Geja’s Café, known as one of our Chicago’s most enduring and iconic restaurants, is coming up on an incredible 58 years in operation at the end of this month.
Originally opened as one of Chicago’s very first wine bars, Geja’s evolved quickly into the city’s premier fondue restaurants.
To this day, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better fondue experience in the city — From the rustic vintage ambiance (including the songs of live flamenco guitar, warm lighting, elegant history-filled tapestries, and more), to the expertly curated wine list and the unmatched quality of fresh ingredients for their legendary cheese, oil, and chocolate fondue courses.
A Week Of Celebration – $58 Premier Dinners
Geja’s week-long anniversary celebration will run from June 25th through June 29th.
Throughout the week, they will offer a selection of their beloved Premier Dinners, all for $58.
All Premier Dinners include three incredible courses: Geja’s legendary Swiss Gruyere Fondue, Entrée Fondue, and their decadent Dark Belgian Chocolate Fondue.
All offered with the cheese and chocolate courses, varying entrée courses including The International (Beef, Gulf Shrimp, and Chicken), Beef Tenderloin and Gulf Shrimp, Chicken and Shrimp, The Summer Premier Dinner (noted below), and others are all available under the 58th Anniversary offer.
More information and reservations are available here.
Introducing: Geja’s Café Summer Premier Dinner
While Geja’s is known for their Premier Dinners, this year marks the first time in their 58 year history that they are adding SEASONAL premier offerings to the menu (the Spring Premier Dinner was unveiled this year, and was a smash hit).
Just in time for the anniversary celebration, Geja’s will launch their Summer Premier Dinner ($65) that highlights the flavors of the season in an all-new way.
The culinary team wanted to do something innovative, and that they have.
Complete with two innovative COLD fondue courses, and an entrée course that screams “SUMMERTIME”, with a nod to a traditional summer boil.
This seasonal offering will launch on June 27th and will run through the end of September:
Cheese Course: Whipped Goat Cheese Cheese Fondue
Goat Cheese and Cream Cheese whipped together with garlic, olive oil, fresh thyme, and lemon zest. Garnished with an orange reduction, drizzled honey, marcona almond crunchies and fresh thyme.
This fondue is served cold, and dippers include pretzel bread, rice crackers, cranberry pumpkin seed crisps, radishes, cauliflower, blackberries, apples, grapes, and endive.
Entrée Course: Summer Boil
The entrée course includes Paulina Meat Market Andouille Sausage, Gulf Shrimp, red potatoes, corn on the cob pieces, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
Geja’s features two summer sauces for this course – A Strawberry Sweet and Sour and Old Bay Aioli.
Normal sauces included are warm barbecue, herbed butter, teriyaki, Thai chili garlic, horseradish with chive and fresh dill.
The cooking style for this is an Old Bay Broth.
Chocolate Course: Whipped Chocolate Fondue
Geja’s legendary Belgium chocolate fondue is folded into whipped cream and meringue to make it light and airy.
This fondue is served cold, and dippers include strawberries, pineapple, raspberries, banana, madeleine cookies, peanut butter wafers, pirouette sticks, and lady fingers.
Wine Festival: From Italy, With Love
A decades-long tradition at Geja’s, their quarterly wine festivals bring in unique wines from all over the world and encourage diners to explore and celebrate new varietals alongside their meal.
This month marks the start of an Italian Wine Festival at Geja’s. General Manager Sam Geatti, born and raised in Italy, and has curated a selection of unique Italian wines that will transport people to Italy – From the one end of the boot to the other.
Running through the end of August, nearly 20 special wines will be available for guest to enjoy. In addition, guests can join Geja’s for their “From Italy, with Love” Italian Wine Dinner on Monday, July 17th.
Sergio Valsecchi from Simple Farmer Wines and Devid Dezen from More Than Grapes will be onsite to discuss the wineries and the wines guests will be tasting throughout the evening.
Tickets are $75 per person. A full menu and reservations are available here.
Thanks for letting me know if we can provide you with any additional information surrounding Geja’s Café’s 58th Anniversary, or if I can connect you with Owner Jeff Lawler for additional insight into why Geja’s has continued to be endure for nearly six decades on Chicago’s dining scene.