The 2012 edition of Denver Restaurant Week -- with hundreds of local eateries offering bargains and special menus -- began Saturday.

The "week" -- now in its eighth year -- is actually two weeks, running through March 9. Participating restaurants typically offer a multi-course meal for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, pegged to Denver's 5,280-foot altitude, or $26.40 for one. Tax and tip are extra.

Denver Restaurant Week is presented by Visit Denver, the city's convention and visitors bureau. It says the event is the largest of its type in the nation.

The number of fixed-price meals purchased during the promotion rose to 360,840 last year, up from 2010's 335,580 and 2009's 298,200, according to Visit Denver.

Denver hotel are offering stay-overnight deals in conjunction with Restaurant Week.

> Click here for the list of Restaurant Week participants, with links to their menus, and to make reservations.

> Click here for the Denver Restaurant Week website.

Mark Harden is print and digital content editor for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Broadway & 17th" blog. Email: mharden@bizjournals.com.