The menus are posted and excitement is building for Orange County Restaurant Week, March 8-14 at 150 dining destinations, more than 30 of them in Newport Beach. Diners can visit new restaurants, revisit favorites and explore culinary themes at the 17th annual event.

“O.C. Restaurant Week has never been just about specially priced menus,” says Pamela Waitt, president of the Orange County Restaurant Association and founder of the event. “It’s about dining out and connecting with family and friends.”

The official website (ocrestaurantweek.com) allows users to filter participating restaurants and menus by price, cuisine and location.

Ten special themes include brunch, date night, vegetarian and cocktails. At Fashion Island, Mexican destination Red O offers brunch (as well as lunch and dinner) with vegetarian options. Great Maple offers brunch, date-night dinner and cocktails spotlighting Licor 43.

Among $20 experiences are Scratch Bakery Café’s Knock Knock flight, pairing four pastries with creative coffee drinks, and lunch at Taco Rosa at nearby Newport Hills Shopping Center.

Topping the Luxe list: Sushi Roku’s Premium Izakaya Feast at $150 per person. Highlights include toro carpaccio with osetra caviar; stone-grilled A5 Japanese wagyu ishiyaki; elevated sushi nigiri; and the elaborate White Lotus roll.

Also participating: Bluefin (Crystal Cove Shopping Center); Champagnes Kitchen (Newport North Shopping Center); Cucina Enoteca, Fleming’s Steakhouse and Zentrl Kitchen + Bar (Fashion Island), Mutt’s Eastbluff (Eastbluff Village Center) and Pacific Breeze Cafe (800 Newport Center Drive).