Nearly 20 establishments participated in the annual Restaurant Week in Elmwood Park.
Village officials billed “Dine-In Elmwood Park,” also known as Restaurant Week, as an opportunity for food lovers to take advantage of special menus at promotional prices. The special dining opportunity ran at participating restaurants from Feb. 16 to 25 this year.
“We’ve worked hard to support our local restaurateurs and to grow our dining scene in Elmwood Park over the past few years,” Village President Angelo Saviano stated in a news release.
This year’s Dine-In Elmwood Park marked a return for Massa Cafe Italiano, which did not participate in 2023 because it was closed temporarily for remodeling, owners explained.
“We’ve had record sales the last few weeks. Part of it is due to Restaurant Week, but just in general having that nice weather,” Village Trustee Angelo Lollino – who co-owns Massa with his wife, Giovanna Lollino – told Pioneer Press.
He estimated that business at the cafe increased by approximately 25% during Dine-In Elmwood Park. Massa offered several specials during the 10-day run, including pasta of choice with half house salad for $20, fried dough with small gelato for $13.75 and any 16-ounce latte for $4.
“It went very well. We had a lot of local people coming in and pursuing the deals, so it was a great success for us. It’s always been at both restaurants,” said Angelo Lollino, whose wife owns Gringo & Blondie, which also participate in Restaurant Week.
He said Massa, which marks its 25th anniversary in May, has participated in Dine-In Elmwood Park since it began in 2018.
“It brings out new customers for us, people that are maybe unfamiliar. They see all these options and these deals so they come out. It’s great as a business owner,” Angelo Lollino said. “Food is my passion. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life so it brings me great joy.”
One of the newer establishments to participate in Restaurant Week was Tacos2Go Mexican Restaurant, which also took part in 2023.
“It can help business when it’s low during this time because winter is very slow,” Polo O’Campo, shift manager at Tacos2Go, told Pioneer Press.
He said few people took part in the Dine-In Elmwood Park deals, but the two promotional offerings would continue through March to encourage customers to try skirt steak, or shrimp or crispy chicken, which are newly available at Tacos2Go.
“Right now we’re trying to promote the taco salad and the burrito bowls and let the community know we’re here,” O’Campo said.
One of the Restaurant Week deals that has been extended is a taco salad with a 14-inch deep-fried flour tortilla, choice of protein, lettuce, tomato, pico de gallo, black beans, rice, cheese, guacamole and sour cream with a free Jarritos or medium horchata beverage for $12.50.
The other Dine-In Elmwood Park deal to be extended features a burrito bowl served with steamed white rice or Mexican fried rice, choice of protein, black bean, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese, guacamole and sour cream with a free Jarritos or medium horchata drink for $12.50.
“We have a lot of new items that we’re promoting and good deals,” O’Campo said.
One of the oldest restaurants to participate in Dine-In Elmwood Park was Russell’s Barbecue, which opened in 1930.
“It’s a good commitment to the community and a good promotion for the local restaurants. Elmwood Park has a big variety of foods and restaurants that have been here for many years. It’s a good way to bring the community together,” Ben Tapia, general manager at Russell’s, told Pioneer Press.
He estimated that business increased between 10% and 15% during Dine-In Elmwood Park, when Russell’s offered $2 off a full slab of baby back ribs, including one hot and cold side, and $2 off a half slab of ribs and half chicken combo, also served with one hot and one cold side.
“It went well. We didn’t see a lot of discounts being applied at the restaurant. More than that, a lot of people just gathered together with their families because they haven’t been here. They moved out of Elmwood Park. They came to visit here because they knew it was Restaurant Week,” Tapia said.
He said Russell’s has been a part of Dine-In Elmwood Park since it launched.
“We’re part of the long history in Elmwood Park,” said Tapia, who began working at the family-style restaurant as a busboy in 1985 when he was 16 years old, and became general manager circa 1995.
Other Dine-In Elmwood Park participants included Armand’s Pizzeria, Blue Fire Restaurant, Café Cubano, Circle Tavern, Culver’s, Donny G’s, The Great American Bagel, Jim and Pete’s, New Star Restaurant, Red Bottle, Spizzico, The Sportz Nook, Tony D’s and Union Tap.
“Patrons visiting our restaurants will find good food in a more intimate, local setting than they might find in downtown Chicago,” Saviano stated in the news release.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelancer.
