The thought of Restaurant Week makes me salivate. It originated in New York City over thirty years ago, created by a restaurateur and the founder of Zagat. Over the years, Restaurant Week has spread across the United States and around the world. It’s a week-long culinary promotion to encourage diners to try new restaurants. Participating restaurants offer special prix fixe menus at lunch and dinner, and the prices are usually lower than the regular menu. The timing of Restaurant Week varies by region. In San Diego, Restaurant Week happens twice a year, in the spring and fall. The event lasts eight days, and includes hundreds of local restaurants.
Restaurant Week is a great opportunity for a romantic dinner, double date with friends, or lunch with the ladies. Trust me, I’ve done all three. Be sure to book a reservation early, though. We forgot one time and the only slots remaining at our favorite restaurant were midafternoon or late night. We used to chuckle about my parents eating dinner so early. Now, we’re doing the same. However, 3:00 pm was too early, even for me. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants on the list—lots of options if your first choice is already booked.
It’s the perfect chance to explore new restaurants and visit places that otherwise might be too pricey. The menus are posted online. I’m a chocoholic, like my main character. If the dessert choices don’t include a rich chocolate concoction, I pass on the restaurant. The dessert matters as much to me as the main dish…maybe even more. Priorities people!
We’ve discovered restaurants with beautiful oceanfront vistas and others with scenic landscape settings. We’ve found great ethnic eats. And we’ve enjoyed pleasant evenings with good food and good friends. It’s been a tasty culinary adventure. Bon appetite!
