I am really excited about Columbus Restaurant Week. I am telling everyone I know. I even gave my brother in law some Dine Originals gift certificates for watching our dogs in the hopes that he will go support restaurants next week. There's only one problem. I don't eat meat. Fixed price meals usually don't work out so well for me. I rarely ask for exceptions for prix fixe menus because the whole idea is to serve a standardized meal.

However, among the 42 restaurants participating in restaurant week there are some excellent meat-free choices. Here's my guide for vegetarian* choices:

The Best - three vegetarian courses:

Barcelona - 7 course tapas meal, vegetarian option

Betty's - all choices appear to be meatless

Black Creek Bistro - four courses including mushroom stew I've been wanting to try

Bodega - Bruschetta, veggie pizza and panini, beer

Cafe Corner - choose two items plus dessert, many breakfasts are meatless and a few sandwiches too

Elevator - salad, vegetable strudel entree, dessert

Handkes - vegetarian option available

Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls - appetizer basket, salad, roasted red pepper linguini, dessert (four courses for $30 sounds like a great deal)

Katzingers - 2 small Vegetarian sandwiches, two sides, dessert

LaScala - salad, eggplant parm, and tiramisu (two diners for $30!)

Maca Cafe - Two veggie courses and wine

Pistachia Vera - mmmmm....tastes of 7 meat free sweets...

Press Grill - Salad, pizza, and dessert, two people for just $15

Rigsby's - skip pancetta on salad or hope for meat-free soup du jour, veggie pasta entree, dessert

Surly Girl - all choices appear meatless

Tasi - Breakfast or Lunch dish + drinks, $15 for two

Tip Top - salad, veggie roast entree, dessert

Tratorria Roma - manicotti, fresh greens, glass of wine

Tutto Vino - 3 veggie pizza choices plus salad and cheese course

Worthington Inn - salad, garden vegetable plate, dessert

Z Cucina - salad, pasta with pomodoro sauce or eggplant parm, tiramisu

Good Possibility -

Alanas - meatless salad, risotto du jour could be meatless

*My definition of vegetarian is no red meat, white meat, or fish. Eggs and dairy OK.

I still can't decide where we'll go. I'm thinking Trattoria Roma for lunch one day and something else for dinner another day. Maybe I'll even arrange a girl's night out at Surly Girl or Tip Top.

Have you decided where you're going yet?

Check it out, Columbus! We're getting our own restaurant week! Organized by Dine Originals, Columbus' independent restaurant association, Restaruant Week is your chance to enjoy 40+ prix fix menus for $15 or $30 each. Menus are being posted now on their Restaurant Week page.

(If you've never heard of Dine Originals and love great deals, check out the gift certificate program.)

Why make time for Restaurant Week? I could probably list 10 reasons, but I'm tired tonight, so here's my top 4.

1) Local restaurants employ local employees who need your tips these days.

2) Independent restaurants have more freedom to use local foods from local farmers.

3) You might find a new favorite place.

4) You'll get a yummy cheap meal.

I'm not sure where we'll go. Perhaps we can hit up more than one restaurant, as many menus are available for lunch and dinner. We must decide soon and make reservations, because at these prices seats will fill fast!

Which restaurant(s) are you going to visit?