As Mardi Gras returns to the Windy City on Tuesday, March 4, the area’s top destinations are celebrating with NOLA-inspired fêtes, luxe dining experiences and tempting libations. Let the good times roll and get into the spirit at these Windy City hot spots.
1401 S. Michigan Ave. / Website
Few restaurants in the city get into the spirit of Mardi Gras as much as this South Loop institution, which hosts its 8th annual Mardi Gras bash on Tuesday, March 4, from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. Guests can indulge in a buffet featuring tempting plates like crawfish mac and cheese, Cajun fried chicken and tasso jambalaya, shrimp po’boys, a spicy crawfish boil, a Cafe du Monde beignet bar and more, along with specialty cocktails including Hurricanes and Sazeracs. Chicago-based, New Orleans-inspired brass and jazz band High-Hat Second Line will entertain along with a New Orleans pianist in the downstairs Blue Room. A cover of $76.70 covers the buffet, live music and Mardi Gras beads. Tickets can be purchased here.
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5215 S. Harper Ave. / Website
Known for its New Orleans-style po’boys and Southern comfort food staples, this Hyde Park neighborhood joint led by James Beard Award-winning chef Erick Williams serves a lineup of Mardi Gras faves. Visit to dine on specialties like King cake, fried alligator, peel-and-eat shrimp, muffuletta, seafood gumbo and red beans and rice, along with French bread flown in from NOLA’s legendary Leidenheimer Baking. Replenish with hearty libations like Hurricanes, Sazerac and Mardi Gras punch, crafted with coconut rum, peach schnapps, pineapple and orange juice. Don’t forget to visit during happy hour, hosted Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., to enjoy exclusive specials like $5 hot honey and Louisiana sliders, half-priced draft brews and more.
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2700 W. Chicago Ave. / Website
This swanky Eastern European haunt is hosting an a la carte dining experience on Tuesday, March 4, from 4 to 9 p.m. Chef Guy is showcasing Cajun and Creole cuisine with ultra-luxe offerings like fried oysters, grilled shrimp po’boys, gumbo, smoked pork shoulder, fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and Grand Cru caviar-topped steak tartare with wild mushrooms and truffle duxelles. The raw bar and happy hour menu will also be available all night long. Reservations can be made here.
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Multiple locations / Website
This nautical-themed eatery is celebrating the occasion with NOLA-inspired cuisine, lively tunes and festive beads. Guests can dig into signature seafood boils with shrimp, crawfish, snow crab clusters, lobster tails, mussels and more, along with Hurricane cocktails, bowls of gumbo and beignets. The eatery’s South Loop location will host a buzzy celebration on Tuesday, March 4, from 6 to 9 p.m., complete with live music by Radium Swing Band. Reservations can be made here.
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21 E. Hubbard St. / Website
Shaw’s Crab House brings Mardi Gras to Chicago from Thursday, Feb. 27 through Tuesday, March 4, with New Orleans-inspired menu items like chargrilled oysters, crawfish étouffée and more. On Fat Tuesday, March 4, Shaw’s Oyster Bar will feature live music from Big Dog Mercer from 5 to 8:30 p.m., as well as an all-day shrimp boil for two featuring a pound of shrimp, andouille sausage, sweet corn and potatoes for $50.
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916 W. Fulton Market / Website
Time Out Market is commemorating Fat Tuesday with its Back to Bourbon Street Mardi Gras Pop-Up, hosted on March 1, 2 and 4. Held on the second floor, the special event showcases inspired dishes from chef Lizzy Gilmore of Southern Bites and chef Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen. Transport yourself to the buzzy NOLA streets with a curated menu that highlights quintessential Louisiana dishes like crawfish empanadas, chicken and sausage gumbo, Mississippi catfish po’boys and beignets, along with traditional muffalettas and praline and bourbon pecan bread pudding for dessert.
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5927 W. Lawrence Ave. / Website
It’s not Fat Tuesday in the Midwest without paczki, the traditional Polish-filled doughnut—and nobody in Chicago does them as well as this Jefferson Park sweets destination, which produces more than 40,000 of the treats for Mardi Gras. This year’s offerings include apricot or raspberry preserves, classic rose petal Jelly, plum butter, and custard topped with chocolate fudge, plus gourmet flavors like passion fruit jelly, German chocolate with coconut and pecans and espresso chocolate custard topped with Belgian chocolate ganache. Orders can be placed here.
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Multiple locations / Website
Longtime Chicago institution Stan’s Donuts is ringing in the festivities with a lineup of tempting paczki pastries for Fat Tuesday, available through Tuesday, March 4. Sample Stan’s take on the traditional Polish pastry and choose from five filling options, including raspberry, cannoli cream, pastry cream and chocolate cream. Orders can be placed here.
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111 W. Kinzie St. / Website
This contemporary New American dining destination draws inspiration from a quintessential prohibition-era supper club while dishing out tasty eats and curated craft cocktails. The eatery is channeling Bourbon Street with its annual Fat Tuesday Celebration beginning at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4. Visitors can get into the spirit with tunes from The Magnificent Mile 2nd Line Band, costumed servers and NOLA-themed dishes. Reservations can be made here.
See also: The 12 Best Margaritas In Chicago
Photography by: Top photo by Kathryn8/Getty Images; other photos courtesy of brands
