Restaurant Week 2020: Guide To The Best In California

CALIFORNIA — After the holiday hustle-and-bustle calms down, Californians turn in January to annual culinary adventures — Restaurant Weeks!

A state tourism promotion, launched years ago, the concept has caught on throughout California with numerous cities and regions hosting a week or more of dining deals during the "slow" month, with eateries offering prix-fixe lunches, dinners and menu specials.

Residents can dine at an old favorite or check out the latest venture as part of the promotions, which vary by city. (In Santa Monica this year, it's all about the kumquat. In Monterey: seafood.)

In its annual guide, Patch has rounded up some of the best "Restaurant Weeks" going on in 2020 in the Golden State. While most are in January, we have included a few that extend further out on the calendar.

Any deserving of a mini road-trip? Take a peek. Bon appetit!

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ALAMEDA:

JAN. 16-26: Alameda Restaurant Week. Great eatery specials, plus get your card stamped enough times and be entered to win $1,000 of gift certificates.

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ALHAMBRA:

JAN. 24-31: Dine Alhambra Restaurant Week. Super deal with two-to-three course menus from $15 -$30 for lunch and $20 – $50 for dinner.

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BENICIA:

JAN. 18-25: Downtown Restaurant Week. Get dining passport for 15-percent to 20-percent discounts at participating eateries.

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BERKELEY:

JAN. 21-31: Restaurant Week. Enjoy special-value, prix-fixe menus for $25, $30 or $40.

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BUTTE COUNTY:

JAN. 17-26: Butte County Restaurant Week 2020. "With the 'Perfect Pairings' theme, participating restaurants will offer drink-and-food pairings not normally on the menu at special prices!"

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CALISTOGA:

JAN. 26-FEB. 1: Calistoga Restaurant Week 2020. Participating eateries will feature special, two- and three-course, prix-fixe menus.

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CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA:

JAN. 19-26: Carmel-by-the-Sea Culinary Week 2020. "Experience the Art of the Plate."

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CONEJO VALLEY:

JAN. 24-31: Conejo Valley Restaurant Week 2020. "Restaurants will feature special deals, packages and/or dishes that highlight the very best of Conejo Valley."

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CONCORD:

JAN 17-26: 3rd Annual Comfort Food Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants will offer special menus items, prix-fixe menus or special offers.

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CUPERTINO:

JAN. 29-FEB. 4: Restaurant Week 2020. Discover new local eateries or re-visit your old favorites as they offer special menus.

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EL CERRITO:

JAN. 16-26: Restaurant Week 2020. "Participating restaurants will be rolling out the red carpet for you with special pre-fixe menus."

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ESCONDIDO:

MARCH 22-28: Escondido Restaurant Week 2020. "Craft-beer foodie pairings, local farm-to-fork delights, chef-owned culinary experiences, international flavors, high tea or home cooking… something for everyone!"

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LONG BEACH:

FEB. 23-29: 'Dine Out Long Beach' Restaurant Week. Seven days of delicious dining out!

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY:

JAN. 17-31: dineL.A. Restaurant Week. With more than 400 restaurants participating throughout Greater L.A., you will surely find specials that match your locale and tastebuds.

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MONTEREY:

JAN. 20-26: 'Get Hooked' Restaurant Week. This one is all about the seafood.

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NAPA VALLEY:

JAN. 26-FEB 1: Napa Valley Restaurant Week 2020. "Try out the latest culinary hot-spots or revisit old favorites."

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NEWPORT BEACH:

JAN. 13-26: Restaurant Week 2020. Record-breaking 74 establishments offering deals on lunch, dinner and brunch.

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OAKLAND:

JAN. 9-20: 10th Anniversary of Restaurant Week. Portions of proceeds benefit local food bank & charities.

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ORANGE COUNTY:

MARCH 8-14: Orange County Restaurant Week 2020. "With 125 restaurants in Orange County participating there is something for everyone! Enjoy family night, date night, girls' night out and more."

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PASADENA:

JAN. 26-31: Cheeseburger Week 2020. A culinary homage, at 40 eateries, to the Pasadena creator of the cheeseburger.

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PLACER COUNTY:

JAN. 3-12: Placer Citrus Restaurant Week. "Celebration of Placer County’s mandarin crop and culinary culture with special mandarin-inspired menu items."

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SACRAMENTO:

JAN. 10-20: 15th Annual 'Dine Downtown Restaurant Week' - "Special three-course dining experiences for $40 with $1 from every meal donated to social services and food literacy programs."

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SAN DIEGO:

JAN. 19-26: San Diego Restaurant Week 2020. More than 180 restaurants will participate. Bon appetit!

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SAN FRANCISCO:

JAN. 22-31: SF Restaurant Week 2020. With more than 100 eateries offering special, prix-fixe lunch & dinner menus.

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SANTA BARBARA:

FEB. 21 - MARCh 6: Santa Barbara Restaurant Week 2020. "Eat like a king all week long. Restaurant menus will be priced at $25, $35 and $45."

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SANTA MONICA:

JAN. 6-12: Restaurant Week 2020 - Celebrating Kumquats. "Participating Santa Monica restaurants and their chefs will craft delicious, healthy and custom dishes centered around this year’s special restaurant week ingredient."

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SONOMA COUNTY:

FEB. 21-MARCH 1: Sonoma County Restaurant Week 2020. This one falls later in the year, so mark your calendars!

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STOCKTON:

JAN 17-26: 11th Annual Restaurant Week. Featuring two-course breakfast & lunch and three- or more course dinner menus at a fixed price. Photo contest, too!

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SUISUN CITY:

JAN. 18-27: Annual Historic Waterfront Restaurant Week. Wide variety of cuisines offered at special prices at multiple eateries. Enjoy!

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TEMECULA:

JAN. 1-31: Restaurant Month 2020: Temecula Valley. A full month, and this year's focus is the burger!

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VACAVILLE:

JAN. 17-26: Restaurant Week 2020. "Enjoy special pricing & specialty menus from participating restaurants throughout Vacaville."

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If we missed your town's Restaurant Week in the 2020 Patch guide, send details and an online link to susan.schena@patch.com