CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicagoans have another opportunity to explore the city’s culinary scene with discounted rates during Chicago Black Restaurant Week.
The celebration of Black restaurants has returned for Black History Month. From Feb. 11-25, around 50 locations are participating by providing menu specials.
WBBM checked in with one Chicago food influencer to get her recommendations. Paige Serena, who goes by the username @plateswithp on TikTok, has recently made a name for herself on the social media platform as a restaurant reviewer.
Paige has been posting restaurant recommendations for two years. What really got her popular was her “Don’t go here, go there instead” series, where she would highlight lesser known — but delicious — alternatives to some of Chicago’s trendiest restaurants.
“The series was just like highlighting smaller businesses that I was like, ‘OK, if you like this, you would definitely like this type of thing,’” she said.
Her candidness is what she felt won people over. That, and her ability to deliver actual critiques of the restaurants she visited, something she added many people weren’t doing at the time.
“I tried to post organically about the spots that I really believe in, and for whatever reason people seem to agree with a lot of the spots I post,” Paige said.
“I'm like, ‘OK, maybe we all just have good taste.’”
As for which restaurants she has her eye on for Chicago Black Restaurant Week, Paige said she's prioritizing places based on where she can get actual savings. Two of her favorites are Kitchen and Kocktails, which offers a traditional chicken and waffles, and Chesa's Bistro and Bar, where the brunch menu includes black angus short ribs.
Paige also mentioned Oooh Wee It Is, which got a shout out from “The Bear” star Ayo Edebiri during her Golden Globes acceptance speech, in which she highlighted the food that stood out to her while filming the show in Chicago.
Head to Paige’s TikTok account for more of her recommendations.
Check out the Chicago Black Restaurant Week website for more details on restaurant deals.
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