Get ready to sink your teeth into some delicious eats because SF Restaurant Week (formally known as Dine About Town) returns, January 20 – 31. For those who might be unfamiliar, SF Restaurant Week is a highly anticipated event in the city that has been capturing the hearts of foodies for 15 years. More than 100 restaurants throughout various districts in the city sign up to offer patrons specially priced, multi-course lunch menus offered at $15 or $25, and dinner menus at $40 or $65. 

SF Restaurant Week was created in 2001 in response to 9/11. Restaurants were having a difficult time filling their seats, so they created the program to entice foodies to consider eating out during slow restaurant periods. The program has been so successful that the restaurant industry and foodies alike look forward to their two-week opportunity to try new restaurants at a fraction of the cost.

This year, SF Restaurant Week is presented by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, with proceeds benefitting the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee’s legacy fund, known as the 50 Fund. According to the SF Restaurant Week website. "The 50 Fund helps close the opportunity gap for more than 324,503 low-income children, youth, and young adults in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. The program will receive $0.25 from every cover sold through OpenTable reservations. Lyft riders can take advantage of the promo code SFRESTAURANTWEEK to take 10% off their trip and give $1 per ride to the 50 Fund."

Whether your taste buds are craving Italian, Indian, French, Peruvian, Greek…basically if you are craving nearly any flavor, then you will definitely want to take advantage of the discounted menu prices at quality restaurants.  Though not required, reservations at participating restaurants are highly encouraged.  When you arrive, be sure to ask for the restaurant’s SF Restaurant Week menu as some restaurants may not automatically give it to you when seated.

For more information and to search for participating restaurants, please visit sfrestaurantweek.com/.  Bon appetit!