Chicago Restaurant Week is finally here, and if you are a bit confused by how it works, let me be your guide.
First, to give some context for the newbies: there are three different price points - $25 for lunch or brunch, and $42 or $59 for dinner. Depending on the quality of the restaurant, these prices will change. For each price, there is a set menu that often includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Some restaurants will even substitute the dessert for drinks, but typically beverages are not included.
The event runs from January 20th through February 5th. There are over 350 restaurants participating; check out the list here! The Choose Chicago website even makes a note of which restaurants are minority-owned and women-owned.
Now, some tips for choosing the best place to get a bang for your buck. Number one: always look at the menu before booking. When I choose a restaurant any other week, I will typically go off the cuisine, reviews, and ambiance. For restaurant week, however, I make sure I look at the menu in detail. Since there is a fixed menu with limited options, I may find that even if I like Italian food, I won’t actually like the two types of pastas they’ve placed on the menu.
Along with that point, decide how much diversity of choice matters to you: do you want to be able to choose from a selection of different appetizers, or do you want your choice to be limited so that you’re not overwhelmed? After all, you are only allowed to pick one plate from each course.
Vodka Rigatoni
From Trivoli Tavern
Additionally, if there’s a place you’ve been dying to try, this is your time! I recommend going for lunches because they are cheaper and still offer a good representation of the restaurant’s food.
Most importantly, however, is the comparison of the deal to the restaurant’s typical pricing (their a la carte menu). For example, Bar Esmé’s Wagyu is typically $76 but you can eat that, a soup, and an appetizer all for $59. Talk about a steal! Aba also has a great deal for both brunch and dinner, where you can get a two or three-course meal plus a drink. Cabra and Avec West Loop have five-course dinners, and Avec also includes a wine pairing for an extra $22 a person. If you want to learn more about which restaurants are an actual deal, a Reddit User made a spreadsheet to calculate which restaurants are a “Money Saver,” a “Breakeven,” and a “Losing Money” based on such prices.
Jiaozi
From Duck Duck Goat
I had a chance to get some insight from people who have experienced the start of CRW. Hailey Klinger ’23 attended Trivoli Tavern, where she felt she got a great deal for $59 since their appetizer portions were much larger than she expected. She recommends the vodka rigatoni, as it “was delicious and garlicky, and had all the right flavors.” She also enjoyed the dessert, which was a strawberry shortcake with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, meringue, and some strawberries. Although it was simple, it was “a nice way to end after such a filling meal.” Duck Duck Goat has been hailed across the food world for having a phenomenal restaurant week menu this year, which Klinger confirmed. Since it was six courses, it “gave you a variety of flavors to try.” Plus, they feature a regular menu and a vegetarian menu so as to not exclude anyone from the experience. She recommends the beef and broccoli, the jaozi potstickers, and the green beans.
Yellowtail Sashimi and Crispy Spicy Tuna Maki
From Roka Akor
Erin Cesmeli ’24 attended Roka Akor for the first time in anticipation. She had heard many good things from friends but was unfortunately let down by the entrée, the wagyu sirloin. She explains that she “wasn’t a fan of the texture and the chewiness of the meat.” Her chocolate cake also came out lukewarm instead of hot which she was disappointed by. Yet, she enjoyed the first course, the yellowtail sashimi and wagyu kimchi dumplings, as well as her friend’s dessert, Ube pot de Crème. “Overall,” she says, “[it was a] good restaurant, but slightly overhyped and overrated. Based on the price point of the individual items on the a la carte menu, I’d say it was a good deal even though the steak was a major letdown.”
Turkey Burger and Wrightwood Salad
From Remington’s
Personally, I enjoyed lunch at Remington’s for $25. The food was incredibly filling and tasty. I had the tuna poke, the turkey burger, and the Nutella brownie. I enjoyed everything, and would return to eat their award-winning mac-n-cheese or for their happy hour. I would certainly list this as a “money saver” based on the a la carte prices.
CRW goes by fast, so make your reservations and have fun!
Cover image via
