News https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/default.asp Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:04:41 GMT Thu, 11 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 Illinois Restaurant Association James Beard Awards This Weekend, Chicago Labor Law Updates, & More https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=729209 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=729209 Banner reading Illinois Restaurant Association Industry Insight over a busy commercial kitchen, with blurred chefs working among stainless-steel counters, pots, and cooking equipment.

Click here to read the IRA's latest news on the James Beard Awards this weekend, Chicago labor law updates, and more.

]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT WBEZ: 21 events for foodies as Chicago prepares to host the 2026 James Beard Awards https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728977 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728977 Two bartenders at a beverage tasting booth prepare and pour cocktails into rows of martini glasses beside a large ice bucket, with bottles, limes, and drink displays visible in the background.

Click here to read the WBEZ news story on "21 events for foodies as Chicago prepares to host the 2026 James Beard Awards".

]]> Tue, 9 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT Become a Pronto Customer with US Foods https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728818 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728818

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Pronto is an enhanced service US Foods is providing in the Chicago area, offering daily deliveries of the full US Foods product assortment. They have helped all-size operators get the restaurant supplies they need, delivered fresh daily, so they can provide their customers with the best dining experience and control their inventory.

Daily deliveries, no minimums - BECOME A PRONTO CUSTOMER!

]]> Mon, 8 Jun 2026 18:11:00 GMT WGN 9: Lunchbreak: Bone-In ribeye https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728937 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728937 Person wearing a black glove uses metal tongs to sear a large bone-in ribeye in a red skillet on a stovetop, with steam rising from the pan.

Click here to watch the WGN 9 news story on "Lunchbreak: Bone-in ribeye".

]]> Fri, 5 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT Swipe Fee Updates, Minimum Wage Increases, & More https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728671 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728671 Banner reading Illinois Restaurant Association Industry Insight over a blurred commercial kitchen, with chefs in motion, cooking equipment, and pots on stainless-steel counters.

Click here to read the IRA's latest news regarding swipe fee updates, minimum wage increases, and more.

]]> Thu, 4 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT Chicago Tribune: 31 Chicago food and drink festivals for summer 2026 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728587 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728587 People walking through an outdoor city market beside a food truck, with a couple embracing in the foreground and tall downtown skyscrapers under a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune news story on "31 Chicago food and drink festivals for summer 2026".

]]> Wed, 3 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT Chicago Tribune: 10 pop-up events to eat and drink at in Chicago this month https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728588 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728588 Chef wearing a red cap and apron plating food at a market stall, with bowls of prepared dishes and a bottle on the counter, while another person works in the background near a sunlit brick wall.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune news story on "10 pop-up events to eat and drink at in Chicago this month serving BBQ, smoked desserts and more".

]]> Mon, 1 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT May Restaurant Rundown https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728182 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=728182 Banner for Illinois Restaurant Association Restaurant Rundown featuring an overhead view of a restaurant table with burgers, fries, drinks, and hands reaching for food. White text and graphics appear over an orange overlay with the Illinois state silhouette and utensils icon.

Click here to read the IRA's latest Restaurant Rundown featuring legislative updates, upcoming events, and more.

]]> Thu, 28 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Greater Southwest News-Herald: City Council votes 49-1 to freeze tipped wage for 2 years https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727918 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727918 Woman in a black shirt standing in a doorway inside a rustic log cabin-themed restaurant with warm lighting and decorative shelves holding small plants on either side.

Click here to read the Greater Southwest News-Herald news story on "City Council votes 49-1 to freeze tipped wage for 2 years".

]]> Mon, 25 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Chicago City Council Passes Tip Credit Freeze & More https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727697 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727697 Banner reading Illinois Restaurant Association Industry Insight over a blurred commercial kitchen scene with chefs cooking and stainless steel pots and equipment visible in the background.

Click here to read the IRA's latest news on the Chicago City Council passing the tip credit freeze and more.

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Block Club Chicago: Tipped minimum wage hike paused in blow to mayor via near-unanimous council vote https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727764 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727764 Sam Toia speaks at a podium during a press conference as people behind him hold signs reading Save Our Jobs.

Click here to read the Block Club Chicago news story on "Tipped minimum wage hike paused in blow to mayor via near-unanimous council vote".

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Crain's Chicago Business: Chicago delays tipped wage phaseout after restaurant pushback https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727767 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727767 Worker moving trays of plated hot meals along a stainless-steel counter in a commercial kitchen or food service line.

Click here to read the Crain's Chicago Business news story on "Chicago delays tipped wage phaseout after restaurant pushback".

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT WTTW: Delay end of tipped minimum wage for 2 years, Chicago City Council agrees https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727771 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727771 Person wearing a black apron over a light blue shirt, holding a notepad and pen in a café or restaurant setting with blurred tables in the background

Click here to read the WTTW news story on "Delay end of tipped minimum wage for 2 years, Chicago City Council agrees".

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Axios: Chicago passes tipped minimum wage compromise https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727818 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727818 Pattern of white plates with sad face drawings, arranged diagonally on a red orange background with forks and knives beside each plate.

Click here to read the Axios news story on "Chicago passes tipped minimum wage compromise".

]]> Wed, 20 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT WTTW:Plan would delay phaseout of tipped wage in Chicago. What business owners, advocates are saying https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727770 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727770 Graphic titled Compromise Proposal: Plan to Delay Tipped Minimum Wage Phaseout with bullet points stating: no mandated raise until July 1, 2028; restaurants must pay full minimum wage for tipped workers; restaurants with 21+ employees have a 2030 deadline; restaurants with 3–20 employees have a 2033 deadline. Blue background with a city skyline image on the right.

Click here to watch the WTTW news story on "Plan would delay the phaseout of tipped minimum wage in Chicago. What business owners, advocates are saying".

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Committee Passes Tip Credit Freeze, NRA Show This Weekend, & More https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727374 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727374 Banner reading Illinois Restaurant Association Industry Insight over a blurred commercial kitchen scene with chefs working and pots on stainless steel counters.

Click here to read the IRA's latest news on the Committee on Workforce Development passing the tip credit freeze, the NRA Show this weekend, and more.

]]> Fri, 15 May 2026 18:09:00 GMT Chicago Tribune: Editorial: A pause on the tipped wage increase should turn into a full-blown W https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727375 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727375 Ald. Walter “Red” Burnett reading documents at a desk with a tablet and microphone in front of him during a council session.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune editorial on "A pause on the tipped wage increase should turn into a full-blown W for Chicago restaurants".

]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT FOX 32: Chicago committee approves proposed tipped wage freeze | ChicagoLIVE https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727378 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727378 Split-screen television interview with a news anchor on the left and Ald. Walter “Red” Burnett on the right, with a headline reading Freezing Chicago’s Sub-Minimum Wage.

Click here to watch the FOX 32 news story on "Chicago committee approves proposed tipped wage freeze | ChicagoLIVE".

]]> Thu, 14 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT The Daily Line: Workforce development committee approves compromise measure https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727198 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727198 Members of the Chicago City Council Committee on Workforce Development sit in a tiered hearing room during a committee meeting, with laptops and microphones visible.

Click here to read The Daily Line news story on "Workforce development committee approves compromise measure to temporarily pause phase-out of tipped wage, allow longer phase-out for small businesses".

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT FOX 32: Tipped minimum wage compromise | The Chicago Report https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727377 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727377 Two women seated at a news desk in a television studio, talking during an on-air discussion with a city skyline backdrop behind them.

Click here to watch the FOX 32 news story on "Tipped minimum wage compromise | The Chicago Report".

]]> Wed, 13 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Advocacy Update: Workforce Development Committee Passes Tip Credit Freeze https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727131 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727131 Illinois Restaurant Association Advocacy Update banner over a restaurant bar interior with stools, bottles, and a blurred server walking through the dining area.

Click here to read the IRA's Advocacy Update on the Workforce Development Committee passing the tip credit freeze.

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT WBBM Newsradio: New "tip credit" freeze advances in Chicago City Council https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727134 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727134 Server holding two plated gourmet meals in a restaurant, wearing a white shirt and blue tie, with another server blurred in the background

Click here to read the WBBM Newsradio news story on "New 'tip credit' freeze advances in Chicago City Council".


]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT WTTW: Deal reached to delay end of tipped minimum wage, even after Johnson veto https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727135 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727135 Server carrying plates of food and drinks through a busy restaurant dining area while smiling at customers

Click here to read the WTTW news story on "Deal reached to delay end of tipped minimum wage, even after Johnson veto".

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Crain's Chicago Business: Aldermen advance compromise to delay the phase-out of tipped wage https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727177 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727177 Server pours red wine at a white tablecloth table in a dimly lit restaurant beside large windows and indoor plants.

Click here to read the Crain's Chicago Business news story on "Aldermen advance compromise to delay the phase-out of Chicago’s tipped wage".

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT Chicago Tribune: Aldermen advance tipped wage raise delay following Mayor Brandon Johnson veto https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727186 https://www.illinoisrestaurants.org/news/news.asp?id=727186 Ald. Ronnie Mosley and Ald. Walter “Red” Burnett smile and talk in an office doorway, with Burnett carrying a jacket and shoulder bag.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune news story on "Aldermen advance tipped wage raise delay following Mayor Brandon Johnson veto".

]]> Tue, 12 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT