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 ›

Chicago’s best bartenders gathered last night to showcase their best for 42Below’s Cocktail World Cup Competition, this year themed “Carnival of the Cocktail 2011”. Winners from the Chicago competition will go on to compete at nationals in New York City, where winners will form Team USA (a team with a winning past) and go on to compete in New Zealand for the international Cocktail World Cup competition. So how did our hometown boys and girls fare? more ›

Rijoa Restaurant Week more ›

Here is a deal that is the very epitome of "budget-friendly." On Wednesdays Province (161 N. Jefferson St., 312-669-9900) serves up a burger made from fresh Dietzler Farms all natural Wisconsin beef with a Three Floyds beer for only $10. It's available for customers dining at the bar from 4:30-10 p.m. more ›

Thursday night some of Chicago's best chefs will be preparing dishes for Toque, an event to benefit Children's Oncology Services, Inc. The benefit takes place at Harold Washington Library Center (400 S. State Street) and will includes cocktails and a degustation menu as well as both a silent and live auction. Tickets are $250 each. Bill Kurtis, founder of Tallgass Beef Company, will be the Master of Ceremonies and the Chef Coordinator for the event is Michael Kornick of MK, one of our favorites. Featured Chefs include: more ›

Chris Borelli can't find the balance between sincerity and snark in his positive review of Province on West Randolph, the new eco-friendly restaurant by former Nacional 27 chef Randy Zweiban. But he does say that it adds a level of affordability to the notoriously high-priced restaurant district. [The Stew] more ›