Looking to cure the winter blues? The Village of Elmwood Park is hosting its annual dining event Feb. 18-27. With 17 participating restaurants there’s sure to be something to satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
“We’ve got something for everyone,” said Angelo “Skip” Saviano, Elmwood Park Village President. “Whether you want a white tablecloth experience with a nice bottle of wine or classic tavern atmosphere with appetizers and beer, you’ll find it at Dine-In Elmwood Park.”
Participating restaurants have put together menus to entice diners from the city and western suburbs to explore an eclectic variety of discounted menu options, specialty dishes, and pre-fixe menus throughout the village. Thanks to a vibrant collection of “restaurant row” establishments on North Avenue, Elmwood Park has carved out a niche as a dining destination among savvy food-lovers.
Our sister suburb to the northwest is known for providing authentic Italian meals and it’s no surprise that Dine-In Elmwood Park provides ample opportunities to get your hands on a slice of pizza, bowl of pasta, or a cup of artisan gelato. Over time, however, Elmwood Park eateries have grown to include Mexican, Japanese, and Cuban fare, as well as sunny breakfast spots and quaint corner cafes.
Check out a few of the hottest restaurant week deals for 2022!
Ashley’s Café, 7500 W. Grand Ave., is a geographical outlier, but offers a doozy of a discount to folks looking for a quick breakfast fix. The quaint gathering space boasts a daily selection of Do-Rite donuts. These chef-driven donuts are a popular Chicago creation crafted in small batches to ensure top quality in every bite. From Feb. 18-27 Ashley’s Café is offering a free cup of Dark Matter Coffee with the purchase any Do-Rite Donut — this restaurant week special is the ideal way to curb this classic food combo craving.
If you are seeking out classic Italian Elmwood Park vibes, look no further than Donny G’s, 7308 W. North Ave. The well-appointed eatery is known for hosting vibrant musical guests on the weekends that draw crowds, but it is the well-honed menu of Italian classics that keep customers coming back for more. Eager to satiate restaurant week participants, Donny G’s has created a duo of discounted meals to attract even more customers during this special week.
Salmon in lemon butter sauce as prepared by the chefs at Donny G’s in Elmwood Park. Credit: Melissa Elsmo 
Lunch and dinner specials at Donny G’s come with a choice of soup or salad. Complimentary bread and their signature dipping oil are a mainstay on every table. Credit: Melissa Elsmo 
Lunch vibes at Donny G’s: Cheese ravioli shown here is among the $10 specials Donny G’s is offering during Elmwood Park’s restaurant week. Credit: Melissa Elsmo
Lunch specials include a choice of lemon chicken, ravioli or a hearty meatball sandwich paired with a soup or salad for just $10. Dinner options, priced at $20, include a choice of chicken or pork chops Vesuvio and salmon and spinach with lemon butter sauce.
“These dishes give people something special to try if they are coming in for the first time and represent a great value for return customers,” said George Diamond, manager of Donny G’s. “The salmon on the dinner menu is a generous 10-ounce portion.”
Dinner entrees come with a glass of wine and choice of salad, or soup — staff members recommend selecting the pasta fagioli. The simple soup is made from pasta and beans and proves to be ideal fare on a cold winter night.
If you are looking to explore other global offerings in Elmwood Park, deal-seeking diners would do well to visit Café Cubano, 7426 W. North Ave., for an array of lunch and dinner specials specifically created for restaurant week. Lunch specials feature a choice of two sandwiches and include rice, beans and plantains for just $12, while $20 dinner options come with a choice between ropa vieja, chicken fricassee and roasted pork with rice, black beans and plantain. Roasted pork is a standout selection at Café Cubano; the meat is marinated and slow cooked until it is meltingly tender making it a cozy dish worthy of its enduring popularity on restaurant row.
New Star, 7444 W. North Ave., has been serving up Cantonese cuisine since 1954 and today the expansive restaurant serves Japanese, Thai and Hibachi fare to complement its traditional Chinese dishes. During Elmwood Park’s restaurant week, New Star is offering a substantial discount across all menus for dine in customers. No matter if you are craving spicy basil fried rice, a pick three maki combo, classic sweet and sour shrimp or a showy hibachi dinner New Star is offering a 10% discount to all patrons from Feb. 18-27.
Rocco Spizzirri, owner of Spizzico and Senor Jefe, rightly noted in September of last year that Elmwood Park’s government “will bend over backwards to help restaurants succeed.” Both of Spizzirri’s restaurants are participating in the village sponsored event by offering discounts on burritos, sandwiches, pastas and salads.
An array of Thai, Chinese and Japanese dishes are available at a 10% discount at North Avenue mainstay, New Star, in Elmwood Park. 
Spizzico and Senor Jefe are offering discounts on sandwiches like the Italian beef and junior sized burritos. 
Massa and Gringo and Blondie are both owned by the Lollino family — look for indulgent cemitas (left) and rich house-made gelato (right) to be offered by the family of veteran restauranteurs in Elmwood Park.
“We’ve worked hard to support restaurateurs and to grow our dining scene in Elmwood Park over the past few years,” Saviano said. “Patrons visiting our restaurants will find good food in a more intimate, local setting than they might find in downtown Chicago.”
Check out the full list of participating restaurants and plan to visit several of Elmwood Park’s diverse eateries during this annual dining celebration. These dishes are sure to warm you up!
