Downers Grove Restaurant Week Returns on Sunday

It’s that time of year to rev up your taste buds by trying out some of the finest fare in the community. Downers Grove’s 3rd Annual Restaurant Week runs May 15 through 22. 

During that period, 15 participating restaurants will offer special menu items at predetermined prices. “People love it," said Amy Bagley, manager of Parkers' Restaurant & Bar. "It’s a great deal, they’re getting great food; it’s a win-win for anyone participating.” 

The event was initiated because area restaurants were seeking a promotion that would attract attention to Downers Grove. “I’m involved with the Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce and we’ve done it with them as well," Bagley said. "It’s very popular in downtown Chicago, so we decided to spin off of that." She was one of the coordinators of the inaugural event.

Downers Grove Restaurant Week will feature both sit-down as well as fast-food restaurants, said Cindy Klima, director of marketing and tourism for the Downers Grove Economic Development Corp. In order to accommodate all the participating eateries, there are two different tiers for the predetermined fixed pricing: $10 lunches/$20 dinners, and $15 lunches/$29 dinners. 

The pricing is steep for some of the restaurants, so they got “creative” Klima said. For instance, Blimpie Subs & Salads will offer $10 sandwiches and beverages for two for lunch, and $20 sandwiches and beverages for four for dinner. 

First-time participant Bello Tea which will host its Anytime4TeaParty. The $10 price includes a pot of tea and munchies, which may include fresh fruit, scones, cheese and more, depending on availability. The Cellar Door also is newly participating, offering a $10 French Café Lunch which includes a panini, side salad, drink and gourmet cheese with honey.

Parkers’ Restaurant eagerly anticipates its annual participation in Restaurant Week.  Bagley said the restaurant will feature three fixed-price menu items for both lunch and for dinner, with a few new items created just for the event.

A primary objective of Restaurant Week is to introduce people to Downers Grove establishments that they might not ordinarily try, Klima said. “If there’s a great menu and something sounds good, why not try it out?” she said. “It’s a nice promotion for the restaurants and their special menus. And it gives us the chance to put out there that Downers Grove has a variety of options that they may or may not have considered in the past.”

“I think this not only brings people into town from outside of the community, but it’s also a reminder to people living here that there are fantastic restaurants in Downers Grove,” Bagley said.

Participating restaurants include: , , , , , , , , , , Scusa Mi Pizza and Catering, (on Main Street), , and Zest at . Promotional menus are at Discover Downers Grove. Reservations are required at some of the participating restaurants.