Providence Restaurant Weeks is back. Here's your guide to the dining deals.

It's hard to believe the first Providence Restaurant Week was 17 years ago this month. It began on July 16, 2006, with 41 restaurants.

Restaurant weeks had long been popular in Manhattan and in Boston, as diners scurried to make reservations at their favorite spots or to try a new eatery that may have otherwise seemed out of reach, budget-wise. It has been embraced by diners and restaurants alike here, too.

But it has also changed over the years, expanding in restaurants — there are 64 at press time — options and length. The first one was for six days. This year, Providence Restaurant Weeks begins on July 9 and runs until July 23. Some restaurants have already pledged their specials will run all month. Gracie's and Ellie's are among them.

Restaurant Week began as a multi-course, fixed-price lunch or dinner deal. That is still the most popular option, because it offers the best deal. If it's budget-friendly you're looking for, you may want to try a new restaurant such as Bellini (multi-course $35 for lunch and $65 for dinner) or an old favorite like Capital Grille ($46 for salad, entree, side and dessert with price additions for choosing some specialties).

Another new option is that some restaurants include their deals on takeout orders. That's no doubt a pandemic change. You'll find that offered at Angelo's Civita Farnese in Providence and Luigi's Restaurant & Gourmet Express in Johnston.

Others add a free appetizer. That's what you'll find if you order two sandwiches or entrees at lunch or dinner for two at 110 Grill (across from the Rhode Island Convention Center), where 100% of their core menu can be made gluten-free.

Res American Bistro (across from Trinity Repertory Company) allows diners to be the architect of their own experience, with 15% off one course, 20% off two courses and 25% off three courses.

You'll find that the restaurants offer a diverse choice of cuisines. There's Mexican food from Casa Azul Tacqueria and Cape Verdean from Ten Rocks Tapas Bar & Restaurant. The deal for French specialties at Ellie's includes a sandwich, side or salad and dessert for $18. Otra has a $39.95 fixed-price menu of their Spanish tapas, large plates and dessert, including their lovely flan.

Pizza and wieners, too

Pizzerias have joined Restaurant Weeks, with deals offered at Pizza Marvin, Francesco's Pizzeria and Napolitano's Brooklyn Pizza, all in Providence. Pizza Marvin has a deal of $26 on their Flower Child Pizza made with zucchini blossoms, anchovies and stracciatella.

Olneyville New York System is participating with an offer of two hot wieners, an order of French fries and a coffee milk for $9.99.

There are timed deals: Get half-priced burgers (with the purchase of a beverage) between 3 and 5 p.m. at both Providence locations of Harry's Bar & Burger. Get $2 tacos (with the purchase of a beverage) from 3 to 5 p.m. at Xaco Taco. A three-course lunch with plenty of options is offered for $22.95 from noon to 5 p.m. daily at Trattoria Zooma on Federal Hill.

There was no rooftop dining in Providence back in 2006. But now there are three restaurants offering deals on their rooftop locations: Mare Rooftop, Rooftop at the Providence G and Blu Violet Roof Bar in the Aloft hotel.

What hasn't changed is that Providence Restaurant Weeks is still coordinated by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. They work all year to bring the fun to their signature event.  “Providence Restaurant Weeks is one of our biggest opportunities to show off Rhode Island’s unique and diverse dining scene,” said Kristen Adamo, president and CEO.

What restaurants are participating in Providence Restaurant Weeks?

Providence restaurants participating include: 110 Grill, Angelo’s Civita Farnese, Bacaro, Backstage Kitchen & Bar, Bellini, Blu Violet Roof Bar, Cafe Nuovo, The Capital Grille, Capriccio, Casa Azul Taqueria, Cassarino’s Ristorante, Circe Restaurant & Bar, Diego’s East Side, Ellie’s, Federal Taphouse & Kitchen, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Francesco’s Pizzeria, The George, Gracie’s, Harry’s Bar & Burger, Harry’s Bar & Burger “On the Hill,” Hemenway’s, Jacky’s Waterplace, KG Kitchen Bar, Marcelino’s Boutique Bar, Mare Rooftop, Il Massimo, Mill’s Tavern, Moonshine Alley, Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza, New Rivers, Nicks on Broadway, Olneyville New York System, Otra, Pane e Vino Ristorante, Parkside Rotisserie & Bar, Pizza Marvin, Pizzico Oyster Bar, Providence G Pub, Providence Oyster Bar, Red Stripe, Rooftop at the Providence G, Sarto, Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, Trattoria Zooma, Union Station Brewery, Waterman Grille and Xaco Taco.

Cranston restaurants include: Avvio Ristorante, Chapel Grille and Legal Sea Foods. East Greenwich restaurants are: Circe Restaurant & Bar and Providence Oyster Bar. Luigi’s Restaurant & Gourmet Express in Johnston is participating as is Tumblesalts Cafe in North Providence, 10 Rocks Tapas Bar & Restaurant in Pawtucket and Metacom Kitchen in Warren. Tavolo Wine Bar & Tuscan Grille in Smithfield and Warwick are participating. Warwick restaurants include: Crow’s Nest, Elizabeth’s of Portofino and Iron Works.

Restaurants still participating after 17 years, others have closed

Just out of curiosity, I wondered how many of the restaurants from 17 years ago still are participating and how many are gone.

Destination Warren: An abundance of food and drink options you don't want to miss

Those that still are doing Restaurant Weeks include the Bluefin Grille at the Marriott, Camille's, The Capital Grille, Gracie's, New Rivers, Pane e Vino, Ten Prime Steak & Sushi, Parkside Rotisserie & Bar and Trattoria Zooma. Murphy's is still open but hadn't signed up for the program at press time.

Providence restaurants now gone, renamed or reimagined, are: 3 Steeple Street, Big Fish, The City Cafe, Cocoa Bean Cafe at Ocean State Chocolates, L'Epicureo, McCormick & Schmick's, Nordstrom Cafe, Siena on Federal Hill, Renaissance Restaurant, Rue de L'Espoir, Twist on Angell, Walter's Restaurant and XO Steakhouse. Beyond Providence, other restaurants no more are: The Grille on Main (East Greenwich), Pinelli's Cucina (North Smithfield), Pinelli's Cucina Twist (South Kingstown), Pinelli's Gourmet Deli (West Warwick), Pinelli's North End Cafe (North Providence), The Post Office Cafe (East Greenwich), Twist Restaurant (Warwick), Audrey's Restaurant at the Johnson & Wales Inn (Seekonk, Massachusetts), Bistro at the Radisson Airport Hotel (Warwick) and Cherrystones Restaurant (Warwick).

A list of all participating restaurants, along with their Restaurant Weeks menus, can be found at ProvidenceRestaurantWeeks.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Restaurant Weeks 2023: Participating restaurants, deals