Will travel for food: restaurant weeks are good excuse to go

By Ari Bendersky

How often do you hear about a fabulous restaurant, but then look at the menu and feel like you can’t afford it? Well fret no more, my friend, because with restaurant week, you’re as good as gold. With numerous cities around the country hosting restaurant weeks, now is a good time to combine travel with good eating. Restaurants are opening their doors, knocking down their prices and inviting everyone in to get a taste of the good life — at least for a few hours.

Many places across the United States, from major markets like New York, Chicago and San Francisco to smaller spots like Cleveland, Charlotte and Palm Springs, have participating events. I’m highlighting some of the bigger cities where dozens of the best restaurants and top-name chefs will create incredibly priced prix-fixe menus for you to indulge. So book your hotel and go.

Washington, D.C.: Jan. 11-17
Our nation’s capital is the first major city to kick things off. Washington D.C. Restaurant Week gets rolling Jan. 11 to 17, and during that time nearly 180 Beltway-area hot spots will tempt diners both local and visiting. If you travel to D.C. that week, be sure to check out some Washington, D.C. hotels — there are great deals with many around Washington D.C. Restaurant Week participants. You never know, maybe you’ll see a certain first family at one of your favorite places!

San Francisco: Jan. 15-31
The City by the Bay has so many incredible chef-focused restaurants that its Restaurant Week, which is actually called San Francisco Dine About Town, spans Jan. 15 to 31. During this time, where you can get set up at any number of fantastic San Francisco hotels, world-class restaurants like Absinthe, Fifth Floor and Foreign Cinema, will have two-course prix-fixe lunches priced at $17.95 and three-course dinners for $34.95. Try and hit as many as you can to understand why celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse said, “You can’t have a bad meal in this town.”

San Diego: Jan. 17-21
As if things couldn’t getting any hotter in sublime San Diego, Restaurant Week will turn things up a notch. More than 200 restaurants throughout San Diego are participating, from BICE in the Gaslamp Quarter to NINE-TEN in LaJolla. Diners can delight in a variety of cuisine ranging from Thai to French, Italian and pretty much every other type, with three-course menus for either $20, $30 or $40. Whether you live there or want an excuse to travel, you can enjoy incredible meals while getting a deal at one of many San Diego hotels.

Los Angeles: Jan. 24-29 and Jan. 31-Feb. 5
A trip to Los Angeles used to mean just going to see celebrities, visiting Universal Studios or heading to the beach. But during two weeks between Jan. 24 and Feb. 5, travelers to the City of Angles (not to mention everyone who lives there), will have a new excuse to get out and explore: great food. Los Angeles Restaurant Week, also known as dineLA, sets things up on a three-tiered system with deluxe dining ($16 lunch; $26 dinner), premier dining ($22 lunch; $34 dinner) and fine dining ($28 lunch; $44 dinner) depending on the locale.  Also, event sponsor American Express will reward diners who use eligible credit cards to eat out at least three times and spend at least $21 each time during dineLA with a $20 statement credit. It’s almost like you’re getting paid to eat. Oh wait, you are!

New York: Jan. 25-Feb.7
With so many restaurants peppered throughout New York’s numerous neighborhoods, it’s nearly impossible to eat at all of them. NYC Restaurant Week gives eager diners an opportunity to sample food from some of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants. While the list hasn’t yet been published, some participating restaurants in 2009 included Aquavit, Bar Boulud, Café des Artistes, David Burke Townhouse, Mercer Kitchen, Nobu and Spice Market. Start making reservations Jan. 12, but be sure to act fast– this is one of the most popular restaurant weeks around.

Chicago: Feb. 19-28 and March 21-27
Chicago has been called one of the most progressive and impressive food cities in the country, with good reason. With some of the top chefs in the country, Chicago diners are treated to culinary delights everyday. Not everyone takes advantage of these superior chefs, but now they can — twice. First from Feb. 19 to 28, Chicago Restaurant Week invites eaters to indulge in dozens of incredible meals. Whether they are a three-course lunch or dinner, meals will remain affordable. Then, Chicago Chef Week takes place March 21 to 27, where restaurants like Perennial, Green Zebra and Mado open their doors and dish out delicious deals. And because so many restaurants are in the downtown area, Chicago hotels welcome travelers to enjoy the city’s culinary scene as well.

Denver: Feb. 20-March 5
The Mile High City is about to get a little higher — from excitement over food that is. If you plan to travel to Colorado, try to hit the state capital for a couple of days to experience gastronomic greatness at higher altitudes. For two weeks, Denver diners will be treated to multi-course meals priced at $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one (not including tax or gratuity). While restaurants have not been announced yet, 225 spots participated in Denver Restaurant Week in 2009 so it’s sure to be a great experience.

Seattle: March 1-31
Imagine eating at top restaurants for a reduced priced for a week. Now imagine being able to indulge everyday for a month because that’s what locals and visitors to the Emerald City will experience during Seattle Restaurant Week, otherwise known as Dine Around Seattle. Every Sunday through Thursday throughout Seattle, participating restaurants will offer multi-course lunches for $15 and dinners for $30. It’s time to take in some of the best that Seattle has to offer at restaurants like Barolo, Campagne, earth & ocean, Lola and Monsoon. If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to travel to the Pacific Northwest and stay in great Seattle hotels, this is your change. It’s not just about the Space Needle and Pike Place Market. Some of the freshest seafood and sustainable ingredients can be found in the area. Don’t miss out.

Boston: March 14-19 and 21-26
Who doesn’t like fresh clam chowder — New England style, of course? Or lobster just plucked from the icy Atlantic? For two weeks in mid-March, during Boston Restaurant Week, eager eaters can indulge in all the chowder and lobster their hearts desire, assuming their favorite seafood restaurant participates in this culinary celebration. But there’s so much more. Some of Boston’s restaurants are the best in the country, and they’re offering incredible dining deals for two solid weeks. Book a Boston hotel and make your dinner reservations early. Got your bib ready? Some of these meals are bound to get messy!

Related Orbitz resources:

• Food & Wine vacations
• Washington, D.C. hotels
• San Francisco hotels
• San Diego hotels
• Los Angeles hotels
• New York hotels
• Chicago hotels
• Denver hotels
• Seattle hotels
• Boston hotels
  

Ari Bendersky, the co-creator of foodie the app, is a Chicago-based food, wine, music and lifestyle journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, RollingStone.com, the Associated Press, Huffington Post, Time Out Chicago, NBCChicago.com and the Chicago Tribune. He was also the editor in chief of UR Chicago magazine.

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