Buckhead Restaurant Week Starts This Weekend

The dining scene is heating up this weekend in Buckhead with the start of Restaurant Week on Saturday, March 6.

I admit that I usually steer away from prix fixe menu deals. Maybe I've become a bit jaded, but I'm typically disappointed by the uninspired menu options made with the cheapest ingredients possible (choice of salad/soup for an app, bland chicken or discount fish entree and the ubiquitous sorbet trio or slice of chocolate cake). When offered a "deal" at a restaurant, the food better be delicious and exciting - regardless of the discounted price.

You'd think that the chefs involved with Buckhead Restaurant Week heard my prix-fixe rants and set out to prove me wrong. Upscale restaurants that I usually can't afford are offering three-course menus with tons of exciting options for $25 per person, not including beverages, tax or gratuity.

Here's a little taste of the menus that inspired me to lunge for the phone and make a reservation:

Craftbar: Call me crazy, but it appears that you can choose one first course, one second course and one dessert from the full menu at Tom Colicchio's hot spot at The Mansion on Peachtree Street. Yummy options include pecorino fondue, hamachi sashimi, a braised short rib sandwich, lamb lasagna, meyer lemon curd ice cream sandwich and s'mores, among many others.

Kyma: Pano Karatassos and his crew are serving a wood grilled whole fish with a lemon vinaigrette, so grab a buddy and head to this contemporary Greek haven ASAP.

Pricci: Dig into a steaming bowl of Gnocchi Alla Romana or a pretty plate of roasted cod with tomatoes, olives and capers at this classic Italian restaurant. A traditional dessert called Maritozza Alla Crema involves a shot of chocolate liquer.

Portofino: If the weather is nice, dine al fresco on the deck and enjoy fried goat cheese with chestnut honey, butter poached rock shrimp and apple olive oil cake.

The Palm: Treat yourself to clams oreganata, aged prime top sirloin steak and key lime pie at one of the fanciest joints in town.

The fun ends Sunday, March 14, so hurry up and make reservations to take advantage of some truly legit deals.