October is a celebratory month.

It's Virginia Wine Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it's filled with fun and thrilling Halloween events and it's the prime time for Richmond's fall festivals.

But there's one October event that outdoes them all, year after year. It's Restaurant Week and it's just around the corner.

And who among us can resist a week-long charitable event when some of the hottest (and priciest) restaurants in town lower their prices and whip up a three course, pre-fixed sampler menu for the masses? And the best part is, it's all for a good cause.

For the wildly low price of $25.08 you get a delicious meal from a restaurant you've be dying to try and $2.08 of every purchase goes to The Central Virginia Food Bank to help feed less-fortunate Richmonders all year long.

Restaurant Week kicks off on Monday, Oct. 27 (it's a week late this year) and runs through Sunday, Nov. 2. Reservations are accepted at most places and, as anyone who's ever tried to get in without a reservation will tell you, it's not worth it to leave your table to chance.

And this year, like last year, exclusively from Richmond.com, we're bringing you as many menus as are available. Check back often as we'll update them as they come in.

Restaurant Week 2008 Participants

Acacia: Update: I had a chance to stop by the new Acacia Midtown. Owners Dale and Aline Reitzer are doing everything they can to be open in time for Restaurant Week. That said, with lots of construction left to do and four City inspections to go, the chances of Acacia opening in time are slim. As of Wednesday, Oct. 29, they're still not open and it doesn't look good. We'll keep you posted, but they won't be accepting any reservations.  2601 W. Cary St., (804) 354-6060

Bacchus: First Course: Shrimp and scallop scampi, house-cured gravlax, sauté of calamari, baked polenta, sauté of spinach, sauté of broccolini, steamed clams, Caesar salad, spinach Caesar, mixed greens or spinach salad; Second Course: Roasted sirloin, poached cod, pork scaloppini, sesame crusted rare tuna, seared sea scallops and shrimp or roasted chicken breast; Third Course: crème brulee, apple crisp or chocolate peanut butter pie. Gratuity included on all checks. Reservations accepted. 2 N. Meadow St., (804) 355-9919

Bistro Twenty Seven: First Course: bistro salad, Caesar salad or four lentils soup; Second Course: chicken artichoke piccatta, pan-seared chicken breast with artichokes in a lemon and capers sauce, salmon ripieno (stuffed with crabmeat, yellow and red bell peppers in a chives white wine sauce), beef and fontina ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce, pork Dijon (pan-seared bone-in pork chop in a whole grain Dijon mustard and fresh local rosemary sauce) or penne Marco polo (medley of diced vegetables in marinara sauce); Third Course: chocolate tart or pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations accepted. 27 W. Broad St., (804) 780-0086

Caliente: First Course: soup of the day, chili, New Orleans clam chowder, garden salad or buffalo gator bites; Second Course: island breeze chicken, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice or pasta poblano; Third Course: pina colada bread pudding or key lime pie. Reservations accepted. 2922 Park Ave., (804) 340-2920

deLux: First Course: soup of the day, Caesar salad, hummus platter, lobster dip or seared rare tuna; Second Course: grilled center cut pork chop, grilled homemade meatloaf, baked macaroni and cheese or pan-seared tuna; Third Course: crème brulèe du jour or New York cheesecake with a chocolate mint crust. Reservations accepted. 2229 W. Main St. (804) 353-2424

Europa: First Course: truffled white bean soup, Caesar salad, seared rare tuna or bacon-wrapped date fritters. Second Course: vegetarian lasagna, eggplant parmesan, mussels marinara, chicken marsala or grilled salmon. Third Course: crème brulèe, raspberry sorbet or ginger gelato. Reservations accepted. 1409 E. Cary St., (804) 643-0911

The Hard Shell: First Course: She crab soup, lobster salad, house salad, Caesar salad, mixed field greens or lobster dip; Second Course:  Miso-glazed sea bass, grilled shrimp and scallops, jumbo lump crab cakes, petit filet mignon, Smithfield baby back ribs or steamed seafood combo; Third Course: key lime pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations accepted. 1411 E. Cary St., (804) 643-2333

The Hill Café: First Course: Hill Café house made chips, mozzarella and tomato Napoleon or roasted garlic hummus platter; Second Course: soup du jour, New England clam chowder, mixed green salad or Caesar salad; Third Course: baked spaghetti, Italian sausage and penne, fried eggplant stuffed with artichokes, spinach and ricotta cheese over marinara sauce with spaghetti, grilled meatloaf, oven-roasted turkey breast, country fried chicken or grilled center cut pork chop; Fourth Course: brownie sundae or key lime pie. Reservations accepted for parties of five or more. 2800 E. Broad St., (804) 648-0360

Helen's: First Course: Fields greens salad or Tuscan white bean soup; Second Course: Braised short ribs, ham and gruyere chicken, lavender grilled salmon or vegetarian beggar's purse; Third Course: Triple chocolate torte or blackberry wontons. Reservations accepted. 2527 W. Main St., (804) 358-4370

Hondos at Innsbrook: First Course: House salad; Second Course: Sliced top sirloin baked salmon, penne a la vodka or chicken francaise; Third Course: chocolate torte, raspberry sorbet or key lime. Reservations accepted. 4024 Cox Road, (804) 968-4323

Julep's New Southern Cuisine: First Course: sweet potato bisque, arugula with dried cherries, toasted walnuts and bleu cheese or fried green tomatoes; Second Course: grilled beef tenderloin, grilled duet of quail, Creole spiced shrimp with white cheddar stone ground grits or mixed grain and mushroom "risotto" with white truffle oil and organic pea shoots; Third Course: chocolate mousse layer cake, bourbon pecan pie or key lime pie. Reservations accepted for two seatings: 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Walk-ins welcome after 8:30 p.m. 1719 E. Franklin St., (804) 377-3968

La Grotta: First Course: soup du jour, Caesar salad or beef Carpaccio; Second Course: ravioli stuff with spinach and ricotta, penne with shallots, prosciutto, tomatoes in a light cream sauce, grilled chicken, salmon, roasted pork loin or sole. Third Course: coconut pie or tiramisu. Reservations accepted. 1218 E. Cary St., (804) 644-2466

Michelle's at Hanover Tavern: First Course: she crab soup, house salad, fried green tomatoes or Virginia crab dip; Second Course: vegetarian risotto, chicken pasta (pancetta ham, fresh peas, penne pasta and blush sauce), pork tenderloin, pan-seared salmon or oven-roasted duck; Third Course: chocolate pecan pie, pumpkin roll or crème brulee. Reservations accepted. 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, (804) 537-5250

Millie's Diner: First Course: Butternut squash bisque, salad or pan seared scallop; Second Course: Caramelized onion roasted pork loin, sauté of jumbo shrimp with local okra, crayfish gumbo, petite filet mignon or orecchiette pasta; Third Course: dark chocolate pate or spiced ginger cookie with pumpkin gelato. Reservations not accepted. 2603 E. Main St., (804) 643-5512

Rowland Fine Dining: First Course: Butterbean cake, soup of the day or mixed field greens; Second Course: Korean-style skirt steak, blackened wild salmon or seared cinnamon pork tenderloin; Third Course: Upside-down honey cheesecake or chocolate Kahlua mousse with a butter cookie. Reservations accepted. 2132 W. Main St., (804) 257-9885

Sam Miller's: First Course: Hot crab dip, crab soup, Caesar salad or garden salad; Second Course: Angus 16 oz. ribeye, crab cakes, stuffed flounder, Main sampler with crab imperial and jumbo scallops stuffed lobster or Maine lobster; Third Course: Varies daily. Reservations accepted. 1210 E. Cary St., (804) 644-5465

Six Burner: First Course: celery root soup, duck confit and root vegetable salad or roasted beets, blue cheese, truffle puree with toasted hazelnuts; Second Course: salmon, skate, duck confit with mascarpone polenta or beef cheeks; Third Course: hot chocolate panna cotta or foie gras and almond pound cake. Reservations accepted. Closed Sunday. 1627 W. Main St., (804) 353-4060

TJ's in the Jefferson: First Course: loaded Yukon gold potato soup, Caesar salad or spinach salad; Second Course: grilled flat iron steak, pan-seared Atlantic salmon, maple and brown sugar brined pork chop or house-made fettuccini; Third Course: Nutella banana bread pudding or apple cobbler. Reservations accepted. 101 W. Franklin St., (804) 788-8000

Zed Café: First Course: seasonal greens with caramelized shallot vinaigrette or portabella mushroom pistachio pate; Second Course: Moroccan baked chicken, pecan-crusted seasonal whitefish or apple-cider braised pork loin; Third Course: apple pecan cake or cinnamon pear crisp. Reservations accepted. 5109 Lakeside Ave., (804) 261-5656

Zeus Gallery Café: First Course: celery root and caramelized pear soup, risotto or baby iceberg wedge with smoked bacon, bleu and aged cheddar; Second Course: baked beef tenderloin meatloaf, coastal Carolina shrimp and grits, braised pork shank, prosciutto-wrapped roasted cod or pan-tossed orecchiette pasta; Third Course: Belgium chocolate pate, tiramisu, keylime pie or apple cobbler. Reservations accepted. 201 N. Belmont Ave., (804) 359-3219

Don't see your menu listed here? Send an email to karri.peifer@corp.richmond.com and we'll add it to the list.