Five Insider Tips to Dine like A Foodie during Restaurant Week

San Diego’s tastiest week of the year is back to kick off 2017, as the 13th Annual San Diego Restaurant Week returns Sunday, January 15th through Sunday, January 22^nd. There are many established places (several winners of Entertainer ‘Best’ Awards), and some new spots as well. So we at the Entertainer wanted to offer you, our hungry reader’s, five tips on how to take advantage of this cool biannual event like a seasoned pro. Enjoy these five insider tips.

Skip the sack lunch.

Restaurant Week insiders know you don’t have to wait until dinner to indulge in a delicious discounted dining experience. Just check out SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com to find your next escape from the office. Two course pre-fixe menu options are available for any budget, with meals priced at $10, $15, or $20. A few crowd favorites include Blue Point Coastal Cuisine, Bottega Americano, Brooklyn Girl, Café Chloe, Florent, and Great Maple.

Life is better when paired.

Add some vino during your meal with carefully selected wine pairings that can add the perfect touch to your Restaurant Week meal. Proper pairings will highlight the flavors in each dish, and are a great way to elevate your dining experience (while drinking responsibly of course).  A few examples of great pairings include: Local black cod with miso marinade paired with a light bodied 2013 Martinelli Pino Noir (1500 OCEAN); Braised short rib with crispy polenta paired with a 2013 Hill Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Amaya); or a Strawberry Burrata Caprese paired with a 2014 Brandol Rose Domain Tempier (Greystone Steakhouse).

Find something to wag your tail about.

Don’t want to leave your pup behind on your night out? Bring your four legged friend for a delicious yappy-hour delight at one of the many Restaurant Week restaurants that boast pet-friendly patios. Sally’s Fish House & Bar, Pinzimini, and Fig Tree Liberty Station are just a few notable restaurants that are GRRReat selections (sorry, pun intended).

Take advantage of SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com

Feeling hungry, but can’t quite put your finger on what you’re craving? Check out the San Diego Restaurant Week website to browse menus, view galleries, bookmark your favorite hot spots, and make reservations. We also recommend using the search and map functions to sort restaurants by neighborhood, price range, or cuisine type.

Make it sweet with Girl Scout cookies

From decedent desserts to savory entrees, enjoy Girl Scout Cookies in ways you have never tasted before during San Diego Restaurant Week. Check out the Samoas-cookie crusted New Zealand lamb (Vigilucci’s Steakhouse), a pistachio chocolate marquis with Girl Scout Thin Mint crust (Great Maple), or Agnolotti with bay shrimp and Savannah Smile crumble (Cucina Sorella).

So, let’s review, readers. Over 180 participating restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe dinner menus for $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person and/or two-course prix-fixe lunch menus for $10, $15 or $20 per person from Sunday, January 15^th through Sunday, January 22^nd.  The participating restaurants span across the county from the South Bay to East County and to the borders of Oceanside and Fallbrook to the north. Visit SanDiegoRestaurantWeek.com for more information, and to find a list of participating restaurants.