A trend that is really gaining steam is the concept of Restaurant Weeks. If you don’t know, this is what a Restaurant Week is: In a given geographic area, like a city, a bunch of restaurants band together and pick a week to be the Restaurant Week. Generally they are held during their slower months, which here in the northeast is January-March. They come up with a fixed price for lunches and dinners, and for one week, you get that price. Usually, at least in this area, the price includes three courses–an appetizer, an entree and dessert.

This can be a great way to try new restaurants without investing a ton of money, visit restaurants that would typically be a “special occasion” restaurant to you, and beat the winter blahs. Here are some restaurant weeks planned for this region. Check them out and plan a date night! Click the links for more information and participating restaurants.

Atlantic City: March 4-10, lunches are $15.12, dinners $33.12.

West Chester, PA: not posted. Had one in 2010, but not last year.

Philadelphia: Hosting two weeks! January 22-27 and January 29-February 3. Lunches are $20, dinners $35.

Wilmington, DE: Dates not posted yet, last year is the last week of March and was $15 for lunches, $35 for dinners.

Newark, DE: January 23-29. Meals are in different tiers, ranging from $10-$25. See link for details.