If you’ve never done Chicago Restaurant Week, you’re missing out on an incredible, gluttonous tradition to try out new restaurants you wouldn’t try otherwise. Restaurant Week this year is February 1-10, and the lineup of participating restaurants is quite impressive. If you’re going to do it right, you have to get started…last week…getting your Restaurant Week crew together and making your reservations. The best spots book up quickly, and you might already be too late for some of the top picks. Here are some of our recommendations:

1. NAHA

NAHA has become sort of a hidden gem among the trendy River North hotspots.  Just because it’s been around a little while doesn’t mean it’s any less amazing. Just check out the picture above from last year. NAHA’s regular menu is quite pricey – and worth every penny, don’t get me wrong. So the Restaurant Week offerings always deliver year after year. The $22 lunch special is a great way to go if you work in the area and can’t make it in for dinner. We featured it in our Restaurant Week highlights from 2012 for a reason. 

 2. BellyQ

While you don’t need to try BellyQ for price reasons, you will want to order everything on the menu, which is reason enough to check it out. This new West Loop spot is doing Restaurant Week for the first time in style. With Vietnamese cinnamon doughnuts, of course. There are some other delicious options  for the other courses, and you won’t be disappointed. See the full list of new participating restaurants here >

3. Perennial Virant

Entrees at Perennial will run you about $30, so the Restaurant Week menu will cut you a deal no matter what you get. It’s hard to be disappointed at this aesthetically beautiful restaurant with such fresh seasonal ingredients highlighted. All of the BOKA restaurants are great options for Restaurant Week, especially if you’ve never been before. If you have more room in your schedule and your stomach, see if you can fit in GT Fish & Oyster and Balena as well.

4. Trenchermen

If you’re in Wicker Park and haven’t tried out Trenchermen yet, hurry as fast as you can to this nautical wonder. This is another  spot affordable enough that you don’t have to go during Restaurant Week, but the deal will let you try more on the menu. You’re going to want to try all three courses when you can start with pickle tots and end with waffle ice cream.

 
Where are you planning on going for Restaurant Week 2013? Comment on this post and let us know.