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GT Fish & Oyster

20 Great Affordable Lunch Options at Pricey Restaurants

Reasons to try those spots that you normally may not be able to afford.

by Brett Hickman Jul 17, 2015, 3:40pm CDT

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GT Fish & Oyster

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by Brett Hickman Jul 17, 2015, 3:40pm CDT

Dinners at some of Chicago's fancier restaurants can be expensive. Sure, every once in a while the average person can venture out to RPM Steak, Naha or even Sixteen, spend a wad of cash and not suffer too much, but it's not something most can do regularly. A great way to maximize your restaurant sampling while spending less is by visiting these same places during lunch time. Between prix fixe menus, sandwiches and alternate lunch menus, the 20 options below are a great way to keep costs down and still expand your eating horizons.

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Travelle

330 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 923-7705

Visit Website

This toney spot has a lunch special dubbed “The Wabash Express,” that, for $29, lets customers choose items for a three course (appetizer, entrée, dessert) meal. Entree options include the spicy half chicken (normally $26) and the king salmon (normally $31). [Photo courtesy of Travelle]

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2. Fig & Olive

104 E Oak St
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 445-0060

Visit Website

Monday through Friday, guests can try a three course prix-fixe menu for $25, featuring many dishes that are on the dinner menu for much, much more (the rosemary lamb chops are normally $39). [Photo by Marc Much]

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3. Sunda

110 W Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 644-0500

Visit Website

If you’re interested in trying something new, Sunda offers a special featuring a seasonal dish called the “Lucky 8s lunch special” for $8.88. Past dishes have included tempura crab and asparagus maki or grilled shrimp and sea bass skewers. [Eater]

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4. RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 284-4990

Visit Website

You can grab a number of dishes on the Monday through Friday lunch menu that are not available at dinner. $18 gets you a 5 ounce prime steak sandwich (the 10 ounce steak on its own is $52 at dinner) on ciabatta with baby arugula, Maytag blue cheese, caramelized onions and a side of fries. There’s also the RPM truffle burger for $17 featuring truffle aioli, foie gras butter on a brioche bun and a side of fries. You can reward yourself with luxury and not worry about spending too much. [Photo by Marc Much]

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5. Mercat a la Planxa

638 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

(312) 765-0524

Visit Website

This South Loop hotspot has a great patio special named the “Bikini Sandwich” for only $10 and it includes a glass of Spanish wine or beer. Named for Barcelona’s Bikini Music Hall, which served a version of the French Croque Monsieur, Mercat’s features serrano ham, truffle manchego cheese, toasted brioche and rosemary peach jam. They also have an $18 Catalan Express lunch of two courses with a fountain drink or iced tea. [Photo courtesy of Mercat a la Planxa]

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6. Sepia

123 N Jefferson St
Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 441-1920

Visit Website

Enjoying a dinner at Michelin-starred Sepia can be an expensive option for regular folks, but at lunch the fancy restaurant serves up a number of sandwich options (Thai chicken sausage, Sepia burger) for around $15 that won’t break the bank. [Photo courtesy of Sepia]

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7. Sixteen

401 N Wabash Ave Fl 16
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 588-8030

Visit Website

If you really want to play at being a high roller but don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it, Sixteen’s two course lunch for $44 might be the best fit. The 2 Michelin star restaurant’s prix fixe menu includes options such as Shigoku oyster and caviar with watercress and navet cream (normally $27) and Maine lobster, roasted fennel, vadouvan carrots and potato gnocchi (normally $37) that will save you a considerable amount of cash. [Photo courtesy of Sixteen]

8. David Burke's Primehouse

616 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 660-6000

Visit Website

You can rack up a pretty hefty check at Primehouse for dinner, but lunch offers some really great deals that still allow you to enjoy the steakhouse in all of its glory. Steak frites featuring an eye of ribeye can be had for $34 (the cheapest ribeye steak costs $51), and then there’s the 40-day dry-aged prime steak burger for only $16 that includes spinach, caramelized onion, bacon, black pepper aioli, a side of fries and your choice of cheese. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

9. GT Fish and Oyster

531 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 929-3501

Visit Website

This restaurant from the Boka group headed by chef Giuseppe Tentori can be pricey when you wander in to the market price territory (or just decide to order with abandon), but for lunch they offer a reasonable $25 prix fixe option that includes choices such as tuna poke, striped bass (which on its own for dinner costs $18) and a dessert. [Photo courtesy of GT Fish & Oyster]

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10. Embeya

564 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 612-5640

Visit Website

With new chef Mike Sheerin in the kitchen, Embeya gives guests a taste at lunch time with the hopes that they explore more later. $25 gets a three course menu of appetizer, entrée and dessert. [Photo by Jason Little]

11. Rural Society

455 N Park Dr
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 840-6605

Visit Website

Get all of the smoky glory at Rural Society for a fraction of the cost with one of their lunch time only sandwiches. Topping out at $17 for their burger and as low as $14 for housemade chorizo sausage with smoke tomato and chimichurri (all sandwiches includes chips), you’ll get a good feel for the food on the cheap. [Photo by Marc Much]

12. Naha

500 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 321-6242

Visit Website

Right now Carrie Nahabedian’s Naha is offering an “Early Summer” menu featuring soup of the day, North African “tangine” of chicken thigh with blood orange, bulghur wheat pilaf, grilled eggplant, carrots and cilantro that ends with desert of bittersweet chocolate pave. It’s the perfect excuse to try this acclaimed restaurant and save money (the lowest priced entrée at dinner is the braised beef short ribs at $35). [Photo courtesy of Naha]

13. Tête Charcuterie

1114 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 733-1178

Visit Website

Tete Charcuterie's Thomas Rice and Kurt Guzowski have been getting a lot of notice for their lunch menu, which features a number of tasty sandwich options for $12 each (and they include housemade chips). Whether it’s the jambon beurre (Parisian ham, gruyere, salted butter on a baguette) or the salumi (chorizo, manchego, arugula, romesco), you’ll get a filling lunch on the cheap. [Photo by Marc Much]

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14. Nico Osteria

1015 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 994-7100

Visit Website

One Off Hospitality’s glitzy, Gold Coast-located Nico Osteria gets a down to Earth affordable lunch option with their $25 three course menu. Featuring lentil and escarole soup, a choice between a pasta and a panini for your main course and then two options for dessert, it’s the best excuse to see what all the raves are about. [Photo by Marc Much]

Also Featured in:

15. Salero

621 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60661

(312) 466-1000

Visit Website

Get transported to Spain on the cheap with Salero’s prix fixe lunch menu where you can eat Iberico ham to start, scallops a la plancha for your main and then end the meal with one of their incredibly light churros for only $25. [Photo by Marc Much]

Also Featured in:

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16. Sumi Robata Bar

702 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 988-7864

Visit Website

Those robata skewers can surprisingly add up, especially when you’re chasing them down with plenty of Japanese beer. Well you shouldn’t be drinking during work hours anyway, but a terrific option for lunch can be Sumi Robata Bar’s bento boxes which feature vegetables, salmon, skirt steak or chicken over rice as well as miso or chicken soup, salad and a seafood croquette. That’s a lot of food for $15. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

17. Gene & Georgetti

500 N Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 527-3718

Visit Website

You can get quite a bargain between dinner and lunch service at Gene & Georgetti. Prices are a lot lower for the lunch crowd (the pepper steak is $10 cheaper), and there are a few non-dinner options (Schultz Special) that can only be found during this time. [Photo courtesy of Gene & Georgetti]

Also Featured in:

18. C Chicago

20 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 280-8882

Visit Website

From 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., $27 gets you a taste of C Chicago, the brand new seafood spot from the Chicago Cut guys at an affordable price. The prix fixe meal features choices available within appetizers (chilled English pea soup), main course (Scottish salmon) along with a side of vegetables as well as a dessert. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

19. Smith & Wollensky

318 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654

(312) 670-9900

Visit Website

Another steakhouse with pretty sizable price cuts for steaks during lunch is Smith & Wollensky. A 10 ounce steak au poivre is $40 at lunch, $7 less than at dinner. The pink peppercorn crusted tuna and pan seared salmon are also discounted at lunch if you’re looking for something lighter. [Photo courtesy of Smith & Wollensky]

Also Featured in:

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20. Filini Restaurant and Bar

221 N Columbus Dr
Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 477-0234

Visit Website

Filini’s “rapido” lunch for $21 packs in a lot of Italian goodness for a reasonable price. You can choose soup or salad, an entrée (choices include the crispy citrus-marinated chicken breast with oven roasted garlic potatoes and heirloom cherry tomatoes, which is normally $22 for dinner on its own), and dessert. [Photo courtesy of Filini]

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1. Travelle

330 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

This toney spot has a lunch special dubbed “The Wabash Express,” that, for $29, lets customers choose items for a three course (appetizer, entrée, dessert) meal. Entree options include the spicy half chicken (normally $26) and the king salmon (normally $31). [Photo courtesy of Travelle]

330 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

2. Fig & Olive

104 E Oak St, Chicago, IL 60611

Monday through Friday, guests can try a three course prix-fixe menu for $25, featuring many dishes that are on the dinner menu for much, much more (the rosemary lamb chops are normally $39). [Photo by Marc Much]

104 E Oak St
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

3. Sunda

110 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654

If you’re interested in trying something new, Sunda offers a special featuring a seasonal dish called the “Lucky 8s lunch special” for $8.88. Past dishes have included tempura crab and asparagus maki or grilled shrimp and sea bass skewers. [Eater]

110 W Illinois St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

4. RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

You can grab a number of dishes on the Monday through Friday lunch menu that are not available at dinner. $18 gets you a 5 ounce prime steak sandwich (the 10 ounce steak on its own is $52 at dinner) on ciabatta with baby arugula, Maytag blue cheese, caramelized onions and a side of fries. There’s also the RPM truffle burger for $17 featuring truffle aioli, foie gras butter on a brioche bun and a side of fries. You can reward yourself with luxury and not worry about spending too much. [Photo by Marc Much]

66 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

5. Mercat a la Planxa

638 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

This South Loop hotspot has a great patio special named the “Bikini Sandwich” for only $10 and it includes a glass of Spanish wine or beer. Named for Barcelona’s Bikini Music Hall, which served a version of the French Croque Monsieur, Mercat’s features serrano ham, truffle manchego cheese, toasted brioche and rosemary peach jam. They also have an $18 Catalan Express lunch of two courses with a fountain drink or iced tea. [Photo courtesy of Mercat a la Planxa]

638 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60605

Visit Website

6. Sepia

123 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661

Enjoying a dinner at Michelin-starred Sepia can be an expensive option for regular folks, but at lunch the fancy restaurant serves up a number of sandwich options (Thai chicken sausage, Sepia burger) for around $15 that won’t break the bank. [Photo courtesy of Sepia]

123 N Jefferson St
Chicago, IL 60661

Visit Website

7. Sixteen

401 N Wabash Ave Fl 16, Chicago, IL 60611

If you really want to play at being a high roller but don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it, Sixteen’s two course lunch for $44 might be the best fit. The 2 Michelin star restaurant’s prix fixe menu includes options such as Shigoku oyster and caviar with watercress and navet cream (normally $27) and Maine lobster, roasted fennel, vadouvan carrots and potato gnocchi (normally $37) that will save you a considerable amount of cash. [Photo courtesy of Sixteen]

401 N Wabash Ave Fl 16
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

8. David Burke's Primehouse

616 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

You can rack up a pretty hefty check at Primehouse for dinner, but lunch offers some really great deals that still allow you to enjoy the steakhouse in all of its glory. Steak frites featuring an eye of ribeye can be had for $34 (the cheapest ribeye steak costs $51), and then there’s the 40-day dry-aged prime steak burger for only $16 that includes spinach, caramelized onion, bacon, black pepper aioli, a side of fries and your choice of cheese. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

616 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

9. GT Fish and Oyster

531 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

This restaurant from the Boka group headed by chef Giuseppe Tentori can be pricey when you wander in to the market price territory (or just decide to order with abandon), but for lunch they offer a reasonable $25 prix fixe option that includes choices such as tuna poke, striped bass (which on its own for dinner costs $18) and a dessert. [Photo courtesy of GT Fish & Oyster]

531 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

10. Embeya

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

With new chef Mike Sheerin in the kitchen, Embeya gives guests a taste at lunch time with the hopes that they explore more later. $25 gets a three course menu of appetizer, entrée and dessert. [Photo by Jason Little]

564 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60661

Visit Website

11. Rural Society

455 N Park Dr, Chicago, IL 60611

Get all of the smoky glory at Rural Society for a fraction of the cost with one of their lunch time only sandwiches. Topping out at $17 for their burger and as low as $14 for housemade chorizo sausage with smoke tomato and chimichurri (all sandwiches includes chips), you’ll get a good feel for the food on the cheap. [Photo by Marc Much]

455 N Park Dr
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

12. Naha

500 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Right now Carrie Nahabedian’s Naha is offering an “Early Summer” menu featuring soup of the day, North African “tangine” of chicken thigh with blood orange, bulghur wheat pilaf, grilled eggplant, carrots and cilantro that ends with desert of bittersweet chocolate pave. It’s the perfect excuse to try this acclaimed restaurant and save money (the lowest priced entrée at dinner is the braised beef short ribs at $35). [Photo courtesy of Naha]

500 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

13. Tête Charcuterie

1114 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

Tete Charcuterie's Thomas Rice and Kurt Guzowski have been getting a lot of notice for their lunch menu, which features a number of tasty sandwich options for $12 each (and they include housemade chips). Whether it’s the jambon beurre (Parisian ham, gruyere, salted butter on a baguette) or the salumi (chorizo, manchego, arugula, romesco), you’ll get a filling lunch on the cheap. [Photo by Marc Much]

1114 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

14. Nico Osteria

1015 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

One Off Hospitality’s glitzy, Gold Coast-located Nico Osteria gets a down to Earth affordable lunch option with their $25 three course menu. Featuring lentil and escarole soup, a choice between a pasta and a panini for your main course and then two options for dessert, it’s the best excuse to see what all the raves are about. [Photo by Marc Much]

1015 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611

Visit Website

15. Salero

621 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Get transported to Spain on the cheap with Salero’s prix fixe lunch menu where you can eat Iberico ham to start, scallops a la plancha for your main and then end the meal with one of their incredibly light churros for only $25. [Photo by Marc Much]

621 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60661

Visit Website

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16. Sumi Robata Bar

702 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Those robata skewers can surprisingly add up, especially when you’re chasing them down with plenty of Japanese beer. Well you shouldn’t be drinking during work hours anyway, but a terrific option for lunch can be Sumi Robata Bar’s bento boxes which feature vegetables, salmon, skirt steak or chicken over rice as well as miso or chicken soup, salad and a seafood croquette. That’s a lot of food for $15. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

702 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

17. Gene & Georgetti

500 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

You can get quite a bargain between dinner and lunch service at Gene & Georgetti. Prices are a lot lower for the lunch crowd (the pepper steak is $10 cheaper), and there are a few non-dinner options (Schultz Special) that can only be found during this time. [Photo courtesy of Gene & Georgetti]

500 N Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

18. C Chicago

20 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

From 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., $27 gets you a taste of C Chicago, the brand new seafood spot from the Chicago Cut guys at an affordable price. The prix fixe meal features choices available within appetizers (chilled English pea soup), main course (Scottish salmon) along with a side of vegetables as well as a dessert. [Photo by Barry Brecheisen]

20 W Kinzie St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

19. Smith & Wollensky

318 N State St, Chicago, IL 60654

Another steakhouse with pretty sizable price cuts for steaks during lunch is Smith & Wollensky. A 10 ounce steak au poivre is $40 at lunch, $7 less than at dinner. The pink peppercorn crusted tuna and pan seared salmon are also discounted at lunch if you’re looking for something lighter. [Photo courtesy of Smith & Wollensky]

318 N State St
Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

20. Filini Restaurant and Bar

221 N Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

Filini’s “rapido” lunch for $21 packs in a lot of Italian goodness for a reasonable price. You can choose soup or salad, an entrée (choices include the crispy citrus-marinated chicken breast with oven roasted garlic potatoes and heirloom cherry tomatoes, which is normally $22 for dinner on its own), and dessert. [Photo courtesy of Filini]

221 N Columbus Dr
Chicago, IL 60601

Visit Website

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