Get ready to unbutton that top button on your pants because today begins Pittsburgh Restaurant Week. Through Jan. 21, participating restaurants will offer special packages to encourage Pittsburgh diners to explore the city's growing restaurant scene. The restaurant list includes newer, trendy establishments like or, The Whale and Superior Motors, as well as veterans of the culinary scene like Nine on Nine and The Capital Grille.

Pittsburgh Restaurant Week is an biannual event, occurring in winter and summer, allowing diners to enjoy seasonal preparations. The event was originally organized by Pittsburgh food blogger Brian McCollum with Pittsburgh TasteBuds and was restarted in 2012 after a few years of hiatus.

Dining packages range in price from $15-36. Each restaurant offers something different, from coursed menus and dinner specials for two, to dishes specially created for the event. A few also offer lunch specials. An interactive map can help pinpoint nearby restaurants for those who want to stay close to home. This is a good opportunity to try something new on a budget.