Get out of your 'favorite restaurant' rut at the Downtown Dime O'Round

It's back and it's bigger.

During the third-annual Downtown Dine O'Round, 40 Salt Lake restaurants will offer a special three-course dinner for either $15 or $25 (drinks and tips are extra). The event runs Friday through Sept. 30.

There were 33 restaurants in the first Dine O'Round in 2003, begun as a way to lure people downtown at night, and to get them out of their "favorite-restaurant" rut. Often, by the time people invest in the cost of a sitter and a meal, it seems "safer" to pick the place they know they'll enjoy.

During the Dine O'Round, you can check out some of the more pricey places with less risk to your wallet. As an added bonus: Customers can enter a drawing for a free dinner for two from the participating restaurants.

The restaurants will still offer their regular menus, as well. I visited two restaurants during last year's Dine O'Round, intending to get the special and ended up ordering something that sounded even better on the regular menu.

Why the two prices? The $25 meals are from the higher-end restaurants, where you would expect to pay at least $30-$40 for a three-course meal; the more inexpensive restaurants are charging $15.

Participating restaurants are: Avenues Bakery & Bistro, Baci Trattoria, Bambara, Benihana, Biaggi's, Buca di Beppo, Cafe Pierpont, Caffe Molise, Cannella's, Cedars of Lebanon, Dodo, Faustina, Garden Cafe, Garden Restaurant, High Rock Steakhouse, Ichiban, Lamb's Grill Cafe and LemonGrass.

Also Martine, McGrath's Fish House, Melting Pot, Metropolitan, Mikado Downtown, Market Street Grill, Market Street Oyster Bar, New Yorker, Oasis Cafe, Orbit Cafe, Panache Wine Bar, Piastra, Red Rock Brewing Co., Sage's Cafe, Samba Grill, Sky Box Sports Grill, Squatters Pub Brewery, Takashi, Thaifoon, Vienna Bistro, Xiao Li and Z'Tejas.

For addresses and menus, visit www.downtownslc.org.

No beans about it, the 19th Annual Great Salt Lake Chili Affair is a hot way to raise money for The Road Home, operator of the largest homeless shelter in Utah. It takes place Wednesday, Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m., in the Salt Palace Exhibition Hall, Room D.

Local restaurants and chefs donate different chilis, breads, salads and desserts. There will be live music, dancing and auctions. Participating restaurants include Blue Boar Inn, Boston Deli, Fiddler's Elbow, Firehouse BBQ Grill, Gastronomy Inc., Loco Lizard, Tony Caputo's Market and Deli, Trofi and Spencer's for Steaks and Chops.

Tickets are $35 per person and $300 for a table of eight. (355-1433).

Here's the signature chili recipe from chef Dave Wager of Fiddler's Elbow:

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