Your Guide to Chicago Restaurant Week

Good morning! It's National Popcorn Day, Chicago Restaurant Week starts tomorrow and a new Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams is having their Grand Opening today with FREE scoops of ice cream! Happy almost Friday!

Michael, Best Date Food Founder

Your Guide to Chicago Restaurant Week 2023

The wait is almost over! The 16th annual Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW) returns tomorrow and will last for 17 days. ICYMI, we shared the pros and cons of CRW and highlighted some of our favorite CRW menu picks in previous newsletters: Aba, Yardbird, our steakhouse picks, the Ba-Ba-Reeba's and the Rosebud group!

We also wanted to share some of the most helpful CRW resources we've found! Take a look at these to help you understand all your options!

• Homepage: Here is the official site of Chicago Restaurant Week 2023

• Menus: You can see all the CRW menus in one place here! So helpful!

• Map: Want to see on the map which restaurants are participating in CRW? Check out this amazing resource that shows the restaurants on the map, organizes them by cuisine type and menu price and even links to reservations. It's easier to use on desktop. If you are on mobile, tap the "Restaurant Week 2023" bar at the bottom of the screen.

• Cost Savings: Are you someone who wants to make sure that you are getting a good deal at these restaurants? Check out this document that goes through the restaurants evaluating the menus on it you will be saving money or not!

Reply to this email with the restaurant you are most excited to visit for Chicago Restaurant Week and you may see your pick featured on the @BestDateFood Instagram page!

Sears Plower? Sleet Home Chicago? You decide!

Now through January 31, you can cast your vote for what the city should name six of its snow plows! Chicagoans were able to submit names for this year’s snow plows, which the city has now narrowed down to 50 finalists. The top six names with the most votes will be featured on one snowplow in each of the city’s six snow districts. Watch our video and see the full list of names and vote for your favorites here. Voting will remain open until January 31.

Best of the Rest

• National Popcorn Day: Happy National Popcorn Day! To celebrate, Chicago's iconic Garrett Popcorn is doing a 15% off sale online for one week starting today!

• Chicago's Unwritten Rules: If you live in Chicago, you have probably picked up on some of the unwritten rules of the city. Do you still call it the Sears Tower? Put ketchup on your hot dog? Watch our video and let us know your thoughts!

• Museum Free Days: ICYMI, there are so many free museum days for Illinois residents this month! And the good news is that many haven't happened yet. Learn more.

Deal of the Week

• Free Jeni's Ice Cream: The Grand Opening of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams newest Andersonville location (the 11th in Chicago) is taking place today from 7-11pm! They will be giving out FREE scoops of ice cream (including all the classic flavors) all night long at 5306 N. Clark St. The first 50 people in line will also get some extra Jeni's goodies!

Poll of the Week

Help us better understand when you are free to read this newsletter!

Last Week's Poll Results

• Question: Do you think this new stadium concept will be enough to keep the Bears from leaving Chicago?

• Result: No (81%) vs. Yes (19%)

Chicago's Best Kept Secret

Chances are that you are into Chicago Restaurant Week because you like to go out to eat and save money while doing so. It turns out there is an even better way than CRW to save money, most Chicagoans just either don't know about it! Introducing Best Date Foodies! It's our $5 per month membership program where you get insane coupons for free food at great local restaurants emailed directly to you each month!

For January, our Best Date Foodies members are getting a free starter of their choice at Federales, a free Giant Cinnamon Roll at avec River North and a free Big Pretzel at Funkenhausen! Sign up now so you can get some free food this weekend!