The official Chicago Restaurant Week starts February 18th, and with over 200 restaurants participating, it might help to have a few suggestions before you starting making reservations. Restaurants will be offering prix fie menus, costing $22 for lunch and either $33 or $44 for dinner. At those prices, it makes sense to make reservations now. Below, the Chicagoist food staff gives you our recommendations for some great meals and great deals. more ›

We know what you're thinking - "Chicagoist, is this really the BEST deal of February? How can you tell? It's only the first day of the month!" Let's just say that it would take some serious effort for any other restaurant to top this. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Petterinos is offering a $10, three course meal all day on February 7th. Even better, the meal isn't completely pre-set. You get choices and a great deal. Beat that. more ›

If you want some great dining deals right now, for this weekend, check out Chicago Originals, the smaller, local version of the bargain dining week phenomenon. We've been hearing rumors about another "Restaurant Week"- whatever, that's not for another month. Chicago Originals, created by Chef/Owner Didier Durant of Cyrano's Bistro, showcases local restaurants. They are also offering some deals that blow the larger restaurant week out of the water. We caught Durant yesterday to ask him why Chicago needed two different bargain dining weeks. more ›

Back in 2007 when Chef John Caputo (of Bin 36) opened A Mano, we were big fans. We went for the homemade gelato, the Italian wines and the great seafood. A Mano had an unfortunate flood that closed the restaurant until early 2009 and, to be honest, we hadn’t been back since. more ›

The Sun-Times is reporting that Jewel-Osco is cutting prices up to 20 percent on thousands of products to assist shoppers on tight incomes and bargain hunters. [Sun-Times] more ›

Bin 36 is running a series of monthly deals to celebrate their 10th anniversary - this is the best one yet. For the rest of March, they're selling 25 different wines for $10 a bottle. You can either drink this wine with your dinner or buy it in their retail shop and carry it home. A $10 bottle in a restaurant with a selection as varied as Bin 36 is an amazing bargain. We took a great wine class from their Wine Director, Brian Duncan, just last month. Gourmet magazine named him their 2008 Wine Director of the Year, so you know the wines are going to be great! We'll be there this weekend for sure. more ›

For me, the benefit of Chicago Restaurant Week is the ability to try out new places without risking huge stacks of cash. As such, I tend not to visit the cheaper or simpler options participating - when the cost is fixed at $32, I’m saving more money on the deal when I visit the expensive option. more ›