Bloomingdale Restaurant Week returning with gift card prizes

The sponsors of Bloomingdale Restaurant Week want to see the receipts.

That's because diners emailing in proof of their visits to 16 participating Bloomingdale eateries can enter to win a prize drawing from April 22 to May 1. Every $10 spent (and emailed to contest@bloomingdalechamber.com) equals one chance to win a gift card bundle.

"Restaurant week allows us to attract potential new guests and also get our regular guests excited about new items we may feature," said Anyway's American Grill and Pub general manager Chris Karountzos in a statement. "This is a great opportunity to showcase not just Anyway's Pub, but all the other great diverse restaurants in our community."

Restaurant Week sponsors are the Bloomingdale Chamber of Commerce, the Bloomingdale Court Shopping Center and the village. These entities are also turning to social media to promote Bloomingdale Restaurant Week as well.

Another prize drawing is open to tech-savvy diners who take a selfie, post it to a social media platform like Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, and then tag the restaurant they are visiting while also using the hashtag #BCRestaurantWeek2022. A random winner or winners could win individual gift cards.

While Bloomingdale Restaurant Week sponsors are eager to push diners to sample its diverse restaurants with international and local cuisines, they are also asking patrons for their patience, too.

The Bloomingdale chamber issued a statement emphasizing that many restaurants continue to grapple with supply chain issues and staff shortages.

"Your support helps these local businesses succeed and continue to give back to the community," the statement said.

To kick off Bloomingdale Restaurant Week, Okapi Bistro is hosting a "Chamber After Hours" event Thursday evening at 369 W. Army Trail Road, Suite 11.

"Restaurant Week gives us a chance to share more of our best authentic dishes we have to offer," said Okapi bistro owner Flo Dipa. "We're thankful for this opportunity."

For the full list of Bloomingdale Restaurant Week participants, visit bloomingdalechamber.com.