28 Eateries participate in Virtual Restaurant Week.
Kye Martin has the story.

A petition asking Illinois authorities to allow the sale of carryout cocktails is circulating online, as restaurants and bars struggle to stay afloat during the state’s stay-at-home order. The petition was started by Julia Momose, a partner and bartender at Kumiko in Chicago’s Fulton River District neighborhood. Momose wrote in the petition that such a move could bring in...

Waffle House has declared “Waffle House Index Red,” as the chain closes nearly a quarter of its restaurants in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Get the full story at NBCNews.com.

New social distancing regulations to stop the spread of the coronavirus have forced restaurants across the country to shut down service, spelling estimated losses of $225 billion and as many as 7 million jobs over the next three months.

Chicago’s hospitality community has created the #TakeoutChallenge, a creative way to show diner support for restaurants, bars and cafe’s struggling to survive with their doors closed. The challenge has popped up on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, asking diners to share information like where they ate, what they ordered and who they challenge next. On Monday night, Gov. J.B. Pritzker...

Restaurants and bars come up with a lot of creative ways to get customers in the door, but one Des Plaines eatery is trying a new promotion as people are forced to stay away during the coronavirus pandemic. The Beacon Tap is giving out a free roll of toilet paper with a delivery or takeout order. The offer was posted…

Experts are warning people to avoid flushing alternatives down the porcelain throne as shoppers stock up on toilet paper due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Indiana’s governor is ordering restaurants and bars closed to in-person customers in another step toward stemming the spread of the coronavirus. The order Monday from Gov. Eric Holcomb follows each of Indiana’s adjacent states taking the same step in recent days. The governor’s office says 273 public school districts have decided to close to students and that the state...

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Sunday he’s “seriously looking at” locking down bars and restaurants in Illinois as coronavirus continues to spread in the state. In an interview on “Meet the Press,” Pritzker said he’s planning for such a step after state officials revealed 20 new confirmed cases, including the first in downstate locations. “We’ve been on the trajectory now...

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made a guest appearance on NBC News’ ‘Meet the Press’ where he spoke about his disappointment with the lack of federal government’s quick response on the coronavirus outbreak.

Chicago police are warning residents of a string of burglaries reported between December and February in Lincoln Park and on the Near North Side. In each incident, someone broke into the front door of restaurants using a pry tool and stole property, Chicago police said in a community alert. The burglaries happened: Dec. 26 in the 400 block of North…

Oak Park wants input from businesses on a ban on single-use plastics at area restaurants. The items could still be available if requested by customers.

Some of Chicago’s leading Latino chefs will show off their talents under one roof at the first-ever Pilsen Gourmet on Feb. 29.

The parent company of Bakers Square filed for bankruptcy, and closed five Chicago-area restaurants.

Chicago restaurants could be forced to eliminate foam packaging for food and reduce their use of disposable plastic under a new ordinance introduced at City Council Wednesday. Ald. Scott Waguespack proposed that, beginning in 2021, the city should ban the use of polystyrene packaging and reduce the use of any disposable products like utensils, straws, drink tops, napkins, stirrers and…

T.G.I. Fridays, which is known for being the original singles bar, is planning to revamp its bar business as the company prepares to be publicly traded again for the first time in decades.

Downtown Chicago’s Riverwalk will be getting seven new restaurants this summer, the city announced.

Downtown Chicago’s Riverwalk will be getting seven new restaurants this summer and NBC 5’s Ash-har Quraishi has the preview.