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Pictured is the Pulpo con Chicharrón from Don Artemio. The dish consists of ajillo octopus, refried beans with bacon, chorizo and cheese, chicharron and avocado. (Courtesy photo | Don Artemio)
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DFW Restaurant Week is back! The 28th annual charity event will bring together more than 100 fine-dining restaurants in Tarrant, Dallas, Collin and Denton counties to raise money for the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope, starting with a preview weekend Aug. 1-4. 

DFW Restaurant Week started 27 years ago as a way to celebrate and support the award-winning culinary scene in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during the traditionally slow month of August while also raising money for local charities. 

If you’ve never participated in DFW Restaurant Week, don’t worry — we’ve got the details that will help you make reservations at your favorite restaurants before the spots fill up, enjoy a great meal at a great price, and participate in raising money for these local nonprofits that are making a difference in our community. Last year’s event raised $545,128 for the food bank and Lena Pope.

How it works

Participating restaurants create a prix fixe “Restaurant Week” menu and offer it for a special price, agreeing to donate approximately 20% of the cost of each meal. Diners will enjoy a three-course dinner for $49 ($10 donated) or $59 ($12 donated), depending on the restaurant, or a two-course lunch or brunch for $29 ($6 donated). All you have to do is make your reservation at a participating restaurant and order your meal from the special DFW Restaurant Week menu. 

While it’s called DFW Restaurant Week, it’s really more of a monthlong event. It starts with a limited preview weekend, followed by four weeks of potential participation. Some restaurants only participate between Aug. 5-11, while some choose to take part through the entire event, ending on Sept. 1. 

Participating restaurants

By now, you might be wondering where, exactly, you can eat during DFW Restaurant Week, but we don’t know yet! The list is kept a secret until the big reveal on the website July 8. In the past, B&B Butchers & Restaurant and Crú Food & Wine Bar in Clearfork have participated, as have Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Del Frisco’s Grille and Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, and Don Artemio Mexican Heritage, among others.

Diners can start making reservations at participating restaurants July 8 when the list is revealed, either through the OpenTable link on the DFW Restaurant Week website or directly with the restaurants. If you want an email notification when the restaurant list is live, sign up to be a “DFW Restaurant Week Insider” on the website. 

In the past 27 years, DFW Restaurant Week has raised more than $11.7 million for its partner charities. Restaurants participating in the Dallas area raise funds for the North Texas Food Bank, which provides access to free meals across 13 counties. Tarrant-area restaurants are helping to fund Lena Pope’s efforts to improve child well-being in Tarrant County. 

“Lena Pope is grateful for the substantial impact of DFW Restaurant Week in enhancing our ability to serve over 4,000 children and families each year,” Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope, said in an announcement. “Participating in DFW Restaurant Week goes beyond enjoying a delicious meal at a great price; it actively supports children and families across Tarrant County. Lena Pope’s counseling, education, and behavior intervention programs ensure that every member of our community can thrive.”

If you’re eagerly awaiting the 28th annual DFW Restaurant Week, be sure to mark your calendar for Monday, July 8, to see the restaurant list and make your reservations. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send your restaurant tips and hot takes to thedish@fortworthreport.org.