Albuquerque Restaurant Week

Albuquerque restaurants have signed on for the third year of the New Mexico Restaurant Week, which offers diners a chance to taste and sample some of the city's best restaurant food. New Mexico Restaurant week runs March 4 through April 1, 2012. Participating cities include Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Las Cruces. The third annual Restaurant Weeks introduces the "Let's Do Lunch" program, which gives diners the chance to eat two or three course prix-fixe lunches in addition to the dinners.

The month long statewide celebration of restaurant food begins with Santa Fe Restaurant Week (March 4 - 11), continues with Las Cruces Restaurant Week (March 11 - 18), followed by Albuquerque's week (March 18-25), and Taos Restaurant Week (March 25 - April 1). Value priced lunches and dinners, lodging packages, cooking classes and wine and spirits tastings are all part of the celebration.

These aren't just any restaurants. The list reads like a who's who of local gems: Artichoke Cafe, Corn Maiden and Lucia should be enough to pique your interest. Read on for the entire list, and get out your appetites and enjoy.

This year, Restaurant Week has a "Let's Do Lunch" component. Feast out during the day with two or three course prix-fixe lunches as well as dinners. Sounds like a business lunch. Other special events during day hours include wine tastings and chef demonstrations.

Dinner still includes two and three course prix-fixe meals. Pricing is set at four tiers:

$ under $20 per person

$$ $21-$29 per person

$$$ $30-39 per person

$$$$ $40-$49 per person

Participating Albuquerque Restaurants:

Artichoke Cafe

Blade's Bistro, Placitas

Chama River Brewing Company

High Finance

Jinja Bar & Bistro - Northeast Heights and Westside

Landry's Seafood House

Lucia at Hotel Andaluz

Pars Cuisine

Prairie Star Restaurant and Wine Bar, Santa Ana

Sandiago's Mexican Grill

Savoy Restaurant and Grill

Seasons Rotisserie and Grill

St. Clair Winery and Bistro

Zacatecas Tacos & Tequila

Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro

To find out more about what food will be offered at each restaurant, visit the Albuquerque Restaurant Week website.

Restaurant week provides a chance to save on lodging at one of Albuquerque's premier hotels. During Albuquerque Restaurant Week, the Hotel Parq Central will offer a special rate of $110 per night. Rate includes a gourmet continental breakfast, free wifi, free parking and a complementary shuttle service within a three mile radius.