I have to hand it to Jason Martin, the owner of Martin’s Downtown Bar & Grill in Roanoke. He always seems to be brainstorming clever ways to get customers in the doors down there. One idea, the half-price burgers from 4 to 10 p.m. every Monday, has been a raging success.

In addition to rib nights on Tuesdays and 50-cent wings on Wednesdays, Martin’s is now offering specials for “3-Buck Thursdays,” including a variety of “gourmet gringo tacos.” The tacos are $3 each between 4 and 11 p.m. each Thursday and can be paired with a $3 16-oz. draft beer or a $3 house liquor drink between 4 and 9 p.m.

Here’s a sampling of some of the gourmet tacos, which are all served on a 6-inch soft flour tortilla:

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The Roanoke Times | File photo

Downtown Roanoke, Inc. has taken a page from Blacksburg’s book and has organized the first Downtown Roanoke Restaurant Week, which begins Monday (Jan. 21) and runs through Saturday (Jan. 26).

For this week-long event, more than 25 restaurants have agreed to offer specials, including a $10 lunch that includes entree, side dish, and drink or dessert; a $2o three-course dinner; and a $30 three-course dinner. Following is a list of the participating restaurants. To see more specifics about the specials they are offering, please click here.

This is a great way to get out and support our local restaurateurs while getting a good deal! If you take advantage of this event, please tell us what you thought of it.

Click here to see the participating restaurants list.

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Photo by Lindsey Nair.

A big sign has gone up on a newly painted white facade across from the Roanoke Valley Metro station. Yep, that means Sidewinders Steak House & Saloon is almost ready to open, according to co-owner Scott Howard.

Howard gave me a little tour of the country and western-themed restaurant and bar this week, and I can tell you that he and his partners are not doing anything halfway. The space features gleaming hardwood floors, a full stage, two full bars and a new sound system. In fact, if you walk by on Campbell Avenue you can peer in the windows and see for yourself. Howard said they have a working menu that includes steaks, seafood, and other fare at a mid-range price point. For lunch, there’ll be a soup and salad bar with up to six different soups.

Decor such as a buffalo head, some steer skulls and a Dierks Bentley guitar are waiting to be hung on the walls, and Howard said new furniture will arrive soon. The furniture is coming from New Jersey and has been delayed because of storm damage there. Once it arrives and the restaurant gets inspected by the health department and fire marshal, Howard said, they’ll get their ABC license and have a soft opening. He expects to have the soft opening later this month. I’ll keep you posted.

In other news …
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A diner enjoys sushi and wine at Metro! The Roanoke Times / File photo.

Metro! in downtown Roanoke will celebrate 10 years in business tomorrow (Nov. 1). It doesn’t seem to me as if it has been 10 years since the restaurant opened. I guess time flies when you’re eating sushi and drinking martinis.

To celebrate the anniversary, Metro! owner and executive chef Andrew Schlosser is offering nightly entree specials for $20 each. He said these specials will probably run through the end of the year. They are:

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Courtesy image

Downtown Blacksburg, Inc. and the Office of Multicultural Programs and Services at Virginia Tech have introduced a special event to show support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community for LGBT History Month. LGBT History Month was established in 1994, but this is the first time it is being celebrated at Virginia Tech.

The event, “Dining OUT for Equality Week” was also designed to promote Blacksburg restaurants, some of which have established special deals for lunch and dinner throughout next week, from Oct. 22 through Oct. 26.

“On behalf of the participating restaurants, we’re excited to show our support for the LGBT community with this event,” wrote Laureen Blakemore, Director of Downtown Blacksburg, Inc., in a press release. “In addition, downtown restaurants will be able to showcase their diverse cuisine, from Thailand to Italy and from vegetarian to sweet treats as well as their acceptance of the LGBT AND Ally Community.”

To take advantage of the specials, it is only necessary for diners to ask at the restaurant for the “Dining OUT” special. Here is the specials schedule for the week:

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Four years ago, we ran a list of 50 culinary gems in Southwest Virginia. About one month ago, I asked for your input to develop an updated version. This time, I aimed for 100 and had no trouble hitting the mark.

The entire list was published on the front of today’s Extra section. If you missed seeing the lovely poster page designed by my colleague, Terri Macklin, click here.

Also, thanks to online intern Katrina Tulloch, a New Yorker who recently wrote a blog entry about her first three weeks in Roanoke, we have a lovely map that shows you where to find these 100 gastronomic treats (see below).

Feel free to debate my choices, folks. If you think I omitted a great food find, please tell me by leaving a comment on this blog entry. And thanks to everybody who chimed in last month!

View 100 Food Finds in Southwest Virginia in a larger map

Happy Monday. I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and has overcome turkey-eaters’ zombie syndrome. I’m working on it. Might need another cup of coffee.

In case you have not noticed, we’re running a very special Daily Deal day on Roanoke.com today. Instead of one deal all day long, there are oodles of deals available for purchase throughout the day. These include several restaurant deals such as the $20 for $10 certificate I just purchased for Remini’s, the new Italian eatery on Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke.

In order to buy any of these deals, click here.

Here is the full schedule with food deals highlighted. If you’d like to go out to eat in the new year but save a bit of money to pay back those Christmas bills, consider buying a Daily Deal today. You can also buy these as gifts for other folks! And speaking of gifts, don’t forget to leave your list for Santa in the entry below. He’s checking it!

7-8 am: Plato’s Closet, Shear Perfection, Viva La Cupcake

8-9 am: American Dance Centers, Alluring Landscapes, Pzaz, Double Apple Restaurant & Hookah Café

9-10 am: The Health Shelf, Bodatious Salon, Remini’s Italian Restaurant

10-11 am: Jobe Florist, Katherine’s Studio, Ernie’s

11 am – 12 Noon: 3 Peaks, The Sassy Clipper , Pino Gelato Café

12 Noon to 1 pm: New To Me, Maxwell Dickson, Rhein River Restaurant, Melissa Latempa at Plaza 101

1-2 pm: Glavas Decorative Concrete, Tammy Halsey at Plaza 101 , Auntie Anne’s

2-3 pm: Roanoke Valley Crossfit, Danielle Chambers at Plaza 101, Blue Collar Joe’s

3-4 pm: Boo Dogs Martial Arts, Once Upon A Child, Uptown Joe’s

4-5 pm: Replay Games, Glow-A-Rama, Clean Carpet Solutions

It’s time to clean out the odds and ends in the Fridge, so let us graze on random tidbits of food news today.

* NEW at 11:30 a.m.: I just received this information from Hotel Roanoke: We’ve arranged simple, elegant and trouble free options to impress the loved one in your life – from extravagant breakfast and luncheon buffets to intimate candlelight dinners (see below) featuring four-course table-side service and the elegant Grand Sunday Brunch Buffet offering heartwarming delights for you and your loved one to enjoy. Join us for a romantic evening in The Regency Room with an intimate and special dinner menu crafted by Executive Chef Billie Raper, or for the royal treatment, choose from one of our overnight deluxe accommodations packages. For more information or to make reservations call 540.985.5900 or visit http://www.hotelroanoke.com/specials/valentinesday.php

* NEW at 10:16 a.m.: The Inn at Riverbend in Pearisburg is offering several special packages for Valentine’s Day weekend. For additional information, go to their website here.

The Ultimate Romance Weekend (add $275 to your lodging choice – must have 72 hours advance notice to book)
1/2 Dozen Roses; Chocolate Covered Strawberries & a Bottle of Bubbly in your room.
Couples in-room massage
$50 gift certificate for Bank Tasting Menu

Arctic Blast for Lovers (add $375 to your lodging choice – must have 72 hours advance notice to book)
Three course dinner for two on Friday at the Inn
Half day float on the New River on Saturday. We’ll wrap you up and serve you hot chocolate and lunch
$50 gift certificate for dinner at The Palisades Restaurant
Star-gazing on the deck with the telescope (weather permitting)

Sweet Treat! (add $125 to your lodging choice)
Decedent Gift Basket in Room
$50 Gift Certificate for The Bank Food and Drink Restaurant

* The Blacksburg New School is hosting a chocolate party to raise funds for the school. This event takes place this Saturday, Feb. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at University Mall in Blacksburg. At the party, you’ll find great Valentine’s Day gifts made by local artisans, kid fun in the form of face painting, cookie decorating and more, and- of course – delicious chocolate. Bonus: They will have gluten-free treats! For more info, go to the school website or call (540) 552-6693.

* The Natural Bridge Hotel is offering a sweet deal for Valentine’s weekend this weekend. For $139 per couple, you get one night’s accommodations, a prime rib dinner with live entertainment, a country-style breakfast and admission to the Natural Bridge, “which allows for a tranquil creek-side walk to Lace Falls.” Offer good Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday night. For reservations, call (800) 533-1410 or go to www.NaturalBridgeOffers.com.

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Today’s Daily Deal is two adult admissions to any event at Blue Ridge Vineyards in Eagle Rock for $8, typically a $20 value. Click here to buy in to the deal.

I tried my first bottle of Blue Ridge Vineyards wine recently – I believe it was the Traminette – and I really enjoyed it.