My fellow foodies will understand my sincerity when I say this: I didn't know what Chicago Restaurant Week even was until a few months ago, but after partaking this month, it has become my version of the Super Bowl. I will still enjoy going out to eat in Chicago, finding deals and happy hours and cozy restaurants to find refuge in, but above all, I will be impatiently waiting until next January rolls around and I can bask in the glow that is CRW deals. Believe me, I have the color-coded spreadsheet ready.
If you’re unfamiliar, Restaurant Week is actually a two-week period where tons of restaurants in Chicago serve prix fixe menus at different price points. Many big cities do this, like NYC, LA, Houston, DC, and more - but Chicago being such a renowned, food-centric city makes this particular Restaurant Week highly anticipated. This year, they offered $30 brunches, $45 lunches, $45 dinners, and $60 dinners (per person), which is a slight increase in price from last year, I've seen. It's a great chance to treat yourself to a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant, try out some new spots you haven't been to yet, or just book a fun brunch with your friends for a great deal – basically, it's a food lover's dream.
With this being my first year living in Chicago and my first RW experience, I tried to make a variety of reservations based on places I’ve been wanting to visit, how good of a deal the meals were, etc. I definitely did my research ahead of time, watching intensive reviews on TikTok from locals, scouring menus, making a spreadsheet – I went pretty hard in preparation, and I'm glad I did. I only had a handful of reservations to book (I'm not made out of money, unfortunately), so I wanted to make them count, and I can now safely say they were all a hit!
Here's a recap of everywhere I ate this Chicago Restaurant Week, from menu items to typical pricing and everything in between. Some restaurants offered set menus, others offered multiple options for each course, some offered specific add-ons while others didn't - I'm breaking it all down in detail below.
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Lýra
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Cuisine: Greek
Menu Option: $60 Dinner
Guests: 1
I've passed by Lýra countless times since moving to Chicago and I've just never stopped in, so I was really looking forward to this dinner! I don't have elevated Greek food often, and I'd heard from a lot of food bloggers in the city that Lýra does it best, so this was a solo dinner date I treated myself to in order to start off Restaurant Week with a bang. Right in the heart of Fulton Market, Lýra is a cozy, vibey restaurant with an upscale feel without being excessively elegant. It's more of a cool atmosphere than a fancy one, and my small table by the window gave me a great spot to people watch, read a book, and enjoy my dinner in my own little bubble.
THE MENU
WHAT I ORDERED:
FIRST COURSE
Charred Octopus (normally $28)
SECOND COURSE
Deconstructed Pastitsio (normally $39)
THIRD COURSE
Loukoumades (normally $16)
This dinner worked so well together as a whole meal! Each dish was good on its own, but paired together, they all were really able to shine next to each other. Octopus is pretty out of my wheelhouse when it comes to dining preference - I definitely don't dislike it, but I usually go for fried seafood like clam strips or calamari rather than... entire octopus tentacles. I'm so glad I tried it, though, because it was delicious! It was a little smaller than I was expecting based on the photos I'd seen, but it was a perfect portion for an appetizer, and the kalamata relish was so, so good. The texture of the suckers did freak me out a few times when I was chewing, but that's a me thing - overall, delicious dish.
The pastitsio, on the other hand, I could have devoured in literal seconds. The portion size is a bit deceiving because it's really just singular noodles lined up on the plate, but the sauce and short rib ragu were filling enough to make up for it. I'm not joking, I was scraping every last bit of béchamel off my plate. For dessert, I was planning on getting the portokalopita, but didn't realize it had honey in it (I'm allergic). My server suggested the loukoumades since they could just take off the bowl of honey, and it was still a great choice! The donuts were bigger than they looked, and I got three good bites out of each of them, so it was definitely a hearty dessert. I don't think they gave me the orange anglaise because it tasted like a very bland vanilla or white chocolate sauce - maybe they had to switch it because of honey as well? But the chocolate and caramel were delicious and the dessert was a great ending to a great meal!
I do have to say that I don't think I would go back and pay normal prices for some of these dishes - $39 for nine pasta noodles is a bit outrageous in my opinion, even if it was delicious. But as a whole meal, I think it's worth it for a Restaurant Week visit specifically!
Normal Price: $83 (before tip and taxes)
RW Price: $60 (before tip and taxes)
My Overall Rating: 7.5/10
Daisies
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Cuisine: American
Menu Option: $45 Dinner
Guests: 3
Another long-awaited visit for me was Daisies - they're mega-hyped all over Chicago for their unique pasta dishes and, recently, their cocktails. I was tempted to get the full 4-course menu, but my friends and I all opted for 3-courses so we felt better about adding on some extra food and wine. So glad I went with some friends rather than solo, too - the restaurant's vibe is great and we had the best night!
THE MENU
WHAT WE ORDERED:
FIRST COURSE
Shaved Squash Salad (normally $15)
Fried Brussels Sprouts x2 (normally $18)
SECOND COURSE
Pappardelle (normally $21)
Stracci (normally $25)
Stuffed Farfalle (normally $24)
THIRD COURSE
All 3 Desserts (normally $13)
ADD-ONS
Cantina Marilina “Sikele” (bottle $56)
Onion Dip with House-made Ruffles ($10)
Now THIS is how you do Restaurant Week. Grab some friends, get one of everything, and stuff your faces for two hours. When I tell you every single dish was divine...zero exaggeration. The house-made chips were thick, salty, crunchy, and paired perfectly with the creamy onion dip. The fried brussels sprouts were so unique in flavor, featuring a really delicious caesar dressing, and the shaved squash salad was a light, bright, flavorful dish that balanced the sprouts incredibly well.
THE PASTA. I know Daisies is known for their pastas, but these truly blew me away. I don't know that I can pick a favorite, but I'm leaning toward the stracci – it was just so packed with flavor, the sauce wasn't overpowering at all, and the parmesan with the melt-in-your-mouth lamb sugo... to die for. The farfalle was delicious too, with a sweet and savory edge to it, and the pappardelle was so vibrant all around! They were each standouts in their own way, so you truly can't go wrong choosing any of them.
After devouring our apps and pastas, we all agreed we were correct to only choose the 3-course dinner – it would have been delicious, but we were literally so stuffed it would have been a struggle to finish another whole meal plus dessert. However, we did devour the desserts with ease anyway, so that's a testament to how good they were. The olive oil crumb cake was a wildcard, and I think it was the weakest of the three desserts, but it was still delicious; the black pepper was really interesting, and if the cherries were a little more flavorful, this might have been tied with the tiramisu for me. Speaking of, the tiramisu was stunning! More of a cake-like consistency than a typical super-soft tiramisu, but it wasn't overpowered with coffee flavor which I appreciated. But the clear star of the dessert show was the butterscotch budino. Never had it before, but I'll absolutely be trying to recreate this masterpiece on my own–it was basically a creamy butterscotch pudding with sweet milk crumbs and salty caramel popcorn on top. 10/10, no notes at all.
Honestly don't have much more to say other than I truly couldn't recommend Daisies more highly! It's busy but still has a really cozy atmosphere, and their regular menu looks just as delicious as their Restaurant Week selections. They were a bit stingy about adding certain things, like an additional to-go dessert (from the RW menu, not the standard), so that was a little odd to us, but I'm definitely excited to go back and try out some of their more seasonal pasta options in the future.
Normal Price (excluding add-ons): $56 (before tip and taxes)
RW Price (excluding add-ons): $45 (before tip and taxes)
My Overall Rating: 9.5/10
Cabra
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Cuisine: Peruvian
Menu Option: $30 Brunch
Guests: 1
Another solo date for me, but brunch this time! This menu really intrigued me, and I was sold once their team told me they could accommodate my honey allergy – I never judge a restaurant when they can't accommodate during an event like RW where they only serve a specific menu, but I was so glad that wasn't the case with Cabra. The restaurant itself is on the roof of the Hoxton hotel, and it had a really cool and inviting atmosphere, friendly staff, and a delicious looking menu!
THE MENU
WHAT I ORDERED:
(set menu)
FIRST COURSE
Spicy Tuna Dip (variation $14)
SECOND COURSE
Crab Causa (normally $21)
THIRD COURSE
Breakfast Empanada (variation $22)
FOURTH COURSE
Quinoa French Toast (normally $17)
I went into this brunch really not knowing anything about the cuisine – I obviously looked at the menu and saw some photos of the food beforehand, but I don't eat Peruvian food very often, so this was a very cool culinary experience! The tuna dip was delicious (I loved the two kinds of chips), and the causa was really interesting and yummy! It's basically a layer of whipped potato with avocado and crab on top, plus the lime & herb sauce and the crispy tempura. I like some extra crunch when a dish is really soft and mushy, and I think the tempura bits could have been a bit bigger to add that different texture to the dish - but the flavors were amazing and the presentation was beautiful.
My favorite dish was the breakfast empanada, though I was sad that they weren't serving it with the egg on top when I went. I think it would have really wrapped the whole dish up nicely, but the empanada was still delicious on its own! The maple sausage was absolutely stunning paired with the flaky pastry, and the red pepper syrup was the perfect addition. The French toast was great too – I don't often see passionfruit as a topping on breakfast foods, and it balanced with the ice cream and sweet pecan crunch so well. This was a pretty big brunch for one person, so I was definitely stuffed after this meal, but it was so worth it!
I'll definitely be coming back to Cabra in the summertime - you can just tell that the vibe is immaculate for drinks and apps on the terrace in the sunshine, especially when you can go out to the rooftop pool for some cocktails, too. I'm not sure how these Restaurant Week portion sizes compare to Cabra's normal portions, but based on their regular menu prices, this brunch is over 50% off. I'd absolutely recommend it if you've been wanting to try this spot!
Normal Price: $74 (before tip and taxes)
RW Price: $30 (before tip and taxes)
My Overall Rating: 8/10
Hawksmoor
Neighborhood: River North
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Menu Option: $45 Dinner
Guests: 4
I've been itching to try Hawksmoor ever since they opened their Chicago location last year! I'd wanted to visit when I was in Edinburgh but never got to, so they've been high on my list since last summer. The only downside of this Restaurant Week menu was that their $45 dinner option only included two courses. Normally, the cheaper dinner has 3 courses and the pricier option has 4 courses – granted, their dishes are pretty expensive normally, but it still felt like we were getting shorted a bit for the experience. Regardless, the food was delicious!
THE MENU
WHAT WE ORDERED:
FIRST COURSE
Steak Frites x3 (normally $49)
Charcoal Chicken Ana Mari (normally $30)
SECOND COURSE
Sticky Toffee Sundae (normally $12)
Hot Chocolate Tart (normally $16)
Coconut and Passionfruit Pavlova (normally $14)
ADD-ONS
Cocktails: Sour Cherry Negroni, Cosmo, Reformed Pornstar, Five Alive ($19 each)
Charcoal-Roasted Scallops ($26)
We started off with some cocktails, and my sour cherry Negroni was absolutely delicious – definitely steep at $19, but my ice cube had a cute little divot on top for my cherry to sit in, so that kind of made it worth it. We also added on the charcoal-roasted scallops for the table, and they were also pricey at $26 for such small portions. Normally they come with only 3 scallops, too, and I can't remember if we were charged extra for the additional one.
The main events were gorgeous, as expected. Most of us got the steak frites, and the beef dripping chips were absolutely delicious! I wish they had served a side of the gentleman's relish instead of ketchup to go with them because I was literally scraping it off my plate, it was that good. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, and the portion size was pretty spot on! The desserts were all great, too – the coconut passionfruit pavlova was so interesting, with the super tart passionfruit balanced perfectly by the sweet coconut. Definitely a unique dessert you don't find often! The hot chocolate tart was also super yummy, and the sticky toffee sundae was my least favorite dessert (but still good). I think I just prefer it in traditional cake-and-sauce form rather than sundae form.
Even though the value wasn't a big hit for me, the incredible service, quality of the food, and the overall vibe definitely evened out my score. It got pretty busy and loud, but you still feel tucked away at your own table which was super nice. The bar is gorgeous, too, and I'd definitely come back for some solo drinks or a happy hour deal.
Normal Price (excluding add-ons): $65 (before tip and taxes)
RW Price (excluding add-ons): $45 (before tip and taxes)
My Overall Rating: 8/10
Duck Duck Goat
Neighborhood: Fulton Market
Cuisine: Chinese-American
Menu Option: $30 Brunch
Guests: 3
Most of these spots were long awaited for me (clearly), and Duck Duck Goat was no different. This was another set menu like Cabra, where a plate of each item is brought to the table rather than choosing from a few options for each course. We still had the option to add on more items, though, so of course we chose a couple. I loved the vibe inside as well – it was really cozy and funky with a lot of different vintage styles that meshed well together, but stood out on their own, too.
THE MENU
WHAT WE ORDERED:
(set menu)
Xiao Long Bao (normally $17)
Duck & Goat Spring Rolls (normally $12)
Sheng Jian Bao (variation $15)
Pork Fried Rice Omelette (normally $23)
Taiwanese Cake (not on reg. menu)
ADD-ONS
This Little Piggy (normally $18) (scallion cheddar biscuit, sunny side egg, sichuan pork sausage, chilli sauce)
Jiaozi (normally $17) (beef short rib & bone marrow potstickers)
We started off strong, and honestly, it kept coming strong throughout the whole meal! Not a bad dish was had this day, and I immediately understood the hype around this restaurant (it's well-deserved). The spring rolls were small, but so delicious and packed with flavor. Then, somehow, the xiao long bao were packed with even more flavor. Yes, my friends had to teach me how to eat them properly, and yes, I will be going back for more.
Up next were three absolute powerhouse dishes: the jiaozi, the sheng jian bao, and the affectionately named "this little piggy", which were all immediately devoured. I've never had bone marrow before, so the jiaozi was definitely an interesting preparation for my first experience, but it was so buttery and flavorful and delicious! Will definitely be trying a more traditional preparation soon, too. I'm definitely biased towards all bao buns, but these ones were truly stellar. And the egg sandwich had so many different components that worked so well, from the runny egg to the homemade cheddar biscuit, to the sausage, and even the blackberries. I've also never had Sichuan before, so the tingly, buzzy-tongue feeling was very unexpected, but very cool to experience! They brought us two huge pork fried rice omelettes that we were too stuffed to finish (and I forgot to get photos of), and then we ended with these cute little cakes filled with cherry and pineapple jam. I don't normally love pineapple, but it really hit the spot paired with the warm, fluffy cake!
This was definitely a meal to remember, and I'd absolutely recommend this brunch time and time again, Restaurant Week or not! The value for CRW is crazy though, considering most of these dishes on their own are at least $15 (the omelette itself is $23!!). If you haven't been here yet, make it a priority!
Normal Price (excluding add-ons): $75-80 (before tip and taxes)
RW Price (excluding add-ons): $30 (before tip and taxes)
My Overall Rating: 9/10
My first Chicago Restaurant Week was definitely one to remember – I'm veryyy much drooling just looking at all these photos again. Now that I know how it all works, I can prep even better for next time, too; I know what to look out for, which spots to book early, and which restaurants are actually more expensive during RW (I'm looking at you, Alla Vita). This is such a cool way to explore a city through their food, too! I might be biased, but Chicago just does food so well, and the culinary scene here is unlike any other US city I've been to. All in all, I'm full, I'm happy, and I'm already waiting until next year!!
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