Belly up to the table

Foodies, rejoice!

A favorite tradition is about to debut again in Newport Beach, and reservations already are filling up.

At Newport Beach Restaurant Week from Jan. 22 through 28, diners can partake in three-course, prix-fixe seasonal menus at nearly 75 restaurants throughout the city at cut-rate prices in October and January.

Lunch menus are either $15 or $20, and dinner menus will be $20 or $35.

The semiannual event was the first Restaurant Week in Orange County history when it opened, and has become a much-awaited event.

This winter’s Newport Beach Restaurant Week seeks to tempt diners to return in the future, with a special Bounce Back promotion. Diners at select participating restaurants during the run of the event will receive a card good for 20% off their future meal through March 15. There is no limit to the number of Gratuity Cards that can be earned; each person at the table receives one card.

Participating restaurants range from casual to high-end; for many patrons, the weeklong program is a chance to dine at eateries that are otherwise out of their price range.

The First Cabin at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort, for example, is thought to have one of the best meal-with-a-view experiences in the area. A 12-ounce New York steak costs $41; a rack of lamb will set diners back $42.

But the $35 Restaurant Week dinner menu offers a choice of first courses like a Belgian endive salad or Portobello mushroom ravioli; entrees like crab-filled lemon sole or butter-seared filet mignon; and desserts like Grand Marnier bread pudding a la mode or a flourless chocolate torte.

Diners also may choose to be adventurous and try a cuisine with which they’re unfamiliar.

A $25 dinner at Mayur Cuisine of India features courses like mulligatawny soup; rogan josh, a lamb curry; and kulfi, a cardamom-flavored, ice-cream-like dessert.

Sol Cocina is a new kid on the block, but the gourmet Mexican establishment already is drawing praise. Diners can try it out with a $15 lunch that includes choices like spinach verdolagas salad; a carne asada torta; and obleas cookies, addicting shortbread confections filled with dulce de leche and dipped in dark chocolate.

Reservations are encouraged, and are available for many of the restaurants at newportbeachdining.com; walk-ins also are welcome, and no passes or tickets are required to participate.

If You Go

What: Newport Beach Restaurant Week

When: Jan. 22 to 28

Where: Throughout Newport Beach

Cost: Lunch $15 or $20; dinner $20 or $35

Information: (949) 675-0501 or newportbeachdining.com

Participating Restaurants

21 Oceanfront

A Restaurant

Alley Restaurant & Bar

Amelia’s Restaurant

Avila’s El Ranchito — Balboa Peninsula

Avila’s El Ranchito — Corona del Mar

Back Bay Bistro

Bambu Restaurant & Lounge

Bayside Restaurant

Billy’s at the Beach

Bistro Le Crillon

Bloomingdale’s 59th & Lex Cafe

Bluefin

Bluewater Grill

Brasserie Pascal

Buddha’s Favorite

Cafe Jardin

Canaletto Ristorante Veneto

Cannery Restaurant

Chart House

Daily Grill at Fashion Island

El Torito Grill

Five Crowns

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Harborside Restaurant

Il Farro

Landmark Steakhouse

Matahari Cafe

Mayur Cuisine of India

Modo Mio Cucina Rustica

Nesai

Newport Landing

Oyster’s

Pescadou Bistro

Pomodoro

Port Restaurant & Bar

Rockin Baja Coastal Cantina

Rothschild’s Restaurant

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion

Royal Thai Cuisine

Rusty Pelican

Sage

Sage on the Coast

Sapori Ristorante

Sol Cocina

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove

The Bungalow

The Crow Bar & Kitchen

The First Cabin at the Balboa Bay Club

The Ritz Restaurant & Garden

Tommy Bahama Island Grille

Tradition By Pascal

Wildfish Seafood Grille

Wilma’s Patio

Wine Lab Newport

Woody’s Wharf

Yard House

Zov’s Neighborhood Cafe & Bar