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Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau on Tuesday announced the winners of this year’s Rockford Region Restaurant Week “best of” awards.
Rockford Region Restaurant week was held Jan. 24-30 and set out to encourage people to support local restaurants, bars and other eateries.
Votes for the “best of” awards were cast throughout the week on GoRockford.com. Categories ranged from the best bite to creating a sense of belonging for customers.
“Restaurant Week was a hit,” Martesha Brown, director of marketing and communications for the visitors bureau, said in a news release. “Not only did our community show support for our restaurant industry, but there was tough competition in this year’s ‘best of’ awards with over 40 businesses participating. That’s double the number of local eateries that participated last year.”
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Here are the winners:
Best Atmosphere and Vibes: A food establishment that showcases the best vibes through lighting, service, and overall experience. Winner – Ernie’s Midtown Pub in Rockford.
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Best Restaurant Week Package: The most creative deal, experience, or package. Winner – The Fire Barn in Durand.
Best Cocktail or Brew: The most creative and tasty beverage. This category includes coffee, cocktails, smoothies, beer, and other freshly served beverages. Winner – 8th Ward Pub in Rockford.
Best Bite: Vote for the meal packing the most flavorful bite. Winner – Salamone’s in Cherry Valley.
Best for All: Your favorite food establishment showcases a welcoming environment for all. This is defined as a venue that welcomes residents and visitors by creating a sense of belonging. Winner – Lucha Cantina in Rockford.
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The winning restaurants will receive an award and recognition on TV ads, a billboard, exposure on GoRockford’s social media channels and more.
“Feedback has been great from our restaurateurs. They felt supported and loved by all those who turned out. We know that some had the best week they had since before the pandemic began in March of 2020,” John Groh, president and CEO of the visitors bureau, said in a news release. “The restaurants in our region give us all much to be proud of. This year’s Restaurant Week was a chance to show our collective support for them while helping to increase revenue and foot traffic to our hospitality partners.”