December is a month of gastronomic excess, with restaurants packed for family dinners, holiday parties and year-end banquets. And then comes the quiet month in the culinary calendar. So January has been decreed California Restaurant Month, with destinations from Mendocino to San Diego offering dining promotions.
It’s the proverbial win-win: You get deals; restaurants fill tables.
In the Bay Area, these dining weeks have become so popular that reservations are strongly recommended. Here’s a sampling of offerings, in chronological order:
Gilroy, all month long: “Fit & Sip” is the theme of the Visit Gilroy promotion this year, with the idea being pairing lighter fare with Santa Clara Valley wines and other beverages. Among the restaurant offerings are Cafe Thyme’s lemon-thyme chicken with Clos LaChance reserve chardonnay and the Old City Hall Restaurant’s grilled salmon filet with a pink lemonade martini. www.visitgilroy.com/restaurantmonth
Oakland, Jan. 11-20: From the waterfront to uptown to the hills, about 100 restaurants will participate in the ninth annual Oakland promotion. With prix fixe menus for $10, $20, $30, $40 or $50, you can expect lunch bargains at fast-casual eateries and dinnertime deals at classic restaurants. Again this year, the Alameda County Community Food Bank will benefit from some of the dinners; new offerings include progressive dinners at Jack London Square and in Old Oakland as well as food tour discounts. www.visitoakland.com
Berkeley, Jan. 17-27: During the city’s seventh annual promotion, nearly 50 Berkeley restaurants will celebrate California cuisine — and Creole, Ethiopian, French, German, Indian, Italian, Japanese, Korean cuisine and more — with prix fixe menus for $20, $25 or $35. Look for bakery and brewpub deals too. www.visitberkeley.com
Alameda, Jan. 17-27: The island city’s inaugural promotion was such a success that Alameda Restaurant Week is back for a second go-round. This time 40 restaurants are participating — double the number from last year. Again, it’s a real United Nations of cuisines, including barbecue (American and Korean style), German, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Mexican and more. Find the lineup at www.alamedarestaurantweek.com.
Concord, Jan.18-27: This city’s clever cold-weather promotion, Comfort Food Week, is back for a second year. More than 32 restaurants and purveyors will offer special dishes, deals or freebies. Think braised pork adobo at Lima, organic vegetable risotto at Plate and Vine, free chocolate lava cake with dinner at Bambino’s. Find the full list at www.visitconcordca.com.
Vacaville, Jan. 18-27: A dozen of Vacaville’s restaurants will offer special menus or promotions, from a Filipino feast at Roline’s to three-course prix fixe meals at Fuso and Merchant and Main to a prime rib dinner special at City Sports. Find more at www.visitcalifornia.com/event/vacaville-restaurant-week.
Suisun, Jan. 18-27: The ninth annual Suisun Waterfront promotion features prix fixe dinners or other deals at restaurants including Ironwood, Vinny & Rosie’s, Cast Iron Grill & Bar, Main Street Bar & Grill and Los Altos Mexican. Find menus and details at www.suisunwaterfront.com.
Downtown Benicia, Jan. 19-26: Pick up a dining discount card at Benicia Main Street, 90 First St., and you’ll receive a 15 percent to 20 percent discount at participating restaurants.The list of options will be posted soon at www.BeniciaMainStreet.org.
San Francisco, Jan. 23-31: More than 100 restaurants across 31 neighborhoods will offer prix fixe deals during this annual promotion. You’ll pay $15 or $25 at lunch for two or more courses and $40 or $65 at dinner for three or more courses. Participants include some of the city’s top newer draws as well as perennial favorites. Find a map and menus at www.sfrestaurantweek.com.
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