Denver Restaurant Week returns for its 20th year next week and its anniversary highlights how far the city’s culinary scene has come.

The annual 10-day event begins March 1 and will feature more than 200 restaurants from local longtime staples to the city’s first Michelin-recognized chefs, according to tourism agency Visit Denver.

That’s more than twice the number of restaurants from the event’s inception in 2005, the agency said.

The idea for Denver Restaurant Week began 20 years ago to fix dismal perceptions of the city’s culinary scene both nationally and locally, said John Imbergamo, president of a marketing and consulting firm for restaurants, who helped launch the event.

“Denver’s national reputation for food was miserable,” Imbergamo said.

Since then, Imbergamo said Denver has seen an influx of chef-driven restaurants from both local and newcomer chefs. The area’s reputation has improved especially with a recent slew of culinary accolades such as the James Beard Awards and its first-ever Michelin stars given out last year.

“The nation has taken notice that Denver has fine-dining cuisine,” Imbergamo said.

At its start, restaurant week was priced at about $52 for several courses. Imbergamo said it was controversial at the time since it seemed too expensive for casual restaurants and too cheap for the finer dining establishments, making it the perfect price to attract people to eat somewhere new.

This year, participating restaurants will offer meals at several price points ranging from $25 to $55, according to Visit Denver.

“The multi-course dinner for a certain price allows you the opportunity to eat in a restaurant that you might never have tried,” Imbergamo said. Especially, some of the more exclusive eateries. 

Denver Restaurant Week occurs during a typically slow period for the restaurant industry, said Flavia Light, Visit Denver vice president, in an email statement. It’s a chance for restaurants to expand their customers at a more affordable price.

“Denver Restaurant Week amplifies the best of Denver’s culinary scene with new restaurant concepts and expansions opening across the city,” Light said, “while also celebrating longstanding Denver restaurants.”

There will be restaurants offering Colorado grass-fed lamb, green chile, international fusion food, vegan options and fresh seafood flown in daily.

Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Ash Kara is participating, according to the list posted by Denver Restaurant Week, as well as Michelin-recognized Dio Mio, Fruition, Noisette and Mercantile Dining and Provision.

In 2023, Denver restaurants generated $4.5 million in sales and served about 111,000 meals during the restaurant week, according to data from Visit Denver. 

The event will run from March 1 to 10. It’s hosted by Visit Denver and is sponsored by Stella Artois, Uber Eats, High Noon, Downtown Denver Partnership, the Colorado Restaurant Association and more.

A full list of participating restaurants is at denverrestaurantweek.com.