The award-winning Asado restaurant brings Tacoma a superb and upscale take on the foods of Argentina, along with vast selections of wines from that region. Centrally located in Tacoma's 6th Avenue neighborhood and business district, this establishment captures the pulse of this popular neighborhood. Patrons feast on the finest prepared meats, succulent seafood, and other South American inspired cuisine in a warm, spirited atmosphere. 

"Asado is real South American energy," notes executive chef Joel Mertens of X Group Restaurants and Catering. "Some people may see it as noisy, like you're eating with family. But it can be really intimate, too."

It's with this fusion of energy and intimacy that brings flavor and intrigue to the menu set for Tacoma Restaurant Week, which runs Oct. 14-18 and 21-25, and offers diners a $25 three-course dinner menu and optional $15 three-course lunch, Sunday through Thursday at participating area restaurants. 

Chef Mertens is really excited about the menu.

"If diners like what they see on this menu, I encourage them to try our fixed price menu every Tuesday," he says. "It has a similar flavor and that night we offer half price select bottles of wine. Also, these items are a great value driven representation of our menu. "

Mertens also likes to keep things fresh by rotating specials every two weeks to test new ideas for the menu.

Ready to spice things up? Thought so. Here's Asado's dinner spin on the Restaurant Week:

First Course Choices:

• Asado Caesar: House-made Caesar dressing, romaine, red endive, torn croutons, Manchego cheese.
• Quinoa: Cold pearl grain salad, bell peppers, corn, dried fruit, walnut vinaigrette.
• The Wedge: Butter lettuce wedge, diced avocado, Serrano ham, grapefruit, roasted corn, avocado orange vinaigrette.

Second Course Choices:

• Pollo Con Pimentas Y Hongos: Asado grilled chicken breast, sautéed mushrooms, roasted corn, bacon, roasted onions and peppers.
• Pan-fried tilapia: Crispy tilapia, breaded and pan-fried, seasonal vegetables, chili butter sauce, lotus chips.
• Asado seared tender tips: Seared beef tips, salsa molido, roasted corn, choice of poblano polenta or Peruvian potatoes.

Third Course Choices:

• Crepa con Dulce de Leche: Fried crepe purse, Dulce de Leche, Nutella and tapioca filling.
• Chocolate Torta: Served with Olympic Mountain Madagascar vanilla ice cream.
• Olympic Mountain Ice Cream:  Choice of seasonal ice cream.

All of the items are a good value-driven representation of the restaurant's menus, Mertens says.

Asado is located at 2810 6th Ave. in Tacoma. Please see their website, http://asadotacoma.com, to see their operating hours.

Can't get enough of Argentinean food? Next time you visit the Museum of Glass, be sure to pop into Choripan by Asado. This café's approachable take on Argentinean street food is sure to delight patrons with its rich flavors and casual feel.

Make reservations for Asado here.

For information on Tacoma Restaurant Week click here.

A virtual menu guide of participating restaurants can be found here.