With its cutesy, annual one-penny price hike, winter Restaurant Week starts today. Three-course meals at selected D.C. restaurants are $20.10 for lunch and $35.10 for dinner.

Longtime residents know the drill by now: you either love getting to try to new dining options for a relative bargain, or you feel the restaurants don’t put their best foot forward, for whatever the reason, and prefer to sit it out. If you’re new to Restaurant Week, there are several tips to keep in mind. Look for restaurants offering most of their regular menu, or if they’re serving a limited menu, make sure it has exciting choices. Seek unique value—skip places that don’t regularly offer a similar deal or aren’t that expensive anyway. Avoid excessive upcharges. If you don’t have a reservation, grab a seat at the bar or go toward the end of service. And look for Restaurant Week extensions.

For this winter’s Restaurant Week, allow us to point you to some restaurants that are new or relatively new to the week.