Nashville Originals' Restaurant Week Returns on Monday

Nashville Originals' bi-annual

returns this Monday, Aug. 18, through Sunday, Aug. 24. It's the time when more than 50 of the city's independent restaurants develop special pricing and menus to encourage Nashvillians to get out and support local independent restaurants.

Most participating restaurants will offer promotional pricing of $2.14, $15.14, $20.14 or $30.14 for specials and prix-fixe menus designed to get folks out to try something new, even if it's at an old favorite. For example, at Germantown Café, $20.14 will get a three-course meal with a choice of salad, entrée and dessert from their menu. Provence is serving up $2.14 bowls of soup with bread (several are veg*n-friendly). Wild Iris is offering a $20.14 special to get your choice of salad, appetizer or dessert to pair with an entree and offers several selections in each category.

Restaurant Week is a great time to find a new favorite, too. The newer members participating in this Restaurant Week include Blue Moon Waterfront Grille, Fleet Street Pub, Gray's on Main in Franklin, Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint, Pizza Perfect, Sole Mio and Two Ten Jack.

As I've mentioned before, Restaurant Week can get kind of crazy, so plan accordingly. Make reservations ahead of time, and aim for early or late lunches/dinners rather than rush times and keep groups small to ease service from a busy staff.

Check out all the participating restaurants' menus on the Nashville Originals website (some are still to come; just check with those restaurants individually for more information).