Taste of Naperville Brings Culinary Delights to the City

Naperville diners have a treat in store with the inaugural Taste of Naperville event, offering a wide variety of flavors from local restaurants. Spanning a week from October 9 to October 18, more than 24 establishments provide special deals on signature dishes, starting as low as $5.

Participating venues range from popular places like Empire Burgers + Brew and Bangkok Village downtown to Bar Louie and Kabab King Grill in south Naperville. According to Monica Conners, President of the Naperville Development Partnership, this event comes at an opportune time as people seek budget-friendly activities amidst rising gas prices.

The original plan to host an outdoor festival akin to Taste of Chicago was shelved due to its demanding logistics. Conners mentioned it’s a considerable commitment for restaurants, especially for a first-time event. However, the current format serves as a precursor to the city’s Restaurant Week and promises benefits for both diners and businesses.

Tapville Social, located at 216 S. Washington St., is among the participants. Their general manager, Malachi Aviles, shared that the event is a great chance to engage with the community. Tapville presents eight different bites, starting at $5, including offerings like beer cheese fries and honey-butter chicken sliders. Aviles hopes this outreach increases local awareness and foot traffic.

Bar Louie anticipates a 15 to 20% rise in customer visits thanks to the festival. General Manager Ashley Rambo highlights that the unique nature of Taste of Naperville offers a fresh twist on the Restaurant Week concept. Bar Louie features three $10 options, including bruschetta, cheese quesadilla, and Bavarian pretzels, along with a $15 chicken nachos deal. Rambo expressed enthusiasm about engaging with Naperville in this fun way.

For a comprehensive list of participating restaurants, please visit the official website.