Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week deals start Thursday
Katy Garcia, who co-owns Riccardo's Ristorante in Schaumburg with her husband, Chef Waldo Garcia, says their traditional Italian entrees bring loyal patrons from across the Northwest suburbs.
But Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week - which opens Thursday and runs through Sunday, Feb. 28 - brings in a whole new clientele.
Restaurant Week "brings in more foodie types, who are adventuresome and want to try something off their traditional path," Garcia says. "It's neat. People see us in a different light. they look at our menu differently."
This is the third Restaurant Week in the Northwest suburbs, and the number of participating establishments keeps growing. This year, there are more than 40, located in Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Itasca, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Schaumburg, Streamwood and Wood Dale.
Essentially, the restaurant promotion follows the same premise as Chicago Restaurant Week, which took place earlier this month. For the next 10 days, diners can select from a choice of three-course fixed-price lunch and dinner menus at participating establishments.
Lunch menu price points, depending upon the individual restaurant, range from $10 to $20, while dinner menu prices can range from $20 to $30 or $40.
Ditka's in Arlington Heights jumped into Restaurant Week last year, and Manager Ryan Musillami says it immediately gave the business more exposure.
"We get to showcase what our restaurant is all about," Musillami said, "and get people in the door that might not otherwise try us."
That's what it's all about, says Dave Parulo, president of Meet Chicago Northwest, the convention and tourism organization that markets the Northwest suburbs as a destination.
"These restaurants are unique to the Northwest suburbs," Parulo says. "This is a chance for local patrons to try new restaurants but we also hope to draw drive-in traffic from throughout the region."
This year's lineup includes some new choices, including: Kinfork, Grillhouse by David Burke, Level 257 and the Punch Bowl, all in Schaumburg; as well as Jimmy's Charhouse in Elk Grove Village and Fox & Turtle in Itasca.
Parulo adds that while there are more than 400 restaurants in the Northwest suburbs, Restaurant Week showcases full-service, dine-in restaurants, including unique and privately owned establishments and those that are part of larger chains.
"It's timed the same every year: right after Valentine's Day and after Chicago's Restaurant Week," Parulo says. "Traditionally, it's a quiet time for restaurants, but we want patrons to realize what a dining and shopping destination the Northwest suburbs are."
More information on restaurants and menu offerings is at chicagonorthwest.com/restaurant-week.