Memorial Day Meals and Events in Chicago
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and considering how Chicagoans have to endure long winters before these warm days arrive, we’re excited. To celebrate the occasion, restaurants and bars are getting festive with food and drink events sure to kick off summer in style.
One of Chicago’s well-traveled summer destinations, Castaways, opens for the season during Memorial Day weekend. The North Avenue beach spot will feature live entertainment all weekend long, plus lunch and dinner from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.
If there’s one thing synonymous with Memorial Day, it’s barbecue. The Dawson is doing the holiday right with a Memorial Day weekend BBQ on Sunday, May 24. From 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm on the garden patio, the event features chef Shaun King’s unique takes on American BBQ favorites.
Dive right in to summer season at Shaw’s Crab House, which is celebrating the holiday at both locations with oyster specials in the Oyster Bar all day long on May 25. Then at the Schaumburg location, there’s an oyster happy hour. From May 23 through May 25, the Chicago location will feature a New England-style lobster boil, outfitted with one-pound whole Maine lobster, red bliss potatoes, cole slaw, and corn on the cob.
All-American barbecue and lobster boils are all well and good, but Arami is here to bring a little international verve to Memorial Day with another noodle night. The next stop for their monthly series takes place on May 25, wherein chef Fred Despres serves up special ramen and noodle dishes along with Arami’s ramen fixtures. Table side sake tastings will also be offered for the occasion.
Embrace your inner Louisianan at Frontier’s crawfish boil on May 24. The nautical bash features all-you-can-eat crawfish along with potatoes and corn on the cob.
Finally, it wouldn’t be Memorial Day without a pig roast. Lottie’s Pub is going big for its 5th Annual Memorial Weekend pig roast on May 24. The all-you-can-eat porcine feast is complete with baked beans, potato salad, and cole slaw.
Castaways
1603 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
(773) 281-1200
Website
The Dawson
730 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago
(312) 243-8955
Website
Shaw’s Crab House
21 E. Hubbard Street, Chicago
1900 E Higgins Road, Schaumburg
(312) 527-2722
(847) 517-2722
Website
Arami
1829 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago
(312) 243-1535
Website
Frontier
1072 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
(773) 772-4322
Website
Lottie’s Pub
1925 W. Cortland Street, Chicago
(773) 489-0738
Website
