Because I don't eat out during Restaurant Week, I decided to make up a list of blog commenter recommendations for my Top 10 Places for Restaurant Week that appeared on Dining@Large (baltimoresun.com/diningatlarge) on Jan. 12.

Most of them are pretty obvious - a good restaurant is a good restaurant - but a couple you might not have thought of.

Here's an alphabetical list of restaurants where commenters think you'll get the most bang for your buck during Winter Restaurant Week, Jan. 22-Feb. 7. They are also all places where I've had a decent meal.

1

Alizee near the Homewood Campus of the Johns Hopkins University. "Overall, we had a great time, the food was good to very good, the atmosphere was very nice and comfortable."

2

Blue Hill Tavern in Brewers Hill. "It was one of the best meals we have had in a long time."

3

Brewer's Art in Mount Vernon. "It was a good excuse to eat in the dining room for once!"

4

Capital Grille in the Inner Harbor. "Our dinners were outstanding, service was impeccable."

5

Helmand in Mount Vernon. "We weren't rushed at all, and we went right to our table, even though [the restaurant] was full."

6

Meli in Fells Point. "They let you choose any appetizer, entree and dessert off of their menu."

7

Oceanaire Seafood Room in Harbor East. "Enjoyed it quite a bit, and compared to the regular menu, it was very much a bargain."

8

Pazza Luna in Locust Point. "Everyone praised the quality of

the food. ... The one weakness was a martini not cold enough."

9

Prime Rib downtown. "The service was smoothly professional, the signature prime rib succulent." [But there was a $4 surcharge for it.]

10

Salt Tavern in East Baltimore. "Overall a great dinner, one which succeeds from a restaurant week standpoint, as before this was a place I wasn't sure about going to during a non-restaurant week."

Bonus tip: No one reviewed Fogo de Chao last time, but a couple of people said they were trying it this time because it seemed to be pretty much the same menu for $35 instead of $49.

Readers talk back

Oceanaire and the Prime Rib are both great choices. Even with the surcharge for the prime rib.

There are more than a couple of us going to Fogo de Chao this year. There are seven (Sandboxers slamming?) in the group I'm going with.

Posted by: Lissa

Not sure about Fogo de Chao having the same menu, it seemed like the list on the Restaurant Week Web site was a little short, as in it was missing some. Still looked like there was plenty to enjoy though.

Posted by: Mark

We always go to The Black Olive and Cinghiale. The Black Olive lunch is just about perfect and the price is great. I am not a fan of Fogo de Chao - too hurried, too noisy, too much movement going on for a relaxed dinner. We have always had a great dinner at Brewer's Art and, of course, love the brews, but for restaurant week I prefer to go to places that are usually special treats.

Posted by: Merryfish