San Francisco: Dine About Town’s restaurant savings start Wednesday

Most restaurant weeks take place during the January doldrums in an effort to perk up post-holiday business. San Francisco, happily, celebrates twice a year -- once in January, once in June -- with a Dine About Town event. Starting Wednesday, top eateries offer fixed-price menus at discounted prices for either lunch or dinner (or sometimes both).

The deal: I first wrote about San Francisco Dine About Town in January, and, fortunately, prices haven’t gone up since then. More than 115 restaurants in the city offer a two-course lunch for $17.95 or a three-course dinner for $34.95.

Among restaurants new to the lineup for summer are Cafe des Amis, La Costanera (Peruvian) and the Moss Room. Hours and details vary from site to site, but you can peruse menu options and make reservations online at Down About Town’s website. Set prices don’t include beverages, tax or tip.

When: The event runs Wednesday through June 15 at selected restaurants.

Tested: I turned to SFGate’s 2011 compilation of Top 100 Bay Area Restaurants for inspiration on which restaurant to try. Town Hall (342 Howard St.) makes the list as a place where “California meets New Orleans,” according to SFGate.

For Dine About Town, Town Hall is offering lunch for $17.95 (plus tax, tip, beverages) that includes baby chioggia beets and goat cheese or seafood chowder for a first course; and grilled pork chop, red beans and rice or blackened catfish and okra as a second course. According to the restaurant’s website, the beets dish usually goes for $11, the chowder for $8.50 and entrees run $17 to $19. So this is a good way to sample and save.

For more dining ideas, read “Six days, six Bay Area restaurants” by Los Angeles Times restaurant critic S. Irene Virbila.

Contact: San Francisco Dine About Town