Choose Chicago welcomes the highly anticipated return of the annual Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW), now celebrating its 16th year, Friday, January 20 through Sunday, February 5, 2023. Diners can reserve tables and view menus online beginning today for multi-course meals at more than 330 Chicagoland eateries at eatitupchicago.com.
“Chicago Restaurant Week provides residents and visitors with an exciting opportunity to experience our unparalleled culinary talent, along with the cultural richness of our great city and its neighborhoods,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “Whether exploring restaurants in Hyde Park, Little Village, Andersonville – or any other pocket of the city – food enthusiasts will be reminded of our diverse, gastronomic richness and how it makes Chicago such a special place to live and visit.”
The event will feature more than 335 participants representing 34 distinct Chicago neighborhoods, including 37 suburban restaurants. Of the participants, 55 are women, minority and/or Black-owned enterprises. In 2023, 51 restaurants make their CRW debut, with participants including a range of both recently opened and established locales, such as Alpana (River North), Bloom Plant Based Kitchen (Bucktown/Wicker Park), Mima’s Taste of Cuba (Irving Park), Lexington Betty Smokehouse (Roseland) and Guy-Kaku Japanese BBQ (four locations citywide). They join a list of repeat loyalists such as The Berghoff (Loop), Mon Ami Gabi (Lincoln Park), Osteria Langhe (Logan Square), Swift & Sons Tavern & Oyster Bar (Wrigleyville) and Mango Pickle (Edgewater). A complete list of participating restaurants and their curated menu offerings can be found here. Reservations are now open at eatitupchicago.com with additional restaurants onboarding daily.
Chicago Restaurant Week offers visitors and local foodies a meaningful opportunity to experience some of the area’s most sought-after restaurants. For 17 consecutive, dining-packed days, participating dining establishments will showcase specially curated prix fixe menus with prices set at $25 for brunch or lunch, and $42 and/or $59 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Lending an ideal reason to explore Chicago’s nationally lauded culinary scene, diners can experience new, showstopping restaurants and familiar favorites alike daily.
“Chicago Restaurant Week is our city’s opportunity to celebrate the passion and vitality of our diverse restaurant community,” said Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association. “The industry has been faced with countless challenges since 2020. As we all look forward, celebrations such as these give diners the perfect reason to get back into dining rooms – leading to exactly the kind of buzz and excitement chefs and restauranteurs want and need.”
The highly anticipated celebration premieres on Thursday, January 19 at First Bites Bash, the official kick-off event for Chicago Restaurant Week. Making an exciting return for the first time since 2020, the event will be held Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Chicago’s Field Museum. Beloved Chicago Chef Darnell Reed of Luella’s Southern Kitchen steps into the spotlight, serving as the Host Chef for the star-studded party. Guests will have the opportunity to experience exclusive tasting portions from more than 50 restaurants showcasing their Chicago Restaurant Week menus and enjoy wine, beer, spirits, entertainment, and more. A portion of the proceeds from First Bites Bash will be donated to Kitchen Possible and the James Beard Foundation’s Scholarship Program. Tickets are on sale now and going fast at firstbitesbash.com.
Chicago Restaurant Week is generously sponsored by 97.1 The Drive, Chicago’s Classic Rock, The New 100.3, SHE Loves the ‘90s & 2000s, 101.9 THE MIX, Today’s Variety, Acqua Panna®, American Airlines, the James Beard Foundation, OpenTable, S.Pellegrino®, Smithfield Culinary, the foodservice business unit of Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Society Insurance.
For reservations, visit eatitupchicago.com. Fans are encouraged to follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter, and tag #ChicagoRestaurantWeek.
Featured Image: Choose Chicago