USA. Airport Restaurant Week (ARW) is returning to Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway International Airports in 2019. The foodie promotion will run from 25 January to 7 February, mirroring the 12th annual Chicago Restaurant Week.
During ARW, ticketed passengers flying through O’Hare and Midway will be offered free samples of Chicago’s cuisine and special menus created by several award-winning airport restaurants.
Many of the specials highlight Chicago’s local and locally-inspired foods served at O’Hare and Midway. Some of the locations participating at O’Hare this year include America’s Dog; Auntie Anne’s; Berghoff Café; Billy Goat Tavern; Burrito Beach; Garrett Popcorn Shops; O’Brien’s Restaurant & Bar; Nuts on Clark; Reggio’s Pizza; Summer House Santa Monica; Rick Bayless’ Tortas Frontera; and Vosges Haut-Chocolat.
At Midway, passengers will be presented with demonstrations from concessionaires including Arami Sushi; BIG & little’s; Big Shoulders; DeColores; Home Run Inn Pizza; Nuts on Clark.
In addition to the freshly-made food samples and special offers, passengers will receive a free Airport Restaurant Week oven mitt, bamboo cutting boards, chip clips, and recipe book while supplies last. A full schedule of ARW tastings, chef demonstrations, and other activities will be announced this month.
The Airport Restaurant Week event started at O’Hare and Midway in 2015. It received a first place award for Excellence in Airport Marketing, Communications, and Customer Service from Airports Council International – North America in 2016.
Welcoming the event’s return, Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Jamie L. Rhee said: “We are thrilled to partner with the city’s best chefs, dining establishments and our airport partners to offer O’Hare and Midway travellers a taste of Chicago during Airport Restaurant Week.
“Every year, we host this special event in tandem with Chicago Restaurant Week, so that passengers can experience the best food options and some of the city’s finest culinary options without ever having to leave the airports.”
New on the airport dining scene
In related F&B news, the CDA is introducing new concessions in the first quarter of 2019 with O’Hare opening new fast casual restaurant Burger Federation in Terminal 3, and the airport’s third Garrett’s Popcorn Shop in Terminal 5.
At Midway, new dining options for passengers in January and February will include local coffee chain Big Shoulders Coffee; a new and expanded DeColores burrito restaurant; and the airport’s first Einstein’s Bros. Bagels.
