Chicago Restaurant Week: Dine for $24-$48 Now through Feb. 12

POSTED BY
Carol

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Chicago Restaurant Week: Dine for $24-$48. Chicago Restaurant Week has been extended through Feb. 12, 2019 due to the Polar Vortex.

Chicago Restaurant Week returns on January 25 – February 7 12, 2019 with some deals for dining at expensive restaurants at a discount. Honestly I don’t participate anymore except to purchase discounted gift cards. No word if that deal is back in 2019. ~~That deal is back. More details below~~. I just don’t find any of the dining deals compelling enough to battle the crowds. Also not everyone wants a three or four course meal, menus tend to be loaded with low cost options like chicken, cheap red meats, pasta, soups, and vege entrees. I just don’t see the value.

What is Restaurant Week

RW features three or four course prix fixe menus starting at $24 for brunch and lunch and $36 or $48 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity).

During RW many restaurants offer items that aren’t on their regular menu so you can’t easily compare “apples-to-apples” to determine if or what kind of deal you’re getting. You can still get an idea of what you’re saving. If an average three course meal at a restaurant is $60 and the Restaurant Week deal is $48, you may be saving over 20%.

All participating restaurants should provide you with their special Restaurant Week Menu; if not ask for it.

How analyze the “deals”

Review the regular menu to see what a non-RW meal might cost.
The best deals are for an expensive cut of high quality beef at a discount.
Try to avoid low cost items such as soups, vegetarian or pasta dishes which generally are not a good deal. If you want a lower cost dish you may save by ordering off the regular menu.
Search for RW menu’s using the Restaurant Finder here (scroll down).

My “analysis” is based on three things: Is the food good? Is a comparable meal from the regular menu more than the RW price? Do I like the restaurant and usually eat there as a treat?