We are all spending more time at home these days but getting a hot family dinner on the table every night has not gotten much easier. Thankfully, several Forest Park restaurants are ready to ease your cooking burden.
Check out five family-sized meals you can carry out tonight.
Since 1969 Golden Steer Steakhouse, 7635 W. Roosevelt Rd., has been serving up classic steaks, mouthwatering ribs and first rate French onion soup, but a few weeks ago the 50-year-old restaurant added family meals to their carry out menu for the first time.
“We wanted to give another option to families who are missing the Golden Steer experience,” says manager Tom Tzouras. “We are offering well-rounded meals that are both comforting and healthy.”
The steakhouse offers six family meals designed to feed five including Grecian chicken and vegetarian pasta. Beef tenderloin medallions are a popular selection – our steaks were cooked to a perfect medium-rare and served with a satisfying combination of house salad, twice-baked potatoes, and a broccoli-carrot side dish.
Tim Shanahan is known for bringing a taste of New Orleans to Madison Street and now his namesake restaurant is poised to bring its special brand of southern hospitality to your dinner table. Shanahans, 7353 W. Madison St., has five affordable family dinner offerings including red beans and rice, shrimp etouffee, and mix and match po’boys.
Shanahans’ manager, Esthela Gonzalez, is eager for people to try the New Orleans influenced meals and believes the shrimp and sausage jambalaya will be a particular favorite among customers.
“Things have been hard,” said Gonzalez gesturing toward Shanahan’s empty bar. “We are hoping people will support us by ordering our family meals.”
For 16 years, Caffé De Luca, 7427 Madison St., has relied on regulars and positive word of mouth to keep them going strong according to owner Art Sundry.
Sundry recently invested in a second pizza oven to meet increased delivery demand, but a hearty family meal has always been a part of Caffe De Luca’s catering menu. The pandemic, however, has brought more attention to the generous meal for six.
Chicken and pesto farfalle, rigatoni and meatballs, as well as salad and garlic bread will easily fill up your family, but don’t discount Caffe De Luca’s appetizer offering. The crispy lavosh crackers and garlicky white bean dip are an addictive snack.
Greg Stinton found his way to restaurant ownership through competitive barbecue. Today his eco-friendly joint, Small Batch Barbecue, 7441 Madison St., is turning out some seriously good meat-focused fare including award winning ribs.
You can order a la carte, but savvy barbecue lovers know Stinton has created family friendly options in tiny, small, and large sizes. We ordered up the “Small Batch” with three meats and two large sides including a dinosaur-sized beef rib, pork belly burnt ends and smoked wings tossed in Small Batch medium sauce. Stinton has bottled up his sweet and tangy sauces for sale. The handsome bottles can be returned to the restaurant for recycling in exchange for a discount on a subsequent sauce purchase.
Fernando Manriquez and Enrique Gomez are eager to get their fajita kit to your family table. The co-owners of Mexican Republic Kitchen and Cantina, 7404 Madison St., are enhancing their menu of Mexican favorites with high-value chicken, steak or combination fajita dinners for four. Served with rice, beans, tortillas, guacamole, and house made salsas this meal is sure to turn your next meal into a proper fiesta.
