The first Alexandria Restaurant Week of 2013 is in full swing. Kicking off this inaugural weekend and lasting 10 days (January 18-27), participating restaurants are offering $35 three-course dinners or $35 dinners for two. The event builds the Alexandria brand by helping the city become a culinary destination, and gives all of us the opportunity to try new places or indulge in our longtime favorites.

I recommend going ahead and making plans, as last-minute reservations are not always available. Restaurant Week is popular and the best restaurants get booked up pretty quickly. Pick a weeknight toward the end of the ten-day-long period to avoid the inaugural tourists and to increase your chances of getting a reservation at your restaurant of choice. Second, do a little research. Ensure you are eating somewhere where you are actually getting a deal—mostly at the more expensive places. There are participating restaurants whose Restaurant Week prices are not especially more reasonable than their regular prices. Flip through this e-book of 50 mouth-watering menus to help you make your decision. Bon appétit!

For more details on restaurant week, click here.