Whether called Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday is celebrated around the world as a last chance to enjoy decadent food and party before the Lenten fast begins. Chicago doesn’t go all out for the occasion like New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro, but you can get a taste of those traditions at area bars and restaurants offering entertainment from brass bands to burlesque shows, along with special menus featuring gumbo, king cake, sazaracs and hurricanes. Don a mask and some beads and head to one of these 19 spots for some delicious revelry.
All events and specials take place Feb. 17 unless otherwise specified. Check out our Paczki Day guide if you want to celebrate Polish-style with some delicious fried treats.
The Loop and Near North Side
Industry Ales
A five-course Mardi Gras dinner ($125) at 6:30 p.m. Friday includes crawfish boudin croquettes, blackened pork tenderloin, beignets and drink pairings. (230 S. Wabash Ave., industryales.com)
Lirica
The Navy Pier restaurant celebrates Brazilian Carnival Feb. 13-21 with specials including baked goat cheese, muffaleta sliders, crawfish dip and beignets. Don Julio hosts a special tasting from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 16. (900 E. Grand Ave., liricarestaurant.com)
Shaw’s Crab House
A Mardi Gras menu offered Feb. 12-17 includes chargrilled oysters ($21), crawfish etouffee ($32), fried shrimp po’boy ($22), sazerac ($16) and hurricanes ($17). Come on Fat Tuesday for a shrimp boil ($50) and live music from the Mike Wheeler Band in the Oyster Bar from 5-8 p.m. (21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com)
North Side & Northwest Side
Big Jones
Chef Paul Fehribach serves a special menu through Mardi Gras, including crawfish boudin balls ($15), seafood gumbo ($24), shrimp & grits ($23), red beans and rice ($10) and sizzling jambalaya ($36). Add on a hurricane, daiquiri or sazerac and a mini king cake filled with espresso cream. (5347 N. Clark St., 773-275-5725, bigjoneschicago.com)
Cody’s Public House
The bar plays Mardi Gras-themed music all night and hosts a buffet from The Graystone Tavern at 7 p.m. featuring gumbo, jambalaya, rice and cornbread. Drink specials include $6 Lagunitas, $10 hurricanes and $30 Surfside buckets. Try plenty of gumbo at a cook-off at 2 p.m. Sunday while drinking $10 sazeracs, $10 Pimm’s cups and $30 surfside buckets. (1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com)
Junebug Cafe
Grab a king cake for four ($35) along with other French and Creole bites such as beignets ($6-$10) and chicken and smoked sausage gumbo ($8-$29). (4042 N Milwaukee Ave., 773-905-6507, junebugchicago.com)
Lottie’s Pub
Bourbon Street comes to Bucktown with $7 Crown Royal shots, $10 gumbo, $10 hurricanes, $12 Cajun chicken sandwiches and $12 shrimp tacos offered Feb. 12-17. (1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com)
Smack Dab
The Rogers Park breakfast spot offers gumbo and rice ($24), jambalaya ($15), mini-king cake ($12) and take and bake Mardi Gras cinnamon rolls ($16) for pickup. (6730 N. Clark St., 872-241-9111, exploretock.com/smackdabchicago)
West Side & Near West Side
Alliance Bakery
The West Town bakery offers a 10-inch green, purple and yellow king cake for $40. (1837 W. Grand Ave., 773-278-0366, alliancebakery.com)
Easy Bar
Stop in for a free slice of king cake from Scafuri Bakery and if you find a baby inside you’ll win swag from New Belgium. The Wicker Park spot offers $4 beer, seltzer and cider all night and everything is half price 4-6 p.m. (1944 W. Division St., 773-227-4644, easybarchicago.com)
Estelle’s
The Wicker Park bar doles out beads and offers $6 hurricane shots and $10 hurricanes. DJ Papa G spins from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. (2013 W. North Ave., 773-782-0450, estelleschicago.com)
Ina Mae Tavern
This Wicker Park icon offers a full schedule of festivities leading up to Fat Tuesday including $10 Mardi Gras cocktails 4-6 p.m. Friday, a Second Line brunch Sunday featuring live music 1-4 p.m., and a Lundi Gras bash on Monday with $12 po’boys, $5 Abitas and live music at 6 p.m. Doors open at noon Fat Tuesday for music from the Four Star Brass Band 4:30-6:30 p.m., a burlesque show at 9:30 p.m. and $12 hurricanes. (1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com)
Scafuri Bakery
A 10-inch king cake ($25-$28) features French pastry dough with cinnamon, cannoli or raspberry filling. The green, gold and purple sugar represent power, justice and faith. Pick it up Sunday or Tuesday. (1337 W. Taylor St., 312-733-8881, scafuribakery.com)
South Side & Near South Side
The Chicago Firehouse
The steakhouse’s ninth annual Fat Tuesday party 6-10 p.m. features a performance by the High-Hat Second Line, a premium open bar, and a buffet including red beans and rice, a spicy crawfish boil, seafood gumbo and a bananas foster station. (1401 S. Michigan Ave., 312-786-1401, chicagofirehouse.com)
Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern
King cake at Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern. (Virtue Hospitality Group)
The New Orleans-inspired sandwich shop from chef Erick Williams serves cinnamon and cream cheese flavored bundt-style king cake ($8) crafted by Virtue pastry chef Becky Pendola through Feb. 18 along with other Mardi Gras specials. (5215 S. Harper Ave., 773-675-8767, daisyspoboychicago.com)
Norman’s Bistro
Feast on New Orleans-inspired fare during a bash ($10) including a best mask contest, raffles, a live brass band and DJs. (6-10 p.m. 1001 E. 43rd St., 773-966-5821, normansbistro.com)
Weber’s Bakery
The family-owned bakery offers cinnamon king cake with cream cheese and buttercream icing ($16). (7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.com)
Suburban and multiple locations
Bennison’s Bakery
The North Shore staple offers the traditional French Galette des Rois almond cake with a crown for whoever finds the baby, along with plain, cream cheese, apple, cherry and praline pecan versions of the gaudier New Orleans king cake through Feb. 20. (1000 Davis St., Evanston, 847-328-9434, bennisonscakes.bakesmart.com)
Buck Russell’s Bakery & Sandwich Shop
Preorders are highly encouraged for king cakes that serve 8 to 10. (1137 Greenleaf Ave., Wilmette, 847-920-4222, buckrussells.com)
Deerfields Bakery
Chocolate- and almond-filled king cakes are available for $24 along with Mardi Gras-themed cookies ($4.25-$4.75), cupcakes ($2.95), and drip cake ($37). (201 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove, and 813 N. Waukegan Road, Deerfield, 847-520-0068, deerfieldsbakery.com)
The Graceful Ordinary
Chef Chris Curren offers New Orleans-inspired specials, including hearth-seared Gulf shrimp with Calabrian chili butter, fire-roasted gumbo blanc, blackened redfish with a dirty rice croquette, and bananas foster-style beignets. (3 E. Main St., St. Charles, 331-235-5803, thegracefulordinary.com)
Prairie Moon
Get a taste of New Orleans with specials offered Feb. 13-17, including shrimp and grits ($18), crawfish and Gulf shrimp etouffee ($22), jambalaya ($17) and bananas foster bread pudding ($8.95). (1635 Chicago Ave., Evanston, 847-864-8328, prairiemoonrestaurant.com)
Publican Quality Bread
Publican Quality Bread king cake. (Greg Wade)
Feed 10 to 12 with king cake ($20) topped with purple, green and gold sugar. (1759 W. Grand Ave., 312-605-1618, and 211 Harrison St., Oak Park, 312-736-1981, exploretock.com/publicanqualitybread)
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/10/fat-tuesday-restaurant-bar-specials-chicago/
