Chamber’s Restaurant Tour Receives Four Stars
The West Lawn Chamber of Commerce held its first Cinco de Mayo Taste of West Lawn restaurant tour Monday.
The chamber wanted to promote local businesses and boost a section of Chicago that rarely gets attention. The chamber sold about 90 tickets for the tour, falling short of its goal of 100.
Mark Walden, executive director of the chamber, conducted a “dessert crawl” in the Andersonville neighborhood a few years ago when he worked on a commission there. Now, the “dessert crawl” is an annual event in Andersonville.
Walden said because of the success he had in Andersonville, he wanted to try something similar in West Lawn.
“Mondays are not typically a big day for restaurants, so we decided to do it on a Monday,” said Walden.
The West Lawn Chamber is actively working to welcome the Hispanic community. Indeed, six of its 12 board members are Hispanic.
“We are serving the business and people of the neighborhood,” said Walden.
Many of the 90 people who attended the restaurant tour are from the area, but others came from other sections of the city after reading about the event. Some came from Pilsen, while others came from the North Side.
Walden said he is trying to put West Lawn on the map because it is a part of the city that many people don’t know about or come to.
“These are small restaurants that we are bringing in 100 people that might not have even been there,” said Walden.
Maureen Rzasa, a past president of the chamber and current vice president of Outreach, said she heard people on the tour complimenting the quality and quantity of the food they were served.
“Everyone enjoyed it so much. We are looking forward to doing it again,” said Rzasa.
Sarah Phendhorst, of Pilsen, said she only made it to eight of the 14 restaurants on the tour because she ran out of time, but said the event was “wonderful.”
“Yes, we already have a plan to come back to some of the restaurants,” said Phendhorst.
The restaurants involved were:
Hacienda del Sol, 5315 S. Pulaski Road;
Paco Taco #2, 6034 S. Pulaski Road;
Panaderia Princessa, 4140 W. 63rd St.;
Windy City Hot Dogs, 4205 W. 63rd St.;
La Antigua Restaurant, 4344 W. 63rd St.;
A.V. Anthony’s, 4720 W. 63rd St.;
Dempsey’s, 6522 S. Cicero Ave;
Jalapeno Rock, 6643 S. Cicero Ave.;
Kapeekoo, 6336 S. Pulaski Road;
Huck Finn’s Donuts and Restaurant, 6650 S. Pulaski Road;
Indio Cocina Mexicana, 3930 W. 63rd St.;
Palermo’s Pizza and Restaurant, 3751 W. 63rd St;
S and M Grill and Bar, 3141 W. 63rd St.;
and Cafezazzo Inc., 3710 W. 55th St.
Paco Taco #2, 6034 S. Pulaski Road;
Panaderia Princessa, 4140 W. 63rd St.;
Windy City Hot Dogs, 4205 W. 63rd St.;
La Antigua Restaurant, 4344 W. 63rd St.;
A.V. Anthony’s, 4720 W. 63rd St.;
Dempsey’s, 6522 S. Cicero Ave;
Jalapeno Rock, 6643 S. Cicero Ave.;
Kapeekoo, 6336 S. Pulaski Road;
Huck Finn’s Donuts and Restaurant, 6650 S. Pulaski Road;
Indio Cocina Mexicana, 3930 W. 63rd St.;
Palermo’s Pizza and Restaurant, 3751 W. 63rd St;
S and M Grill and Bar, 3141 W. 63rd St.;
and Cafezazzo Inc., 3710 W. 55th St.
And on Tuesday morning, tour participants were able to stop for breakfast at Alicia’s Restaurant and Pancake House, 6842 S. Pulaski Road.
Next, Rzasa said, the chamber plans a medical industry fair at Daley College. She said that all businesses in West Lawn that are in the medical field will be invited, but a date as yet to be determined.
Those who attended were given route sheets and sent on their way — some with friends and co-workers, some with strangers.
But everyone seemed to have a great time and loved the many different choices of food.
Walden said that he spoke to some of the restaurant owners, and they were all happy with the results of the Taste.
Also, he added, a couple thousand dollars was raised for the chamber.