Thanksgiving dinner is the biggest meal of November, but there’s plenty of great food and drinks to be had before and after Turkey Day. Try some new spots during Andersonville Autumn Restaurant Weeks, celebrate Sapori Trattoria’s 25th anniversary in Lincoln Park, or enjoy Southern fare with a collaborative dinner at Lexington Betty. Sample the first French wine of the year at a Beaujolais Nouveau Party at Le Sud or sip some strong brews at the annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer. Bring your appetite to one of these 10 November dining events and check back soon for our guides to where to get your Thanksgiving dinner and pies.
Andersonville Autumn Restaurant Weeks
More than a dozen restaurants offer discounted multicourse meals through Nov. 15 during the second annual event. Visit Big Jones for a $30 lunch including Creole tomato bisque, fried chicken and beignets, or head to Vincent to feast on fried squash, filet mignon au poivre and basque cheesecake for $60.
Through Nov. 15 at multiple locations; more information at andersonville.org/events/autumn-restaurant-week
Meet and Feast with Running Back D’Andre Swift
Snack on a special menu showcasing the Bears player’s Philadelphia roots, like a hoagie dip ($13) and house-cut fries with giardiniera rub and Cooper Sharp Cheese Wiz ($9.95), and enter a raffle for an autographed jersey. MVP tickets ($120) include an autograph, photo opportunity, T-shirt and a view of the TVs for Monday Night Football.
5 p.m. Nov. 9 at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, 41 W. Superior St., tickets are $25-$120 at jakemelnicks.com/happenings
Logan Square Chef’s Dinner
The 13th annual benefit for Comfort Station features a cocktail reception and a five-course dinner with wine pairings prepared by community chefs including Jason Hammel (Lula Cafe), Diana Dávila (Mi Tocaya Antojería), Joe Frillman (Daisies) and Ethan Pikas (Cellar Door Provisions).
6-9 p.m. Nov. 10 at Lula Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., tickets are $250 at comfortstationlogansquare.org/logan-square-chefs-dinner
Sapori Trattoria 25th Anniversary Celebration
The restaurant celebrates Nov. 10-15 by donating $5 from every plate of carbonara sold to Dignity Diner. You can get tiramisu for $2.50 on Nov. 10, while diners enjoy complimentary bubbly Nov. 13-14. Try dishes from throughout the restaurant’s history along with wine pairings during a $150 Best of Sapori dinner at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15.
Sapori Trattoria, 2701 N. Halsted St., reservations at opentable.com/r/sapori-trattoria-chicago
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Tourtière Night
Dear Margaret closed after a fire in 2025, but the Lakeview bistro is popping up in West Town to serve a hearty fall meal featuring tourtière, a French Canadian pie made with pork or mushrooms, along with cider-braised turnips and maple crème brûlée.
6 p.m. Nov. 11 at Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets are $70 at exploretock.com/dearmargaret
Southside & Friends
Batter & Berries executive chef Ken Polk teams up with Dominique Leach at Lexington Betty Smokehouse for a dinner showcasing their Southern roots.
6-9 p.m. Nov. 12 at Lexington Betty Smokehouse, 756 E. 111th St.; tickets are $140 at eventbrite.com/e/southside-friends-with-chef-ken-polk-tickets-2003465929527
Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer
Sample more than 250 beers, ciders, meads and perrys at the 24th annual festival, where breweries compete to make novel versions of 13 styles including lagers, fruit beer and porters.
6-10 p.m. Nov. 13 and 1-5 p.m. Nov. 14 at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Ave.; tickets are $85-$250 at fobab.com
Lucy’s BBQ Pop-Up
Feast on Texas-style barbecue when James Beard Award semifinalist Nick Kleutsch (Sanders BBQ Supply Co.) offers a taste of his upcoming restaurant Lucy’s BBQ, which is opening in Highland, Indiana, this winter. Dishes include truffle chicken wings ($16), pork steak ($17), brisket ($18) and mac & cheese ($7).
6-9 p.m. Nov. 16 at Friends of Friends, 2001 W. Grand Ave., fofchicago.com
Beaujolais Nouveau Party Night
The French celebration of the first wine of the 2026 harvest comes to Roscoe Village, where you can try the light red and other Beaujolais wines along with French charcuterie and cheese and Mediterranean-inspired bites. You’ll also take home a bottle.
6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Le Sud, 2301 W. Roscoe St.; tickets are $65 at lesudchicago.com
Gingerbread House Party
Kick off the holiday season by decorating a gingerbread house, taking pictures with Santa, and snacking on cookies and hot cocoa.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 28 and 3:30-5 p.m. Nov. 29 at Park and Field, 3509 W. Fullerton Ave.; tickets are $10 plus $25 for a gingerbread house kit at resy.com/cities/chicago-il/venues/park-and-field
Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.