14 Labor Day specials at Chicago-area restaurants, from brunch paella to seafood boil kits

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer with a three-day weekend offering a last chance to make the most of the nice weather with grilled food, refreshing drinks and music.

Restaurants and bars throughout the Chicago area extend their weekend brunches to Monday, offer patriotic specials and host parties to provide a little late-season fun in the sun. However you prefer to celebrate, here are 14 options for 2022.

You’ll have an extra day to enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired brunch Monday, featuring housemade labneh with berries, smoked salmon spread on a Jerusalem bagel, and a harissa bloody mary. 302 N. Green St., 773-645-1400, abarestaurants.com/chicago

Take a trip to Spain for the long weekend with an extended brunch featuring a breakfast paella for two with Spanish sausage and scrambled egg crust and a pitcher of pomegranate rosemary spritz made with peach vodka and Aperol. 2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000, cafebabareeba.com; 441 N. Clark St., 312-985-6909, lilbabareeba.com

The village pays tribute to Nashville’s Honky Tonk Highway with its fifth annual Nashwood Music Fest Friday through Sunday, featuring free country, bluegrass, blues and Southern rock music performances both inside and outdoors. Bars and restaurants offer Southern-inspired food and drink specials, and there will be a dedicated family area. Locations vary, celebratehighwood.org/nashwood

Have a beachy brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday featuring a crab cake Benedict with fried green tomatoes, or snack on the decadent sparkling seafood tower that includes a demi bottle of sparkling rosé and a selection of oysters, snow crab claws, ceviche and shrimp cocktail. Locations vary, thehamptonsocial.com

Let someone else do the cooking and feast on barbecue shrimp with roasted corn and tomato salad ($25) and strawberry pie with whipped cream ($8.95) available through Sept. 7. 7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood; 847-677-3350; lwoodsrestaurant.com

Enjoy a last taste of summer with specials offered Thursday through Monday including $4 watermelon vodka lemonades and cucumber mules and $12 smoked bacon cheddar brats served with caramelized onions, German mustard and house potato chips. 1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com

Drink patriotically with the Red, White and Bluetiful matcha made with vanilla almond milk, collagen, blueberry and beet powder ($8.95) available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. 1017 W. Lake St., 312-785-9597, matchacitachi.com

Place an order by Thursday to pick up a seafood boil pack Saturday through Monday that features andouille sausage, corn, potatoes and shrimp, lobster or a mix of both ($29-$49). Locations vary, mccormickandschmicks.com

Feast on more than 15 East Coast lobster entrees at the seventh annual Great American Lobster Fest. The bash also features vendors selling crafts and a wide variety of other dishes, kids activities, and live music. Admission is free, but if you want a whole lobster, you should sign up for a meal experience, which includes reserved seating. 600 E. Grand Ave., americanlobsterfest.com

A Rock ‘N Roll brunch served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. all weekend features themed dishes like Jon Bun Jovi, a warm jumbo cinnamon roll with orange cream cheese frosting, and Breakfast in America, a sausage patty and aged cheddar scrambled eggs served on a green onion cheddar biscuit with a side of cheesy potato casserole. Locations vary, oldtownpourhouse.com

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a cherry-dipped doughnut topped with red, white and blue star-shaped sprinkles available Thursday through Monday. Locations vary, stansdonuts.com

The Loop spot extends its brunch to Monday, offering dishes including stuffed French toast with Bailey’s cream cheese and carrot cake spiced pancakes with orange cream cheese frosting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 225 N. Michigan Ave., 312-698-7111, sweetwatertavernandgrille.com

The brewery hosts the Out of Space festival in its parking lot from 5-10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday featuring performances by Houndmouth, Car Seat Headrest, Neko Case and Steel Pulse. Enjoy the music along with some of their craft beers and food truck fare. Tickets are $35-$40. 2000 Dempster St., Evanston; outofspaceconcerts.com

The shop’s sommeliers and guest winemakers lead an End of Summer Rosé Wine Tasting at 3 p.m. Saturday that includes four 4-ounce pours for $35. 5553 N. Clark St., 773-654-1432, uvaechicago.com

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