San Diego's Restaurant Week packed 'em in, so organizers are going to keep it on the menu.
A record number -- 75-- of San Diego County restaurants have signed up for Restaurant Week this year, which was supposed to run through Jan. 16. Now, 50 of those businesses that participated extended the run.
Diners can choose from 170 restaurants that are offering three-course prix-fixed menus during the weeklong dining program.
And for the first time this year, diners can select a $20 menu tier (in addition to the usual offering of $30 and $40 menus), according to the North County Times.
Local restaurants are eager to take part in Restaurant Week because business has been so sharply affected by the recession, San Diego Restaurant Week founder Ingrid Croce told the North County Times. Croce opened Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar in honor of her late husband, singer Jim Croce in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter in 1985.
Among the high-end downtown restaurants that closed their doors in 2008 were Max, Jade Theater and Dussini Mediterranean Bistro.
"The economy has played havoc with restaurants. We have such a small margin of profit, especially in California, and this has been a tough, tough period," she told the paper. "This program is seen as a boon to business and an opportunity to kick start the year for diners to get out there and visit their favorite places and try new places, especially at these prices."
There are no tickets or passes required -- you may simply dine out at as many participating restaurants as you like.
You can search participating restaurants by name, price point and location. You can also view menus by clicking on restaurant’s name and make advance reservations by contacting restaurant(s) directly. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Read about some of the new restaurants involved in the program in the article in the North County Times.
Check out the participating restaurants at SanDiegoRestaurant.com.
