Chicago Restaurant Week’s excitement extends beyond the city limits this year with two standout West Suburban restaurants joining the scene, putting their names out there, and drawing attention to their signature food specialties.
The famous yearly culinary celebration kicked off Jan. 24, and it’s running until Feb 9.
Amerikas is not a stranger to Oak Park’s restaurant scene, but it is the first time the contemporary Mexican cuisine restaurant is participating in Restaurant Week. Amerikas is offering a special four-course menu, including a carefully curated appetizer, a choice between a fish or meat entrée, and a delectable dessert for $60 —all designed to highlight the restaurant’s dedication to bold flavors and fresh ingredients. For diners looking to explore diverse tastes, this fixed menu promises a memorable culinary experience at an unbeatable value.
“It’s going to bring a lot of new people, and a lot of people –even from the community of Oak Park– who didn’t know we exist,” said Armando Gonzalez, Amerikas’ owner and head chef.
“A lot of people really love Amerikas, but I wanted to put our name on the bigger map.”
Gonzalez said he aims to share his passion for food with the wider audience from both the city and the suburbs.
Gonzalez added that expects the event to bring heightened foot traffic and an opportunity for Amerikas to showcase its inventive take on Latin cuisine. The restaurant is still offering its regular menu for those looking to sample other popular dishes.
Mána is another first-time participant in Restaurant Week. Located in the Village of LaGrange, Mána is bringing authentic Greek flavors to the village, and the event too.
With a set menu for Chicago Restaurant Week, customers can choose an appetizer, an entrée of seafood, chicken, or salmon, and a special dessert for $45 per person.
Mána’s participation strategically draws diners who might not typically venture to La Grange.
“We’re celebrating the Greek cuisine, the heritage of Greece. We are showcasing authentic Greek flavors that are carefully crafted with a lot of respect for tradition,” said General Manager Marco Silva. “The idea for creating the menu was to bring East Chicago-style restaurants around to LaGrange.”
Mána, which translates to “mom” in Greek, is more than a restaurant — it’s a heartfelt celebration of Greek tradition. From its inception, Mána has prioritized authenticity, sourcing key ingredients like olive oil and pasta directly from Greece.
Even with contemporary influences, the menu respects its roots, focusing on fresh, high-quality ingredients.
“We want diners to feel like they’ve stepped into a Greek kitchen where every dish is crafted with care and tradition,” Silva said.
The culinary magic at Mána is driven by its chef, Dimitris Datklis, who comes from Thessaloniki, Greece.
You can book your reservation online on the restaurants’ websites, and also see more restaurants participating in Chicago Restaurants Week at https://www.choosechicago.com/chicago-restaurant-week/participating-restaurants/?region=west-suburbs&filters=open
Also see:
Mána’s Chicago Restaurant Week Menu:
https://mánagrk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/RW-Menu-2025.pdf
Amerikas’ Chicago Restaurant Week Menu:
https://www.choosechicago.com/chicago-restaurant-week/participating-restaurants/?keyword=amerikas
