Many of you have been writing me for weeks now with requests to look over your well-plotted selections for the upcoming Restaurant Week (February 16-22), so I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and put together a single, comprehensive list of the best places to hit that week. (And beyond: A number of restaurants have announced plans to continue the promotion an extra week. Stay tuned to the blog during RW, as news of other extensions becomes available.)

RW veterans, take note: Dinner prices have shot up this year; three courses now costs $35.09. Lunch remains, roughly, the same terrific deal it's always been: $20.09 for a starter, main course and dessert.

A word about this list. I compiled it by reading through all the menus I could get my hands on. I generally eliminated from consideration those places with limited selections, or a raft of upcharges (sometimes called supplemental fees, which generally show up in small print under an eye-catching menu item.) I gave benefit of the doubt to places with strong track records during previous installments of RW. Ditto for those that performed well throughout the year on our recent 100 Best Restaurants list, which is on newsstands now.

There are several good places you'll notice I didn't include—for instance, the city's holy trinity of tapas spots: Oyamel, Zaytinya and Jaleo. No, I've got no beef with Jose Andres; it's just that small plates I already consider to be a pretty fine value. RW, to me, is the time to take a chance on a place you've been hearing about/reading about for months that you simply couldn't afford otherwise. And/or a place that serves a cuisine you've always wanted to try, but were too timid to risk shelling out good money for.

L = serving lunch; D = serving dinner; * = a Top 25 Restaurant; X = extending the promotion for another week

Tier 1 (in order of preference)
----------------------------------

Vidalia .................... L, D; *
Oval Room ............. L, D; *; X
VOLT ....................... L, D; *
Rasika .................... L, D; *; X
Farrah Olivia by Morou ................. L, D; *
Teatro Goldoni ....................... L, D; *
Ristorante Tosca ................... D; *

Tier 2 (in order of preference)
----------------------------------

Poste Brasserie .................. L, D;
Vermilion ..................... L, D
Taberna del Alabardero ................... L, D
Bistro Bis .................... L, D
Cafe du Parc ..................... L, D
Charlie Palmer Steak ................. L, D
Sushi Ko (Glover Park) ................... L, D
Mio .................................... L, D; X

Tier 3 (in order of preference)
----------------------------------

Mourayo ................ L, D
Black Salt ............... L
1789 ........................ D
Dino ......................... D; X
PS 7's .................... D
Adour at the St. Regis ............. L
The Prime Rib .................. L, D
Cafe Atlantico ................... L, D; X
Liberty Tavern ..................... L, D
Equinox .......................... D
Hook .......................... L, D
Art and Soul ...................... L, D
Bastille .......................... B
Indique Heights ..................... L, D
DC Coast ........................ L, D
Acadiana ........................ L, D
PassionFish ................... L, D
KAZ Sushi Bistro ................... L, D


Tier 4 (in order of preference)
----------------------------------

Spezie ...................... D
Willow ..................... L, D; X
Tabard Inn .................. D
Willard Room ................. D
Sonoma ........................... L, D; F
Jackson 20 ..................... L, D; X
Firefly .............................. L, D
Georgia Brown's ................... D
Oceanaire Seafood Room .................. D
Siroc Restaurant ................... L, D
Zengo ................ L, D

Related Links:

• Kliman Online Chat
• Restaurant Finder
• Counting Down the 100 Best Restaurants

More>> Best Bites Blog | Food & Dining | Restaurant Finder