Restaurant week in Fox Valley kicks off March 28
Baby back ribs, pasta, quesadillas, pizza, martinis, even popcorn and kringles - the first Restaurant Week of the Northern Fox Valley will feature all these foods and more.
The event March 28 through April 4 includes prix fixe menus and sampler dishes from $20 to $40 from eateries in suburbs represented by the Elgin Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Krisilee Murphy, its director of marketing.
Nineteen restaurants in four suburbs - Elgin, South Elgin, West Dundee and Bartlett - had signed up by Monday to participate, but more are expected to follow, Murphy said. The bureau also represents Carpentersville, East Dundee, Gilberts, Hampshire and Sleepy Hollow.
"This week is all about bringing out the inner foodie of locals and attracting visitors to try some of the delicious cuisine offered throughout the area," she said in a news release. "For the restaurants, we're hoping they get new business. For the people visiting the area, we want people to get a good idea of the restaurants we have in the Elgin area."
Chicago's ninth annual restaurant week took place in January, while the third annual Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week was in February. Local restaurants said they love the idea of doing that in the Fox Valley.
"I think it's great," said Frank Redisi, owner of Cafe Roma in Elgin. "More people could hear about us through the program, or regular customers might try it and try new things. It's an advertising tool, in a way."
Cafe Roma will offer a $20 lunch for two people featuring a 14-inch pizza, two side salads and two fountain drinks. It will also offer a five-course dinner tasting for two on Thursday and Friday.
Herb's Bakery in Elgin will offer a $20 sampler of kringles, the Scandinavian pastry, plus banana bread, muffins and possibly more - all items that people might not normally pick, said manager Wendy Wessel. "We're not a restaurant, but this is kind of a neat idea, so I thought we'd try it," she said.
Carlos Torres, owner of Elgin BBQ Pit, said he plans to offer a three-meat combo with two sides and dessert for $20. The more creative ways to introduce customers to his restaurant, the better, he said. "We're doing fairly well, but there's still a lot of customers in the Elgin area that don't know about us."
Other participating eateries in Elgin are: Alexander's Cafe, Bennigan's, Chooch's Pizzeria, Dog's Paw Brewery, Domani Cafe, Elgin Books and Coffee, In the Neighborhood Deli, Mama Lee's Gourmet Popcorn, Martini Room, Nick's Pizza & Pub, Rookie's All-American Pub & Grill, Sammy's Mexican Grill and Toom Toom Thai. Also, Village Squire in South Elgin and West Dundee, and O'Hare's Pub and Restaurant in Bartlett.
People can win restaurant gift certificates by participating in a photo contest via Instagram with the hashtag #FoodontheFox.
For more information visit northernfoxrivervalley.com/visit/restaurant-week. Restaurants can sign up to participate by March 23. For more information email kmurphy@northernfoxrivervalley.com.