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Huntsville Restaurant Week 2013 runs Aug. 16 - 25. (File photo/Bob Gathany/bgathany@al.com)

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In 1982, English rock band The Who announced their appropriately titled trek "The Who Tour 1982" would be the group's farewell tour.

And it was. Until the group's surviving members reunited in 1989 for another tour. As they did again in 1996, 2000, 2002, 2004 and, well, you get the idea.

Last year, the Alabama Tourism Department promoted 2012 as The Year of Alabama Food, a title the department first bestowed on 2005. Both of those went so well 2013 was also named The Year of Alabama Food.

(There has also been The Year of Alabama Outdoors, The Year of Alabama Arts, The Year of Alabama Music, The Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns and The Year of Alabama Sports... Wait that last one's not every year?!?)

Actually, it seems fitting there have now been back-to-back Years of Alabama Food.

The barbecue, contemporary, ethnic, traditional Southern and other eats here are awesome. And definitely in better taste than The Who's infamously wonky 2011 Super Bowl halftime performance of "Pinball Wizard," "Won't Get Fooled Again" and other hits.

The Year of Alabama Food includes an Alabama Restaurant Week initiative, which includes a Huntsville Restaurant Week component, which this year runs Aug. 16 – 25.

"We just really have something special here in Huntsville when it comes to restaurants and we really want to work to become a destination for great Southern dining," says Jessica Carlton, marketing manager for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. "But we also want to recognize the best of local dining."

The debut Huntsville Restaurant Week featured 33 area eateries and this year's sophomore campaign boasts 28.

Here's how it works: Participating restaurants offer two-course lunch and/or three-course dinner offerings at a value-driven set price (lunch $5, $10 and $15 and dinner $10, $20 and $30). You don't need to purchase tickets or passes or anything like that.

"We want folks to get out there and maybe try a restaurant that they haven't tried before or go back to one of their old favorites," Carlton says, calling from her second floor CVB office. "It's just a great way to help our local restaurants and support our local economy. We're trying to provide folks a little more for a little less than they would normally pay."

The Eaves executive chef Merle Phillip. (File photo)

Carlton's particularly jazzed about trying the Providence-area Thai restaurant Phuket, which she's never dined at before. And while she says there's no research available regarding the impact of last year's HRW on local restaurants, Carlton adds, "We plan on conducting a survey this year to determine impact and find ways to improve it for next year. And on facebook.com/huntsvillecvb we're going to be asking people what their favorite (Huntsville Restaurant Week 2013) dishes were."

Huntsville Restaurant Week 2013 officially launches 2 p.m. Aug. 16 with a press conference at eclectic sandwich and wrap shop Happy Tummy, located at Lowe Mill (2211 Seminole Dr.). There'll be some free samples and additional HRW activities will be announced.

As part of HRW, The Eaves executive chef Merle Phillip and The Scene executive chef Robert Charles will appear at a free cooking demonstration 11:30 a.m. Aug. 21 at the The Huntsville/Madison County Visitors Center, located 500 Church St. Ste. 1.

Asked to sum up Huntsville dining, Carlton says, "You know, it's a little Southern charm mixed with the old favorites. And it's always something new."

A list of summarized Huntsville Restaurant Week lunch and dinner specials are below. For more information visit huntsville.org/restaurantweek, and looks for further updates on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #DineHSV.

1892 East 720 Pratt Ave.

$30 Dinner Two piece Gulf Shrimp and Grits, Roasted Chicken Breast, Mash Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Petite Crème Brulee and Chocolate Pot de Creame.

Baumhower's of Huntsville 4250 Balmoral Drive

$5 Lunch Choice of Tailgate Burger or Redneck Salad.

$10 Lunch Choice of Wangs and Grits or Almost Fried Turkey Platter or Petite Sirloin.

$15 Lunch Choice of Gulf Shrimp Platter or Sirloin.

$10 Dinner Choice of Sweet-fire Chicken or Black & White Chicken Platter.

$20 Dinner Ribeye.

Below the Radar220 Holmes Ave. E.

$15 Lunch Diablo Chicken over Mushroom and Eggplant Basmati Rice, S'mores Cake-Cinnamon Cake with Chocolate Sauce & Homemade Torched Marshmallow Fluff.

$30 Dinner House-Made Beer Battered Onion Rings with Zesty Onion Ring Sauce, Boneless Pork Chop with Crispy Polenta Cake, Arugula Salad with a Spicy Tomato Chutney, Peach & Pale Ale Sorbet made with Local Peaches and Belgian Pale Ale.

Clementine's 600 OShaughnessy Ave.

$10 Dinner Choice of daily soups, choice of five homemade chicken salad, pasta salads, homemade pimento cheese and tuna salads, with fresh fruit and Toasties, choice of homemade cookies.

Clementine's at Huntsville Botanical Garden 4747 Bob Wallace Ave.

$10 Dinner Choice of daily soups, choice of five homemade chicken salad, pasta salads, homemade pimento cheese and tuna salads, with fresh fruit and Toasties, choice of homemade cookies.

D&L Bistro 7500 Memorial Pkwy S.W.

$15 Lunch Choice of a Side Salad or cup of Soup of the day, Braised Pork Osso Bocco in Red Wine with wild mushrooms, Sautéed Haricot Vert and Garlic smashed New Potatoes, Southern Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce.

$30 Dinner Choice of Bistro or Caesar side Salad, Portobello, Sage and BellaVitano Cheese stuffed Breast of Pheasant with Broccolini and Port Wine Reduction, Southern Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce.

Emma's Tea Room 401 Pratt Ave. NE

$10 Lunch Panini sandwich with cup of soup and cold beverage.

Grille 29445 Providence Main St.

$15 Lunch Frozen Gazpacho Starter, Stuffed Tilapia

$30 Dinner Frozen Gazpacho Starter, Veal Piccatta

Happy Tummy 2211 Seminole Drive

$10 Lunch Bad Apple Sandwich with your choice of chips and choice of homemade desserts.

Hildegard's German Cuisine 2357c Whitesburg Drive

$10 Lunch Pork Schnitzel Sandwich, Skillet Fried Potato and Red Cabbage, Home Baked Apple Strudel With Vanilla Ice Cream.

$20 Dinner A Cup Of Home Made Chicken And Noodle Soup, Sample Platter, Home Baked Black Cherry Cheese Cake With Real Whipped Cream.

Humphrey's Bar & Grill 103 Washington St.

$15 Lunch Buttermilk hush puppies, Smoked chicken with field peas and cheese grits, Moonshine peaches with peach ice cream

New Market BBQ 5601 Winchester Road, New Market

$5 Lunch Regular Sized Pulled Pork Sandwich, small side, small Banana Pudding.

$10 Lunch Hickory Pit Smoked Pulled Pork and one other meat selection, two sides, one dessert.

$10 Dinner Hickory Pit Smoked Pulled Pork and one other meat selection, two sides, one dessert.

$30 Dinner Sampler Family Pack: four meats, four side items, four Roasted Corn on the Cob Half Ears, four desserts.

Nick's Ristorante 10300 Bailey Cove Road S.E.

$30 Dinner Fromaggio Spagere Appetizer with Italian Grasini, wedge salad, Mini Beef Wellingtons with a Brandy Mushroom Cream Sauce, twice baked potato, garlicky green beans, and Garlic Infused Artisan Bread, Poached Pear.

Ole Hickory BBQ 5061 Maysville Road

$5 Lunch Fried Sweet Corn Nuggets with Bama Sauce, pulled pork sandwich, one homemade side, choice of Banana Pudding or Chocolate Delight.

$10 Lunch Fried Sweet Corn Nuggets with Bama Sauce, Flying Pig Basket, French fries, choice of Banana Pudding or Chocolate Delight.

$10 Dinner Hush Puppies, Country Boy Plate, Potato Salad, Baked Beans, Fried Okra, choice of Banana Pudding or Chocolate Delight



$10 Dinner Fried Sweet Corn Nuggets with Bama Sauce, Flying Pig Basket, French Fries, choice of Banana Pudding or our Chocolate Delight.

Peppered Pig 11595 S. Memorial Pkwy.

$10 Lunch Cuban B Burger with fresh cut fries and drink.

Phuket Thai Restaurant 475 Providence Main St. #102

$10 Lunch Soup of the Day and Crispy Spring Rolls, choice of Pad Thai or Teriyaki Chicken.

$20 Dinner Golden Cheese or Fried Wonton, choice of Pad Thai Seafood or Spicy Catfish, choice of Peanut Butter Pie or Key Lime Pie.

Ruth's Chris Steak House 800 Monroe St.

$30 Dinner Choice of salad, choice of Sliced Flat Iron Steak or Salmon Fillet, bread pudding.

Sady's Bistro 14B Main St.

$10 DinnerTomato and Cucumber Salad or Bake Rice Black Bean chips and homemade salsa, choice of Turkey Avocado, Chicken Salad or Americana Sandwich, choice of fresh tropical fruits or side salad, choice of muffin or cookie.

$20 DinnerChoice of soup, choice of Turkey, Chicken Salad, BYO Sandwich, Sicily or Turkey Avocado sandwich, served with Baked Rice Black Bean Chips or fresh fruit, choice of crepe or carrot cake.

Sandwich Farm 106 Cleveland Ave.

$15 Lunch Wedge salad wrap with roast beef, served with sweet potato fries, scoop of homemade blueberry compote ice cream.

Scene Restaurant & Lounge 370 The Bridge St.

$20 Dinner Choice of House or Caesar Salad, choice of Giant Crab Cake or Chicken Paillard, choice of Triple Chocolate Cake or The Blondie.

$30 Dinner Choice of Edamame or Kale, Pine Nut and Parmesan Salad, choice of any sushi roll or Chicken Florentine, choice of Triple Chocolate Cake or The Blondie.

Shea's Express 415 Church St.

$10 Lunch Small Vermont Maple Salad, Half Rotisserie Chicken Panini.

$15 Lunch Rotisserie Half-Bird, cornbread, mac and cheese, choice of a side or Caesar salad, Fresh Fruit Cobbler.

Tastebuds 7914 Memorial Pkwy. S. E16

$10 Lunch Pulled Pork Sammich, crispy slaw, chips, iced tea, choice of cookie or brownie.

$10 Lunch Everyday Gourmet Burger, crispy slaw, chips, iced tea, choice of cookie or brownie.

$10 Lunch Choice of entree salad with iced tea, choice of cookie or brownie.

Taziki's Mediterranean Café 4855 Whitesburg Drive

$15 Lunch Hummus appetizer with baked or soft pita, Taziki Feast Plate, chocolate cake.

$30 Dinner Hummus appetizer with baked or soft pita, grilled chicken dinner for four, one serving baklava, one serving dark chocolate cake.

Tellini's Italiano 1515 Perimeter Pkwy.

$10 Lunch House Salad, Steak Tetrazzini.

The Bottle 101 Washington St.

$30 Dinner Wilted Napa slaw with walnuts and crumbled blue cheese, Grilled Copper River King Salmon with potato mouseline steamed asparagus, fennel, tomato, basil and olive oil, Bread Pudding with creme anglaise.

The Eaves Restaurant 501-A Church St.

$10 Lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: Blackened Fish or Shrimp Tacos served with black bean cumin rice. Sunday Brunch: Eggs Benedict served with fresh fruit of the day.

$15 Lunch Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: Jumbo lump crab cake and filet slider duo served with chef's choice side.Thursday: Shrimp & Grits served with a crisp micro-green salad.

West End Grill 6610 Old Madison Pike

$10 Lunch Cup of made-from-scratch soup, Cajun Grilled Ribeye Steak Sandwich, choice of side.

$20 Dinner Choice of soup or salad, Bourbon Marinated Salmon Filet, rice pilaf with steamed broccoli, choice of deserts.

$20 Dinner Choice of soup or salad, Marinated Steak Tips, two sides, choice of deserts.

$20 Dinner Choice of soup or salad, Smothered Chicken Breast, two sides, choice of deserts.

Wintzell's Oyster House 5100 Sanderson St.

$10 Lunch Cup of Gumbo, two Fish Tacos and pico de gallo.

$20 Dinner Cup of Gumbo, Low Country Boil, Bread Pudding topped with warm rum sauce.