5 East Valley picks for Arizona Restaurant Week

Arizona Restaurant Week, a twice-a-year promotion when participating eateries offer prix-fixe menus for $30 or $40, returns Saturday and runs through May 26.

Although the East Valley had few participants in past Restaurant Weeks, this year at least 20 are taking part. Here are five to check out:

Cork

Food aficionados will swoon over the wild boar shank risotto, pan-roasted branzini with merguez sausage ragout, or wine-marinated wagyu skirt steak at this south Chandler gem, one of the top fine-dining restaurants in Arizona. See menu. Reservations: 480-883-3773.

Beaver Choice

If pickled herring, schnitzel, skomakarlÃ¥da, and rød grød med fløde are your thing, you’ll definitely want to check out this Mesa restaurant, which specializes in Scandanavian, Polish, and Canadian dishes. See menu. Reservations: 480-921-3137.

Top of the Rock

Enjoy spectacular views of the Valley from this butte-top Tempe restaurant, where you can choose from temptations like sweet pepper vichyssoise, pork tenderloin porchetta, and ancho chile chocolate ganache. See menu. Reservations: 602-431-2370.

Zappone’s Italian Bistro

Pork ragu over housemade fettucini, seared New York strip with porcini mushroom sauce over Yukon whipped potatoes, and roasted eggplant lasagna are among the specialities at this family-run Italian spot in Gilbert. See menu. Reservations: 480-218-2338.

High Tide Seafood

If you haven’t visited this new Gilbert placel, which features steam-kettle cooking, now’s your chance. Take a trip to the seashore for Tide Roast with lobster in a brandy-citrus broth or a big bowl of cioppino. See menu. Reservations: 480-892-9950.