MiDwEsT
Rockford, IL
Rockford, Illinois doesn’t mess around
when it claims to be real and original,
especially when it comes to great
places to grab a bite with a brew (a
hot or cold one). The history of Rock-
ford is steeped in artisans and crafts-
men who created an illustrious
manufacturing-focused downtown
that grew to be one of the largest
cities in Illinois. That culture of creation
has evolved over the years, and
today the downtown is transforming
into an entertainment hub that has
culinary craftsmen plying their trade
along the banks of the Rock River.
When coffee is key
In downtown Rockford, three shops
all within walking distance will give
you the jolt you are looking for and
some great foods to pair with it. From
the Rockford Roasting Company,
whose drip coffee and outdoor seat-
ing makes it hum with hipsters, to Oc-
tane Interlounge, which constantly
has a host of business professionals
holding daytime meetings and then
converts to a great restaurant and bar
at night, to Wired Café, which is nes-
tled along a cozy corridor filled with
eclectic shops and restaurants. These
quaint cafes are the perfect stop while
strolling the shops or while waiting to
take in a community festival, or a show
at the historic Coronado Theatre.
Or maybe it’s time for a meal
They come from all over the country
and hear the stories about the epic
burgers from a small restaurant on
Rockford’s southside. The site used to
be a neighborhood ice cream stand
30 years ago, but now it has a new
owner and a menu filled with Insta-
gram-ready hamburgers that taste
even better than they look. 15 th and
Chris is worth traveling to and worth
waiting for - trust us! On beautiful,
sunny days, there will be a line out the
door.
If farm-to-table is more your speed,
head to downtown Rockford where
three restaurants owned by chef Paul
Sletton will keep you asking for sec-
onds – Abreo, Social and Taco Betty’s
all quickly became staples for every
Rockfordian and visitors have quickly
caught on. All three are within walk-
ing distance of each other and make
the perfect impromptu restaurant
crawl.
With the emerging culinary scene en-
hancing the culture of downtown
Rockford, take the time to experience
what is being created by our foodie
artisans, and enjoy it with a nice bev-
erage of your choosing.
Check out all the
great restaurants at
https://www.gorockford.com/restaurants