There’s nothing not to love about the booming culinary scene in Raleigh, N.C. And a magical time of the year is here, Jan. 25-31: Triangle Restaurant Week 2016.

A staple since 2008, Triangle Restaurant Week has steadily gained popularity from locals and visitors alike and will be kicking off on Mon., Jan. 25, and will run until Sun., Jan. 31.

With almost 90 restaurants participating in the Raleigh area and beyond, now is the time to try something new or revisit an old favorite. Need some help deciding? Here are three spots to start with this week—just a sample of the deliciousness in store:

NOFO @ the Pig
Located in the historic Five Points neighborhood, NOFO is housed in a restored Piggly Wiggly grocery building and is a combination café, food market and gift shop. Their dinner offerings include regional favorites like fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits and pan friend chicken. Or, try the Blue Plate Special, a rotating offering of home-cooked dishes like meatloaf and N.C. trout. 

Vivace
A contemporary Italian restaurant featuring a hip indoor/outdoor bar, patio and open kitchen, Vivace is a North Hills staple that features fresh, local ingredients prepared with classic Italian techniques. Offering both lunch and dinner during Triangle Restaurant Week, try one of their signature pizzas or homemade pastas. Vivace also offers a gluten-free menu, including pizzas and pastas. 

Shaba Shabu
Incorporating authentic Thai and Japanese cuisine in an urban, contemporary setting, Shaba Shabu will be offering a three-course lunch for $15 and a three-course dinner for $20. Selections include some of their most popular items like the local favorite Wolfpack Roll (crab, tobiko, asparagus, crunchy, spicy mayo, sesame seeds) and Tom Kha Tofu (the famous coconut soup with fragrant Galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, mushrooms and tofu).

At Triangle Restaurant Week participating restaurants, three-course lunches are offered for $15,as well as $20-$30 three-course dinners. Beverage, tax and tip are not included. Visit the Triangle Restaurant Week website for a full list of participating restaurants. Bon appétit!

Photography provided by Vivace Raleigh.