Dining IN is OUT.

Dining OUT is IN.

But come December, things can get pretty cold outside in Chicago.

Rules and Regulations

Currently the City of Chicago is in Phase Four of COVID regulations. This means No Indoor Service at Restaurants. 

The regulations which became effective at 12:01 a.m. Friday, October 30 includes:

• No indoor dining or service at bars or restaurants
• Non-essential businesses must be closed to the public between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
• Restaurants may continue to sell food via delivery, takeout, or curbside pickup at all hours
• Outdoor food service and bar reminders include: Maximum party size and table occupancy at restaurants, bars, taverns, breweries and event venues remains at six people

Oh to get a taste of what we used to take for granted likethe beautiful brunch from Cafe Robey, pictured below.

Cafe Robey Brunch salad. Photo: Carole Kuhrt-Brewer

Dining at a Distance to the rescue

The awesome Dining at a Distance website, created shortly after the pandemic provides comprehensive information for restaurants offering delivery and carryout.

The constantly evolving and updated website currently features information on over 2400 dining establishments–both in the City of Chicago and in the suburbs. Users can search by neighborhood, speciality and restaurant name.

For example if you are looking for a restaurant in Bucktown, you can go to the Dining at a Distance website and select Bucktown. A list of participating restaurants and their specialities will pop up.

Looking for Vegan? There’s Handlebar and Native Foods Cafe. Both offer delivery and takeout. You’ll also be able to click on their websites, get their menus and ordering information from 40 Bucktown restaurants in 14 different categories.

You can’t go inside but you can still enjoy some of Gibson’s Italia pastas. Photo: Carole Kuhrt-Brewer

Or click on Hyde Park and you’ll find 24 restaurants in 15 categories. The same goes for the other 2400+ restaurants from hot dog stands and coffee shops to ethnic and Michelin stars.

Added Bonus

If you order takeout from 10 Chicago restaurants between now and December 15 you can enter the Take Out Chicago Contest.

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