Just 8 East Valley restaurants taking part in Arizona Restaurant Week

The twice-a-year Arizona Restaurant Week returns this weekend, starting Saturday and running 10 days.

More than 125 restaurants in the Valley and Tucson will offer special three-course menus for $30 or $40 per person.

As usual, the East Valley is woefully under-represented with just eight restaurants participating: Cork, Porkopolis, and Roy’s in Chandler, Monti’s La Casa Vieja and The Dhaba in Tempe,  TQLA in Mesa, Melting Pot in Ahwatukee, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill (three locations).

Here’s what they will be offering:

Cork ($40)

• 1st course: Mediterranean mussels, or roasted baby beet salad, or pan-fried sweetbreads
• 2nd course: Pan-roased arctic char, or wild boar tenderloin, red win-braised beef cheek
• 3rd course: Mascarpone cheesecake, or flight of sorbets, or Cork S’more

Porkopolis ($40)

• 1st course: Fried pickles, or burnt-ends, or red-neck tacos
• 2nd course:  Porkopolis meat platter, or blackened catfish, or baby back ribs, or BBQ jambalaya
• 3rd course: Ice cream sandwich, or apple crisp

Roy’s Restaurant ($30)

• 1st course: Waimanalo mixed green salad, or tempura-crusted spicy ahi roll, or crunchy lobster potstickers
• 2nd course: Teriyaki grilled salmon, or macadamia-crusted mahi mahi, or “Hawaii Kai” beef short ribs
• 3rd course: Lemon-blueberry cheesecake, or chocolate souffle

Monti’s La Casa Vieja ($40)

• 1st course: Seared scallops, or ramin Southwest style, or hearts of romaine salad
• 2nd course: Filet mignon tower, or seared halibut, or spiced bone-in chicken breast
• 3rd course: Vanilla ice cream shortcake, or watermelon Popsicle

The Dhaba ($40)

• 1st course: (shared app) Amritsari samosa chaat, bhatura chole, or Bombay bhelpuri
• 2nd course: Dil bahar korma, or lakhnavi shahi paneer, or Kashmiri chicken tikka masala, or Numberdar saag murgh
• 3rd course: Rasmalai, or gulab jamun, or kulfi
• One bottle of house wine (red or white)

TQLA ($30)

• 1st course: Spicy crab cakes, or BBQ duck tamale, or Baja ceviche
• 2nd course: Pumpkin seed-crusted salmon, or carne asada, or ancho pork tenderloin, or oven-roasted chicken
• 3rd course: Seasonal cheesecake, or Patron XO flan, or cuatro leches

Melting Pot ($30)

• 1st course: Cheesy fondue
• 2nd course: Entree
• 3rd course: Chocolate fondue

Carrabba’s Italian Grill ($30)

• 1st course: (shared app or dessert) Calamari, or steamed mussels, or zucchini fritte, or mozzarella marinara, or fudge brownie, or tiramisu
• 2nd course: House, Italian or Caesar salads, or cup of homemade soup
• 3rd course: Pasta Carrabba, or chicken Bryan, or grilled salmon, or chicken parmesan/lasagne, or shrimp spiedino di mare

Reservation are stroingly recommended. Participating restaurants also will offer their regular menus during Restaurant Week.