That time of the year has come again when local restaurants open their doors to a host of hungry diners ready to sate their appetites on discounted three-course meals. For the second time this year, the Colonie Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring A Taste of Colonie Restaurant Week in support of those local eateries. From Monday, Oct. 20, to Sunday, Oct. 26, participating restaurants will offer a specialized menus with three-course meals for a discounted $20.14. Fifteen restaurants will participate, allowing area visitors and locals alike to get a taste of what Colonie has to offer. Garden Bistro 24 has been participating in Restaurant Week since its doors opened four years ago. “I think it’s a great way to get the variety of a restaurant,” said owner John Grizzaffi. “Sometimes when you get to a restaurant, you don’t get a chance to explore the whole menu. You might want an appetizer, or a dessert, but it’s too expensive. So this is a way to explore the menu at a much cheaper price.” All of the establishments have a specialized menu with meals set at the Restaurant Week price of $20.14, but there are other options if patrons wish to try some of local favorites, like Garden Bistro 24’s mussels, or salads with its handmade vinaigrettes. “We do start off with the regular menu we have. We offer options on top of the Restaurant Week menu, which is a set price,” says Grizzaffi. “Some people come in and want something we already have, so we can add on.” Most of the restaurants listed for the week’s event are long-standing participants, such as Century House, Reel Seafood, Co., and Bangkok Bistro, which, like Garden Bistro 24, have been participating since the event first began in 2010. In anticipation of the coming week, ShopRite of Colonie, will host A Taste of Fall on Wednesday, Oct. 15. ShopRite chefs will prepare fall-oriented foods, such as pumpkin pie and cider doughnuts, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. A Battle of the Chefs will commence at 6:30, where two executive chefs will compete and show onlookers how to prepare the meal at home. A Taste of Fall registration form, while not necessary, can be found on the Colonie Chamber of Commerce’s website. Filling out the form, free of charge, will enter participants into a drawing for a free three-course meal from a ShopRite executive chef. While reservations at the Restaurant Week venues are not required, they are recommended. For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, go to www.coloniechamber.org/tasteofcolonie.