Dozens of restaurants in and around the village of Elmwood Park are set to offer special menus at promotional prices in a the coming days as “Restaurant Week” gets underway.
Restaurant Week runs Feb. 16 to Feb. 25 in the village.
“We’ve got 20 restaurants, more or less, that participate and offer special menus, special deals, gift cards in return for a minimum purchase, things of that nature,” Village Manager Paul Volpe told Pioneer
Press.
Several of the “Dine-In Elmwood Park” participants are on what is known in the village as Restaurant Row, on North Avenue.
“We’re very proud that we’re a very food-centric community and we have a pretty active and vibrant restaurant scene, most notably collected along North Avenue,” Volpe said. “For a town that’s 25,000 people and 2 square miles, that’s a lot of restaurants to have all in one area.”
Participants in the annual Restaurant Week include Grand Chamber by O’Hare members such as Armand’s Pizzeria, 7650 W. North Ave.; Circle Tavern, 18 W. Conti Parkway; Culver’s, 7524 W. Grand Ave.; Donny G’s, 7308 W. North Ave.; and Gringo & Blondie, 7514 W. North Ave.
“Each restaurant is able to make their own guidelines to offer what they’re going to draw people in,” Katie Muellner, president of Grand Chamber by O’Hare, told Pioneer Press. “A lot of places have both lunch and dinner specials. That makes it convenient for the families of the community.”
Other Grand Chamber by O’Hare members participating include Jim and Pete’s, 7806 W. North Ave.; Massa Café Italiano, 7434 W. North Ave.; New Star Restaurant, 7444 W. North Ave.; Russell’s Barbecue, 1621 N. Thatcher Ave.; The Sportz Nook, 7841 W. Grand Ave.; and Union Tap, 7707 Westwood Drive.
“I’m a firm believer of shop where you live and eat where you live. I’m well-versed in our community as president of the chamber. I like to support our local businesses especially restaurants during Restaurant Week,” said Muellner, who owns Quasthoff’s Flowers in River Grove. “It brings everyone together.”
Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano noted in the February issue of the village newsletter, that Dine-In Elmwood Park offers restaurants and deals that work for every budget and an opportunity to sample food without having to fight crowds in the city of Chicago.
“Dine-In Elmwood Park is our winter food festival showcasing great dining destinations for the Chicago region,” Saviano stated in the village newsletter. “We take food seriously in Elmwood Park and we want everyone to come see what makes dining so special here.”
Dine-In Elmwood Park also includes Blue Fire Restaurant, 7440 W. North Ave.; Café Cubano, 7426 W. North Ave.; The Great American Bagel, 7230 W. North Ave., Suite 200; Red Bottle, 7438 W. North Ave.; Spizzico, 7446 W. North Ave.; Tacos 2 Go, 7530 W. Grand Ave.; and Tony D’s, 7725 W. Belmont Ave.
“We’re inviting everyone to come and taste what we’re cooking up in Elmwood Park,” Village Trustee Angelo Lollino, who co-owns Restaurant Week participants Gringo & Blondie and Massa Café Italiano, stated in the newsletter.
Mueller said there are several ways that residents can support eateries in Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Leyden Township, the Montclare neighborhood in Chicago, River Grove and Schiller Park, which are the areas that Grand Chamber by O’Hare serves.
“It’s always good to follow restaurants on social media. Whether it be River Grove, Franklin Park, Schiller Park, a lot of them are on social media via Instagram or Facebook. If you follow them or comment, or like or share, that’s a great way to reach more people in the community and get people out,” Muellner said.
Details about what participating establishments are offering during the 10-day Dine-In Elmwood Park
are available on the village’s website elmwoodpark.org/restaurantweek.
“It’s just a way for people to connect with our restaurants and it’s also a way for our restaurants to offer something special to their loyal customers and try to attract new people as well,” Volpe said. “We encourage everyone to come out.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
