CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A number of restaurants in Greektown are trying to get people more used to venturing out to eat again with special promotions.
Greektown Chicago is hosting its first-ever Restaurant Week this week from March 1-7, featuring special offers from popular Greektown restaurants and bars. The new event kicks off the neighborhood’s monthlong commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day this March, with more special events to be announced in the coming weeks.
"We’re excited. It’s the first annual Greektown Restaurant Week," said Dalila Youkhana, owner and general manager of Athena Restaurant.
Ten restaurants in Greektown are taking part in the Restaurant Week promotion, including: 9 Muses Bar & Grill; Aodake Ramen; Artopolis Bakery, Cafe and Agora; Athena Restaurant; Dugan’s; Greek Islands Restaurant; Mr. Greek Gyros; Primo’s Chicago Pizza; Spectrum Bar & Grill; and Taco Burrito King.
Besides the Greek Independence celebration, the idea is to entice people to go out. Each restaurant is offering a different incentive.
The main thing, Youkhana said, is letting people know it’s safe to eat in a restaurant. In Athena, for instance, "We went ahead and actually installed the I-wave filtration system throughout the entire restaurant, which has been huge. It kills up to 99.9 percent of all viruses, including COVID-19. We’ve done separation of all of our tables six feet apart. Everyone’s wearing masks. We’re diligently cleaning."
Youkhana said sometimes people who are picking up carryout orders notice the safety precautions and are starting to feel more open to dining-in.
"A lot of customers do take note of what we’re doing and I think their comfortability with that has made them come back more often to visit us," she said.
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Greektown Restaurant Week runs through Sunday.
Additionally, for the month of March, restaurants in Greektown are offering patrons $50 gift cards if they spend $200 or more, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of Greek Independence Day.
Featured Greektown Restaurant Week offers:
Customers must mention “Greektown Restaurant Week” when ordering to take advantage of these special offers, March 1-7. To place an order with the participating restaurants, customers must dine in or call to order carryout from the businesses directly. Offers not available via third-party delivery apps.
• 9 Muses Bar & Grill (315 S. Halsted St, 312-902-9922): Free avgolemono soup with purchase of a dinner entrée; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Aodake Ramen (810 W. Jackson Blvd, 312-985-8818): Special $35 meal for two including one appetizer, two ramen and one dessert; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Artopolis Bakery, Cafe and Agora (306 S. Halsted St, 312-559-9000): 10% off Artopitas all day; complimentary Fix beer with purchase of gyro platter after 3 p.m.; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Athena Restaurant (212 S. Halsted St, 312-655-0000): Free saganaki with any entree order; valid for dine-in only.
• Dugan’s (128 S. Halsted St, 312-421-7191): Half-price Guinness beer on reopening day only, Friday, March 5 from 4-8 p.m. Valid for dine-in only.
• Greek Islands Restaurant (200 S. Halsted St, 312-782-9855): 50% off bottles of wine and beer; valid for carryout orders only.
• Mr. Greek Gyros (234 S. Halsted St, 312-906-8731): Buy two dinners & receive two free 16 oz. fountain drinks; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Primo’s Chicago Pizza (816 W. Van Buren St, 312-243-1052): Free drink with a $6 slice of pizza; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Spectrum Bar & Grill (233 S. Halsted St, 312-715-0770): Buy one dinner entrée and get the second 50% off; limit one pair per customer; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
• Taco Burrito King (811 W. Jackson Blvd, 312-831-0400): $5.29 special on Mexican tortas; valid for dine-in and carryout orders.
For a list of additional Greektown Chicago restaurants, visit the directory at greektownchicago.org/directory.