Restaurant Week is always exciting. It’s a great chance to try new restaurants, sample new foods and get outside the usual food routines we all have. While there’s nothing wrong with visiting a favorite dinner spot or a having a certain place to grab dessert, it’s interesting to check out new restaurants and nibble a few new dishes.

I recently attended San Diego Restaurant Week’s launch party, previewing the week-long event celebrating local food and drink in San Diego.

The party, held at Go Green Agriculture in Encinitas, featured 20 restaurants and 19 beverage providers, including:

Restaurants:

Blind Burro

Blue Point Coastal Cuisine

Cafe Coyote

Casa de Bandini

Cowboy Star

Croce’s Park West

D Bar San Diego

Double Standard

Park Hyatt Aviara

Parq Restaurant

Peohe’s Coronado

Sbicca Del Mar

S & M Sausage & Meat

Solare Ristorante

Stake Chophouse & Bar

Terra American Bistro

The Patio Restaurant Group

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

Tidal

Waypoint Public

Beverages:

2 Plank Vineyards

619 Vodka

Bernardo Winery

BK Cellars

Bolt Brewing Co.

Briar Rose Winery

Fallbrook Winery

Helm’s Brewing Co.

Hillcrest Brewing Co.

Kill Devil Spirits Co.

Koi Zen Cellars

Old Harbor Distilling

Palumbo Family Vineyards

Stehleon Vineyards

The California Spirits Co.

The California Fruit Wine Co.

URBN Brewing Co.

Vinavanti Urban Winery

Witch Creek Winery

My husband joined me to sample lots of tasty foods and drinks. Some of our faves? The sausage from Sausage & Meat; the pork dish garnished with watermelon from Parq Restaurant; and the s’mores dessert from Park Hyatt Aviara.

Despite the hot weather, the launch was great! From chilled gazpacho to sips of wine, it was easy to cool down and savor the flavors.

San Diego Restaurant Week runs through September 27. Reservations are recommended.

Lunch is served with a two-course prix-fixe menu for $10, $15 or $20 per person. Dinner is a three-course, prix-fixe menu for $20, $30, $40 or $50 per person.

Bon appétit to a variety of local restaurants and delicious dishes!