C-U Restaurant Week returns with 63 locations participating

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — Attention foodies, the Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week is back.

The celebration of local food and drink has returned for the 9th year, with the highest level of participation yet. Fifty-nine restaurants at 63 locations will be offering options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

“I’m overjoyed with the excitement for this year’s event from our local restaurants,” said Terri Reifsteck, Vice President of Destination Branding & Development from Experience Champaign-Urbana. “Our restaurants see the value in highlighting their cuisine during this nine-day event as it significantly increases foot traffic during a typically slow time of year.”

Menus for participating restaurants are available at curestaurantweek.org.

“Regardless of your tastes, there is a menu for everyone, from a variety of international flavors, farm-to-table, pizza, BBQ, vegetarian dishes, and so much more,” explained Reifsteck. “Whether you want a meal with your young family or you’re planning a date night, we have something for every price point and every palate. We’re also excited to feature restaurants outside of Champaign-Urbana including Savoy, Mahomet, St. Joseph, Rantoul, Monticello, Tuscola, and Paxton.”

Diners are strongly encouraged to make reservations where available or dine at off-peak hours. “This week draws a lot of diners, so one tip is to make reservations where available on the two weekends or dine during off-peak hours,” said Reifsteck.

Participating restaurants include: 83 Vietnamese Cuisine, A Taste of Both Worlds, BakeLab, Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage, Big Grove Tavern, Billy Barooz, BrewLab, Briks Pizzeria, The Burrito Lab, Café Sababa, Caprae, Chophouse on Main, Esquire Lounge, ETs Downtown, Forage Kitchen, Good Judy’s Espresso & Bagel Bar, Guido’s, Hacienda Robello, Hamilton Walker’s, Hopscotch Bakery. Houlihan’s, Industrial Donut, Joe’s Pizza, Jupiter’s Downtown and Jupiter’s at the Crossing, Kohinoor Indian Lounge, Kung Fu Tea, La Bahía Grill, La Hacienda Cantina, La Paloma Food Truck, Los Zarapes, The Literary, The Main Scoop (all locations), Maize at the Station, Market Street Grill, Martinelli’s Market, Nando Milano Trattoria, Naya Indian Cuisine, Neil St. Blues, Oskee’s Sports Pub, Pekara Bakery & Bistro, Pizzeria Antica, Po’Boys Restaurant, Project 47 Smokehouse, Punch! Bar & Lounge, The Ribeye, Sepelas, Seven Saints, Silvercreek, Smith Burger, Sooie Bros. Barbecue, The Space, Stango Cuisine, Sticky Rice, Sun Singer, Susuru Ramen, Tenkyu, Watson’s Shack & Rail, The Wheelhouse, Wood N’ Hog Barbecue, and Ye Olde Donut Shoppe.