Restaurant Week

If you live in a big city, you may just be in luck. This month, Restaurant Week is spreading across the nation from San Diego to New York City. Restaurant Week is a week where participating restaurants offer a fixed-price menu of 3-course meals. It is a great opportunity to go and try out that restaurant that has always been out of your budget. There is no limit on how many participating restaurants you can go to. You also do not need to buy tickets or sign up for anything. All you need to do is make reservations or drop by, although reservations are strongly recommended during this dining event. Don't know if your city has Restaurant Week? Check out the list here to see if you're in luck. Most cities that have Restaurant Week offers lunch for around $20-25 and dinner for around $35. It truly is a great deal just by looking at the individual menu item prices.

However if you happen to be in San Diego like me, go to http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com/ and you'll see that participating restaurants offer meals for $20, $30, or $40. If you're looking to try fancy food without throwing away your cash, try Eden for just $20. They have delicious fusion cuisine with great service. I recommend their Porcini Pillows, Banana Cream Pie, and Trio of Pear.

Banana Cream Pie at Eden

So why do cities hold this event every year? The intention is to put a spotlight on the city as a dining destination. It also gives participating restaurants a wonderful opportunity to attract a wider audience. Some cities will partner up with a charity for this event and raise money for a good cause. San Diego Restaurant Week is partnered with the Educational Committee of the San Diego Chapter of the California Restaurant Association to fundraise for educational programs. Meanwhile, Baltimore Restaurant Week is joined with The Journey Home to help the homeless move to permanent homes by placing donation boxes at participating restaurants.

Either way, Restaurant Week is a win-win situation for you and the restaurants. So just eat, be happy, and share your thoughts.