High-End Restaurants on the Cheap

Have you ever walked by a fabulous bistro with a mouth-watering menu in your city, but then realized with the amount of money you'd drop at dinner, you could make a significant contribution to your credit card debt? Hold out for restaurant savings! Several cities across the country now hold "Restaurant Week" each year, which allows five-star restaurants to showcase their menu for a fixed price or "prix fixe." Keep tabs on when Restaurant Week is being held in your city and make a reservation ASAP, as many restaurants sell out. Some cities, like Boston, hold Restaurant Week twice a year (in the winter and summer). Here are some others:

-New York City's Winter Restaurant Week runs from January 22-26 and Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. Three-course lunches cost $24.07 and three-course dinners are $35.00 per person (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

-San Diego's Third Annual Restaurant Week is being held between Jan. 7 and Jan. 12. More than 125 restaurants participate and diners can get a three-course dinner for either $30 or $40 per person (beverage, tax and gratuity not included).

-Boston's Winter Restaurant Week will be held later in the season from March 4 to March 9. Lunch is $20.07 and dinner is $33.07. Reservations are highly recommended.

-Washington, D.C.'s Restaurant Week will showcase 170 restaurants with three-course meals for $20.07 at lunch and $30.07 at dinner.