Rockford Restaurant Week Back for Fifth Year

Rockford Restaurant Week, presented by GoRockford, is returning for a fifth year from Thursday, January 23 to Sunday, February 2, 2024. The celebration of culinary achievement and creativity helps boost sales at local restaurants and cafes. This year a record 65 local businesses are participating. A full list of participants is available at gorockford.com and on page three of this release.

What to Expect:
Rockford Restaurant Week celebrates the local cuisine by offering special prix fixe (fixed price) menus and bundled meal deals. Prix fixe menus offer 3-4 courses and prices range from $15-25 for brunch/lunch and $25-50 for dinner. Bundled meal deals are also available giving casual dining establishments an opportunity to participate. Bundled meal deals typically consist of a sandwich, side, drink or dessert at a discounted price. Nineteen restaurants are participating for the first time, joining more than 40 returning restaurants.

"Rockford Restaurant Week is more than just a celebration of food—it’s a spotlight on the incredible culinary talent and diverse flavors that make Rockford a true foodie destination," said John Groh, GoRockford President/CEO. "This annual event is an important opportunity to support our local restaurants, showcase the creativity of our chefs and culinary artists and bring the community and our visitors together over shared dining experiences. This year, we’re excited to feature an even broader range of cuisines, offering something for everyone to explore and enjoy."
 

Photo Challenge

New to Rockford Restaurant Week, diners will be able to capture their favorite dishes with the Rockford Restaurant Week Photo Challenge. Patrons can sign up for the photo challenge on GoRockford.com.  Photo challenge participants can use their mobile device to check in at Rockford Restaurant Week locations by submitting photos of their dining experience. Check-ins will earn the users badges, which will go towards entries into an overnight stay package.  GoRockford has partnered with Hidden Creek Estates to offer this package, valued at $750. The package includes a one-night stay at Hidden Creek Estate’s Oakview Suite, a wine tasting experience for up to 6 guests, and a $100 Hidden Creek Estates gift card.  The challenge acts as a digital map and directory of participating restaurants and includes all Rockford Restaurant Week menus. The photo challenge begins January 23 and ends February 2 at 11:59 p.m. 

"Our team at Hidden Creek Estates is thrilled to join Restaurant Week again,” said Kim Malavolti - General Manager/Part Owner Hidden Creek Estates. “It’s a favorite time of year for us to meet new guests and welcome back familiar faces. Winning Best Experience last year was an honor, and we’re excited to work hard to deliver another memorable week!"

Contests/Giveaways:
Eighteen restaurants have generously offered giveaways for GoRockford social media to help market Rockford Restaurant Week. Patrons are encouraged to check GoRockford’s social media channels for a chance to win daily giveaways leading up to and during the Rockford Restaurant Week period.  Winners will be drawn at random on February 3.

Voting

Restaurants will have the opportunity to win an award in one of five categories as voted on by the community. Winning businesses will receive an award at a post Rockford Restaurant Week news conference on February 25 at Lucha Cantina. Winners will be included in special promotional announcements leading up to Rockford Restaurant Week 2026. Voting will be open at GoRockford.com from January 23 – February 3.  Voters may wait to cast their votes until they are ready to vote in all five categories, as voters will only be able to vote once.  Voters who provide an email address will automatically be entered to win a $100 gift card to a participating Rockford Restaurant Week restaurant of their choice.

Rockford Restaurant Week encourages diners to support local and try new restaurants or return to their favorite establishments. From a local diner’s perspective, “Quality of restaurants reflects the health of a community,” said Ernie Redfern, Co-Chair of Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle. “In Rockford, we have some great restaurants. With this event, it’s easy to discover places we all need to be shouting out

about. In the North End alone, where we already have The Norwegian and The Olympic Tavern, we got three terrific new spots in the last year: Plume, Oak and Embers Bistro, and The GOAT Pub and Grill. I hope my fellow Rockfordians pay attention and start mapping their culinary adventures right away.”

Award Categories:

Best Main Course: The Best Main Course award celebrates the restaurant that offered the most outstanding main course.

Best Cocktail or Brew: The Best Cocktail or Brew award recognizes the restaurant or bar that served the most outstanding and innovative cocktail or brew.

Best Dessert: The Best Dessert award recognizes the restaurant that served the most exceptional and delectable dessert.

Best Deal: The best deal award recognizes the restaurant that provided an excellent discounted special

Best Experience: The Best Experience award is the top award and acknowledges the restaurant that provided an exceptional overall dining experience, including ambiance, food, and customer service.

Rockford Restaurant Week Participating Locations (at time of release)

27 Aluna
640 Meats
8th Ward Pub
Aero Ale House
Abreo
Alchemy at Aldeen
Ambiance Cuisine Cocktails & Catering
Baked Wings
Baker Street Burgers
Beef-A-Roo
Bop Bop Korean & Rice Bowl
Broadway Joe’s
Cantina Taco
Chavez Mexican Restaurant
Cheezy's Grilled Cheeses
Cold Stone Creamery
Council Oak Steak & Seafood at Hard Rock
Crave Kitchen & Cocktails
Crust & Crumbles
Dairyhäus
Deli Italia and Pizzeria
Disco Chicken 
District Bar and Grill
Ernie's Midtown Pub
Forest City Pub
Franchesco’s
Garrett's Restaurant and Bar
Gerry’s Pizza
Hachi Sushi Loves Park
Half Baked Bar
Halo Bakeshop
Hidden Creek Estates
Jalisco & Tequila Mexican Restaurant
KBQ-Korean BBQ and Chicken
LimaMar Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Lino's
​Lucha Cantina
Mary's Market
Marrufo’s Tacos
Mexico Clasico
Murphy's Pub & Grill
Neighbor’s Bar & Grill
Oak & Embers Bistro
Olympic Tavern
Pig Minds Brewing Company
Plume Rockford
Prairie Street Brewing Co.
Salamone's Cherry Valley
Salamone's North
SALT.
Sams Ristorante & Pizzeria
Shogun Japanese Restaurant
Spider Sushi Perryville
Social Charcuterie Bar &Cocktails
Street Tacos at Hard Rock
Sticky Rice Bites
The Goat Pub & Grill
The Pomodoro
The Norwegian
The Top Rooftop Bar & Lounge
Tortilla Express
Wammy’s Kitchen
Wired Café
Woodfire Brick Oven Pizza
YouYu Noodle Bar at Hard Rock