It looks like for the DineLA offerings, it depends on where you go. We tried Ruth’s Chris and got a great deal (review coming), but not all menus look like bargains.

I think it depends on how the restaurant approaches DineLA Restaurant Week. Some of them are investing in getting new customers, some are trying to still make a profit with a lower priced menu.

Save some exhaustive research, I would venture to say, “Yes, but of course!”

Restaurateurs still have to keep their eye on the bottom line.

Surely they must devise a menu that falls within the DineLA dollar parameters while maintaining their necessary profit margin.

Perhaps a good comparison is the ‘Sunday Suppers at Lucques’. This cut-price evening has its purpose, but it in no way compares with the superb a la carte experience one can enjoy during the rest of the week.

We first tried Lucques for luncheon during a set-price DineLA week. Then we tried the Sunday supper and on both those occasions we were not blown away.

It was only when we returned in 2006, on a standard evening, that we saw the pure excellence that Suzanne Goin and her staff are capable of when you pay full price for your a la carte meal.

Moral to this story: you get what you pay for.

KT’s review of Grace demonstrates this well. When they supplemented the basic DineLA menu with additional choices, they enjoyed a rich and satisfying meal. And paid fair price for that experience.

I’ll be posting my review soon.