Let the good times roll at these hot Chicago spots to get in the spirit of Mardi Gras.
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Get ready to laissez les bon temps rouler at this New Orleans-inspired River North restaurant and cocktail bar, which also features the speakeasy-style basement lounge Lulu's. After celebrating on Fat Tuesday, get ready for a festive Mardi Gras Masquerade on both Friday and Saturday Feb. 16 and 17 with piano bar karaoke, burlesque performances, tarot card readings and more, all for $40 including three drinks. 712 N. Clark St.; purchase tickets here
Neighborhood fave Bub City is serving up Mardi Gras fun in the form of muffuletta sandwiches, gumbo and $10 hurricanes. 435 N. Clark St.
Shaw’s Crab House brings Mardi Gras to Chicago Feb. 8-13 with New Orleans-inspired menu items like chargrilled oysters, crawfish étouffée and more. On Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13, Shaw’s Oyster Bar will feature live music from Big Dog Mercer from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. as well as an all-day shrimp boil for two featuring 1 lb. of shrimp, andouille sausage, sweet corn and potatoes for $50. 12 E. Hubbard St.
Few restaurants in the city get into the spirit of Mardi Gras as much as this South Loop institution, which hosts its 7th annual Mardi Gras bash on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5:30–10:00 p.m. Guests can indulge in a Fat Tuesday menu 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 $59 including tax and service fee covers the buffet, live music and Mardi Gras beads. 1401 S. Michigan Ave.
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From Friday, Feb. 9 to Fat Tuesday, Feb. 13, this popular Streeterville Irish pub embraces its Cajun side with New Orleans-inspired eats and drinks. On the food menu, expect classics like gumbo with shrimp and andouille sausage, shrimp po'boys, jambalaya and beignets; wash it down with a potent Holy Hurricane, made with 12 different liquors and three juices. 622 N. Fairbanks Court
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It’s not Fat Tuesday in the Midwest without paczki, the traditional Polish filled donut—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. 5927 W. Lawrence Ave.
Photography by: Top photo by Kathryn8/Getty Images; other photos courtesy of brands
