Restaurant Month: $30 menus at 43 SLO County restaurants in January

Clarification: Cass House is participating in Restaurant Month, but it's only offering a three-course prix fixe meal on Sunday and Mondays for $45 through Jan. 31. More information is available at http://casshouseinn.com/.

The sixth annual Restaurant Month is under way in San Luis Obispo County, with more restaurants participating than ever before.

This year, 42 restaurants throughout the county are offering three-course prix fixe menus for $30. Wine pairings may be added for an additional charge.

The annual event showcases fresh, locally grown produce, meats and wines.

The promotion is a “great way to encourage foot traffic in what is typically a slower month for dining out,” said Stacie Jacob, executive director of the San Luis Obispo County Visitors & Conference Bureau, which launched Restaurant Month. “We have seen many restaurants actually extend the promotion beyond January.”

A new feature has been added to the annual event, called Wine Wednesdays. Each Wednesday, select restaurants will host a winery from the San Luis Obispo or Paso Robles regions for a special wine tasting as a way to entice guests, according to a news release from the VCB.

Shanny Covey, owner of Robin’s in Cambria, has participated in Restaurant Month since the promotion began. As a member of the county VCB, Covey said she likes to support the organization and participate in events that increase tourism throughout the county.

Covey said it took a few years for county residents to learn about restaurant month, but once they did, business increased during the promotion. Last year, Covey said, the restaurant saw a 15 percent increase in business compared to a typical January.

“We’re anticipating a boost in business again,” Covey said.

Both of Robin’s sister restaurants in San Luis Obispo, Novo and Luna Red, are also participating in the promotion.

Restaurant month events are held throughout California through Jan. 31. For more information about events in the state, go to http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Restaurant-Month/.

A list of participating restaurants and their menus in San Luis Obispo County can be viewed at www.sanluisobispocounty.com/restaurantmonth. (Cass House is participating, but declined to be listed on the website.)

Reservations are strongly recommended and sometimes required.

This story was originally published January 2, 2013 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Restaurant Month: $30 menus at 43 SLO County restaurants in January."