I absolutely love restaurant week and one of the main things I love about restaurant week no matter what, is that it gives you the chance to indulge a little and we all know I’m the go to cheerleader for treating yourself! But on the flip side of that, I can also see how restaurant week can be overwhelming. There’s so many restaurants to choose from and double the menus to look at, it can all become a blur and you just wind up going to your favorite restaurant for comfort.

I’ve realized that in order to enjoy restaurant week and maximize this time to the fullest, you have to have a slight strategy, so here are my 4 tried and true tips for having a fabulous dining experience during restaurant week no matter where you are.

1-Dine Where You Have Always Wanted To Go  - No matter if it's lunch, dinner or brunch, Restaurant Week is not the time to go to a place that you frequent regularly. Use RW to explore those restaurants that you've always had your eye on. Maybe the restaurant was out of your price range at the time, or you want to venture out and try new foods and cuisines. This is the time to explore! Plus, you will get the same dining experience as everyone else for ½ the price. 

 2- Choose A Restaurant Week Menu That Gives You Options - Signs of a great prix fixe menu are menus that have 3+ more options for each course. You want a menu that offers choices, which is how you get to taste different things. A prix fixe menu with less than 3 options for each course is not thought out well and a waste of your time and money. 

 3- Utilize Supplements + Up Charges - You will see some supplements and up charges on RW menus and now is the time to add them on to maximize your dinner. Adding a +$15 lobster tail or +$20 for shaved white truffles that normally cost market price is an exceptional way to get more deliciousness for less. 

 4- Choose A Restaurant Week Experience That Gives You QUALITY - If the RW menu has chocolate lava cake and a basic salad on the menu, run because this is not eating fabulously! Now is the time for both quality and luxury items to indulge in for less. You want to see premium options, not things you can order on a regular basis.