Five Special Occasion Restaurants to Visit in 2026

There are times in our lives where we celebrate special moments with food experiences. That might mean pizza after a little league championship. Ice cream to celebrate getting a good report card. A night out for burgers and milkshakes to celebrate getting a driver’s license. A drive-thru run for late night tacos on your way home from the hospital with a new baby sleeping in the back. The focus is the people and the casual bites facilitate time to connect.

But sometimes, a celebration warrants something a little more impressive or more robust - an atmosphere that is more upscale, a memorable experience to savor, a meal that stands out, service that lets you slow down and really appreciate the people you are with. 

Whether it’s a graduation, a birthday, Mother’s Day, a promotion, a holiday, a reunion or other milestone, there are eateries throughout the Chicago Southland that provide a setting for your most precious moments. Here are few restaurants to keep in mind for your next special occasion:

Jack Gibbons Gardens, Oak Forest

Although it has been in business for over a century, Jack Gibbons Gardens can be somewhat of a hidden gem in the restaurant landscape. While newer, flashier, more modern restaurant spaces pull in younger generations, there’s so much to be said for simple, classic elegance. This is an underrated steakhouse with an understated, nostalgic presence and a history of 103 year's worth of special occasions.

69 Prime Italian Steakhouse, Homewood

Opened earlier this year inside Homewood’s La Banque Hotel, this classy and cozy steakhouse looks out at downtown Homewood. You can expect beautiful presentations of all the classics of an Italian steakhouse and more - from pastas, aromatic chicken dishes and high-quality cuts with accompanying butters and sauces to seafood, lamb chops and reserve wagyu steaks.

Princess Cafe , Beecher

In the far south of the Chicago Southland, you’ll find an old school steakhouse housed in a historic building that gives a hint of an earlier era, like a supper club of the best kind. In the dining room you can sip a cocktail or enjoy an elegant plated meal that is just as good as it’s always been, choosing from entrees like filet mignon, lobster tail, bone-in ribeye and Dover sole.

Alto, Homewood

Prime cuts, stunning views, opulent decor and a luxe, over-the-top menu give this eatery by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani a little feeling of Vegas in the Chicago Southland. Located on the 17th floor of the Wind Creek Chicago Southland casino, you can enjoy sleek ambiance and a superb dining experience while getting one of the best skyline views in the Chicago area.

Jenny’s Steak and Banquets, Chicago Ridge

While the atmosphere here is more relaxed and casual than a fine-dining establishment, the menu is way beyond casual. It’s a place where the whole family will feel at ease and it also has a menu that will please anyone in your party. With a variety of generous sandwiches, salads and wraps, you can also level up to prime rib, a filet mignon or a list of hearty dinners like pepper steak, pork tenderloin or a slab or ribs.

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