The name is slightly misleading — in the best possible way.
Some restaurants participated in Preview Weekend August 6–9, the official campaign began August 10, and many continue offering their special menus through Labor Day, September 7.
But there is an important detail: not every restaurant participates every week.
That means this is one event where I would decide where you want to eat first and then check that restaurant's participating dates rather than assuming its menu will be available all month.
The official DFW Restaurant Week restaurant finder and menus are the best place to verify current availability and make reservations.
What Does DFW Restaurant Week Cost in 2026?
This year's format gives you several options depending on whether you want an easy lunch or a full special-occasion dinner.
Participating restaurants may offer a $29 two-course lunch, $29 two-course weekend brunch, $49 or $59 three-course dinner, or a $99 Signature Experience. The Signature option can include extras such as additional courses, chef experiences or cocktails depending on the restaurant.
That variety is one reason I like Restaurant Week as a local event. It doesn't have to mean a $200 date night. You can use it for lunch with a friend, brunch on Saturday or finally book a restaurant you've been saving for a special occasion.
A Few North Texas Options to Put on Your Radar
Rather than giving you an enormous list of 150-plus restaurants, here are a few geographically different choices that show how broad Restaurant Week has become.
Plano: Make a Night of Legacy West
Plano has enough participating choices that Restaurant Week can easily become a local date night without driving into Dallas.
Del Frisco's Grille at Legacy West is participating throughout the campaign and offers a $29 weekend brunch, $29 lunch and $49 three-course dinner.
Nearby, CRÚ Food & Wine Bar is offering $49 and $59 dinner options and is also participating throughout the campaign.
Another Plano option is Rise Nº6, with a $49 three-course dinner and participation scheduled through September 7.
This is exactly the kind of evening where you can park once, have dinner and then walk around Legacy West afterward.
Addison: Restaurant Row Still Earns Its Name
If you haven't spent an evening around Belt Line Road lately, Restaurant Week gives you a reason to revisit it.
Fogo de Chão is offering a $59 three-course dinner throughout all four official weeks.
Hawkers Asian Street Food gives you a more casual option, with a $29 lunch and $49 dinner available throughout the campaign.
That range is a good reminder that Restaurant Week isn't exclusively about traditional fine dining anymore.
Dallas: Turn It Into a Real Date Night
Dallas has enough choices to build an entire list around neighborhoods.
In Oak Lawn, Ospi is participating all four weeks with a $29 brunch, $29 lunch and $49 dinner.
In Bishop Arts, Stock & Barrel is offering a $29 weekend brunch and $49 dinner through September 7.
And for a more elevated evening, Catch Dallas is offering a $99 Signature Experience during Weeks 1 and 2, through August 23.
Why I Think Restaurant Week Is Worth Paying Attention To
One of the things I love about living in North Texas is that our cities aren't interchangeable.
Dallas has neighborhoods where you can spend an entire Saturday without moving your car. Plano and Frisco have developed legitimate destination dining scenes of their own. Addison remains one of the most restaurant-dense pockets of the Metroplex. Historic Downtown McKinney feels completely different in a league of it's own.
Food is one of the easiest ways to understand those differences.
I see that constantly in real estate. People relocating here initially talk about commute times, schools and houses. Once they begin actually exploring, the conversation becomes much more specific: Where will we go Saturday morning? Where would we meet friends for dinner? Can we walk somewhere for coffee? Where do we take family when they visit?
Those questions tell you a surprising amount about where you might feel at home.
If you're exploring the area, my earlier guide, Where to Eat During the World Cup in Dallas: A Local's Guide, goes well beyond Restaurant Week and includes everything from food trucks and neighborhood favorites to special-occasion restaurants across Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Frisco and McKinney.
And if you're farther north, my Fairview Food Scene guide looks specifically at how dining has changed in one of Collin County's smaller communities.
How to Get the Most Out of DFW Restaurant Week
Don't simply pick the most expensive restaurant on the list.
Start with the experience you actually want. Date night? Girls' lunch? Brunch? Somewhere you've never tried? A neighborhood you want to explore?
Then compare the Restaurant Week menu with the restaurant's regular menu. A prix-fixe menu can be a great way to experience a restaurant, but the real advantage is having a reason to branch out rather than automatically returning to your usual favorites.
And make the reservation sooner rather than later. Participating dates vary, and some restaurants only offer their Restaurant Week menu for one or two weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is DFW Restaurant Week 2026?
The official campaign runs August 10 through September 7, 2026. Preview Weekend was August 6–9.
Do all restaurants participate through September 7?
No. Individual restaurants select their participating weeks, so verify the dates before making plans.
Do I need a reservation?
Reservations aren't universally required, but they are strongly recommended. When booking, specify that you want the DFW Restaurant Week menu.
How much are the meals?
Depending on the restaurant, options include $29 lunch, $29 weekend brunch, $49 or $59 three-course dinners and $99 Signature Experiences.
Where does the charitable contribution go?
Approximately 20% of each Restaurant Week meal benefits the North Texas Food Bank for Dallas-area participating restaurants or Lena Pope for Tarrant County participants.
Is DFW Restaurant Week only in Dallas?
No. Participating restaurants span Dallas, Collin, Denton and Tarrant counties.
One Last Thought
If there is a restaurant you've been bookmarking for six months, this may be your sign to finally make the reservation.
And if you're new to North Texas, use Restaurant Week as more than dinner. Pick a neighborhood or city you haven't explored, arrive early, walk around and make an evening of it.
Sometimes learning where you want to live starts with learning where you want to spend your Saturday night. Contact Michelle Gifford to get started with your discovery call.
