3 New Rockford Area Restaurants I’m So Excited to Try

It seems like every week we're hearing about a new food spot opening soon in the Rockford area. The latest news of a mother-daughter venture with a creative cocktail menu is making the waiting game even tougher.

New Restaurants Opening in Rockford Area

It won't be much longer before you won't have to drive into Chicago for some Buona beef or a Rainbow ice cream cone. Construction along Riverside Blvd has been buzzing for the last couple of years with a Starbucks Coffee, a Chipotle, and a Tom & Jerry's location all opening in front of Blain's Farm & Fleet.

Filling out some more of that open space will be the new Buona Beef/Rainbow Cone location. Two fantastic family-owned flavors will be opening soon. I've only had Buona Beef from the grocery store, and I've never had that ice cream. My entire family is excited for this place to go from this...

to this!

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New Capri Restaurant and Pizza Location

After a devastating fire, owners of Capri announced that instead of rebuilding in downtown Rockford, they would be redesigning an old gas station on Riverside Blvd into the new home for one of Rockford's best restaurant brands. I have missed this pizza so much. I can't wait to get a table (and to have their frozen pizzas back in my grocery store).

Speaking of E. State Street, Rockford will finally be getting a Raising Cane's. They will be moving into the old Stone Eagle Tavern location. The plan is to demolish the building and put up a new restaurant with a double drive-thru. Raising Canes in Rockford plans to open in the Fall of 2025.

You can learn to make Raising Cane's amazing chicken strip dipping sauce before they even open.

It's good if you're craving more food news.

Coming soon to the old Camera Craft location on Perryville Rd (next to the Peace Plaza) is

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Crave Kitchen & Cocktails

Located at 3801 N Perryville Rd, Crave is owned and created by Angela Vitale and her daughter Ava Vitale.

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Crave Kitchen & Cocktails will feature Angela's contemporary and classic cuisine vision paired with Ava's playful and inventive cocktails plus Rockford's only 90-point wine list, according to their website.

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Be sure to follow Crave on Facebook and Instagram as these two women are about to tell a great culinary story.

In other Rockford news, look what city kicks off this gallery of horrible parking jobs!