent and usable without any restrictions.

“The Premier Guest Dining Plan has rewarded my valued customers for their years of appreciated patronage and loyalty,” says Lachowicz who opened Restaurant Michael in 2005. “This discounted dining option has served to lighten the burden of the economic turmoil and ensure customers a high quality dinner.”

Guests who purchase the plan receive $1.25 for every $1 purchased. Accounts are purchased in blocks of $500 each. Therefore, patrons purchasing $500 receive a house account of $625; $1000 buys $1250 in dining; and so forth. Guests purchasing $5,000 plans earn a bonus $250 for a total of $6,500 in Restaurant Michael cuisine.

There are no restrictions for when the dining credits are used. Lachowicz has said the program, which quietly launched several months ago, has been very successful for in-home catering and office parties. Guests may use the credit for regular dining, business dining, private parties, gift certificate purchases and holiday dining. Patrons may even use the dining plan for employee bonsus with written consent from the account holder.

To become a member of Restaurant Michael’s Premier Guest Dining program, customers contact Michael Lachowicz directly at (847) 404-6916 or via e-mail at chefdeuxgros@gmail.com.

About Restaurant Michael

Restaurant Michael, located at 64 Green Bay Rd in Winnetka, Ill. 60093, serves classic haute cuisine in a contemporary presentation with French country flair. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. -11:30 p.m.; and Sunday 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Complimentary parking is available. Valet is available on Friday and Saturday. Major cards accepted. For more information contact Restaurant Michael at (847) 441-3100 or www.restaurantmichael.com. “Like” Restaurant Michael on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RestaurantMichael or follow on Twitter at @RestoMichael.

New year, new happenings at Winnetka's own Restaurant Michael

Restaurant Michael (64 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, IL; 847-441-3100) starts 2010 with new events including the return of its French Silver Service menu, the first wine pairing dinner of the new year and new winter hours.

The Silver Service Menu Returns in January
Restaurant Michael, known for putting a modern twist on classic French cuisine, had a successful 2009 in part because of the value it provides to its patrons. In an effort to continue this, Restaurant Michael is bringing back its popular Silver Service Menu beginning Tuesday, Jan. 5. The Silver Service menu is a way for guests to sample smaller portions of eight items from Restaurant Michael’s regular menu without paying full price. The entire table must participate in the Silver Service menu, which is $39 per guest.

Offered Sunday through Friday, the Silver Service menu features three appetizers, three entrées and two desserts in addition to a petite salad and Restaurant Michael’s signature warm cheese puffs. Appetizer selections include Slow Braised Lamb Osso Bucco Ravioli in garlic sauce, Potato Truffle Soup, Exotic Mushroom Custard with morel cream, Beet and Spinach Risotto with Roquefort cheese and Classic Escargot “En Cocette” with garlic and Pernod. The table selects from entrées like Lobster and Dover Sole Ravioli in saffron nage, Roast Tenderloin of Beef with sherry vinegar cream, Sliced Roast Saddle of Bacon Wrapped Rabbit, Sliced Roast Loin of Venison, sauce poivrade and Roast, Stuffed Breast of Guinea Hen. For the dessert course, guests select two from choices like White Chocolate Mousse Bombe, Caramel Apple Tarte Tartin, Raspberry Napolean with Chambord sauce or Grand Marnier Chocolate Truffles and toasted almond biscotti. Each course is served from sparking silver trays tableside by Restaurant Michael’s charming waitstaff. A three-course wine pairing is offered for an additional $14 per person.

Wine Pairing Dinner with DeLoach Vineyards
Chef/owner Michael Lachowicz teams up with De Loach Vineyards of the Russian River Valley in California to host its first wine pairing dinner of the new year at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21. The guest speaker for the evening is Mr. John Wardzala, the Great Lakes Regional Manager for The Boisset Family of Wines of the Burgundy Region of France. The Boisset Family has taken De Loach to a whole new direction, being recognized as an authority on biodynamic, organic and sustainable wine making practices.

This reservation only dinner includes five courses paired with a variety of DeLoach wines including three Russian River Pinot Noirs and one Russian River Chardonnay, as well as Jean Louis French Sparkling Wine with hors d’oeurves. The cost of this wine pairing dinner is $79 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. The regular dinner menu is not offered on this date. To make a reservation for the wine pairing dinner, contact Restaurant Michael at (847) 441-3100.

New Winter Hours at Restaurant Michael
During the winter season, Restaurant Michael is not open for dinner on Monday evenings and no longer serves lunch on Friday. Restaurant Michael is, however, available for private events on both Mondays and Fridays if interested.

About Restaurant Michael
Restaurant Michael, located at 64 Green Bay Rd in Winnetka, Ill. 60093, serves classic haute cuisine in a contemporary presentation with French country flair. There is no corkage fee on Tuesday evenings. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. -11:30 p.m.; and Sunday 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Complimentary parking is available. All major cards are accepted. For more information or to make a reservation, call (847) 441-3100 or visit www.restaurantmichael.com.

"Break the Fast" at Restaurant Michael September 28.

Winnetka’s own Restaurant Michael (64 Green Bay Rd.; 847-441-3100) has just announced that it is hosting a “Break the Fast” dinner for the first time ever on Monday, September 28 starting just after sundown. Guests enjoy a three-course prix five menu for just $39/person. The meal begins with a tradition of Yiddish Honey and Nut Cake paired with a sweet red wine and Restaurant Michael’s own Warm Apple Profiterole. Guests continue with a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert.

Appetizer selections include a Duo of House Cured and Smoked Salmon and Sturgeon with a Warm Potato Pancake and Whipped Chive Cream Cheese; Exotic Mushroom Tart with Baby Greens Dressed with Roquefort Cheese; or Duck Confit and Foie Gras Strudel with Candied Huckleberries. Entree selections include Classic Steak au Poivre with a Creamy Mashed Potato Gratin and Baby French Beans; Potato Crusted White Fish Tail over Sauteed Spinach with Capers, Lemon and Fried Parsley Leaves; or Roast Stuffed Breast of Hen with Goat Cheese, Apricot and Rosemary Bread Pudding, Natural Jus and Confit Cabbage. For dessert, choose from Individual, Warm Upside Down Apple Tart with Cinnamon, Nutmeg Gelato and Caramel Sauce; or a Selection of Warm Cookies, Baked to Order with Ice Cold Chocolate Milk.

Reservations are being accepted now until 11 p.m. that night for the special "Break the Fast" menu. For other upcoming events and specials at Restaurant Michael, press here.

Restaurant Michael is located at 64 Green Bay Rd. in Winnetka, Ill. serving classic haute cuisine in a contemporary presentation with French country flair. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Thursday 5:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m. -11:30 p.m.; and Sunday 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The restaurant is open for lunch Fridays 11a.m. -2 p.m. Complimentary parking is available. Major cards accepted.

Restaurant Michael announces new Cafe Favorites menu and Writers' Theatre partnership

Chef Michael Lachowicz’s North Shore standout, Restaurant Michael (64 Green Bay Rd., 847-441-3100) announces a new three-course “Café Favorites” menu, as well as a partnership with the Writers’ Theatre (376 Park Ave., Glencoe; 847-242-6000) for its 2009-2010 season.

Three-Course Café Favorites Menu
The new “Café Favorites” menu, which launched Tuesday, August 17, is a three-course café bistro style menu offering patrons a choice from three appetizer selections, three entrée selections and two dessert selections for $34 per person. For an additional $14, guests can add wine paired with the appetizer and entrée courses. The items available on the Café Favorites menu will change every Tuesday.

“The Café Favorites menu is prepared with the same classic French technique as Restaurant Michael’s regular menu,” says Lachowicz. “However, the dishes are more café bistro style, just as sophisticated, but with a less stuffy presentation.”

Sample dishes from the Café Favorites menu include Summer Corn and Tarragon Blinis with shaved fennel, sautéed shrimp and chervil salad; Exotic Mushroom Tart over baby mixed field greens dressed with Roquefort cream and toasted hazelnuts; Classic Steak Frîtes with baby French green beans; Roast Filet of Wild Alaskan Salmon “Marchand de Vin” with red chard and potato gratin; Baked Breast of Free Range Chicken “Dijon” with roast potatoes and carrots; and Peach Filled Crepes with cinnamon whipped cream and toasted chopped pecans.

Dinner Discount with Writers’ Theatre Ticket
For the 2009-2010 season at Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe, patrons can bring their ticket stub to Restaurant Michael to receive a 10 percent discount on their check for a pre-theatre or post-theatre dinner. The discount is valid only on the day of the performance on purchases of $75 or more and cannot be combined with any other special offers or promotions. Alcohol, tax and gratuity are not included.

Performances at Writers’ Theatre are shown at 325 Tudor Ct. (847) 242-9730 or 664 Vernon Ave. (847) 242-9418, both in Glencoe, Ill. For more information about this season’s performances, call the box office at (847) 242-6000 or visit www.writerstheatre.org.

About Restaurant Michael
Restaurant Michael, located at 64 Green Bay Rd. in Winnetka, Ill. 60093, serves classic and modern French cuisine in a contemporary presentation with French country flair. The restaurant is open for dinner Monday through Thursday, 5:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m.- 11:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 4:30 p.m.- 9 p.m. The restaurant is open for lunch Fridays, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Complimentary parking is available. All major cards are accepted. For more information, or to make a reservation, call (847) 441-3100 or visit www.restaurantmichael.com.