The following is an updated version of our annual Chicago Restaurant Week Guide.
Everyone’s got to eat. Not everyone, though, eats well. Few live in a city with an entire neighborhood incubating the talents of both Michelin Star and James Beard Award-winning chefs. Food is a vital part of Chicago’s DNA. We’ve got Achatz, Duffy, Bayless, Izard, Elliot, and the Trotter legacy. For the snobby food lover, there’s no city in the world more enabling. And there’s no better time to eat than during restaurant week.
Chicago Restaurant Week is an annual event celebrating Chicago’s top restaurants and chefs. Over 300 restaurants, including a few Michelin star winners, offer prix fixe menus priced below $44 ($22 for lunch, $33 for dinner on average). It’s a great thing, but there are a few caveats of which you should be aware.
Here are five tips on how to avoid being duped by the hoopla.
Your Best Guide to Chicago Restaurant Week: 5 Tips
1. Avoid “new” items not typically offered by the restaurant. These new items are sometimes down-to-earth versions of menu favorites thought too intimidating for the average diner. In reality, these “new” items are merely watered down knock-offs of the restaurant’s typical fare. Bottom line, these are not the dishes for which the restaurant is known. My advice is to skip them altogether.
2. Do the math. Compare the prix fixe menu to the regular and decide if you’re saving any coins. If not, skip the prix fixe and just order from the regular menu at another time.
3. Check the reviews. 300+ restaurants are a lot, even for Chicago. Some who made the list, frankly, shouldn’t be there. A few are dives with good bar food, and a few are mediocre at best. Google and Yelp are still your friends here.
4. Promptly make reservations.
5. If you can’t decide, choose from our list of favorites below.
TOP 34 PICKS FOR CHICAGO RESTAURANT WEEK 2019
Avec
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Lentil soup and chorizo stuffed dates
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/avec%20RW%20Menus_11.29.pdf
Baptiste and Bottle
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Cauliflower Soup and Diver Scallops
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Baptiste%20dinner.pdf
Bernie’s
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Octopus a la Plancha, Pork Belly Burger, Bread Pudding
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Bernie’s%20updated.pdf
Blackbird
Cuisine: American
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Shrimp Confit, Pork Pave, Chocolate Hazelnut Cremeux
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Blackbird%20Restaurant%20Week%20Menu.pdf
BLVD
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Brandade Croquettes, Brussels Sprouts, Short Ribs or Vegetable Risotto, Candy Bar with Coconut Ganache and Rum Guava
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Restaurant%20Week%20Menu%20(2019)%20(Online%20Version)%20(Final).pdf
Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
Cuisine: Spanish/Tapas
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Baked Goat Cheese, Octopus a la Plancha, Chocolate Truffle Cake
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/CBBR%20CRW%202019.pdf
Cherry Circle Room
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $48
Recommended: French Onion Soup, Bouillabaisse, and Cheesecake
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Cherry%20Circle%20Room-RW.pdf
Cindy’s Seafood
Cuisine: American
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Squash and Parsnip Soup, Roman Gnocchi, S’Mores
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Cindy%20RW%202019%20(LUNCH).pdf
The Dawson
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Octopus, Braised Lamb Neck
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/CRW_Dawson_2019%20Menu.pdf
Dove’s
Cuisine: Southern, Mexcian
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Avocado Salad or Pozole, Chicken Fried Chicken, Bourbon Butter Pecan Helado
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Doves%20RW%202019.pdf
Duck Duck Goat
Cuisine: Chinese
Brunch – $24
Recommended: Xiao Long Bao, Egg Foo Fun [sic], Donut Holes
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Duck%20Duck%20Goat%20Restaurant%20Week%20Menus%202019.pdf
Enso
Cuisine: Japanese
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Takoyaki, Pork Belly, and Fried Rice
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Enso.pdf
Fig and Olive
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Crostini Tasting ($9 extra), Cauliflower Risotto or Lemon Chicken, Bruleed Cheesecake
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/CHI_RW19_web.pdf
Frontera
Cuisine: Mexican
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Ceviche, Skate Wing Milanesa
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Frontera%20Grill.pdf
Frontier
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Boar Sliders, Gnocchi, Pear Doughnuts
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/FRONTIER%20CRW%20MENU.pdf
GT Fish & Oyster
Cuisine: Seafood
Brunch – $24
Recommended: Wedge salad with crab, Shrimp and Grits, Key Lime Pie
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/GT%20Fish%20and%20Oyster%20Restaurant%20Week%202019%20brunch%20and%20dinner%20menu.pdf
The Hampton Social
Cuisine: Seafood
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Brussel Sprouts, New England Clam Chowder, Salmon, NY Style Cheesecake
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Hampton_RestaurantWeek_Menu%20(3)1.pdf
Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods
Cuisine: Southern
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Crab Stuffed Shrimp, Blackened Catfish, Beignets
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/INA%20CRW%20MENU1.pdf
La Sardine
Cuisine: French
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Blue Cheese Soufflé, Short Rib Bourguignon, Tart Bourdaloue
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/La%20Sardine%20Restaurant%20week%202019.pdf
Lena Brava
Cuisine: Mexican
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Ceviche, Black Cod “Al Pastor”
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Lena%20updated.pdf
The Lobby
Cuisine: American
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Kale Salad, Potato Gnocchi, Dark Chocolate “Truffles”
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/The%20Lobby%20Lunch-merged.pdf
Longman & Eagle
Cuisine: American
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Salt Baked Apple, Turkey Rueben
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/LE-RW-Dinner.pdf
Marchesa
Cuisine : French
Dinner – $25
Recommended : Insalata Marchesa, Tagliatelle ai Funghi Porcini, Demi-Canard
Link : https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/MARCHESA.pdf
Nico
Cuisine: Italian
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Meatballs, Orecchiette, Ciabatta Crusted Golden Mouth Bass, Almond Torta
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Nico.pdf
Parson’s
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Cheese Cur, Whole Chicken
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Nico.pdf
Piccolo Sogno
Cuisine: Italian
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Mozzarella Locale, Ravioli, Biscotti ‘Piccolo Sogno’
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Chicago%20Restaurant%20Week%202019%20Menus.pdf
The Promotory
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $36
Recommended: Squash Salad, Lamb Shank, Key Lime Posset
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Promontory%20CRW1.pdf
The Publican
Cuisine: American
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Little Gem Lettuce, Yellowtail, Tagliatelle
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Publican%20Restaurant%20Week%20Menu%202019.pdf
Quartino Ristorante
Cuisine: Italian
Dinner – $48 per couple
Recommended: Risotto, Seafood
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/QUARTINO_Restaurant%20Week%202019_Dinner%20Menu.pdf
RPM Italian
Cuisine: Italian
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Artichoke Salad, Risotto Verde, Chocolate Budino
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/RPM%20Italian%20CRW%202019.pdf
RPM Steak
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Pear Salad, Dorade Royale, Cookies & Cream Sundae
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/RPM%20Steak%20CRW%202019.pdf
STK
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Dinner – $48
Recommended: Rib Agnolotti, Sea Bass, Key Lime Cheesecake
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/STK-converted%20(1).pdf
Topolobampo
Cuisine: Mexican
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Sopa Azteca, Chilaquiles Yucatecos
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/RW%20Topolo%20lunch%202019.pdf
Tortoise Supper Club
Cuisine: American
Lunch – $24
Recommended: Butter Lettuce Salad, Bay Salmon, Tortoise Pie
Link: https://chicago.simpleviewcrm.com/docs/amenities/Restaurant%20Week%20LUNCH%20AND%20DINNER%202019.pdf