Dining

Dining out: Velvet Taco opens Monday in Naperville, plus National Pickle Day and more

Posted November 11, 2025 4:20 pm

Rick West

Velvet Taco opens Monday in Naperville’s Block 59. Courtesy of Velvet Taco

Taco time

Velvet Taco is bringing its globally inspired flavors to Naperville when it opens Monday, Nov. 17, in Block 59.

It’s the first suburban location for the fast-casual brand that offers more than 20 varieties of tacos and bowls featuring flavors from around the world, including the spicy tikka chicken taco, bacon smash burger taco, red curry coconut queso and more.

Each location offers a unique Weekly Taco Feature (WTF) highlighting innovative flavors. The opening-week feature is the blackened pescado, followed by honey chipotle chicken starting Nov. 26.

Velvet Taco opens Monday in Naperville’s Block 59. Courtesy of Velvet Taco

To celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 guests will receive a free $10 gift card for their next visit, and the first 50 will take home a Velvet Taco hat. Guests who join The Velvet Room loyalty program during opening week and make a purchase will receive a free taco reward for their next visit.

The 3,300-plus-square-foot restaurant at 448 S. State Route 59, Suite 100, will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Jason’s Deli is giving away 100 gallons of its famous pickles to 25 winners across the country for National Pickle Day. Courtesy of Jason's Deli

National Pickle Day

Heads up, pickle lovers. National Pickle Day is Friday, Nov. 14, and Jason’s Deli is giving away 100 gallons (yes, 100 gallons) of its famous pickles to 25 winners across the country.

Pickle fans can enter to win on Jason’s Deli’s Instagram (it involves some tagging and sharing), with winners announced Friday.

Jason’s has suburban locations in Naperville and Oak Brook if you would just prefer to buy your pickles with a sandwich.

Wine dinner

Italian eatery Il Mio in Clarendon Hills is partnering with Hinsdale Wine Shop to host a five-course wine dinner featuring Col d’Orcia wines at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17. Col d’Orcia, whose name means “hill overlooking the Orcia River,” borders the Brunello di Montalcino territory. Tickets are $110 per person and can be purchased on Resy.

Sip and shop

Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont will toast the season with its first winetasting event in partnership with Tapville Social from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15.

Winetasting stations will be located inside participating stores, including Le Creuset, Maje, Tory Burch, 7 For All Mankind and Theory, where attendees will receive a one-ounce sample of wine from a specially curated menu of Tapville Social’s wine selections. The event also offers a wine charm bar where participants can create up to three custom wine charms to take home.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at fashionoutletsofchicago.com/Events/Wine. Guests must check in for the event no later than 3 p.m. at Tapville Social.

The Hampton Social offers happy hour food and drink specials from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Courtesy of The Hampton Social

Don’t worry, be happy

The Hampton Social has happy hour covered from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday with drink specials and snacks to match.

Sip on $9 specialty cocktails, including the Hampton skinny marg, golden hour, pearl diver or a martini, $6 select beers and $9 select wines while you snack on $9 bites that include the wagyu smashburger tacos, guacamole, honey-glazed Brussels sprouts, Buffalo cauliflower, truffle Parmesan fries or $1.50 fresh oysters.

Suburban locations are in Burr Ridge, Skokie and South Barrington.

• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.